Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The air in Guangzhou was filled with the damp warmth of early spring. Sunlight streamed through the not-so-bright windows of the office building, falling on Ding Sanshi's slightly messy desk.

On the table were several computer cases that had been disassembled, scattered data cables, professional books, and a well-worn copy of Computerworld magazine.

In subtle contrast to this typical scene of a tech geek's daily life is a business card holder bearing the "NetEase Technology" logo lying quietly on the corner of the table, and a pothos plant that looks somewhat listless due to its owner's several days of intense work.

Ding Sanshi, 27 years old this year, was leaning back in his chair, his face showing great fatigue, but his eyes were unusually bright, like stars that had been tempered by fire.

He had just seen off a group of people, or rather, he had just firmly rejected a huge acquisition offer that could have changed the course of his life.

1000 million RMB.

This number, like a heavy stone thrown into a lake, has stirred up ripples that have yet to subside.

The person who proposed this price was Lei Jun, one of the industry's renowned "Three Musketeers of Xishan".

For three whole days, this number churned and swirled in Ding Sanshi's mind.

10 million! In an era when having 10,000 yuan is still something to be envied, what does this amount of money mean?
This means that he, a young man from an ordinary background who had worked his way up from the bottom in telecommunications bureaus and software companies to save 50 yuan in start-up capital to start his own business, could instantly achieve the financial freedom that most people dream of.

He can immediately leave this cramped office, say goodbye to the endless code debugging and server maintenance, and go enjoy life.

But whenever this thought crossed his mind, his gaze would involuntarily fall on the computer screen.

That's the backend data panel of NetEase 163 free email.

The curves representing user registration, activation, and usage are stubbornly climbing upwards at a speed he never expected.

The email system has only been online for a few months, but its user base has already exceeded 100,000, and the growth rate is getting faster and faster.

Based on the existing traffic from email users, he quietly redesigned the rudimentary "NetEase" homepage, which was originally used to showcase the company's business, adding news and category navigation, and a rudimentary portal website was already taking shape.

The number of clicks surged dramatically, as if injected with stimulants.

"Child..." Ding Sanshi murmured softly, his fingers unconsciously tapping a few times on the dusty keyboard, making a dull sound.

This metaphor is not pretentious.

NetEase, this name embodies all his imagination and passion for the future of the Internet, it is the "child" he nurtured with lines of code and countless sleepless nights.

It has only just learned to walk, and can even trot a few steps, showing amazing potential.

Should we sell it now?

It's like handing a child over to someone else.

He can't.

Lei Jun's offer was less of a temptation and more of a confirmation of value.

He made Ding Sanshi clearly realize that his hard work over the past year was worth this price in the eyes of real capital.

This did not shake his resolve; on the contrary, it acted like a shot of adrenaline, completely dispelling any wavering caused by exhaustion.

"1000 million? No, my NetEase is worth more than that!" In the moment of rejection, the flame of ambition in his young heart suddenly rose and burned him with heat.

He believes that as long as they persevere, the 1000 million yuan will likely be just a tiny fraction of NetEase's future value.

He was betting on the future, betting on the boundless possibilities of the internet, a vast and untapped market.

Just as this complex mix of fatigue, excitement, and unwavering determination was lingering in my mind and had not yet fully subsided, the slightly bulky landline phone on my desk suddenly rang shrilly.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

Ding Sanshi frowned and rubbed his slightly sore eyes.

Another investor?
Or the media?

So many people have been looking for him lately.

He picked up the receiver somewhat listlessly: "Hello, NetEase Technology, who is this?"

A steady, powerful voice with a slight southern accent, yet exceptionally clear, came from the other end of the phone. This voice, coming through the receiver, seemed to carry an invisible aura, causing Ding Sanshi to sit up straight instantly.

"Mr. Ding? Hello, this is Lu Yang."

"Lu...Lu Yang? President Lu of Century Group?!" Ding Sanshi's voice suddenly rose several octaves, his previous fatigue vanished, replaced by an incredulous astonishment and overwhelming sense of being flattered.

It was as if a bomb had exploded in his ear, making his eardrums buzz.

Lu Yang! These two names carry immense weight in the minds of private entrepreneurs in China, especially among young entrepreneurs like him!
This is a true role model, a star entrepreneur who has written countless business legends.

From starting from scratch to owning a vast business empire, Lu Yang's experience, in Ding Sanshi's view, is simply an epic biography of a reborn protagonist, full of turbulent waves and magical realism.

He is an idol to countless young people like Ding Sanshi who harbor dreams and yearn to fight in the tide of the times!

Ding Sanshi never expected that he would receive a personal call from his idol in the afternoon after rejecting Lei Jun in the morning!

"Mr. Lu! Hello! I really didn't expect it to be you!" Ding Sanshi's voice was filled with obvious excitement and nervousness, revealing his down-to-earth nature as a tech guy and the warmth of meeting his idol. "I... I've been following your reports and I admire you very much!"

Lu Yang's gentle laughter came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Ding, you're too kind. Your NetEase is doing very well lately, and 163 Mail is very successful with excellent user feedback. I've been paying close attention to the development of the internet in China, especially to outstanding young entrepreneurs like yourself."

My idol is following me? And even praising my product?

Ding Sanshi felt his heart skip a beat, his palms sweating slightly as he held the receiver. A huge sense of accomplishment mixed with the joy of being recognized surged into his heart, making him feel a little dizzy.

"Mr. Lu, you flatter me! We are still in the exploratory stage, and the email system is just the first step..." Ding Sanshi tried to calm himself down, but he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.

"The first step was taken very steadily, which is crucial." Lu Yang's voice was filled with sincere praise. "I have also seen the prototype of the portal. The idea is correct. In the future of the Internet, the user access point is of paramount importance."

After the preamble, Lu Yang naturally steered the conversation to the main point, his tone still calm but carrying an undeniable authority: "President Ding, I am very optimistic about NetEase's development potential. I'm calling today to ask if NetEase currently has any plans to introduce external investment?"

coming!

Ding Sanshi's heart tightened suddenly, and the excitement that had just risen was instantly dampened by the practical problems.

Despite his excitement, when it came to the company's core—control—his inherent caution and independent spirit immediately took over.

“President Lu, this…” Ding Sanshi’s voice deepened, becoming hesitant and stammering.

The scene of rejecting Lei Jun that morning flashed through his mind, as did the investors who came to him, either wanting a controlling stake or with harsh conditions.

“Indeed, quite a few investors have contacted us, including this morning… But, NetEase’s cash flow is currently relatively healthy. The email system has brought us some revenue, and the portal’s traffic is also growing… We are still exploring a clearer profit model, so regarding investment…” He carefully chose his words, not wanting to offend his idol, nor wanting to easily hand over the helm of the company he had worked so hard to build.

He worried that with Lu Yang's financial resources and influence, once he made an investment, it would likely not be a simple financial investment, but rather a demand for control.

NetEase is his child, the embodiment of his ambition, and he doesn't want to lose it.

Lu Yang on the other end of the phone seemed to keenly sense his hesitation and hidden concerns.

Without the slightest displeasure, and even with a knowing smile, he directly presented a condition that made Ding Sanshi almost think he had misheard:
"Mr. Ding, I understand your concerns."

Okay, let me get straight to the point.

I heard that someone offered 1000 million RMB to buy your NetEase this morning, and you refused.

Ding Sanshi's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly marveled at how well-informed President Lu was.

Lu Yang continued, "I also have 1000 million RMB prepared here. However, I don't want to buy out your company."

He paused deliberately, allowing Ding Sanshi to fully process what he had said.

"I only want 35% of NetEase's shares."

35%?

Ding Sanshi's eyes widened instantly.

"Moreover, I promise that this investment is purely financial and will not interfere with NetEase's daily operations. You will retain an absolute controlling stake of 65%, and the future of the company will still be decided by you, Ding Sanshi."

Lu Yang's voice was clear and powerful, each word like a hammer blow to Ding Sanshi's heart, "So? Mr. Ding, are you still considering these terms?"

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

Ding Sanshi stood there, microphone in hand, stunned.

A tremendous surprise surged through his body like an electric current, causing him to momentarily forget to breathe.

1000 million!
Only 35% of the shares?
And yet they don't interfere with the business operations?

How can I still maintain a firm 65% control?

This...this offer is so good it's unreal!

Compared to Lei Jun's buyout offer this morning, Ding Sanshi's perception of its value is more than a hundred times higher!
This means that he not only received the much-needed development funds, but also retained full custody and future planning rights over his "child"!
This isn't just an investment for my idol; it's a lifeline, giving him wings to brave the storms of the internet's untapped potential!

The stark contrast left him speechless for a moment. He asked incredulously, "Really...really? Mr. Lu! You...you're really willing to invest 1000 million in me? Just 35%? And you won't participate in management? You'll let me retain control?"

"of course it's true."

Lu Yang's answer was resolute, carrying a convincing and bold tone.

“I, Lu Yang, always keep my word. When I invest, I'm less about investing in projects and more about investing in people. I have faith in you, Ding Sanshi, and I believe in your and your team's abilities and potential. I think you and NetEase are worth this price and deserve this funding to support our future.”

These words were delivered with conviction, filled with affirmation and expectation for Ding Sanshi's personal value, instantly striking a chord with the young entrepreneur's deepest desire for recognition.

Lu Yang gave him more than just money; he gave him a profound sense of trust and respect.

This excited Ding Sanshi even more than money alone.

Ding Sanshi, who will be worth hundreds of billions in the future, naturally wouldn't care about this "small amount" of 1000 million. But at this moment, at the age of 27, standing at the crossroads of his early entrepreneurial journey, faced with such generous terms offered by his idol that respected his entrepreneurial ideals, his youthful and fearless decisiveness once again prevailed.

After a brief silence, Ding Sanshi took a deep breath. All his hesitation and trepidation were replaced by a sense of heroic spirit, like "a scholar will die for one who understands him," and the excitement of seizing the opportunity.

He spoke into the microphone, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, yet exceptionally clear and firm:
"Okay! Brother Lu!"

The way he addressed him gradually changed from the respectful "President Lu" to the more intimate and trustworthy "Brother Lu".

"Since you've said all that, and think so highly of me, Ding Sanshi, and NetEase, it would be pretentious and ungrateful of me to refuse! I'll take the 1000 million! Thank you for your trust, Brother Lu!"

"readily!"

Lu Yang's voice was also tinged with laughter, clearly satisfied with Ding Sanshi's reaction.

"Then it's settled. Arrange your time to come to Shenzhen as soon as possible. I'll treat you to dinner, and we brothers can have a good chat about the future of the internet and sign the investment contract while we're at it. Once it's signed, the money can be transferred to NetEase's company account immediately."

“Okay! Brother Lu, I’ll arrange it as soon as possible!” Ding Sanshi immediately agreed.

"Remember this, Brother Ding."

Before hanging up the phone, Lu Yang's tone became exceptionally solemn, carrying a sense of guidance and profound meaning from someone who had been through it all.

"When building a portal website, don't rush to consider the profit model at this stage. There's only one core element: users! Users! And more users! What we need is explosive growth in user data! Expand the platform, improve the user experience, and once the user base is large enough, the future is limitless, and anything is possible. Money should be spent on acquiring and retaining users!"

"Understood! Brother Lu! The user is king! I get it!"

Ding Sanshi nodded vigorously. Lu Yang's words instantly aligned with his vague understanding of the internet's "free-traffic-monetization" model, giving him a sudden insight and further solidifying his direction.

After hanging up the phone, Ding Sanshi held the still-hot receiver for a long time without putting it down.

In the morning, they rejected a 1000 million yuan acquisition offer, but in the afternoon, they secured a strategic investment of 1000 million yuan, but with completely different implications, by giving up 35% of their equity.

There is always a bright future after a sudden turn of events!
Overwhelmed with excitement, he couldn't help but pump his fist in the not-so-spacious office.

“NetEase…it’s got potential! It has a lot of room for growth!” He looked out the window at the somewhat old-fashioned street scene of Guangzhou, his eyes burning with an unprecedented fervor.

He seemed to see that, under the shade and nourishment of his idol, NetEase, like a sapling, was growing wildly towards the sky of the internet at an unprecedented speed.

. . .

Lu Yang put down the phone and turned his gaze toward Guangzhou in the south.

The "pig farming tycoon" in Guangzhou who just gladly accepted his offer is probably excited about his upcoming trip to Shenzhen and the timely multi-million dollar investment.

"Speak."

"Did he just call me his idol on the phone?"

Lu Yang picked up the slightly cool tea beside him, stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the vibrant young city below. A deep smile, barely suppressed, curved his lips. (End of Chapter)