Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 378 The Richest Man Makes Cars
On New Year's Day, Liu Shishi single-handedly topped the list of Weibo's top ten trending topics, her popularity and influence making her a phenomenon in the entertainment industry, unmatched by anyone else.

At midnight, Liu Shishi's Weibo post celebrating her husband Song Ci's birthday garnered over 200 million comments in just a few hours by noon.

The posts announcing Omega and Porsche's top female brand ambassadors also garnered hundreds of thousands of comments, demonstrating the astonishing level of popularity of the related topics.

The top female star is incredibly popular, her popularity is at its peak in the entertainment industry, and no one else can compare. Even her own people can't help but take advantage of her popularity.

And here comes the announcement from the studio: Shishi Studio's first produced TV series, "The Legend of Chasing Fish," will begin filming tomorrow! Stay tuned! @Director Jiang Wei @Zhao Liying @Lin Gengxin
Following this, director Ma Xin also announced: "The comedy film 'Goodbye Mr. Loser,' starring Liu Shishi, Shen Teng, Hu Ge, and Yang Mi, will be released on January 14th. We welcome everyone to support it."

Brands endorsed by Liu Shishi, such as Gucci, Xiaomi phones, and Dove, have also taken advantage of the situation to conduct marketing campaigns and capitalize on the traffic.

Suddenly, topics about Liu Shishi flooded the internet, and for the first time, the entertainment industry gained a clear understanding of the probability of becoming a "top influencer." It turns out that celebrities can indeed "monopolize" netizens' attention for a period of time.

At Jingyuan's home, Liu Shishi, who had just finished lunch with her husband, frowned slightly.

Looking at the newly trending topic "3. Top Female Star", she said helplessly, "Honey, I'm trending again. This is too high-profile. Can you help me suppress the hype?"

Song Ci donned a trench coat and teased his wife, "I can't hold her back anymore! My top-tier actress wife!"

"Honey, are you going out?" Liu Shishi saw her husband put on his coat, picked up his briefcase, and took his arm.

"Today is your birthday. I've booked a table at the hotel for a banquet. Your parents-in-law, parents, and younger sister will all be coming to celebrate with you tonight. If you don't have anything urgent to do, don't rush to work today."

"I'm going to the Four Seasons Hotel to meet someone. It shouldn't be too late, so it won't interfere with the birthday celebration tonight."

Liu Shishi thought for a moment and suggested, "There will definitely be traffic jams on the road during holidays. How about this, I'll talk to my parents and we can change the dinner to the Four Seasons Hotel. That way it will be more convenient for you."

Song Ci nodded in agreement and gently kissed his wife's smooth forehead. "I'll go first. See you at the Four Seasons Hotel."

"Have a safe trip, honey!"

After watching her husband leave from the entrance hall, Liu Shishi quickly changed the hotel reservation and informed her family that her birthday banquet that evening would be held at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Then she contacted her sister-in-law, Liu Yuqing: "Little sister, where are you? Let's go shopping at the mall this afternoon. You're in your dorm? I'll pick you up from Tsinghua University. See you in a bit."

Four Seasons Hotel, Chaoyang District, Beiping.

"Mr. Song, this way please!" The lobby manager smiled broadly, gestured with one hand, and respectfully led the way.

Song Ci, accompanied by her secretary Song Xueying and bodyguards, followed closely behind and casually asked, "Manager Wang, what are some of your hotel's specialties?"

Manager Wang was secretly delighted upon hearing this. The Four Seasons Hotel had only recently opened and needed to expand its client base to include big clients like the richest man in the country.

He quickly added, "Besides our regular menu, we also have an open-plan classic Italian restaurant, and the upscale Cantonese restaurant, Cai Yi Xuan..."

As Song Ci listened to the introduction, he looked around at the hotel’s opulent interior and pondered, “Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia had previously invited me to invest in the Four Seasons Hotel. Now it seems that it is indeed a worthwhile investment.”

He had previously learned that Bill Gates and Saudi Prince Alwaleed each held 47.5% of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, while founder Sharp retained 5% of the shares and served as the group's chairman, responsible for actual operations.

Given Songci's current financial resources, it is beginning to seek diversified investments, and the hotel industry will undoubtedly be a good investment choice in the next few years.

Manager Wang was deeply shocked, knowing that Song Ci's words were not unfounded; the richest man in Asia was fully capable of becoming a shareholder of the hotel.

He bowed even lower, becoming even more respectful: "It would be an honor for us Chinese employees if the Four Seasons Hotel could receive your investment."

"Mr. Song, please come in!" The hotel staff pushed open the carved wooden door of the meeting room, and the warm sandalwood scent mixed with the delicate aroma of tea wafted out.

Song Ci stood at the door, slightly stunned, and suddenly recalled the scene eight years ago when she went to Donghai to invite Zhang Yong to jointly create Tengda Group.

The gears of fate have turned in circles, but now he is Asia's richest man standing at the pinnacle of capital, a far cry from the young entrepreneur he once was.

"Secretary Song and I will go in; the rest of you will wait outside."

Amidst a flurry of thoughts, Song Ci strode into the reception room, where she saw a middle-aged woman in a navy blue suit already seated and waiting in front of the sofa, her eyes revealing the sharpness and composure of a high-level professional.

"Hello, Mr. Song, I am Wang Fengying." Upon seeing Song Ci arrive, the other party quickly stood up and extended her hand.

"Hello, Mr. Wang, welcome to Beiping." As Song Ci shook hands, he secretly sized up this "Iron Lady" of the automotive industry. Her plump figure was wrapped in a well-tailored suit, and her every move exuded a sharp aura that was no less than that of a man.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two took their seats on the sofa, with Secretary Song Xueying sitting quietly to the side, attentively listening to this conversation that would determine their future careers.

Wang Fengying calmly scrutinized the man before her, the number one internet figure in China who reigned supreme in Asia with his wealth and good looks. Between his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, he possessed both youthful spirit and the sharp edge honed by the business world, just like the "noble young master of a turbid world" that was widely rumored.

“Mr. Wang is always decisive, so I’ll get straight to the point.” Song Ci said bluntly, “I believe that before you came to Beiping, the headhunter must have told you that I am preparing for my second startup and sincerely invite a strategic partner.”

Wang Fengying nodded slightly: "The headhunter told me that you want to manufacture cars and enter the new energy vehicle industry?"

"New energy vehicles and low-altitude drones will be the company's two core businesses. With the future relaxation of national policies, aerospace and even rockets and satellites are all in the blueprint."

A burning light danced in Song Ci's eyes, as if he were foreseeing a future business empire.

Wang Fengying felt a surge of turmoil. She had no doubt about the richest man's courage and vision, but she worried that an overly ambitious business plan and blind expansion would lead the company into an abyss.

After all, drones and new energy vehicles are emerging industries that require a lot of money to operate, not to mention rockets and satellites. These are things that private enterprises can't afford to do. Even if you invest tens of billions, a slight mistake could turn them into fireworks.

"Does Mr. Wang think I'm being a bit too ambitious and unrealistic? After all, the company has only just been established, and I'm already thinking about rockets and satellites." Song Ci's eyes were bright, and her tone was impassioned. "Young people should always have dreams!"

Wang Fengxia was taken aback when she heard this. She immediately thought of the trending topics on Weibo. Today happened to be the birthday of the richest man. He was only 25 years old, the prime of his life and full of vigor!

"President Song, I'd like to ask you, why did you choose me? And why have you said so much to me, as if you're convinced I'll leave Great Wall?"

"President Wang, I chose you because you are a strategic and practical expert. As for why I'm so sure you'd be willing to leave Great Wall and start a second business with me, there are two reasons!" Song Ci smiled confidently, holding up two fingers. "The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain. You've worked diligently with Boss Wei of Great Wall for over twenty years, how many shares have you received, and what is your net worth?"

Wang Fengying's throat bobbed slightly: "President Song, you really understand people's hearts. Who doesn't envy Zhang Yong and Wang Jing? They followed you, and in just a few years, their net worth has exceeded 10 billion."

No one is immune to the desire for wealth; the pursuit of profit is human nature, which is why I am sitting before you today.

"They deserve it! When the company grows bigger in the future, your net worth will be no less than theirs."

A glimmer of hope arose in Wang Fengying's heart. Who wouldn't be tempted by wealth exceeding 10 billion? "Please tell me your second point."

"As far as I know, Mr. Wei is planning to have his daughter take over the business. This puts you, the number two person at Great Wall Motors, in a rather awkward position."

"President Song has keen insight and a clear understanding of the situation at Great Wall Motors." A hint of dejection flashed across Wang Fengying's face.

It has always been true that those who achieve great merit can overshadow their masters. Everything was fine when Mr. Wei was in power, but now that the eldest daughter has taken over, he, the president of Great Wall Motors, seems to be getting in the way.

"Mr. Wang, let's get back to the main topic." Song Ci's long, slender, fair fingers tapped lightly on the sofa armrest. "Leaving aside other businesses for now, if you were to lead the new energy vehicle business, what development strategy would you adopt?"

Wang Fengying's expression sharpened, and she sat up straight, knowing that what followed was the main event of today's meeting. After a brief moment of contemplation, she organized her thoughts and began to explain clearly and logically:
"Mr. Song, the most important thing in new energy vehicle manufacturing is supply chain integration, especially the three major components of batteries, motors, and electronic controls, which are the core of the entire car. Among them, two companies are crucial."

Which two?

"CATL New Energy, after being reorganized, is called CATL and mainly deals in power batteries; there is also Jingjin Power, which occupies a leading position in the domestic motor and electronic control field. The two are the core links in the vehicle supply chain."

Wang Fengying clearly came prepared, possessing a thorough understanding of the key aspects of new energy vehicle manufacturing.

Song Ci winked at his secretary, and Song Xueying understood. She quickly took out several documents from her briefcase and handed them to Wang Fengying.

Wang Fengying curiously took the document and began to peruse it. Her pupils suddenly contracted as she saw that the document in her hand contained equity certificates for a series of car manufacturing supply chain companies, including CATL and Jingjin Power.

Even someone who has seen it all was speechless with shock. After a long while, he exclaimed, "You are truly visionary. No wonder the internet industry calls you a top strategist, always planning three steps ahead and proceeding with great care."

Song Ci smiled calmly: "You don't need to worry about the supply chain. I've been planning and strategizing ever since I had the idea of ​​building cars. I'd like to hear about your product strategy and market plan."

Wang Fengying sat upright and spoke eloquently: "President Song, I divide product development into three stages. The first stage is from 2014 to 2016, which is to go all out and launch a 60-level luxury sedan to establish the brand."

With a focused expression, Song Ci corroborated Wang Fengying's development plan with the memories in his mind. This high-end model could clearly be a competitor to Tesla's Model S.

"The second phase, from 2017 to 2019, will focus on expanding sales in lower-tier markets. Leveraging your control over the supply chain, we will strictly control costs to create blockbuster models priced between 16 and 25 yuan, generating cash flow and fully capturing market share. After 2020, we will shift our focus to ecosystem profitability."

Song Ci nodded slightly and praised, "President Wang's plan is very reasonable and coincides with my own ideas."

Wang Fengying had clearly done her homework. Seeing her future boss's satisfied smile, she added, "To build a world-class car company, you must have a technological moat."

For example, battery technology, manufacturing processes, energy networks... To lead the world, a huge investment in research and development is needed. I wonder how much Mr. Song plans to invest in car manufacturing?

Song Ci slowly raised one finger.

"100 billion!" Wang Fengying said with a bitter face. "Although the financial pressure is not small, as long as the company is on the right track, we can raise funds."

Song Xueying spoke for the first time, gently correcting him: "President Wang, you misunderstood. Song Ci meant one hundred billion!"

Wang Fengying's mouth gaped open, numb with shock. Then she was overjoyed. She had never fought such a wealthy battle before. If Song Ci was willing to invest 1000 billion, she was confident that she could build a world-class car giant.

Suppressing her excitement, Wang Fengying continued, "Are you planning to have Tengda provide this funding?"

Song Ci shook his head. "This company will cooperate with Tengda in software such as in-vehicle systems in the future, but there will be no connection in terms of equity."

I will personally contribute this 1000 billion, but of course, it will be done in stages. Also, this 1000 billion is only for car manufacturing; funding for other businesses will be calculated separately.

With its highly profitable gaming business, Tengda Group is already self-sufficient and has enough funds to research cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

He plans to invest all the money he earned from the subprime mortgage crisis and the European debt crisis into the new company. Since it was all earned in the European and American financial markets, he won't feel bad about spending it.

Wang Fengying found it hard to believe. This was 1000 billion yuan in cash. Even the richest man couldn't come up with that much money, since net worth and cash are two completely different concepts.

Seeing Wang Fengying's hesitation, Song Ci smiled calmly: "President Wang, there's no need to worry. If I say I'll invest 1000 billion, I'll definitely be able to come up with that money."

My forte isn't coding or writing novels, but finance. Over the years, I've made a few hundred million in the stock and foreign exchange markets, enough to support the company's development and research.

Seeing that the richest man was confident and recalling the equity documents she had just seen, Wang Fengying was no longer worried about the company's funding.

Immediately, curiosity arose about the richest man's true wealth, and various financial magazines offered differing opinions on his net worth. However, one thing is certain: it far exceeds the data revealed on the rich list.

After further discussion about the industry's prospects, Song Ci solemnly extended an invitation: "President Wang, I am very satisfied with you. As long as you join, you can get 1% of the equity. If you can achieve the business goals as planned, you can get up to 3% of the equity."

Wang Fengying smiled brightly and bowed slightly: "President Song is very generous. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Song Ci also stood up and shook hands with Wang Fengying again: "Welcome to the team!"

"Mr. Song, I need a month to complete the resignation procedures."

"No rush, the CEO position is reserved for you."

Wang Fengying asked expectantly, "I forgot to ask you, what's the company's name?"

“Dewen!” Song Ci’s voice was clear and resonant. “Dewen Manufacturing Company! Manufacturing is the foundation of the nation. I hope we can work together to build Dewen into a world-class manufacturing giant.”

(End of this chapter)