Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 537 Cainiao Network
In June, the East China Sea is sweltering with heat.

In the chairman's office at the headquarters of Shentong Express, Chen Dejun sat on the sofa, unconsciously tapping an unlit cigarette on the coffee table with his fingertips.

"Brother! Jack Ma has rejected Tiantian Express's offer to join Cainiao Network! What should we do?"

Chen Dejun glanced at his brother-in-law, Xi Chunyang, who was pacing anxiously back and forth in the office, and looked on with a helpless expression.
"Chunyang, can you sit down first? Your swaying back and forth is making my eyes blurry and my head dizzy."

Beside her, Chen Xiaoying stood up, took her husband's arm, and gently advised, "Honey, don't rush, sit down, and discuss things with your brother slowly. What's the use of just being anxious?"

Xi Chunyang sighed heavily, and only after being repeatedly comforted by his wife and brother-in-law did he reluctantly sit down on the sofa.

"Big brother, Xiaoying, you know how much effort and money I poured into acquiring Tiantian Express!" He spread his hands, his expression excited.
Seeing the e-commerce logistics boom growing stronger year by year, and with rumors of Alibaba integrating logistics circulating repeatedly, I finally made a big bet, hoping to seize the opportunity and get Tiantian on the fast track!

The first half of the story did indeed unfold as he predicted.

Just now, Alibaba Group, together with Yintai, Fosun, SF Express, and the "Three Tongs and One Da" (STO Express, YTO Express, ZTO Express, and Yunda Express), announced the establishment of Cainiao Network.

The plan is to build a smart logistics network across China and establish a socialized logistics collaboration platform. This news sent shockwaves throughout the logistics industry.

But who would have thought that Tiantian Express would be turned away at the last minute, failing to even get a chance to join Cainiao Network!

"Without joining Cainiao Network, they can't get Taobao's order dispatch resources. In the long run, the gap between Tiantian Express and 'STO Express, YTO Express, ZTO Express, and Yunda Express' will only widen, and then..."

Xi Chunyang didn't say anything more, but the worry on his face deepened.

"Have some tea to calm yourself down." Chen Dejun pushed a freshly brewed cup of Longjing tea in front of his brother-in-law.

"There's no use in being anxious. Chunyang, take a long-term view. This market is huge, and Alibaba isn't the only e-commerce platform."

"Besides Alibaba, who else could it be? JD.com?" Xi Chunyang tried to calm his turbulent emotions, picked up his teacup, and then put it down again.

"JD.com has built its own logistics system, handling everything from warehousing to delivery in a closed-loop operation, so there's no need to cooperate with other courier companies!"

“It’s not JD.com.” Chen Dejun shook his head slightly, stared at his brother-in-law, and uttered three words slowly and deliberately: “It’s Tengda!”

"Tengda?!" Xi Chunyang's teacup trembled violently, and he hurriedly asked, "Brother, do you mean that Tengda is going to get into e-commerce? That's impossible! There's not a single word about it!"

Chen Xiaoying also looked at her brother in surprise. Although she had vaguely heard him mention the close relationship with Tengda before, she knew very little about the specifics of the e-commerce strategy.

Looking at his sister and brother-in-law, who were filled with surprise and doubt, Chen Dejun explained, "Tengda Strategy has supported a new e-commerce platform, Pinduoduo."

I recently traveled north to attend an internal preparatory meeting for Pinduoduo.

"Pinduoduo?" Chen Xiaoying frowned slightly and asked with keen insight, "Brother, the e-commerce market is now almost completely divided up by the two giants, Taobao and JD.com. The landscape is already set."

Is there any chance of launching a new e-commerce platform at this point? Burning money probably wouldn't even make a ripple.

"Things on the internet change in an instant, and no one can say for sure." Chen Dejun spread his hands, then changed his tone, becoming extremely confident.

"However, the birth of Pinduoduo was facilitated by Song Ci! And the one in charge of its operation was Sun Tongyu, the 'father of Taobao'!"

He paused, letting the two men process this bombshell news for a moment, before continuing, "With these two powerful individuals joining forces, I personally believe that Pinduoduo has a great potential!"

"It's actually these two joining forces!" Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoying couldn't help but cover her mouth and exclaim softly, a look of shock appearing on her face.

"With the richest man personally organizing the event and the father of Taobao at the helm, it seems that Taobao and JD.com are truly facing a formidable opponent!"

Xi Chunyang was now completely lost in thought.

After listening to my brother-in-law's analysis, it's clear that Pinduoduo's lineup is not a small-scale startup project.

Instead, the Tengda Group is making it clear that it intends to directly compete with Taobao and JD.com in the e-commerce field!
He quickly calculated in his mind: Tengda Technology is the largest shareholder of Shentong Express. With this relationship, Pinduoduo's initial order resources will inevitably be prioritized for Shentong.

However, the rise of an e-commerce platform is inevitably accompanied by a massive number of logistics orders.

Even if Pinduoduo only reaches one-third the size of Taobao, it will still be a huge cake that Shentong alone could never eat!

If Tiantian Express can seize this opportunity to cling to Tengda Technology, a much stronger partner, then...

Growing together with Pinduoduo, a platform with unlimited potential, may not only turn adversity into opportunity, but could even lead to meteoric rise!
Once he understood this crucial point, Xi Chunyang's anxiety and worries vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedented sense of urgency and opportunity.

He looked intently at Chen Dejun: "Brother! In that case, could you please introduce me to Mr. Song? I would like to pay him a visit!"

Chen Dejun was quite understanding of his brother-in-law's reaction and nodded slightly: "Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I was thinking the same thing."

I had planned to meet Mr. Song in the next few days. So, you and Xiaoying, get ready and come with me.

"Thank you, brother!" Xi Chunyang's expression brightened, and he readily agreed.

Chen Xiaoying, being more perceptive, pressed on, "Brother, when did you arrange to meet Mr. Song? We'd like to prepare in advance."

"Sigh!" Chen Dejun chuckled wryly, rubbing his temples. "I'm having a headache over this. You have to understand, Shentong has now joined Cainiao Network, which makes things difficult."

Xi Chunyang immediately understood his brother-in-law's concerns: "What you mean is that once Pinduoduo is launched, it will inevitably become direct competition with Taobao, and they will be like fire and water."

Logistics is the lifeblood of e-commerce. In the future, will Shentong Express no longer be able to navigate between Taobao and Pinduoduo smoothly, and will it have to choose one over the other?

“That makes sense.” Chen Dejun nodded, his expression complex.

Chen Xiaoying's expression turned serious, and she solemnly reminded him, "Brother, in my opinion, Shentong really has no other choice!"

She stared intently at her brother and husband, analyzing clearly: "Since the day we accepted investment from Tengda Technology a few years ago and gave up 30% of our shares, have we had any other options?"

One sentence, like a thunderclap, exploded in the office, silencing Chen Dejun and Xi Chunyang.

"Yes!" Chen Dejun sighed softly, a hint of relief mixed with a sense of determination for the future. "Tengda holds 30% of Shentong's shares, making it a true major shareholder."

Over the years, aside from developing an intelligent order dispatch system for Shentong Express, we have never interfered with its specific operations. However, this absolutely does not mean that its existence and influence can be ignored.

Xi Chunyang suddenly thought of something: "Brother, when you talked about Song Ci, did you already foresee today's situation when you invested in Shentong a few years ago?"

He belatedly realized what was going on, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. "Back then, Tenda's main business was social networking and gaming; there was absolutely no indication that they were involved in e-commerce. Under normal circumstances, what internet company would inexplicably invest in a traditional courier company so far in advance?"
Back in 08, even Alibaba Group, which now leads Cainiao Network, hadn't even started its logistics strategy yet!

Upon hearing his brother-in-law's words, Chen Dejun's face lit up with realization, and he even felt a chill run down his spine: "Very likely!"
Song Ci was renowned for his profound foresight and long-term planning; it was said that he "calculated three steps ahead for every one step he took." This perfectly reflects his style!

He must have already planned to enter the e-commerce field in Tengda's development plan, which is why he made this crucial move several years in advance.

The purpose is precisely to possess a logistics lifeline that is completely under our control and independent of others, even in today's situation!

Chen Xiaoying nodded in agreement, and analyzed it in light of Tengda's development path: "Looking at Tengda's current business landscape, it's about at this stage."

With its established global giants in social media and gaming, and its robust ecosystem, Tenda can now focus on developing e-commerce to complete its crucial business cycle.

"His plans are flawless and his strategy is far-reaching. It's terrifying." Chen Dejun gasped.

The slight hesitation that might have lingered in my mind before, wavering between Alibaba and Tenda, vanished instantly, leaving no room for further doubt.

After regaining his composure, his gaze became firm and clear again, as if he had made his final decision.

Chen Dejun picked up his phone and, while searching for numbers, said, "I saw on the financial news this morning that Song Ci is currently on an inspection tour in Fujian Province and has met with local leaders."

"There's no time to lose; some statements should be made sooner rather than later. I'll contact him now and see if we can meet over there."

"Big brother!" Chen Xiaoying quickly reminded him, saying thoughtfully, "Don't you have Mr. Song's WeChat? You should send him a message first to sound him out!"
"The news has already broadcast it; they're having an important meeting with their leader. Calling them now would be inappropriate and might disturb them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Dejun's fingers, which were scrolling through his contacts, suddenly paused: "Xiaoying is so thoughtful! I was just too hasty."

With a light tap of my finger, I exited the contacts interface and instead tapped the familiar green bubble icon, carefully organizing my thoughts.

At the same time, Song Ci had just finished his meeting with provincial and municipal leaders of Minjiang and returned to his hotel suite.

He loosened his tie, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling city bathed in sunlight.

The Minjiang River, like a ribbon, flows through the city, while distant mountains, like dark eyebrows, silently witness the changes of the times.

Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrated, breaking the silence of the room. The caller ID showed "Sun Tongyu".

Song Ci pressed the answer button and asked with a gentle smile, "Tongyu, how's the preparation for Pinduoduo going?"

On the other end of the phone, Sun Tongyu's voice was calm: "President Song, it's almost done. The team is doing the final stress tests and optimizations. The app is expected to be launched on time on August 1st."

He paused briefly, his tone becoming more serious, "President Song, did you see the announcement from Alibaba today regarding the establishment of Cainiao Network?"

"I know a little bit about it." Song Ci's tone was light and cheerful, as if he were talking about an interesting anecdote that had nothing to do with him, and he didn't take Alibaba's big move to integrate the logistics industry to heart at all.

Sun Tongyu worriedly said, "Teacher Ma's move is aimed at controlling the vital passage."

I'm afraid that once Pinduoduo really takes off, Alibaba will use its influence in the logistics network to strangle us.

At that time, merchants will face difficulties in shipping, leading to a decline in user experience, which would be a fatal blow.

"Don't worry." Song Ci turned around, her back to the street scene outside the window, her expression calm and composed. "With Shentong backing Pinduoduo, what's there to be afraid of?"

In its previous life, Pinduoduo still managed to break through the competition in 2016, even after Alibaba's logistics network became much stronger.

Moreover, Cainiao Network has only just begun to establish its framework. Holding the crucial card of Shentong Express, it is not afraid of Alibaba manipulating logistics.

Upon hearing this, Sun Tongyu felt somewhat relieved. As a strategic investment of Tengda and a shareholder of Pinduoduo, Shentong was indeed the most reliable cornerstone at present.

However, after careful consideration, he reminded everyone again: "Having Shentong Express as a backup does give Pinduoduo some room to maneuver. But Mr. Song, I think that putting all your eggs in one basket still carries risks."

In case Shentong itself encounters operational problems... Also, the Fengchao express locker project you mentioned before, which can solve the final problem, will also require your continued efforts to promote.

"I understand." Song Ci nodded slightly, and Sun Tongyu's concerns were not unfounded.

Even setting aside the massive orders that Pinduoduo may generate in the future, just to prepare for the future of "live-streaming e-commerce," relying solely on the delivery capacity of Shentong Express is indeed far from sufficient.

In the blink of an eye, a clear strategy quickly took shape in his mind.

“I plan to adopt a strategy of ‘joining forces with one company and supporting another’,” Song Ci’s voice carried a sense of strategic decisiveness. “We will take a two-pronged approach to ensure the logistics system is secure.”

Sun Tongyu instantly understood Song Ci's intention: "Which two schools have you taken a liking to?"

"For the Fengchao project, I intend to partner with SF Express!" Song Ci said without hesitation. "As for which company needs support... let me think about it some more."

We must find a company outside of the "Three Tongs and One Da" (STO Express, YTO Express, ZTO Express, and Yunda Express) that has potential, ambition, and a sufficiently large network of service outlets.

“SF Express? SF Express mainly targets the high-end business market, with relatively high prices. Its business model does not seem to match Pinduoduo’s focus on ‘high cost-performance’ and ‘popularization’.”

In Sun Tongyu's view, SF Express, led by Wang Wei, and Pinduoduo, which aim to reach the mass market, have different development paths.

"No problem!" Song Ci chuckled confidently. "The model isn't set in stone. I will personally go to see Wang Wei and have a face-to-face talk with him."

When Pinduoduo establishes its brand pavilions in the future, introducing more high-quality brands and premium products, there may be opportunities for cooperation with SF Express.

Sun Tongyu was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, then sincerely admired him: "You've thought things through very well. Okay, I'll leave the logistics to you."

After ending the call with Sun Tongyu, Song Ci's phone vibrated in her hand. Looking down, she saw a WeChat message from Chen Dejun.

After glancing at the contents, a slight smile crept onto his lips as he muttered to himself, "Just when I was feeling sleepy, someone brought me a pillow."

Chen Dejun took the initiative to contact them, representing Shentong and its affiliated Tiantian Express, which coincided with his newly formed "support one company" strategy.

After a moment's thought, he quickly reviewed the upcoming schedule, tapped the screen, and replied: "Mr. Chen, let's meet at the Four Seasons Hotel in Shenzhen at 2 PM the day after tomorrow to discuss the details."

Without pausing, he immediately edited another message and sent it to his secretary, Jian Ning: "Contact Wang Wei, the president of SF Express, to coordinate a time. I need to meet with him."

(End of this chapter)