From Taobao intern to the father of Pinduoduo

Chapter 182 Jack Ma: Wild Goose, Come Back

Shanghai Exhibition Center.

The red carpet stretched from the entrance all the way to the steps, with reporters carrying cameras and microphones crowding both sides, facing the red carpet.

The reporters gathered in small groups, discussing the main characters of the day.

"Hey, guess what price we'll get for this one-yuan sale?" a bespectacled male reporter asked in a low voice.

"It's hard to say," a reporter next to him analyzed seriously. "This is the first time someone has put a profitable website up for auction."

"I think ten million is a reasonable amount, right?"

"Stop joking. Any nouveau riche could easily pull out ten million. Why make such a fuss?"

"I think it should start at 50 million!"

"Fifty million is a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it?"

At that moment, a female reporter approached and asked mysteriously, "Do you know how old the founder of Pinduoduo is?"

Before anyone could answer, the female reporter boasted, "26 years old."

Everyone gasped in surprise, recognizing China's contribution to global heating.

"26 years old... I was still covering social news when I was 26."

"He's only 26, and his net worth is estimated at 200 billion. If he made the Hurun Rich List, he'd be the youngest, right?"

"They're here! Someone's coming!"

Suddenly, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to it.

A black Audi pulled up at the entrance, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in an ordinary suit got out.

"He's from Baidu." Someone recognized him. "He's from Baidu's e-commerce division, his surname is Wang."

"Tch, they just sent someone from the business unit?" someone said disappointedly.

"Baidu is riding high right now. I heard that Google is going to withdraw from the Chinese market, and Baidu will dominate the market from now on."

"It's normal that Robin Li didn't come; the two are not in the same league."

As they were talking, another car stopped.

The moment the car door opened, a flurry of flashes went off.

"Liu Qiangdong!"

"Liu Qiangdong of JD.com!"

"He actually came in person!"

Liu Qiangdong, dressed in a dark blue suit, smiled and waved to the media before striding into the venue.

The reporters were excited.

"Liu Qiangdong came in person?!"

"Wow, Liu Qiangdong also started from scratch. He and Lin Mu are like twin stars in the e-commerce industry."

"It's rare to see the two of them in the same frame."

"However, didn't JD.com also launch its own one-yuan purchase service?"

"Is this to strengthen the team?"

Before he could finish speaking, another car stopped.

This time, the entire room fell silent for a second.

Then an even more intense burst of flashes erupted.

"Ma Huateng!"

"Tencent's Ma Huateng!"

"Holy crap, Ma Huateng himself is here!"

Ma Huateng, dressed in a casual suit, was accompanied by Peng Zhijian. He smiled, nodded to the media, and walked directly into the venue without lingering.

The reporters went crazy.

"Ma Huateng! He's rarely made public appearances since the 3Q War!"

"Pinduoduo is part of Tencent, so it's normal for him to come. But for him to come in person, that's a huge show of respect!"

"What does this show? It shows that Pinduoduo holds a very important position within Tencent's business empire!"

Before he could finish speaking, another car stopped.

This time, even the seasoned reporters fell silent.

The car door opened, and a small, thin figure stepped out.

"Holy shit..."

""

Jack Ma...

""

"Aren't Alibaba and Pinduoduo mortal enemies? Why is Jack Ma here?"

"What... what's going on?"

Jack Ma, wearing his signature cloth shoes, smiled and waved to the media. He seemed to be in a good mood, even pausing to let reporters take a few more pictures.

Then, he slowly walked into the venue.

The media area was left in an uproar.

As they were discussing it, another commotion broke out at the door.

"The CEO of Pinduoduo has arrived!"

Lin Mu walked out of the venue, accompanied by Chen Ping.

He stood at the doorway, sunlight shining on him, his dark gray suit making him look tall and straight.

The reporters swarmed around.

"Mr. Lin! Mr. Lin! May I ask you a few questions?"

Lin Mu stopped and nodded with a smile: "Okay, but you can only ask three."

The reporters immediately began scrambling to get their hands on it.

The first question was cut off by a male reporter wearing glasses: "Mr. Lin, with all four industry leaders gathered today, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Lin Mu smiled and said, "Thank you all for coming. Especially Mr. Ma..." He paused, glanced towards the venue, and continued, "I am very surprised and touched that you could come in person."

The second question was interrupted by a female reporter: "Mr. Lin, it's said that you and Jack Ma don't get along, is that true?"

Lin Mu shook his head: "Not getting along? Not at all. Mr. Ma was my former boss, a very good boss. I learned a lot at Alibaba. Without that experience, there would be no Pinduoduo today."

The third question was quickly cut off by a young reporter: "Mr. Lin, why sell the one-yuan purchase service? Wasn't that business doing very well?"

Lin Mu's smile became subtle.

He hesitated for a moment, then said in a relaxed tone, "Because the subsidies are too expensive."

The reporters were taken aback.

Lin Mu continued, "You have no idea how much money Pinduoduo burns every month. They offer discounts, free fruit, subsidies for merchants, subsidies for users... they burn through hundreds of millions every month."

He shrugged, looking helpless: "Even the richest family doesn't have surplus grain. So, we sell a side business to supplement our household income."

""

The reporters burst into laughter.

Lin Mu nodded to them, then turned and walked into the venue.

Inside the venue, in the VIP area.

When Lin Mu walked in, most people were already seated.

He glanced around and saw that Mr. Wang from Baidu was sitting in the corner, looking somewhat reserved. Liu Qiangdong was sitting in the middle, near the front, chatting with the person next to him.

Ma Huateng and Peng Zhijian were sitting in the front row, talking in hushed tones.

Meanwhile, Jack Ma sat alone on the other side, holding an auction catalog and reading it intently.

Lin Mu glanced between Ma Huateng and Ma Yun, then walked towards Liu Qiangdong.

"Mr. Liu." Lin Mu extended his hand.

Liu Qiangdong immediately stood up and shook his hand: "Mr. Lin, I've heard so much about you."

The two shook hands and looked each other up and down.

-

Liu Qiangdong is more than ten years older than Lin Mu, but at this moment, he looks at the young man in front of him with undisguised admiration in his eyes.

"Mr. Lin, I've heard about your story. You left Taobao and started your own business, building it to this scale in just over a year... That's remarkable," Liu Qiangdong said sincerely.

Lin Mu smiled and said, "Mr. Liu, you flatter me. You are the one who truly started from scratch, building your business from a small counter in Zhongguancun to where it is today. I still have a lot to learn from you."

Liu Qiangdong waved his hand, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it over with both hands: "Mr. Lin, this is my business card. Let's keep in touch in the future."

Lin Mu took it and handed over his own business card: "Mr. Liu, this is mine."

Liu Qiangdong took the business card, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket.

Just then, Lin Mu suddenly lowered his voice and said in a casual tone, "Brother Liu, if you go to America in the future, you can't afford to mess around."

Liu Qiangdong was taken aback: "What?"

Lin Mu smiled, his tone still relaxed: "Some people have a very long reach."

Liu Qiangdong looked completely bewildered: "What do you mean?"

Lin Mu didn't explain, patted his shoulder, and turned to walk towards his seat.

Liu Qiangdong was left standing there, looking completely bewildered.

Lin Mu had just sat down when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Wild geese".

Lin Mu turned his head.

Jack Ma stood behind him, smiling.

Lin Mu stood up and nodded slightly: "Mr. Ma."

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

The surrounding media immediately became excited, and all their cameras were pointed at this side.

Jack Ma ignored the cameras and looked at Lin Mu with complex emotions in his eyes.

Appreciation, regret, and a hint of caution.

"Wild geese," Ma Yun said, his voice not loud, but each word clear, "come back."

Ok?

Lin Mu was stunned, not expecting Lao Ma to pull this stunt.

Are you trying to create hype too?!

Jack Ma continued, "I'll acquire Pinduoduo. You'll come back and become the CEO of Taotian Group."

Holy crap?!

Lin Mu thought to himself: Are you serious?

The surrounding reporters, like sharks smelling blood, frantically pressed the shutter.

Lin Mu shook his head and said, "What I want, Taobao can't give me."

"I can give you authority; you can fight for what you want."

Hey, hey, no.

Lin Mu thought to himself: Old Ma, are you trying to make this a melodrama?

Lin Mu said, "Mr. Ma, forget it. Taobao is good, but the outside world is much more open and exciting."

Hearing this reply, Jack Ma didn't feel any regret; he was just creating hype.

In today's fiercely competitive e-commerce market, by elevating Pinduoduo and creating a powerful alliance, they can effectively suppress the momentum of other rivals.

A wolf like Lin Mu, once it has its prey, will not turn back.

Just kill them directly.