Chapter 835: Chapter 542: Both an Honor and a Cage!
“Speaking of which, don’t always work overtime; spend more time having meals with Dean Zhang and the others.”
“Got it,” Zhang Sixing nodded slightly, looking quite perfunctory.
“Seeing you , I feel you might be scared to go home? Are you staying at the office so often because you don’t want to go home?” Cheng Zhu saw right through him.
Zhang Sixing opened his mouth but hesitated to speak.
“Tell me, what’s the reason?” Cheng Zhu crossed his legs.
He leaned back in his boss’s chair, complaining, “Do you know your behavior makes it seem like I, as your boss, am exploiting you? Don’t let it lead to Dean Zhang forming any negative opinion of me.”
He portrayed himself as the “victim” and the “scapegoat,” making it easier for Zhang Sixing to open up.
In fact, Cheng Zhu was not wrong.
The former “Hulk” Zhang struggled to speak, forced a bitter smile: “My parents are trying to arrange blind dates for me, they’re urging me to get married.”
He didn’t expect the reason to be so clichéd.
But thinking carefully, he could understand.
Firstly, Old Zhang is not young; he’s already over thirty.
Secondly, the parents are getting old; they naturally want to see their son have a normal family.
Additionally, they surely hope Zhang Sixing can start his new life.
A year has passed, which isn’t a short time.
But Cheng Zhu could sense that Old Zhang is somewhat afraid of marriage.
Joking aside, after going through such an experience, any normal person would be averse, fearful, or even loathe women.
The saying goes, once bitten by a snake, you’ll fear rope for ten years.
He’s still resisting now.
“No, don’t avoid home because of this, and stop working overtime recklessly; don’t wreck your health,” Cheng Zhu said.
Zhang Sixing is indeed a tech guru; Cheng Zhu wants to keep him around for a few more years.
Moreover, this person has rich experience in caring for pregnant women and children, yet still has no descendants.
If you don’t keep yourself healthy, don’t let the Zhang family lineage end with yours, alright!
I won’t take the blame for that!
Seeing that Zhang Sixing remained silent, Cheng Zhu asked, “Have you mentioned anything about Susu to Dean Zhang and the others?”
Cheng Zhu didn’t press further on this.
He’s actually quite close now to Dean Zhang’s family.
Dean Zhang’s wife is Chen Jieyu’s teacher, who has given her considerable help, truly deserving the title of a mentor and benefactor.
Zhang Sixing is also Cheng Zhu’s right-hand man now.
And there’s not much Cheng Zhu can actually do.
“Tianyun Capital is heavily supporting Paipai now.”
At four in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu sat in the office and started a video conference with Eleme.
Although he holds a small share, Zhang Xuhao views him as half a think tank and wouldn’t disregard Cheng Zhu’s opinions.
If it weren’t for many hurdles, he would have wanted Cheng Zhu to invest more during the F-round financing.
Unfortunately, such top-tier opportunities are ones that multiple capitals are unwilling to concede.
Besides, Cheng Zhu doesn’t have much spare cash now.
This video conference was still about Meituan.
Currently, Meituan is burning money crazily, making both Dianping and Eleme doubt themselves.
Wang Xin has gone into Demon King mode, leading in a one-versus-two scenario.
Fortunately, Eleme recently completed F-round financing, so they have money on hand and aren’t panicked.
It’s just that spending the money is truly heart-wrenching!
Cheng Zhu remained indifferent.
“Anyway, I only put in 20 million US dollars; I’m just an extra.”
“Going through this burning phase; the majority is their money burning.”
Thus, when the pro-battle faction indicated they would stand against Meituan till the end, Cheng Zhu cheered from the sidelines!
I have little money, so I don’t feel the pain!
Moreover, this is the situation he hoped to see.
Meituan, currently, is nothing more than a threatening paper tiger.
After the video conference ended, Zhang Xuhao specifically called Cheng Zhu.
On the call, Cheng Zhu was mainly concerned about one thing.
“Has Mr. Zhang Tao recently met Wang Xin?” he asked.
“No, I’m monitoring it too,” Zhang Xuhao replied.
Last time, after Cheng Zhu scared him like that, Zhang Xuhao was genuinely anxious.
“Hmm, good that they haven’t met yet,” Cheng Zhu said.
Now, with Youu Tea, Ming Tea, Persistent Visit’s strong joining, Eleme doesn’t really find itself at a disadvantage against Meituan.
Beverages have always been a major part of deliveries, especially in summer!
Youu Tea is currently the most trending high-end milk tea, and Ming Tea is the hottest affordable milk tea now. With their aid, Eleme really has no rival in the drink category.
However, Meituan’s strategy of surrounding cities from rural areas is truly tough, and their ground campaigns indeed terrifying, thus making things somewhat challenging.
On the call, Cheng Zhu still didn’t forget to mention one point.
“Do you think Wang Xin is now focusing more on [group buying], or more on [delivery]?”
This question plunged Zhang Xuhao into contemplation.
“Group buying is Meituan’s foundation,” he replied.
“But the outlook for the delivery market is evidently better, and the past popularity of group buying had a hint of false prosperity.”
“So I think it’s fifty-fifty,” Zhang Xuhao said.
Cheng Zhu disagreed: “I think he’s valuing delivery more, and way more now!”
“Unfortunately, our Mr. Zhang from Dianping is only an Eleme shareholder, with his main base still in group buying,” Cheng Zhu sighed.
This difference in mindset is quite fatal.
But it doesn’t matter; Cheng Zhu can plant seeds.
“Do you want to arrange a meal with Mr. Zhang soon?” Cheng Zhu suggested.