Chapter 838: Chapter 543: Cheng Zhu Is Really Something Else (Part 2)
Group buying is no longer favored by capital, but ride-hailing is different.
The market prospects for ride-hailing in the country are actually quite good.
No matter how much money is burned in the early stage, there’s always a way to earn it back later.
But what about group buying?
[Dianping] is doing the math, and they’re doing it very clearly.
If we really fight for a few months, there’s no future for our company!
So, he thinks Wang Xin is really fucking crazy.
At this moment, Bao Fan glanced at the two of them, knowing they had both gotten into character.
So, he started talking about the numbers again.
“At the most intense stage of the battle between [Didi] and [Kuai Di], they were burning this amount in a day!” He held up four fingers.
“Forty million a day!”
“Nearly 40 million in subsidies a day!”
At this point, he glanced at the two again, then laughed and said, “When I asked them if it hurt to burn so much, if they regretted it, each one said it hurt and they regretted it.”
“At that time, when I asked them to talk mergers, not one of them was willing to come at first!”
“I barely managed to get the founders of both companies to the hotel.”
“Once they arrived, I definitely wouldn’t let them leave. Anyway, food and drinks were provided, and this matter had to be settled for me!”
At this point, he gave the two another meaningful look.
Bao Fan chuckled, “Haha, calling you two together for a meal is much easier than calling them.”
No way around it, both Meituan and Dianping had business dealings with Huaxing.
In fact, Wang Xin and Didi’s Cheng Wei were quite familiar, long-time friends.
However, when this guy later rose to fame, he secretly laid out plans for a ride-hailing business, which backstabbed Cheng Wei and caused a rift in their relationship.
Next, Bao Fan continued to lead the rhythm of the conversation, talking about the future trends of the group buying market under the macroeconomic situation.
Huaxing Capital, being the advisor to so many unicorn giants, naturally lends high credibility to his words.
Zhang Tao and Wang Xin listened attentively and nodded repeatedly.
Additionally, Bao Fan frequently mentioned [Nuomi], a subsidiary of [Baidu].
Yeah, there’s still Nuomi, lurking with covetous eyes!
This made Zhang Tao feel even more that Wang Xin was crazy.
Baidu had said they’d invest 20 billion for fun.
If you beat the shit out of each other, aren’t they just going to pick up the pieces in the end?
As the conversation went on, Zhang Tao was already certain in his heart: “Bao Fan is here as the middleman!”
This man, known as the [King of Mergers and Acquisitions], wants to facilitate the merger of Meituan and Dianping!
According to the script, at this dinner, Wang Xin and Zhang Tao would eventually talk until they “hugged each other and cried”; continuing to burn isn’t a viable solution!
However, today Bao Fan sharply sensed that Zhang Tao occasionally seemed absent-minded.
This puzzled him immensely.
Because, in his mind, Wang Xin and Zhang Tao were completely different kinds of people.
Wang Xin is more aggressive, more ambitious, with a stronger tyrant trait.
On the other hand, Zhang Tao’s [Dianping] has been around since 2003, a full 12 years now!
12 years of ups and downs can wear out many things, bringing endless fatigue.
Among the top-tier magnates with special status in the financial world, one couldn’t imagine that on this chessboard, there was an unassuming little pawn, which he had overlooked, continuously playing a role.
Tonight, Zhang Tao kept recalling what Zhang Xuhao had said to him.
“Cheng Zhu said there would be a [middleman] coming to facilitate the merger of Dianping and Meituan.”
At that time, Zhang Tao replied, “That’s hilarious!”
The louder he scoffed back then, the more resounding the invisible slap at this moment!
At the end of the dinner, Zhang Tao and Wang Xin both stated they would discuss the matter internally after returning.
“I also need to go back and ask someone.” Zhang Tao said.
Bao Fan nonchalantly chuckled, feeling that this was already a done deal.
Compared to the complicated merger of [Didi] and [Kuai Di], Meituan and Dianping are a breeze.
“Given the current circumstances and situation, you simply have no choice!” Bao Fan thought to himself.
And he probably couldn’t dream that when Zhang Tao said he would go back and ask someone, he was going to ask a…
— University Student!
University student, a leading figure in the shameless community.
“I’m a university student, can you give me a discount?”
“I’m a university student, can I get it for free?”
This is the vile face of contemporary university students, which later even became a meme.
Cheng·Soon-to-be-Sophomore·Zhu: “I’m a university student, don’t merge just yet, listen to me!”
The next day, in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu received a call from Zhang Xuhao.
“It’s bad, Mr. Zhang asked me to arrange a dinner, saying he’ll come with me to Hang City to find you in the next couple of days.” Zhang Xuhao said candidly on the phone.
For him, the way things developed , it undoubtedly showed… the seed Cheng Zhu planted had taken effect, and the situation indeed turned in the worst direction for [Eleme]!
Cheng Zhu held the phone, smiling as he said, “I know you’re anxious, but don’t be in such a hurry.”
“What kind of bullshit is that!” Zhang Xuhao couldn’t help but laugh and curse.
He and Cheng Zhu were both young people and were now quite familiar with each other.
In his eyes, Cheng Zhu always came out with some laughably absurd remarks.
“Don’t come to Hang City, I happen to have something to do in Shanghai in a couple of days, why don’t you host there?” Cheng Zhu said.
“Alright, I’ll inform Mr. Zhang.” Zhang Xuhao replied.
At this moment, the guy was driving while taking the Bluetooth call.