Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 63 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure (ko-fi)
Edited by tingting
Chapter 63.2 <Legend of Jianghu> has finally aired!
Gao Sheng obviously didn't realize that this advertisement, which he and all of his club members were so proud of, would probably become the dark history point of these future megastars. At this time, he was still filled with intent and wanted to create something of his own. Therefore, when wandering outside the studio, the topic still revolved around work. "Mr. Wang has invited his lawyer team from Biggest Growing Manufacturing to prepare the prosecution materials."
Lin Jingzhe nodded. The Honored Chili Bean Paste was sold at an affordable price, and it occupied the low-end market at a very rapid rate. This kind of vicious business competition forced Haitang to put aside the original plan for the time being. Whether in his business or private life, Lin Jingzhe never was one to advocate for being silently oppressed.
In the future, the market would become overcrowded with copycats; everything was done solely for the sake of profit margins. A large part of this was because it was adapted by these earlier pioneers, in other words, they learned from a bad example. Legal illiteracy preceded early society. Unfortunately, even the wealthiest of business owners rarely defended their legal rights. It’s hard to say why, maybe they found it too troublesome, or just had no concept of it. And because of this lack of fierce response, seeing the first batch of unscrupulous people succeed, the rest will closely follow suit. If they don’t nip the plague at its bud, then the future of Haitang Bean Paste, and even the entire domestic market, would suffer from it.
However, Lin Jingzhe’s counter move will obviously endanger the interests of many people, he knew he would be met with firm resistance. Lin Jingzhe didn't know how powerful he was and whether he could compete with these people, but he planned to try his best. Moreover, he felt that he should at least leave something for this era.
Gao Sheng thought for a while and asked, "Have you seen Wu Wangfei's new quarterly monthly report? In the second half of this year, the number of daily page views of Best Partner Search has completely lifted off like a plane. The number keeps rising every day. Not only this, Yan City’s newly established Internet company in the past few months has exceeded the previous year's number of startups combined. With new various forums and websites appearing, our propaganda workload is also increasing. The technical department has been working hard to tackle the next project since the beginning of the year. I heard from Wu Wangfei that Best Partner’s social platform will be officially launched on the market by the middle of next year."
Lin Jingzhe stated, "He mentioned this idea to me, I am very supportive of it. You have to cooperate smoothly with all your strength."
Gao Sheng laughed. He was taller than Lin Jingzhe and could touch Lin Jingzhe's head as soon as he raised his hand. He tidied up the scarf tucked into Lin Jingzhe's coat, his demeanor exuding a hint of maturity. "Don't worry, although I’ve already started my advertising company, I will not neglect Best Partner IT. The research data showed that the popularity of personal computers in Yan City was now widespread. Someone had already applied for an Internet cafe license in September."
Lin Jingzhe was surprised when he heard this report. The era that he had always been confident and familiar with was about to slowly take flight.
The emergence of Internet cafes marked the beginning of the Information Age, no fact was more intuitive than this. After 1992, in a metropolis like Yan City, countless internet cafes would spring up like mushrooms after the rain. All kinds of large-scale games will enter the lives of ordinary, everyday people, and soon will be all connected through an official, formal network. This industry will start to take off at an unimaginable speed. From a mere unknown, it will then gradually invade every corner of the world.
"Best Partner will be a big cake in the future. Liang Pi and the others have already started the planning process. According to the current development speed, the round A of financing will start after the social software goes public next year. After all, Wu Wangfei and Liang Pi share a good relationship. You have to be careful, although they don’t look like... they don't specifically look to be those types of people, but people's hearts are unpredictable. Best Partner's current industry valuation has already exceeded five million yuan. When the social software launches, this number may skyrocket. You have to pay attention to their future share dilution[1]."
Gao Sheng's current role in Best Partner IT was like pillars given by Lin Jingzhe; he now held up its foundation. With him present, the original core members of Best Partner would not dare to go too far for Liang Pi and Wu Wangfei. He had the witts to back up his means. In a short amount of time, he had turned himself from a dispensable company member to holding jurisdiction of the whole operation department. Everyone knew his background and role, but there was no way to get rid of him. When he started Gao Sheng Advertising, Liang Pi had actually allocated 3% of the company's shares. Fearing that Gao Sheng may leave, he used these shares to keep him tied to the Best Partner IT.
Gao Sheng felt the thrill of fighting against the sky, the earth, and people. This was much more exhilarating than reading and programming!
Different from Zhou Haitang, Gao Sheng had always been a clever child. Lin Jingzhe could almost imagine him a decade later, an astute and circumspect self through his high-spirited face. Fortunately, they had taken a different route in this life. As long as they don't make any wrong turns, Lin Jingzhe no longer needed to worry about their family becoming ruined.
He was a little relieved in his heart, feeling like an old father watching a child he raised single handedly.
Gao Sheng looked at him with a smile, and reached out to shake off the snowflakes falling on his head. "What’s up with your expression?"
Lin Jingzhe couldn't express the emotions in his heart, so he smiled and changed the subject. "By the way, why didn't Haitang come with you?"
Gao Sheng chuckled out loud. "Don't mention him, he’s in a pretty rough state at the moment. We persuaded him not to fool around when he was filling out the application form, but he insisted on copying me. Now he’s to pay for his recklessness, he’s in the middle of changing his major. Our school has very strict requirements for changing majors. You must be in the top three in the class. The counselor also had a lot to say about the matter. He’s now spending every day in the library. Where can he find the time to join in the fun? I tried to invite him before I came, but he said that he was too busy and didn't have time to watch these new actors. If we had invited Li Xueli, then it would have been another story."
Lin Jingzhe just silently smiled. New actors? After <Legend of Jianghu> broadcasts, these ‘new actors’ will explode in popularity. By then, he’ll be immersed in regret and remorse.
However, it was actually Lin Jingzhe who suggested Haitang to switch majors. Zhou Haitang had no plans to continue his studies after high school, but under his coercion and lure, he jokingly filled in the same major and school as Gao Sheng. Gao Sheng was indeed very suitable for computers. After enrolling, he took to C programming like a fish in water. Hoover, it was not the same for Zhou Haitang. His brain was not as naturally bright as Gao Sheng’s. At the beginning, he thought computers were just fun to play with, but as the course became more advanced, Zhou Haitang gradually could no longer keep up.
Coincidentally, the Haitang Food Factory was established. Lin Jingzhe suggested that he change his major to business management. This way, after graduation, he could also help Mother Zhou run the factory.
Wutong University’s business management department was highly ranked in Yan City. After some consideration, Zhou Haitang began to work hard in this direction.
As a self aware person, Zhou Haitang knew he was not an innate innovator. His personality and ability are more suitable to become someone who would preserve the accomplishments of previous generations.
Gao Sheng, on the other hand, was full of ambitions and couldn't wait to open up a world of his own. When he mentioned Liang Sun, he commented that the other party was a very capable peer.
"Very skilled, he showed me a few scripts, they all seem pretty good. They are all light-hearted, humous, or slice-of-life style dramas." Gao Sheng said, "Advertising and Media are from the same family tree. Just like now, we may be in touch with the entertainment industry often in the future. I kind of want to maintain a long-term cooperation with him."
"I have no objection." At the moment, not many people may not know the endless business opportunities in the entertainment industry. On the contrary, Lin Jingzhe, who had experienced the era of entertainment supremacy, was too aware of the profits in it. To be able to lay a solid foundation with this group of currently immature giants was definitely more beneficial than harmful. The initial investment will usher in a huge return in just a few years later. "Don't ever hesitate. Just at any suitable opportunities you find. If you lack funds or hit any difficulties, you can come to me."
"Of course, no need to say it!" Gao Sheng pinched his cheek with a smile, and his eyes fell on the part of his wrist exposed from the cuff. There were two different strings of beads wrapped around it, wrapping around his wrist seven or eight times.
Gao Sheng was dazzled by the clear and brilliant color of the string of tourmaline beads. He then suddenly recalled, "I heard Aunt Zhou said that you are in a relationship? When did this happen?"
Lin Jingzhe didn't expect Mother Zhou to keep this secret for him since the day he confessed, but Gao Sheng's question still left him stumped. He thought about it for a while and answered with a little uncertainty, "Maybe about a year ago?"
"What do you mean maybe? You can't remember how long you've been in a relationship?" Gao Sheng smiled and lightly nudged him, "And you actually kept it from us for so long! That’s a little too much, don’t you think?"
Lin Jingzhe didn't know how to explain, so he could only laugh dryly. Gao Sheng's question made him a little unsure how to answer. In fact, he really didn't deliberately hide it. The fact that he had been dating for more than a year was also fresh news to him.
It was an unexpected mistake, even perhaps preposterous.
"This bracelet is not your style." Gao Sheng touched the round beads, "Your lover’s gift?"
Lin Jingzhe nodded. "Yes, they practice Buddhism."
"That’s unexpected, but it's good to believe in Buddhism. People who practice it are usually gentle and sweet-tempered." Gao Sheng's mood was a bit complicated. Lin Jingzhe had been withdrawn since he was a child, unwilling to contact the outside world. In the past few years, his style has changed drastically. He was even in a flourishing relationship now. On one hand, Gao Sheng was sincerely happy for him, but at the same time, he was also disappointed– The flower seedling he had cared for had been dug up by another appreciator. He sighed, but his eyes remained gentle, "When you’re all free, bring them over so we can all get to know one another."
Lin Jingzhe nodded but didn’t say anything.
In his mind, he thought: You all have already met. Bet you didn’t expect that.
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Footnote:
[1] share dilution - is when a company issues additional stock, reducing the ownership proportion of a current shareholder. Shares can be diluted through a conversion by holders of optionable securities, secondary offerings to raise additional capital, or offering new shares in exchange for acquisitions or services.