Become the richest man in the world starting from the rebirth of college entrance examination

Afterwards, Zhou Hao called Zhang Guorong's agent Chen Zhuyin and told her on the phone that he would be following up on Zhang Guorong and Mei Yanfang's trip to the mainland. She agreed without hesitation.

Haobo Technology has long established a strong corporate image in the minds of Hong Kong celebrities. From first-tier stars to fifth-tier artists, no one will refuse the cooperation of Haobo Technology. What's more, Zhang Guorong and Mei Yanfang are here to do charity this time. The more charitable the event, the more exposure is needed.

After hanging up the phone with her, Zhou Hao immediately reported to Lu Yatong that the portal website would be officially launched on July 7, and the special reports on the three celebrities' trip to the mainland would also officially begin on the 1st. In the next three days, Zhou Hao asked the portal website team to prepare the special pages, special copywriting, and the establishment of a front-line reporter team, and make sure to use this long-term exclusive news to give the PP portal a good start.

After scheduling the online work, Zhou Hao looked at the time and saw that it was almost time for his appointment with Fang Mingjie, so he took Lu Yatong to the booked restaurant.

Fang Mingjie didn't go to work in the afternoon, so he went to get a haircut to make himself look more energetic, and then changed into the most formal and impressive suit, looking very formal.

In order to avoid traffic jams, Fang Mingjie arrived at the hotel booked by Zhou Hao an hour in advance. At 6:50, Fang Mingjie adjusted his tie through the rearview mirror and made sure that it was okay before getting out of the car and walking into the hotel.

Lu Yatong had already told him the private room that the hotel had booked, so he simply told the receptionist the name of the room and was taken to the room.

Zhou Hao and Lu Yatong arrived a little late, more than ten minutes late at the hotel. They walked slowly to the private room. As soon as the waiter opened the door, Fang Mingjie looked up in the room and realized that he had made a mistake today when he saw Zhou Hao for the first time.

Zhou Hao was wearing a pure gray round-neck T-shirt today, paired with a pair of black shorts, a pair of sandals on his feet, and a backpack on his shoulders.

Lu Yatong's outfit was also very simple, with a short-sleeved white shirt on the upper body, paired with a black hip-hugging long skirt, and a pair of wedge-heeled sandals on her feet, which made her look casual and with a bit of OL style.

Looking at the two of them, and then at himself, Fang Mingjie could only stand up and politely said to Zhou Hao and Lu Yatong who came in: "Hello, Mr. Zhou, hello, Mr. Lu, I am Fang Mingjie from Sequoia Capital, it's our first meeting, please take care of me."

Lu Yatong nodded slightly and gave a professional smile. She didn't say anything, but left the chance to speak to Zhou Hao, because Zhou Hao would naturally respond to his greeting.

Zhou Hao looked at Fang Mingjie with a slightly surprised look, then extended his hand to him and said with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Fang, how long have you been here?"

Fang Mingjie smiled slightly and said casually, "I've been here for a while."

Zhou Hao said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Fang, there was a traffic jam on the road. I kept you waiting for a long time."

Fang Mingjie said hurriedly: "You're welcome."

Zhou Hao smiled slightly and asked Fang Mingjie: "How long have you worked in the investment bank?"

Fang Mingjie fidgeted a little and said nervously, "I have been in investment banking for eight years. I started right after graduation and have been working in this industry ever since."

Zhou Hao nodded and said with a smile: "Then you are also considered a veteran in the investment banking circle. I don't know much about finance. If Mr. Fang thinks I am not professional, please feel free to correct me."

"No, no, your approach to finance is very smart, simple, direct and effective. Even we who specialize in finance are amazed." Fang Mingjie was extremely humble, but he was not pretending. Facing a 20-year-old billionaire like Zhou Hao, Fang Mingjie did not feel any superiority.

Normal Internet companies are all bragging and telling stories. Most Internet entrepreneurs, with just a mouse in hand, dare to tell investors that they are planning to open a global chain of Internet cafes. After starting a business, these low-cost people are very active in financial operations and can make the most of financing. In comparison, Zhou Hao's two financings were too simple, and there was no technology involved and he lacked experience.

But looking at it from another angle, Fang Mingjie felt that the rapid rise of Haobo Technology with only two rounds of financing was unprecedented. The rapid development of Haobo Technology was inseparable from Zhou Hao's operation on the one hand, and was also related to his financing strategy on the other. The first time Zhou Hao raised money from Baidu was to introduce Baidu's traffic. He kicked Baidu out before the second round of financing because Baidu's traffic was of little significance to him. Immediately after the second round of financing, those who invested in Haobo Technology were all Zhou Hao's friends. Shen Haoshun and Ye Shao contributed money and took shares of Haobo Technology, but neither of them interfered with Zhou Hao's operation of the company, so Zhou Hao had absolute control over Haobo Technology.

The truth is simple. Zhou Hao uses the simplest method to achieve the greatest effect.

Zhou Hao laughed at himself and said, "You think so because you are blinded by the success of Haobo Technology."

Zhou Hao knew very well that Fang Mingjie felt that he was good at financial operations, which was a kind of result determinism. After seeing the success of Haobo Technology, he thought that Haobo Technology's practices were great, just like how later generations praised how great and wise it was for Lao Ganma not to go public. In fact, this is result determinism. Think about it the other way around, is it really great that Lao Ganma did not go public? Not necessarily. It was not because she did not go public that Lao Ganma succeeded, but because she made Lao Ganma successful, it was not important to her whether it was listed or not.

Zhou Hao hopes that his own pattern can continue to break through, and he also hopes that his industrial model can continue to break through, so he is not happy about Fang Mingjie's praise. Instead, he is more aware of his own shortcomings. If he just wants to maintain the current situation to make money and spend money with peace of mind, the current simplicity and effectiveness are enough, but if he wants to break through upward, he must change the current development model.

Fang Mingjie pondered for a moment and seemed to grasp the meaning of Zhou Hao's words. He also realized that Zhou Hao was not satisfied with his financial operations.

Thinking of this, Fang Mingjie brought the topic back on track: "Mr. Zhou, you have always been focusing on the development of the Internet and the development of Internet products. If you are worried that you will not be able to keep up with the development of Haobo Technology in terms of finance, I think the best way is to attract a veteran venture capital company like Sequoia to join. If Haobo Technology chooses Sequoia in its C round, Sequoia will definitely use its years of accumulated financial operation experience to help Haobo Technology develop better. If Haobo Technology wants to go public in the United States in the future, we can also provide the most direct and effective help."

Zhou Hao nodded in agreement: "Haobo Technology will definitely go public in the United States in the future, but how many people will get on board when it goes public in the United States?"

Zhou Hao's meaning was a little obscure. What he wanted to express was: listing in the United States is his goal, but he is not considering financing now. What he is considering is attracting more professional talents to join before listing.

Although Fang Mingjie had a lot of foresight and experience in financial operations and investment strategies, he seemed to be a little lacking in understanding the hidden meanings behind other people's words. He didn't understand what Zhou Hao meant, but said in agreement: "Mr. Zhou is absolutely right! Now is the key to get more people on board and move forward together. If Sequoia joins, Haobo Technology will be able to go public in the United States faster and faster!"

Zhou Hao smiled calmly, "Mr. Fang didn't understand what I meant. Haobo Technology is a train. It has completed its last marshaling. It will not be re-marshaled before reaching the next destination. However, if there is a suitable person, a suitable individual, Haobo Technology will take him on this train to the next stop."

Fang Mingjie was dumbfounded. He looked at Zhou Hao in astonishment, and asked after a while: "Mr. Zhou, what do you mean?"

Zhou Hao was helpless, and Lu Yatong beside him shook her head secretly. Fang Mingjie was completely confused. He was extremely sensitive to finance, but he had trouble understanding the twists and turns in such words.

Zhou Hao simply opened up and said, "Mr. Fang, let me be frank. Before going public, Haobo Technology is not planning to do a C round of financing. Our goal is to go public on NASDAQ at the end of 03 or the first half of 04. During this one and a half to two years, Haobo Technology will focus on development. We only accept individuals to join Haobo Technology, and do not accept any companies or institutions to join."

Fang Mingjie got anxious when he heard this, and said indignantly: "Boss Zhou, aren't you fooling people? You announced that you were going to raise a C round of financing, and the entire industry is eagerly waiting to discuss the C round with you. You asked Boss Lu to call, and I came to discuss financing with you in the 30-degree heat. You suddenly said this, aren't you playing tricks on me!"

Zhou Hao looked at Fang Mingjie's angry expression and said innocently, "When did we say we wanted to raise a Series C round?"

Fang Mingjie blurted out, "Didn't someone from Shuncheng Capital reveal it? Wasn't Shuncheng Capital the lead investor in Haobo Technology's Series B round?"

Zhou Hao nodded: "You said it yourself, it was Shuncheng Capital that revealed it, what does it have to do with me?"

"Here……"

Fang Mingjie was speechless after being retorted by Zhou Hao. Haobo Technology had never said that it wanted to raise funds. The news all came from Shen Haoshun's Shuncheng Capital. However, everyone knew that Shuncheng Capital had a close relationship with Haobo Technology, and no one doubted the authenticity of the news.

At this point, Fang Mingjie also realized that he had gotten into trouble. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and said hesitantly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou. I was impulsive just now. I take back what I said. I'm really sorry!"

Zhou Hao shook his head and smiled, "I'm not that petty, sit down and talk."

Fang Mingjie nodded hurriedly, sat back in his seat, and asked tentatively: "Mr. Zhou, since Haobo Technology is not planning to raise a C round of financing, then what is the purpose of your meeting with me..."

Zhou Hao smiled and said, "I invited you here today because I want to have more exchanges with people in the investment banking circle. Since the development of Haobo Technology, we have not actually had any contact with real investment banks."

Fang Mingjie nodded. You are not planning to raise funds, but you are serious about asking me to meet you. You want to contact people in the investment banking circle. How can I report to them when I go back?

Seeing Fang Mingjie looking thoughtful, Zhou Hao smiled and asked, "Mr. Fang, in your opinion, what financial aspects of Haobo Technology need to be improved urgently?"

Fang Mingjie put away his frustration and said hastily, "Boss Zhou, given the scale of Haobo Technology, it is already the top Internet company in China. How dare I make a rash comment on it?"

Zhou Hao smiled and said, "Our scale is built up by products, users and business models. We have no focus on finance. You are an expert in finance. I believe that in your eyes, Haobo Technology must have a lot of room for improvement."

Fang Mingjie hesitated for a moment, thinking that since Zhou Hao was not planning to raise funds, he did not need to be so cautious. He said seriously, "Boss Zhou, to be honest, it is rare to find a company of Haobo Technology's size that does not pay attention to financial operations."

Zhou Hao nodded and said seriously: "You are right. Financial capital operation is indeed the shortcoming of Haobo Technology."

Fang Mingjie went on to say: "Since the rise of Haobo Technology, the development speed of the domestic Internet has significantly increased a lot, but Haobo Technology has no other operations except the acquisition of Hao123."

Zhou Hao agreed deeply with what Fang Mingjie mentioned. Since the establishment of Haobo Technology, he has only thought about three issues in his mind: products, operations, and revenue. He has never had the time or energy to examine the overall development trend of the Internet, let alone study which future awesome companies are still in the early stages of their entrepreneurship.

If we look at it from the perspective of Haobo Technology, investment and acquisition can help Haobo Technology quickly solve horizontal development and strategic layout. If Zhou Hao wants to make the gaming business bigger and stronger like Tencent did in later generations, he can acquire a game development company. If he wants to add a security software to the ecological closed loop of Haobo Technology, he can also directly acquire a security software R&D company.

Zhou Hao's demand for financial operations is not as simple as registering offshore companies, executing offshore transactions, preparing financing and even going public. He also needs someone who is good at spending money externally and can spend every penny wisely with the company's business as the core. With such a person as his right-hand man, once external capital operations begin, with precise vision and operations, the company's development speed will be further improved.

The rise of Tencent has a routine that makes people love and hate it, which is its investment strategy. It relied on imitation in the early stage, but after it has the strength, it no longer bothers to imitate. Its truly amazing routine is financial capital operation. Once there is a business or product that it is interested in, it will directly invest or acquire it; if the other party refuses its investment or acquisition, it will immediately turn to another company of the same type, give it money and resources, let it rise quickly and kill the company that rejected it before. If this still doesn't work, then do it on its own.

Zhou Hao also realized that it was becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the diversified development of the Internet industry with his own energy, so he urgently needed a master with unique vision and rich experience like Fang Mingjie to join. If he could set up a strong force and expand the territory for him, his energy would gradually be recovered from the major products. He would no longer care about the stable old business, and the new business would be slowly handed over to other capable people after stable development. What he had to do was to focus on the big strategy and focus his energy on PP and Taobao, two products that can be called nuclear reactors. As long as these two products remain strong, they can nourish countless various "Internet factories". Once the era of mobile Internet arrives, he will plan to build a third nuclear reactor - WeChat. The WeChat era is the era of mobile Internet, and it is also the era of data. At that time, the fourth nuclear reactor - cloud computing - can be started.

Once Zhou Hao starts up these four nuclear reactors and makes them bigger and stronger, he will be able to do anything in the Internet field.

So, Zhou Hao didn't beat around the bush and asked Fang Mingjie seriously: "If I invite you to be the director of the investment department of Haobo Technology, would you be interested?"

Fang Mingjie was stunned and looked at Zhou Hao without saying anything for a long time, and finally he realized.

Fang Mingjie had never thought about changing jobs. He felt that he was more suitable for the financial investment industry. Moreover, Sequoia, as the most well-known multinational VC, was indeed an impeccable platform, so Zhou Hao's proposal was not attractive to him.

After a moment of surprise, Fang Mingjie said seriously: "Mr. Zhou, thank you for your appreciation. I have no plans to change jobs now."

Zhou Hao was not surprised by this answer, but asked: "Can you tell me the reason?"

Fang Mingjie said: "Sequoia is a unique platform. I think I can realize my ambitions under this platform."