Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

Someone knocked on the door again about half an hour after Xiao Peng left. Pei Qian raised his head. It was Ma Yang.

"Brother Qian!" Ma Yang seemed to be in good spirits. "I'm here today to report two matters!"

Eh?

Pei Qian could not help but feel surprised. Old Ma's brain could actually handle reporting two matters at a time?

Not bad, not bad, Old Ma, you're improving a lot!

"Um, it's okay to report." Pei Qian was very happy.

Ma Yang smiled happily and deliberately kept him in suspense. "Also, Brother Qian, these two matters are related to each other!"

Pei Qian: "?"

He was instantly alerted when he heard the word 'related'. Pei Qian was now most afraid of the departments forming relations. A single department was not able to make something horrific. However, the problem would become huge if relations formed and produced a domino effect!

Pei Qian's smile disappeared immediately. "Tell me."

Ma Yang was completely unaware of the change in Pei Qian's expressions. He continued cheerfully. "The first matter is that the DGE club is ready. They can set off officially today or tomorrow to go up against local GOG clubs in mock competitions!"

Pei Qian nodded. That could be taken as good news.

Flying everywhere in the country would require expenses for accommodation and meals. Moreover, they would not participate in official competitions even if they were playing mock competitions. They would, therefore, not become famous and would naturally not be any bonuses or popularity.

Ma Yang continued. "I will also set off with the DGE club and cooperate with Zhang Yuan and Coach Yaling to provide logistical support for the players!"

Pei Qian nodded. Yes, I'm more assured now!

One more person meant one more mouth to feed. Old Ma had such a good appetite; he could consume two peoples' share so he would definitely be able to spend more money.

Moreover, Old Ma had such a 'deep' understanding of the game. He might be able to affect the players subtly and indirectly lower the average of the team.

Ma Yang continued. "The second matter, uh… what was it again?" He scratched his head, trying hard to recall.

Pei Qian was in awe.

You could actually forget 50% of what you wanted to report? Old Ma, your skills are really improving!

"Oh, right!"

Ma Yang clapped. "I discussed with Zhang Wang and will be bringing a few Fully-Automated Bickering Machines with me. On the one hand, it will train the hand speed of the members of the club. On the other hand, it can also serve as a gift to other clubs.

"I think that the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine is very suitable for players who make a living through fast hand speed!"

Pei Qian: "?"

Why hadn't it ended yet?

This Zhang Wang, you're really unscrupulous to find a sales channel for your Fully-Automated Bickering Machine eh!

You would probably succeed if I was even a tiny bit negligent!

Pei Qian now understood why the shared phone booth could become a success. This Zhang Wang might look like bronze on the surface, but there was at least a diamond in him. He did not look scheming, but he had been trying to find a sales route secretly!

Obviously, Pei Qian was very satisfied with Zhang Wang as a great inventor. However, the enthusiastic salesman side of him made Pei Qian very dissatisfied with him!

"No!" He rejected the idea decisively.

Ma Yang was taken aback. "Huh? Brother Qian, it's just a Fully-Automated Bickering Machine. It's not expensive; it shouldn't be too much to be given away as a gift?"

Pei Qian laughed hollowly inside. Should not be too much?

Do you know how much loss I have made because of too many 'should not be too much'?

I would definitely not take it lightly this time!

Pei Qian knew that he had to fix things now. However, it was no longer enough to let Zhang Wang think that there was 'no need to be too bothered about marketing'; it was time to adopt a tougher stance.

Otherwise, Zhang Wang would continue to find new sales routes when more Fully-Automated Bickering Machines were produced!

Pei Qian coughed lightly. "I cannot divulge the reason temporarily. However, the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine is indeed related to a large and long-term plan. It is the most critical part of the entire plan.

"Moreover, it can only be viewed as necessary by the consumers at a particular point in time. It will not achieve my intended effect once it is exposed prematurely.

"In other words, promoting the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine at the wrong time would lose its effectiveness and disrupt my overall plan.

"Therefore, both you and Zhang Wang have to remember to keep your lips sealed about this. Don't spoil my plan!"

Pei Qian did not know what the 'plan' he kept repeating was actually. Anyway, 'long-term plans' could stretch from three years to ten years.

Don't ask. There is a plan for it, but it must not be publicized. The only thing to do was to wait patiently.

Ma Yang showed a dazed expression but nodded immediately. "I see! I'm assured now since Brother Qian you have some plans for it.

"Alright, Brother Qian, I'll go and pack my luggage and prepare to set off then!"

Pei Qian nodded. "Okay, take care of the team members. If you meet with any problems, call me immediately. You must not let our members be bullied outside, alright?"

Ma Yang promised immediately. "Don't worry, Brother Qian, wait and see!"

Pei Qian did not know why, but he felt confident when Ma Yang banged his chest with assurance.

After another hour, someone knocked on the door again when Pei Qian was thinking if he should get off work. It was a rare guest this time.

Yu Pingan, the person-in-charge of 'Top Student, Come Quick'.

Pei Qian immediately became cautious. The problems were usually huge with these rare guests!

"Is there some problem with 'Top Student, Come Quick'?" Pei Qian asked nonchalantly.

Yu Pingan looked a little embarrassed. He only spoke after thinking for another two seconds. "Boss Pei, the current state of 'Top Student, Come Quick' is not very optimistic, I… I would like to have your advice."

Eh?

Pei Qian became alert all of a sudden.

'Top Student, Come Quick' was not optimistic? That was great news!

Didn't it enjoy back-stabbing me previously? It even helped Thriller Hostel do its advertisement. It wasn't that long ago; why was it… not optimistic so soon?

Pei Qian tried to force his mouth from turning upwards. "Meaning?"

Yu Pingan sorted his thoughts and said. "Boss Pei, I think the development of this software has reached a bottleneck so far.

"Originally, the positioning of this app was as a platform for top students and flunkies to communicate and help each other, and we charged a small fee for it.

"However, the reason why 'Top Student, Come Quick' could become successful so soon was because of the use of capital, investment, burning money, chasing after investments to create enough popularity…

"Then, we used the user base left behind by Xude Education and Tengda's other industries as well as the transformation of the app's own function to achieve a new level of popularity and had even become profitable temporarily.

"However, recent data had shown that it had become less optimistic.

"I think the root of the problem is that the communication requirements of top students and flunkies were in itself a pseudo-demand. Related functions are also finding it difficult to support the current user base…"

Pei Qian listened quietly without saying anything. However, he was agreeing with joy in his heart.

That's right! You are so right! Yu Pingan, you have such a clear view of the problem!

The demand for this software was a pseudo-demand from the start!

What did I say… the world was wrong, not me!

Pei Qian finally felt like the world had returned to normal.

How many flunkies would require one-on-one tutoring? How many top students would tutor these flunkies for that little amount of money?

The key feature of a pseudo-demand was that everyone found it interesting and useful at first, but it would be boring once the freshness passed.

The reason why this project was so hot during its early stages was that investors were desperately burning money, and it gained false popularity.

Moreover, when Xude Education took over at a high price, a series of wrong operations only accelerated the failure of the 'Top Student, Come Quick' application.

When Pei Qian decided to buy back this project, Yu Pingan made a mistake by bundling 'Top Student, Come Quick' with Tengda's other industries and developed functions such as video teaching and teaching materials to achieve its popularity.

However, at the very crux, the 'Top Student, Come Quick' application did not solve a key problem—that was its irreplaceability.

If it was only used as an educational software, then at least 40-50% of its current user base would shrink since a large number of users were young people. Its popularity was quickly losing steam now that the problem surfaced.

Pei Qian was delighted with his unexpected good fortune. He thought that Yu Pingan would report bad news, but it turned out to be a fantastic piece of good news!

Could it be that… I'm finally going to see the light at the end of the tunnel?

I'm finally going to prove that the 'Top Student, Come Quick' project was a mistake all along! Could this project finally lose money for me?

Pei Qian nearly burst out laughing and celebrated! However, he could not make it so obvious, considering that Yu Pingan was still here. The corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly, almost out of control.

Yu Pingan did not understand.

What did Boss Pei's expression mean?

Were the issues in my report something that he had expected in advance? He was feeling proud of his foresight?

Or was he laughing at my inability?

Boss Pei was kind; it was probably not the latter…

"Boss Pei, what should I do? Can I have your advice please?" Yu Pingan panicked seeing how Boss Pei remained silent without saying anything.

Pei Qian: "…"

Sh*t, I was overwhelmed with happiness.

The question was… how should he reply to Yu Pingan? Give him some opposing advice?

No, who knew what the hell he would comprehend? He might bring it back to life.

Say nothing?

It seemed like there wasn't such an option. He would definitely think that Boss Pei had some other deep meaning behind his actions and then analyze something from his actions, expressions, behaviors, etc. God knows what kind of conclusion he would draw.

Let him believe in his own decision?

No, that would equate to a buff; his universe would definitely break into pieces.

Pei Qian suddenly realized he had very few options. Finally, Pei Qian decided to use reality to destroy his expectations.

Pei Qian restrained his smile and used his most sincere tone to reply to him. "It does not matter; the 'Top Student, Come Quick' project has completed its mission.

"There were only two goals for this project from the beginning. One was to benefit from the capital injection; the other is to drive the other industries of Tengda.

"These two goals have now been achieved. The 'Top Student, Come Quick' project can now come to a graceful end.

"But you can rest assured that Tengda will continue to allocate funds to 'Top Student, Come Quick' and promote the other industries.

"You've done very well and have worked hard throughout. Have a good rest."