You call this entrepreneurship?

Chapter 375

Chen Guangxia held the "plan" in his hand, pondering silently, tapping the table with his fingers, as if he was thinking carefully.

Director Meng, who was sitting opposite, did not urge him. He looked at Chen Guangxia with a smile, waiting for him to make a decision.

Chen Guangxia was a little confused at this time. Zhang Pingyi asked him to come over for a social event and had told him some things in advance.

At that time, he agreed very readily, thinking that it was nothing more than some social drinking parties and nothing difficult to deal with.

But when the real thing came, he felt a little scalp-tingling when looking at the list in his hand.

How to deal with this?
Just refuse directly, for fear of offending Mr. Qin.

What if you agree to it but can’t fulfill it later?
Chen Guangxia put down the list in his hand expressionlessly, stood up, and said to Director Meng in surprise, "Wait a moment, I'll make a call first."

"Oh, sure, sure. Go ahead." Director Meng agreed casually.

Chen Guangxia quickly went out and found a corner to call Qin Shaoyan.

"Boss Qin, it's me, Chen Guangxia."

Qin Shaoyan was a little surprised, "Did you finish the discussion so quickly?"

"No, we just started talking." Chen Guangxia hesitated. "Director Meng gave me a list of names for the second international college student summer camp. There are 40 to 50 names on it. What should I do?"

"If you want to get people in, it's easy. Just add money." Qin Shaoyan replied, "Do you really think I'm a philanthropist?"

"I am here to train talents, not a recycling station. Do I accept anything?"

"Brother Chen, you don't have to worry about anything. Just deal with them boldly. If there's anything you can't handle, just pass it on to the boss."

"Reject all excessive requests. If you think it's negotiable, then talk about it. In the end, it's not you who makes the final decision."

Chen Guangxia thought about it, made up his mind, and let out a long sigh, "Okay, Mr. Qin, I understand."

"I just spoke nonsense boldly."

"Just go for it. I believe in you, Brother Chen." Qin Shaoyan praised, "This little thing is a piece of cake for you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Guangxia sorted out his thoughts, took a deep breath, and turned back to the box.

Director Meng smiled when he saw Chen Guangxia coming back, and asked tentatively, "Mr. Chen, how is it?"

"No!" Chen Guangxia said in a deep voice.

The smile on Director Meng's face disappeared, and his brows slightly frowned, "Why?"

"There are too many people in your plan." Chen Guangxia sat back in his chair, and gradually became more confident. He said loudly, "There are only 30 student representatives in the first phase, and there are at least more than 40 people in this so-called plan you gave me."

Director Meng frowned and asked, "It's fifty-two. Isn't it just adding twenty-two more people? What's the problem? Didn't your CEO Qin say before that he wanted to expand it to fifty people?"

"Mr. Qin is the CEO of the campus network. We are from YouTube." Chen Guangxia emphasized again, "Do you know how much more it costs to add one more person? Do you know that we have strict budget and financial supervision?"

"Take the first phase for example, there are 30 student representatives, and the average cost per student is 500,000 US dollars!"

Chen Guangxia stretched out his hand and shook it with his five fingers spread out. "And this is even after the campus network has borne part of the cost."

"Summer camp is not a free ride. Taking one person is still a free ride, and taking ten people is still a free ride."

"The success of the International College Student Summer Camp is due to the hard work of investing in it. We spend every penny of our funds and budget wisely."

Director Meng was also stunned for a moment. He did not expect the cost of this activity to be so high. Then he changed his mind and realized that it would cost a lot of money just to establish connections with the United Nations, so he felt relieved.

After Chen Guangxia said this, Director Meng also understood what he meant.

You need to buy a ticket for this bus, you cannot get on the bus for free.

He hesitated for two seconds and said, "We can sponsor part of the event funds, right?"

Chen Guangxia thought for a moment and asked, "How much are you willing to pay?"

Director Meng's eyes flickered, and he held up a finger. "How about one hundred thousand dollars?"

Chen Guangxia stood up and sneered, "Director Meng, are you insulting us at Microsoft?"

After saying that, he was ready to leave.

"Wait a minute." Director Meng quickly stood up and said, "How about two hundred thousand?"

Chen Guangxia ignored him and walked towards the door of the box.

"Three hundred thousand!" Director Meng shouted, "How about three hundred thousand? We can discuss it."

Chen Guangxia turned around and glanced at the other party. "We can still consider 400,000."

"Four hundred thousand is too high." Director Meng gritted his teeth and said, "How about three hundred and fifty thousand? Three hundred and fifty thousand US dollars!"

Chen Guangxia returned to the table but did not sit down. "Director Meng, this is not a matter of money."

"What was the original purpose of the International College Student Summer Camp? It was not about promoting international college student exchanges, nor was it a study tour program."

"This summer camp is for the future elites of the United States. Do you know what elites are?"

"The university students represented in the United States are all students from Ivy League schools. They come from established political families in the United States and have great power in American politics."

"Many places in this event need to use the family backgrounds of these students to build connections. Otherwise, it would not be so easy to hold a forum at the United Nations. The United Nations is not a charity organization."

"These future elites in the United States attend summer camps just to gain popularity and qualifications. The other students are just backgrounds and foils."

Director Meng suddenly realized it at this time. No wonder.

An international college summer camp can create such a grand scene; ordinary activities don’t have this kind of grandeur.

It turned out that it was done by the children of powerful American officials.

Director Meng's eyes became brighter and brighter the more he listened, and his expression became more excited. If that's the case, then he must participate in this summer camp!
The high charges are understandable, you get what you pay for.

"Mr. Chen, five hundred thousand dollars is indeed a bit high." Director Meng said with a smile, "But it's not impossible to negotiate. Come on, sit down, I'll toast you a glass."

"I've already said it's not about money." Chen Guangxia frowned, but sat down.

It's indeed not just a matter of money. How could Director Meng not understand this?

In addition to money, I also want to discuss some terms of exchange.

Director Meng was just waiting for Chen Guangxia to speak. That's how business is done.

Pay the high price on the spot.

"This list of 52 is too many." Chen Guangxia flicked the list with his finger, "The number of places in the summer camp is limited, and it is impossible to cram so many people in."

"Besides, there is a selection process before that. If your fifty-two take up all the places, what will happen to the selected ones?"

"The international college summer camp was reported on CCTV news, and it is so popular now, so it will definitely attract public attention."

"That's easy." Director Meng said confidently, "We can give the news media a heads-up in advance. We're all friends, and they know what to say and what not to say."

"We had informed the CCTV in advance that the summer camp could be on CCTV this time. We were given a lot of screen time and everyone is familiar with each other."

"It's just a selection. Just put these fifty-two people on the selection list and follow the process."

Chen Guangxia smiled and said, "That's definitely not possible. This matter is not as simple as you think."

"The final list still needs to be reviewed by the US headquarters. I'm afraid that not even half of your students will pass the background check."

"Background check?!" Director Meng's hands trembled, and everything in the cup spilled out. His face suddenly darkened. "Why is there a background check? Why didn't you mention this before?"

"Of course there was a background check." Chen Guangxia was very surprised. "Didn't Mr. Edward tell you about it before?"

"Those American students in the summer camp are the future of America, so anyone who gets close to them must be screened."

Director Meng breathed a sigh of relief. "That's no problem. These people are from clean merchant families. What could be the problem?"

"The background check is not based on this, but on academic performance." Chen Guangxia sighed, "How can we communicate with American elites when we can't even understand English?"

Director Meng frowned tightly. Qin Shaoyan had mentioned this issue to him before, but he didn't take it seriously.

In the first phase, you don’t need to intervene and build a good reputation and a model project. This is a necessary process.

Only when word of mouth is spread will it have an impact and attract people to buy tickets and get on board.

But using this as an excuse for the second issue is too much. We are still waiting to collect the agency fee. How can we collect it if you don’t sell tickets?
"Mr. Chen, we clearly agreed on this before," Director Meng said in an unhappy tone, "Mr. Qin and Mr. Edward both promised that there could be some flexibility in the second phase."

"Why did you suddenly change your mind now?"

"The past is the past, and the present is the present." Chen Guangxia said slowly, "Before, Facebook and Campus Network jointly hosted the event, and they could make the decision."

"Now that YouTube has joined the fray, and YouTube has been acquired by Microsoft, the executives have all been replaced, and the people who agreed to the terms are no longer with us."

"Even if the campus network in China agrees, it may be stuck in the United States."

Director Meng was a little confused. It was not hosted by the campus network or Facebook, but YouTube came later.

So what is the relationship between the changes in YouTube’s senior management and the conditions agreed upon previously?
Chen Guangxia's words disrupted Director Meng's train of thought. He tried to think clearly for a long time and asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with anything?"

"There is a boss behind each of these companies." Chen Guangxia said calmly, "That's all I have to say. Those who understand will understand. I can't say more."

Director Meng nodded, not quite understanding, "So the conditions we discussed before don't count?"

"You can say that." Chen Guangxia replied.

"Why don't Americans abide by the spirit of contract?!" Director Meng was shocked and angry. How could an American company do this?

But before Director Meng could say anything, Hao Zhiqiang, who had been watching the show silently, became anxious.

"How could you do this!" Hao Zhiqiang stood up angrily, pointing his trembling finger at Chen Guangxia, "I'm going to sue you! I'm going to find a lawyer to sue you. Do you still want your company to do business with China?"

Qin Shaoyan had promised to get him two places before. Ever since the "International College Student Summer Camp" was reported on CCTV news, the value of the student representative places has skyrocketed.

The two places in Hao Zhiqiang's hands became even more important. After hearing that he could get a place, the deserted door was almost broken down by the crowds.

There were people giving gifts, people asking for favors, and everything else, all just for those two spots.

From then on, everyone who saw him would smile at him, which made Hao Zhiqiang, who had been sitting on the bench for years, feel very proud for a while.

Now that he was told that the quota no longer counted, he immediately became furious.

He has already given out the places, and now it doesn't count. How will his relatives and friends view him?

How do his colleagues and leaders view him?

How can he have the nerve to continue messing around?
Director Meng saw Hao Zhiqiang's face flushed, and wanted to rush over, so he quickly pulled him back and persuaded him, "Don't get excited, don't get excited."

"How can we go back on the terms we have agreed on?" Hao Zhiqiang said bitterly, "Americans don't respect the spirit of contract. I will expose them in the media."

"Don't be impulsive!" Director Meng advised kindly, "We still have to do business with the Americans."

"What kind of business? Do they want to do business?" Hao Zhiqiang was very excited.

"Let's put aside the spirit of the contract." Chen Guangxia smiled, "It's not impossible to discuss this matter."

"Yes, yes, yes." Director Meng said quickly, "Old Hao, please sit down first. Mr. Chen said we can talk now."

Of course, it was impossible for Hao Zhiqiang to break up with Chen Guangxia directly. After all, being angry meant expressing one's attitude.

Now that Director Meng had persuaded him, he sat down without saying a word, staring straight at Chen Guangxia.

"This list is definitely impossible." Chen Guangxia pushed the list back. "Fifty-two people is definitely not possible. It's too many. If you take more, others will have to take less."

"We can't cut the quotas for other countries and give them all to Chinese student representatives. What if other countries protest?"

"..." Director Meng also felt that it was inappropriate. He did not have the ability to ask other countries to give up their places.

"So, at least two-thirds of this list must be removed." Chen Guangxia said lightly.

"No, no." Director Meng shook his head, "This is too much."

Removing one means one less payment, but removing two-thirds at once is not just cutting flesh, it is bleeding!
Director Meng picked up the wine glass again and began to argue, pouring out his grievances, saying that life is not easy for students' parents and that they have given too much for their children, and that everyone should be considerate of each other.

On the other hand, he started to brag that he would talk about anything that could be of use to him.

"How about this." Chen Guangxia sighed, "Then we'll eliminate half of them first. We can only agree on 25 places, but these 25 people also include Director Hao's two."

When Hao Zhiqiang heard this, he was overjoyed. As long as he was guaranteed two places, it would be fine. It didn't matter how many places were cut for the rest.

"This..." Director Meng frowned, but he couldn't ask Hao Zhiqiang to give up the quota, so he reluctantly agreed, "Then let's start with 23."

Chen Guangxia smiled and stood up, "I'll go out first."

Director Meng nodded, understanding that he was going to report to his superiors.

For a moment, Director Meng and Hao Zhiqiang were the only ones left in the box, and the atmosphere between them became a little awkward.

Director Meng thought for a moment and said, "Director Hao, your two quotas..."

"Alas." Hao Zhiqiang waved his hands and said with a wry smile, "Don't mention it. My boss asked me to leave a long time ago."

Director Meng was not willing to give up. "You see the US is going to go back on its word. Why don't you give your superiors a heads up and let them know in advance?"

"Old Hao, you've been working as a deputy director for several years, isn't it time to move up?"

Hao Zhiqiang smiled and said, "I don't think it's my turn to do this. I never expected it."

"Water flows to the lowest place, and people go to the highest place." Director Meng smiled slightly, "It's time to make some moves. I'll help you find out about Lao Hao's matter."

Hao Zhiqiang sneered in his heart, are you just making empty promises to me?

Do you think you can take my spot just by making a verbal promise?

Just dream.

Still in the right place?
If you had this ability, you would have been promoted long ago. Why would you need to confer an official title and make a wish for me now?

Hao Zhiqiang knew clearly that these two places were indeed valuable, but not valuable enough to be exchanged for a deputy director-level position.

He was not sure whether he could be promoted to director after the quota was given up, but he was sure that he would have to stay as deputy director until retirement in this life.

Soon Chen Guangxia came back with a happy look on his face, "Director Meng, the higher-ups said that your quota can be increased to 35 people."

Director Meng was overjoyed, "Really?"

"But there are conditions." Chen Guangxia said slowly.

"You name it, just mention the conditions." Director Meng began to rub his hands excitedly.

"First, the students who join us will have to pay their own fees, and they will also have to pay a management fee." Chen Guangxia said slowly, "Second, students must strictly obey management."

“Third, the summer camp only provides some basic programs, and additional programs require additional fees.”

"No problem." Director Meng nodded, "These can all be discussed."

"Okay." Chen Guangxia nodded. "You guys go back and think about it first. Once you've considered it, we can discuss the specific details."

"It's settled!" Director Meng's mood also improved. Although the negotiation process was not smooth, at least there was a relatively reasonable result.

In his mind, he had already started thinking about re-drafting the list, deciding which ones could be kicked out and which ones could be charged more.

Chen Guangxia just stood up and prepared to leave when he suddenly asked, "Director Meng has friends at CCTV, right?"

"Yes, yes!" Director Meng said with a smile, "What does Mr. Chen want to do? Just ask."

"Campus network, I'm planning to put an advertisement on CCTV. I wonder if it's convenient or not." Chen Guangxia asked.

"That's no problem. Just make a phone call." Director Meng said generously, "You can get a discount."

"Our advertisement is a bit special. I wonder if it can be broadcast." Chen Guangxia continued to ask.

"What advertisement is it?" Director Meng asked curiously.

"Online game advertisement." Chen Guangxia asked back, "Is this also okay?"

"..." Director Meng was a little confused.

Online games?

Advertise on CCTV?

You didn't drink too much, did you?
(End of this chapter)