When he woke up the next day, it was almost noon, twelve o'clock.
Mainly, he had gone to bed too late last night and had been active twice.
What Chen Pingjiang didn't expect was Ni Na's considerable combat strength; she experienced no discomfort after tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time.
Perhaps it was because she was a national second-level swimmer, her physical fitness was astonishingly good, and her core strength was also quite strong.
Chen Pingjiang pulled back the quilt, revealing a large expanse of white, which made Ni Na scream "Ah!" and quickly get up to snatch back the quilt.
"Do you think I didn't know you were pretending to be asleep?"
"I... I wasn't pretending to be asleep, I just didn't want to wake you."
"Does it still hurt?"
Ni Na shook her head,
"I don't feel much anymore."
The two chatted casually:
"Your movie will be released next year?"
"Probably. I don't know the exact release date; it's still early, and we haven't even filmed half of it yet."
Chen Pingjiang thought for a moment and said,
"Perform well. Once you're done acting, I'll invest in a drama and make you the female lead."
Hearing this, Ni Na suddenly sat up and looked at Chen Pingjiang,
"I'm not with you for these things. I just like you and admire you; please don't be like this."
Chen Pingjiang smiled faintly,
"Are you being too sensitive and underestimating me? I didn't say you were after these things; I just wanted to give you a bigger platform."
In the cultural industry, Renrenwang has never made any arrangements, and this area will also be a trendsetter in the future.
Tencent has Tencent Video, QQ Music, China Literature, games, and film and television companies.
Alibaba also has an ecosystem chain like Alibaba Pictures.
If they want to do short videos in the future, it will be particularly difficult without music copyrights, video copyrights, and game copyrights.
While showering, Chen Pingjiang soaked in the jacuzzi for about half an hour, reflecting at the same time.
Since achieving success and fame, the tension in his heart had relaxed, and even his outlook on life had subtly changed.
Do men go bad when they have money?
Chen Pingjiang didn't know either.
But what he was sure of was that when he first started his business, he didn't put so much thought into women.
Otherwise, even with Cong Nini throwing herself at him repeatedly, Chen Pingjiang wouldn't have pushed her away time after time.
But now, his mindset had changed; he was finding it harder and harder to control his urges.
"This won't do. Otherwise, what's the damn difference between me and a stud horse?"
When a person has everything, temptations also grow bigger, and women can be frighteningly proactive; when you have nothing, they won't even look you in the eye.
In the afternoon, Ni Na reluctantly bid farewell to Chen Pingjiang,
"Will you text me? Don't ignore me."
Chen Pingjiang nodded,
"Don't worry!"
The bar sent a car to take Ni Na back to school.
After watching Ni Na's car drive away from upstairs, Zhou Guanghan and the other two arrived.
Zhao Shaoyang obsequiously lit a cigarette for Chen Pingjiang, a gesture that made Dai Sheng somewhat envious.
Although he could also flatter, he was nowhere near as obsequious as Zhao Shaoyang.
"How was business yesterday?"
Chen Pingjiang asked casually.
"Excellent! Last night, our bar even made it to Weibo's trending topics, mainly thanks to your influence, Brother Chen. After a period of buzz, probably half of Dongjiang will know us. Especially yesterday, many second-generation rich kids and big bosses said they'd come back to support us."
"Oh, and Brother Chen, after Wang Cong went back yesterday, news broke online today about him drinking with you. I guess someone from his group took a photo and posted it online to show off."
Chen Pingjiang didn't pay much attention to this, but said,
"I've set up the groundwork for you. The rest is up to you. If you have any trouble, ask Manager Ge for help. I only have one requirement: you can earn a little less money, but don't touch what shouldn't be touched. You should know the reasons without me saying, otherwise, don't blame me if I turn against you."
"Grand-uncle, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things."
Zhou Guanghan patted his chest and assured him,
"Everyone outside knows you're a big boss. If we were to touch those things, we might as well just commit suicide by hitting a block of tofu. Our own trouble would be small, but it would also bring you a public opinion crisis."
Chen Pingjiang nodded,
"As long as you know. I'll head back then."
......
Chen Pingjiang had a very important meeting in the afternoon.
When he arrived at the company, the relevant heads of the three major groups were already all there.
They were Renrenwang, Renrengou, and Juzi Mobile respectively.
The caliber of the meeting could be seen from the staff attendance.
As soon as Chen Pingjiang arrived, everyone greeted him,
"Chairman Chen, why didn't you invite us to the bar opening? At least let us give you a red packet for good luck."
"I saw yesterday evening's Weibo hot search was very lively. I heard even Wanda's Old Wang's son went?"
After chatting with everyone for a few moments, Chen Pingjiang glanced at the time before clearing his throat,
"The main reason I've called everyone here this time is to discuss map services. Let's start by hearing your thoughts."
This matter was decided as a key task for the year before the New Year.
How important are maps?
Let's put it this way: 67% of lifestyle service applications in the mobile internet are related to navigation maps.
Especially with the group-buying war in full swing, LBS is destined to become the most popular trend in the future.
Future ride-hailing, autonomous driving, and food delivery services also cannot operate without map support.
However, this is not something that can be developed simply by wanting to; it requires qualifications.
Businesses that provide location services, electronic navigation, collect road traffic data, or draw and update high-precision maps for autonomous driving must possess a "map license."
The "map license" mentioned here mainly includes the Class A surveying and mapping qualification certificate for internet map services and the Class A qualification for electronic navigation map production.
These are abbreviated as "Class A Navigation" and "Class A Surveying."
Class A Surveying is relatively easier to obtain, primarily approved and managed by provincial natural resource authorities.
If a company only needs basic map functions, it can pay licensed providers like AutoNavi Maps or Baidu Maps for commercial authorization.
But the problem is, as an internet giant, how could Chen Pingjiang hand over his lifeline to an enemy?
Nuomi, under Baidu, is currently competing with Renrengou.
Tencent will later flirt with Sogou and create Tencent Maps.
Alibaba, on the other hand, fully acquired AutoNavi.
BAT (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent) each control a map.
If it were just this, it would be fine.
Compared to Class A Surveying, Class A Navigation is the most difficult category of surveying and mapping qualifications to apply for, and it is currently approved and managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
For enterprises, collecting information within a compliant framework, gathering data to draw high-precision maps, and improving navigation accuracy must be completed by an entity with a "Class A Navigation" qualification.
Without this qualification, if you dare to collect information and draw high-definition maps, hehe, Chen Pingjiang might just end up "stomping on the sewing machine" in a few days.
This falls under the scope of national security.
"Class A Navigation" primarily includes the collection and updating of electronic navigation map data, three-dimensional products based on electronic maps (such as high-precision 3D maps), and navigation and positioning services.
Manufacturers without "Class A Navigation" can only indirectly use the qualification through investment, mergers and acquisitions, or cooperation; there is no other way.
Moreover, map licenses are not increasing but decreasing.
They are regularly reviewed and updated, and companies that do not meet the requirements will be eliminated.
Later, Didi poured in huge sums just to obtain a rare map license; it got one, but then it was revoked, so its fate has always been held in others' hands.
If Chen Pingjiang wants to venture into electric vehicles and autonomous driving in the future, high-precision maps are an indispensable link.
Even if one wants to jump directly to mapless NCA, it requires transitioning from map-based NAC and accumulating data to modify algorithms.
Lin Bin spoke first:
"I've researched it recently, and personally, I'm quite optimistic about fully acquiring AutoNavi. They released the iPhone version of AutoNavi Navigation last year and are very experienced. Whether it's in terms of user downloads, market share, attention, or positive reviews, they are the dominant player."
"Moreover, AutoNavi encompasses the entire industry chain, not to mention Class A Surveying and Class A Navigation. It also possesses high-quality underlying map data and its own real-time collected electronic navigation map database.
It is currently the only domestic provider of full-platform map API products, with more flexible and professional interface design, making it more suitable for deep-level users in the LBS field. From any perspective, AutoNavi is the optimal choice."
"After Renrenwang funds the acquisition, the API can be integrated into Renrenwang Mall and WeChat. As an important O2O entry point, Renrengou would effectively gain wings. As for our Juzi Mobile, it also needs a map."
Li Xi thought for a moment and said,
"Manager Lin's consideration is very comprehensive, but I think Sogou would be a better direct choice. The reason is its rich ecosystem. If it's the same price, we could get Sogou Browser, Sogou Input Method, search engine, Sogou Maps, Sogou Baike, and so on.
These are all ecosystems our group currently doesn't possess, and an acquisition would effectively compensate for our shortcomings. Among these, for things like browsers and input methods, Sogou has a wide presence on smartphones and has already taken a step ahead."
Gao Songbin, on the other hand, sided with Lin Bin, believing AutoNavi was superior.
Inside the meeting room, everyone was divided into two factions.
There was no right or wrong.
Even if it was an acquisition, Renrenwang would fund it and then authorize it to Juzi Mobile and Renrengou, because Renrenwang was currently the least short of money.
From Li Xi's perspective, he would certainly want to complete his ecosystem.
Doing more things with the same amount of money would naturally be best, especially since Renrenwang's demand for maps wasn't that great.
But Gao Songbin and Lin Bin were different; they didn't care about internet ecosystems like browsers, input methods, or search engines.
They just wanted better map qualifications.
The problem was handed back to Chen Pingjiang, and the final decision on which company to choose as a breakthrough would depend on his approval.
"I'd rather have one leading quality enterprise in the industry than many irrelevant ones, or even those lagging at the bottom in the core competitive track,"
Chen Pingjiang said.
"Our goal is to acquire a high-quality map company. While Sogou's ecosystem is comprehensive, it doesn't meet this demand, and both its search engine and encyclopedia businesses have too low a market share."
From a holistic perspective, Chen Pingjiang still chose AutoNavi.
Bu Housheng, who was in charge of strategic investment and controlled Tianyuan Capital, frowned,
"But AutoNavi is preparing for an IPO recently. If we acquire them at this point, I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money."
Actually, what Bu Housheng said isn't necessarily correct.
Whether the price is high or not mainly depends on the founders' and shareholders' confidence in the IPO.
If they believe the IPO might fail, or if there's significant downward pressure on the stock price, then selling the company is clearly the best option.
But if the founders and shareholders have strong confidence in the company, it won't work without spending more money.
In other words, if my company is 100% sure to have a successful IPO, and the shares are well-subscribed, then trying to buy it with a low price is a pipe dream.
"What is AutoNavi's current valuation?"
Chen Pingjiang asked after thinking for a moment.
"Around 300 million US dollars."
Chen Pingjiang recalled that Alibaba spent nearly 1.45 billion US dollars in total before and after acquiring AutoNavi back then, a price showing considerable sincerity.
However, that was three years after AutoNavi went public, and its initial market capitalization after listing was only 500 million.
The current 300 million US dollars seems reasonable.
But the problem remains: AutoNavi is about to go public.
If Chen Pingjiang only offers 300 million for acquisition, they definitely won't agree.
They could make more money by going public themselves.
Unlike when Alibaba acquired AutoNavi, AutoNavi itself already had 510 million in cash flow and equivalents, and Alibaba ultimately only spent 900 million in cash.
Bu Housheng added,
"AutoNavi has three co-founders. Xiao Jun is in charge of operations, while Hou Jun and Cheng Congwu are from financial investment backgrounds, meaning they are managers."
Chen Pingjiang also knew this.
Xiao Jun cashed out and left after AutoNavi went public.
Cheng Congwu was always the CEO and later retired after AutoNavi was acquired by Alibaba.
Among the three, Hou Jun consistently served as AutoNavi's Chairman, and even CEO.
This was mainly due to his deep background; he had previously served as chairman of state-owned enterprises, a business expert, and also worked at the Public Security Bureau in BJ.
What no one would have guessed is that he also holds the operating rights for Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient City scenic areas.
After thinking all this through, Chen Pingjiang said to Bu Housheng,
"Please help me contact the other party. I'll go over there in the next few days."
"Chairman Chen, for the initial meeting, I can go alone. Perhaps you could go later once we have some clear indications?"
Chen Pingjiang shook his head,
"I'll go to show sincerity."
Chen Pingjiang didn't intend to follow Li Yanhong's example.
Baidu had initially planned to acquire AutoNavi Maps, but Li Yanhong was somewhat arrogant, feeling that if they wanted to sell, they would, otherwise forget it, as he already had his own map navigation.
It was precisely because of this attitude that Li Yanhong never appeared in the negotiations.
In contrast, Old Ma was much more enthusiastic, flying twice personally, putting on a full display of sincerity, and offering a substantial price.
According to Chen Pingjiang's assessment of AutoNavi's founding team, the acquisition itself probably wouldn't be difficult.
The key lay in the acquisition price, which would require convincing the three founders step by step.
In reality, the difficulty of acquisition would certainly be lower a few years later.
At that time, AutoNavi and Baidu were in a fierce battle, and AutoNavi's resources were far inferior to Baidu's.
More crucially, none of the three founders planned to stay long-term; otherwise, two of them wouldn't have cashed out and left right after the IPO.
"This time, Old Bu, just you come with me. No need to bring anyone else for now. We'll sound them out during the first meeting."
(End of Chapter)