Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, who Zhang Yida likes to call him, made an appointment to meet Zhang Yida in New York.
"Hello Mr. Zhang, I'm very happy to see you!"
I have to say that Xiao Mazi’s Chinese is pretty good and she has given several lectures in Chinese at Aoki University.
"Mr. Zuckerberg, your Chinese is very good."
"Really? Thank you for your compliment."
Zuckerberg smiled and said, "Actually, this is because my wife is of Chinese descent and her grandmother does not speak English. In order to facilitate communication, I specially learned Chinese."
Zhang Yida smiled, you are so filial!
He didn't believe it could be that simple. Zuckerberg was learning Chinese and came to China several times to give speeches.
The purpose is very clear, which is to knock on the door of the Chinese market.
But then he really couldn't get it off the ground, and he began to criticize China again: We can have more freedom to express our feelings and stand up for the values we believe in.
His wife, Priscilla Chen, is of Chinese descent, but she is a native American, and even half of her blood is Vietnamese.
Her father is a Chinese immigrant living in Vietnam. After immigrating to the United States as a refugee in the 1970s, he and his Vietnamese wife opened a small restaurant.
Priscilla Chen, who grew up in such family conditions, was admitted to Harvard and married Xiao Mazi, the world's top rich man, which also made everyone's glasses shattered.
Finally everyone started to believe in love again.
"Mr. Zhang, I want to acquire Musical.ly, please give me a price!"
Xiao Mazi's attitude was very direct, and he started talking about acquisitions, with the word "rich" written all over his face.
"Do you think I can sell it?"
Zuckerberg smiled brightly with a face covered with spots and pockmarks. After a while, he stopped and said seriously: "I think you can!"
"How can I see it?"
Zuckerberg laughed and said: "Just like Facebook cannot enter the Chinese market, a software from China cannot even hope to become popular in the West."
"However, it really spreads across the east and west!"
Zuckerberg smiled and shook his head, "That's all temporary. I heard that an organization is already targeting you."
Zhang Yida laughed and said: "That's just scratching the surface. We are not afraid of any lawsuits."
Zuckerberg was a little surprised to see that Zhang Yida seemed to be really not afraid.
Has the ZTE incident not taught Chinese companies enough lessons?
However, he didn't want to rely on this "threat" to get Zhang Yida to sell the company to him. He had a backup plan.
“Facebook plans to launch its own short video, and it’s already named Lasso.”
"Really?" Zhang Yida smiled, "I welcome it. The more partners join, the more prosperous the industry will be."
Zuckerberg felt a little ridiculous. Did the person in front of him have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard? How could he not be afraid at all?
Don’t you really think that you have nothing to fear if you are worth 70 billion?
“The total monthly active users of Facebook’s four major products can reach 4 billion.”
Zuckerberg also focused on strengthening the tone on "4 billion."
"I know," Zhang Yida nodded, "Facebook is a Silicon Valley giant."
"Now that you know it, you should understand the power of Facebook. Once we launch our own short videos, Musical.ly's weak lead will be gone."
Zuckerberg laughed and said: "There is an old saying in China that those who understand current affairs are heroes.
The government may crack down on Musical.ly and face competition from Facebook.
Oh, by the way, it’s not just us, I heard that annoying guy Spiegel is also planning to join in the fun by entering short videos.
YouTube and other companies are eyeing the short video field.
What do you call this situation in China..."
Zuckerberg shook his head, "Oh, by the way, it's called House of Flying Daggers!"
Zhang Yida smiled. It seemed that he was really good at learning Chinese and could use such advanced vocabulary.
Seeing Zhang Yida smiling, Zuckerberg thought Zhang Yida had heard it, and struck another chord while the iron was hot: "Sell Musical.ly, its value is at a high level now!"
When we and other companies like YouTube launch their own short videos, Musical.ly won’t be worth so much money.”
Zhang Yida pretended to be very confused, "But I think Musical.ly users are still growing rapidly, with the number of users increasing by more than 50 million every month.
If you keep it in your hand for a few more months, it may be worth more."
"Mr. Zuckerberg, how about this? You launch the product first. If the development does not go smoothly, we will discuss cooperation later."
Zuckerberg sneered twice, pretending to be crazy and being stupid like him. When all our products are launched, why not buy some yarn?
"Mr. Zhang, I don't want to make any more unnecessary explanations,"
Zuckerberg shook his head, "Now please give me a clear answer, are you willing to sell Musical.ly?"
Zhang Yida stopped teasing Xiao Mazi, and said happily: "I will not sell the company if I disappoint Mr. Zuckerberg."
Zuckerberg's face was ashen. This was not the first time he had encountered this situation.
The last person to reject him was the founder of Seraboo, that annoying Spiegel.
Now I met Zhang Yida again, who was as hateful as Spiegel and had no discernment at all.
Zuckerberg decided to give it one last try and said with a straight face: "$10 billion, either in cash or Facebook stock.
I hope Mr. Zhang will consider it carefully, because there will be no store like this after passing this village."
Zhang Yida was not moved at all, and said with a smile: "Thank you Mr. Zuckerberg for your generosity. Compared with money, I still like the passion that starting a business brings to me."
Zuckerberg shook his head and was too lazy to say anything more.
He believes that time will prove everything, and he wonders if Zhang Yida will regret it.
…
After breaking up with Zuckerberg on bad terms, Zhang Yida came to Silicon Valley and prepared to inspect Green Company.
Huang Xiaofeng accompanied Zhang Yida around the company, then came to his office and had a cordial conversation with Zhang Yida.
"How is it? You should get used to life here in Silicon Valley!"
Huang Xiaofeng smiled and said, "It's okay, there's nothing I'm not used to."
After Huimin Travel was acquired by Didi, Huang Xiaofeng handed over the job and came to the United States Green Company to serve as president.
Green Company is no longer limited to conducting business in the United States, but has also developed in Europe and South America.
The intense work pace and the new working environment made Huang Xiaofeng feel both excited and nervous.
He was worried because he was afraid that he would not be qualified for the position of president and would be ashamed of Mr. Zhang's kindness.
Many things here in the United States are different from those in China, such as employees’ thinking, working atmosphere, etc.
However, after a period of running-in and learning, he gradually began to adapt to the work here.
So he talks easily now, but only he knows how much effort he has put in behind the scenes.
Zhang Yida patted him on the shoulder and said thank you for your hard work.