Chapter 454: Dare to Be First (2)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

There was a hidden meaning behind Lin Wu’s comment. Zhou Chao couldn’t help muttering to himself, “How did I forget about this? It’s been a while, and now it just came to my mind.”

He took the elevator directly with Lin Wu to the group’s headquarters. Perhaps because there was a meeting scheduled for today, many people in the office were not taking their lunch breaks, and they greeted Zhou Chao enthusiastically as soon as he entered.

“Hello, Boss!” greeted the receptionist.

“Hello, Young Master Zhou!” from the entertainment department…

“Good day, Chairman!” from the secretary’s office…

In just one minute, Zhou Chao had nodded several times in response to greetings. Upon entering Ling Chen’s office, he saw several executives chatting on the sofa.

“Boss!” When they saw Zhou Chao enter, everyone quickly put down their teacups and stood up to greet him.

“Boss, you’re here!” Ling Chen also stood up from his seat.

“Yes, you all can leave for now. I need to talk to Ling Chen about something.” Zhou Chao sat down in Ling Chen’s boss chair and addressed the executives. After the executives left, Lin Wu considerately closed the office door.

“Ling Chen, has the company’s development become larger than before?”

“Yes, Boss. Just in this headquarters alone, the office space has expanded from the original 22nd floor to include the 23rd and 24th floors, and the staff has increased by nearly three times,” Ling Chen replied happily.

Zhou Chao nodded, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk. He fell into deep thought for a moment before saying, “Have you ever considered constructing a dedicated headquarters building for our group, similar to what Tencent Group has?”

Zhou Chao’s words left Ling Chen stunned. He had never considered this question, thinking that they had sufficient space for the group’s offices, especially with the nearby Global Center available for their use.

Hearing this suggestion from his boss, Ling Chen sat in his chair, lost in thought.

After a while, Ling Chen sighed and said, “Boss, this is my oversight. I’ve always thought we had enough space for our group offices, but I’ve never considered that a large corporation should have and must have its own territory. I’ve been negligent in this matter. Please forgive me, Boss.”

Ling Chen stood up and bowed slightly after he finished speaking.

“Sit down. Don’t talk about blame or not. If Lin Wu hadn’t mentioned the parking issue, I wouldn’t have remembered this either. After all, with the size of our group now, not having our own headquarters is a joke,” Zhou Chao said, which made Ling Chen feel even more embarrassed.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

“Boss, do you think our headquarters should still be established in Modu?” Ling Chen inquired.

Zhou Chao pondered for a moment before responding, “Yes, let’s keep it in Modu. Everyone is already accustomed to it here, and relocating would mean starting many things from scratch. Also, please come up with a plan for this matter as soon as possible. Don’t delay it for too long.”

“I understand, Boss.” Ling Chen nodded.

“By the way, where are those traders and Todd’s group from before? And what about that batch of computers?” Zhou Chao inquired.

“Boss, they are all on a vacation trip now. As for the computers, I have already disposed of them.”

Zhou Chao didn’t say anything further, just nodded faintly.

Time passed quickly, and it was soon time for the meeting. Zhou Chao, accompanied by Ling Chen and Lin Wu, left the office and headed for the group’s large conference room.

Upon entering, they saw the conference room filled with people. Compared to the previous meeting, the number of executives had doubled.

“Whoosh!” All the executives stood up in unison.

“Hello, Boss!”

Seeing this scene, Zhou Chao couldn’t help but smile. He walked to the top seat, surveyed the room, and then waved his hand, saying, “Please, everyone, take your seats.”

Zhou Chao’s meeting style had always been quick and decisive, as he had been uncomfortable with the initial meeting format. Since then, he had emphasized the need for efficiency and not to drag things out.

The meeting agenda had been communicated to all executives the day before, so everyone had an idea of what to expect. They began with reports and discussions related to their respective departments or projects.

Most departments had already implemented their development plans, and only a few required further adjustments, but nothing major.

“Now, the most important thing is to discuss the future direction of the company,” Zhou Chao said. After hearing updates from all the branches of the corporate tree, it was time to discuss the core issues of the group.

Everyone in the room perked up, ready to listen attentively.

“Feel free to share any ideas you may have. Speak your mind, but of course, there’s no need to speak if you haven’t thought it through.”

After a brief silence, discussions started quietly.

“Boss, i think we can consider following the models of Tencent and Ali, expanding into areas like finance, gaming, food delivery, entertainment, and more,” Zhao Xi, the head of the entertainment division, was the first to stand up and make a suggestion.

“I disagree with General Manager Zhao. I believe we should prioritize our core industries, focusing on entering the automotive and new energy sectors. After all, our group primarily operates in traditional industries, and attempting to follow the paths of Tencent and Ali, as suggested by General Manager Zhao, seems like a dead-end. These two conglomerates have been in those fields for many years, and breaking into them would be quite challenging. Even if our group has the financial strength to compete, it would still harm our own interests. We should stick to what we know best,” Qin Ziwei, the company’s CFO, expressed her viewpoint. Her words brought a hush over the meeting room.

Zhou Chao, who was firmly in control, lightly tapped his fingers on the table and glanced at Ling Chen beside him. He asked, “Ling Chen, do you have any thoughts?”

When the Boss spoke, everyone fell silent, directing their attention to Ling Chen.

Ling Chen didn’t hesitate and began speaking. After all, he had a good conversation with Zhou Chao about his general vision and blueprint during their previous trip overseas.

“Boss, 1 believe we should diversify our development, with a primary focus on technology. We can also explore various other sectors such as industry, new energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, charity, and our current group industries to break free from external constraints. In simpler terms, we should aim to be pioneers in areas where China lacks expertise.”

Ling Chen’s words hit the mark, aligning with Zhou Chao’s own vision. Zhou Chao’s current mindset was precisely that: to tackle what others dared not, to research in untouched technological fields, and to pave the way for unique paths. Success or failure didn’t matter; someone had to step up and do it. Maybe they could find a different route.

The executives in the room were invigorated by Ling Chen’s words. If they were to determine the group’s main development path for the future, it would not be a minor endeavor. It meant that some of them might rise to prominence within the group. Nobody wanted to manage a small project that remained lukewarm. Everyone aspired to become a key player like Ling Chen, who could stir up a storm with a single word.

The gaze of all the executives in the room converged on Zhou Chao, eagerly awaiting their Boss’s statement.

Zhou Chao’s eyes scanned every executive, and he noticed the passion in their eyes.

“Agreed. The group will establish a technology research and development department and create subsidiary departments in industry, energy, pharmaceuticals, and more. We will consolidate the relevant studios and research institutes within the group. The HR department will vigorously scout for talent and collaborate with top-notch national research institutes and universities. We will invest and acquire as needed, sparing no expense. Money is expendable, and we’re not short on it. Furthermore, we’ll acquire top-level labs abroad if possible, or else we’ll poach their talent. If we run out of money, well find more. As long as they are top-tier talents, even if they study mud, well bring them to China. Do you all have the confidence for this?”

All the executives stood up, their excitement palpable, and shouted loudly, “We do!”

Zhou Chao stood up and looked at them, saying, “I hope you all work hard. Don’t fall behind on this challenging path ahead. The future of the group depends on each and every one of you!”

The meeting room resounded with applause..