How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 414

The Decision Not to Sell—What’s Wrong with a Ride-Hailing Driver Having Some Money?

At noon, Yang Chen arrived at the Tang Pavilion private room on time.

Although it was Yang Chen’s first time meeting Cook, he had seen his videos and photos online before and recognized him at a glance.

Buffett deliberately concealed the truth that Cook was also coming, and it seemed that this trip was specifically for Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is the global smartphone giant, and the only thing they might need from Yang Chen is the quantum chip.

Therefore, in that instant, Yang Chen understood the purpose of Buffett and Cook’s visit.

Buffett smiled, opened his arms, and hugged Yang Chen in greeting, then introduced, “Yang, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Cook from Apple Inc. We happened to meet on the plane, and since he’s also here for the quantum chip, I joined him.”

The old fox is quite good at making things up, lying without batting an eye.

Cook quickly reached out to shake hands with Yang Chen and greet him.

“Mr. Yang, hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Yang Chen smiled and nodded, saying, “Mr. Cook, hello, it’s also a pleasure to meet you. Come, sit down and eat.”

Buffett and Cook smiled, nodded, and quickly sat down.

“I have to drive this afternoon, so I can’t drink. Therefore, let’s skip the alcohol today, please forgive me. Let’s order now, feel free to order whatever you like. This is my restaurant; I’ll make sure you feel right at home,” Yang Chen said with a smile.

The visitors came from afar not for a meal, but for the chip.

Buffett quickly said, “Mr. Yang, please decide for us. We’re not very hungry, just a little something will do. The main thing is that it’s been a while since we’ve seen you, and we wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you.”

What an old pro, those are some nice words.

Yang Chen smiled, nodded, and called the waiter over to order a few dishes.

Buffett and Cook were both old and didn’t eat much, so they were full in a little while.

Yang Chen was still young and definitely needed to eat well.

The two of them waited for Yang Chen to finish eating before bringing up the main topic.

Buffett: “Mr. Yang, are there any good projects to invest in recently? I have several billion U.S. dollars in funds and don’t know where to invest them, so I came here specifically to chat with you, hoping you can give me some advice.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… Mr. Buffett, you make me feel ashamed. You are the world-renowned stock god [a highly successful and respected investor], if you don’t know what to invest in, how would I know? Even if I think there’s a project worth investing in, I wouldn’t dare to advise you, the stock god.”

Buffett: “Haha… Mr. Yang, you’re too polite and too modest. I still very much recognize and trust your personal abilities. I heard that you’ve developed a quantum chip. I wonder if there’s any room for investment in that area?”

Finally getting to the point, huh?

They clearly came for the quantum chip, yet they pretended with so many high-sounding words.

Before Yang Chen could speak, Cook immediately jumped in, saying, “I also have a big favor to ask of Mr. Yang. Smartphone manufacturers all over the world are trying to buy the quantum chip you developed. Apple Inc. definitely needs to use this more advanced chip as well. I’d like to offer Mr. Yang 300 billion U.S. dollars annually to purchase quantum chips. I wonder if Mr. Yang can do me this favor?”

What is the concept of 300 billion U.S. dollars?

China’s military budget for this year is about 220 billion U.S. dollars.

If Yang Chen agreed to Cook, it would be equivalent to Apple Inc. being able to cover China’s military expenditure.

However, this is clearly a trap.

The total global chip trade is about 600 billion U.S. dollars. If Apple Inc. wants 300 billion U.S. dollars worth of chips every year, how could it possibly consume half of the global chip total?

Therefore, a significant portion of this 300 billion U.S. dollars is not for Apple Inc.’s use.

Yang Chen put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said with a smile, “Mr. Cook, you’re teasing me. How can one company consume half of the global share?”

Cook laughed and said, “We certainly can’t consume that much, but we can resell it to other companies. Therefore, we also need Mr. Yang to help us secure authorization to resell quantum chips in countries like the United States. As long as Mr. Yang can help us accomplish this, we will deposit 10 billion U.S. dollars into your Swiss bank account every year as a thank you. How about it?”

It’s not that Yang Chen doesn’t need money now, but even if he were very poor, he wouldn’t provide Apple Inc. with so many chips for 10 billion U.S. dollars a year.

Yang Chen shook his head with a smile.

This is not about money at all. The strategic significance of quantum chips cannot be measured by money.

Cook and Buffett were both a little shocked. Isn’t getting 10 billion U.S. dollars for free every year attractive enough?

Cook quickly gave Buffett a look.

Buffett holds shares in Apple Inc., so he definitely has to say something on Cook’s behalf.

Buffett: “Mr. Yang, can we discuss this further? Mr. Cook is very sincere; please consider it for my sake.”

Yang Chen replied with a smile, “This isn’t a matter of sincerity. Money can’t solve all problems.”

Cook: “I think as long as the money is in place, there’s nothing that can’t be solved. If Mr. Yang thinks 10 billion U.S. dollars a year is too little, you can name a price. How about 20 billion U.S. dollars? 30 billion U.S. dollars?”

Don’t think Cook is stupid; he’s very smart.

The Federal Reserve can just print money. As long as spending money can get advanced quantum chips, it’s worth it.

If they lose the market because they can’t use advanced quantum chips, the loss would be even greater.

Therefore, even if they give Yang Chen hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars a year, the quantum chip problem must be solved.

Yang Chen said with a smile, “Mr. Cook, are you trying to *za* [smash] me with money?”

Cook replied very confidently, “I’m not trying to *za* [smash] Mr. Yang with money; I just want Mr. Yang to see my sincerity. I’ve always believed in a principle: there’s nothing that money can’t solve. If there is, it must be that there’s not enough money. Everyone has a price. Mr. Yang can just name your price, and we can discuss it.”

Yang Chen: “Mercedes-Benz, BMW, LVMH [a French luxury goods conglomerate], Dragon American International Hospital, Dragon Country Oil, Petrochemical, Penguin Technology, Ali Gaba, ByteDance, Biwa Di [likely a misspelling of BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer], all these globally renowned companies have my shares, and I’m either the first or second largest shareholder. I don’t do anything all year round.

Just the dividends and profits from my companies are worth hundreds of billions, not to mention the total market value of these shares exceeds trillions. Would I care about your little bit of money?”

Cook stared at Yang Chen with wide eyes, as if he were looking at a monster.

Yang Chen actually holds shares in so many famous companies, and he’s either the first or second largest shareholder?

How can one person hold shares in so many companies?

It’s not about money. Many companies’ shares can’t be bought with just money.

Cook looked at Buffett, and Buffett saw doubt and shock in his eyes.

“Hehe… Mr. Yang is right, he does hold shares in these big companies, and the proportion is quite large. Mr. Cook, don’t talk about money anymore; it feels a bit like showing off in front of an expert,” Buffett said awkwardly.

Isn’t that right?

According to the shares Yang Chen mentioned, he is the richest man in the world. Neither Musk nor Bezos can compete with him.

But why can’t Yang Chen’s name be found on the Dragon Country’s rich list?

However, none of this matters. What matters is that money can’t move Yang Chen, or rather, if they want to move Yang Chen, they have to offer a very high price, which Apple Inc. wouldn’t dare to promise casually.

This meal ended in an awkward atmosphere.

Cook left in a huff.

Buffett is an investor, and he can adjust the stocks held by Berkshire Hathaway at any time. If Apple Inc. really can’t get quantum chips, he can just sell the company’s stock.

Therefore, even if Yang Chen refuses to sell chips to Cook, Buffett won’t be angry with him.

On the contrary, people like Yang Chen who control technology and funds are partners that Buffett must please.

“Mr. Yang, I’m very sorry; I hope you don’t mind. My company holds 5.6% of Apple Inc.’s shares, so I had to try to get them. If Mr. Yang really doesn’t want to sell chips, I can liquidate my position at any time. I hope the Apple Inc. issue doesn’t affect the friendly relationship between Mr. Yang and me,” Buffett said very sincerely.

Yang Chen nodded with a smile, saying, “I very much appreciate Mr. Buffett’s honesty. Don’t worry, I have a clear sense of gratitude and resentment, and I will never let the Apple Inc. issue affect the relationship between you and me. Didn’t you just say you have several billion U.S. dollars and don’t know where to invest it?”

Buffett quickly nodded, saying, “Yes, yes, we have several billion U.S. dollars in idle funds and don’t know where to invest it. Does Mr. Yang have any good suggestions?”

Yang Chen: “Then you should invest in Chen Jun Medical Group. This is my company, and it will soon be listed through a backdoor listing [acquiring a public shell company to go public]. I can give you a heads-up in advance: within three years, Chen Jun Medical Group will become the world’s top comprehensive medical device and supplies group. That’s all I can say. Whether or not you invest depends on your own decision.”

Buffett frowned and fell into thought.

If it’s really as Yang Chen said, and the company becomes the world’s top comprehensive medical device company within three years, then its market value can easily exceed the 500 billion U.S. dollar mark.

If the company’s products can take market share from companies like GE and Siemens, its market value could approach one trillion U.S. dollars is also possible.

Because people can save on anything else, but they can’t save on seeing a doctor and saving lives. Investing in promising medical companies is definitely a profitable business.

However, the question is, why is Yang Chen so sure that Chen Jun Medical will become a global top company within the next three years?

As a mature investor, Buffett will never just believe what Yang Chen says.

Buffett: “How about this? I’ll have a meeting with my team later to study it and give Mr. Yang a reply as soon as possible. Is that okay?”

Yang Chen: “Of course. Alright, we’ve finished eating, and I need to find a place for a nap. Mr. Buffett, please help yourself, I won’t see you out.”

Buffett: “Haha… Okay, okay. Mr. Yang, please help yourself. I can take care of myself, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Yang Chen nodded and got up to leave.

Cook returned to his hotel room and immediately held a meeting with the company’s management to discuss the next steps.

Since Yang Chen can’t be bought with money, they can only talk to Dragon Core International directly.

In the afternoon, Cook went to the headquarters of Dragon Core International Group, but unsurprisingly, he made a wasted trip.

Now, many companies, including Apple Inc., are facing a difficult dilemma.

If they continue to use older chips, their product performance will not be as good as Dragon Country’s products that use quantum chips, and they won’t be able to compete on price, inevitably losing out in the market competition and gradually losing their market share.

If they don’t use older chips, production will have to stop completely.

It’s not okay not to produce, but if they produce, they can’t sell it. It’s really a headache.

Early in the morning, Buffett called Yang Chen.

After some investigation, Buffett vaguely understood why Yang Chen was confident that Chen Jun Medical Group would become a global top company.

Because he found out that Yu Shishi had been frantically buying land near the sea in Hai City to build high-end machine tool factories recently, most likely to prepare for manufacturing advanced medical equipment.

Yang Chen dares to invest so much, so he must be very confident in his success.

Therefore, Buffett decided to take a gamble and invest 5 billion U.S. dollars in Chen Jun Medical Group, asking Yang Chen how much equity he could give him.

In fact, Yang Chen didn’t want to give Buffett such a sure-win investment.

However, if Chen Jun Medical Group wants to promote its products internationally in the future, it will definitely need the help of some internationally renowned figures.

Let me give you an example.

The Dragon Country’s large aircraft is manufactured, but other countries don’t recognize it.

If you want to promote the large aircraft, you must find relationships to obtain recognition from other countries.

Similarly.

The fact that Chen Jun Medical Group manufactures more advanced medical equipment in the future does not mean that it can enter the international market.

If people don’t recognize it or don’t allow it to enter, these products can only be sold domestically.

But it’s not interesting to earn money from domestic patients. Yang Chen wants to earn money from foreigners.

Therefore, even though he knows that Chen Jun Group will be particularly profitable, he still has to bring in some powerful foreign shareholders to prepare for entering the international market in the future.

Just one Buffett is not enough. He also needs to find some influential figures in Europe to join, such as LVMH Group CEO Arnault, Mercedes-Benz and BMW CEOs, and so on.

Back then, in order for the country to obtain the European airworthiness certificate for domestically produced large aircraft, it had to buy hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars worth of aircraft from Airbus.

Therefore, some things need to be flexible when they should be.

5 billion U.S. dollars seems like a lot, but it’s not worth mentioning compared to the future market value of Chen Jun Group.

Yang Chen thought carefully and decided to give Buffett 5% of the equity.

This also means that the company’s current market value has reached 100 billion U.S. dollars.

Buffett has already recognized the claim that Chen Jun Group can reach a market value of at least 500 billion U.S. dollars in the future, so he naturally has no objection to calculating his equity based on a market value of 100 billion U.S. dollars now.

As long as the company develops normally and reaches the expected market value, Buffett will be able to make a fourfold profit in three years.

This investment return ratio and cycle will become the most glorious investment in his investment career.

“Haha… Then it’s settled. If Mr. Yang encounters any difficulties during the construction of the factory, you can tell me at any time. I will definitely use my influence around the world to help you solve the problem,” Buffett said with a smile.

He is hinting to Yang Chen that he already knows about Yu Shishi’s frantic acquisition of land to build factories.

Yang Chen: “Haha… Okay, I know Mr. Buffett’s intentions. If there is a need, I will definitely not be polite with you. I will do my best to ensure that the factory is built smoothly and put into use as soon as possible.”

Yang Chen is subtly admitting that those factories are built for Chen Jun Group, so that Buffett can rest assured.

Buffett: “Haha… Okay, okay. I’m going to Hangzhou to chat with Jack. After I finish my trip there, I’ll come back and meet you before returning home.”

Yang Chen: “Okay! Mr. Buffett, please help yourself. Be careful on the road.”

Not long after hanging up the phone, Buffett took his team to Hangzhou.

In the evening, a team sent by the United States, led by Gao Kangfu, a Chinese-American chip expert, got off the plane.

Gao Kangfu met with Cook and others in the hotel room.

Cook told Gao Kangfu and others about the situation of the quantum chip. Now it is clear that it is impossible to obtain it through legitimate purchase methods, and they can only use some special or even illegal means.

Gao Kangfu smiled disdainfully and said, “Mr. Cook, don’t worry, leave this to us, there will definitely be no problem. Just come over for a vacation, wander around from tomorrow, and wait for our news. Remember, from now on, the quantum chip issue will be solved by us, so don’t interfere. Understand?”

Cook nodded and said, “Understood. But I want to remind you that our Apple Inc. is a legitimate company that actively participates in international competition. I don’t want you to use illegal means to obtain quantum chips or technology. Do you understand what I mean?”

Gao Kangfu: “Don’t worry. We are serious scientific researchers; how could we do illegal things?”

After Cook left, Gao Kangfu immediately called the team members over to hold a meeting to study countermeasures.

In the end, they came up with two plans: one is to start with the chip project team of Dragon Core International, and the other is to start with Yang Chen himself.

In short, either get the technology or destroy Yang Chen.