Losing Money to Be a Tycoon c1-883

by Inebriation-seeking Blue Shirt, 青衫取醉

  “I have some daily expenses as well. Coupled with income from the skins and other miscellaneous income, I can’t tell from my current Personal Wealth.”

  “More than three million yuan. Ah… my personal wealth has reached a new peak. At this rate, I should be able to save up for a villa in a year or two, right?”

  “However, why do I still feel a little bitter looking at the numbers in the System Funds and fixed assets…”

  Pei Qian thought about how, as the boss of Tengda Corporation, he could easily earn tens of millions of yuan. The company’s fixed assets had reached 160 million yuan, and they had several buildings. Yet, he had to save up for so long to buy a villa. He felt a little sad.

  However, he quickly got over it.

  “It’s alright. As the saying goes, the beginning is always the hardest. I’m already past the beginning.”

  “I used to make a lot of money before, but now I can steadily incur losses. Each time, I would convert eight to nine hundred thousand yuan into my Personal Wealth. This means that I have already understood the temper of the system and have mastered the art of spending money.”

  “In the future, the losses will naturally increase when the System Funds increase. The money converted will definitely increase as well!”

  Pei Qian was filled with confidence once again as he clicked on the reward for this cycle.

  The so-called ‘mysterious reward’ of the previous cycle was a random breakthrough in technology in the next six months. Now, it seemed like the breakthrough in artificial intelligence technology of Xianke Technologies was not far off.

  If not for this breakthrough, the Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine would not have made so much money. The new system of Otto Technologies would not have been so well-received. It had created some difficulties for Pei Qian.

  However, on the bright side, such technological breakthroughs did not have much impact.

  If global games entered the VR era, communication technology advanced by leaps and bounds, and Cloud Games achieved an unprecedented breakthrough, Pei Qian might face even greater difficulties.

  Thus, he was content.

  Therefore while this reward did not make Pei Qian lose money, at least it did not make him profit. He should be satisfied.

  Pei Qian could rest easy and not worry too much if the technological breakthroughs in the future were only at this level.

  However, what would the mysterious reward be this time?

  [Mysterious Reward (Upgraded): It can consume a certain amount of Personal Wealth and increase a certain amount of income from a certain industry. The ratio is 1: 100. This reward is a permanent option, but it can be used at most once per cycle. The personal property consumed each time cannot exceed 100,000 yuan.]

  Pei Qian: “?”

  He carefully read the description of the reward.

  Simply put, Pei Qian could spend a certain amount of his Personal Wealth to increase the benefits of a certain industry to consumers.

  At the moment, most of the businesses in Pei Qian’s hands could use promotional events to allow consumers to profit. For example, ROF Computer-Installation could be promoted at a low price on 1024 Digital Day.

  Similarly, Fish-Catching Take-Out, Fish-Catching Internet Cafe, and other industries could also use promotions to increase their market share to give to consumers.

  However, there was a limit to that. The system would keep an eye on the situation and could not allow them to sell at a loss.

  On the other hand, this new reward rule was equivalent to adding a permanent option. Pei Qian could spend ten thousand yuan out of his own pocket to allow a certain industry to burn one million yuan more for the consumers to profit.

  Pei Qian could not help but be overjoyed. “Eh? That’s a good thing!”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to spend money this way?”

  Obviously, this rule had to be used when he was already incurring losses. If he used it when he was generating profits, he would be stupid.

  Take this settlement for example. While he had successfully incurred losses, he still had more than five million yuan left in the System Funds. Pei Qian only needed to fork out another fifty thousand yuan from his own pocket. Then, he could use the five million yuan in the System Funds as a form of interest to return to consumers. That would create a loss of more than five million yuan. In fact, he could earn another five hundred thousand yuan during settlement.

  That would be equivalent to using 50,000 yuan to earn 500,000 yuan of Personal Wealth.

  Even primary school students could calculate that this was a pure profit!

  Of course, the system had restrictions on this as well. It could only be used once per cycle, and it could not exceed a hundred thousand yuan. That was to give consumers an additional ten million yuan.

  Of course, Pei Qian did not know if there would be any changes to this quota, but it was enough for now.

  The system screen continued rolling.

 

  < System Funds will be supplemented. Target amount: 50 million >

  < System Funds: 44,240,000 replenished… >

 

  < System Funds: 50,000,000+16,320,000 >

  < Fixed Assets: 163,322,000 >

  < Personal Wealth: 3,148,000 >

  < If you convert more than 800,000 yuan per cycle, you will receive a mysterious reward with a huge impact. >

  < It can consume a certain amount of Personal Wealth and increase a certain amount of income from a certain industry. The ratio is 1: 100. It can be used once in the current cycle. The amount of Personal Wealth consumed cannot exceed 100,000 yuan.>

  [Unfinished project: Mission and Choice project. The game and the movie must be released before the next settlement.]

  “Alright, I’ll be proud of myself again in the next cycle!” Pei Qian felt that he had become stronger again.

  The next settlement would be six months later, which was July 31, 2012. Pei Qian had plenty of time.

  While the game ‘Mission and Choice’ and the movie had to be released during this cycle, it also meant that Pei Qian could create a new pit and delay the release of the product in the next cycle.

  In any case, there was no need to worry about money being spent as long as the business was big enough.

  Pei Qian had roughly thought about what to do for the next project that would be postponed: to open a new project for Thriller Hostel!

  As the saying went, wonders mislead countries.

  Ever since the ‘quiet, minimalist, philosophical bickering machine’ became popular, the haunted house, flying cars, and pendulum rides became popular, and so did the physical businesses of Thriller Hostel and Tengda in Jingzhou.

  Many people would go to Jingzhou to experience the Thriller Hostel.

  However, even so, Thriller Hostel would not be able to earn back those investments in a short period of time because of its huge investment. What’s more, half a year has already passed. Those who were interested had already experienced it. The popularity of Thriller Hostel was slowly decreasing.

  Since it was not that popular anymore, he could start a new project and spend tens of millions more!

  Other than that, Pei Qian had his own plans for the other businesses.

  All in all, the starting sum of the System Funds for this cycle had reached an unprecedented fifty million yuan. Pei Qian could use this opportunity to work hard!

  Chapter 860 - Otto Technologies’ New Mission

  February 1st, Wednesday…

  Pei Qian had just completed the settlement yesterday. Today, he was filled with fighting spirit as he prepared to start the loss-making project for the next cycle.

  Of course, the main reason was because he had been staying at home for a week during the Chinese New Year holiday. He had rested well and his Personal Wealth had reached a peak. That was why Pei Qian was so proactive.

  Pei Qian planned to go to Otto Technologies today.<
br />
  The previous Otto Technologies was mainly responsible for two main tasks: first, the new system of Otto Technologies’ cell phones, including better linear animation, photography algorithms of the imaging laboratory, AEEIS smart assistant, and so on. Second, it had a Fully-Automated Smart Bickering Machine which was selling well.

  However, the results of Chang You’s previous work would definitely be satisfying to himself.

  One had to know that Otto Technologies had already made a popular cell phone brand, Otto E1. It was selling very well and had opened up a certain level of popularity.

  This cell phone was a high-end positioning system from the beginning. That was why its success was so rare.

  After all, most cell phone manufacturers had to slowly figure out the price, build up the materials, and build up their reputation if they wanted to reach the high-end. It might take a few more models or a few years before they could slowly establish the price level of the flagship model. What’s more, if there was a single problem in between, all of their previous efforts would be wasted.

  Otto Technologies, on the other hand, had been established as a high-end cell phone from the very beginning. It was equivalent to being born at the end of many cell phone brands.

  It did not matter how much the sales volume was. They could make money anyway. As long as someone bought it, that would be enough!

  It was impossible to expect more for a newly established cell phone brand.

  Thus, Chang You was eager to improve and achieve greater success.

  Pei Qian was very clear about this as well. That was why he had been suppressing Chang You, making him work in the imaging laboratory and the system. He had released a new cell phone for an entire year.

  Now, the work that Pei Qian had assigned to Otto Technologies had been completed. He had to assign Chang You a new task.

  If Pei Qian did not do anything about it, Chang You would definitely follow his own judgment and continue developing based on his ideals. With Otto E1’s success, he would probably make a huge profit.

  Thus, Pei Qian had to set up a task to mislead Chang You so that Otto Technologies’ new product would not succeed!

  …

  “Boss Pei, you’re here!”

  Chang You looked smug as he welcomed Pei Qian into the conference room.

  Obviously, Chang You had been waiting for Boss Pei to arrive to give Otto Technologies a new task.

  He could not wait to show off his skills.

  Pei Qian sat down in the conference room while Chang You took a small box and sat down opposite him.

  “Boss Pei, this is the custom-made mouse that you instructed me to make. The sample has been made.”

  “Oh? Oh.” Pei Qian reached out to take it. It was only then that he remembered that he had arranged for Chang You to make this little thing.

  Strictly speaking, this was not a product of Otto Technologies. It was just a small periphery that they got original equipment manufacturers to make.

  The main thing was that Pei Qian had to find something for Otto Technologies to do after the development of the Fully-Automated Intelligent Bickering Machine was completed. It was so that they would not create new accidents.

  This matter was relatively insignificant thus, Pei Qian did not keep it in mind and almost forgot about it. Pei Qian finally remembered about it now that Chang You had taken out the finished product.

  He opened the box and found a standard-sized mouse inside.

  The mouse was pure white on the exterior. There was a LED light belt in the middle. It looked more technological.

  Chang You said, “Boss Pei, let me introduce its functions to you.”

  “This is the ‘Definitely No Overtime Mouse’ that you want. It can be used normally like other wireless mouses during working hours. What’s more, it has lithium batteries inside, not ordinary batteries such as number five or seven. It can last longer.”

  “In addition to prolonging the time and having a certain weighting effect, lithium batteries are stronger and more dynamic for the mouse!”

  “Once it’s time to knock off, it will take on another form, just like this.”

  Chang You adjusted on his cell phone as he spoke.

  The mouse on the conference table suddenly changed form!

  The LED light belt on its back turned from blue to red, and a small tail stuck out from the end. The left and right keys on the front were originally covered on the mouse, but now, they stood upright like the mouse’s ears.

  “No one can catch it in this form.”

  Chang You extended his hand towards the mouse on the table as he spoke.

  However, the mouse suddenly moved horizontally and dodged Chang You’s hand the moment his hand reached out!

  Chang You reached out again but the mouse dodged!

  No matter how hard Chang You tried, the mouse was always one step ahead of him. It moved around on the desktop, randomly running around, but could not be caught.

  Obviously, there was a sensor on the back of the mouse. There was a small wheel under the mouse. Once it felt someone approaching it, the small wheel would quickly move away.

  Chang You continued, “Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that someone is exceptionally gifted and can catch it at lightning speed. At that time, it would activate the ‘cicada shedding from its shell’ program and escape from its claws. It would then send an alarm to you!”

  Chang You carefully avoided the sensor behind the mouse and grabbed it!

  However, the mouse made a clicking sound immediately after. A certain mechanism within it seemed to be activated. The dark blue mouse’s main body separated from the white outer shell and escaped again.

  At the same time, two eyes on the front of the mouse began to glow red. Chang You’s cell phone on the table received a notification.

  Chang You changed the time on his cell phone to non-work time.

  The flashing red cursor returned to normal. Chang You put the outer layer back into its original state.

  “Boss Pei, you can set the working hours and monitor all the mice that are bound to the application. You will have the highest authority.”

  Pei Qian was elated. “Not bad! I’m very satisfied with this!”

  “Produce as much as you can, and make sure all the departments have them!”

  Pei Qian had not thought so much about it before this. He had only wanted Otto Technologies to find something to do to get an original equipment manufacturer to make a mouse that would make the employees not work overtime. He had not expected it to be so novel!

  While there were very few people working overtime in the various departments now, it was always better for Boss Pei to take more precautions.

  Pei Qian placed the mouse back into the box and expressed his approval of Chang You’s work.He then sipped his tea and asked about Otto Technologies’ current situation.

  Chang You said confidently, “Boss Pei, Otto Technologies is doing well on the whole!”

  “Otto E1’s current sales volume is basically negligible. We have also stopped production long ago. After all, this is a cell phone from a year ago. We have always followed the principle of ‘never lowering prices’, so very few people would buy it at its original price.”

  “However, that doesn’t matter because most of the inventory has been cleared. This cell phone can be considered to have died of old age.”

  “We will not reduce the price of the cell phone. It might affect the sales volume at the end of its life but it has also earned us a good reputation from old users. On one hand, it is because they feel that the cell phone is very valuable. On the other hand, it is because we have been continuously updating the system, making them feel that they are being valued.”

  “And this reputation has laid a solid foundation for our new cell phones!”

  “As for the Intelligent Bickering Machine, it’s selling very well at the moment. It’s a very popular product in the field of smart speakers, echo wall, and even in the field of
art and decorations.”

  “So, Boss Pei, E1 has been released for a year. It’s almost time to release the new cell phone, right?”

  Chang You’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

  Pei Qian sipped his tea silently and nodded reluctantly. “Yes, it’s almost time.”

  “What ideas do you have for new cell phones?”

  Pei Qian’s plan was the same as before. He would ask Chang You what he wanted to do first, and then guide him in the wrong direction.

  Chang You said confidently, “This is what I think, Boss Pei.”

  “Otto E1 is a very successful cell phone. Gamers have basically accepted its weight and price as its shortcomings.”

  “To summarize the experience, I think a very important factor would be for E1 cell phones to use more mature supply chain technology. Therefore, even though we are a new manufacturer, we’ve controlled the quality of the cell phones to be pretty good.”

  “Therefore, I think that we should continue to develop Otto E2 cell phones on the basis of the E1 cell phone, maintaining its characteristics. We should make some minor updates on the cell phone’s chip and camera module. We just have to ensure that the configuration is not lower than other flagship models.”

  “Our market share is still very low after all. Our top priority now is to protect our basic users and slowly expand into the mainstream market. We cannot sell too many.”

  Pei Qian shook his head silently. “I don’t think so.”

  Chang You did not expect Boss Pei to reject his proposal so easily. He thought that he must have made some serious mistakes in the judgment of the situation and quickly listened carefully.

  Pei Qian considered for a moment and said, “The key to the success of E1 cell phones was that surprise and extraordinary! It immediately made consumers’ eyes light up once it was released at the news conference. That was why it sold so well.”