Deep Space Wandering Fleet-Chapter 44 - Dust Settles
Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dust Settles
At that moment, the meeting room suddenly fell silent.
Ma Teng stood up and patted his back, “Sorry, I need to use the restroom.”
“Excuse me, I do too.”
Several people hurried out.
In the restroom, Ma Teng let out a sigh, “Alas, it’s been too long since I’ve been out of academia, these cutting-edge topics, I listen and listen and then I just can’t understand anymore. But judging by the looks of those old professors, there shouldn’t be any problems… Xisha University has been collaborating with us for a long time, and their credibility has always been good.”
“Little Guo, what do you think of Zhang Yuan?”
...
The assistant known as Little Guo thought for a moment and said earnestly, “President Ma, if you can recruit him, you absolutely must. I reckon, with him, we could shorten the timeframe by at least a third. A project that normally takes 12 months could be finished in 8…”
The door to the restroom opened again, and Chairman Ding walked in.
As soon as he entered, he spoke loudly, “President Ma, could I ask you a personal favor?”
The circle is so small; although the two were rivals, they were also friends in private.
Ma Teng burst into laughter as if he knew what was coming, “No way, I won’t accept it! Even if it’s on a personal basis, I absolutely refuse!”
“Master Ding, are you really planning to compete with me for this person?”
Ding Peng also started laughing, “Then let’s both lift the palanquin, shall we? Raise the price all the way to the Moon?”
“I’m not that foolish. I think we can do it this way…”
When the group returned, Ma Teng’s first words were, “Mr. Zhang, have you considered staying on Earth and joining our company?”
He put up two fingers, making a gesture, “I offer you an annual salary of two million. If the government penalizes you for anything, we’ll take care of it!”
Facing such brazen poaching, the expressions on the representatives of the Deep Space Foundation turned green, but they didn’t know what to say.
Zhang Yuan immediately shook his head, “Sorry, President Ma… this has been my dream since childhood.”
The two representatives breathed a sigh of relief.
Ma Teng said meaningfully, “Two million is not a small amount. To set up a high-paying position like this, I’m going to have to do quite a bit of talking at the board meeting… Every penny in the company is budgeted.”
“You have to know, we’ve only been acquainted for two hours, and because I know you’re highly capable, we offered this price…”
“But academic ability doesn’t necessarily mean work capability. I’ve seen too many people who can talk a good game, but can’t deliver… If you do produce results later, the price is definitely not an issue!”
Ding Peng laughed loudly, “Boss Ma, you’re too stingy. I offer an annual salary of three million, and I’ll take another million out of my own pocket! As long as you’re willing to stay here.”
Zhang Yuan hurriedly responded, “I’m flattered by your generous offers. But it’s not about the money, not even two hundred million would suffice. President Ma, Master Ding, I think, being in your positions, you should be able to understand that life isn’t just about money, there are many things far more important than money.”
“I can complete the project on the spaceship too. There’s a communication device inside, so remote communication isn’t difficult.”
Ma Teng was taken aback, then nodded, showing he understood, and quietly sat down.
The meeting room was silent for a while.
After a long pause, he said with an admiring tone, “I really envy you young people, abandoning everything, starting anew on an unfamiliar planet. Sometimes, I also feel that impulse.”
“New civilization, it’s a grand concept. In our fantasies, it’s like paradise, always filled with infinite possibilities.”
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“… As beneficiaries of Earth Civilization that has developed to this point, I often think that many things are not right, but I don’t know how they should be corrected.”
“Or maybe, I’m well aware that many things are wrong, yet I oppose correcting them, because they would affect my personal interests. That might just be the case of interests dictating thoughts…”
“I hope that your new civilization becomes even better.”
“Thank you, President Ma,” Zhang Yuan said with a smile.
“You see, he won’t stay here!” Wang Lili whispered her discussion below.
Han Ziyue smiled and said, “I know. If he really stayed, I wouldn’t bother with him…”
“Don’t you think he looked really cool rejecting them earlier? Boss Ma was dumbstruck! Even two hundred million couldn’t do it…”
Wang Lili felt a bit helpless, “Fine, I really don’t understand you artsy girls, making life uncomfortable for yourselves. What friendship? I don’t want to be friends with him at all.”
…
And so, the entire negotiation for the collaboration took three days, a tortuous process of stock allocation and various clauses that exhausted Zhang Yuan.
Even the usually gentle Professor Lu and Professor Lin had to get involved, indicating they could take on some of the work.
After it was done, at a small restaurant, Zhang Yuan was treating the two girls to dinner.
“I finally understand why those big companies are so rich, they’re completely ‘no rabbit, no eagle’ types. They’ve made their fortunes by saving every penny!” Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but complain.
The five big enterprises haggled back and forth and, in the end, only invested twenty million. It was truly unexpected. They planned to register a small company, called “Genesis Technology Co., Ltd.”
As one of the providers of technology, Zhang Yuan owned 10% of the shares. Of course, for this 10% of the company’s shares, the two million annual salary was gone.
“They even want to save on a two million salary, I am really impressed.”
But though he said this, his mood was still pretty good. Although donating felt like acting as a rich dog, that was money left by his father, whereas now, he was earning his own money, which felt distinctly different.
Han Ziyue laughed and said, “This round of investment is called ‘seed round.’ The project has only a concept, there is only an idea but no concrete products or services, also known as ‘face-recognition investing’… that is, investing money in you based on your reputation.”
“They are able to invest twenty million, which is already showing a huge respect to you and the university! After all, there’s nothing concrete, can a concept alone make someone invest tens of billions? That’s impossible.”
Zhang Yuan nodded, it really was that way.
Seeing potential is one thing, whether it can produce results is another.
Han Ziyue continued, “Didn’t they retain the right of first refusal for follow-on investment in the cooperation agreement? If it really succeeds, these big companies will definitely swarm in with money, and with subsequent Series A, B, and C rounds, it can quickly grow into a big company.”
“Alright, I know that. Investing a small amount now, it’s just a form of risk control. But they really are cunning.”
Zhang Yuan said, “Moreover, in a few years, the big company will be none of my concern.”
How the company develops in the future doesn’t matter to him, he won’t be on Earth to enjoy the sense of achievement.
The Foundation’s people also helped him gain quite significant benefits. According to the company’s articles of association, Zhang Yuan’s 10% shareholding would be fixed. Even if the company raised capital for expansion in the future, it would still be 10%, not diluted.
“If it wasn’t for the fixed shares, I might as well take the salary and donate it to the Foundation.”
This kind of distribution was really tricky; a fixed ten percent stake that didn’t require additional investment to maintain one’s share ratio was quite a windfall for Zhang Yuan. The key was whether the project could actually take off, otherwise it would be just a mirage.
Afterwards, several chairmen invited him and the professors for a meal, but Zhang Yuan politely declined. It was better to avoid such socializing, as everyone would understand.
“I’d rather have dinner with you guys!”
“Why?”
Zhang Yuan hesitantly said, “Because it saves time.”
“Dining with them, who knows how long it would take, and all the mutual flattery, annoying.”
The room filled with laughter and joviality for a moment.
With this matter settled, Zhang Yuan felt at peace. This was probably the last big thing before his departure.
Glancing at the date, there was only one day left, and Zhang Yuan couldn’t help feeling a bit of sorrow.
Tomorrow would be his last day on Earth.
And that day was finally approaching.
