Chapter 840 I'll admit defeat if you shoot it out! Hua'anmen announces the names, the number one figure in the private economy!

"Where's Lao Zhang? Is he stuck in traffic?"

Inside a luxurious private room belonging to the Prefect of the Capital, Chen Yansen looked at Ma Wenteng and casually asked a question.

"I'm sick."

As Little Ma was taking off his coat, he heard Chen Yansen's words and shook his head in reply.

The assistant, quick-witted and agile, immediately took the boss's coat and hung it on the hanger before voluntarily leaving the private room.

"Sick? Old Zhang usually practices yoga during the day, swimming in the afternoon, and horseback riding in the evening. It seems that this exercise is not very effective."

Sitting opposite, Ma Liyun joked with a smile.

Little Ma sighed softly and shrugged: "There's medicine to cure physical ailments, but Charles's problem lies here."

As he spoke, he pointed to his chest.

"Heart disease?" Zhou Hongyi pressed.

"It's depression."

After sitting down, Ma Wenteng opened a bottle of whiskey worth tens of thousands of US dollars and poured a glass for Chen Yansen first.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

Although Zhang Chaoyang's net worth is indeed meager compared to Chen Yi and Ma Huateng, he is, after all, the founder of Sohu. In addition, with the assets of Changyou and Sogou, his personal wealth has fluctuated between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion US dollars over the years.

How could someone like that be depressed?

"No wonder he even gave up drinking."

Chen Yansen chuckled, made a light joke, and then got up and walked out.

It was early September, the weather was getting cooler, and the evening breeze was gentle and pleasant, rustling the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

"Beep—beep—beep—!"

The phone kept ringing with the caller ID tone, but no one answered.

Just as Chen Yansen was about to hang up, he heard a "click" notification sound.

"Yensen, what's wrong?"

Zhang Chaoyang's voice was somewhat low, but it wasn't weak or listless; it sounded quite normal.

"I'm in Yanjing, didn't you know? You're not so enthusiastic about treating me, don't expect me to go fishing with you next time."

Chen Yansen retorted irritably.

"Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, come to my house and I'll cook for you myself."

Zhang Chaoyang seemed to want to say something, but then changed his tone.

"Let's book a private room at Yunku. See you at 10 p.m.," Chen Yansen said after thinking for a moment.

"I...I don't want to go out."

Zhang Chaoyang stammered and politely declined.

"Stop arguing, who's going to pay if you don't come?"

Chen Yansen said, half-jokingly.

"You're really something! Making so much money, and you still rip off this poor wretch every day?"

Zhang Chaoyang chuckled and subconsciously made a sarcastic remark.

"Save where you should and spend where you should. I only give you the opportunity to pay the bill because I consider you a friend and an older brother."

Chen Yansen said in a gentle tone.

Zhang Chaoyang felt a warmth in his heart on the other end of the phone, his eyes reddened slightly, and he couldn't help but let out a long breath, afraid that Chen Yansen would hear the choked tone in his voice.

He opened his mouth, intending to find an excuse to continue declining, but Chen Yansen hung up the phone directly.

He put down his phone and struggled to get out of bed.

For a man in his fifties who is still unmarried, the huge villa is cold and deserted. He doesn't even have a regular housekeeper. He only hires someone to come when he needs cleaning services.

Living in such an environment makes it easy to become depressed.

This may be the main reason why Zhang Chaoyang used to enjoy drinking, going to bars, and throwing parties.

He leaned against the headboard to clear his mind, then walked into the bathroom shirtless and washed himself from head to toe.

On the other side.

Chen Yansen returned to the private room and chatted with Ma Wenteng and others about tomorrow's military parade.

Given their status and influence, they had already been notified that they would be standing in the fourth row of Hua'an Gate tomorrow, in the front row for private entrepreneurs.

The first row consists of Han Jinheng, Li Qingsong, and others, as well as heads of central government agencies from various countries.

The second row consists of heads of various associations and representatives of veterans of the War of Resistance against Japan.

The third row consists of military representatives from various military regions.

People like Liu Qiangdong, Zhou Hongyi, and Lei Yijun could only go to the sixth row.

Shi Yuzhu, Jiang Nanchun, Shen Guojun, and others didn't even have the right to climb the city wall; they could only sunbathe in the square.

Therefore, no matter how well they do their marketing, if they can't get an invitation or enter Hua'anmen Square, it's seen by netizens as irrefutable proof of their lack of ability.

What stage has Yunkun Aerospace's rocket development reached?

Ma Wenteng, his face flushed from drinking, hooked his arm around Chen Yansen's shoulder and asked.

"We are currently conducting engine tests, and the satellites equipped with communication and power converters have also entered the trial production stage. They should be ready for final assembly around the Spring Festival next year."

Chen Yansen put down his wine glass and answered slowly.

"Could we print the penguin brand image on the rocket?"

Little Ma's eyes darted around, and he chuckled.

"It's not that it's impossible, but you'll have to pay more!"

Chen Yansen adopted a businesslike attitude.

Even if Pony Ma is a shareholder of Yunkun Aerospace, he still has to pay every penny he owes.

"Can it really be printed?" Little Ma pushed up his glasses and asked.

"I'll print your picture if you want."

Chen Yansen said dismissively.

"Okay, then print my picture."

Little Ma rubbed his hands together and immediately made a decision.

Once upon a time, he was also a little kid who longed for the vast universe. When he was ten years old, he pestered his mother to buy him lenses and made a telescope by hand.

Ma Liyun held his wine glass, barely speaking throughout the entire session, his mind entirely focused on the collaboration with Huayi Brothers.

Since the establishment of Ali Pictures, it has invested in a number of film projects. Recently, he has been busy injecting capital into Huayi Brothers, hoping to enhance his own cultural and entertainment background.

Ultimately, it's all about making money!

The meal lasted for more than two hours. Since they had to participate in the military parade the next day, everyone left by car one after another.

Chen Yansen also got into a Maybach 62S and sped off towards the YunKu Bar.

The neon lights outside the window are dazzling, and the high-rise buildings stand tall. Looking into the distance, it feels like being in 2050, exuding a strong sense of the future.

This shows that Yanjing has indeed developed rapidly in recent years.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of the bar.

The driver, Xiao Li, got out of the car first and quickly walked around to the other side to open the car door for Chen Yansen.

The bar's marketing manager at the entrance recognized Chen Yansen at a glance and immediately greeted him with a big smile: "Good evening, Mr. Chen! Mr. Zhang is waiting for you in VIP room A888 on the second floor."

"Okay, take me there."

Chen Yansen responded.

Xiao Li stayed where he was and waited, followed closely by two Fengjun security personnel in black suits, who were responsible for Chen Yansen's personal safety.

Chen Yansen walked past the brightly lit dance floor, then took the elevator to the second floor and pushed open the door to VIP room A888.

Zhang Chaoyang sat radiantly on the sofa, the coffee table laden with various foreign liquors, snacks, and fruit platters.

Chen Yansen walked straight over and sat down. He picked up a cup, habitually cleaned it with his mental power, and then handed it to Zhang Chaoyang.

Zhang Chaoyang grinned, stretched helplessly, and picked up a bottle of wine to fill Chen Yansen's glass.

On the surface, he seemed to be in normal condition, but Chen Yansen could tell at a glance that something was wrong.

Given Lao Zhang's personality, how could he possibly drink without inviting girls?

Although their business dealings were not as close as those of Ding Lei, Ma Wenteng, and Ma Liyun, Zhang Chaoyang did provide a lot of help when Senlian Group was first established.

For example, introducing business partners, securing news copyrights for Beijing media outlets, and helping Toutiao expand rapidly.

With a loud crash, the two wine glasses collided.

Chen Yansen only drank and didn't say anything. Before long, a bottle of whiskey was empty.

Old Zhang leaned forward, skillfully opened another bottle, filled it with wine, and looked at Chen Yansen, asking, "I want to donate 10 million to the Orange Forest Foundation."

"Thanks." Chen Yansen nodded.

Aren't you curious why?

Zhang Chaoyang put down his cup and stared at Chen Yansen as he asked.

He knew in his heart that Chen Yansen had taken the initiative to ask him to drink because he had heard about his situation.

"I don't want to know! Anyway, in this life, you can do whatever you want. If you really can't do it, just change your environment. A tree dies when it's moved, but a person thrives."

Chen Yansen said in a very carefree manner.

Can the world get any better?

Zhang Chaoyang lowered his head and asked with a wry smile.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yansen immediately understood: this guy was truly depressed.

"Why don't you come work at my factory for a few days? I guarantee you'll have a clear mind and won't have any more messy thoughts."

Chen Yansen vaguely understood his thoughts and made a suggestion with a smile.

"You want a dignified PhD in physics and the chairman of Sohu to be screwing in screws?"

Zhang Chaoyang burst into laughter, taking it as Chen Yansen joking.

Have you ever hit it?

Chen Yansen raised an eyebrow and asked in a noncommittal manner.

"You've fought it?"

Zhang Chaoyang continued to ask questions.

“I’m not as prone to overthinking as you are,” Chen Yansen replied.

These words silenced Zhang Chaoyang instantly.

He's a smart man, so in theory he should be able to control his negative emotions well.

But now I'm just lying at home all day, completely trapped in a mental loop, unable to figure things out myself.

"I just feel that living and dying are meaningless."

Zhang Chaoyang said calmly.

There were only the two of them in the private room. Fueled by alcohol, he finally poured out his heart.

It's simply that they received too much negative information in a short period of time, which affected their mood.

The two chatted on and off for over an hour, and finally Chen Yansen said, "I've reserved a visiting professor position for you in the Qingyun Class at Senlian University. It's up to you whether you come or not."

After saying that, he patted Lao Zhang on the shoulder, turned around and left the bar.

Zhang Chaoyang watched his retreating figure and gave an awkward smile: "Young people are still the best; they're full of hope and have the courage to change the world."

Thinking of this, he mocked himself, calling himself a "coward," downed the drink in his glass in one gulp, and then got up and left the private room.

Chen Yansen made clear arrangements for him: either he would work as a screwdriver or he would become an honorary lecturer.

Senlian University has had several Nobel Prize and Senlian Science and Technology Award winners who often come to the school to teach, while Zhang Chaoyang, despite his impressive educational background, has little scientific research achievement and is not really among the top.

The reason why rich people are depressed is mostly because they think too much and do too little. Just keep Lao Zhang busy.

Chen Yansen couldn't offer much help with anything else.

...

...

The next morning, September 3rd.

Before dawn broke in Yanjing, Hua'anmen Square was already brightly lit.

The headlights of the Maybach 62S drew two soft streaks in the morning mist, followed closely by vehicles from Fengjun Security, forming a simple yet disciplined convoy that slowly headed toward Hua'anmen.

Traffic control was in effect on the streets at this time, and soldiers in dress uniforms could be seen standing tall and with resolute eyes along the way.

Occasionally, early risers would peer through the cordon, their faces filled with anticipation and joy.

Chen Yansen was dressed very simply today: a black suit with a small national emblem pinned to the collar, and a white shirt underneath.

But he was tall and strong, making him stand out in the crowd.

When they arrived at the meeting point, Ma Wenteng and Ma Liyun were already waiting. Both of them were dressed in formal attire. When they saw Chen Yansen coming, they immediately went up to greet him.

However, among the invited entrepreneurs, there were several with very different styles.

Lei Yijun was only wearing a Xiaomi polo shirt, looking like an ordinary passerby.

Coincidentally, Zhou Hongyi was wearing a red stand-up collar polo shirt.

Chen Yansen glanced at Zhou Hongyi, then at Dong Mingzhu, who was wearing a red suit not far away, and joked, "Are you two wearing matching outfits?"

"Isn't this just for the festive atmosphere?"

If anyone else had said that, Zhou Hongyi would have immediately lost his temper, but he dared not let Chen Yansen's joke go unanswered, so he quickly replied with a grin.

Chen Yansen was chatting at the foot of the ladder when he saw Wang Jianlin slowly walking over with his son.

It must be said that 2015 was a golden age for the real estate industry. Wang Jianlin has been selected for Fortune magazine's list of most influential entrepreneurs for three consecutive years. However, Chen Yansen has been ranked first for many years, while Wang Jianlin has been hovering between fifth and tenth place.

"General Manager Chen, General Manager Ma, General Manager Zhou!"

Wang Jianlin greeted them with a smile, then pulled over the young man beside him and introduced them: "These are all leading figures in China's business world. Sicong, you should learn a lot from these uncles."

He then added, "This is my son, Wang Sicong."

Wang Sicong, 27 years old this year, is still a bit naive. He just received a sum of money from his father, gathered a group of game streamers to establish Panda TV, and plunged headlong into the live streaming industry.

He followed his father closely, behaving very politely, addressing Ma Liyun as "Uncle" repeatedly.

When it was Chen Yansen's turn, he hesitated.

The other person was only four years younger than me, so calling him "uncle" felt a bit awkward.

Just as he hesitated, Wang Jianlin quietly nudged his arm.

After receiving the hint, Wang Sicong had no choice but to bite the bullet and call him "Uncle".

Chen Yansen nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Despite the awkwardness, Wang Sicong knew that Chen Yansen was a favorite of Mr. Han and a representative figure of Chinese entrepreneurs.

In terms of business standing alone, even his father, Wang Jianlin, would have to call him "Big Brother".

Dong Mingzhu glanced at Chen Yansen from afar, but was too embarrassed to come closer.

Previously, due to fierce competition in the air conditioning business, she had criticized Chen Yansen online many times, but he never responded and treated her like air.

Later, Chen Yansen submitted a proposal suggesting that the personal income tax threshold be raised from 3,500 yuan to 6,000 yuan.

This incident changed her impression of Chen Yansen, making her feel more favorably towards him.

Before long, staff came to guide the group, and they headed towards the Hua'anmen Gate Tower along the designated route.

The stone steps underfoot have been polished smooth by time, and with each step, one can almost feel the weight of history.

On the city gate tower, red lanterns hang high, and the national emblem shines brightly in the morning light.

In the distance, various formations had quietly assembled in the square. The sound of their orderly footsteps came from a distance, deep and powerful, inspiring awe in those who did not.

As arranged in advance, Chen Yansen stood in the fourth row with Ma Wenteng, Ma Liyun, and Wang Jianlin, chatting casually.

Not long after, Ren Zhongfei, Liu Chengzhi, and Dong Mingzhu also came over.

The group politely declined each other's suggestions, with some suggesting that Ren Zhongfei should stand in the center, while others felt that Liu Chengzhi was more suitable.

"Stop arguing! Mr. Chen is the most suitable! When the camera pans over, who will recognize any of us?"

Dong Mingzhu suddenly spoke up, unexpectedly suggesting that Chen Yansen stand in the center position.

It's worth noting that Gree and Orange Air Conditioner are fierce competitors, and Dong Mingzhu has publicly criticized Orange Air Conditioner's marketing issues on multiple occasions.

Ren Zhongfei's heart sank, but he smiled and said, "Indeed, we should give the position to President Chen."

Who doesn't want the center position?

He was only a few meters away from Han Jinheng, and the event was broadcast globally, allowing people all over the world to see him.

Ma Wenteng stood aside, acting like an observer throughout, showing no interest in being in the center position.

Ma Liyun was somewhat eager to try, but no one suggested it.

In terms of age, Ren Zhongfei and Liu Chengzhi are ahead of them.

In terms of business achievements, Chen Yansen is undoubtedly the best candidate; it's not his place at all.

After figuring it out, Ma Liyun stood with his hands behind his back, saying nothing.

Ultimately, Chen Yansen was placed among the seven and became a symbol of "the first person in the private economy".

However, Dong Mingzhu's bright red suit was particularly eye-catching, making her the most dazzling entrepreneur representative at the event.

Zong Qinghou, Cao Dewang, Yang Yuanqing and others stood in the fifth row.

Ding Lei, Liu Qiangdong, Lei Yijun, He Xiaopeng and others stood in the sixth row.

As time passed, the morning mist gradually dissipated, the sun rose from the east, and golden sunlight shone on the Hua'anmen Gate Tower and spread to every corner of the square.

The atmosphere became increasingly solemn, and the previously hushed conversations gradually ceased.

Everyone straightened their backs and turned their gaze toward the entrance to the square.

"Thump—thump—thump—"

The clock struck on the hour, its sound deep and resonant.

Immediately afterwards, the stirring national anthem played, and everyone in the audience stood at attention and sang along.

The singing was loud and clear, piercing through the clouds!

After the national anthem ended, the military parade officially began.

The commander-in-chief, dressed in formal attire, rode a tall horse around the center of the square and loudly announced the start of the military parade.

Then, the flag-bearing contingent entered the field first, with the bright red flag leading the way. The honor guards marched in unison, their leather shoes striking the ground with a powerful and resounding sound, as if they were an inseparable whole.

Following that, the Army anti-tank missile formation, the Type 99A main battle tank formation, the amphibious armored assault vehicle formation, the HQ-1 air defense missile formation, the DF-15 ballistic missile formation, and the J-15 carrier-based aircraft formation made their appearance one by one.

The armored torrent surged forward, the roar of its tracks crushing the ground sending shivers down one's spine.

The Type 99A main battle tank's gun barrel points straight to the sky, and its dark green hull gleams with a cold, hard metallic luster in the sunlight, with the military insignia on the hull standing out prominently.

When the Dongfeng ballistic missile formation made its grand entrance, the entire venue fell into a brief silence, followed by an outpouring of barely suppressed gasps of amazement.

Chen Yansen, standing on the city wall, remained calm. Although his mental strength was insufficient to directly crush these weapons, dismantling them into parts was a piece of cake.

Once his mental stat exceeds 200 and his physical stat is raised to 200, there will probably be very few firearms that can harm him.

After all, no matter how powerful the weapon is, you still have to hit him first.

Once Yun Kun's satellite power grid is deployed, even nuclear weapons will be unable to threaten him. If they can be launched from their silos, then he has lost.

Under CCTV's lens, Chen Yansen stood out among a group of entrepreneurs, and reporters were particularly willing to give him screen time.

Many people have forgotten that Chen Yansen was only twenty-three years old at the time, and had already achieved honors that countless people could never attain in their entire lives.

Shi Yuzhu, standing below the square, could vaguely see Chen Yansen on the city wall.

Both being from Hui'an, one was watching the ceremony upstairs while the other was observing from downstairs; the stark difference between them filled him with mixed emotions.

But he also knew that the health products and online games he was running were ultimately not respectable businesses.

Chen Yansen, on the other hand, owns multiple unicorn companies and has impressive core technological achievements in chip design, lithography machine manufacturing, chip production, lithium-sulfur batteries, biotechnology, drug development, and aerospace.

Promoting Chen Yansen is the right thing to do.

At the same time, Zhang Chaoyang posted a photo on Weibo.

He was dressed in a suit, standing on the rooftop of the Sohu Media Building, gazing towards Hua'anmen, with a caption of only one sentence: "Wishing you a happy Victory Day."

He was not invited to the military parade, nor was he on the Hua'anmen Gate or in the reviewing stand.

Netizens couldn't help but lament: "Sohu is really finished. It can't even get an invitation. The former godfather of the Internet has completely withdrawn from the historical stage."

In the eyes of young people, Chen Yansen is the godfather of the new era!

The military parade ended promptly at noon.

At 4 p.m., Chen Yansen accompanied Li Qingsong to visit Mixue Ice Cream and Lucky Coffee stores in Yanjing.

After the image of the two holding coffees was uploaded online by the media, Lucky Coffee instantly became a hit, becoming a "national coffee" and was even jokingly called "Green Pine Coffee" by netizens.

That evening, the sales statistics for Orange Technology's new product in its first week were released.

In just seven days, global sales reached 34.719 million units, and orders have been booked for half a month.

The news sent shockwaves across the internet!

It's worth noting that at their peak, Nokia and Samsung never sold more than 15 million units in a single week!

Now that Orange Technology has more than doubled this record, the shock is understandable.

...

...

The next day, Chen Yansen flew to Mount Emei.

After handing over company affairs, Zhang Chaoyang did indeed go to Luzhou, intending to take a break for a while.

At the same time, in Abyssinia's 1,400 mu (approximately 93 hectares) of Super Rice 2,000 paddy fields, golden rice ears swayed in the wind.

A gentle breeze carries the sweet fragrance of plump grains, drifting towards the scattered villages in the distance.

Three large harvesters moved slowly through the rice paddies, their sharp blades precisely cutting the rice stalks. The rice ears were then conveyed into the threshing bins via a conveyor system, and the golden grains fell continuously into the accompanying sacks.

The threshed rice straw is crushed and evenly spread in the field to become natural organic fertilizer.

The busy employees of Orange Biotech know very well that these rice plants are gold right now!

Even at $20 per kilogram, demand still exceeds supply!

This 1,400 mu (approximately 93 hectares) of super rice is estimated to yield 1.4 million kilograms, from which 1 million kilograms of rice seeds can be selected.

Of course, only one-third of this batch of super rice was allocated for seed sales; the rest was transported back to Luzhou for the production of brain shields.

Compared to the price of rice seeds, once processed into brain shields, their value will increase thousands of times!

(End of this chapter)