wavenovel Chapter 689: The Billiards Table
Chapter 689: The Billiards Table
Although Zhang Xiangguang and Xu Zhongxian both lived in Yanjing, they were both very busy and rarely had the chance to meet. They could only get together for a few meals throughout the year. Today, with Huang Xiaochuan visiting Yanjing, the three of them had dinner together. After a few rounds of drinks, Xu Zhongxian, as the elder brother, naturally started to inquire about Zhang Xiangguang's personal affairs.
"Xiang Guang, as the old saying goes, a man should settle down and start a family. You've already established your career, so why can't you settle down and start a family? Your sister-in-law has found you someone from her workplace. She's in her early thirties and is already a deputy director. Like you, she's always been busy with her career and has been neglecting her work. Let's set a date for you two to meet and chat, and see if you have anything in common."
Upon hearing Xu Zhongxian's words, Huang Xiaochuan immediately looked at Zhang Xiangguang with a smile, wondering how he would react.
Sure enough, Zhang Xiangguang waved his hand, saying, "Brother, you're my own brother. Tonight we're having a welcome dinner for Xiao Chuan, can't we just not talk about this?"
In Zhang Xiangguang's opinion, Xu Zhongxian's words were simply a joke. If he, Old Zhang, wanted to, plenty of young women would be willing to throw themselves at him. He must be crazy to go on a blind date with an older woman, especially one from the system. It might be a good thing for others, but for Zhang Xiangguang, it was best to politely decline.
At this moment, Huang Xiaochuan comforted Xu Zhongxian: "Old Xu, I think you shouldn't bother. This guy obviously can't give up that dense forest. Just wait until he dies from exhaustion and then collect his body."
Xu Zhongxian naturally understood the implication of Huang Xiaochuan's words. He shook his head speechlessly and pointed at Zhang Xiangguang: "You!"
At this point, Zhang Xiangguang quickly changed the subject. If the two continued this topic, the gathering that night might turn into a critique session for him, Zhang Xiangguang.
"Alright, alright, can you stop talking about my private life? Let's talk about some important industry news, okay?"
Zhang Xiangguang then steered the conversation toward the internet, saying, "Xiao Chuan, David Young's Pool Table (a billiards table and instant messaging social platform) is amazing. I've studied it carefully, and its user stickiness is incredibly high. The time users spend online exceeds that of portal websites."
Huang Xiaochuan smiled. No one knew this better than him. David Young was indeed amazing. He had only given him a few hints a couple of years ago, and this guy launched Pool Table last year. In less than a year, he had captured the entire North American user market. In addition, there were no competitors of the same type, and he was in the limelight for a time. This also caused Yuho's stock to rise by 97%.
When Zhang Xiangguang brought this up, his intention was obvious: he also had his eye on this business area.
Sure enough, Zhang Xiangguang looked at Huang Xiaochuan: "Xiaochuan."
Huang Xiaochuan immediately waved his hand: "You should talk to David Young about this yourself. Friendship is friendship, and business is business."
"Could you at least give me a few pointers?" Zhang Xiangguang asked, settling for second best. No one knew better than him how insightful the man he was having dinner with was in his forward-looking research on the development of the internet industry. While others were still celebrating, he could see that the internet bubble was about to burst, allowing Zhang Xiangguang to avoid the major internet downturn in time. He also took the opportunity to acquire a large number of patents and talents, which laid the foundation for Soso.com to become China's number one portal and search website.
Huang Xiaochuan pondered for a moment, then said, "I support you in developing instant messaging software, but you can't always just copy what you've already learned. Pool Table became popular in North America because of the social structure of the United States. The needs of Chinese internet users are not the same as those of American internet users, so you must understand this aspect. I believe you are already working on this, otherwise you wouldn't be Zhang Xiangguang."
Zhang Xiangguang patted his bald head: "Damn, I knew I couldn't hide anything from you."
I am indeed doing it.
Huang Xiaochuan nodded: "How about this? I'll go to the company before I leave Yanjing and see what progress you've made so far."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiangguang was overjoyed: "Alright, I'll drink this one!"
Just as Zhang Xiangguang put down his wine glass, his secretary knocked and entered.
Zhang Xiangguang asked unhappily, "What is it?"
Zhang Xiangguang's secretary looked troubled: "Mr. Mo from Great Wall Computers knew you were here and insisted on coming to toast you. I tried to persuade him for a long time, but he just wouldn't leave."
The restaurant that Zhang Xiangguang brought Huang Xiaochuan to was a place frequented by business tycoons in Beijing. Given Zhang Xiangguang's reputation, people naturally wanted to get close to him since they knew he was there.
Zhang Xiangguang couldn't help but look at Huang Xiaochuan. To put it bluntly, whether or not to let that President Mo in was entirely up to Huang Xiaochuan.
Huang Xiaochuan naturally understood Zhang Xiangguang's meaning. Considering that Zhang Xiangguang would still need to work in Beijing's social circles in the future, he smiled and said to Zhang Xiangguang's secretary, "Since they are so enthusiastic, we can't refuse them. Let's invite President Mo in and have a drink together."
The secretary glanced at Zhang Xiangguang, who said unhappily, "Why are you looking at me? Didn't you hear me? Let him in!"
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went out to make the announcement.
Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties appeared in the private room where the three of them were.
"Mr. Zhang, it's better to meet by chance than to invite someone. It's rare to have the opportunity to toast you, so please excuse my impertinence tonight." Mr. Mo spoke in a very cheerful voice.
One doesn't hit a smiling face, especially since the two weren't competitors but rather had a cooperative relationship. So Zhang Xiangguang naturally responded with a smile, "Mr. Mo, you're too kind. Tonight is just a small gathering among friends. Why don't you join us, Mr. Mo?"
Mr. Mo then noticed the other two people in the private room. The young man looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place him. He didn't have much of an impression of the older one.
"Mr. Zhang, these two must be your friends?" As he spoke, he extended his hand to shake hands with Huang Xiaochuan and Xu Zhongxian.
Both men smiled and stood up to shake hands with Mr. Mo. At this moment, Zhang Xiangguang introduced them at the opportune moment: "This is my friend Lao Xu, the deputy director of the Ministry of Railways. And that gentleman is also my friend, surnamed Huang, from Shanghai." Seeing that Mr. Mo did not recognize Huang Xiaochuan, Zhang Xiangguang naturally did not want to cause any trouble, as he knew Huang Xiaochuan's temperament.
However, this introduction immediately reminded Mr. Mo of who he had just shaken hands with. He looked at Huang Xiaochuan with a shocked expression and asked, "Could it be Chairman Huang of Dadao Group?"
Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Huang Xiaochuan frankly admitted, "Mr. Mo has a good eye!"
Mr. Mo exclaimed with delight, "It really is Chairman Huang! What a pleasure to meet you here! Look, look, I never expected to run into you here!"
Mr. Mo was very excited and said, holding up his wine glass, "I never expected that I, Mo Hongwei, would have the honor of meeting Chairman Huang here. Well then, I'll drink this one down, Chairman Huang, please feel free to drink as you like."
Huang Xiaochuan, of course, didn't put on any airs and picked up his cup, drinking it all in one gulp.
After Mr. Mo finished toasting everyone, he thanked him gratefully and left.
After Mr. Mo left, Zhang Xiangguang suggested with a helpless expression, "We can't drink now. How about we go somewhere else?"
Xu Zhongxian waved his hand: "We've had enough drinking, let's call it a night! Everyone go home and get some rest."
Huang Xiaochuan nodded in agreement: "Yeah! Let's call it a day! We'll get together again another time!"
Seeing that the two insisted, Zhang Xiangguang agreed, and the three of them left the hotel under the escort of a group of people. However, the news that Huang Xiaochuan had appeared in Beijing spread immediately.