Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Keep burning money
Bao Zhuoyuan didn't have a very good Spring Festival. Although he and Feng Yiping, the young and overbearing boss, hadn't seen each other much before or after, they were like old friends. Feng Yiping trusted him very much, and he also trusted Feng Yiping, believing that Feng Yiping could lead the magazine to the step he described.
However, the magazine has already been published twice and distributed to those target customers, and all the costs have added up to more than a million. Although there has been some progress, it is nothing compared to the investment.
Moreover, Bao Zhaoyuan is also clear that the companies interested in the magazine are mainly interested in Feng Yiping's serialised Blue Ocean Strategy. If it weren't for the serialised Blue Ocean Strategy, the results would be even more dismal.
When he attended last year's year-end meeting, he learned about the situation of Jiasheng. Like the magazine, it has invested a lot, but is losing money, and there is no hope in sight. He is the only one who can change the situation.
He thought.
So, Feng Yiping was awakened by the phone while he was still sleeping with Huang Jingping in the morning. He saw that it was Bao Zhuoyuan calling, so he didn't need to sleep anymore.
Huang Jingping hugged him, arched her back a few times on his chest, and Feng Yiping patted her bottom a few times. 'I need to answer the phone,'
'Okay, I'll go prepare breakfast.'
Feng Yiping went to the study and called Lao Bao on the landline. In these days, receiving calls on a mobile phone also costs money, and although Hong Kong has been returned to China for several years, calls from Hong Kong are still considered international calls. It's not that he can't afford the money, it's that he can't stand being ripped off.
'Mr. Bao, Happy New Year!' Feng Yiping said to him in Cantonese.
'Happy New Year, Yiping,' Bao Zhuoyuan's Mandarin was still so difficult to understand that after saying these words, he switched to Cantonese as well.
Yiping, the feedback on the second issue is not optimistic. I have read the latest financial statements and feel a lot of pressure. After thinking about it, I think I should increase the distribution efforts in this city and make some concessions to the distributors. After all, for a new magazine like ours, the conditions of not being allowed to sell at a discount and not accepting returns are a bit harsh. What do you think?'
'President Bao, I understand that you are thinking about me and the magazine. I really appreciate it! However, it is still too early to talk about the situation of the second issue. Many of the magazines that were sent out have not yet been delivered. In the next few days, there may be some good news.
It's only the 13th today, so the magazines sent to Europe and the United States have definitely not been signed for yet.
'I know, but from the reaction of local businesses, I can tell that things are still not very optimistic. Therefore, I feel that change is imperative, and the sooner we change, the less we will lose.'
Huang Jingping handed Feng Yiping a cup of hot milk and said in sign language, 'Drink it while it's hot.'
Feng Yiping took her hand and kissed it. 'President Bao, I was a bit optimistic before, but now, it's not yet time to make the changes you mentioned. I firmly believe that, at the latest, after the release of our third issue, the situation will definitely improve significantly.
Therefore, I still insist on the current approach unswervingly. Either it will be the magazine I aim for, or it will not be done. You know my original intention. I don't want to publish a regional magazine without international influence that can only struggle to survive. If it is unsuccessful, it will be a martyrdom.
I think you should be prepared for the first three issues of the magazine to be money-losers. However, we should look on the bright side. Compared with those Internet companies full of crises, our money-losing is nothing.
At the same time, I hope you can convey my meaning clearly to your colleagues at the magazine. You must boost their confidence and enthusiasm. I personally am very grateful for their hard work, and I hope that everyone will continue to work hard to prepare for the third issue of the magazine. The third issue is very crucial, and I hope that the standard of this issue will also be the highest.
I still want to interfere with this issue a little. The focus of this issue should still be on the Internet bubble. I predict that the bubble will burst in the middle of next month. Please use this as a direction and organise a group of high-level articles.'
When Feng Yiping said these words, his tone was firm, and Bao Zhuoyuan knew that there was no need to discuss it further. 'Okay, I will definitely do the job you have assigned me. By the way, I also have a suggestion. Could your Blue Ocean Strategy be considered for a separate issue?'
Bao Zhuoyuan was thinking of Feng Yiping's best interests. The future of the magazine was uncertain, but Feng Yiping's monograph would definitely be a hit.
However, Feng Yiping just wanted to use these articles to attract target customers for the magazine. How could he give up at this time?
'By the way, Mr Bao, I also want to trouble you to find me a few experienced financial industry professionals. In the first half of the year, I want to set up another investment company, with a focus on global financial investment.'
After this round of internet bubble operations, Feng Yiping wants to let his own professionals continue to invest in crude oil futures. This year, crude oil prices will continue to rise sharply, and in September they will hit a ten-year high. This is a long-term and meticulous task, and he doesn't have the energy to keep an eye on it all the time.
'Okay, that's no problem,' said Bao Zhuoyuan, who had cultivated many contacts over the years in the magazine industry.
'Are you going to the office today?' At the small kitchen table, Huang Jingping served Feng Yiping a fragrant bowl of millet porridge.
'I've already given the work instructions, so I just need to take a quick look at the office. But I need to go to the school and deliver the magazines to the teachers.' freēwēbηovel.c૦m
'Then I won't go with you. I'll stay at home and tidy up,'
'Okay, I'll come back tonight and tidy you up properly!'
Huang Jingping gave him a cold stare.
When they arrived at the homeroom teacher's office, it so happened that Gao Heng was still there. It was the beginning of the school year, and he had a lot of work to report, so he had to keep running around even if there was nothing to report. Who knew if the election after the start of the school year would see him voted out of office.
'New magazine, right?' Teacher Chen took it from him, saying, "Have a seat," and started reading it on the spot.
'Yiping, do you have any more? Give me one too,' Gao Heng said to him with a smile.
'Sorry, I didn't bring many, I gave them to the teachers along the way,' Feng Yiping shrugged.
Come on, I have to pay for a magazine, too, which, when converted, can weigh several catties of meat. Why should I give it to you for free!
Teacher Chen read intently for about ten minutes, then closed the book and sighed, 'It's refreshing. Yiping, have you really not considered publishing it separately?'
This was the second time someone had brought up the topic with him today. 'Teacher Chen, it will definitely be released separately, but not now.'
Teacher Chen understood his intention. 'That's fine. You're only in the first year, so it's not too late to publish it in the second year.'
'Speaking of which, Teacher Chen, I have another idea I'd like to discuss with you?'
'Go ahead,'
'I was thinking, could we set up a club similar to a crowdfunding organisation, where students join forces to do something together, so that they can apply what they have learned?' Feng Yiping said, "Can the school approve such a club? As the initiator, can I be the president?'
If such a club can be set up with him as the president, then it would be easy to discover some talent.
Gao Heng's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he spoke before Mr Chen could, "All clubs at school can only be non-profit making, and only second-year students can be the president.'
Feng Yiping of course knew this, otherwise why would he be asking Teacher Chen? He just wanted to see if he could get an exception.
'Tell me, why do you have such an idea?' Teacher Chen asked him with a smile.
'All the clubs at school are actually preparing us for the future, for when we enter society and start working. So why not get ahead of the game and just do something? We in the Department of Economics and Management learn about investment, just like the Department of Chemistry does experiments.
And I think that nowadays we talk too much and do too little. In the future, we may inevitably be unable to do what we want. So even if we all work together to open a restaurant now, it would still be doing practical work, and it would also be a test of our own abilities and knowledge. In turn, it will also promote our learning and help us discover our shortcomings, so that we can strengthen them in a targeted way.'
'Well,' Chen teacher nodded gently, 'how about this, you first follow the procedures and do the work you want to do and hand it over to me. I'll take the information and go ask.'
'Thank you, Teacher Chen!'
After Feng Yiping left, Gao Heng hurriedly finished his report. He felt that the idea Feng Yiping had mentioned was very novel and highly actionable, and he was eager to try it.
When he got home that evening, he had another pleasant surprise. As soon as he entered the door, Huang Jingping reported the good news: 'I got my suitcase back. The airport notified me in the afternoon to come and get it. Everything is there, just that,' she dragged the checked suitcase over, 'the handle is broken and the wheels are broken. They compensated me with a suitcase that cost a few tens of dollars.'
Well, given the nature of the airport and the airline, it was pretty good that they were able to do this much.