Rebirth 2010: I taught Mr. Lei how to make a mobile phone

Chapter 983 Persuasion to Surrender!

where is this?
This is now the Lakeside Innovation and Research Center, formerly Lakeside University, which is internally referred to as a sacred place within the Alibaba system.

Who is Chen Mo?
The head of Alibaba's arch-rival, Jack Ma's lifelong enemy, and a thorn in the side of countless people.

This scene, in everyone's mind, was as absurd and bizarre as Zhuge Liang suddenly appearing at Cao Cao's main camp, reviewing troops arm in arm with Sima Yi, yet it was happening right before their eyes.

How did Chen Mo end up here?

How dare Chen Mo show up here?!

"Principal!" "Principal!?"
Although Lakeside Academy is now history, the institution has closed, and the plaque has been taken down, Old Ma's prestige in people's hearts remains.

When the trainees saw him, they unconsciously followed their old habits and stood up to greet him.

Chen Mo and Lao Ma took their seats in the front row, and then Lao Ma steadily walked onto the stage.

"Dear students, it's been a long time."

"Many years ago today, I stood here, giving a speech at the opening ceremony of the school."

Today, standing here again, I have a different feeling.

I know that everyone here today has a big question in their mind—why have I gathered you all here?

"Why are Mr. Chen and his entourage from the other side here?"

"Perhaps some are speculating that I'm making a comeback, some think I'm going to lead you to find new business opportunities, and some, seeing Chen Mo sitting next to me, are already envisioning the entire Romance of the Three Kingdoms in their minds."

A knowing chuckle rippled through the audience.

"No rush," he smiled slightly, "You'll have your answer soon enough!"

"Yes, the Lakeside Academy sign has been taken down, and the storm surrounding the ants has passed."

"The water of West Lake is still the same pool, but the fish in it are no longer the same fish as before."

"Although the internet industry often talks about winner-takes-all, ultimately, this isn't a true arena—or so I used to think. Did Taobao think that the world was settled and everything was unified just because it defeated the then-dominant eBay?"

"But what was the result? Liu Qiangdong emerged, built his own warehousing centers using a crane-style model, and carved out his own path for JD.com; now he's launched Jingxi, making a name for himself in the lower-tier market. If e-commerce is like this, aren't other sectors the same?"

"So you can never eliminate all your rivals, but you can become stronger in another way through competition."

"A few years ago, people often said that if you stand in the right place at the right time, even a pig can fly. Everyone wanted to be that lucky pig."

"But now, I want to tell everyone: we should think more about where the wind comes from, and even more about how to make this wind last longer—that's why I'm standing here today."

"Sometimes, we need to know how to go against the current and stand at the forefront, but we also need to know when to retreat and protect ourselves."

"As your former principal, I feel it is my responsibility and obligation to plan a better future for you."

"Although the forest is gone, the birds that flew away have all made a name for themselves, and this sky is even more wonderful now."

"Don't you all agree?"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic and sustained applause, a testament to Jack Ma's prestige and standing among these entrepreneurs. "So, the next person might be able to provide the answer you're looking for. Everyone knows this person; let's give him a round of applause."

At Lao Ma's prompting, Chen Mo straightened his sleeves and calmly stood up.

The atmosphere at the scene began to become somewhat subtle.

After the principal's speech, it was Chen Mo's turn. He caused everyone present to have their base occupied by the enemy leader, giving them a strange sense of being persuaded to surrender.
Amid sparse but polite applause, Chen Mo steadily walked onto the stage.

Standing in front of the microphone, his calm gaze slowly swept over the various expressions on the faces below the stage—there was expectation, honor, scrutiny, curiosity, but even more so, undisguised wariness, alienation, and disgust.

He nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, his voice steady and clear:
"Teacher Ma, you flatter me. I wouldn't call it an answer." He started modestly, but then his tone shifted sharply, like a blade being drawn from its sheath. "What I'm about to say is just to share some insights with you. If they can inspire or help you, that would be my honor."

"Teacher Ma's last words just now really touched me."

"But have you ever seriously considered why some birds can fly high and far, while others break their wings halfway, or even touch the invisible high-voltage line as soon as they spread their wings?"

He paused deliberately, letting the sharp question settle in the silent air, landing heavily on everyone's hearts.

"Over the years, the rapid development of companies like Biyan, Meituan, and Pinduoduo has been inseparable from the opportunities of the times, as well as the exploration and hard work of entrepreneurs."

"But at this moment, we all know in our hearts that with the continuous improvement of laws and regulations, the era of rampant exploitation in the gray area for the sake of growth is gone forever."

"Some old models that rely on endless overtime and exploiting labor to increase productivity are beginning to fail as the AI ​​wave is about to fully arrive."

His tone was not harsh, but it carried a certainty that saw through the facts and left no room for doubt.

“I had an in-depth conversation with Professor Ma before, and I strongly agree with his concept of ‘coopetition’.”

"There is a Qing Teng Academy on the other side, which is known as the cradle of IT talents and later the 'Whampoa Military Academy'—but this is only from the perspective of working people."

"After the New Year, the other side will also build a Wutong Academy, waiting for truly ambitious people to join. This is the answer I want to give you today!"

“But,” he emphasized again, his gaze sharpening, “cooperation needs a common foundation. Otherwise, so-called cooperation is nothing more than low-level duplication of construction, or even a quagmire that drags each other down.”

"So what is this cornerstone? For a company, it is both simple and extremely difficult." He paused briefly, then posed the question, "I mentioned it in a public setting a few years ago; I wonder if anyone remembers?"

The audience exchanged glances and whispered amongst themselves. Although Chen Mo had kept a low profile in recent years, focusing on high-level strategies, he had made numerous public statements in his earlier years, each with different content. Who could accurately grasp what he was referring to at this moment?
Young Ma, sitting in the front row, felt a slight stirring in his heart, vaguely grasping some of the underlying meaning. After all, that speech had left a very deep impression not only on him, but also on the entire industry at the time.

We can't let Chen Mo's words fall on the ground, especially in such a crucial situation.

But just as Little Ma was about to speak, Old Ma's voice, full of emotion, came from the side:
"It's the Labor Law!"

Little Ma realized that Old Ma had also been there at the time, so it seemed everyone had a deep impression of it. Just then, he heard Chen Mo say on stage.

"Teacher Ma is right!" Chen Mo immediately chimed in, his voice rising sharply and clearly carrying throughout the entire hall.
"The prerequisite for entering Wutong Academy is very simple and unwavering—that is, you must fully and strictly abide by the Labor Law!"

There was a slight commotion in the audience; some looked surprised, some were deep in thought, and some curled their lip in disapproval.

Chen Mo witnessed this entire scene.

(End of this chapter)