Fortune seemed to have been smiling on them lately.
Zhao Pingchuan had actually received an invitation from Prosperous Age Venture Capital.
It was a long-established venture capital firm known throughout the country, with deep pockets, like a lion entrenched in the south.
Even Pingchuan Technology had never dealt directly with the company before.
Zhao Pingchuan was genuinely flattered.
Chen Qi was fired up, brimming with energy every day and greeting everyone with a smile.
When Ji Ran heard the news, he found it incredible too.
He remembered that this part had never appeared in the original book. Prosperous Age Venture Capital had only come up in some irrelevant background information. If he hadn't encountered it now, he wouldn't even have remembered it.
His earlier suspicion had been further confirmed: the story's development after Zhao Pingchuan started a new business was no longer governed by the original book. Apart from inevitably being drawn into the tortured romance between the lead gong and shou, their endings were not set in stone.
Having worked it all out, Ji Ran felt reassured. If the plot didn't interfere, he believed Zhao Pingchuan was more than capable of dealing with Gu Xingye.
Zhao Pingchuan went to meet the person in charge of Prosperous Age Venture Capital's Li City branch.
The man came from a collateral branch of the Sheng family and was a distant older cousin of the current chairman. But Zhao Pingchuan didn't assume his surname meant he had gotten the position through connections. As everyone knew, Prosperous Age Venture Capital was no longer a family business, and every position went to the most capable person.
Zhao Pingchuan greeted him respectfully. The man, for his part, put on no airs. He was courteous to Zhao Pingchuan and made no secret of how highly he regarded him.
After chatting with him for a while, Zhao Pingchuan couldn't help asking, "President Sheng, to be honest, I never expected your company to extend an olive branch to Hengtu."
Sheng Qingyun smiled. "Your achievements over the past few years are there for everyone to see, President Zhao. Wouldn't it be our loss not to invest?"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled in return, though he didn't entirely believe him. "Thank you for your confidence in us, President Sheng, but judging by your company's past investments, Hengtu shouldn't be within your scope of consideration."
Sheng Qingyun raised an eyebrow and said approvingly, "You're as perceptive as I'd expect, President Zhao."
Zhao Pingchuan gestured for him to elaborate.
Sheng Qingyun thought for a while, then laughed openly. "There's nothing to hide about this, so I'll be frank."
Zhao Pingchuan listened quietly.
"We've had dealings with the Gu Group, and they didn't end pleasantly," Sheng Qingyun said.
His tone was light, as if it were hardly worth mentioning, but Zhao Pingchuan understood at once. They wanted to use Hengtu to suppress the Gu Group.
Zhao Pingchuan's expression remained calm. "President Sheng, I trust you also know what happened to me before."
Sheng Qingyun nodded. They were both in Li City, so of course he knew about Pingchuan Technology's bankruptcy. That was precisely why he felt all the more certain he had chosen the right ally.
"Gu Xingye and I do have a grievance," Zhao Pingchuan continued, "but with Hengtu's current strength, we can't effectively shake the Gu Group."
Sheng Qingyun clapped softly. "Good. I like your candor, President Zhao."
He smiled faintly. "There's no need to worry, President Zhao. Hengtu only needs to compete with the parts of their business that correspond to yours. We'll find other ways to deal with the rest."
Simply put, they had more than one ally.
He added, "Besides, I believe that given the right conditions, Hengtu will grow quickly. I'm looking forward to seeing what it becomes."
Only then did Zhao Pingchuan smile. "All right, then. I look forward to working with you."
The terms Prosperous Age Venture Capital offered were extremely generous. The contract's provisions had already been reviewed at a company meeting; he had come mainly to settle the few questions that concerned him.
Now that they had talked things through, Zhao Pingchuan naturally wouldn't turn down this support.
With a massive injection of funds, expansion plans that had previously been impossible to implement were launched in full. Hengtu cut an opening through the entrenched network of leading technology companies with unstoppable force.
A media outlet requested an interview with Zhao Pingchuan. The story of an entrepreneur who had fallen to rock bottom and risen again was the kind people relished in any era.
Three years after its founding, Hengtu Technology had grown from a small studio in a coworking space into a leading SaaS company in its niche, surpassed a valuation of 500 million, and successfully completed its Series A financing. These achievements brought its founder, Zhao Pingchuan, back into the public eye.
Unlike the high-spirited man he had been when Pingchuan Technology went public, he now wore a well-tailored dark suit and sat upright. The sharp edge in his features had faded, replaced by a measure of composure gained over time. Facing the camera and the reporter's questions, he spoke with confidence and ease. There was nothing deliberately showy about him, yet he carried an air of someone in command of the whole situation.
The interview took place in Hengtu Technology's open-plan office. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the bustling CBD, while the interior was simple and understated. Employees went about their work in an orderly fashion, and former subordinates occasionally passed by and smiled and nodded to Zhao Pingchuan. Their unspoken understanding held years of trust and working side by side.
Throughout the interview, Zhao Pingchuan spoke at a steady pace and reasoned clearly, getting straight to the heart of every question. His deep insights into the industry and clear plans for the company's future had the reporters present nodding repeatedly.
The reporter smiled and asked, "Hello, President Zhao. Hengtu Technology started with a lightweight SaaS tool and reached the top of its niche in just three years. Many people are curious: why did you choose this field in the first place?"
Zhao Pingchuan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze gentle but firm. "Thank you. I chose this field based on my assessment of the market, but also because of an original aspiration. When I was running Pingchuan Technology, we mostly served large enterprises, but I discovered that there were countless small and medium-sized businesses out there-small factories, shops, and merchants. They needed digital solutions, but couldn't afford enterprise systems that routinely cost hundreds of thousands or millions, and they weren't accustomed to complicated tools. What they needed were products that were simple, practical, and cost-effective, products that could genuinely solve their problems with inventory, orders, and customer management."
He paused, his tone growing more thoughtful. "A gap in the market is an opportunity for us. Many companies pursue size and comprehensiveness, but I've always believed that digitalization for small and medium-sized businesses shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all copy. It should be precisely tailored to their needs. From the start, Hengtu positioned itself not to compete with the giants or expand blindly, but to make products that small and medium-sized businesses could access, afford, and use effectively. That's also what the name 'Hengtu' means: taking a long-term view, following a steady path, and growing alongside small and medium-sized businesses."
The reporter nodded and asked, "You just mentioned taking a long-term view. We understand that Hengtu's current core products are management systems for specific industries. Do you have any concrete plans for your future product lineup? Will you expand into more fields?"
Zhao Pingchuan answered calmly, "Hengtu won't take the approach of casting a wide net. We'll continue to focus on developing our vertical markets in depth. At present, we've covered three core sectors: small-scale manufacturing, convenience store chains, and auto repair shops. Over the next year, we'll develop our offerings in those three sectors thoroughly."
The reporter seemed only half to understand and asked, "Could you give us a few simple examples?"
"Of course," Zhao Pingchuan said gently. "For example, we could add Internet of Things integration for manufacturing, allowing small factories to manage their equipment intelligently, or improve membership systems for convenience stores to help businesses increase repeat purchases."
That was easy to understand. The reporter nodded repeatedly, as though already able to picture it.
Zhao Pingchuan added, "Expanding into other fields is inevitable, but only after we've refined what we already do. We won't blindly follow trends. We're also developing lightweight AI applications, such as intelligent inventory forecasting and customer demand analysis, so small and medium-sized businesses can use advanced technology without spending much. That's our core research and development direction going forward."
The reporter asked the question everyone most wanted answered: "You went through the low point of your company's bankruptcy, and now you've led Hengtu to prominence. How has that experience influenced your current management philosophy? Many entrepreneurs want to know how you pulled yourself out of that low point and maintained your sensitivity to the market."
At the question, Zhao Pingchuan's gaze softened slightly for a moment. He neither dodged it nor deliberately played up his hardship, saying calmly, "That low point was indeed a valuable asset. It taught me to respect the market, respect risk, and respect every bit of trust placed in me. The end of Pingchuan Technology made me realize that a company's strength lies not in its size, but in how solid its foundations are. That's why, in running Hengtu, I've always insisted that cash flow is king. We don't burn through money blindly or chase inflated valuations. We make the company profitable first, then expand steadily. That's the key to how we've come this far."
"As for sensitivity to the market," he said with a sincere smile, "there's really no secret. Just listen more, observe more, and do more. Listen to customers: their pain points show us where to go. Watch changes in the industry: don't get swept up in the latest trend, and maintain independent judgment. Do practical work: don't be impatient or rush for results."
The reporter asked, "Competition in the digitalization market for small and medium-sized businesses is growing increasingly fierce, and many giants have begun moving into it. What are Hengtu's core competitive strengths? How will you maintain your advantage?"
Zhao Pingchuan said, "Hengtu has three core competitive strengths. First, we understand small and medium-sized businesses. Most of our team have experience serving them. We know what they want and what they worry about. For example, they worry about complicated operations, high costs, and inadequate after-sales support. So we simplify our products, keep prices under control, and respond to after-sales requests within 24 hours. That kind of attentive service is difficult for the giants to provide."
"Second, we have a solid technological foundation. Our core technical team has been through the ups and downs of starting a business with me. Their technical skills are strong, and we've always insisted on matching technology to needs rather than piling on unnecessary features. Every technical upgrade is made to solve customers' real problems."
"Third, there's our original commitment to the long term. We don't pursue short-term profits. Instead, we hope to tie our growth to that of small and medium-sized businesses. Only when they grow can we grow. For example, we offer free technical consultations to small businesses just starting out, helping them work out their approach to digitalization. This symbiotic model has earned us a large number of loyal customers and built our reputation."
The reporter nodded thoughtfully. "One last question, President Zhao. What are your hopes for Hengtu's future? What kind of company do you want Hengtu to become?"
Zhao Pingchuan glanced toward the door and smiled. "I hope Hengtu can become a companion to small and medium-sized businesses on their digitalization journey, rather than just a service provider. I don't ask for Hengtu to reach any particular size. I only hope we can remain true to our original aspiration, make good products, provide good service, and help more small and medium-sized businesses achieve digital transformation, so they can find their footing amid the tide of the times and develop steadily."
"As for the future," he added with a smile, "of course, I also hope to take the team and the people who trust me further along a steadier path. Hengtu, as its name suggests, is a long road. We're in no hurry. Taking it one step at a time and making sure each step is solid is enough."