13: Chapter 13 Reap the Benefits

After the cooperation between Ali and Fast Ride was finalized, Tencent and Ride-hailing service could no longer sit still.

Fast Ride connected to the Alipay port first, so Ride-hailing service had to bite the bullet and link up with Tencent Communications. However, without the traffic boost from WeChat, they were completely powerless against Alipay. Tencent was in a frantic state, finally having to send Brother Ma himself to visit Chen Mo to discuss cooperation regarding the Fetion port.

Tianxing Technology's reception hall was officially used for the first time. The decoration was simple yet exuded grandeur, with the densely packed high-rises of Modu visible outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chen Mo brewed a pot of tea and waited on the sofa. Not long after, Brother Ma arrived with a vice president, wearing a humble smile, showing none of the airs of an internet mogul, as if all the previous friction between Tianxing and Tencent had vanished.

"President Chen, I have long admired your reputation. Seeing you today, you are indeed young and promising."

Brother Ma proactively extended his hand, his tone sincere.

Chen Mo stood up to shake his hand and returned the courtesy with a smile:

"President Ma is too kind. You are the senior I have always respected."

The two sat down. Only they remained in the reception hall; Zhang Kai accompanying Chen Mo and the Tencent vice president tactfully excused themselves.

Chen Mo casually pushed a cup of tea over. Brother Ma picked it up and took a sip, his gaze sweeping the reception hall unintentionally. He inwardly assessed that Chen Mo, despite his young age, handled matters with such composure; Tianxing Technology's confidence was indeed extraordinary.

"President Chen, I came this time to discuss the matter of Ride-hailing service integrating with the Fetion port."

Brother Ma got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"The ride-hailing market is just starting out. Ali has already made their initial move. Tencent does not want to be left behind; we hope President Chen can give us an opportunity."

Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa, lightly tapping the rim of his cup, and countered:

"How does President Ma view the current mobile ride-hailing market? In my opinion, this industry burns money quickly, and achieving profitability is not easy."

Brother Ma had anticipated this question. He said calmly:

"President Chen is correct. It definitely requires burning money initially, but China's population is right here. Difficulty in hailing cabs in big cities is a common problem, and with the increasing popularity of smartphones, ride-hailing apps will inevitably become a necessity. Where there is demand, there is a market. As long as we build up the traffic, there will naturally be ways to profit later on."

His words were steady and measured, lacking any passionate boasting, yet every word conveyed certainty, as if he had already seen through the market trend.

Chen Mo inwardly sneered. This Brother Ma truly lived up to his reputation. While painting a grand blueprint verbally, he likely understood the hidden complexities of this business. However, Tencent was not solely his decision; shareholders were watching the new market, forcing his hand.

"I naturally trust President Ma's vision for the market."

Chen Mo smiled.

"The terms I set for Ali's cooperation with Fast Ride—President Ma must have heard about them, right?"

"I heard. A transaction fee of two yuan per order, data ownership belongs to Tianxing, and no false advertising allowed."

Brother Ma nodded, having been mentally prepared.

"Tencent agrees to these terms."

Chen Mo was somewhat surprised. He had originally expected Brother Ma to haggle, as his internal expectation was actually lower, even considering lowering the fee to make Ali and Tencent fight harder.

But Brother Ma agreed outright. It seemed he was maintaining his status and unwilling to engage in haggling, yet was certain Chen Mo wouldn't concede.

After all, Tencent was the one seeking his favor now. Without the Fetion port, Ride-hailing service simply couldn't compete with Fast Ride.

"President Ma is very straightforward."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

"Since that's the case, the cooperation is easy to discuss. Zhang Kai will coordinate the contract with your company afterward to ensure Ride-hailing service integrates with the Fetion port as soon as possible."

"Then I thank President Chen."

Brother Ma showed a smile and raised his teacup.

"I toast President Chen. I hope for a win-win cooperation between us."

"Win-win cooperation."

Chen Mo clinked cups with him, and the two smiled at each other, though their eyes held different thoughts.

The meeting lasted barely half an hour and was quite pleasant, as if they were old friends of many years.

But after Brother Ma's car drove out of the Tianxing Technology building, Chen Mo stood by the window, watching the car disappear into the traffic. The smile on his lips gradually faded, replaced by a cold smirk:

"In the end, they are all self-important, the same mold as Ali."

He knew clearly that Brother Ma, despite appearing humble, was fundamentally like all other moguls—believing that holding resources made one omnipotent, even finding haggling beneath him. Yet, he didn't realize Chen Mo had intentionally left room for concession.

Three days later, Tianxing Technology and Ride-hailing service officially signed the contract. Ride-hailing service successfully integrated with the Fetion port, returning to the same starting line as Fast Ride.

Alipay had seven to eight hundred million users, and Fetion's solid six hundred million-plus users meant both sides had leverage. The competition in the ride-hailing market instantly entered a white-hot phase.

Users were ecstatic. Whether it was Ride-hailing service or Fast Ride, there were daily red packet subsidies. A single ride could save several yuan, and they could even order directly within Fetion or Alipay without installing extra software—it was extremely convenient.

For a time, the user base and order volume for both companies soared past one million daily, with more than half of the orders coming from the Fetion and Alipay ports.

Zhang Kai happily rushed into Chen Mo's office to report the good news:

"President Chen, it's booming! Ride-hailing service alone is generating two million in transaction fees daily. At this rate, it could double before long!"

Two million a day in 2012 Modu could barely buy a hundred-square-meter apartment between the inner and outer ring roads, but Chen Mo showed no joy, merely nodding lightly:

"This small amount of money is insignificant. The key isn't the transaction fees."

Zhang Kai paused, then realized:

"President Chen, you mean using the ride-hailing apps to promote Fetion's QR code payment?"

"Exactly."

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Mo's eyes as he tapped the Fetion Pay poster on his desk.

"Think about it: now, when users hail a cab, whether it's Ride-hailing service or Fast Ride, they can choose Fetion Pay when paying. As more people use it, merchants will naturally follow suit. Ali wants to bind users with Alipay; I intend to leverage their ride-hailing war to spread Fetion Pay across every street and alley."

Only then did Zhang Kai understand the grand scheme Chen Mo was aiming for!

Compared to those transaction fees, the comprehensive promotion of Fetion Pay was the true masterstroke.

The ride-hailing apps were just the beginning. Once users were accustomed to paying with Fetion, whether buying groceries, eating out, or shopping—anywhere payment was involved—Fetion could gain a foothold. Only then would Fetion truly establish its foundation.

Meanwhile, Tencent and Ali were still busy burning money fighting for the market. After Ride-hailing service integrated with Fetion, it immediately increased subsidies. Fast Ride was not to be outdone, sending out ever larger red packets. The two fought fiercely, yet no one noticed that Chen Mo was using this great war to quietly sow the seeds of Fetion QR code payment across the entire country.

Millions of daily ride-hailing orders served as free advertising for Fetion Pay. Users effortlessly clicking Fetion Pay when paying for their fares led to more and more people starting to use it. Seeing this trend, offline merchants also proactively contacted Tianxing Technology to apply for Fetion QR code payment activation.

Chen Mo sat in his office, watching the number of Fetion Pay merchants surge daily, and finally displayed a satisfied smile.

Tencent and Ali were still busy burning money to seize the market, unaware that they had become a springboard for Chen Mo to promote his payment system. By the time they reacted, Fetion Pay would already be deeply rooted, forming a standoff with Alipay, and VX Pay would have lost any chance to recover.