After visiting the farm, Lu Zhiwei and his wife invited Qi Zheng and his wife back to their home, and under the big tree in the yard, they personally grinded the coffee beans they planted for them to taste.

Song Qing brewed the coffee, and soon the courtyard was filled with a rich aroma, which made people feel refreshed.

Lu Zhiwei said with a smile: "Every day after work, my wife and I will come to sit under this tree, make coffee together, and chat with the harvest outside, which is really good." ”

Qi Zheng and the two tasted the coffee, and they also said that it was good.

In this relaxed atmosphere, several people diverged from each other, which was very comfortable.

Then Qi Zheng entered the topic.

"Mr. Lu, I am very interested in your land farm, and your offer is also sincere. However, I have one more suggestion that you might want to consider. ”

"You also know that I have a business in China and will not be based in the United States. Then I need a reliable manager in my U.S. branch, and I think Mr. Lu is quite suitable, I wonder if you are willing to give in?"

Lu Zhiwei and his wife were stunned when they heard this, how could they still buy one get one free when they sold their farm?

"Uh, Mr. Qi, I'm really surprised, how did you think of inviting me to be the manager of your company?"

Qi Zheng smiled slightly, "Mr. Lu, let me say so." According to our estimates, the consumption of organic food is sweeping the world, and the market size of organic food in the United States will maintain more than double-digit growth rates all year round. The goal of our U.S. office is to gain a foothold in the world's largest market for organic food. ”

"So you see, you have experience, I have capital, why don't we work together and seek common development?"

"We're going to invest at least tens of millions of dollars to build a complete organic food supply chain, and I'd even agree that you would trade the farm and the organic food supermarket into shares, and you'll be the general manager of the branch. Of course, you can also choose to sell the farm to me, and I will also hire you as the general manager of the company. ”

“......”

Lu Zhiwei was speechless for a while, this sudden invitation was really unexpected, and he was completely unprepared.

Qi Zheng could also see his surprise, and added unhurriedly: "No matter who the Dadi Farm is sold to, I believe Mr. Lu will have some regrets, after all, this is the result of your ancestors' struggle, it is better for you to continue to participate in it yourself to ensure that it can be better developed." ”

"Mr. Lu doesn't need to rush to give me an answer, think about it, you can also go to our company to have a look. Although it is still a grass platform team, if you can build a team of your own by one hand, will it be more fulfilling?"

Of course, Lu Zhiwei would not reply immediately, Qi Zheng gave him time to think about it, and left first.

On the way back to Los Angeles, Zhang Zehong asked, "Third child, how did you come up with the idea of letting Lu Zhiwei be the manager?"

Qi Zheng said casually: "Just because he grew up in the United States and can speak fluent Mandarin, I think he is suitable." ”

"......" Zhang Zehong If he wasn't driving, he really wanted to give Qi Zheng a kick.

Can your reasons be clearer?

Qi Zheng looked at him with a straight face, he was so partial to Mandarin-speaking Chinese, what's wrong?

Zhang Zehong thought silently in his heart, you have money, you have the final say. Changed the topic stiffly: "Then do you think Lu Zhiwei will agree?"

This Qi Zheng really didn't dare to assert, "Look at what he thinks, in fact, I just gave him this opportunity, as for whether he can seize the opportunity, no one can say." ”

Zhang Zehong thought for a while and nodded, "Not to mention, if he is tempted, he may be a really good manager, with experience in managing farms, familiar with the American market, and more generous, which is too suitable for us." ”

Qi Zheng agrees that in the final analysis, he does not need a manager with outstanding ability.

After all, with the blessing of the spirit array, there will be no big problems in the production of agricultural products, as long as the company's daily affairs are honestly managed and the products are sold smoothly, the requirements of Qi Zheng will be met.

Therefore, people like Lu Zhiwei, who are familiar with the market, have more advantages.

But if he shouldn't, it's not a big deal, three-legged toads are hard to find, two-legged managers are everywhere.

Qi Zheng shook his head and stretched out in the car, "You keep in touch with him later, count the days, the first fund of Daven Energy should also come, I'm still waiting for the rice to be cooked." ”

......

Devin Energy's first tranche of $500 million did arrive, along with Liam, a young lawyer who was transferred back to California.

He was so happy to be able to return to bustling California, so he couldn't be more concerned about Qi Zheng, who played a major role in it.

No, as soon as I came to Los Angeles, I immediately came over to report the good news to Qi Zheng.

"Mr. Qi, this is the tax avoidance plan that my joint accountant has designed for you, according to your requirements, in addition to the farms you are going to invest in and the funds you are going to build, this is the list of food start-ups you want to invest in. Liam handed Qi Zheng two documents.

Yes, Qi Zheng also intends to invest in some emerging food companies in the United States.

Many times, the agriculture industry is inseparable from the food industry.

The four major grain companies will invest in food companies, Nestlé will have its own agricultural supply base, and Starbucks will personally guide farmers to grow coffee......

And the food industry is always a sunrise industry.

Later generations asked, what company has the highest stock price increase in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century? Amazon, Google, and Apple?

Neither.

The highest gainer was Monster Energy, which is known as the brightest company in the American food industry at the beginning of the 21st century, Chinese translated as devil's claw.

Monster Beverage's stock price rose from $1.36 in 2004 to $160.78 in 2016, an increase of 117 times, making it the highest growth rate in the United States in the past decade.

In contrast, Google's stock price has only soared 17.5 times in the 12 years since it was listed.

Of course, there is no comparison between a tech giant with a market value of hundreds of billions of dollars and an emerging food brand with a maximum market value of less than $30 billion.

But for Qi Zheng, if he invests in similar food innovation companies, whether he continues to hold shares and wait for dividends or transfers shares to get cash, it is a profitable business.

As for investing in technology companies that have not yet risen? As a layman who can no longer be a layman, with no other resources, Qi Zheng may not be willing to ask for his money if he wants to invest, do you think those angel investments are just about having money?

Therefore, Qi Zheng still honestly pays attention to his old business.

At any time, the food industry is always the "No. 1 industry in the world". Although it is inconspicuous, it is really no less profitable than playing high-tech.

And, most importantly, in the food and beverage industry, the traditional giants are declining, and the emerging trend is irresistible.

In the U.S., with the impact of individualization, the acceleration of the pace of life, and the shrinking number of people in dining units, "snacking" is becoming a rapidly rising wave.

In China, with the improvement of living standards, urbanization and other impacts have also created huge growth space for snack foods.

With these new categories, small and medium-sized companies or startups can also challenge the position of large companies.

In fact, the main force driving the growth of the packaged food and beverage industry has become small companies.

In order to improve the passive situation, large companies have also had to set up incubators to invest in or acquire start-ups.

It can be said that this is an era of change in the food industry, and it is also a good time to fish in troubled waters.

Looking at the list of food companies collected by Liam, most of Qi Zheng did not have the slightest impression.

But this is normal, in any industry, there are always a few who succeed - more startups die in obscurity.

It was only in the end that Qi Zheng saw a familiar company, "California Hansen Natural Beverage Company", which launched Monster Energy, and his impression should be next year.

I pulled out his information separately, thought about it, and joined a start-up company that focuses on coconut water.

The biggest star of the American alternative drink is "Vita Coco", whose main product is coconut water, which has been blowing a cool breeze around the world since 2006.

Legend has it that in 2004, two men met two young Brazilian girls while having fun at a bar in New York. When asked what they remember most about their hometown, the two ladies invariably replied "agua de coco" (coconut water) and called it the most delicious and nutritious drink in the world, which piqued their curiosity. Two months later, they traveled to Brazil with the intention of introducing delicious coconut water to the United States, and Vita Coco was born in New York.

In fact, coconut water appeared in the United States very early, and the reason why it has not been popular is because of packaging and promotion.

Qi Zheng plans to contact the start-up company that focuses on coconut water, and if it is profitable, he might as well occupy the only way to go in advance.

Qi Zheng handed the two documents to Liam, "Just these two companies, you can help me arrange it, and I will contact the management first." ”

Liam took the information and found that it was two inconspicuous companies, so he didn't say anything, and responded directly, "No problem, just leave it to me." ”

......

The contact with Hansen Beverages could not have gone any further.

Hansen Company was originally an ordinary fruit juice and soda manufacturer, and after realizing that "following the trend of 'selling sugar water' is destined to have no future", they transformed the energy drink market in 97 and launched a product called "Hansen Energy Drink".

Unfortunately, the first functional drink was not a success and has been suffering to this day.

They are eager for all external investment and cooperation, so they show the greatest sincerity to Qi Zheng.

When Qi Zheng proposed a new development strategy according to their original development path in a few years: abandon the original corporate name to give customers brand recognition, choose a highly impactful name and impressive brand image, such as "Monster Energy", sponsor the coolest sports, emphasize "unleash the wild", more in line with American culture, create an adhesion to attract young consumers, and cooperate with major food companies in a timely manner, using their strong global distribution network, quickly enter the world, and achieve quickly" Ease of Purchase" ...... Hansen's management was amazed.

The two sides hit it off, and the other party agreed that Qi Zheng would invest $3 million to occupy 30% of the shares, and began to implement Qi Zheng's strategy.

As for the other start-up that focuses on coconut water. The founder didn't know if it was brain-dead or racist, anyway, he scoffed at some of Qi Zheng's suggestions, and he was also picky about investment.

Seeing this, Qi Zheng directly shot and scattered. Without you Zhang Butcher, can you still eat hairy pigs?

If it really doesn't work, Qi Zheng doesn't mind waiting for only his cocoa to appear before investing, at most he will wait a few more years.

After handing over the investment in Hansen to Liam to be responsible for the follow-up procedures, news came from Zhang Zehong's side that Lu Zhiwei had a decision.

......