Redmond is an ordinary city in Washington state with a population of only a few tens of thousands, but it has become notable because of two companies, one is Microsoft and the other is Nintendo.

The Microsoft headquarters building is not as pompous as other big conglomerates, and the style is rigorous, and the height is only six or seven stories high. It's a great company, and Bill Gates' lunch invitation will be in this building.

This reminded Lin Fan of Warren Buffett's lunchtime auction, maybe this is not a sumptuous lunch, which will make many people rush to it. But Lin Fan is a lot calmer, if people don't ask for help, they are naturally calm.

Under the guidance of Microsoft staff, Lin Fan went straight to the Microsoft restaurant, and before that, he spent hours flying from San Francisco to Washington State, hoping that the lunch would be pleasant, otherwise Lin Fan felt that his trip would be meaningless.

"I'm interested in you. Bill Gates's face is very serious, this is not that he is hostile to Lin Fan, his seriousness has been famous in the American Internet industry, this is a person who is not good at expressing his feelings in words.

"Me too. ”

Microsoft's work meals are still very rich, vegetables, meat, rice, fruits, to ensure basic nutrition, Bill asked, "Do you want a glass of warm water?"

"Of course, it boosts my digestion. ”

Bill was munching on his meal before he spoke first, "I've read the statements of Mortal Inc., as a company that has been established for a year and a half, your revenue reached 10 million dollars in the last quarter, and as the founder, you have never received a cent of dividends from the company, you are a very dedicated entrepreneur." ”

Lin Fan's movements slowed down a bit, "I just have other side hustles." ”

Bill was noncommittal, "Actually, I think it's more appropriate to describe Mr. Lin as smart." ”

"Why?"

"You're a smart entrepreneur who knows how to use the public's concerns to build momentum, which is very different from Microsoft's work direction, where we focus more on technology and use products to speak. Speaking of this, Bill also glanced at Lin Fan meaningfully.

Lin Fan was a little embarrassed, and said it in Bill's mouth Lin Fan heard the meaning of grandstanding, mainly because Lin Fan was deeply influenced by the concept of later generations, hype is closely related to any industry, the aroma of wine is not afraid of deep alleys can no longer be used, in the information age, there are countless information popping up every moment of every day, how can it be known by everyone without hype or publicity?

And the rise of Microsoft is very early, at that time the computer field has just begun to develop, the pattern of advertising seems to be only played by Jobs when he promoted the Macintosh computer, the company's management and enterprises are based on technology to speak, and now Microsoft as a computer giant in the world prestige has been established, not to mention the hype, Microsoft has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

"Microsoft has always been committed to the development of the computer industry, and we extended an invitation to Mr. Gao Ming, who discovered this vulnerability, but he declined. ”

Lin Fan almost wanted to scold his mother, if he wanted to dig the foot of my wall, he just wanted to dig the foot of the wall, do you want to tell me?

"In fact, if I didn't know that Mr. Lin owned a mortal company, I would have preferred Mr. Lin to come to Microsoft to work, and you would definitely be able to play a huge role in Microsoft's marketing department. ”

Is this a compliment to yourself?"Microsoft is full of talent, and I don't think the stars can compete with the bright moon, so the most important thing is to play your own light." ”

"I think we can communicate in a different way, for example, I'm very optimistic about mortal company. ”

Bill looked like an uncle next door, with slightly gray hair, black glasses, and a slightly chubby figure, as if he was leaning back in a chair at the moment, as if he had just said something insignificant.

The clever Lin Fan could naturally hear the meaning of Bill's words, and this sudden invitation to lunch seemed to have an explanation at once. Bill is indeed interested in mortals, especially witnessing the situation of mortals from the arrival of mortals in the United States to the present, and he sees a good chess player, who is behind the scenes.

"Mr. Gates wants to take a stake in mortals?"

"Hmm. ”

"Microsoft is enough to buy hundreds of mortals. ”

"But there is only one mortal. ”

Lin Fan wants to say in his heart that it is impossible to be excited, affirmed by such a big man, this is the honor of Internet practitioners, we use computers to program all kinds of software, but the core systems of all computers are produced by this person.

"I want to add mortals safely to Microsoft's System Store. ”

Bill was stunned for a moment, but then couldn't help but laugh, "You're really a qualified businessman." This was the first time Bill smiled, and Lin Fan responded, "I don't think this request is unreasonable, and Sequoia will also help us, such as giving us some resources at Google." ”

Lin Fan wisely did not propose to add PS to the Microsoft System Store, a free version of Office, isn't this a slap in the face of Microsoft?

"It's okay, but it's not less expensive. Bill is also very wise not to mention PS, even if Office is the first office software, but still can't ignore the threat of PS, and taking a stake in mortals is not a kind of control over PS.

However, Lin Fan only wanted to complain about Bill's slamming the door, but he also knew that this was already a rare opportunity for mortals, "I'm very happy to cooperate with Microsoft." ”

"But I want to get twenty percent of the mortals' shares. ”

"No, it's impossible. Lin Fan replied immediately, although he smiled, he was very resolute. Selling so many shares at once Lin Fan is not worried about losing control of the board of directors in the future, but this is really a money-losing deal.

A potential Internet company is developing almost with each passing day, just like a mortal who was only valued at more than $60 million a year ago, and now it is valued at $300 million by Sequoia, it is really not wise to sell too many shares at once, if another year, these shares can definitely be exchanged for more resources.

"Doesn't Mr. Lin want to hear my offer?"

"It's okay not to listen, or I'm afraid I'll be tempted. ”

"My valuation of mortals is a billion dollars, which means you can get twenty million dollars in funding. ”

What is wealth? Bill doesn't like to play cards according to routines the most, and Facebook's market value from 500 million to 15 billion in one fell swoop is due to his handiwork, and now it is in front of Lin Fan.

Lin Fan tried to make himself smile as naturally as possible, "I won't sell the potential of mortals to gain temporary glory." ”

The four eyes are facing each other, and the atmosphere is serious. Lin Fan's eyes were calm, and Bill's eyes were mixed with ridicule, puzzlement and many other factors.

After a moment, Bill smiled a second time: "I'm sorry, but you passed my test, please tell me a range that you feel fit." ”

Happiness fell from the sky in an instant, and Lin Fan was even more pleasantly surprised, if he didn't understand it wrong, Bill meant that the valuation would not change, just a reduction in shares, okay, Lin Fan just wanted to say at the moment: Amazing, Crazy, (Thank you Xiaoxiao for letting me learn so much English)