Chapter 193: This prodigal son is no ordinary person (Part 2)

Mr. Zhou Ming, our company, Fortune, as the organizer of the exhibition, is in principle only responsible for providing the venue and publicity, and does not get involved in providing any form of cooperative exhibition, nor will it participate participate in any commercial activities. However, at the request of the customer, we can provide opportunities for mutual contact and also provide corresponding services for cooperative exhibitions.

These are Forté's CEO, Cook, said to Zhou Ming, and on this basis, he soon invited a friend of his, a thin, tall man with short hair, a high nose bridge with a pair of rimless glasses, and a full beard.

'This This is my friend. We used to work together at Hewlett-Packard, but now he is the chairman of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs. I think you must have heard of Apple Inc. Mr. Ming Zhou, it is a company that has created miracles. On the day his company went public, all the shares were snapped up within an hour so that he created at least four billionaires in an hour. In Silicon Valley, Apple is synonymous with technological innovation, so I think it is very suitable for your requirements and will be a good combination.'

Cook introduced Steve Jobs to Ming Zhou. Although Jobs was a little surprised to see Ming Zhou, he still smiled and took the initiative to extend his hand to Ming Zhou.

Looking at Jobs's hand reaching out to him, Zhou Ming had a myriad of emotions. Perhaps the name Jobs was only well-known in Silicon Valley circles, but Zhou Ming, as a person who had been reborn, was all too familiar with the name. After all, After more than twenty years, when smartphones became popular, his name was practically unheard of.

But this is not twenty years from now, when mobile phones were still in the era of big mobile phones, and Apple was not yet the high-tech giant that would lead the world smartphone trend in later generations. It was just a slightly valuable computer company. Steve Jobs had not yet died and become a marketing gimmick for the company. He was just an alternative business leader in the eyes of others.

Zhou Ming shook Steve Jobs' hand, looked up at the famous face, and thought to himself that he would be crazy to let so many Apple fans go crazy in the future if he had the opportunity to shake hands with such a famous person.

'Mr. Jobs and Apple Inc. are both very familiar to me. I would be very happy if I could have the opportunity to work with Apple Inc. together, but I am curious as to whether Apple Inc. would allow us to exhibit with them,' asked Ming Zhou.

Jobs and Cook looked at each other. They both saw a trace of surprise in each other's eyes. It seemed that Zhou Ming's reaction was somewhat different from what they had expected. Cook first said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, I have already briefed Steve Jobs on your situation. He is very interested in Jieke and you, so he has decided to enter into a trial cooperation with you...'

Cook hadn't finished speaking when Jobs interrupted him: 'Zhou Ming, right? I'll be frank with you. I'm no longer with Apple, but I need a sum of money to fund my new project. Coincidentally, Cook said you could provide me with the capital I need...'

Cook keeps giving Jobs a wink, telling him not to blow his cover.

Jobs of course understood Cook's intentions, but for some reason, after listening to Zhou Ming's words, he didn't want to lie to him. He then added, 'Of course, although I have left Apple, I still have a sufficient stake in Apple. Regarding joint exhibitions,

(this The end of the chapter, please turn the page) Forté, I can help you facilitate if you reach an agreement with (this

chapter is incomplete, please turn the page) Forté, I can help you facilitate if you reach an agreement with (this said, Cook then went on to explain for him: 'It's like this, Mr. Zhou Ming, you may know about Steve Jobs' departure from Apple, but that was just an internal power struggle. Steve Jobs was the founder of Apple and the person who had the greatest influence on the company. Even after he left the company, his decisions were still treated like imperial edicts.'

Zhou Ming shook his hand and said, 'I don't have time to understand the grievances and grudges between Steve Jobs and Apple. As long as you can get the job done for me, you won't lack money!'

Jobs Jobs' eyes lit up, and it was clear that he had understood the unspoken meaning of Ming Zhou's words. Ming Zhou's attitude was very clear. He knew the little tricks between himself and Cook, and he could also see that he and Cook were taking him for a ride. He just didn't want to care. His goal was very clear, and that was the exhibition contract.

On the other Cook said to Ming Zhou, 'Of course, since we are here, we will definitely make your business our top priority. I believe that two days from now at the technology exhibition, Jackel will definitely be next to Apple.'

Ming Zhou was very satisfied and took out his cheque book to write a cheque for 2.5 million US dollars. Cook was very happy and went to get it, but Chou Ming slapped the table and, facing Cook's in a puzzled manner, Ming Zhou told him: 'Mr. Cook's guarantee is very satisfactory to me, but for Apple, it seems that your guarantee does not work at all.'

Cook smiled awkwardly at Ming Zhou, then gave a strong wink to Steve Jobs, but Jobs ignored him and simply asked Ming Zhou, 'Can you tell me why you must attend this exhibition with Apple?'

Facing Steve Jobs' question, Ming Zhou easily shrugged and said, 'Because Jieke's influence is not enough, I need to use this exhibition to make his brand known. As for Apple, I'm sorry, I didn't have to choose him. It's just that now you're right in front of me, Mr. Jobs, that's all.'

'In other words, if the chairman of another company were standing in front of you right now, you would also cooperate with him, right?' Jobs asked Ming Zhou.

'I really don't want to answer this question, but if you must ask, then I can tell you that yes, as long as this technology company is now very famous and influential in Silicon Valley,' Ming Zhou answered without any hesitation.

Steve smiled and shook his head, saying, 'That's a really ridiculous answer. It reminds me of a story about a soldier and a general. The soldier said that he was just as dignified as the general, so the general didn't believe him. So they went together to inspect the barracks, and all the soldiers saluted them as they passed so as long as he was with the general, he could temporarily have the general's authority. But this authority is illusory after all, and the general is not always by his side. So once the general is not there, everything will show its true colours, won't it?'

'The Western version of the story of the fox taking advantage of the tiger's Western version of the story.' Zhou Ming teased, 'But it seems that Mr. Jobs got the point wrong. The point is not about who is borrowing whose prestige, but about the soldier's dream of being a general, isn't it? If there is no a heart that is unwilling to be ordinary, I believe that this soldier would not try every means to borrow the majesty of a general.'

The fact that Zhou Ming and Steve Jobs, who were like needles pointing at each other, actually made Cook very anxious. He kept saying, 'Mr. Zhou Ming and Steve Jobs, in my opinion, your cooperation is very constructive.

(This chapter is not not finished, please turn the page) and there is no need to dwell on why you had to join the Forte Tech exhibition at the last minute and choose each other. These are very wrong and unfriendly!

While saying and even made a very exaggerated gesture, he was simply trying to get Zhou Ming and Steve Jobs out of their confrontation.

However, the fact proved that Cook had acted unnecessarily, because after Ming Zhou had spoken of his dream, Steve Jobs just stood there, mulling over the word 'dream', as if he had thought of something, and suddenly became a little dazed.

Ming Zhou nodded and continued, 'It's dreams. If we say that Apple is selling computers and technology, then we at Jack Electronics are selling our dreams!'

'So what is the difference between your dream and Apple's? Aren't computers and technology the dream of the future of mankind? What makes you say that your dream is necessarily more noble?' Jobs seized on this point and questioned.

Zhou Ming laughed laughed, 'They are two completely different kinds of dreams. I don't understand why you have to put them together.'

'To me, a dream is boundless creativity,' said Ming. 'If it's a growing industry, creativity means making products that are more efficient, easier to use, and better for work. Conversely, if a shrinking industry, then creativity is about quickly withdrawing from the original model, and quickly changing yourself before products and services become outdated and unusable.'

As Ming Zhou finished speaking, Steve Jobs was completely in shock. He stared at Ming Zhou with wide eyes, as if he had seen something incredible like God.

After Ming Zhou finished speaking and sat back down in his chair, quietly waiting for Steve Jobs' answer while drinking his coffee.

After a long after a long while, Steve Jobs let out a sigh and said, 'I think I'm convinced. I'll take you to meet Peter, the one who is really in charge of Apple right now. He'll accept to co-exhibit with you.'

Zhou Ming was delighted said, 'This is really good news, but I think you, Mr. Jobs, were not convinced by me, but by the money I gave Mr. Cook, right? Then you rest assured, since I can give Mr. Cook 2.5 million US dollars, then as long as the cooperation with Apple is successful, I can also give you the same amount of money. I will not treat you unfairly!'

Afterwards, Zhou Ming left after discussing with Jobs the time to go to Apple to talk about cooperation.

Looking at the backs of Zhou Ming and Cheng Qian's departing backs, Cook let out a sigh and said, 'Jobs, my friend, and fortunately he doesn't care, otherwise with your bad temper, I'm afraid you won't get this money. After all, there aren't many prodigal sons like him in the world!'

'Prodigal son ? Cook, you call him a spendthrift? 'Jobs pointed at Zhou Ming's back and asked in surprise.

'Isn't ? He even admitted it himself. He threw money around at the Stanford Conference Center, then spent 8 million just to attend the Fortel Technology Exhibition, and another 2.5 million to co-exhibit with Apple. Isn't someone like that a spendthrift?' Cook asked in bewilderment.

Jobs shook his head, let out a sigh and said, 'Maybe, he really is a spendthrift, but in my opinion, this spendthrift is no ordinary person!'

After a sentence, Jobs was silent for a long time before saying, 'I have a feeling that this person will do something that will surprise even God. And that is the most important reason why I will choose to promise him. My friend, let's wait and see!'