Chapter 48

Even though the wage issue was rare, it wasn't outrageous. When I was researching, I remember seeing that a regular waiter would earn only two to three hundred a month! Not to mention, they were part-time students, working one day and resting the next, with bonuses, meals, and accommodation provided... Speaking of which, I just realized there's a pile of tasks I haven't completed today! Votes! Favorites! Follows! ***

December 8th.

Compared to the billing software with a larger development team, Xu Xiaoying and Zhang Dayu, after working tirelessly, were the first to bring good news to Song Chen, presenting him with a localized version of ICQ.

Song Chen was overjoyed, and Qiu Lin and the others temporarily put aside the development of the internet cafe billing system to help test this instant messaging software, trying to point out its shortcomings and offer suggestions.

With the assistance of Qiu Lin and others, Xu Xiaoying used the company's local area network and an idle computer (originally for Song Chen's personal entertainment, occasionally used by Zhang Ruoxi and Zhao Lin, and the only computer in the company with games installed, which everyone grumbled about!) to set up the server and client for a tense test.

Even as a layman in software development, Song Chen, with over a decade of QQ usage experience, was the first to spot a major issue! In the early versions of ICQ, user information was stored entirely on the client side, so if you changed devices, all friend messages and chat records would disappear. In later times, even non-members couldn't save chat records on the server, but friend information could!

Although Song Chen wasn't sure if early QQ had the same drawback as ICQ, since he noticed it, he proposed to Xu Xiaoying: to mimic his memory of Tencent and store friend information on both the server and client.

Additionally, Song Chen also noticed the powerful feature of offline messages, and functions like custom avatars and password protection, which Xu Xiaoying noted down to address later.

"Boss, what should we call our ICQ? Should we redesign the logo and such?"

Xu Xiaoying's complexion, though much rosier than when they first met, still had a touch of delicate paleness, which Song Chen hadn't noticed due to his constant worry about the Zhai family.

Song Chen thought for a moment and smiled, "QQ! As for the logo, don't worry about it, leave it to the professionals! Looks like you'll have new colleagues soon!"

Xu Xiaoying nodded. Qiu Lin smiled, "Boss, the girls from the art design college are all very pretty. Why not just hire part-time alumni like us?"

Song Chen's heart stirred. To save on early labor costs, this could be considered! Even if not part-time, they could hire someone to design a logo!—Early communication software didn't require much from graphic designers, and this QQ software interface was almost identical to ICQ.

Wasn't Zhao Lin studying art?

Once the company had a better office building, they could consider hiring full-time software engineers and graphic designers. As for the logo design... Did he even need to think? Penguins are mighty! Penguins are awesome!

If his memory served him right, the earliest QQ should have been launched in a certain month of 99, giving him over a year to lay the groundwork in the instant messaging field. If things went well, he could even crush Tencent in the south... He knew the profit plan for QQ years in advance! However, in the early stages, he wouldn't foolishly reveal the profit plan, which would turn the basic monopoly of QQ in instant network communication into a chaotic battle among many players.

Now, they could consider adding servers. With no money to set up a well-conditioned server room, they could only entrust it to the telecom company. Perhaps, through Zhao Lin and Jiang Yan's connections, they could get a more favorable price for server hosting and bandwidth from the telecom company? But even so, the 850,000 yuan in cash and the huge profits from the computer room were far from enough!

He needed a more prudent financing plan! This plan not only had to support the expansion of the penguin but also sustain him until he secured his first "cash cow"! So, where should he start?

Song Chen watched them test the software with tension and planned the future of his business in his mind.

Since he had promised to take Zhang Ruoxi shopping and dining in the evening, even though he was very concerned about the QQ testing, Song Chen still took time to go to the school to pick up Zhang Ruoxi. As he was about to leave, an elderly man with white hair, around fifty years old, with a balding head but a sharp gaze, appeared at the company entrance. He glanced at the computer room across the street, frowned, and walked into the company, almost bumping into Song Chen, who was about to leave.

Song Chen nimbly stepped aside and apologized, "Sorry, did I bump into you, sir?"

"No! Hehe!" The old man smiled and stepped aside to let Song Chen pass.

Just as he was about to leave, Song Chen suddenly heard a series of surprised exclamations behind him, "Professor He Xinyu? Why are you here?"

Song Chen stood stunned at a distance, seeing the white-haired man, He Xinyu, humph, and with a half-smile, he glanced around the rather shabby office and said to Qiu Lin, who looked embarrassed, "Recently, there have been private discussions in your class about you doing part-time software development outside. At first, I didn't believe it. But later, the rumors became detailed, even the location of the company was revealed! So I came to check if you were really doing part-time work or just playing computer games!"

Xu Xiaoying smiled awkwardly, glancing at Song Chen, who was standing behind He Xinyu with an awkward smile, and said, "Professor, we are indeed doing part-time work, but only during our free time! As for online games... the boys would love to, but the boss doesn't allow it!"

"Really?" He Xinyu seemed skeptical, bent down behind a boy, and glanced at the code on the screen, nodding, "Hmm, it looks somewhat professional!"

"Professor!" Xu Xiaoying turned He Xinyu around, her round face slightly red, and said softly, "This is our company's boss, Mr. Song Chen! He is also a student at Dongou University, but he is currently on leave! Boss, this is Professor He Xinyu from the Software Engineering Department!"

"Professor He Xinyu, hello!" Song Chen extended his hand with a serious face.

He Xinyu, who seemed to have been prepared for Song Chen's youth, shook his hand and smiled, "I've heard about your entrepreneurial story from the students, how you mortgaged your mother's house to invest in a computer room and start a company. You've made quite a stir in just a few weeks!"

Song Chen was surprised that his background was known in such detail, considering he had never mentioned these things to Qiu Lin, Xu Xiaoying, or Zhang Dayu. But thinking it might have been Zhang Ruoxi who let it slip, he felt relieved.

"Just a bit of a superficial understanding of business!" Song Chen bowed slightly and gestured for He Xinyu to follow him to a small sofa in front of his desk, "Professor He, your visit today has truly honored our humble office!"

Song Chen's words were witty, and the students smiled in understanding.

He Xinyu also laughed, "I came out of curiosity! Qiu Lin has almost pulled all the best students from his class to do part-time work! Xiaoying and the others haven't finished their third-year courses yet, and it's still early for them to do internships or part-time work in their fourth year! Of course, I'm not against it, as early exposure to work can be beneficial, as long as it doesn't affect their studies!"

Song Chen smiled and explained, "That's not a problem. Although I have them develop software, I haven't set strict working hours, just using their free time!"

Pausing, He Xinyu looked at Song Chen curiously and asked, "May I ask, what software are you having them develop?"