Chapter 366: New Group Buying Website Emerges

After a lively Christmas celebration, Jiang Qin made a special visit to Zhang Boqing to play a game of Go with him, taking the black pieces and quickly forming a line of five to win decisively.

Dean Zhang was furious and exclaimed, “I was playing Go, damn it.”

Jiang Qin calmly waved his hand and replied, “It’s not about what you play, but what I know how to play.”

“I heard there’s someone in Yangzhou doing group buying just like you, basically copying your model. Did you know about this?”

“I heard about it. The old shopping mall renovation project next door is taken over by Wanzhong. They had approached them for a partnership, I think it’s called Suixin Group. Both locations being so close, I can understand him taking inspiration.”

Holding a game piece, Dean Zhang fell silent for a moment then questioned, “You moved my piece, didn’t you?”

Jiang Qin looked up innocently, “No, I didn’t.”

“Really? Cheating at a game of Connect Five?”

“Dean, if you don’t want to give me your Montblanc pen, just say so. But accusing my character, that’s where you’re wrong.”

Dean Zhang squinted, “You took black first, yet you have two more pieces on the board than me? Do you think I can’t see?”

Jiang Qin swept the pieces back with a clatter, “Let’s start over. I might have got it mixed up, or maybe you put an extra piece when you saw the bad situation and blamed it on me. Dean, I advise you to be honest.”

“Nonsense, I’m asking about your group buying business, are you still doing it?”

“Not for now,” Jiang Qin poured more tea for Zhang Boqing.

Hearing this, Zhang Boqing adjusted his glasses, somewhat hesitant to speak.

Initially, when Jiang Qin wanted to use Linchuan University as an incubator for online group buying, Dean Zhang strongly opposed it due to the complex involvement and manpower required which could easily lead to failure without stringent control.

At that time, he didn’t know Jiang Qin well and doubted his capabilities.

But stubborn as he was, Jiang Qin went ahead and even expanded the business across Linchuan City.

It was then that Dean Zhang saw the potential in group buying — a platform capable of boosting economic demand and consumer activity, truly groundbreaking.

If not for the significant impact of group buying on Linchuan’s consumer market, Jiang Qin wouldn’t have connected with the government or helped establish the Linchuan Business Group and create the Golden Silkwood Fund.

So, between Zhihu and group buying, the outcome is clear.

But Jiang Qin simply stopped when he said he would, turning instead to that forum, which many laypeople found regrettable.

Especially recently, as the neighboring city also started group buying, and with Jiang Qin’s groundwork, it quickly gained local government support and developed faster than Jiang had.

Zhang Boqing always felt like his painstakingly nurtured daughter was seduced away by a flashy rogue.

“Jiang Qin, don’t you feel it’s a pity?”

“I have my reasons for keeping the group buying in Linchuan – the conditions just aren’t right yet; we need to slow down.”

Zhang Boqing sipped his tea and set the cup down gently, “Don’t they say that seizing the initiative is crucial in business?”

Jiang Qin smiled, “But it’s also said that the first ones to charge into battle are the cannon fodder.”

“The battlefield?”

“This race will soon turn bloody. Suixin Group is just a foreshadowing.”

Jiang Qin switched their positions, “This game, I’m taking white first.”

Zhang Boqing’s face darkened, “You’re playing Connect Five and now taking white first? Might as well just declare you the winner.”

“Had you said so earlier! Where’s the pen? I’ll get it.”

“Dream on, you cheeky brat, you win against me first, then we can talk about the pen.”

Jiang left angrily, returning half an hour later on a small pink bike with the little rich girl, presented her to the dean, “Get the pen ready; this was the former amateur sixth dan.”

Dean Zhang: “……”

To be honest, Zhang Boqing knew Jiang Qin was full of tall tales, so he was initially skeptical. But as the young girl began placing her pieces expertly, sweat formed on his brow.

After a while, Feng Nanshu added her piece to the box, “Grandpa Dean, I lost.”

“I won?” Zhang Boqing could hardly believe it.

Jiang Qin also frowned deeply, “Damn, I didn’t realize your skills were so profound, Dean. It seems that Montblanc pen is destined to elude me.”

“Wait a minute, another round, I need a moment to process this.”

“……”

“Grandpa Dean, I lost again.”

The frustrated dog barked wildly in the office, eventually leaving with a huff stating, “Consider yourself formidable. You really had us fooled.” Then turned with the little rich girl to leave.

Zhang Boqing wondered, “Should I consider national competitions?”

Feng Nanshu followed quietly, “Jiang Qin, why didn’t you let me win?”

“I don’t even attend classes, why would I like pens? It’s mainly to keep the old man happy. Really, in this entrepreneurial journey, the amount of money is trivial. Meeting interesting people is a true treasure.”

“I don’t want to end up only reeking of money, without a single person to chat or boast with.”

As Jiang spoke of not “reeking of money,” a golden coin he was twirling dropped and rolled away. He turned pale and scurried after it.

Feng Nanshu tilted her head watching him, “Am I your treasure, Jiang Qin?”

“……”

“You are not. You are a treasure.”

Crouching on the ground, after some thought, Jiang Qin delivered his answer, then dusted his hands and led her to room 208 for a hotpot party. He also let Fugui wander to the first floor, giving Professor Yan an excuse to come over for a free meal.

See, everything Boss Jiang once said has come true – room 208 houses no freeloaders, not even a dog.

While Professor Yan was muttering about moral boundaries, Lu Feiyu had already topped up his glass.

“My lifelong principles are completely gone. What a sin.”

“Then you realized life could be this fun?”

Professor Yan paused, “What do you mean?”

Jiang pointed to the wall opposite room 207. Turning his head, Professor Yan saw a new slogan: “You’d be much happier without boundaries.”

At a loss for words, Professor Yan changed the subject: “Ziqing called me recently. She went to the neighboring city for a project called Suixin Group. It’s another group-buying website.”

An epiphany struck Jiang Qin, “So the group buying website in Yangzhou is hers?”

“Ziqing has been brooding over a failed venture for years. Though she claims it’s fine, I know it’s a thorn in her side, affecting her normal life.”

“Senior sister is too competitive.”

Professor Yan nodded, “Indeed, she really wanted a win, so she partnered in this project and even called me probably worried you might mind.”

Jiang Qin waved it off, “Professor Yan, I’m not petty. The market belongs to everyone, wealth is for all humanity. If I don’t want to do group buying anymore, can I stop others? That would be shameless.”

“Your magnanimity worries me.”

Professor Yan regarded Jiang Qin, “Ziqing is my student, after all. Her suddenly running a group buying site in the next city feels like I owe you one.”

Jiang Qin was puzzled, “Why the formality? Forgot about me stealing your tea or the time you wrote startup base rules all night and I turned them into paper airplanes?”

“???”

I’ve come this far owing nothing to anyone but myself to others.”

Finishing his speech, Jiang urged Lu Feiyu to top up Professor Yan’s drink then nudged his own glass closer to Feng Nanshu.

The little rich girl appeared puzzled for a moment then seemed to remember something, secretly cast a spell, turning the drink into an imported one.

At the end of December, giant flakes of snow fell. Jiang Qin, like a bird too lazy to nest, ventured from his dorm, his head tucked as he squeezed into a car, heading to Xinghong Road No. 102 to oversee work.

Branded operations steadily progressed with phased marketing beginning.

Under Jiang’s direction, Zhihu began an all-out opinion war.

“How’s the economy in your hometown? Check if there’s a River Hotpot to know.”

“Is your town fashionable enough? Xitian tells you.”

“And Burger King, with Nanmu’s backing, is now brazenly challenging: ‘What era are you in still eating shoddy Arken and Arow? Try our Royal King Burger – one is all you need!'”

Through such subtle influences, Jiang promoted these brands nationwide faster than anticipated.

Many wondered if Linchuan really had so many top brands. “Sorry, not all good brands are ours – we just made ours into good brands.”

Local people might recognize good brands in your or their hometown, but without marketing, competing at the top is tough, no matter the quality.

Particularly as the early internet era saw markets being reshuffled, it wasn’t about quality but who could call out louder.

While overseeing and advising the Business Group, Tan Qing couldn’t help but discuss the Suixin Group. After all, she was on the front lines of marketing, more aware of market dynamics than others.

“Their website’s progressing fast, even faster than…ours back then,” Tan Qing was worried.

“No worries, let them blaze the trail. By the way, how’s that relative of mine doing?”

“He’s quite dedicated and active, capable too, but as per your instructions, not assigned to a(core department.”

Jiang Qin nodded, approving Tan Qing’s arrangement.

A distant relative whose family once helped his father arranged a comfortable yet lucrative position – a graceful resolution avoiding any potential family-induced complications.