Chapter 392: Completely Relaxed Boundaries

At four in the afternoon, Jiang Qin and his group landed in Shanghai and headed to the university town branch.

The summer temperature was high, making them sweat with just a few steps. They didn’t bother wandering around and directly hailed a taxi on the roadside.

Along the way, the bus stations, subway entrances, and even the LED screens on taxis passing by were all flaunting ads from Suixin Group.

With the new funding, Suixin Group was indeed flaunting its financial power. They weren’t just flooding the place with advertisements but had also hired many celebrities for promotions. The phrase “with Suixin” was everywhere in group purchases.

However, as they approached the vicinity of the university town, such advertisements became scarce indicating that Tan Qing had drawn a clear line, proving the efficacy of their aggressive early tactics.

On one hand, the street team of the group buying site showed remarkable combat power, quick and effective.

On the other hand, it seemed others had underestimated the potential consumer power of college students, not deeming the area worthy of effort.

Early in the morning, Tan Qing was already waiting in the office and was visibly moved when she saw Jiang Qin, Wei Lanlan, Lu Xuemei, and Dong Wenhao, the Ice Queen.

She had been stationed outside for three months. Though colleagues were not lacking, none could compare to the familiarity she felt with the people from room 208.

“What’s the situation like now in Shanghai?”

Turning her head, Tan Qing responded to Jiang Qin, “Suixin’s ads are getting fiercer, but the number of ground promoters has reduced by nearly half. I investigated yesterday and found they’ve split their main camp here into two teams. The other team is connecting with the Kyoto branch.”

Jiang Qin nodded, “It’s just like Ye Ziqing’s style. After all, both Lashou Network and Nuomi have also secured funding. If they don’t seize the time difference, it’ll be hard to find another good opportunity.”

“Boss, I do have a doubt.”

“Let’s hear it.”

Tan Qing pursed her lips, “The battle in the four top-tier cities is so tough, why don’t they target the second or third-tier cities?”

Settling into the sofa with a tea in hand, Jiang Qin explained, “They all want to eradicate the competition while they’re still small, focusing their efforts on fights because they believe only the brave who enter top-tier cities are worthy rivals. They want to solve them first, always fearful of being undercut.”

“Can’t just stand and watch the opponent grow?”

“Right, secondly, anchoring in these four major cities also means access to more capital.”

“Will they keep fighting like this?”

“Not necessarily. When they reach a point where they can’t fundamentally harm each other anymore, they’ll shift their focus to the second and third-tier cities. But by then, someone would have already lost.”

At that moment, Wei Lanlan glanced at Tan Qing, “Qingqing, the boss hasn’t had lunch yet.”

Tan Qing quickly reacted, “Boss, shall we go for lunch first?”

“Hold on, let me first check their websites. Open the pages for me.”

“Oh, alright.”

Tan Qing opened her laptop and launched Lashou Network, Suixin Group, Nuomi, and Wowo Group websites.

Jiang Qin browsed briefly, noticing that these websites hadn’t changed much from the beginning, just a bit smoother, but their gameplay and functions were still very primitive.

These people were likely too busy battling their rivals, no one had the bandwidth to pause and refine their products. They figured there’d be plenty of chances to do this after winning.

After a while, Jiang Qin clicked the mouse a few times before declaring it was time to head out for lunch, specifically choosing a restaurant named Red Maple Leaf.

“This restaurant is pretty good. How did you know about it?” Tan Qing was somewhat surprised.

“Group buying on Suixin, a sixty percent discount. Not seizing this deal would be a waste. We should buy meal vouchers from Suixin in the future. It’s cheaper this way and a nice change from boxed meals once in a while.”

Looking around the office, Jiang Qin remarked, “Even office supplies, we could get them from Suixin.”

“……”

Wei Lanlan leaned towards Tan Qing, “Before the boss arrived, he spent the morning in room 207, said it was time to completely relax the boundaries.”

Tan Qing nodded in realization, “Oh, so that’s it.”

Later, they went to the Red Maple Leaf restaurant for lunch and after returning, met briefly with the team at the Shanghai branch. They also purchased some expensive vouchers at Suixin and gathered for dinner at a grand restaurant.

When it was time to settle the bill, the waitress notified them that they had won a prize—a rice cooker—which could be collected at the Suixin branch on the street corner.

This was also a tactic to increase user stickiness, not a high-level strategy, mainly to give a feeling of getting more benefits the more you use it.

Jiang Qin didn’t have the leisure to collect it and casually handed his phone to a ground promoter.

The promoter, with Lashou Network’s badge on his chest, went to redeem the prize, making Suixin’s people extremely uncomfortable. They muttered, our competitor using our deals for their gathering? This is outrageous, immediately reporting back to headquarters!

That night, the atmosphere at Suixin’s headquarters was particularly tense.

“Has Lashou Network returned to Shanghai for a new setup?”

“Not sure, but we need to be cautious. We’re burning money to break into the Kyoto market; LaShou might just consider targeting Shanghai. I think we should convene all management to devise a defense strategy.”

Ye Ziqing carefully took LaShou’s perspective, analyzing the intricacies, and summoned the execs for a meeting that night.

The meeting focused on how to maintain and expand market share without falling victim to sneak attacks.

“President Ye, my people say, LaShou’s promoters know kung fu, sticky hand techniques, cling to you and you can’t shake them off—they make it sound very mysterious.”

“Yes, President Ye, Nuomi also says LaShou’s ground combat strength is exceptionally high, but LaShou refuses to acknowledge it.”

“……”

Ye Ziqing pondered a while, “Let’s keep a closer watch on the streets for now, stabilize the Kyoto market before we handle this.”

So, the next day, Suixin’s people began patrolling the streets, unable to resist scrutinizing anyone wearing a badge.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin was walking with his ground promotion team in non-university town areas, partly to see what the commercial atmosphere looked like under Suixin’s widespread advertising, and partly to familiarize themselves with the area for future plans.

After a few streets, they suddenly noticed someone following them. A quick look back and the person was gone.

Jiang Qin furrowed his brows, pausing before turning to the team’s manager, “How long have we been using LaShou’s badge?”

“Since we signed the exclusive, we’ve been using this.”

“Now focusing on Kyoto and Shenzhen, using their badge might give us away. Put it in your pocket for now. I’ll get you some from Nuomi soon.”

“How about making several types? LaShou’s, Wowo’s, Groupbao’s, 24Coupon’s. We could switch them around, keep them guessing.”

After hearing this, Jiang Qin turned to look at him, surprised, “That’s possible. What’s your name again?”

The team manager puffed up his chest, “Reporting, boss. My name is Xu Kaixuan.”

“Damn, that’s a nice-sounding name. Very good, very good indeed.”

Jiang Qin repeated ‘very good’ thrice, etching Xu Kaixuan’s name in his memory.

In the late stages of group buying, they could no longer wage a guerilla war. When these group-buying sites realized under capital’s influence that none could easily defeat the other, they’d inevitably give up fighting each other and shift their focus to the second and third-tier cities.

By then, the layout in those cities would be fully exposed; not fighting wasn’t an option.

When that time came, Tan Qing would be recalled by them to oversee nationwide, meaning someone in Shanghai needed to take charge.

Xu Kaixuan was just the right person. Firstly, he fitted the company’s culture well; plus, his auspicious-sounding name was something superstitious bosses appreciated.

Xu Kaixuan…

Not bad at all.

Muttering to himself, Jiang Qin walked forward, continuing to chat with Xu Kaixuan, “Kaixuan, how old are you?”

Xu Kaixuan pursed his lips, “I’m twenty-nine this year.”

“Twenty-nine, not bad, already a manager. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“I’m married. I met my wife in college. We registered our marriage not long after graduating before moving to Shanghai to develop our careers.”

Jiang Qin nodded, “Bought a house yet?”

Xu Kaixuan shook his head, “How could we? For outsiders like us from ordinary families, it’s very difficult to buy a house in Shanghai.”

“Work hard, and you’ll have your chance.”

“Thank you, boss.”

Jiang Qin walked a few steps then suddenly turned back to him, “Since you’re married, you must know what’s the best gift to bring when you first visit your mother-in-law, right?”

After thinking, Xu Kaixuan said, “I remember I brought a box of donkey-hide gelatin and some beauty tea the first time I went. But they expired without anyone drinking them—showy but impractical.”

“Go on.”

“I think buying some jewelry, something that can be kept close, is better. Plus, a mother-in-law is a woman too, and all women like jewelry.”

Jiang Qin thought it over, “And what about for the father-in-law?”

Xu Kaixuan smiled, “That’s much simpler. Tobacco and liquor are enough. Boss, are you planning to bring gifts for your in-laws?”

“Just kidding, I don’t even have a girlfriend. I just want to understand in advance.”

“Oh.”

Standing at the street corner, Jiang Qin thought for a while then suddenly said to Xu Kaixuan, “What if I give the wrong gift? Could I be disliked?”

Xu Kaixuan shook his head, “That won’t happen. Giving a gift is more about the gesture. It’s best if it reaches the heart, but it’s fine even if it doesn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

Xu Kaixuan hesitated, thinking to himself, does the boss have a mother-in-law or not? Why so cautious?

Before he could respond, Jiang Qin waved his hand, “Never mind, you can go back first. Let Manager Tan know I won’t return tonight.”

“Where are you headed, boss?”

“Visiting relatives.”