Chapter 418: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The group-buy building was cleaned by a hired janitorial team for a week, underwent electrical checks, and other procedures before finally being ready.

Though it’s called a building, it’s not very large since it only has six floors. But it looks imposing with a grand courtyard and a ready-made parking lot, and there’s even a small fountain on the right side that shone like new once cleaned.

Then, Jiang Qin bought an almanac, squatted in the dorm flipping through it and muttering until he finally set the date for the ribbon-cutting and sign-hanging ceremony, and began sending out invitations.

Invitations were sent to leaders of Linchuan city, the Dean and Vice-Dean of Linchuan University, Professor Yan from the entrepreneurship base, and others.

On the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the sunlight was exceptionally bright with hardly any clouds, under the clear blue sky, the group-buy building welcomed crowds of guests.

Employees from various branches of the group-buy building were the first, led by Wei Lanlan, Dong Wenhao, and Su Nai, who explored the new office building.

Honestly, their feelings were complicated coming all the way from tiny room 208 at the entrepreneurship base.

It was just a campus part-time job to earn some living expenses, right?

But whose part-time job ends up like this? It’s ridiculously over the top.

Then, the bosses from Linchuan business community arrived, all bringing gifts and even performed a fast-paced narrative song, which was both awkward and festive, amusing Jiang Qin greatly.

Next were people from the finance academy, Old Cao, Old Ren, Zhou Chao, Jian Chun, Song Qingqing, Jiang Tian… including some junior students and representatives from the student council.

They were the least worldly among the guests, staring at the building adorned with the group-buy and Zhihu logos in a daze.

“Is this place… going to be Jiang Qin’s from now on?”

“Didn’t you see the signs already up?”

“Wow, how much did this cost?”

“Don’t know, but it’s definitely a figure we could never touch.”

“Guy’s a god, and keeps becoming more of one.”

Zhuang Chen beside them felt sour: “Online it clearly said it’s rented, don’t over mythologize, okay?”

Song Qingqing turned to him: “Huh, you had time to join the throng?”

Zhuang Chen paused: “We’ve got no classes in the afternoon.”

“I meant, have you sold all your mooncakes?”

“…”

Zhuang Chen was left speechless by Song Qingqing and his face choked up.

He still hadn’t found a way to deal with his five boxes of mooncakes, ended up eating them in the dorm and almost getting diabetes.

Afterwards, Dean Zhang and Professor Yan also came on behalf of Linchuan University, along with the university press group, including Chu Siqi who was now the head of the press station.

She tried to appear calm, but couldn’t help getting distracted looking at Jiang Qin and had to quickly look away to regain composure.

“Jiang Qin, Jiang Qin, look at you having your own building now.”

“It’s all thanks to the school nurturing us. Dean, Professor, please come inside. We’re quite crowded today, please forgive any lack of hospitality.”

“No need to be so polite, you being so formal makes me uncomfortable. Go and attend to the others, we’ll have a look ourselves.”

Jiang Qin cheerfully welcomed them inside, then rushed to greet the arriving city leaders.

Watching Jiang Qin, now sharply dressed, Chu Siqi said nothing but gazed at the tall building and spaced out, not even hearing the junior reporters calling her.

In her freshman year, she told others that Jiang Qin liked her.

In her sophomore year, she said that Jiang Qin had liked her.

But by her junior year, she dared not say this anymore as no one believed her.

The gap between their statuses was so wide, people felt they were not even in the same world.

Chu Siqi pursed her lips, noticing a Rolls Royce stopping at the entrance but it didn’t come inside, just stopped at the corner.

Then, dressed ethereally, Feng Nanshu got out holding a meticulously groomed dog, its neck adorned with a bright red embroidered ball.

Little rich girl was fully equipped today, carrying Jiang Qin’s family heirloom and wearing a badge that read ‘Boss Lady of 208’.

She wasn’t used to such crowded scenes, but didn’t want to miss out on Jiang Qin’s happy moment.

So, as the boss lady, she stood on the outskirts of the bustling crowd, her gaze never straying from Jiang Qin.

Just then, Wei Lanlan by the fountain spotted Feng Nanshu and exclaimed, calling out ‘Boss Lady!’ before rushing over, followed swiftly by other members of 208.

Watching this scene, Chu Siqi said nothing for a long while, feeling a renewed sense of bitterness.

As noon approached, a lady in a cheongsam carried the ceremonial scissors and red silk upstage while the leaders gathered after some polite exchanging took the stage with Jiang Qin and the little rich girl holding a pink pair of scissors looking almost frightening.

But Professor Yan alone did not join them, instead quietly moving to a corner.

Unseen by Jiang Qin, who followed the host’s cue to make the first cut before joining everyone to sever the red silk completely.

“Boss, Professor Yan didn’t come up just now.”

“?”

Hearing Wen Jinrui’s reminder, Jiang Qin turned and spotted Professor Yan standing peacefully at the back, smiling at him, his face full of pride.

Jiang Qin pondered silently for a moment before speaking: “Carry on.”

“Alright.”

As he spoke, Cao Guangyu suddenly dashed toward the inside of the gate, followed by a burst of fireworks.

Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao stood on either side of the gate, unveiling the red silk covering the plaque.

They looked even more thrilled than Jiang Qin, grinning broadly.

After the fireworks, six trucks from Wanzhong mall entered in sequence, each decorated with a big red flower, carrying complete sets of tables, chairs, and various office appliances.

While workers moved things inside, Jiang Qin went down to find Professor Yan.

“Professor, why didn’t you join the ribbon-cutting?”

After a long pause, Professor Yan replied: “Ziqing can’t hold on anymore.”

He was a very conservative scholar, even somewhat eccentric, yet always deeply caring for his students like a father.

He considered Ye Ziqing his proud student, and Jiang Qin as well, he was here today primarily to congratulate Jiang Qin but couldn’t join the cheerful ribbon-cutting because another student was in dire straits.

“At the very least, Ye elder sister has practically proven that the failure of Jiuhui.com wasn’t due to your suggestion, but her lack of capability. Look at me, also a student you nurtured, how come I’m both as handsome as Daniel Wu and rich to boot?”

Professor Yan smiled at him: “Stop talking nonsense, I only helped with paperwork and recommendations, everything else was all you.”

Jiang Qin grinned, pulled out a red cloth he’d tucked away, and handed over the scissors: “Without a master to lead the way, skills are useless. Give it a cut, Professor, I won’t tell Ye elder sister.”

“Not cutting.”

“Just one cut, Professor.”

Dizzied by his persistence, Professor Yan relented, saying fine fine fine, then quickly made a cut.

After watching Professor Yan leave, Jiang Qin sighed.

It’s been a month since the group-buying industry conference, under the constant squeeze from LaShou.com and Nuomi.com, Suixin Group’s market share had plummeted to its lowest.

More second-tier sites entered the fray, nibbling away at the surrounding areas, feeling very much like everyone was pushing at a falling wall.

Most importantly, as Suixin Group’s downturn worsened and market share sharply declined, they couldn’t raise any more funds and couldn’t even afford promotions, essentially being in desperate straits.

The internet evolves so quickly, it can elevate you sky-high and equally crush you to pieces.

From the buoyant days of March to the dismal eliminations of November, Suixin Group’s drop out marked the industry’s move into its final sprint.

Jiang Qin stretched lazily and suddenly noticed Feng Nanshu approaching, fishing out a thick red envelope from her bag, looking adorably coy.

“Brother, congratulations on your fortune.”

“Here in Linchuan, it’s not customary to give red envelopes at ribbon-cuttings.”

Feng Nanshu still tucked it into his pocket, then patted it twice: “It’s a must-give.”

Jiang Qin looked at it, noticing the thickness: “Why so much?”

“This was all I could withdraw, would’ve given more if I could.”

“????”

Suddenly, Feng Nanshu stretched both hands out in front of Jiang Qin, fixing her gaze on the newly given red envelope: “Brother, lend me two hundred yuan.”

Jiang Qin was confused: “What’s this all about?”

“I want to go buy something over there, but I’ve given you all my money.”

Following her gesture, Jiang Qin saw Song Qingqing and her group: “What’s there to buy from them?”

“I heard Zhuang Chen has five boxes of mooncakes; I want to buy some.”

Jiang Qin laughed at her serious expression: “Why buy his mooncakes? Listen, wait until I’m free, and I’ll take you to buy other kinds.”

Feng Nanshu gave him a look: “I want the crumbly kind.”

While they were talking, Wei Lanlan approached, holding a document: “Boss, the fourth and fifth rounds of marketing brands are chosen.”

“That was quick,” Jiang Qin received it, glanced over, and noted, “Quite a few are from out of town.”

“We carefully selected for three rounds here in Linchuan, the rest weren’t great, had to pick brands from outside. But don’t worry, all contracts with these brands are signed.”

Jiang Qin handed the documents back: “Change our marketing approach, let them quickly lay out in second and third-tier cities. Group-buying sites are going deeper; we need to burn through their money and establish our brand. Group-buy in the background as a feint, always be ready to reel back.”

Wherever the battle of group-buying raged, that market was hottest. With good marketing, nurturing a few brands from this fire wasn’t difficult.

Wei Lanlan understood, the boss wanted to use the fierce flames of group-buying to push Xihan Heqing’s business loop to a new height and then integrate it with group-buys for further incubation…