Chapter 441: Jiang’s Boss Aura

Christmas doesn’t offer a break, so there’s a lot of online customer traffic, but New Year’s Day being a traditional holiday, crowds usually gather around shopping districts.

Xujiahui, Nanjing Road, Lujiazui, Wujiaochang…

Jiang Qin took Xu Kaixuan on a Wuling van, toured a few key business districts briefly, sketching out a plan for street promotions and lottery booths.

Group-buy sites like LaShou and Nuomi think alike; everyone’s budget is tight, big events aren’t feasible, but capitalizing on holiday traffic is still viable as a cost-effective strategy.

Thus, maximizing promotional impact was key.

By ten thirty in the morning, the group arrived at Nanjing Road where a life-sized World Expo mascot, Haibao, stood at a corner near the shops.

By that time, teams from LaShou and Nuomi had already been planning activities there.

From LaShou, Robin, Yang Xueyu, Cui Yiting, Song Yaqian, and a few other employees showed up, and from Nuomi, Chang Jian Song led the team. Upon meeting, they greeted each other with warm smiles, initiating friendly exchanges.

Business is like that − even if privately planning each other’s downfall, wishing instant demise, outwardly you must remain cordial, as enthusiastic as a brother-in-law meeting a brother-in-law.

Just then, a silver van stopped at the intersection, Jiang Qin opened the door and stepped out, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.

It must be said, Mr. Jiang’s presence was imposing, despite alighting from a van, he dazzled as though he’d stepped out of a Bentley.

“Mr. Jiang?”

“President Luo, President Yang, Manager Chang, long time no see.”

Jiang Qin zipped his down jacket, stomping his feet, “Damn it’s cold, why the sudden drop in temperature?”

Chang Jian Song watched Jiang Qin, feeling complicated emotions.

He hadn’t met Jiang much, but Jiang’s name had resonated widely over the past month.

Jiang seemed just like a university student, youthful and fresh-faced, without even a hint of stubble, yet his tactics had forced two established websites to lay low, a hard pill to swallow.

Cui Yiting felt the same.

“Yiting, why just a coat? Aren’t you cold?”

Cui Yiting: “…”

Jiang Qin then looked at Song Yaqian, “No trousers? Does LaShou skimp on intern salaries?”

Song Yaqian smiled slightly, “It’s called the ‘bare-legged artifact’.”

“Young people really can endure the cold.”

“…”

Honestly, Jiang was the youngest there, even younger than Song Yaqian by a year, yet he spoke undisturbed, as naturally as anyone.

At that moment, Robin asked Jiang Qin, “Mr. Jiang, are you also planning an activity here?”

“This street is one of the busiest in Shanghai, within our operating territory. Of course, we’re holding an event.”

“Well, apologies, Mr. Jiang, but we’ve already taken the spots.”

Following Robin’s gesture, Jiang saw the booths LaShou and Nuomi had set up, already being decorated with banners advertising half-price deals and free lotteries.

Both were maintaining a non-interference style, taking over several busy intersections and leaving no space for Group-Buy.

“So, am I too late?”

Chang offered a wry smile, “Seems so.”

“Then let’s set up a few booths casually for now. Maybe perform a talent or two, see if we can draw some of your unwanted customers.”

Jiang turned to Xu Kaixuan, “Kaixuan, show some skills for the executives.”

Xu stepped forward, saluted with a fist and palm, and performed a strong-style martial arts demonstration right on the street, leaving the leadership from both sites in silent admiration.

Chang coughed, “Mr. Jiang, I suggest we all play nice. Business isn’t about gangster tactics.”

“Don’t worry, Manager Chang. We definitely won’t be using LaShou’s banner to beat up your promoters.”

“?”

Yang Xueyu was puzzled, “Why would he use our banner?”

“Manager Yang, you’re new here. Group-Buy’s style back in the day included having a pocket full of different websites’ badges to grab market share. After fighting, they’d just switch.”

Before Robin could speak, the beaten Chang proudly clarified.

On hearing this, Yang Xueyu widened his eyes, thinking maybe he really ought to find a factory job.

This guy truly has no limits.

As they whispered among themselves, Jiang Qin suddenly stepped back, leaning against a street lamp and slowly closed his eyes.

Before anyone understood his action, a click sounded as a young guy with a camera snapped a photo.

“Boss, it’s done.”

“Take a close-up; I stayed up late last night. Can’t waste these dark circles, try to get a clear shot.”

“Okay.”

After the photos, Jiang grinned at Robin, Yang, and Chang, “Just some promotional material. Group-Buy’s boss deep in the field, tired enough to sleep on the street.”

Yang Xueyu was dumbfounded by Jiang’s explanation.

But Jiang didn’t linger; after touring the busiest main road, he escorted his team back to the car, heading to the next business district.

As Jiang left, Robin and Chang simultaneously sighed, visibly relieved.

On their right, Cui Yiting’s rigid posture also suddenly relaxed.

After the tension dissolved, she puzzled over her earlier anxiety, as if a mouse had seen a cat.

Perhaps… it was his aura?

Cui wrapped her coat tighter, realizing that Jiang’s earlier collegiate image had vanished. Now, in her mind, he was like a formidable flood beast.

“Mr. Jiang likes using mystique to intimidate opponents. Don’t panic, just focus on your tasks. Beating someone up in broad daylight in a bustling area? He wouldn’t dare.”

“Understood!”

In the following days, all three websites hustled to produce materials and set up booths.

Group-Buy, lacking a strong base in Shanghai, was slower in material production; their booths were smaller and less ideally located.

Each time Cui saw this, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Steady now.

As New Year’s Eve neared, Group-Buy suddenly erected PVC boards on every street.

“This New Year’s Day, I’m at Nanjing Road, missing you.”

“This New Year’s Day, the wind at Lujiazui misses you too.”

LaShou’s promoters noticed that though New Year’s hadn’t arrived, many youths began checking in at these spots over the few past days.

“What’s that?”

“Seems like… a tour bus.”

On New Year’s Eve night, a massive influx of customers entered the major shopping districts.

LaShou’s promoters, distributing flyers at their booth, suddenly saw a tour bus filled with guests pass by, swaying as it crossed their path to stop at Group-Buy’s booth and check-in wall.

Then another bus, and another, each bearing signs promoting Group-Buy’s value-for-money deals, speeding up as they approached their own location, then smoothly stopping at Group-Buy’s booth.

At night, the street lamps shone brightly. Cui, following Robin and Yang, approached the pedestrian street and noticed few people near their own booth, whereas Group-Buy’s next to them was crowded, particularly around the check-in wall; mostly young people.

“What’s going on? Why are there so many people over there?”

“They… have a bus.”

While they spoke, a Group-Buy bus whooshed past them, accelerating right in front of their eyes before neatly parking in front of Group-Buy’s booth.

Robin widened his eyes: “Is that all? What good does that do, can one bus carry twenty people? With so many on the pedestrian street, why are those not riding also going over there?”

A promoter pulled out a Group-Buy flyer, “Not just here; they have buses in all business districts.”

“?”

“Anyone with a Group-Buy purchase SMS from the last three days can ride their tour bus for free. For example, if I visited the pedestrian street today with a Group-Buy purchase, tomorrow I can ride their bus to Lujiazui, and also check in at their wall.”

The promoter, pulling a flyer from beneath the table he’d sneakily taken, highlighted tour routes and boarding points marked on the back.

Cui instantly understood – they were interlinking business districts!

This event’s goal was promotion: occupying strategic locations to distribute flyers, making consumers aware of website discounts. Whether they used it was beyond their control.

But Jiang leveraged the “free tour bus” allure, directly turning promotion into transactions.

Because funds were tight all around, discounts were similar. But what if after a Group-Buy purchase, you could also ride their bus?

With comparable discounts – why not use Group-Buy?

Today I’m here to play, tomorrow I might go elsewhere. Moving around, I’ll eventually get tired.

Especially today’s youth, primarily the group-buying force, already lazy, they’d rather not walk if there’s a ride.

This efficiency far exceeded handing out flyers here, merely proclaiming website offers.

Some, after receiving flyers from LaShou and Nuomi and learning of the discounts, while wandering, would be drawn to the distant, grand check-in wall. Hearing they could ride free with Group-Buy, they’d see it as a deal too good to miss.

Group-Buy promoters hardly needed to discuss how to redeem offers; their campaign alone attracted scores of users.

Meaning, no matter how many the bus carried, the whole street would eventually become their consumers.

“Damn…”

Curses escaped Robin: “Where did they get the bus? Bought it? How much money did that cost?”

“Apparently, it took five centimeters of bulletproof face… borrowed.”

“??”

The promoter, huddling and rubbing his hands, “I saw their vans before the decals this morning while I was at the bathroom. It read something about villas.”

Robin frowned slightly, “Xiangti Villa?”

“Yes, yes, also something about Qin Real Estate, Linjiang Mansions.”

Cui glanced at Robin, puzzled, “Manager Luo, how do you know this?”

Luo stayed quiet for a moment, “Many villa complexes prepare several such buses for client tours. A while back, Jiang bought a place at Xiangti Villa; but how could he borrow their bus?”

“What do we do now?”

“Just chill. Looks like we’re dressing the bride again. But no worries, I’m leaving after New Year’s anyway.”

Yang Xueyu: “??”

Just then, they saw someone at the neighboring Group-Buy station approach a parked bus, clutching the driver’s window.

Then, Jiang Qin’s face appeared from inside the driver’s cabin.

“Xu Kaixuan, what are you doing?”

“Boss, I want to drive for a bit…”

“Get lost, I’m not done playing yet. You take the next one.”

“You’re a big boss now, is this appropriate?”

“What do you know? I have a good friend who likes riding these kinds of buses. She’s coming tomorrow, I need to get familiar with the vehicle. You think I’m childish? I’m a damn university student!”

Amid the bustling crowd, Robin pocketed his hands, pondering, “Looks like we’re about to lose the Shanghai market.”

Why?

Because no matter how many merchants you sign, without consumers, it’s all for naught.

Group-Buy now has many exclusive contracts, and their tactics far outnumber theirs. Even if Group-Buy doesn’t attack again, they’re likely to regurgitate the market share they’ve consumed.

Decline is a trend just like the previous Suixin Group. It will continue to decline without seeing a turnaround.

What about group-buying? They drive, have talents, and nobody can beat them in street promotions.

It doesn’t matter, I am leaving anyway. It’s good to go, really good.

Robin turned his head to Yang Xueyu and noticed he was already sweating profusely.