Chapter 443: Our Household

Feng Nanshu squinted, pretending to be unhappy, though her eyes sparkled like stars.

Her features, already delicate and beautiful, appeared adorably foolish as if she just woke up — a silly yet stunning contrast.

Jiang Qin watched Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini thinking a pair of fandom enthusiasts together can surely outmatch Gao alone.

“Gao, how much do you weigh now? Last time it was 150, did it increase?”

“Why do you ask that!?”

Gao Wenhui jumped, her glance trying to silence him.

Jiang Qin patted his thigh: “We’re organizing a street promotion. How about I transfer you there for some weight loss, so you stop chattering here?”

“What if I’m fat? I didn’t eat your rice; I ate Nanshu’s!”

Gao quickly responded, leveraging their friendship.

Wang Haini looked at Gao Wenhui: “Feng Nanshu doesn’t think so. She feels everything she has belongs to Jiang Qin, even herself.”

Jiang Qin squinted: “Really?”

“I didn’t.”

Feng Nanshu with a wronged look: “Brother, don’t believe it. I’m not ours.”

“?”

“Wang Haini, the good person, always talks nonsense…”

Meanwhile, everyone at 208 was having a lively conversation.

Shanghai was merely a workplace lacking home vibes, but vibrant Lu Feiyu and humorous Dong Wenhao quickly livened up the atmosphere, reminiscent of their days at Room 208.

Back then, they teased and bickered their way through.

Room 208 was drafty when they first moved in, fixed temporarily with tape, awaiting repair.

Now, they have several offices across Linchuan, not to mention other locations.

This period wasn’t long, yet it felt dreamlike to everyone.

Their business expanded, life improved, but gatherings lessened.

Particularly after their sector grew, only a few met occasionally, separated by their duties.

Long gone were their naive days; seasoned in their fields, yet reunions brought back memories of their first meeting.

Then Su Nai was innocent, Dong Wenhao dreamt big, and Wei Lanlan struggled with jobs to pay for next semester.

Recalling these, everyone felt a tinge of nostalgia.

“Enough sitting, let’s go out since we’re all here.”

“Drop your luggage here. Let’s eat first and have Tan Qing introduce the current group-buy sectors.”

Jiang Qin stood, beckoning everyone out, heading from the branch to Nanjing Road Walk.

Shanghai’s winter wasn’t harsh, but roadside grass was frostbitten and yellow.

Entering, the group-buy photo wall struck a familiar chord with everyone.

“Typical of the boss, from the campus beauty contest to now. It’s practically a family heirloom.”

“It’s about quality not novelty. If it works, it’s golden.”

“To think our college projects would go national one day feels surreal.”

Reaching the street corner, they paused, admiring the towering group-buy logo, filled with wonder.

Losing to LaShou and Nuomi wasn’t unjust.

Group-buy evolved from Linchuan University, perfected over two years of trial operations nationwide.

Pilot deliveries, in-store group buys, and strategic alliances proved their robust tactics.

Other platforms? They relied on sheer investment and floundered without financial backing.

Like battle between a privileged scion and a desperate survivor.

Despite unequal resources, in a real clash, the outcome was uncertain.

“Speaking of which, even my dad knows about group-buy now.”

“?”

Heads turned to Lu Feiyu: “What’s up?”

“He read about it in the newspaper. Group-buy and Zhihu became Linchuan’s pride.”

A Linchuan native, Lu’s father spotted a report in 2010, inquiring if Lu knew about group-buy.

“Yes, I’ve been part-timing there, just a simple manager really,” Lu casually informed his dad.

His easy admission didn’t benefit him as his dad promptly took his salary for a new tea set, a showcase of filial piety.

“Group-buy has been refined over two years; not long, not brief, just our beginning, not the end.”

“Liu, get us some water.”

Impressed by his own reflection, Jiang turned to a booth where Liu, distributing flyers, seemed confused.

“I’m parched, some water please.”

“But… I work for LaShou?”

“So? I don’t consider you an outsider, do you think of us as strangers?”

“…”

Bewildered, Liu fetched water from a bag for everyone.

Holding warm cups, they mused on having such a resourceful boss.

Life’s paths diverge by such choices; following the right leader is crucial.

With such a boss, no fear of being mistreated, just a pang of conscience when on the offensive.

As they talked, Jiang hailed a passing tour buggy.

Jiang gestured grandly, inviting everyone aboard for a city tour, impressing Feng Nanshu with his charisma.

Oddly enough, driving fancy cars bored her; touring in fun vehicles charmed her.

“Boss, let me drive a bit.”

“You’ve been driving for three rounds, my turn now.”

“Please, just a bit more.”

Fresh off the plane, even the composed Manager Dong was eager to take the wheel.

Meanwhile, Wei Lanlan and others entered a nearby mall, emerging laden with bags.

Their earnings were substantial; rumors of purchasing homes weren’t unfounded.

Shanghai’s prices were steep, trivial for them.

Especially for Su Nai, one project bonus nearly covered a Linchuan down payment.

Jiang and Feng Nanshu bought chestnuts at a street stand, leaving some for Liu as a thanks for the water.

“Thanks for the water.”

Surprised, Liu stammered, “Th-thank you, Jiang.”

Shanghai’s winter wasn’t too cold, but unsheltered street duty was tough; warmed by the chestnuts, Liu felt better.

Recalling a recent scolding for hiding to smoke during an inspection, Liu felt aggrieved.

Damn it, maybe I should just switch sides.

Afterward, Jiang led everyone for a meal and more shopping.

Laden with purchases, they reveled in Shanghai’s upscale offerings.

Packing their buys in Jiang’s trusty old car, they retrieved their luggage and headed to the Hilton.

“LaShou has a solid foothold in the hotel industry.”

“Their discounts are substantial, and through LaShou, guests can request a two-hour checkout delay, a thoughtful service.”

“Two hours doesn’t impact hotel operations much but offers essential flexibility for guests.”

“Being a tourist, having to lug my bags out at noon is a hassle.”

“If they expand into business travel, it could be a major breakthrough.”

“In group-buy, not having what others have isn’t the worst; lacking a focus is.”

Upon finishing work, Yang Xueyu overheard and was astonished, recognizing a marketing expert among them.

Displeased with the current marketing manager, Cui Yiting, Yang felt her strategies lacked substance.

Inspired, Yang considered recruiting the speaker to his marketing team.

Hastening after the speaker, he balked on recognizing Jiang, who had brought a group using LaShou vouchers to the hotel.

The irony was striking: although competitors, the visitors seemed better versed in LaShou’s strategies, almost too knowledgeable.