Chapter 468: Becoming a Fan of Jiang Qin

Night had fallen and the streetlights just turned on near the Shanghai station where an outdoor hotpot restaurant thrived.

The table sported a clay hotpot, its steamy aroma mingling with the night air, sharpening appetites. Once it boiled, a waiter approached to lift the lid and scatter in some vibrant green garlic shoots.

Xu Kaixuan and Jiang Qin sat opposite each other, accompanied by Xing Xiangming, Dai Zhitao, and Guan Shen, the three employees introduced by Ye Ziqing.

They had just finished their work at the station and received a call from the boss, prompting a small gathering.

“How do you find staying in Shanghai?”

Xu Kaixuan nodded, “It feels alright overall, just that the temperature variation is quite significant, and I haven’t seen much sun these past days.”

Jiang Qin picked up a slice of beef brisket, “No worries, treat it like a tour. I might need you to travel across a few more cities later.”

“No problem, I’m like a movable brick for group-buy, needed wherever necessary!”

“Hmm? Who taught you that phrase?”

“President Sun taught it to me. He says it’s his motto. Can’t sleep without repeating it three times at night.”

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but snort, “Sun Zhi, that guy, truly dead set on progressing, typical of someone in health supplements.”

Xu Kaixuan grabbed a wine bottle and poured a cup for Jiang Qin, “But boss, why does each team need to leave half behind and the other half to rotate?”

“You can ask those three about that.”

Xu Kaixuan turned to Xing Xiangming, Dai Zhitao, and Guan Shen, “Why is that?”

Xing Xiangming glanced at Jiang Qin then struggled to come up with an answer, eventually giving up, “How would I know the boss’s intricate plans?”

“Is it because of the Suixin Group losing the Shanghai market before?” Guan Shen couldn’t help but speak.

Jiang Qin looked up at her, “Pretty much. The operating team is at the core of a city’s operations. Suixin’s problem in Shanghai led to their loss. We need to learn from that and prepare better structures.”

After pondering, Dai Zhitao spoke, “Does it help familiarize employees with multiple markets so that if one team encounters an issue, nearby city folks can parachute in halfway and stabilize the situation?”

“Exactly. We train our ground promotions team with this in mind. Elites are everywhere, but it’s the unpredictable strategies that are more precious. The battle in Shanghai proved we’re on the right path, and so our subsequent team development follows this strategy, as putting all eggs in one basket is too risky.”

Jiang Qin lifted his cup, “And this redistribution has another advantage—using experienced members to lead newcomers also aids in the rapid growth of local teams.”

Guan Shen couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Qin.

When Suixin initially lost severely in Shanghai, they were quite unwilling to accept it.

They always felt it was due to the situation, not their incapability. But joining group-buy showed them that situations are just factors; winning or losing depends on one’s capabilities.

What was their mindset at Suixin? Damn, once we have money, take the team and charge!

Brothers, we just need to charge, leave the rest to fate.

But now, at group-buy, every move is meticulous, every aspect flawless, like a tightly interconnected chain of punches, fierce yet precise.

The team didn’t believe in fate, feeling rather in control of their destiny.

This feeling of tightly holding one’s fate was exhilarating; even amidst turbulent storms, there was no need to panic.

“Guan Shen.”

“What is it, boss?”

Jiang Qin picked up his plate, “Let’s switch seats. I feel a bit cold over here.”

Guan Shen hesitated but didn’t say much, standing to swap places with Jiang Qin.

Only when she sat down did she notice five drunken men at the rear right of her previous spot, their leering gaze making her uncomfortable.

In late February in Shanghai, it wasn’t too cold, and she wore a short dress with nude-illusion tights that looked barely there but were actually snug. She hadn’t expected to attract such attention.

Seemingly realizing the reason they switched, the five men grumbled loudly, settling their bill and then left.

“We should avoid late-night team-building events in the future.”

Jiang Qin suddenly exclaimed and then raised his glass, “Let’s drink this one. I need to leave early, catching a plane tomorrow morning.”

Hearing this, everyone lifted their glasses, drinking it all in one go.

Then, Jiang Qin stood up, muttering “Shanghai is in your hands,” then hailed a cab under the farewell of the four, disappearing into the night.

Xu Kaixuan was in Shanghai with his girlfriend, awaiting his return to their rented apartment, so once Jiang Qin left, he too departed, leaving behind the three old members of Suixin, eating and chatting.

“Actually, when President Ye initially called me to join group-buy, I was reluctant. I always felt that college startups were unreliable. My previous teams were all college students, truly foolish ones.”

“True. I once poured_drink_for a college student who didn’t even think to stand up, sitting so comfortably, really naive and simple.”

Listening to Dai Zhitao and Xing Xiangming, Guan Shen couldn’t help but interject, “You’re not being precise. Those are college graduates.”

Dai Zhitao was puzzled, “What do you mean?”

“President Jiang is only a junior this year, even younger than those you mentioned by two years or more.”

“…”

Guan Shen held her glass, “I’d give President Jiang ninety-five points.”

Dai Zhitao was surprised, “Weren’t you resentful about him suddenly transferring you to Shanghai?”

“No longer. From today, I am his fangirl.”

Xing Xiangming suddenly became interested, “How much would you score President Ye?”

Guan Shen thought for a moment, “Sixty, I suppose. Although President Ye lacks some capability, he’s barely passable.”

“And President Zhou?”

“Which President Zhou?”

“The one who’s going to take action personally, Zhou Zhenhao.”

“Him… thirty at most. High aims but frail in fate.”

“And Cui Yiting?”

“Fifty. At least she once single-handedly took on the Shanghai market, though she promoted an unreliable manager.”

Xing Xiangming counted on his fingers, “Sixty plus forty plus thirty, wow, that’s one hundred thirty. That’s over President Jiang. How come Suixin was so badly off back then?”

Guan Shen glanced at him, “It’s not additive. Sixty plus forty plus thirty is at most just sixty, possibly even less. But Jiang Qin’s ninety-five is a solid score, even more perhaps.”

Hearing this, Xing Xiangming restrained his smile, falling deep in thought.

Dai Zhitao scratched his head, “How old is a junior? 21? Old Xing, what were you doing at 21?”

“Dating a girl from a health school, got dumped. Ended up crying outside her door till midnight, scaring her parents who called the police. As I was taken away, I still shouted ‘I will come back’. Thinking about it now, damn, what a fool I was.”

“I was zipping through the streets on my motorcycle at 21, feeling terribly handsome, like a youthful breeze.”

They chatted and laughed, but eventually fell into silence again.

Starting from scratch at twenty-one, expanding the business from school to national levels, making opponents often think about giving up, that’s simply beyond reasoning.

The key was everyone used to underestimate them as a college student team, thinking they can’t make much of an impact, hence group-buy often surprised their opponents, catching them off guard, truly brilliant.

“About time to head back and sleep, right? We’ve just started operations here in Shanghai, lots to do tomorrow.”

“What time is it? Doesn’t feel that late, does it?”

Xing Xiangming said let me check, then pulled out his phone, fiddling a while before suddenly freezing.

He had minor shortsightedness but rarely wore glasses when not working, so he brought the phone very close, looking for a long time.

“Got some spicy pics, looking so intently?” Dai Zhitao couldn’t resist coming closer.

Xing Xiangming handed over his Samsung, meanwhile speaking, “Breaking news—24Coupon’s marketing department in Jicheng has resigned en masse.”

“Damn, wasn’t Jicheng their key operation area? They invested a lot there. Why so sudden? Financial trouble?”

Xing Xiangming lit a cigarette, “24Coupon just finished fundraising, albeit with some inflated figures, but they aren’t broke yet. But right after the New Year, Lashou established a station in Jicheng. Guess if there’s any connection?”

Guan Shen frowned, “These bastards are poaching again?”

“As more group-buy sites fall, the bigger ones expand their market areas. Clearly, they are short on staff, making poaching a likely norm. Jiang was right, relying a city’s operations on one team is too risky. It could collapse anytime.”

“Can’t they sign non-compete agreements?”

Dai Zhitao shook his head, “Legal regulations state that non-compete agreements are only valid if they involve intellectual property protection or trade secrets, usually signed by research staff.”

Guan Shen opened her mouth, “What’s the situation in Jicheng now?”

“Lashou’s response was swift. They’ve already started a half-price campaign. This strategy will severely damage 24Coupon.”

Dai Zhitao took a deep breath, “Poaching isn’t bad, getting experienced staff for free and practically a whole market too. Might as well keep poaching.”

Xing Xiangming put his phone away, “Guess this counts as a covert cash burn war.”

“You think someone will poach our team?”

“Definitely. Especially that Shanghai team, so fierce. It’s just not exposed because they haven’t been poached yet. But as things scale up, some things might become uncertain.”

Happy New Year, everyone, stay safe and healthy.