Chapter 537: Disruption

The group-buying seminar was hosted by Dianping and it was rather inappropriate that both the boss and the general manager were late.

This was especially noticeable to the executives in the second row who continued discussing the scene long after it occurred.

Currently, only Dianping and Pintuan have business sectors in Kyoto, leaving other sites baffled without local market news.

At that moment, Jiang Qin turned his head to glance at them.

“Maybe Boss Zhang and Boss Chen are busy posing in front of the cameras.”

“?”

After saying that, Jiang Qin turned back and opened his phone’s gallery to show the last photo he took.

Yang Xueyu had rushed past so impressively yet captured only a single photo, a true waste of a spectacular moment.

Flicking through his phone, he sent the photo to Feng Nanshu, guessing his friend would be thrilled by such a bold snapshot.

Considering the elaborate setup he had staged, Jiang Qin believed they should have been looking forward to their bewildered faces.

Yet, oddly enough, he was more eager for Feng Nanshu to call him ‘brother’ and for her doting attention.

Just then, the venue’s lights dimmed and after a five-minute delay, the seminar finally started.

An unexpected figure walked onto the stage to the sound of music; it was not Zhang Tao or Chen Jiaxin but Yang Xueyu.

“Welcome, colleagues and representatives from various sectors. Thank you for attending the group-buying seminar organized by Dianping.”

“Group buying is an inclusive, harmonious industry…”

“From 2009 to 2011, we vigorously explored joining the internet with traditional industries, involving ourselves in food and hotel group purchases…”

“The shining success of the group buying industry owes much to everyone’s efforts and the trust and support from consumers.”

“…”

“Lastly, I sincerely hope you will all engage actively in discussions to propel our industry forward.”

Yang Xueyu thanked the attendees and delivered a relatively official opening speech before looking seriously at Jiang Qin and walking off the stage, leaving everyone confused.

That doesn’t make any sense.

Why would Dianping spend so much organizing this conference?

It’s to let everyone know they are the new leaders.

Thus, logically, Boss Zhang Tao should have been the first to speak.

He should have made a powerful critique of the industry before diving into grand but empty statements to uphold the prestige of the event.

Followed by the general manager, Chen Jiaxin, who would recite data like sales breakthroughs and total revenue, then give a soaring outlook for Dianping’s future.

Instead, they waited only for Yang Xueyu to deliver some tepid welcoming remarks, which seemed overly modest.

Major figures didn’t appear, nor did they boast as expected.

“Has Dianping changed its style? Really going for inclusion and friendliness now?”

“Don’t know…”

Since the opening lacked the usual boasting, the atmosphere at the group-buying seminar felt odd.

Following speakers seemed unable to build momentum, and the meeting content indeed turned towards discussing industry development.

But who holds a meeting without any hype, sticking to just the facts?

Strangely though, Jiang Qin sat steadily in the middle of the first row, unfazed even as others raised issues of recent integrity scandals in the group-buying sector.

Until sunset, the peculiar seminar came to a calm end without any overt slanders against Pintuan or attempts to assert dominance.

Everyone was puzzled, not understanding the seminar’s purpose.

Was the purpose of the meeting just to flaunt how large and nice Dianping’s rented banquet hall was?

Kang Jingtao was the first to leave the hall but didn’t leave the building, instead heading to the west corridor.

He was still curious about the signing event next door, feeling that was the main show but found the doors locked and lights off.

Dammit, did he get dazed from washing his feet? Was yesterday’s signing event a hallucination?

Doubting himself, Kang Jingtao turned to find Robin and others because they had seen the signing event together.

Just as he found Luo Ping, Robin, and Chang Jian Song, his phone rang along with the others.

Almost simultaneously, they answered their calls, listening intently until they held their breath.

“Dianping is being played…”

“Photos from the dinner and seminar have leaked, along with those of unfinished meals thrown into trash bins. Everyone’s saying Dianping won’t refund or respond, yet they splurge lavishly.”

“Also, that signing event they were going to hold, more than half the brands didn’t show. It hit the headlines quickly and became a joke.”

“Can you imagine? A group-buying website inviting merchants to sign up, and the first three rows are empty.”

“The other partnering merchants are panicking, unsure what’s wrong with Dianping. Many have already paused their operations.”

“The worst part…”

“The worst part is many chain brands have started joint promotions with Pintuan. Many new products are available only when ordered via Pintuan.”

“Do you have an elevator nearby? Or go to a subway entrance, a bus station, you should see…”

“So many advertisements, all in bright yellow, starting with merchant ads but ending with Pintuan offering more savings.”

“What a turnaround, we were all wrong. He took the moral high ground, then won over consumers, followed by partnerships with numerous major brands. Dianping has suffered.”

“Don’t mess with Jiang Qin anymore. After the meeting, hurry back, we still have lots to investigate.”

“Damn it! Many of those brands that turned were supposed to be as close as family, weren’t they?”

Everyone present received similar news, leading to a shared silence. Acquaintances and strangers alike exchanged looks.

As more people gradually left the venue, some who hadn’t received calls yet stood dumbfounded, asking around in confusion.

Whispers gradually rose in volume…

Meanwhile, some action-takers already hailed the elevator, stunned silent after seeing Xitian’s new milk tea ad specially launched for Pintuan.

Since mid-October, they had been closely monitoring the whole unfolding scenario, not missing any detail.

When public opinion began affecting Pintuan, many had added fuel to the fire.

Yet even with such close monitoring, the outcome ultimately turned everything on its head.

“No wonder Zhang Tao and Chen Jiaxin didn’t attend. With Yang Xueyu’s low-key speech, they must be at their wits’ end.”

Luo Ping pursed his lips, unable to resist pulling out a cigarette to light up.

He managed LaShou’s second and third-tier markets and was the only one on-site who hadn’t directly confronted Jiang Qin.

But being there in person, he suddenly understood what his brother meant by having nightmares every day.

Robin sighed deeply, his expression very complex: “Xueyu is actually a decent person, an intellectual and eloquent, but unfortunately, luck is not on his side…”

“Lucky you, you get to live another day.”

Kang Jingtao’s thoughts were hazy, replaying the words Jiang Qin had muttered in the buffet.

“After this event, Pintuan won’t fear public opinion in their next phase of development. I thought they would boldly disclose their accounts, but this three-step plan was simply perfect.”

Chang Jian Song also lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply: “He has consistently refused big factories as shareholders. This media battle should have occurred many times over.”

Luo Ping turned to him: “He’s laid out community group-buying, built a supply chain, invested in Gaode. Maybe Pintuan is truly out of money, but he’s still unshakeable; there’s no chance against him now.”

Just then, a figure walked out of the banquet hall, clutching his stomach, looking a bit disgruntled.

Seeing him, everyone instinctively moved aside, like water parting.

“Mr. Jiang, hello.”

“Mr. Jiang, hello…”

Jiang Qin nodded: “Hungry. Anyone treating to a meal?”

“…”

Despite being from different companies, everyone jumped at the chance to dine with Jiang Qin—an opportunity in case of future job changes…

Many hurriedly pulled out their wallets, eager to go first.

Without bias, Jiang Qin waved them on, then led them out of the hall into the nearby commercial district under the dark night.

Seeing the bright yellow ads at bus stations, merchant windows, elevators, and outdoor screens, everyone felt as if doused in the face—utterly dazzled.

“Mr. Jiang, what will it be? Japanese or Western?”

“Something simple and expensive will do, but let’s not use Pintuan—I’m quite traditional and can’t accept these newfangled spending habits.”

“…”