Chapter 659: E-commerce and Physical Stores

Popularity stirs debate, and debate breeds rumors.

Ever since Jiang Qin’s early strategies surfaced, his reputation has skyrocketed, generating significant ripple effects.

The employees at Feng Corporation aren’t fools. Feng’s son-in-law being Mr. Jiang of Group-Buy, there must be reasons behind chasing Meal Point and not collaborating with Joy City.

The truth is indeed complex but can you really control what your subordinates speculate and assume?

“Mrs. Feng, good morning.”

“Hmm.”

“Mrs. Feng, your bag is beautiful.”

“Is it? Thank you.”

On the morning of the 29th, Duan Ying arrived at Feng Corporation, in an expensive black trench coat, warmly greeting employees.

However, aside from a few executives who acknowledged her politely as they drank coffee downstairs, other employees looked unfavorably.

Whispers of “the evil stepmother” began circulating from the moment she entered the company.

Duan Ying remained indifferent to everything, calm as she entered the elevator and elegant until she shut her office door on the fifth floor, then angrily tossed her bag onto the sofa.

Since learning of Feng Nanshu’s identity, Duan Ying’s sense of crisis intensified, reaching Feng Corporation with the excuse of ‘not wanting to stay idle at home’, managing trivial matters as a virtuous wife.

Skilled and amiable, Duan Ying quickly cultivated the image of an elegant lady.

But no matter how graceful, it can’t hide the deteriorating state of Feng Corporation.

Can elegance avoid layoffs?

Can amiability raise salaries?

So no matter how impressive you appear, workers won’t work for free because of your grace; they have their own and their families’ livelihoods to consider.

Naturally, the resentment from impending layoffs finds its way to her.

Originally, Feng Corporation was stable till you insisted on returning from abroad and not only did you oust Mr. Qin, but your actions also brought the company to near ruin.

Being nearly ruined might have been irrelevant if a strong alliance with your son-in-law hadn’t promised thriving prospects.

But your mistreatment of Miss Feng meant Group-Buy would seize any opportunity to target Feng Corporation.

Now, Feng Corporation needs to streamline its structure; the crisis of layoffs increases daily, and discontent is skyrocketing.

Consequently, the elegant persona Duan Ying carefully constructed is starting to collapse.

All through the afternoon, Duan Ying sat in her office, gazing at the towering Group-Buy building, wishing she could burn it down, but then scared by her own insignificance.

She had painstakingly raised Feng Nanshu in Jizhou for years, assuming Feng’s wife’s role, thinking it was all settled.

Suddenly, the public opinion turned against her.

It all went in vain.

Now, it wasn’t just inside the company where stories of “the evil stepmother” spread. Just yesterday, while she and Feng Shihua met with partners, hints of this issue emerged.

“Mr. Feng, I hear Group-Buy’s Mr. Jiang is your son-in-law. Why haven’t I seen you together?”

“I remember meeting Miss Feng years ago. Haven’t heard much since. Mrs. Feng, you’ve protected her well.”

“When will Ms. Feng and Mr. Jiang marry? Let me know, Mr. Feng. Honestly, I’ve always wanted to be friends with Mr. Jiang.”

What struck Duan Ying most was a woman asking Feng Shihua during a recent home visit what Mrs. Feng used to do.

Duan Ying replied she was currently raising children, which led to subdued laughter, realizing the woman was probing about Feng Nanshu’s mother.

Bad news travels far, unlike good news.

Especially since Feng Shihua took over and cut many real estate-related businesses, affected partners subtly taunted.

These words felt like thorns to Duan Ying, leaving her restless.

Moreover, Mrs. Li and others stopped joining her games long ago, always claiming they were busy, leaving Duan Ying feeling powerless.

Taking a deep breath, Duan Ying felt surrounded by whispering crowds as she watched the commuters.

A psychology student, she knew this was due to environmental influence, continually receiving psychological suggestions, yet a physician can hardly heal thyself.

“I am Mrs. Feng…”

“No matter what others say, I am Mrs. Feng, and that’s an unchangeable fact!”

Qin Jingqiu is no longer with Feng Corporation, but with many informers, she felt a sharp sense of schadenfreude upon hearing this news.

She felt lucky to have met Jiang Qin and believed Nanshu was truly fortunate.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin had been focusing on regional brand promotion, progressing well but slowly.

Helplessly, Alibaba withdrew support, and Mr. Ma, a miser, clung to his wallet, lending no aid.

At the same time, Aunt called with a tone full of triumphant relief.

Jiang Qin, phone in hand, listened to the latest about Feng Corporation and sighed, “I wasn’t targeting Feng Corporation. After all, he is Nanshu’s father.”

“Jiang Qin, you can’t be like your uncle, soft-hearted because of kinship. They don’t deserve it.”

“But… he’s still family. For instance, if they wanted to buy Xitian, how could I refuse to sell it to them?”

“?”

In the following period, the atmosphere within Feng Corporation worsened, even making some executives anxious.

Think about it. Mr. Feng disregards his own daughter. If layoffs continue, how could he show them any mercy?

And Duan Ying heard even more rumors during this time.

Under this mental strain, Duan Ying had to step outside for fresh air every time she visited the company.

Feng Corporation’s imposing facade featured a rockery inscribed with the golden letters “Feng Development Group.”

From the entrance, the grand building seemed a towering mountain in Shanghai, and through the glass, she could clearly see countless Feng employees working diligently like ants.

Each time she saw this, Duan Ying felt somewhat comforted, the current Mrs. Feng being none other than herself.

Gossip and rumors, always temporal, no matter how heated, they wouldn’t cause much more trouble. She just had to relax, and no one could affect her.

“Excuse me, ma’am, could you step aside?”

Coming to her senses, Duan Ying saw two workers carrying a glass pane and instinctively stepped back.

As her gaze followed the workers, she suddenly spotted at the street corner nearest to Feng employees’ after-work path, a new store undergoing renovations.

With numerous office buildings around, there was a constant stream of people, and a girl was distributing flyers in front of the shop, her voice sweet and enticing.

“Hello, on the third of next month, the 328th Xitian branch will officially open. Half-price on the opening day.”

“Lady, learn about our opening day half-price deals.”

Hearing “Xitian,” Duan Ying’s eyes widened, and she hurried over, looking up to see the signage. Xitian’s store no. 0328 was almost complete right below Feng Corporation’s headquarters.

Seeing this, Duan Ying was stunned, her expression changed, “Who allowed you to open this store here?!”

“Our boss.”

“I asked who approved you to open here. All property units here belong to Feng, didn’t you know? Who signed the contract with you!”

The flyer-distributing girl glanced at her, unresponsive.

This store was taken over from a previous hot and spicy soup shop, with all business permits complete. If not here, where else? Your house?

Duan Ying realized her reaction had been over the top, but she still couldn’t accept it.

Everyone in the company knew Xitian was Jiang Qin’s gift to Feng Nanshu, and opening this store right on the path employees took to and from work felt like a direct taunt.

“Who’s that woman at the door?”

“Don’t know, some crazy lady, asking why we opened the store here. What’s it to her?”

“I don’t get it either. The rent across the street is much cheaper, but Manager Fang insisted on this spot.

“You’re wrong. It wasn’t Manager Fang’s idea. It was the boss’s. He doesn’t mind the high rent but insisted on this location. This store was initially a thriving hot and spicy soup shop. The previous owner was reluctant to hand it over; we negotiated for a long time.”

“How did you finally convince him?”

“No choice, the boss offered too much.”

Manager Sun, responsible for the Shanghai market, picked up a sticker and placed it on the glass door on the right, reading, “A gift for you.”

Then came another sticker, this one of a pitiful yet adorable Snow White looking nervously at the wicked stepmother with dark eyeshadow and black lips.

Hey, it’s a theme store!

Soon, it was time to leave work. A large number of Feng employees exited the building and were momentarily stunned upon seeing the store at the street corner.

“Damn, Xitian opened a store under our building?”

“Isn’t Xitian Mr. Jiang of Group-Buy’s gift to the young lady?”

“Yeah, right under our company…”

Their expressions were quite a sight, especially seeing Snow White and the wicked stepmother on the window, each exchanging looks.

Opening the store here was like setting up shop on Feng Corporation’s face.