Public opinion is a double-edged sword – while it can eliminate opponents, it can also harm oneself if used improperly!

Xia Xiaolan’s quick and precise counterattack left Lu Hongbo defenseless. Lu Hongbo was truly unfortunate – while he wasn’t solely responsible for everything, he became the face of the operation and had to bear the consequences. Since Xia Xiaolan couldn’t obtain evidence against others, she could only focus her attack on Lu Hongbo!

The bombardment was so intense that Lu Hongbo’s allies didn’t hold out for long before betraying him – these old hands truly had no backbone. After this news spread, people even went to the Zijingshan Department Store to throw eggs, viewing the store and Lu Hongbo as one entity. The masses felt that Manager Lu’s actions were despicable, and throwing eggs was the least they could do to vent their anger.

Zijingshan Department Store was in a difficult position. While Lu Hongbo was still in detention, they issued a public announcement stating that he would no longer serve as the general manager, clearly separating the store from Lu Hongbo himself. They stopped just short of posting Lu Hongbo’s home address for people to throw eggs at.

Just two or three months ago, Manager Lu was at the height of his success, with all the prominent figures in Shangdu’s retail industry attending his family celebration. Now, he had fallen from grace, becoming a universally despised target.

This wasn’t personal vengeance but a business competition. While Xia Xiaolan had seen many competitors end up in jail, others hadn’t witnessed such situations often. Xia Xiaolan had made a name for herself in Shangdu. Apart from the unfortunate Lu Hongbo, the leaders of other state-owned department stores who were released remained quiet as mice. They wouldn’t dare to challenge Asia Department Store for a while – once they admitted defeat, it would be difficult to recover. When Asia successfully dominates the market, they might leave some scraps for the state-owned stores!

Not only did the state-owned store managers submit, but even Shangdu’s monopolistic suppliers, who were initially unhappy about Xia Xiaolan not continuing their supply relationships and wanted to make their presence felt, became docile after Lu Hongbo tested the waters for them.

Asia doesn’t need their supplies? Fine!

They would ignore Asia and try to maintain control over other stores in Shangdu. Hmph, it wasn’t that they feared Asia’s Manager Xia; they just didn’t want to bother with a woman… Yes, that was it!

Asia’s first shopping card recharge cashback promotion also concluded successfully. The final number of customers who purchased recharge cards fell just short of 30,000. These customers enjoyed significant discounts through the cashback offer. While this meant Asia wouldn’t see any profits for the next two months as they absorbed these concessions, it was undoubtedly worthwhile, as Asia’s daily turnover remained at 600,000-700,000 yuan after the card promotion ended.

Xia Xiaolan’s goal for Asia’s first year wasn’t to recover investment costs but to establish a firm foothold in Shangdu’s retail industry, securing their reputation through actual results. She aimed to retain these 30,000 customers, keep them satisfied, convert new customers, and occasionally run promotions.

“Asia shouldn’t compare itself with those state-owned department stores. Our goal isn’t to surpass our competitors but to surpass ourselves!” Xia Xiaolan said while Song Minglan listened attentively.

Changing the subject, Xia Xiaolan asked, “Special Assistant Song, what are your career plans? I remember you initially said you’d work in Asia for a while. Now, have you made any new decisions?”

The new decision came down to two choices: leave or stay.

Was Asia just a temporary stop or a permanent harbor?

Song Minglan asked herself this question. Her original intention wasn’t just to secure a job – she could find work anywhere. Considering long-term plans, returning to Beijing would naturally be best, but after experiencing Asia’s preparations, opening, and ups and downs, Song Minglan couldn’t bear to part with this enterprise.

“I want to stay.”

She wanted to be both Third Young Lady Song and Asia’s Special Assistant Song.

Having made her decision, Song Minglan received Xia Xiaolan’s extended hand: “Special Assistant Song, welcome to truly joining Asia. Let’s learn from each other and grow together.”

Asia wouldn’t go bankrupt!

At least not like in history, where blind expansion and price wars dragged it down. With Lu Hongbo’s arrest, the price war trend in Shangdu’s retail industry had been strangled. Xia Xiaolan was confident that the so-called “Central Plains Commercial War” wouldn’t materialize. Asia had already avoided half the path to bankruptcy… Why only half? Because Asia still needed to overcome the hurdle of blind expansion!

Expansion was certainly necessary. While things were complicated in Shangdu due to several existing state-owned department stores nearby, the situation in other Chinese cities, even Beijing and Shanghai, wasn’t as unique as Shangdu.

Expansion was positive – a businessperson who didn’t want to grow their business wasn’t qualified. No matter the business, lacking progress meant eventually being surpassed by competitors. Du Zhaoji’s thoughts and Zhu Suizhou’s previous life actions weren’t wrong, but Asia needed rational and cautious expansion rather than reckless advancement!

To date, Xia Xiaolan hasn’t found a suitable professional manager. Choosing from limited options, she intended to train Song Minglan to manage Asia’s daily operations.

Of course, Song Minglan was still inexperienced, lacking in both expertise and seniority to command respect.

Therefore, Xia Xiaolan would also support Hu Yongcai, allowing Song Minglan and Hu Yongcai to complement and monitor each other.

Would these two collide?

There was still the ambitious Huang Guoqiang. By giving him some incentives without fully satisfying him, and providing him with goals to strive for, he would keep a close eye on Song Minglan and Hu Yongcai, eager to expose any mistakes that might allow him to replace one of them.

So all types of employees had their uses; it depended on how leaders could discover their abilities.

Asia’s shopping card recharge cashback promotion has ended.

The card payment system never crashed, and Technical Director Xu, who was working part-time in Asia, could have returned to Pengcheng, but he was reluctant to leave.

Xia Xiaolan saw Xu Jing’s anxiety but didn’t mention it, letting him fret on his own.

Ma Hai had called several times:

“Manager Xia, what’s going on with Old Xu in Shangdu? The factory’s R&D team is waiting for his leadership!”

Time had flown to December, deep into winter.

Xia Xiaolan answered indirectly, “Ma Hai, winter has arrived, do you think spring is far behind?”

What?!

What was that supposed to mean?!

Ma Hai didn’t understand, but Xia Xiaolan asked if he had a girlfriend.

Ma Hai was busy increasing Wenquxing’s market share, too busy to split his attention, feeling that having a girlfriend would waste too much time!

“Manager Xia, I’m completely devoted to work, absolutely won’t let my personal life drag down my work progress!”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but laugh:

“But Xu Jing thinks differently from you. I see him turning winter into spring already.”