What was this Hu saying? Who did he bring back?

Song Minglan had heard him, but could hardly believe it. Just as Asia Department Store’s suppliers cut them off, Hu Yongcai claimed he brought back manufacturers willing to supply them.

How could there be such a coincidence?

Xia Xiaolan laughed heartily:

“As soon as Manager Hu took office, I asked him to negotiate with manufacturers across different regions. From now on, Asia Department Store will source directly from manufacturers, eliminating supplier markups. This not only addresses our current crisis but also reduces long-term costs, allowing us to pass savings to consumers without operating at a loss!”

Let those state-owned department stores continue their big discount promotions if they dare.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t afraid at all.

Her shopping card recharge cashback scheme meant that with current wholesale prices, the more customers topped up, the harder it would be for Asia Department Store to make money.

Unless they could lower the wholesale prices!

Those suppliers were eager to see Asia Department Store engage in a price war with the state-owned department stores. The suppliers wouldn’t lose either way – both sides had to get goods from them. The suppliers were the real winners, as wholesale prices wouldn’t change—unless someone bypassed them and found cheaper supply channels.

What channel could be cheaper than going directly to manufacturers?

Take the fans that Commercial City Department Store had previously sold at promotional prices: wholesale price was 83 yuan per unit, and they sold them at 83 yuan, sacrificing profit to attract customers.

Now, for the same fan, if Xia Xiaolan sourced directly from manufacturers and sold it at 83 yuan, she could still make several yuan profits!

While walking, Xia Xiaolan said to Song Minglan:

“Manager Hu has been a great help, securing Asia Department Store’s supply chain in one move!”

Looking at the group waiting in the large break room, Song Minglan couldn’t find words to argue. Had Hu Yongcai traveled across the country these past two months? These people spoke in various regional accents, all eager to speak with Xia Xiaolan personally… Well, even if hiring actors, it would be difficult to gather people with accents from all over the country. These were undoubtedly manufacturer representatives brought by Hu Yongcai.

Song Minglan, along with the office staff, attended to these representatives.

She kept glancing at Xia Xiaolan and the noticeably thinner Hu Yongcai.

Xia Xiaolan had managed to recruit him from the Municipal Party Committee Guest House.

Usually, people handling procurement in such institutions were slippery old-timers, but Hu Yongcai was genuinely capable. Xia Xiaolan had quite an eye for talent.

Was this why Xia Xiaolan, despite her youth, could achieve such success?

The manufacturer representatives Hu Yongcai brought back could solve most of Asia Department Store’s supply issues. Song Minglan felt lighter, and more energetic in directing others.

Tonight, the Asia Department Store’s advertisement will air.

Would Commercial City’s customers accept this model?

Song Minglan’s worries had turned to anticipation.

Whatever problems came Xia Xiaolan’s way, she could solve them. So why shouldn’t she expect the shopping card recharge cashback strategy to break through the state-owned stores’ joint suppression?

“It must work. Those bullying bastards need to be taught a lesson.”

Song Minglan clenched her fists secretly.

She wanted to punch Lu Hongbo’s face until it bloomed with bruises!

…

“Haha, Old Lu, I heard Asia Department Store’s supply has been cut off.”

“Yes, Old Lu, we should celebrate. Asia Department Store is under attack from all sides. What good is their Hong Kong merchant background now? Even a dragon would have to shrink into a worm in Commercial City!”

“Hmph, those suppliers are quite slick, waiting until now to agree to cut off Asia Department Store’s supply. I heard they even went to meet that Xia person, showing her quite some respect…”

“Old Lu, why aren’t you speaking?”

At this gathering of state-owned department store managers, the atmosphere was more cheerful than ever before.

Suppliers were like fence-sitters – their agreement to cut off Asia Department Store’s supply indicated its inevitable decline!

Those suppliers were stubborn, personally going to Asia Department Store to meet General Manager Xia, only to be rebuffed. That Xia person was just too obstinate, watching customers slowly drift away but still refusing to lower prices.

Hah, young people caring so much about face – only an unruly private department store would tolerate her.

None of those present liked private department stores.

Their emergence had impacted state-owned stores’ business. Private department stores’ existence was jarring, making them very uncomfortable!

State-owned stores, like other public institutions, operated on seniority. No one could parachute into leadership positions; everyone had to slowly work their way up. Among the state-owned department store managers, not one was under 45!

Private stores didn’t care about such things. A woman in her early twenties could become general manager, equal to them – who would be comfortable with that?

Now they weren’t just suppressing Asia Department Store, but also this so-called ‘General Manager Xia.’

Even if Asia Department Store didn’t close, they’d probably have to change leadership!

As they wanted to raise their glasses in celebration, they noticed that the usually hot-tempered Lu Hongbo had fallen into deep thought, not responding to the conversation.

Someone sitting beside Lu Hongbo gave him a hard pat:

“Old Lu, what are you thinking about!”

Lu Hongbo snapped back to reality, stroking his chin:

“Ah, I don’t know why, but even though the suppliers agreeing to our conditions and cutting off Asia Department Store’s supply should be good news, I feel uneasy.”

Everyone laughed, teasing Lu Hongbo for being too timid.

“A mere girl scared you witless?”

“Yeah, Old Lu, you’re getting more cowardly with age…”

“Earlier we heard Asia Department Store had connections in the city, with a high-ranking official caring about them. But they’re just having bad luck – that official got transferred, so we don’t need to worry about forced intervention.”

“Right, even heaven is on our side.”

“When Asia Department Store can’t hold on, they’ll probably bring back that Zhu Suizhou to manage. I’ve dealt with him twice, and there’s nothing wrong with how he handles things. I quite admire him! Of course, admiration aside, once he becomes Asia Department Store’s general manager again, he’ll still have to follow our rules.”

Everyone chattered away.

Lu Hongbo frowned, “I hope I’m overthinking it. I heard Asia Department Store is launching some kind of card. That Xia girl stubbornly refuses to do discount promotions, not just out of obstinacy – she’s hoping to use this card thing to solve Asia Department Store’s troubles…”

What kind of card could be so magical!

Lu Hongbo also believed the Asia Department Store was beyond saving; even if they decided to do big discount promotions now, it would be too late.

But Xia Xiaolan’s actions defied common sense, making Lu Hongbo uneasy.

Perhaps he would only stop worrying after seeing Asia Department Store’s death throes fail to change the situation.

Lu Hongbo and the others would soon see Xia Xiaolan’s trump card… That evening, Commercial City Television broadcast Asia Department Store’s advertisement for their “Shopping Card”!