Assistant Song was quick to answer, but unfortunately, his response was incorrect, or rather, incomplete.

“Assistant Song, you need to think more broadly! These 3,122 shopping cards don’t just represent 3,122 customers. Behind these cards are 3,122 families, each with their social circles – relatives, friends, colleagues. These are 3,122 radiation points, spreading influence outward… If my prediction is correct, the peak period for card applications is yet to come in the next few days!”

When Xia Xiaolan said Song Minglan was wrong, Song Minglan didn’t get angry. The prospect Xia Xiaolan painted was too appealing – not just for Song Minglan, but for everyone.

Although today’s sales of 780,000 yuan didn’t generate profit due to the cash-back promotion, they hadn’t lost much either. More importantly, Asia Department Store was once again teeming with customers, reminiscent of its grand opening. This customer attraction strategy was successful – that’s what truly mattered.

A temporary lack of profit wasn’t important; what they feared most was Shangdu’s citizens completely forgetting about the Asia Department Store. If people lost all desire to step inside, that would truly be Asia’s darkest hour.

You could boast about having the best service, the finest shopping environment, and quality goods at reasonable prices… these were indeed advantages, but without customers, all these merits became mere self-consolation. What good were all these advantages when state-owned department stores had crushed them with aggressive price cuts?

Thanks to Xia Xiaolan’s repeated lessons, even the most inexperienced Second Madam now understood that foot traffic was paramount in retail. Winning customers meant winning everything – as long as Asia could reclaim its customers, it would emerge victorious!

That night, everyone felt the same excitement as they had on opening day. No, they were even more excited than on opening day. Back then, Asia had set a record with 2.72 million yuan in sales, breaking more than just Shangdu’s retail records!

Success had come too easily then, and everyone had become complacent. After the first three days of opening, sales had averaged over a million. Then the state-owned department stores struck, and daily sales kept falling, dropping from a million to below 100,000. But now, Asia had climbed out of that pit. Today’s success was the result of everyone enduring through the low point together. The fruit of success tasted so sweet, so intoxicating!

“At times like these, we must be even more cautious and stay alert for any possible unexpected situations!”

“Follow me, and let’s win back Asia’s lost customers!”

Xia Xiaolan encouraged all Asia employees, and everyone was excited, joining her in shouting “Win them back!” This was the second time, after the opening, that Xia Xiaolan had proven herself through actions. Her authority reached its peak that night.

Old Huang, the two-faced traitor, stood among the employees shouting “Win them back,” though his heart wasn’t in it. He never imagined such a small card could have such a huge impact. Old Huang wasn’t happy; he was disappointed.

Looking at his colleagues around him, each gazing at Manager Xia with admiration, he wondered how Manager Zhu could make a triumphant return with Manager Xia’s reputation soaring like this.

Old Huang shrank his neck, wondering if he should switch allegiances. If he tried to show his loyalty now, could he still find a place by Manager Xia’s side?

Old Huang had never seriously considered this choice until now, until this moment. This thought he was having – others had already put it into practice.

Everyone knew that Manager Xia had two confidants now: Assistant Song and Manager Hu from the Procurement Department. This man and woman were Manager Xia’s right and left arms.

Below them, many other employees were desperately trying to get closer to Manager Xia.

Old Huang calculated his ranking, realizing he was far behind. He truly lacked opportunities to get closer to the young Manager Xia! He wasn’t one of Xia Xiaolan’s recruits but rather an ‘old minister’ left by the previous general manager. He hadn’t immediately pledged his loyalty, and recently, he had even spread negative rumors about Manager Xia throughout Asia.

Old Huang grew more dejected the more he thought about it.

In terms of contributions to Asia, he couldn’t compare to Song Minglan, nor to Hu Yongcai who had brought countless manufacturers during his two-month business trip.

Even Xu Jing, whom Manager Xia had recruited halfway to help Asia, had technical skills that Old Huang couldn’t match.

How could he possibly achieve something significant?!

Xia Xiaolan had no time to care about what people like Old Huang were thinking. After encouraging the employees, she still needed to confirm the technical support with Xu Jing:

“The peak period for shopping card top-ups will be tomorrow and the day after. Can your system handle it?”

Xu Jing’s expression was serious. “If you gave me half a year, I could make something better. For now, I can only do my best to ensure stability. I’ll stay in Shangdu during this period, and if any problems arise, I’ll fix them immediately.”

Xu Jing had been recruited to build this system while still needing to maintain development work at Wenquxing. Xia Xiaolan could only have him temporarily handle both roles.

There was no other choice; Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t feel at ease if Xu Jing wasn’t in Shangdu.

If Asia’s system crashed during this counteroffensive, its competitors would seize the opportunity to launch major attacks.

There were too few people who understood computers now. While Xu Jing might not be the strongest, he was the one Xia Xiaolan trusted most in the country!

Currently, no one else could maintain Asia’s system except Xu Jing… For technically skilled people, Xia Xiaolan had to be especially accommodating. Thinking of the news she had heard, Xia Xiaolan lowered her voice:

“It’s good for you to stay in Shangdu for a while. Since you and Senior Ma returned to start the business, you’ve barely had time for a vacation. This is a good chance to relax and sort out your matters.”

Xu Jing blushed.

Though he was several years older than Xia Xiaolan, he wasn’t as mature as her and still couldn’t handle his personal affairs well.

Xu Jing knew Xia Xiaolan was referring to Xiang Li.

Xiang Li couldn’t make it in America and had returned to China to find him. Xu Jing disliked her persistence, but Xiang Li knew him well. She had found many of their former mutual friends and mentors in China to mediate, hoping to reconcile with Xu Jing!

Xu Jing was truly disgusted, yet he couldn’t do anything about Xiang Li. What happened in America wasn’t common knowledge in China. Was he supposed to tell every friend who tried to encourage their reconciliation about his suspected experience of being cheated on?

Xiang Li was now in Shenzhen, and his coming to Shangdu truly gave him a few days of peace!

…

“Asia’s promotion today was very successful. Old Lu, the situation is becoming thorny.”

Late at night, several state-owned department store managers couldn’t sleep. The men gathered to drink and naturally discussed the Asia Department Store.

Lu Hongbo’s expression was also troubled.

“I heard Asia sold over 3,000 shopping cards on the first day, meaning 3,000 customers have been drawn to Asia. In the short term, they’ll become Asia’s regular customers.”

The manager of Shangdu Department Store rubbed his head. Middle-aged and balding, the few remaining hairs on his head seemed ready to fall:

“Do you know how ruthless that Xia woman is? Previously, we sold TVs for 1,780 yuan, already at zero profit. With Asia’s top-up cashback scheme, customers effectively only need to pay 1,300 yuan for the same TV. She’s losing 480 yuan per TV, of course, customers will be drawn away!”