Two stores had earned over 2 million huabi in half a year. At such a profitable rate, it was inevitable that others would covet this business.

“In the small commodities market, they’ve built a building on an empty plot. I heard it’s going to be another building materials store,” Bai Zhenzhu said with anger.

From layout to decoration style, they copied everything from ‘Anjia Building Materials.’ Some even approached store employees to inquire about procurement methods and planned to poach experienced sales staff from ‘Anjia Building Materials.’ Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t certain whether any sales staff were tempted, but she hoped they would be wise enough to consider their current earnings at ‘Anjia Building Materials’!

For-profit, competitors had completely abandoned their dignity.

Xia Xiaolan smiled. “Sister Bai, there’s no need for anger. Such things were bound to happen sooner or later. Competition within the industry is inevitable. As long as we perform better than others, we’ll always remain the leaders, while they remain poor imitators. Anjia Building Materials feasts on the meat, while they can only follow behind to drink the leftover soup! Now, let’s discuss the year-end profit distribution.”

Everyone looked to Xia Xiaolan to decide whether to distribute profits and how to proceed.

While Bai Zhenzhu managed daily operations, Xia Xiaolan guided the store’s strategic direction!

Having reviewed this year’s profits from both stores, Xia Xiaolan already had a plan: “If we don’t dominate the market, others will. I suggest opening more branches. What are your thoughts?”

The branch opened last July had achieved sales of 3.2 million huabi in half a year. With profits visible to all shareholders, there was no opposition to opening a third store.

“I propose opening two branches simultaneously – one here in Pengcheng and another in Yangcheng. We’ll allocate 1 million huabi to properly prepare these two stores, distribute 1 million in dividends, and retain 200,000 huabi for delivery vehicles. What do you think?”

One million huabi in dividends was substantial.

Bai Zhenzhu, holding the largest share, would receive 290,000 huabi.

Even Shao Guangrong, retaining only 4% ownership after selling shares, would receive 40,000 huabi.

Even the wealthiest shareholders, Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong, didn’t complain about receiving over 200,000 huabi. Why wouldn’t they continue a business providing steady, growing income?

Moreover, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t invested much effort.

She hadn’t touched Qihang’s funds. Including the Nanhai Hotel renovation project and building materials store dividends, she profited over a million huabi this year.

Before the last Spring Festival, the building materials store’s profit was over 160,000 huabi, with 100,000 huabi distributed as dividends. Xia Xiaolan only received about 20,000 huabi then, but this year it had increased tenfold. At this rate, with four stores operating together in ’86, by ’87, Xia Xiaolan could receive over a million huabi in dividends from the building materials stores alone.

Any shareholder would have confidence in such a business.

Take Shao Guangrong, for example. He did nothing all year but received 40,000 huabi at year-end. He certainly wouldn’t oppose any of Xia Xiaolan’s suggestions.

“I agree!”

“I agree too!”

Kang Wei calculated that he would receive 200,000 huabi, which would help ease the financial strain of his furniture factory!

Liu Yong, being her maternal uncle, supported Xia Xiaolan’s decision unconditionally.

Although Bai Zhenzhu held 29% of the shares as the largest shareholder, she had no chance of winning an opposition at this point, and besides, she couldn’t find any fault with Xia Xiaolan’s proposal. With no one objecting and everyone discussing profit distribution, the atmosphere remained harmonious.

After discussing the locations for new stores, they moved on to smaller matters.

“Xiaolan, you promised Pan Weiliang a 0.5% commission if the new store’s sales exceeded 1 million. Was that true?”

Xia Xiaolan was surprised. “Of course it was!”

With the new store’s sales at 3.2 million, a 0.5% commission meant 16,000 huabi. It was quite a sum, but Pan Weiliang deserved it.

Bai Zhenzhu nodded, “Alright, I understand. He couldn’t believe it himself and kept asking me when submitting the account books!”

Xia Xiaolan understood.

When income suddenly increases dramatically, most people need time to accept it. Pan Weiliang’s disbelief was normal.

Including his regular salary and commissions, he had earned almost 20,000 huabi in half a year. This young store manager’s income was higher than his uncle, Director Pan!

They distributed the money right after the meeting.

Kang Wei finally found an opportunity to discuss his matter with Xia Xiaolan:

“Sister-in-law, for the new store, could I have a separate area? I’ll pay the rent myself. It can be next door – I want to specialize in furniture.”

Kang Wei had been working hard to expand the market. Unlike renovation companies that could show case photos, he felt customers would want to personally experience the quality of beds, chairs, and sofas.

The building materials store had added a sales area for him, but Kang Wei felt it was too small.

He wanted an entire floor or store for display.

Logically, he could open his store since he had the money, but he specifically wanted to leverage the ‘Anjia Building Materials’ reputation. Competitors were envious of the ‘Anjia Building Materials’ business because the store had built a reputation in Pengcheng, with word-of-mouth spreading and consumers trusting the store!

“That’s a great idea! Why didn’t you bring it up during the meeting?”

Xia Xiaolan was delighted that Kang Wei had started thinking about these things himself.

Kang Wei felt embarrassed, “I was worried others might think I was taking advantage, so I wanted to ask you privately first.”

“There’s no taking advantage here. As the building materials store grows, we’ll have brands wanting to move in. Better to benefit you than others. Wait another year, after I return to China, I plan to build a building materials mall in Pengcheng!”

Those people were envious?

Xia Xiaolan wanted to gather all the scattered forces in one net.

Sellers of tiles, paint, flooring, lights, curtains… As long as the building materials mall was well-located and properly promoted, Xia Xiaolan was confident she could attract all capable building materials merchants.

Having Kang Wei wouldn’t make much difference either way.

Kang Wei didn’t understand, “What do you mean? Are you saying Anjia Building Materials will build a materials mall? Will the store have enough money by next year?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “Not Anjia Building Materials – Qihang will build it, attracting businesses like Anjia Building Materials to move in.”

Was it too early to build a materials mall after returning to China?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t think so at all.

Dongfeng Holdings, which didn’t lack money, had already started acquiring land to build office buildings, and Xia Xiaolan was envious.

“You’ll build the building and then rent it out?”

Wouldn’t selling be faster? Why rent?

Kang Wei didn’t understand real estate, and besides business, he had other worries: “I originally planned to bring Dan Yujun home during Spring Festival to meet the elders, but she refused. Sometimes I wonder if Dan Yujun likes me.”

Kang Wei was serious about Dan Yujun.

She was his first true love – how could he not like her?

But Dan Yujun’s attitude puzzled Kang Wei.

Dating without marriage as the goal was just playing around. Kang Wei wanted to marry Dan Yujun eventually, but he felt she was just dating for the sake of dating… It made Kang Wei uncomfortable. Did he need to learn from Shao Guangrong and become an irresponsible scoundrel to navigate relationships smoothly?