Lü Mingliang paused briefly, then continued: “The domestic express delivery industry is indeed much better than abroad, but a normal company should look forward, learn from the best, and not constantly engage in a race to the bottom. Even if you’ve already achieved the best, you should continue thinking about how to improve further, rather than resting on your laurels and coasting along.”
“How much of domestic delivery’s affordability is due to our country’s excellent infrastructure, such as the extensive road and rail transportation networks? How much is due to the demographic dividend and the selfless dedication of delivery personnel? And how much is due to rapid economic development bringing robust demand for courier and logistics services?”
“The rapid development of the courier industry is mainly due to these three factors—how did it become Shengrun Express’s own achievement?”
“This is the demand of the times. Any courier company with such advantageous conditions could rapidly grow into a giant. Effort is certainly a factor, but attributing it all to oneself is too arrogant. So comparing with foreign countries is unreasonable; the initial starting conditions are simply different.”
“As for the courier pricing issue you mentioned—indeed, I admit that domestic courier prices are relatively cheap.”
“But let me ask three questions.”
“First, for courier companies, are low prices truly about benefiting customers, or are they a competitive means to seize market share? Can you guarantee that delivery fees won’t increase in the future?”
“Second, how exactly are these low prices achieved? Is it by pushing the last-mile responsibility onto customers, reducing the number of delivery personnel, lowering service quality, and not providing delivery personnel with social insurance, housing funds, and other benefits they deserve?”
“Third, suppose some customers don’t mind paying an extra two yuan in delivery fees but demand improved service levels and home delivery—can you accommodate them?”
“If you gentlemen cannot answer these three questions, then I believe the answer is quite clear.”
“With courier fees so low and unprofitable, where Shengrun Group’s enormous annual profits come from remains a true unsolved mystery.”
“A company with a market value of tens of billions publicly playing the victim, claiming they have no surplus food at home, that they’re barely scraping by, and hoping customers can be more understanding of their difficulties, giving them a bite to eat—this is truly astonishing!”
The three people from Shengrun Group were completely frozen.
There was no way to continue this discussion!
It became clear that Lü Mingliang hadn’t come to debate—he’d come to expose them!
Even if things were this way, how could he speak so recklessly?
Nie Yunsheng truly didn’t dare answer these three questions because they were unanswerable.
The deeper he went, the more he would position himself in opposition to consumers, the further apart they would become.
But then again, what company in this world truly stands with consumers and ordinary employees?
Not only could Shengrun Group not answer these three questions, but if any other company—especially these internet platform companies—were to face them, they couldn’t answer either!
Moreover, Nie Yunsheng vaguely discovered why his side had been so passive all along.
Without realizing it, Lü Mingliang had positioned himself on the side of ordinary consumers, consistently thinking from the perspective of consumers and frontline employees. And this debate was precisely for consumers and ordinary frontline employees to watch!
Lü Mingliang had directly aligned himself with the judges—how could he possibly lose?
Nie Yunsheng had thought of many rebuttals, but they’d all been countered by Lü Mingliang because Nie Yunsheng was standing from the company’s perspective. He could only change the subject, beat around the bush, or use minor details to conceal the fact that the company earned massive profits through its platform, market advantage, and a certain degree of exploitation of employees.
This fact couldn’t be exposed—if it were truly acknowledged, it would be a disaster.
Lü Mingliang clearly had no such concerns. Every question he posed was from the consumer’s perspective, seemingly intent on destroying Shengrun Express down to its very soul.
Under these circumstances, how could Shengrun Express possibly have any chance of winning?
Nie Yunsheng realized they couldn’t continue like this, and he truly felt indignant.
“Director Lü, does Headwind Logistics have a very clear answer to these three questions? Are you saying that Headwind Logistics doesn’t aim to make money, but only to benefit all customers and employees?”
“Your Headwind Logistics’ delivery fees are even higher than our Shengrun Express—why don’t you deliver packages for free to customers?”
“The future market environment is constantly changing, and shipping costs could increase at any time. Can Headwind Logistics guarantee that it will never raise delivery fees?”
Nie Yunsheng wanted to turn the tables.
He couldn’t stand in opposition to consumers himself, so he needed to find a way to drag Headwind Logistics down with him!
The implication was simple: Don’t portray yourself as a pure white lotus, Lü Mingliang. Sure, Shengrun Express is in it to make money, but isn’t Headwind Logistics also trying to make money?
You’ve gone to great lengths to establish so many stations, enduring years of losses to deliver to customers’ doors—isn’t that all to dominate the market and profit from monopoly?
Surely you’re not going to such great effort just to do charity work?
If not, what difference is there between Headwind Logistics and Shengrun Express? You’re all cut from the same cloth—what right does a crow have to laugh at a wild boar for being black?
At this point, Nie Yunsheng felt that his side, having been caught off guard and outmaneuvered several times by Lü Mingliang, had little chance of winning.
Because in the eyes of this livestream’s viewers, Headwind Logistics’ image had completely overshadowed Shengrun Express.
But he couldn’t bear to see Headwind Logistics achieve such a complete victory. He had to drag Headwind Logistics down as well to satisfy his own resentment!
Would Lü Mingliang dare answer these three questions?
If he made promises but failed to deliver, Headwind Logistics would become a joke and face backlash!
Nie Yunsheng confidently looked at Lü Mingliang, but to his surprise, Lü Mingliang smiled slightly: “Of course I can answer.”
“First, Headwind Logistics’ primary goal is to meet customers’ courier needs and provide secure jobs for ordinary delivery personnel. Even if we generate profits in this process, we will find ways to use them to better build and improve the entire logistics system.”
“Because Mr. Pei has repeatedly emphasized that Headwind Logistics’ position within Tenda Group is not a department for generating profits, but rather one that consumes profits for other departments. It’s an auxiliary business for other operations, serving as a lubricant.”
“Therefore, we can promise all customers that we will continue to invest substantial funds in subsidies. For the next ten years, Headwind Logistics’ delivery fees will absolutely not increase by a single cent!”
“We don’t care about market competition—if any courier company can provide better quality competition than us, we welcome them with open arms.”
“Second, we lower our delivery fees through larger-scale material transport, optimized logistics routes, increased technology and efficiency in sorting and turnover processes, plus profit transfers from other derivative industries. We don’t rely on raising delivery fees or docking delivery personnel’s wages.”
“Even if we’ve established slightly higher fees for some of our services, it’s because we provide better service to customers.”
“Third, we guarantee that customer experience will never be reduced, and customers can choose different delivery methods based on their needs.”
“Those who don’t mind the price can choose air freight and home delivery, enjoying the fastest and highest quality service; those who are price-conscious and willing to pick up themselves can choose to have packages sent to Headwind stations, and we’ll provide sufficient discounts on delivery fees.”
“As for what impact it would have if Headwind Logistics doesn’t make money…”
“Actually, there’s no impact at all, because the income of all Headwind Logistics executives is not related to Headwind Logistics’ profitability. Even if Headwind Logistics makes money, our income won’t increase by a penny. We receive bonuses based on Headwind Logistics’ reputation and service quality.”
“As for Mr. Pei, he doesn’t care at all whether Headwind Logistics makes money.”
“The leadership structure of Headwind Logistics, and indeed the entire Tenda Group’s leadership structure, is completely different from other companies.”
“I can be held accountable for every word I’ve said.”
“Chairman Nie, can you give the same guarantee to all Shengrun Express customers and delivery personnel in front of the camera?”
Nie Yunsheng completely lost his composure.
Insane, this is insane!
This Lü Mingliang is completely insane!
Do you know what consequences your words will have?
Sure enough, Headwind Logistics is just like other departments at Tenda—they’re all a bunch of lunatics! Except this Lü Mingliang seems even crazier than other department heads, and he fights without honor!
There was no way to continue the conversation. If they kept talking, something serious would happen.
Nie Yunsheng slammed the table and stood up: “Absurd! Nothing but nonsense! Our Shengrun Group has always operated legally and is an excellent enterprise. We came here to solve problems, but you disregard facts and maliciously slander us!”
“Director Lü, let’s not indulge in verbal sparring—let performance speak instead. Goodbye!”
Nie Yunsheng directly left with the two Vice Presidents.
What else could be said at this point?
The other side had activated an invincibility cheat!
Lü Mingliang’s speech, in Nie Yunsheng’s view, was like the Bixie Sword Manual—indeed, practicing it could make one invincible in the world, but the prerequisite was self-castration! It completely destroyed any future path to effortless profits. How could Nie Yunsheng possibly bring himself to do this?
Even if he could bring himself to do it, which shareholders or executives would support him?
So Nie Yunsheng was truly at his wit’s end and could only leave.
The two Vice Presidents naturally didn’t dare say anything more and stood up to follow him.
The delivery man also stood up to leave but was detained by Lü Mingliang.
The delivery man was somewhat bewildered, not knowing what this was about.
Lü Mingliang said with a kind expression: “The person who was deliberately stirring up trouble has left, so we can finally get to the main point. We came today to solve problems and eliminate negative impact. Let me be the mediator to help reconcile you two—what do you think?”