Zhang Yuan was confused: “Huh? So what does Mr. Pei mean?”

Pei Qian chuckled: “Based on the current situation, from when a customer places an order until home delivery, it takes about four to five days, right?”

Zhang Yuan thought for a moment: “Uh… at the fastest, three to four days might be possible.”

Pei Qian shook his head, very unsatisfied: “That’s still too slow.”

“The current model is essentially us assembling a good computer to display at Slackin’ Internet Café. When players come to use the internet, they’re effectively experiencing how good this computer is.”

“If they think the computer is good and want to buy one, we order components online and assemble a computer for them, while also being responsible for home delivery and after-sales service. We earn assembly fees and service fees, right?”

“But here’s the problem: buying components online takes at least two to three days for shipping, and after we assemble it and deliver it, that might take another day. During this time, won’t players be impatient waiting?”

“This is a major problem!”

Zhang Yuan felt dizzy: “Huh? It’s just a three to four day wait. Surely people can wait that long?”

“Aren’t all those online stores that sell complete computers using this model? Some stores take up to a week from order to shipping, and we’re already relatively fast.”

Pei Qian shook his head: “Being just two or three days faster than online stores, what kind of core advantage is that? Aren’t players still waiting?”

“We need to achieve same-day delivery—players visit in the morning and receive their computer in the afternoon. That’s what I call fast!”

“So, obviously it won’t work if we only order components and assemble them after players place orders. We need to have these components stocked in advance.”

“We need to achieve four points:”

“Shipping speed comparable to offline physical stores.”

“After-sales service comparable to first-tier brand manufacturers.”

“Marketing model and quality comparable to conscientious online stores.”

“Price-performance ratio comparable to the false advertising effects of those dishonest merchants selling pre-built computers!”

“Only then would we do justice to this shiny logo, understand?”

Zhang Yuan was momentarily speechless. After thinking for a while, he said: “Then we’d need to stock a large inventory, which means adding to our burden. If we can’t sell this batch of goods and they pile up, by the time the next generation of products comes out, we’ll have to sell this batch at discounted prices. The risk of loss is too high!”

Pei Qian smiled: “Every venture involves risks. How can we not do something just because of risks?”

“As long as we can spend money to bring players a better shopping experience, then the money is well spent!”

“Since we’ve decided to do it, let’s not remain small-scale. I’ll give you another sum of money. Use it to rent spaces around various Slackin’ Internet Cafés for warehouses and stockpile some inventory.”

“Don’t worry about the inventory backlog. I’m planning to hold a 10/24 Programmers’ Day event, which would be perfect for incorporating the ROF brand.”

All three of them looked puzzled: “Programmers’ Day?”

Pei Qian nodded and explained his idea in detail.

The main point was that Slackin’ Delivery and Headwind Logistics would offer various discounts and customer appreciation promotions during the week after October 24th, under the noble guise of: thanking new and old customers, increasing brand awareness, and expanding market share.

Of course, the most fundamental purpose was still a rapid spending of money.

After seeing this new computer assembly business, Pei Qian decided to include it in the 10/24 Programmers’ Day activities.

For Programmers’ Day, having only delivery and logistics promotions seemed somewhat namesake.

Adding computer hosts now was perfect!

“The ROF computer assembly brand can also join this event, but we need to make some changes.”

“First, the current product range is too limited, with just one configuration, which can’t adequately meet everyone’s needs.”

“I think we can offer three configurations, priced at 7,999, 11,999, and 15,999 yuan. During the promotion period, we’ll sell at cost price, meaning all these computers will be sold at component prices, essentially offering home service and assembly fees for free.”

“Then we’ll do a free upgrade promotion: 7,999 can upgrade to the 11,999 tier, and 11,999 can upgrade to the 15,999 tier.”

“The first 100 customers can enjoy free upgrades; after that, lucky customers will be randomly selected for free upgrades.”

“Then Slackin’ Internet Café can also hold regular draws, randomly giving away a host computer to one lucky user.”

“Of course, these promotions are only from October 24th to October 31st. After the period ends, normal prices will resume.”

“Holding such a promotional event both increases awareness and builds reputation. Spending a bit of money this way isn’t excessive, right?”

Pei Qian wasn’t directing these words at the three people present but at the system.

Sure enough, the system didn’t prohibit it!

Between “promotion” and “giveaway,” the system had a somewhat blurry limit. As long as it appeared to be a promotion on the surface, exchanging some discounts for brand awareness, the system would turn a blind eye.

Pei Qian couldn’t help but marvel—physical industries were still the best!

Games couldn’t implement such operations.

After development was completed, games basically had no costs to speak of, so the more discounts and promotions, the more profit.

But physical industries inherently required high labor costs and rental costs. Holding a promotion to sell these computer components at effectively lower prices—as long as it wasn’t a long-term behavior and could exchange for brand awareness and reputation—wouldn’t count as malicious loss in the system’s view.

Add to that the previously suggested large inventory stockpiling, and the money spent would result in accumulated inventory that couldn’t be sold. By the time new products came out, they would have to be sold at discounted prices, incurring another loss.

Perfect!

After listening to Mr. Pei’s explanation, Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but give a thumbs up: “Mr. Pei has a long-term vision and does things generously!”

“But I have a small suggestion.”

Although 10/24 is Programmers’ Day, using this as a slogan for promotion might not be very effective. After all, we’re targeting everyone, not just programmers.”

“In my opinion, why not call it the 10/24 Digital Festival? It targets a broader audience and would be easier to spread.”

Pei Qian nodded: “Yes, that works!”

He also felt that calling it “10/24 Programmers’ Day” wasn’t very appropriate.

Originally, this holiday was just for delivery and courier service discounts, so calling it “Programmers’ Day” was a bit forced.

Now that the holiday activities included delivery, logistics, and complete computers, calling it the 10/24 Digital Festival would be more memorable.

The more people in Jingzhou who paid attention, the more losses Pei Qian would incur.

Add to that the increased labor costs during the festival period, and wouldn’t that be another large sum of money spent?

Zhang Yuan was also very excited, looking full of vigor.

Mr. Pei was so generous!

He trusted me so much!

Previously, Zhang Yuan had only thought about starting small, following half of the complete computer assembly online store model, riding on Slackin’ Internet Café’s popularity, targeting the wealthy market, and earning a little money.

But Mr. Pei was so generous, and this level of support was truly touching!

“Rest assured, Mr. Pei, I’ll handle this matter perfectly!”

Pei Qian nodded: “Hmm, just like before, don’t be afraid to spend money, understand?”

Mr. Pei now understood that being stabbed in the back by employees was unavoidable.

As operations expanded, Pei Qian couldn’t possibly personally attend to everything, and subordinates couldn’t report every little thing they did, only reporting periodically. Some time lag and information gap were very normal.

With so many people under him, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t get bored and want to make a name for themselves…

After all, with the good treatment Mr. Pei provided, everyone’s livelihood was secured. It was natural for some people to want to fulfill higher-level needs and achieve something in their careers.

So, regarding everyone frantically backstabbing Mr. Pei, Mr. Pei himself was partly to blame: he fed everyone too well.

When life is worry-free, isn’t it natural to think about achieving something career-wise?

Pei Qian could only lament that wrong in a thousand ways, it was all Mr. Pei’s fault.

But this situation wasn’t necessarily bad; it all depended on perspective.

Looking at it negatively, these people all wanted Mr. Pei to die, but looking at it positively, their meddling might provide Pei Qian with opportunities to lose money.

As the saying goes, better to channel than to block.

Take this situation for example: originally, Zhang Yuan’s small venture, leveraging Slackin’ Internet Café’s popularity and Headwind Logistics’ convenience to create a computer assembly brand, might not earn much, but it would also be hard to lose money. The most likely outcome would be earning a little profit.

But after Pei Qian’s intervention, he could directly spend a large sum of money in this cycle.

Wasn’t this turning something bad into something good?

Pei Qian chuckled to himself. Good thing I’m a genius, otherwise I’d be driven crazy by these employees!

After making simple arrangements, the early promotion for the 10/24 Digital Festival would immediately begin with full force.

…

October 14th.

Endpoint Chinese Website.

The joint activity with “Look Back to Shore” was ready.

The preparation efficiency was high, mainly because Ma Yiqun clearly understood that Endpoint Chinese Website’s traffic surge was primarily due to riding on “Look Back to Shore’s” popularity.

This popularity might not last long, so the earlier the activity is launched, the sooner it can stabilize this traffic.

“It’s about ready, release the announcement.”

Ma Yiqun had a brief meeting with Li Yada, and both sides simultaneously released announcements.

The announcement detailed the contents of this joint activity.

Endpoint Chinese Website launched a seven-day login event where new users could receive rewards such as site-wide reading access and “Look Back to Shore” disguise pill items by completing simple tasks.

“Look Back to Shore” also released an announcement informing players that all Tenda accounts were now interconnected, allowing them to directly log in to the website to claim rewards.

Beyond this, Ma Yiqun had also arranged for his editors to communicate with the authors.

With the recent traffic surge, they all needed to increase their writing output!

Since Endpoint Chinese Website official launch, Ma Yiqun has been guiding these editors, and the editors have been continuously selecting manuscripts, picking out promising talents from among these basic-salary-earning entry-level authors.

Later, Endpoint Chinese Website provided additional manuscript fees to a batch of excellent authors, bringing their income on par with other major websites, greatly enhancing their enthusiasm.

Now, riding this wave of high traffic, more writing meant more money, naturally immersing the entire website’s authors in an atmosphere of intense motivation.

Many authors had prepared manuscripts in advance, waiting for these joint activity days to release them all at once, pushing hard for rankings and increasing exposure for their books.

“Now that we have traffic and the website has a batch of decent work, success or failure depends on this one move!”

Ma Yiqun was both nervous and excited.

He had already given up on the web literature industry, but it was Mr. Pei who gave him full trust, putting Endpoint Chinese Website into his hands.

After more than three months of diligent and dedicated work, Ma Yiqun had finally found an opportunity—an opportunity to properly repay Mr. Pei and turn the website from loss to profit!