Hu Zi'xuan's expression was solemn as he dismissed the others.
For a moment, only he and Zhang Chuanfang remained in the room.
"Chuanfang, frankly, Meiyou belongs to Wang Yi. Wang Yi can guide public opinion on it however he wants!"
"He can control it however he wants! He decides how long we'll be cursed, and we'll be cursed for that long!"
"And we can do nothing about it!"
"Ah?"
Zhang Chuanfang's mouth dropped open, and she panicked:
"In that case, aren't we in big trouble!"
"Sigh! It's no small trouble, but it won't necessarily kill us,"
Hu Zi'xuan sighed:
"This will cause our online sales to drop a bit. But Meiyou only has over a million users, it can't influence the entire internet yet!"
"Wang Yi isn't worthy of trying to kill us with this! Unless this matter goes viral across the entire internet, letting tens of millions, hundreds of millions of netizens know about it, then it would truly be troublesome!"
"But Wang Yi doesn't have that much power, no need to worry."
Zhang Chuanfang breathed a sigh of relief:
"That's good, that's good."
"But even so, our situation is still very difficult."
Hu Zi'xuan's expression turned gloomy.
For a moment, he regretted provoking Wang Yi.
If he hadn't provoked Wang Yi, he wouldn't have suffered such great losses and been so passive!
But he also hadn't expected Wang Yi to be so decisive, launching a big move right away, going for the kill!
Previous opponents had also been slowly killed by him...
"What should we do then?"
Zhang Chuanfang was at a loss, and a thought of retreating arose in her heart.
If possible, she really wanted to withdraw her shares and capital.
But she knew Hu Zi'xuan would definitely not agree!
He might even immediately turn hostile, and deal with her like he did with previous partners!
Business people like them rarely have absolutely clean backgrounds; everyone has a weakness.
And Hu Zi'xuan was best at controlling these weaknesses and seizing people's lifelines.
Either forcing others to submit, or driving them to bankruptcy and sending them to jail!
Zhang Chuanfang certainly didn't want to follow in the footsteps of previous shareholders!
She couldn't withdraw these shares!
Besides, with Hu Zi'xuan's methods, so many storms had passed, and this small crisis today still had a chance of success!
With this in mind, Zhang Chuanfang smiled cheerfully:
"Old Hu, what do you suggest? I'll support you!"
"Good, Chuanfang, a long road tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart. At crucial moments, you're still the most reliable!"
Hu Zi'xuan was overjoyed, but secretly laughed in his heart:
"Sure enough, this woman is easy to fool."
"Chuanfang, listen, time waits for no one, let's act immediately. Let's set off now, I'll go to the Southeast region, and you go to the Southwest region. Personally meet with local apparel distributors to discuss cooperation, let them become agents for our Hallyu Tribe!"
"Even if it means giving a larger share of profits, lowering the franchise fee, or even waiving the franchise fee, we must secure the deal! We must get them to represent our clothing!"
Zhang Chuanfang nodded:
"Okay, the provincial agents' refunds, returns, and repayments have strained our capital chain! We need to get agents in other provinces first, sell off the summer clothes we took back, to recover funds. As for franchise fees, it's fine to waive them!"
"It's good that you understand, Chuanfang,"
Hu Zi'xuan smiled:
"Also, our Hallyu Tribe's visibility in those provinces isn't high enough, so we'll need another sum of money, about fifty million."
"Twenty million for marketing, promotion, and advertising, to build our brand awareness. Thirty million to establish warehousing and logistics in those provinces!"
"But with these refunds and repayments, the company's account is empty, so we'll have to fund this ourselves!"
Hu Zi'xuan's tone softened:
"How about this, I'll put in thirty million, and you put in twenty million, okay?"
Zhang Chuanfang frowned, very much wanting to refuse.
Twenty million was no small sum; her accumulated cash over the years was only thirty million!
The rest had been invested in Hallyu Tribe, and now it was highly likely to be unrecoverable.
But thinking of the other party's methods, she still didn't dare to object.
Fearing that once she objected, Hu Zi'xuan would act ruthlessly and retaliate against her...
She knew Hu Zi'xuan too well.
She could only sigh:
"I can give the money, but you must guarantee a win! This is all the family fortune I have left."
"Okay, don't worry, I won't let you lose!"
Hu Zi'xuan promised:
"We'll set off this afternoon to discuss cooperation!"
"Okay!"
Zhang Chuanfang nodded, left the office with a gloomy face, and quietly murmured:
"I was blind back then to choose you as a partner."
But there was no choice, those who were better than Hu Zi'xuan were all destroyed by him!
Zhang Chuanfang's ex-husband also had an accident!
To prevent her family business from being swallowed by Hu Zi'xuan, Zhang Chuanfang could only actively seek reconciliation and become a partner.
Now, having reached this point, they were already like grasshoppers on the same rope.
Fortunately, Hu Zi'xuan's ability was average, but he had a nimble mind, dark methods, and was good at plagiarism!
Copying from here and there, Hallyu Tribe had also made a lot of money, and she had also received a good share of dividends.
The most popular trend these days was Hallyu, and their business was booming.
Continuing like this would have been excellent.
But who would have thought that ever since Meiyou's 'pure desire' style burst onto the scene recently, Hallyu sales plummeted!
Compared, the gap was truly too big, not even products of the same era!
If not to protect Hu Zi'xuan's ego, she would have wanted to wear Meiyou's 'pure desire' style dresses!
Hallyu Tribe's revenue was worse day by day, and those agents were also having huge headaches.
Coupled with the commercial espionage incident, not to mention making profits from dividends, the invested money was compensated to agents, and another twenty million was lost!
"This life, it's unlivable!"
Zhang Chuanfang sighed, growing more worried the more she thought.
Her biggest fear was if Hu Zi'xuan lost to Wang Yi, then she would truly have nothing left!
Returning home, her daughter was playing the piano.
But the Meiyou 599 'pure desire' style dress she was wearing was a bit eye-catching!
"Zhi'xuan, why aren't you out playing? It's rare to have summer vacation."
Zhang Chuanfang smiled sweetly; her precious daughter was her greatest motivation for persevering all these years!
No matter how great the difficulties, thinking of Zhi'xuan, she would overcome them.
Without a father, she wanted to give her daughter a better life, a better future.
Unexpectedly, Liu Zhi'xuan stopped playing the piano:
"Play what! Look at Wang Yi, he's also eighteen, and he's already the founder of Meiyou Technology. And me, I'm still a useless little waste who just eats and asks for clothes."
Zhang Chuanfang: "..."
"I'm not happy, I want to start a business too!"
Zhang Chuanfang: "..."
"Haha, alright, what do you want to do? Didn't you start a business before?"
Zhang Chuanfang said with a laugh.
Liu Zhi'xuan frowned:
"Don't even mention it, that time I misjudged, and went bankrupt in less than two months. This time it won't happen! It definitely won't lose money!"
"Okay, then tell me, what do you want to do this time?"
Zhang Chuanfang became interested.
Zhi'xuan lost her father, and she couldn't protect her daughter her whole life; she would have to be independent sooner or later.
Liu Zhi'xuan stood up and took Zhang Chuanfang's hand:
"Mom, I found a five-star project! I want to be an agent for Meiyou!"
Zhang Chuanfang: "..."
"Mom, I've been researching Meiyou lately, their profits are terrifying, and sales are high! The main thing is that the 'pure desire' style is simply a dimensionality reduction attack compared to our family's products, the future market prospects are limitless!"
Zhang Chuanfang was numb: "..."
Daughter, are you really my own?
How can you criticize your own products like that?
Even though it's true, it makes her mother feel bad!
Liu Zhi'xuan also realized her words were too direct, and smiled awkwardly:
"Mom, I'm not saying our products are bad, it's just that Meiyou's products are too good!"
Zhang Chuanfang: "..."
Is there any difference in what you just said?
"Meiyou hasn't really pushed offline yet, but they definitely will, I estimate very soon!"
Liu Zhi'xuan was full of fighting spirit:
"Therefore, I've decided, I want to franchise a Meiyou specialty store! I definitely won't lose money, absolutely not!"
Liu Zhi'xuan thought clearly: if you can't beat them, join them.
Meiyou is so great, the 'pure desire' style is so powerful, what's there to argue about?
Hallyu Tribe is no match at all!
Instead of stubbornly going it alone and suffering heavy losses, it's better to join Meiyou, embrace Meiyou!
Become a Meiyou agent and make big money with Meiyou!
"How about it? Mom, isn't my idea great?"
Liu Zhi'xuan smiled and spoke.
Zhang Chuanfang sighed:
"Daughter, your idea is indeed good."
"That's right, your daughter, I'm young, and my abilities might be limited, but I have good foresight, and I'm best at clinging to strong allies. The Meiyou I've chosen this time is definitely a super strong ally!"
Liu Zhi'xuan was full of confidence; this wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment idea, but a conclusion based on practical feasibility analysis!
Zhang Chuanfang nodded:
"This matter is doable, but our family and Meiyou are competitors, so they might not agree. And you don't know, recently, something happened between our Hallyu Tribe and Meiyou..."
Liu Zhi'xuan didn't care:
"Isn't it just the commercial espionage incident? It's a small matter. Actually, as long as there's sincerity and more compensation, Boss Wang will probably let it go."
"Zhi'xuan, you're being naive, this matter isn't that simple,"
Zhang Chuanfang sighed.
As someone involved, she knew the seriousness of it best.
Hu Zi'xuan was a ruthless man, he wouldn't give up easily.
Wang Yi was even more ruthless, he would also eliminate completely!
How could he let it go?
It's more like an endless fight.
However, Liu Zhi'xuan's words did remind her:
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. All my bets are on Hu Zi'xuan. If Wang Yi wins, won't I go bankrupt?"
"Right, that's a problem!"
Zhang Chuanfang fell silent, thinking carefully.
Seeing this, Liu Zhi'xuan watched quietly, saying nothing.
Mom was good at everything, but when she was thinking, she absolutely couldn't be disturbed!
Otherwise, she'd get hit!
She had known this since she was a child.
That time, Zhang Chuanfang encountered a crisis and was thinking of countermeasures, and her ignorant self was naughty and noisy...
As a result, her mother, who was usually gentle and doting, instantly turned into a furious demon, spanking her bottom until it swelled, hurting for several days!
At that time, she was very angry and wanted to run away from home, but halfway through, she forgot to bring money and came back...
Zhang Chuanfang thought long and hard, sighing repeatedly:
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket! I'll bet twenty million on Hu Zi'xuan, and let Zhi'xuan bet on Wang Yi!"
"If Hu Zi'xuan wins, then I'll keep my property and recover my investment."
"If Wang Yi wins, I'll go bankrupt, but Zhi'xuan can still keep some assets, ensuring a worry-free latter half of her life!"
"Yes, that's what we'll do!"
Zhang Chuanfang looked at her daughter:
"Zhi'xuan, Mom agrees to your plan to franchise a Meiyou specialty store. However, Meiyou is very popular right now, and you don't have enough capital, so they won't agree to your franchise! Especially for stores within the city, don't even think about it!"
"Ah? Is that so, what should I do then?"
Liu Zhi'xuan fell silent.
Zhang Chuanfang took her hand to the room, opened a password box, and took out six property certificates, handing them to Liu Zhi'xuan:
"These are the property certificates for four shops, one warehouse, and one apartment. Mom secretly bought them some time ago, and they're all under your name!"
"Mom!"
Liu Zhi'xuan was deeply moved, her eyes slightly red.
She knew this was Zhang Chuanfang's safeguard for her, in case of bankruptcy!
Zhang Chuanfang lovingly stroked her daughter's head:
"Now Mom is giving them all to you! The four specialty stores, warehouse, and apartment are all in the city where you were admitted to university, in four different districts, which is a perfect setup. You take these assets to Meiyou, to Wang Yi, and they shouldn't refuse your franchise!"
Saying that, Zhang Chuanfang took out another bank card:
"Every year on your birthday, Mom would deposit money for you, and now there's over 2 million. It's enough for you to decorate and operate the four specialty stores!"
"Mom!"
Liu Zhi'xuan was deeply touched, and quickly hugged her.
She never imagined her mother had done so much for her!
"Zhi'xuan, Mom is going to another province to talk business this afternoon. I'm afraid I won't have time to look after you during this period, so take care of yourself!"
"Mom, don't worry, I'm an adult now, I will."
Liu Zhi'xuan suddenly felt that her mother had endured too much, and it was time for her to grow up!
Sunlight streamed through the window, fixating on the tightly embracing mother and daughter.
In the afternoon, Zhang Chuanfang and Hu Zi'xuan each boarded a high-speed train, heading to a neighboring province to expand their territory.
And Wang Yi wasn't idle either; he was busy all morning, making several phone calls.
For someone as ruthless as Hu Zi'xuan, Wang Yi either wouldn't act, or if he did, he would definitely go for the kill!
He would never give the other party a chance to retaliate.
That day, he didn't go to the company, nor did he meet the rich young lady.
Instead, he wanted to meet a few "old friends"!
Hu Zi'xuan's old friends!
Only when he went downstairs did Wang Yi notice that his car was still his dad's old Santana!
It didn't quite match his identity as the CEO of Meiyou Technology.
No matter, he'd find time to pick up a Mercedes-Benz, no, a Porsche directly!
As the boss, he should also consider the company's image.
Of course, he'd buy it directly in the company's name.
For Meiyou to grow big, it indeed needed to acquire some fixed assets.
Low-end assets: real estate, shops, luxury cars...
High-end assets: office buildings, factories, private jets, or even direct land acquisition!
Private jets and such, Wang Yi wasn't considering for now; in the startup phase, there was no need for extravagance.
However, several hundred thousand worth of BBA cars could be acquired later when funds were abundant, to be allocated to the company's best-performing executives!
This would also showcase Meiyou's strength when discussing business and partnerships in the future!
People rely on clothes, Buddha relies on gold, that's how this era is.
Office buildings, factories, real estate, etc., could all be bought if the price was right.
In 2011, asset prices were still low.
Instead of letting Meiyou's funds depreciate in the bank, it would be better to acquire office buildings, factories, and real estate.
Even if they didn't encounter demolition, they would still appreciate significantly!
Even when money was needed, fixed assets could be mortgaged for a loan.
Commercial shops and stores in the core business districts of first and second-tier cities could also be bought in large quantities.
For Meiyou to grow big, it needed to open flagship stores.
Instead of paying rent every year, it would be better to take advantage of the low prices in 2011 and buy them directly at the bottom!
In his previous life, Wang Yi had visited many cities.
He naturally knew which areas were currently unnoticed but would become bustling business districts in the future!
He could take advantage of the current low prices to buy up shops in those areas, to serve as Meiyou's flagship stores!
When the business districts became prosperous a few years later, a tenfold increase in value would be no problem.
For high-end plays, direct land acquisition could also be considered when Meiyou had more money in the future.
Land prices were low from 2011-2016.
Later, when Meiyou had sufficient assets, it could acquire real estate qualifications, bid for several promising plots of land.
Hoarding them until 2015-2017 for construction, and selling them at the peak of housing prices in 2017-2018, would definitely be immensely profitable!
As a reborn person, Wang Yi understood the principle of adapting to the times!
Wang Yi planned to use almost forty million on the account to acquire factories, office buildings, street-front shops, mall shops...
Next, Meiyou's flagship stores would inevitably expand their territory, moving beyond the province and into the entire country!
Wang Yi arrived at a teahouse, where three men were already seated.
"Gentlemen, I'm late!" Wang Yi said with a smile.
"Haha, Boss Wang, you're too polite, we just arrived too!"
"That's right, we just sat down two minutes ago!"
The three men smiled and stood up, but their spirits seemed low; more accurately, the light had gone out of their eyes.
Indeed, they were Hu Zi'xuan's three old rivals.
"Boss Wang, let us introduce ourselves."
The tall and burly man leading them stood up.
Wang Yi waved his hand:
"Boss Zhang Yong, who once single-handedly founded Yonghong Apparel, promoting it across the province and even to neighboring provinces.
Finally, he fell victim to Hu Zi'xuan's schemes, leading to a broken capital chain, and ultimately bankruptcy. All his businesses were also manipulated and pledged to Hu Zi'xuan."
"Sigh!"
Zhang Yong sighed:
"One wrong move, lose the whole game."
Wang Yi was noncommittal and looked at another slightly plump middle-aged man:
"Boss Li Zhong, relying on exquisite craftsmanship, he focused on high-end customization, doing quite well and gaining considerable fame throughout the city. However, he fell into Hu Zi'xuan's trap, blindly expanding into unfamiliar territory, and his assets were depleted by fraud."
Li Zhong nodded, his fists clenched.
Because of this, his family was broken apart.
Wang Yi looked at the last, older man:
"Boss Zeng Zhi, one of the first leaders in the city to venture into the apparel business, with an excellent reputation in the industry. He mentored many younger talents, and also single-handedly fostered Hu Zi'xuan!"
"I..."
Zeng Zhi was speechless.
Indeed, it was he who brought Hu Zi'xuan into the apparel industry and carefully cultivated him.
Who would have thought Hu Zi'xuan would turn on him ruthlessly, scheme to send him to jail, and even seize his factory!
The predecessor of Hallyu Tribe was Zeng's Apparel Factory!
"Boss Wang, we also understand the purpose of you inviting the three of us here, it's to deal with Hu Zi'xuan!"
Zhang Yong got straight to the point:
"I'll make my stand first, I'm in!"
"Count me in!"
Li Zhong also said decisively.
Zeng Zhi took a deep breath:
"No matter who wants to take down Hu Zi'xuan, I, Zeng, will lend a hand! He tricked me into prison, stole my factory, seized my property, this enmity will not rest until death!"
"To be frank, the three of us haven't been idle these past few years; we've all been accumulating strength. But Hallyu Tribe has grown too big, and our power isn't enough."
"But it's good now, with Boss Wang leading the way, this matter can be done, it will definitely be done!"
(End of chapter)
---------------------
Support me on P@treon
[email protected]/charaz
$3 -> 15 chapters in advance
$5 -> 30 chapters in advance
$10 -> 60 chapters in advance
Check my pinned post on P@treon