Chapter 113: Someone Is Targeting Them!

Inside the shop, another scene of bustling activity unfolded.

Although Su Ruan was pregnant, aside from feeling easily fatigued and occasional morning sickness, her spirits remained excellent.

She refused her family's suggestion that she recuperate at home, still coming to the shop every day to hold down the fort, only no longer cutting heavy fabrics herself, focusing more on design, receiving important clients, and steering the overall direction.

Jiang Ran became the shop's most nervous "security guard" and Miscellaneous Director.

His eyes constantly followed Su Ruan; whenever she furrowed her brows or rubbed her waist, he would instantly rush over as if confronting a great enemy, serving tea, pouring water, offering gentle concern, leaving Su Ruan both helpless and warmed.

"Jiang Ran, I just sat too long and my lower back is a bit sore, I'm not about to give birth."

Su Ruan, for the Nth time, brushed away his hand that tried to massage her back, both laughing and crying.

"That won't do either! You have to be careful! Mom said, nothing is trivial during pregnancy!"

Jiang Ran, feeling justified, turned his head and shouted at Douzi and Yaya, who were sorting fabrics.

"Douzi, that bundle of cloth is so heavy, don't touch it—let me handle it!"

"Yaya, here's a cup of warm water for Sister Su—warm, not hot and not cold!"

Douzi and Yaya had long become accustomed to Brother Jiang Ran's over‑tension these days, sticking out their tongues at each other and obediently complying.

Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the glass windows, and soothing music flowed through the shop.

Su Ruan was holding a brush, sketching lines on a fresh design draft.

Jiang Ran sat on a low stool not far from her, comparing Su Ruan's revised patterns, clumsily yet unusually earnestly practicing the Sewing Technique, claiming he wanted to hand‑make a Baby Belly Wrap for the future baby.

The tranquil atmosphere was broken by a rapid ringing of the telephone.

Jiang Ran, being nearby, picked up casually: "Hello, Chongsu, who is this?"

A somewhat urgent female voice came from the other end: "Is this Boss Jiang? My surname is Wang, I'm from Lihua Silk; we have cooperated before."

"I'd like to ask, the batch of imported Xiangyun Gauze you previously ordered—could you… give us half of it first? The price is negotiable!"

Jiang Ran was momentarily stunned, his brows furrowing: "Manager Wang? We've been waiting almost two months for this batch of material; we're in a rush to produce the next flagship line, so probably not possible."

"Boss Jiang, please help!" Manager Wang's tone grew more urgent, "We have a major client on this side who specifically requires this material; the deadline is extremely tight!"

"Your Chongsu is famous now, with wide channels—could you think of a way?"

"Or… you could transfer that batch to us, and we'll pay the original price plus a 30% markup!"

A 30% markup? That's no small amount. Even Su Ruan, who was drawing nearby, lifted her head and looked at Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran covered the microphone and asked Su Ruan with his eyes. Su Ruan gently shook her head.

This batch of Xiangyun Gauze has a unique texture; it is the Soul Fabric she prepared for the next series of new products with Zen and Chinese‑style aesthetics. A sudden substitution would severely diminish the whole series' feel.

Jiang Ran understood and replied into the microphone: "Manager Wang, I'm truly sorry, we're also anxiously awaiting this batch for our own use, we can't transfer it; please inquire with other suppliers."

He hung up and clicked his tongue: "Strange, Lihua is also considered an old‑established brand; their distribution channels should be broader than ours. Why are they suddenly so eager for this batch, and even willing to add such a high premium?"

Su Ruan set down her brush, thoughtful: "It is a bit unusual. You should investigate whether there's any issue with this batch on the market, or… any developments we're unaware of."

Jiang Ran nodded: "Alright, I'll swing by the Fabric Market this afternoon."

The matter didn't attract much attention. Both Su Ruan and Jiang Ran thought it was just an incidental episode.

However, a few days later, when Jiang Ran went to the partner factory to check the progress of a batch of Ready-made Clothing, he heard news that made his blood boil.

The factory manager, with an uneasy expression, said to Jiang Ran: "Boss Jiang, I'm truly sorry, the batch of Dress you scheduled for delivery next week may… be delayed by a few days."

"Delay? Why?"

Jiang Ran's complexion darkened.

These skirts were prepared to catch the seasonal sales peak, with the timeline extremely tight.

"Well… several of our factory's most skilled master craftsmen have been temporarily hired by Yuerong Tailoring with high pay these past few days; we simply don't have enough hands."

The manager rubbed his hands, a layer of apology on his face.

"Yuerong Tailoring?" Jiang Ran found the name somewhat unfamiliar, "Newly opened?"

"Not exactly new; they previously focused on low‑end mass production."

"Recently, for some reason they secured a large investment, changed ownership, and shifted to a high‑price custom route, poaching talent aggressively, offering wages almost one‑and‑a‑half times the market rate…"

The manager lowered his voice.

"Moreover, I heard they're also scouring everywhere for a kind of… imported Xiangyun Gauze."

Again, Xiangyun Gauze!

Jiang Ran's brows knit tightly.

If Lihua Silk's material grab was accidental, then Yuerong Tailoring's simultaneous poaching of master craftsmen and target fabric is certainly no coincidence!

He immediately realized someone was targeting Chongsu.

Moreover, the opponent came on a strong offensive, well‑funded, with a clear goal—to seize their core resources and market!

Jiang Ran didn't linger at the factory, returning to the shop with a composed expression.

He recounted the gathered information to Su Ruan in full detail.

After listening, Su Ruan was silent for a moment; her face showed little panic, instead a hint of calm analysis: "Poaching masters, poaching fabric… it seems the opponent knows our operational model and next season's direction well."

"They know we rely on master craftsmen's handcraft, and they know the core fabric of our new series."

"Damn! Someone's definitely pulling strings behind the scenes!" Jiang Ran hammered his fist on the counter, his eyes reddening with anger, "Don't let me find out who it is! If I get to the bottom of it…"

"What good is finding out? Beat them up?" Su Ruan lifted her eyes to look at him, her gaze calm, "Can a fight solve the problem? Make the master craftsmen return, or make the fabric appear out of thin air?"

Jiang Ran was choked by her question, his raging anger like a punctured Balloon deflating, but he still fidgeted with his hair: "What should we do then? Should we just watch them snatch our stuff, crowd us out?"

"Of course not," Su Ruan stood, walked to the window, watching the bustling street outside, her gaze gradually sharpening, "They're using money to pave the way; it's an overt strategy, also the fastest and most effective method."

"But the foundation of our Chongsu isn't just masters and fabric."

She turned, looking at Jiang Ran, her tone firm: "It's our designs, our unique soul."

"Masters and fabric can be taken, but the things in our heads, they can't steal."

"So you mean…" Jiang Ran seemed to grasp something.

"They aren't trying to imitate, they want to cut us off?" Su Ruan's lips curled a cool smile, "Then we'll make them fall behind."

"Jiang Ran, the few Spare Plans we drew before are due to be brought out."

"Also, the Xiangyun Gauze plan is temporarily shelved; we'll use the Alternative Plan."

"Meanwhile, go find Master Chen and the others, ask if there's any old stock material with a similar texture but rarer; sometimes rarity and story value outweigh plain imports."

She was clear‑minded and instantly devised a response strategy.

She was not frightened by difficulty; instead it sparked an even stronger fighting spirit.

Jiang Ran watched his own daughter‑in‑law remain calm and commanding in the crisis; his irritation and anger gradually subsided, replaced by a spontaneous pride and confidence.

"Exactly, daughter‑in‑law, you're right! They have their cash‑power, we have our creativity! Let's see who can outplay whom!"

Jiang Ran rekindled his fighting spirit, "I'll contact Master Chen and get the material right away!"

Watching Jiang Ran dash off in a blaze, Su Ruan gently placed a hand on her still‑unrevealed lower abdomen, her gaze tender yet resolute.

Want to bring her and Jiang Ran down?

Not that easy.

Whether it's petty malice in daily life or hidden spears in the market, they will together catch it steadily. Then, they'll strike back beautifully.