Chapter 196: Utterly Despicable

Yu Liang looked at Su Ruo in surprise and asked, "You won't think I'm just daydreaming, will you?"

These years he had been used to being mocked; Su Ruo was the first person to give him affirmation and encouragement.

"I never laugh at others' dreams, let alone someone who values dreams more than his own life."

"You must believe you are gold; even if temporarily buried, one day you will shine!"

Su Ruo's gaze fell on Yu Liang's camera; she believed that a person who, even in a crisis, does not give up on his dream, as long as he gets an opportunity, will surely walk onto his own broad road.

And she is willing to be this patron; even if she fails, it's fine, after all life is long, one must constantly try.

After drawing strength from Su Ruo, Yu Liang's gaze became more determined; perhaps it's time to strive again for the dream of his youth.

Of course, these are matters for later; the urgent matter now is where Yu Liang will stay tonight.

Su Ruo invited Yu Liang to stay at her siheyuan; she had many rooms there and her protection, making Yu Liang safer.

This time Yu Liang did not refuse again; when the two returned to the siheyuan covered in dirt, it truly frightened Li Zhaodi.

"What happened?"

Su Ruo, while heating water to prepare for a bath, recounted today's events to Li Zhaodi.

"This is too hateful!" Li Zhaodi, upon hearing it, felt hatred grinding her teeth; she had never seen such a vicious person who dares to kill and set fire—it's simply lawless.

"Rest assured, I will definitely make them pay!" Su Ruo's eyes were filled with icy cold.

That night Su Ruo had the system print several hundred copies of the photo Yu Liang took of his stepmother.

The poster design was exquisite and perfectly suited to the era's characteristics, and each bore the name of Xia Hua Clothing.

The next morning Su Ruo told Li Zhaodi, "Mobilize everyone at the factory; in the shortest time, paste these posters all over the streets and alleys."

Li Zhaodi looked at those posters, her eyes radiating excited light; she believed that under such publicity, the name of Xia Hua would soon spread throughout Kyoto.

One cannot deny Li Zhaodi's execution is truly strong; within three days the posters were posted on every hotel and bus stop—walk a short distance and you'll see a stunning photo.

Almost everyone who sees them can't help but stop and glance a few times; however, men tend to look more at the stepmother's gorgeous beauty, while women look at her clothing.

Thus, under this stimulation, everyone in Kyoto, regardless of gender, who had the means, launched a buying frenzy—men bought for their wives, women bought for themselves.

Within three days, all Xia Hua clothing in the malls was sold out, and many malls began placing additional orders.

After Su Ruo sold all the inventory clothing, she began mobilizing workers to work overtime and promised that during the rush period, everyone would receive triple wages.

The workers originally had some complaints about overtime, but upon hearing about triple wages, their enthusiasm surged instantly, and the clothing factory adopted a two-shift, round-the-clock schedule.

Meanwhile, Die Lian's sales were extremely poor; they had thought they would make a big profit by imitating Xia Hua.

Unexpectedly, after the posters came out, people only recognized Xia Hua and basically ignored their clothing.

Some people, unable to buy Xia Hua clothing, reluctantly tried Die Lian's and immediately flew into a rage, cursing that their clothing were nothing but garbage.

At the same time, many malls began returning goods; their managers originally thought that since they were all selling clothes with similar styles, it didn't matter whose they sold, and wanting to take advantage, they had taken in Die Lian's clothing.

But at this moment, the neighboring Xia Hua clothing was selling like crazy, while their own inventory remained unsold; customers would scold them for lacking conscience, accusing them of selling counterfeit inferior goods as genuine.

The mall managers instantly felt their intestines turn with regret; they shouldn't have taken that small advantage, now even their own mall's reputation is affected, and thinking of this they wish they could slap themselves.

Left with no choice, these people had to turn again to Li Zhaodi, wanting to repurchase clothing from Xia Hua.

Because Su Ruo had given prior instructions, Li Zhaodi was not at all surprised by their arrival.

Although Li Zhaodi also despised these people's petty conduct, she would not turn away business that came to her door.

But Li Zhaodi still held to that saying: if you want to sell Xia Hua clothing, you absolutely cannot simultaneously sell Die Lian's as an inferior substitute.

Thinking of the large pile of Die Lian's clothing stacked in their warehouses, these mall managers couldn't help but start to worry.

But there's no help for it—who asked them to choose this path? Now even if they break their teeth, they can only swallow it with blood.

However, Li Zhaodi also gave them a Calming Pill; to prevent further copying, from today onward all stores selling Xia Hua clothing will actively provide signage, staff uniforms, and free training for sales personnel.

As long as they reach a certain sales volume, they will also gift store renovation.

Su Ruo wants to build Xia Hua into a chain brand, she wants to open Xia Hua in every corner of the country, truly achieving flowers everywhere.

Upon hearing this, the managers' eyes instantly lit up; with Xia Hua as a live sign, they need not worry about attracting customers.

While Su Ruo devoted to building the brand, Die Lian's people counterfeited the Xia Hua trademark, thinking that simply pasting the Xia Hua trademark would deceive consumers into believing the fake was genuine, allowing them to sell the clothing.

But after they altered the trademark, they discovered that Xia Hua had already opened chain stores in major malls throughout Kyoto, where everything—from clothing décor style to sales staff uniforms and hair accessories—was uniform.

Customers don't even need to enter the store; a glance tells them they're selling counterfeit goods.

Upon learning this, the behind-the-scenes bosses of Die Lian were nearly furious; they had spent so much money imitating Xia Hua clothing, preparing to make a big score, but now they haven't earned a cent and these goods will be left in their hands—how could they not be angry?

But anger does no good; looking at their imitation clothing, due to Xia Hua's series of operations, they certainly cannot sell in big cities.

They can only head to remote mountainous areas, after all information there is blocked, people know little, and cannot distinguish true from false.

But the people in the mountains are generally poor; they set the price high, so nobody buys.

Finally, having no alternative, they could only tearfully sell off; now Die Lian no longer seeks profit, as long as they can break even it's fine.

But even if they go to the remote mountains to buy clothing, they still use Xia Hua's posters—truly bringing shamelessness to the extreme.

Originally Su Ruo thought that after this incident the other side would calm down for a while, but she didn't expect that half a month later she would see a popular female star wearing a high-quality imitation of Xia Hua clothing, giving Die Lian an advertisement.

Upon seeing this advertisement, Su Ruo's eyes instantly turned sharp; the opposing side, in order to deal with them, really is willing to spend capital.