Chapter 1390: Suffering Loss is a Blessing

The office door was pushed open, and Gu Bing walked in with a smile.

"Chairman Zhou, congratulations, congratulations."

"Young Master Gu, where does the joy come from?" Zhou Andong took one look and knew this guy wasn't up to any good.

Gu Bing sat on the sofa beside Wu Huilin, picked up the cigarette on the coffee table and lit it, then crossed his legs, looking at Zhou Andong and chuckling. 【13

"I heard the distillery was penalized by the Provincial Department of Industry; they've been ordered to suspend operations for rectification for a month and fined eight million."

"Why do I get the feeling you're gloating?" Zhou Andong leaned back: "Don't forget, you are the Vice Chairman of the Yugong Group, and you also have shares in the distillery. The production suspension and the fine are equivalent to taking money out of your own pocket."

"Isn't this all your own doing?" Gu Bing was very dissatisfied with Zhou Andong's words: "Regarding the leaders of the superior supervisory department, what does it matter if they come over and have a few drinks? How much could it possibly cost?"

"Now look at the situation; the losses from the suspension and the fine are enough to treat them to fine dining and drinking for several years. You tell me, which is more and which is less?"

Speaking of this, this guy shook his head and sighed: "You're a decent person in every way, but your mind is too narrow. You don't do things with any grandeur, and you're always haggling over every ounce."

"I've always felt that you being like this is bad, very bad, and you'll suffer for it sooner or later. Look, it's been proven true, hasn't it?"

Zhou Andong looked at Gu Bing showing off with a speechless expression, not even knowing what to say himself.

In Gu Bing's eyes, this was a sign that Zhou Andong knew he was wrong and was humbly accepting his instruction.

This made Gu Bing even more smug; he stood up, walked behind Zhou Andong, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly.

"There is no greater virtue than correcting one's mistakes. Since you know you were wrong, we'll still be good comrades once we change. What's the big deal about suffering a little loss? It's just as they say, a loss is a blessing."

"A loss is a blessing, huh." Zhou Andong tilted his head and looked at Gu Bing: "Then I wish you blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea."

The smile froze on Gu Bing's face: "Damn, I'm trying to guide you, why are you cursing me?"

"How is this cursing you?" Zhou Andong looked innocent: "You said a loss is a blessing, and I said I wish you blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea; this is such a sincere blessing, why don't you understand what's good for you?"

"I..."

Gu Bing opened his mouth, unable to say a word for a long time.

Wu Huilin shook her head helplessly: "Gu Bing, I'm hungry, come with me to eat."

"Okay!" Gu Bing agreed very readily, turned around, and pulled Wu Huilin away.

Zhou Andong watched the two leave the office, and then he heard Wu Huilin's voice lecturing Gu Bing.

"Tell me, are you looking for trouble? Your brain isn't sharp enough, and your mouth is clumsy; why are you provoking him?"

"What do you mean my brain isn't sharp enough and my mouth is clumsy? It's just that Zhou Andong is too cunning. Besides, I wasn't wrong; it's just that Zhou Andong is too arrogant, even the leaders of the superior supervisory department..."

Gu Bing's unconvinced defense grew quieter and quieter, finally disappearing until it could no longer be heard.

Zhou Andong burst into laughter, and Seeing Jian Qiu knocked and entered, asking curiously.

"What's the matter, so happy?"

Zhou Andong explained the situation: "You tell me, why doesn't he ever learn his lesson? He runs over to provoke me whenever he finds a chance."

Seeing Jian Qiu smiled and said: "You just love bullying honest people."

"Can we be reasonable when we talk?" Zhou Andong said with dissatisfaction: "It was clearly him provoking me and running over to lecture me; how is that me bullying him?"

Seeing Jian Qiu didn't continue on this topic, but instead asked: "Comrade Jian Zhengxue is coming down tomorrow; how prepared are you?"

"Actually, there's nothing much to prepare." Zhou Andong sat up straight, picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip: "Actually, there's nothing much to prepare; it's just a meal in the factory cafeteria, and everything else is arranged by the city, which has nothing to do with us."

Seeing Jian Qiu sat lazily on the sofa; at this time, her belly was already showing. After taking off her thick down jacket, her round little belly was exposed.

Zhou Andong walked over, sat beside Seeing Jian Qiu, and pressed his ear against her belly.

"Wife, when do you think this little guy will move?"

Seeing Jian Qiu gently stroked Zhou Andong's face: "It should be around six or seven months, I suppose."

Zhou Andong's face was filled with anticipation: "I'm really looking forward to the arrival of our second daughter."

Seeing Jian Qiu smiled and said: "Ms. Gu Minglan really hopes it's a boy. She said we already have Su Su, and if we have a boy too, how wonderful it would be to have both a son and a daughter."

"Not good!" Zhou Andong shook his head: "I still think a daughter is better. You have to have two little cotton-padded jackets; we'll each have one, how could one Su Su be enough?"

Seeing Jian Qiu laughed: "A son can also be a little cotton-padded jacket."

"Hmph!" Zhou Andong snorted: "That's not necessarily true; even if you wear it, it'll still let in a draft."

Seeing Jian Qiu asked curiously: "Are you really not planning on having a son?"

"I didn't say I wasn't planning on having a son." Zhou Andong lay on the sofa, resting his head on Seeing Jian Qiu's lap: "If this one is a girl, once the two sisters are a bit older, we'll have a boy for the two sisters to play with."

Seeing Jian Qiu asked again: "What if this one is a boy?"

Zhou Andong said indifferently: "Then we'll just have another daughter."

Seeing Jian Qiu smiled and said: "What if it's still a boy then?"

Zhou Andong looked at Seeing Jian Qiu's smiling face, gritted his teeth, and said fiercely: "Then we'll keep having them."

"Do you think I'm a pig?" Seeing Jian Qiu hit Zhou Andong in annoyance: "The Yuzhou VCD goes on sale tomorrow; aren't you worried at all?"

"There's nothing to worry about." Zhou Andong grabbed Seeing Jian Qiu's hand: "The ads have only been running for two days; you can't tell anything yet."

Seeing Jian Qiu said thoughtfully: "The pricing of the Yuzhou VCD is indeed very low compared to Sony and Hitachi, but for most consumers, this price is still out of reach."

"Most importantly, compared to Sony and Hitachi, our brand influence is too far behind; you could say there's no comparison. The demographic that can afford a VCD at this stage will definitely not choose our Yuzhou because of a price difference of a thousand or eight hundred yuan."

"There's one more point, and that's face. Spending several thousand yuan to buy a VCD from a major international brand like Sony or Hitachi—think of how much face that gives you. But buying our Yuzhou, the effect is far too different."

Zhou Andong looked at Seeing Jian Qiu: "Keep going, what are your thoughts?"

"If we compete head-on, we will definitely lose." Seeing Jian Qiu rubbed Zhou Andong's hair: "Taking advantage of the New Year period, we could hold a promotional event and lower the price by another notch."

"This way, we can let that segment of consumers who can afford it but are reluctant to spend the money enter the market."

"What you said makes a lot of sense." Zhou Andong thought for a moment: "But launching a new brand with large-scale promotions is just a disguised price cut, which will have a huge impact on our strategy of building a high-end brand; it's not worth the loss."

Seeing Jian Qiu smiled and said: "You must have a way, right?"