Chapter 719: Street Stalls Surrounding Shops

"On the surface, Xiaomei is definitely in charge, but in reality, I can control it." Chen Xueru's tone was firm, and a sense of confidence showed between her brows.

He Yuzhu, however, frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy: "It's fine while Xiaomei is there, but what if the state-owned holding side changes personnel and targets you specifically? What will you do?"

Chen Xueru smiled, that smile carrying the composure of an old hand: "Don't worry, when it comes to doing business, I have more experience than you."

He Yuzhu shook his head and said sternly: "How about this: you open a new sales company, wholly owned by you, specifically responsible for the sales of Xueru Clothing. Everything, including opening chain stores, should be handled by this sales company."

Chen Xueru's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but interject: "Most people think that manufacturing clothing is the most important thing, but I think that in the future, sales and design will be the most critical. This idea of yours is excellent."

"I hope that when this sales company opens chain stores, you buy the storefronts," He Yuzhu added unhurriedly.

"That's a great idea!" Chen Xueru had just felt happy when her brows furrowed again. "But there's something quite annoying lately. A Hong Kong-funded company keeps imitating the styles of our Xueru Clothing. The quality of what they make is terrible, but the price is much cheaper, which has a significant impact on our sales."

He Yuzhu asked: "Have you looked into their background?"

Chen Xueru nodded: "The Boss is named Xu Xinghai. He is from Si Jiu Cheng and ran off to Hong Kong in the fifties. Now he's back and has opened Fenghua Garment, with factories in both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. He previously wanted to cooperate with Xiaomei, but Xiaomei ignored him. Now it's like he's deliberately taking revenge, crazily replicating our things."

"Cut off their material supply immediately. Wherever they go to get goods, you buy out the raw materials there," He Yuzhu said decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Chen Xueru was a bit worried: "But these people don't follow the rules at all. They are thick as thieves with the Liu Guangtian brothers. They've set up many street stalls at Beijing Zoo, Qianmen, and Wangfujing, almost forming a monopoly, and they often bully the vendors who don't sell their clothing. I'm afraid they might do something malicious to our factory."

"Since they don't follow the rules, then handle it in a way that doesn't follow the rules," He Yuzhu snorted coldly. "Go find Li Xiangxiu and have her send people to infiltrate their ranks and collect evidence. Before long, the state is going to crack down hard on hooligan gangs!"

Chen Xueru smiled, looking at him with curved brows: "Zhuzi, you're still the ruthless one."

He Jia, who had been listening with ears pricked up on the side, immediately perked up and praised with a grin: "Mom, my dad is just amazing; you're the one who's indecisive."

"Get lost!" Chen Xueru raised her hand, pretending to hit her, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Fang Deng sat nearby listening to these words, feeling warm inside.

She felt that in the days she had lived with the He Family, she had truly grown a lot. Their family always decided many major matters at the dinner table, and they never hid their talk from her, giving her a feeling of being deeply trusted. She secretly made up her mind that when she grew up, she would definitely help Auntie Chen with business.

In Panjiayuan Market, Xu Damao sat behind the counter of his shop with a dejected look, his eyes staring blankly at the people coming and going on the street, looking completely wilted.

Liu Sanmei couldn't stand watching from the side and shouted: "Damao, you need to look on the bright side! Money is an external possession; if it's gone, you can earn it back. What's the use of being so wilted and dejected every day like a dead fish? You have to think of a way to make money!"

Xu Damao retorted irritably: "What do you think I'm doing? Am I not currently pondering ways to make money?"

As soon as Liu Sanmei heard this, she got angry, her voice suddenly rising: "You've been pondering for five or six months; have you pondered anything out yet?"

Xu Damao said slowly, enunciating each word: "Of course I've pondered something out."

Liu Sanmei immediately perked up, leaned over and kissed him, saying: "What did you think of? Tell me and let me be happy."

"Forgery," Xu Damao lowered his voice and glanced around sneakily. "Forging calligraphy and paintings has the lowest cost. I happen to have a few experts on hand; if we get some old paper from the Qing Dynasty and then do some antiquing, ordinary people won't be able to tell at all... If you follow the straight and narrow to do business, you'll never get rich in a lifetime."

Liu Sanmei's eyes lit up, and she slapped the table in her urgency: "Then what are we waiting for! Hurry up!"

In Hongbinlou Restaurant, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Xu Xinghai, and Xu Xingfu sat around a table, and next to them was Tian Xiaohao, a capable general who had been gaining momentum recently and expanding his territory everywhere.

Xu Xinghai raised a glass of beer, high-spirited and full of pride: "In these few months, we have achieved no small results, beating Xueru Clothing into retreat. When they open a store, we set up a stall; when they sell one piece for twenty yuan, we sell it for ten-something. Don't look at the low unit price; we go for volume! They still want to seal off our raw materials? No way—we still ship them in from Southeast Asia. Want to fight me? Hmph, you're far from it!"

Tian Xiaohao quickly flattered him, his face full of smiles: "Brother Hai is truly amazing! But I just don't understand, there aren't many people browsing in Chen Xueru's storefronts, and they can't sell much in a day, so why do they keep buying stores? Buying the buildings and the storefronts together. Isn't that stupid?"

Liu Guangtian pondered for a moment and spoke slowly: "Xinghai, I think that although we have achieved many results, we cannot be proud. This person Chen Xueru is not easy to deal with, and besides, He Yuzhu has already opened dozens of restaurants, and every one of them is quite successful; they have a continuous stream of money coming in. Now they are crazily buying storefronts; who knows, they might really appreciate in value in the future. Although we started by setting up street stalls, it wouldn't hurt to follow along and buy some property, preferably right next to their shops. In case the state regulates mobile vendors in the future, we can also take advantage of the situation and move our business into the shops."

Xu Xinghai nodded and said earnestly: "Guangtian really has a brain. I won't hide it from everyone, I experienced a period like this when I was in Hong Kong. The gang I was in at the time only knew how to collect protection fees, and once they made money, they would eat, drink, and have fun; most people were like that. But there was a group called the Brotherhood; they would buy land and property as soon as they made money. In recent years, just those plots of land and storefronts have made them a fortune. Now they not only don't collect protection fees, but they also pay pensions to the old brothers. Once we make big money, we'll buy land and property too."

In the living room of the East Cross Courtyard at Nanluoguxiang No. 95, He Yuzhu and Chen Xueru were chatting idly.

Chen Xueru sighed: "I did indeed seal off Xu Xinghai's raw material channels, but this kid is actually able to smuggle fabric; right now, I really can't seal him off completely. They have still snatched away quite a bit of our business, and Xiaomei is almost unable to hold on!"

He Yuzhu smiled, his smile revealing a sense of ruthlessness: "Then clear out your clothing inventory with a big sale, selling it even cheaper than him."

Chen Xueru frowned: "That would mean losing a lot of money!"

He Yuzhu asked in return: "If you don't defeat him, how will you make money?"

Chen Xueru was choked up by him, but then she thought about it and smiled again: "Fine, I'll listen to you and counterattack immediately!"

"You must not only counterattack, but also open several large clothing wholesale markets in the areas of Beijing Zoo, Xidan, Wangfujing, and Xiushui, allowing those who have good relations with you to enter, but specifically not letting Xu Xinghai and his people in," He Yuzhu said.

"That will take a lot of money!" Chen Xueru said.

"My restaurant business here is very good; I'll give you all the liquid capital. If it's not enough, take it from Liu Shi Trading! If you're going to do it, do it big!" He Yuzhu said confidently.

"Haven't you been having Li Xiangxiu look for their dirt? Why is there no follow-up?" Chen Xueru asked.

He Yuzhu said: "I went to ask; other than smuggling and fighting with people, they haven't committed any substantive harm yet, so there's really no reason to arrest them for the time being."

Chen Xueru smiled, her smile meaningful: "Once they can't make money, I'm afraid they'll be desperate enough to jump over a wall."

He Yuzhu nodded: "They gathered because of interests, and they will disperse because of interests. If they can't make money, who will still risk their lives for him?"

Chen Xueru asked again: "Zhuzi, you've always been running restaurants, but that's not your main business, is it? Aren't you going to build a Chip Factory? When will you do it?"

He Yuzhu smiled and shook his head, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness and composure: "I have to wait a bit longer. Right now, all the talent is with Man Yatou, and I can't poach from her."