Forcing Me to Be Reborn?!-Chapter 201 - 173 Do You Understand What a Business War

Chapter 201: Chapter 173: Do You Understand What a Business War Is?

Chapter 201: Chapter 173: Do You Understand What a Business War Is?

Inside the mall, Cheng Zhu listened to the words of his young stepmother and purposefully glanced at Shen Qingning first.

It was this look that made her, who usually had a strong presence, evade a bit, and she couldn’t help but gently tug on Wang Yushan’s sleeve, signaling that such words could easily be misunderstood.

However, Cheng Zhu immediately said, “Indeed, I’m not nervous, because I’ve often heard Shen Qingning and Jiang Wanzhou mention you before, saying that you’re an easy person to get along with.”

He wouldn’t use terms like “sister” that decreased the distance to highlight the youth and beauty of the young stepmother, because she truly was young—that was a given fact, not a compliment.

On the contrary, since she was young but held a high status, if you said she seemed like a kind sister and therefore you weren’t nervous, such an answer might not yield a positive effect. After all, she actually was a stepmother, with a significant age gap to Mr. Shen, and she might end up in an awkward situation.

When conversing with such a person, it’s best to avoid mentioning topics related to age, at least that’s what Cheng Zhu believed.

But then again, because of age, you also shouldn’t completely treat her as an elder—in that case, too, it would not be appropriate, considering everyone is young, and she likely didn’t want to distance herself too far from her own age group.

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Therefore, what she deserved was respect for her status, not her seniority.

One could speak in a manner that’s appropriately relaxed and casual.

Wang Yushan looked at Shen Qingning and jokingly retorted, “That’s good to hear, I haven’t really met Ningning and Wanzhou’s friends, so I am actually a bit nervous.”

Speaking of which, a person of her status indeed might find it difficult to interact with the friends of Shen Minglang and Shen Qingning.

Especially with Shen Minglang’s friends, who were too close in age—some of Shen Minglang’s friends might even be older than her.

She might even share many mutual friends with this group of people, with overlapping social circles.

If you interact like a peer, it comes off as indecorous. If you take on the airs of an elder, that might make others uncomfortable.

After all, most people naturally harbor biases against a young stepmother, who knows what they might mutter to themselves.

She had chosen such a role for herself and didn’t care about others’ opinions and glances.

But Wang Yushan was worried that Shen Minglang and Shen Qingning would be influenced by their friends’ words and that their relationship might deteriorate.

Especially since Shen Minglang often ranted at home, causing domestic discord, forcing her to be the more careful one.

Cheng Zhu had mentioned Shen Minglang during his self-introduction, so she guessed they must be close friends.

Wang Yushan glanced at the neighboring perfume store and asked Wu Yuzhou, “You don’t mind if we go in for a look, do you?”

“Of course, we’re open for business, after all,” he smiled and continued, “I’m confident in the style of my store’s perfumes. You ladies can try them later, and if you like anything, I’ll gift it to you.”

“Thank you,” Wang Yushan nodded simply, her main intent being to get Cheng Zhu to take a look inside.

Cheng Zhu followed the leasing manager, Xu, into the store and inquired about some basic information regarding the store space, such as the specific square footage.

After a brief look, Cheng Zhu was completely satisfied with the place.

“A prime location, even better than I had imagined, the size is also just right for use, but I wonder if we can have a glass door outside the mall just like Starbucks opposite,” he thought to himself.

Xu looked at Cheng Zhu and asked, “What kind of project do you plan to do here?”

Honestly, seeing how young Cheng Zhu was, Xu felt a bit resistant.

As the leasing manager, he had seen too many rich second-generation types treating business as a hobby, impulsively using a wad of cash to open a store.

This self-assured Wu Yuzhou, in Xu’s view, was a prime example of that category.

He had managed to secure his store’s location in the mall by pulling some strings.

Given that his perfume store was pursuing a high-end niche market and the décor was eye-catching and stylish, it barely met the leasing standards.

Moreover, the Wu family was successful in the fragrance machine business, so opening a perfume shop was an extension of their family business.

Yet it still didn’t take off in the end.

Wang Yushan listened on the side, knowing they were at the most crucial stage.

She had intentionally refrained from telling Xu earlier that they were opening a milk tea shop, fearing that when the time came, the old fox Xu would dodge her.

Cheng Zhu turned to Manager Xu, smiling and said directly, “It’s a high-end, trendy milk tea shop.”

Manager Xu: “???”

You think by adding the words ‘high-end, trendy,’ it’s no longer a milk tea shop, is that it?

He couldn’t help but recall the words Wu Yuzhou had said to him at their first meeting.

“Open a high-end, trendy perfume shop.”

At least Wu had appended, “To establish a local premium perfume brand!”

Now Manager Xu was a bit baffled; he felt Mr. Wang was setting a trap for him.

He didn’t believe that Wang Yushan was unaware of the mall’s leasing standards.

This location, for a milk tea shop?

Is this a joke?

Looking at all of Hang City’s malls, even those with lower rankings than our Star City would not allocate such prime spots for a milk tea shop.

It’s a move that would downgrade the overall class of the mall.

Even peer establishments would be shocked to see this!

If you want to open a milk tea shop, you could do it across the street, why in the east entrance of my mall?

That’s just subjecting yourself to unnecessary rental pressure; it’s quite a difference!

Xu looked at Wang Yushan, feeling that it was better to communicate directly with her.

“Mr. Wang, this doesn’t seem to follow the rules, does it?” he said.

Wang Yushan knew she needed to provide a feasible reason, so she pointed across to Starbucks and said, “Starbucks is allowed, isn’t it?”

But in reality, she was clear that it was a different matter.

Starbucks has its brand value in place.

Indeed, Starbucks has always been a hot topic for many; some think it’s a pretentious hangout for the petty-bourgeoisie, others adore it for its sophistication, and then there are those who think the coffee is plain bad…

No matter what people think of Starbucks, one thing is undeniable.

It’s a big brand, even a globally renowned one!

They have stores all over the world, a globally well-known major brand.

If you insist that because Starbucks can open, so can you, it’s somewhat like a David-vs.-Goliath challenge.

But sometimes speaking such words covertly communicates one’s stance, indicating a firm resolve to let Cheng Zhu’s milk tea shop come in.

The Shen family does indeed hold a non-negligible share in Star City.

But Star City isn’t entirely under their control, and Xu isn’t solely accountable to the Shen family.

In a way, Xu really was a responsible leasing manager.

After some thought, he decided to inquire further into Cheng Zhu’s plan.

“You said a high-end, trendy milk tea shop, but how ‘high-end’ are we talking, in terms of price?” he inquired.

“About twenty-something per cup,” Cheng Zhu replied directly.

In the year ’14, this price was quite exaggerated.

Other big milk tea brands were still operating in the ten-yuan era.

You’re going straight for double the amount?

This further bolstered the impression of impulsive business decisions.

Xu looked seriously at Cheng Zhu and said, “I believe that our mall and your business have a cooperative and responsible relationship, don’t you think?”

“Yes, please continue, Manager Xu.” Cheng Zhu knew there was more to come, just prelude.

“I personally really wouldn’t recommend this location for you; maybe upstairs would be better?”

“Look, your milk tea is priced at twenty-something yuan.”

“At this price point, people might as well buy a Starbucks from the opposite side.”

“Once your store opens, facing it, the competitive pressure will be immense.”

This was indeed the reality and a concern most businesses would consider.

But for Cheng Zhu—I want to be opposite Starbucks!

Fantastic, this is just fantastic!

He was nearly one hundred percent satisfied with the location.

And there was even a Starbucks right across from it, icing on the cake!

He even felt he might not find a better spot in the whole of Hang City. He had to secure this location at all costs!

Shen Qingning glanced at Cheng Zhu, and based on her understanding of him, she knew he was probably going to…

“Being across from Starbucks would indeed be great,” Cheng Zhu grinned with a smile.

Shen Qingning inwardly thought, “Just as expected…”

With these words, not to mention Xu, even Wang Yushan and Wu Yuzhou on the side were perplexed.

Did this mean, at a similar price point, you think customers will choose your milk tea shop over Starbucks?

The difficulty in doing so was obvious.

Your milk tea is twice the price of others, filtering out a large portion of potential customers.

Then, you’re opening opposite Starbucks, directly competing and even hoping to poach their customers?

—Why?

“Could you explain in detail?” Xu adjusted his glasses on his nose bridge and asked.

“That’s probably not possible, it’s a trade secret,” Cheng Zhu replied, his face relaxed.

“I’ve been a leasing manager for many years, and sometimes business competition can be very harsh,” Xu didn’t lay it out too directly.

At this moment, Wu Yuzhou interjected, “Yeah, Little Cheng, you’re oversimplifying things, that’s Starbucks across from us.”

“Commerce is like a battlefield, business warfare isn’t as simple as you think.”

He started pontificating and shared some of his entrepreneurial experiences.

He saw Xu was in a tough spot and intended to back him up.

After all, the fact that his store was in the mall meant he owed Xu a favor. Over the year, they had also become quite acquainted.

Plus, with two beautiful women standing across, he felt compelled to show off a little.

For some men, this was instinctual.

He might not necessarily be trying to flirt, but with pretty women around, they just can’t help but strut.

Wu Yuzhou rattled off a bunch of seemingly profound and sophisticated things.

“Perhaps you have a misconception about business warfare?” Cheng Zhu listened to him and then said, looking towards him.

The imagined business warfare: high-end and lethal, possibly illegal.

The real business warfare: direct and unscrupulous, perhaps even sick.

“If I were your perfume competitor, I would do one thing first,” he said, staring into Wu Yuzhou’s eyes.

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

I’m really scared, aren’t I? Come on and scare me, let’s see how high-end and impressive you are!

Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhu replied, “Our Star City has an aroma system installed, right?”

“Of course, the aroma system at Star City is set up by my family,” Wu Yuzhou responded, “I forgot to introduce earlier that my family’s main business is fragrance.”

“So, there must be installations in the restrooms as well,” Cheng Zhu looked at him with a smile.

“Definitely, it’s in place and quite necessary,” Wu Yuzhou answered.

High-end hotels and malls, even their restrooms, always maintain a fragrant atmosphere—it’s not uncommon.

Star City spent a significant amount on its aroma system, which was a major project for Wu Yuzhou’s family.

But what no one expected was Cheng Zhu’s next statement,

“I would buy your family’s lead perfume product, then send someone into the mall’s restrooms to spray it around periodically.”

Wu Yuzhou’s eyes went wide in shock.

Damn, is he sick!!!