Chapter 422 - 242: "Entering the Palace

Chapter 422: Chapter 242: "Entering the Palace

A major trading company in Hanjiang Province like Four Seasons Clothing was naturally someone Miao Lei had to take seriously.

Xia Bin wasn’t here to talk business today; he was here to build rapport.

With the Spring Festival drawing near, he had to pay personal visits to his most important clients.

After a bit of small talk, Miao Lei asked about how Four Seasons Clothing was doing this year, and Xia Bin’s expression turned grim.

His performance this year could only be described as a complete disaster.

He’d been worried that when he went home for the Spring Festival, the old man wouldn’t even let him in the door.

The foundation he had built over so many years was now on the verge of collapse, and the worst part was that he was utterly powerless to stop it. This sense of helplessness tormented Xia Bin.

"This year has been a bit difficult, but we’re already making adjustments."

Miao Lei recalled just how many of this poor guy’s high-performing stores had been cleared out of Junxiao Square.

’My casual remark must have hit a nerve!’

"The overall market isn’t great. Things should get better next year. We just have to ride it out. In this economy, everyone’s just trying to survive."

Xia Bin nodded with a wry smile. Others were riding it out; he was being put through the wringer.

"The promotional event over the past few days has been quite effective. I saw the sales growth is looking good!"

Miao Lei brought up sales to change the subject and offer some comfort. Surely that was some good news.

Xia Bin sighed. Sales were a little better, but because they had to offer deeper discounts and absorb part of the cost for the subsidy coupons, their gross margin had dropped. When they ran the numbers, their gross profit was still down year-over-year.

This was mainly because the other two Junxiao Square locations had started their promotions days ago, capturing a significant portion of consumer spending and turning it into sales.

By the time Wanhong Square launched its event, many customers had already done their shopping, so it was naturally difficult to get them to spend again.

This wasn’t Miao Lei’s fault. The general managers at Junxiao Square had free rein. Headquarters set the general direction, but GMs had the flexibility to make adjustments within their budgets as they saw fit.

They could start or stop a promotion on a dime.

But Minghan Business Management Company was a different story. First of all, there was no budget. Miao Lei had to move heaven and earth just to secure those two million.

And after finally getting the funds, the approval process was bogged down by layer upon layer of red tape.

It took several days just to get through one part of the process. What a waste of time.

Xia Bin couldn’t talk about business right now. The moment he did, he got depressed.

Nowadays, he couldn’t even crack a smile when he did store inspections. It felt as if the shops weren’t selling merchandise, but peddling anxiety.

Miao Lei could see this, so he decided to change the subject.

"Are you married, President Xia?"

Xia Bin’s face instantly turned livid, as if he’d just recalled something deeply unpleasant.

Miao Lei found this odd. ’Could a guy like Xia Bin get dumped or cheated on? Why else would he have that expression?’

"Not yet, but I have a fiancée."

He answered calmly, but his mind couldn’t help but flash back to the image of Lin Ya straddling Chen Xiao.

He grieved inwardly. ’Oh, Xiao Ya, Xiao Ya, you hurt me and just laughed it off!’

The second time he went to see her, she didn’t even walk him out, just had Lin Ping show him the door.

Miao Lei offered a compliment. "President Xia, you’re a man of great talent and have built such a large enterprise. Your fiancée must be incredibly beautiful and exceptional as well!"

At this, Xia Bin’s pride swelled a little.

With Lin Ya’s looks and her status, she was definitely in a league of her own.

He rarely spoke of his fiancée to others. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but he was afraid of making Lin Ya angry, because she had never actually acknowledged their engagement.

But his spirits had been low lately, and Miao Lei had just brought up the subject.

This was the one thing he could boast about, the one thing that could lift his spirits.

"My fiancée is Lin Ya, the regional president for Junxiao Square!"

Miao Lei sucked in a sharp breath.

Miao Lei was genuinely shocked. ’President Lin is Xia Bin’s fiancée?’

He never would have imagined it. Lin Ya was such a proud and aloof person. While Xia Bin was successful, he didn’t seem to be in her league.

Then another thought struck him. If Lin Ya was Xia Bin’s fiancée, why had all of Four Seasons Clothing’s brands been kicked out of the Junxiao Business Management properties?

It had happened in the Hanjiang Region, which Lin Ya was responsible for, and even included the Junxiao Square Second Store that she personally managed!

He couldn’t make heads or tails of it, but it wasn’t something he could ask about directly.

"President Lin is a powerhouse in the Hanjiang Business Community, not to mention a great beauty in the commercial real estate world. Everyone used to say that no man would ever be good enough to catch her eye!"

"I never thought! But President Xia, you won the fair lady’s heart. A talented man and a beautiful woman—a perfect match. Congratulations!"

Xia Bin smiled smugly. "I don’t usually talk about this. After all, she’s the client and I’m the vendor. I want to avoid gossip."

Miao Lei said, "What gossip? This is a wonderful story! So, President Xia, when can I expect an invitation to the wedding banquet?"

If what Xia Bin said was true, then he’d definitely have to attend that banquet. Xu Jun had already told him that he was being tapped to take over Lin Ya’s position as the general manager of Junxiao Square Second Store.

Lin Ya was his superior.

Xia Bin said, "I still have to discuss it with her. Xiao Ya is just too cold, very hard to get close to. But that’s what I like about her. She’s pure as ice."

-----------------

Lin Ya’s head was buried in the sofa. She had already been put through two hours of this.

This time, she truly learned how formidable the boss was. She experienced all his "strengths" and "merits."

On his "horse," Chen Xiao became a valiant knight, charging forward, unstoppable! His Pointing Spear Technique had reached the Transformation Realm; he could strike any vital point in an instant, his movements so fast only a blur could be seen, not the spear itself.

Like a god descended to the mortal realm, he charged left and right, breaking through all defenses as if they were nothing.

After another half hour, the "horse" couldn’t take it anymore and started crying out in exhaustion.

Chen Xiao was finally jolted from his trance and said, "Almost there!"

Lin Ya silently counted in her head, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."

Finally, he ceased his assault.

Chen Xiao withdrew from the battlefield. Lin Ya could even hear a distinct POP.

He stood up to take a breather.