hotmtlnovel Chapter 1486 Breaking the Window Paper
Chapter 1486 Breaking the Window Paper
Chapter 1486 Breaking the Window Paper
Late August 1985, conference room at the Burger King Group headquarters in Central, Hong Kong.
The sun shone brightly outside the window, but the atmosphere inside the conference room was somewhat subtle. Seven directors sat around the long conference table—Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Shi Xiaona, and representatives of four institutional investors. The meeting was originally scheduled to discuss the previous quarter's financial report, but the topic had unwittingly shifted to the recently concluded commercial battle between Burger King and KFC.
"Chairman Qin, your move into food delivery is truly brilliant." The speaker was Director Li, a man in his fifties with thinning hair. He was one of the first directors to question Qin Hao's decision to build a food delivery team, but now he was all smiles: "KFC has already closed ten stores, and the rest are downsizing. Swire Group has really suffered a major setback this time."
Another director, Wang, chimed in, "Yes, Chairman Qin's 'cutting off their supply line' move completely stunned Swire Group. With fewer stores, they can't offer delivery services, so they can only watch helplessly as we seize their market share."
A burst of laughter filled the meeting room, lightening the atmosphere considerably.
Only one young director, surnamed Chen, seemed hesitant. He was a newcomer to the board, having joined three months prior, representing a newly invested hedge fund. He cleared his throat and said cautiously:
"Chairman Qin, the delivery strategy has indeed been effective, and KFC has indeed withdrawn. However... I looked at the financial data, and the profit margin of the delivery business is only 65% of that of dine-in. Moreover, we maintain such a large delivery team—more than 300 deliverymen, more than 30 operators, plus management, dispatching, equipment maintenance... These costs add up to nearly one million Hong Kong dollars more each month. Now that KFC has withdrawn, shouldn't we... consider appropriately reducing the size of our delivery team?"
After these words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent for a few seconds.
Zhao Yajing frowned, about to speak, but Qin Hao spoke first. His voice was calm, revealing no emotion:
"Chairman Chen is right, the food delivery business is indeed costly. But—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the directors present: "If we lay off the delivery team now and save this money, what will we do next year or the year after if new fast-food brands enter the Hong Kong market? Will we have to spend several months rebuilding the delivery team?"
Director Chen opened his mouth as if to say something, but Qin Hao didn't give him the chance.
"In business, a temporary victory does not guarantee a permanent one. KFC may be gone, but who knows if McDonald's or another fast-food brand will appear tomorrow? What we need to do now is not to celebrate the victory, but to consolidate the fruits of our victory."
Qin Hao stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and drew a simple diagram:
"Our delivery team is Burger King's moat. The deeper and wider this moat is dug, the greater the cost for other brands to enter the market. To compete with us, they not only need to open stores, advertise, and run promotions, but also build a delivery system of the same scale in a short period of time—which is almost an impossible task."
He turned to look at Director Chen: "You think spending an extra million every month is a burden now. But have you thought about what would happen if a new brand came in next year and started a price war and a marketing war with us? How much would we lose every month? Five million? Ten million?"
Director Chen fell silent, lowered his head, and blushed slightly.
Qin Hao sat down again, his tone softening: "Of course, cost control is also essential. I plan to optimize the takeout system before the end of the year, with the goal of improving efficiency and reducing the error rate. If done well, we should be able to increase the profit margin to about 75% of that for dine-in."
"Is this goal achievable?" Director Li asked.
“We’re already testing it,” Qin Hao nodded. “We’re developing a new order allocation system that uses a more scientific algorithm to distribute orders to the nearest stores. If successful, delivery time can be reduced from the current average of 28 minutes to 22 minutes. Faster delivery means higher customer satisfaction and more repeat orders.”
These words were very practical and professional. The directors exchanged glances and nodded.
"Alright, since Chairman Qin has a plan, we can rest assured."
After the meeting, the directors left one after another. Shi Xiaona packed up the documents, walked to Qin Hao's side, and said softly, "When Director Chen raised that question just now, I was really a little worried."
Qin Hao smiled and said, "What are you worried about? Are you worried that the other directors will support him?"
"Hmm." Shi Xiaona nodded: "After all, the cost of a food delivery team is indeed high, and now KFC has withdrawn..."
“They retreated because they knew they couldn’t beat us,” Qin Hao said. “But if they see us destroying our own defenses, they might come back again. The business world is like a battlefield; we can’t give our opponents any chance.”
Shi Xiaona looked at Qin Hao with eyes full of admiration: "My dad said the same thing. He said your 'takeout moat' strategy is one of the most ingenious business defense strategies he has ever seen."
"Uncle Shi, you flatter me," Qin Hao said modestly.
Shi Xiaona said seriously, "Yesterday at home, he even gave my brother a good scolding because he said that ordering takeout was a 'money-losing business'."
"He's just not convinced," Shi Xiaona said, pursing her lips. "He always thinks you got it by luck, not by ability."
Qin Hao laughed but didn't reply. He didn't take a spoiled brat like Shi Xiaojun seriously at all.
"Oh, right," Shi Xiaona remembered something, "My dad said he'd like to invite you over for dinner to celebrate this great victory. Are you... free?"
She asked cautiously, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Okay. When?"
"Let's do it tonight!" Shi Xiaona said immediately, her voice brimming with excitement. "I'll go call my dad right now!"
She turned and ran out of the conference room, her steps light and quick.
Zhao Yajing happened to walk in and frowned as she looked at Shi Xiaona's back: "Why is she so happy?"
"Uncle Shi invited me to his house for dinner tonight," Qin Hao said.
"Just you alone?" Zhao Yajing raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, let's celebrate beating KFC."
"I also need to go!"
"Uh……"
……
At 7 p.m., Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing arrived at the Shi family villa.
Shi Fangren personally greeted them at the door. When he saw Zhao Yajing, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his smile.
"Mr. Qin, Ms. Zhao, welcome, welcome!"
"Uncle Shi, you're too kind," Qin Hao said.
Zhao Yajing nodded politely, "Hello, Uncle Shi."
"Please come in." Shi Fangren stepped aside: "Xiao Na and her mother are waiting in the living room."
Upon entering the villa, Mrs. Shi greeted them warmly and invited them to sit down. Tea, snacks, and fruit were already laid out on the coffee table in the living room.
Shi Xiaona came downstairs, clearly dressed up carefully today—a blue and white striped dress, the hem of which reached her knees, revealing her shapely calves. Her hair was meticulously styled, and she wore the pearl necklace Qin Hao had given her before, which gleamed softly under the light.
Seeing this, Zhao Yajing snorted coldly and muttered to herself, "They really have ill intentions."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Qin Hao, who was standing next to him, to hear.
Qin Hao could only pretend not to hear and walked straight to the sofa to sit down.
However, Shi Xiaona made no attempt to keep her distance. She walked directly to Qin Hao's left and sat down on the armrest of the sofa—a spot very close to Qin Hao, almost touching him.
"Sister Ya Jing, do you mind if I sit here?" She turned her head and asked Zhao Ya Jing with a smile.
Zhao Yajing's expression darkened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said calmly, "This is your home, how could I, as a guest, have the right to mind?"
These words were spoken politely, but anyone could hear the coldness in his tone.
The atmosphere in the living room was somewhat awkward.
Shi Fangren quickly changed the subject: "Ahem, Mr. Qin, I went to the construction site in Shenzhen last week and it's basically topped out. It should be completed in another month or so. Don't you think we should start promoting it here?"
Hearing that they were talking about serious matters, Zhao Yajing couldn't argue with Shi Xiaona anymore, and her attention shifted to Qin Hao.
Shi Xiaona sat sideways, her gaze fixed on Qin Hao's profile. She had always felt that men who were focused on their work were particularly attractive. At this moment, Qin Hao's eyes were focused, his tone was steady, and the aura of control he exuded made her heart beat faster involuntarily.
Qin Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He cleared his throat and began to analyze:
"Uncle Shi is right. If it weren't for the KFC incident, the advertising would have already started. But it's not too late now."
He paused, then continued, "In terms of promotion, I plan to focus on two points: first, low investment threshold; second, high expected returns."
"Tell me more about it," Shi Fangren leaned forward, clearly interested.
“In Hong Kong, only a minority of people can afford to buy a house,” Qin Hao said. “Moreover, in the current market, even if you have the money, you may not be able to buy one. Many developers are hoarding properties and waiting for prices to rise. But it’s different in Shenzhen. The price of ‘Jinxiu Garden’ is less than one-third of that of similar properties in Hong Kong, which means that most middle-class people in Hong Kong can buy one or two properties in Shenzhen. This is not consumption; it’s investment.”
He spoke with great confidence, and the data was very clear. Shi Fangren nodded repeatedly.
But just then, Shi Xiaojun came downstairs. He had been in his room the whole time and only came down after hearing the conversation below. Hearing Qin Hao's words, he couldn't help but interject:
"You make it sound so easy. But have you considered this? In Hong Kong, property ownership is perpetual. But in Shenzhen, it's only a 70-year land use right. How are you going to explain that to your clients?"
This is a very pointed question that hits the nail on the head.
The living room fell silent. Shi Fangren frowned, wanting to say something, but Qin Hao spoke first.
He smiled and looked at Shi Xiaojun: "You're right, the nature of the property rights is indeed different. But—"
He then changed the subject: "Don't forget, our clients are mainly investors. These people never buy houses to live in. They buy them for appreciation and to cash out. Within three to five years, they will sell the houses and make a profit. Do you think they care whether the house has a 70-year leasehold or freehold ownership?"
Shi Xiaojun was stunned. He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.
Qin Hao continued, "Moreover, Shenzhen is a special economic zone, and its development speed is obvious to all. Buying a house in Shenzhen now is like buying a house in Hong Kong ten years ago—you may think seventy years is short now, but ten years later, the value of that house may have multiplied several times. At that time, will you care whether there are still sixty or fifty years left on the property rights?"
This statement was so reasonable and well-founded that even Shi Xiaojun couldn't refute it.
Shi Fangren smiled approvingly: "Since Xiao Qin has thought of everything so thoroughly, then we can just lie back and wait to count the money."
A smile finally appeared on Zhao Yajing's face. She was already used to Qin Hao's abilities—the biggest feeling about working with him was how worry-free it was. Every problem you thought you had, once you brought it up, you'd find that he had already thought of it and had a perfect solution.
Shi Xiaona also covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes overflowing with admiration and appreciation.
Shi Xiaojun looked unwell, but he couldn't say anything and could only sit sullenly to the side.
Dinner ended in a fairly harmonious atmosphere. Shi Fangren and Qin Hao chatted for a while longer about the details of the Shenzhen project, until after 9 p.m. when Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing finally got up to say goodbye.
Shi Xiaona saw them to the door. After Zhao Yajing got into the car first, she tugged at Qin Hao's sleeve and whispered:
"Be careful on the road."
"Mm." Qin Hao nodded.
The car drove away from the villa and disappeared into the night.
Shi Xiaona stood at the door, not going back for a long time.
……
For the next two months, Qin Hao devoted most of his energy to the marketing of "Jinxiu Garden".
His marketing strategy is unique, even somewhat unconventional.
First, he sent people to distribute flyers near the sales offices of various real estate developers in Hong Kong. These people didn't enter the sales offices; they just loitered around the perimeter, and when they saw someone coming out of the sales office, they would approach them, hand them a flyer, and say:
"Sir/Madam, would you like to take a look at houses in Shenzhen? The prices are only one-third of those in Hong Kong."
Hong Kong property developers have expressed their dissatisfaction with this.
However, Hong Kong's property market in 1985 was experiencing a boom, and many developers were hoarding properties and not in a hurry to sell. As long as Qin Hao's people didn't directly poach customers at the sales office, they didn't bother with it.
Secondly, Qin Hao instructed delivery drivers to include "Jinxiu Garden" flyers in Burger King orders and deliver them to every household.
Customers who can order takeout by phone are generally well-off, which happens to be the target customer group of "Jinxiu Garden". Moreover, since the takeout is delivered to their homes, customers can easily see the flyers while eating, making a deeper impression.
Third, Qin Hao rented five tour buses and launched a "Hong Kong-Shenzhen Property Viewing Shuttle." Anyone who signed up for a property viewing received free round-trip transportation, plus breakfast and lunch. The bus departed at 9:00 AM every morning and arrived at the "Jinxiu Garden" sales office in Shenzhen around 11:00 AM, allowing for a quick lunch after the viewing.
This strategy quickly attracted many people. But problems arose as well – many elderly people who liked to take advantage of others would hitch a ride and eat for several days in a row, but had no intention of buying a house at all.
Shi Xiaojun was very dissatisfied with this. One day, he saw several familiar faces at the sales office—this was the third time they had come. Each time, they would just freeload, look at the apartments, and leave without even asking about the prices.
Shi Xiaojun pulled Qin Hao aside and pointed at the elderly people: "Look at those people, they've come three times already, just to freeload. I think we should kick them out and not let them sign up again."
Qin Hao glanced at the elderly people eating and smiled: "Why are you chasing them away?"
"Why?" Shi Xiaojun's eyes widened. "They're taking up the spots but not buying houses. Isn't that a waste of resources?"
"What resources are being wasted?" Qin Hao retorted. "Can every tour bus be fully booked?"
Shi Xiaojun was taken aback, thought for a moment, and shook his head: "No. Usually, only about 60% or 70% of the seats are occupied."
"If the sales office isn't full, why kick them out?" Qin Hao said. "That's right, they might not buy our houses. But they can help us create a lively atmosphere at the sales office. Think about it carefully, which is more attractive: a deserted sales office or a bustling one?"
Shi Xiaojun opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
Qin Hao continued, "These elderly folks are helping us create a lively atmosphere for free; all we have to do is provide two boxed meals. Even in Hong Kong, you wouldn't get paid this cheaply as an extra, right?"
These words left Shi Xiaojun speechless. He had to admit that Qin Hao was right.
But he couldn't save face, so he still stubbornly insisted, "We can't let them eat and drink for free, can we?"
Qin Hao said, "I'm planning to train them on how to create a lively atmosphere."
Shi Xiaojun was completely speechless.
Just then, Shi Fangren walked over and overheard their conversation. He glared at his son:
"How many times have I told you? Xiao Qin is meticulous. Do you think he wouldn't think of the problems you can think of? Stop making a fool of yourself here."
Shi Xiaojun blushed and walked away dejectedly.
Qin Hao indeed provided training to the elderly people. He specially hired a teacher from a drama troupe to teach them how to speak and act naturally and without affectation. He also gave each of them a set of "work clothes".
The elderly folks were very cooperative. Most of them were retired and at home, and since they had nothing better to do, they now had a car to pick them up and drop them off every day, meals to eat, and the opportunity to "act," which they found quite interesting.
However, they also had their own demands. After the training, an old man approached Qin Hao:
"Boss, could you add more vegetables to your boxed meals? It's always chicken legs and pork trotters, it gives me heartburn after a while."
Qin Hao was both amused and exasperated. In Hong Kong, meat was relatively cheap, while vegetables were expensive. But on the mainland, it was completely the opposite—meat was expensive, while vegetables were cheap.
"Okay, I'll tell the cafeteria to add more green vegetables in the future," Qin Hao agreed.
"OK, no problem!" Grandpa was very happy.
I must say, these elderly folks are quite dedicated. After changing into their "work clothes," they actually look quite convincing.
They "performed" very naturally in the sales office—some pointed and talked in front of the model, discussing the apartment layouts; others drank tea and chatted in the rest area, praising the community environment.
The atmosphere in the entire sales office was lively. Seeing such a bustling scene, genuine potential customers were more likely to think, "So many people are looking at it, this development must be good."
Shi Fangren was beaming as he watched the trading volume climb. One day, he called Qin Hao into his office:
"Little Qin, you really have a way with things. Others would avoid these old men and women who love to take advantage of others, but you can make them work for me. That's impressive."
"Uncle Shi, you flatter me," Qin Hao said modestly. "It's really just a matter of looking at things from a different perspective. They want a free lunch and something to pass the time, while we want the atmosphere of the sales office. It's a win-win situation, each getting what they need."
"Win-win, well said!" Shi Fangren nodded: "By the way, when will the second phase start? The first phase sold so well, we need to hurry up with the second phase."
These words expressed the sentiments of all the shareholders. At the shareholders' meeting a few days later, several shareholders surrounded Qin Hao, all asking the same question:
"That's right, Mr. Qin. When will Phase Two start?"
"Yes, if the first season was so popular, the second season will definitely be even more popular!"
Surrounded by people, Qin Hao patiently said, "Please don't worry, everyone. As we agreed before, once the first phase of the project is sold by more than 50%, I will start the second phase. Based on the current sales progress, it should be completed by the end of this month."
"The end of the month?" One shareholder's eyes lit up. "Then we can start construction next month?"
"That's how it is in theory." Qin Hao nodded. "But the specifics depend on the final confirmation of the design plan. Don't worry, I will get it moving as soon as possible."
The shareholders then dispersed, satisfied. They could almost see the frenzy when the second phase opened, and the money beckoning to them.
……
After the shareholders left, Qin Hao sat alone in the sales office's rest area, rubbing his temples. He'd been incredibly busy lately—keeping an eye on Burger King's business, managing the sales of Jinxiu Garden, and dealing with all sorts of unexpected situations. Two months of non-stop work had really taken its toll.
"Are you tired? Here."
A cup of hot tea was handed to me.
Qin Hao looked up and saw Shi Xiaona. She was wearing a light yellow shirt and white trousers, looking very fresh and clean. She had light makeup on, and her eyes were bright and sparkling.
"Thank you." Qin Hao took the teacup and took a sip. It was Pu'er tea, and the temperature was just right.
"These past few days have been tough, haven't they?" Shi Xiaona asked Qin Hao, her hands behind her back and her body leaning slightly forward.
Her face was very close, and Qin Hao could smell the faint scent of her perfume. It was the scent of jasmine, very refreshing.
"A little." Qin Hao put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and stretched. "Once I'm done with this busy period, it'll be almost Chinese New Year, so I'll take a break."
"Yes, the Lunar New Year is just two months away."
Shi Xiaona bit her lower lip and lowered her voice: "Are you going back to Beijing for Chinese New Year this year?"
Qin Hao understood the implication in her words, and a thought struck him. He deliberately teased, "What? Afraid you won't see me during the New Year?"
"Go away, who wants to see you?" Shi Xiaona blushed, turned around, and pretended to look at the scenery outside the window.
But her bright red ears gave her away.
Qin Hao felt a pang of tenderness in his heart as he looked at her. He stood up and slowly walked behind her.
Shi Xiaona could feel a masculine presence approaching, and her heart began to race involuntarily. She wanted to turn around, but dared not, and could only sit there stiffly.
"What if I miss you?" Qin Hao's voice came from behind her, very close, almost touching her ear.
Shi Xiaona froze, feeling the hairs on the back of her body stand on end. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
Qin Hao gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She could feel the warmth of his palm through the thin fabric of his shirt, seeping into her skin.
"You...you let go right now." Shi Xiaona's voice trembled slightly: "If you do this...Sister Yajing will be unhappy."
"And what about you?" Qin Hao didn't let go; instead, he moved even closer. His chin was almost touching the top of her head, and his breath ruffled her hair.
Shi Xiaona's breathing became rapid. She could feel her ears burning and her cheeks burning. She wanted to push him away, but she couldn't lift her hands; she wanted to stand up, but her legs were weak.
"You...you're a scoundrel." She could only mutter the curse under her breath, but there was no real anger in her voice.
Qin Hao did not let go despite Shi Xiaona's struggles. Instead, he turned her around so that she would face him.
Eyes facing each other.
Shi Xiaona looked into Qin Hao's eyes—deep, earnest, and filled with an emotion she couldn't decipher. Her heart pounded even faster, as if it would leap out of her chest.
“I admit it,” Qin Hao began, his voice low, “I was indeed a little greedy. But—”
He paused, then said, word by word, "I will be good to you."
Shi Xiaona's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Qin Hao to be so direct. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but before she could speak, Qin Hao lowered his head and kissed her lips.
"Well……"
Shi Xiaona's eyes widened even more. Her mind went blank, and her body froze completely. She could feel Qin Hao's lips—warm, soft, and carrying a faint fragrance of tea.
At first, she instinctively struggled a few times, pushing against his chest with her hands. But Qin Hao held her tightly, and she couldn't move him.
Gradually, her struggles weakened. Her tense body slowly relaxed, and her stiff arms gently fell to her sides. Finally, she closed her eyes, and her hands unconsciously wrapped around Qin Hao's waist.
Shi Xiaona had lost all sense of time. She felt as if the whole world was spinning, and only Qin Hao's embrace felt real and secure.
When Qin Hao finally released her, Shi Xiaona's face was as red as a ripe apple. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him, her breathing still erratic.
Qin Hao smiled as he looked at her. He reached out and gently lifted her chin.
"Do you want to come back to Beijing with me for Chinese New Year?"
"Who wants to go back with you?" Shi Xiaona's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Then I won't see you for another ten days or so."
Shi Xiaona felt a surge of sweetness in her heart, but she still said, "Hmph, wouldn't that be perfect for you and Zhao Yajing to be a couple..."
Are you jealous?
Shi Xiaona was very dissatisfied with Qin Hao's teasing tone, so she leaned on Qin Hao's shoulder and bit him.
"Ouch, you actually bit me."
Shi Xiaona said gloatingly, "Serves you right, who told you to always bully me."
"So, are you going to come back to Beijing with me for the Chinese New Year or not?"
Shi Xiaona hesitated for a moment, pushed Qin Hao away, ran to the door, then turned back to him and wrinkled her nose: "I'm going back to Beijing to visit relatives for the New Year, I'm not going with you."
After saying that, she blushed and ran away in a flash.