102: Chapter 103 Supplier Game: Direct Supply to Farmers

Hongdae, Lotte Mart.

Qian Xu pushed open the door.

Kim Min-jun followed behind him.

The two men walked into the store.

It was 10:00 AM.

There weren't many customers in the store.

A few employees were organizing the shelves.

"Is Store Manager Park Seong-ho in?"

Qian Xu walked to the service desk.

He asked a young employee.

"He's in the office."

The employee pointed toward the back.

"Who are you?"

"The Chairman of Yunmengze."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Please inform him."

"Tell him Qian Xu is here to see him."

The employee was stunned for a moment.

He hurried toward the office.

---

A few minutes later.

A man in his forties walked out.

He was wearing a white shirt.

He wore a Lotte Mart name tag.

His hair was slightly graying.

But he looked energetic.

"Chairman Qian?"

Park Seong-ho looked at him.

His eyes were filled with caution.

"That's me."

"What can I do for you?"

"I want to have a chat with you."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Is it convenient?"

Park Seong-ho hesitated for a moment.

"Please, come in."

---

Inside the office.

Park Seong-ho poured tea for the two.

"Chairman Qian, you came in person."

"Is there something you need?"

"I want to poach you."

Qian Xu got straight to the point.

Park Seong-ho was stunned.

"Poach me?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Yunmengze is opening Store No. 2 on the main street of Hongdae."

"We need an experienced store manager."

"I think you are very suitable."

Park Seong-ho set down his teacup.

"Chairman Qian, I've worked at Lotte for over ten years."

"Do you really think I'll jump ship?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Because I can give you what Lotte cannot."

"What is that?"

"A monthly salary of 12 million won," Qian Xu said.

"Year-end bonuses are calculated separately."

"If you do well with Store No. 2."

"I'll make you the Regional Manager for Store No. 3."

Park Seong-ho fell silent.

His fingers rubbed against the teacup.

"Chairman Qian, you are poaching my talent."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Isn't Lotte Mart trying to fight me?"

"Then I'll poach their people."

"And let their backyard catch fire."

Park Seong-ho looked at him.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell headquarters?"

"No."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Because you won't."

"Why?"

"Because you've worked at Lotte for over ten years," Qian Xu said.

"Your monthly salary is only 6 million won."

"They have never treated you as one of their own."

"You are just an employee."

"But I am different."

"I will give you respect."

"Give you room to develop."

"Give you the compensation you deserve."

---

Park Seong-ho was silent for a long time.

Then he looked up.

"Chairman Qian, I will consider it."

"Good."

Qian Xu stood up.

"This is my business card."

"Contact me whenever you've made up your mind."

"But don't take too long."

"Store No. 2 opens next month."

"I need the store manager to be in place ahead of time."

He turned around.

He walked out of the office.

Kim Min-jun followed behind.

---

The two walked out of Lotte Mart.

Kim Min-jun looked at him.

"Mr. Qian, will he come?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu was very certain.

"He's tempted."

"What's next?"

"Go to Gyeonggi-do."

Qian Xu checked his watch.

"Find the Farmers Association."

"Sign the direct supply contract."

"Isn't Lotte Mart forcing a choice?"

"Then let them see what it means to pull the rug out from under them."

---

An hour later.

Gyeonggi-do, Anseong City.

At the Farmers Association office.

Park Jung-ho was already waiting.

Several documents were laid out on the table.

"Mr. Qian, you're here."

"Chairman Park, is the contract ready?"

"It's ready."

Park Jung-ho handed over the documents.

"As per your request."

"Our 12 farming households have jointly established a direct supply cooperative."

"To connect directly with Yunmengze."

"Without going through middlemen."

Qian Xu took the documents.

He read them carefully.

The terms were very clear.

The price was 10% higher than the market rate.

But it required quality standards to be met.

And stable supply.

"No problem."

He picked up a pen.

He signed his name.

"Chairman Park, happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation."

Park Jung-ho also signed.

"Mr. Qian, thank you."

"You've given us farmers a way to make a living."

"It's you who gave me a chance."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Fair trade."

"Win-win."

---

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

Qian Xu tapped on it.

[Gyeonggi-do Farmers Direct Supply Cooperative contract signed]

[Contracted farmers: 12]

[Covered categories: Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Apple]

[Direct supply price: Market price + 10%]

[Supply chain stability: S-rank]

He smiled.

He put his phone away.

"Chairman Park, start shipping tomorrow."

"Send the first batch of goods."

"To Yunmengze Life Plaza in Hongdae."

"Good."

Park Jung-ho nodded.

"I will arrange it personally."

---

Qian Xu stood up.

He prepared to leave.

Park Jung-ho called him back.

"Mr. Qian, there is something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"About Lotte Mart," Park Jung-ho said.

"This morning, their procurement manager called me."

"What did he say?"

"He asked me," Park Jung-ho said, "if I had signed with Yunmengze."

"I said yes."

"He threatened me."

"Saying they would cancel our farmers' procurement qualifications."

"From now on, Lotte Mart won't buy our vegetables anymore."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"How did you answer him?"

"I said it didn't matter."

Park Jung-ho smiled.

"Anyway, Lotte Mart suppresses prices so ruthlessly."

"We can survive without them."

"The price Yunmengze gives is 20% higher than Lotte Mart."

"Only a fool would choose Lotte."

---

Qian Xu smiled.

"Chairman Park, well said."

"But you also need to be prepared."

"Lotte Mart won't give up."

"They might retaliate against you in other aspects."

"We aren't afraid."

Park Jung-ho shook his head.

"We are farmers."

"We rely on the land to make a living, not on Lotte."

"As long as Yunmengze keeps buying our vegetables, we will keep supplying them."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good."

"I promise, as long as Yunmengze exists for one day, I will buy your vegetables for one day."

---

Leaving the Farmers Association.

Qian Xu sat in the car.

Kim Min-jun was driving.

"Mr. Qian, where to next?"

"Back to Hongdae."

Qian Xu leaned back against the seat.

"There is a meeting this afternoon regarding the renovation of Store No. 2."

"Okay."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"By the way, Mr. Qian, if Lotte Mart finds out we poached Park Seong-ho, will they retaliate?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"But what can they do? Force suppliers to choose one or the other? The farmers have already chosen sides. Poach the store manager? Can they stop that? Boycott T-ARA? They have already tried that. It's useless. So, they can only watch. Watch as Yunmengze grows step by step."

---

Kim Min-jun smiled.

"Mr. Qian, you are truly amazing. Every step is calculated."

"It's not calculated," Qian Xu shook his head. "It's forced. Lotte Mart made the first move. I'm just counterattacking. And this is just the beginning. There is more excitement to come."

---

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, the renovation plan for Store No. 2 is ready. The meeting is at 2:00 PM. Will you be back?"

Qian Xu replied, "Yes. See you at two."

He put down his phone.

He looked out the window at the fields of Gyeonggi-do.

They were lush and green.

Spring had arrived.

Everything was coming back to life.

---

At 2:00 PM.

Hongdae, Yunmengze Building.

In the conference room.

Ham Eun-jung was already waiting.

The renovation plan and several renderings were laid out on the table.

"Mr. Qian, take a look."

She handed over the documents.

"This is the designer's plan. It's consistent with the style of Store No. 1, but the area is larger and the layout is more reasonable."

Qian Xu opened the file and read it carefully.

The design was professional.

The movement flow was reasonable, the shelf layout was scientific, and the cashier location was appropriate.

"Not bad."

He nodded.

"When can we start?"

"Tomorrow," Ham Eun-jung said. "The renovation team has already been contacted. The construction period is 20 days. We can open in the middle of next month."

"Good."

Qian Xu nodded.

"What about the budget?"

"Renovation costs are 500 million won," Ham Eun-jung said. "Equipment procurement is 300 million won. The first batch of goods is 1 billion won. A total of 1.8 billion won."

"No problem."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Start tomorrow. You are responsible for supervising it."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung smiled. "I guarantee I will complete the task."

---

The meeting ended.

Ham Eun-jung packed up the documents.

Qian Xu called out to her.

"Ms. Eun-jung, thank you for your hard work. During this time, you have to be busy with T-ARA's affairs and the supermarket's affairs. Are you tired?"

"Not tired."

Ham Eun-jung shook her head.

"It's much better than before. Before, at the agency, I was scolded every day and didn't even have money. Now, although I am busy, I am happy because the things I am doing are meaningful."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"That's good. If you are tired, tell me."

"Okay."

Ham Eun-jung smiled. "Mr. Qian, you too. Don't push yourself too hard. Your health is important."

---

At 7:00 PM.

Hongdae, Yunmengze Life Plaza.

When Qian Xu arrived, there were many people in the store.

There were queues in front of the cash registers, and the fresh produce section was crowded.

He stood at the entrance, looking at all of this, and smiled.

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Yunmengze Life Plaza · Today's Data]

[Customer flow: 18,000 people]

[Sales: 1.4 billion won]

[Member registration: 1,200 new members]

[Cumulative members: 12,000]

He smiled, put away his phone, and was about to leave when a middle-aged woman walked over.

"Excuse me, are you Chairman Qian?"

"I am."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"And you are?"

"I'm a resident nearby."

The woman smiled.

"I want to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yes."

The woman said. "Before, when buying groceries, I had to go to Lotte Mart. It was far and expensive. Now that Yunmengze has opened, it's only a five-minute walk away. The prices are cheap, and the goods are good. My husband said this is a supermarket opened by a Chinese person. At first, I was worried, but after coming here, I found it much better than Korean supermarkets. The service is good, the goods are fresh, and the prices are affordable. From now on, I will only shop at Yunmengze."

---

Qian Xu smiled.

"Thank you for your support. We will continue to work hard to bring the best products and the best service to the residents of Hongdae."

The woman nodded.

"Chairman Qian, fighting. I will always support you."

She turned around, carrying her shopping bag, and walked out of the store.

---

Qian Xu stood there, watching her leave, feeling warm inside.

This was the result he wanted.

To be recognized by Koreans and to make Chinese people proud.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Park Seong-ho.

"Chairman Qian, I have made up my mind. I am resigning. I will officially start tomorrow."

Qian Xu smiled and replied, "Good. Welcome to Yunmengze."

He put away his phone and looked out the window.

The night in Hongdae was brightly lit.

The supplier game, direct farm supply, poaching the store manager, Lotte Mart's threat of choosing one or the other—it had all been completely broken.

And this was just the beginning.