Chapter Thirty-Four: Adversity Returns

After seeing Jiang Yu off, Qu Wanqing plunged headlong into her business. Though the recent string of busy days left her somewhat weary, she did not slacken her pace; rather, she threw herself into her work with even greater intensity, determined to make her enterprise larger and more formidable. She handled every affair with decisive, lightning-fast efficiency, much like a general mapping out a strategy to command her burgeoning commercial empire.

At first, everything seemed to go smoothly. Orders poured in, and the warehouse was soon overflowing with stock. She even began planning to open branch locations to expand into broader markets.

"Hmph, that woman really does have some talent," Shopkeeper Sun muttered, standing at a street corner. He watched Qu Wanqing’s busy figure with cold, narrowed eyes, a glimmer of jealousy flashing within them. Having plotted for so long with Secretary Song, how could he stand by and watch Qu Wanqing dominate the market alone? They secretly colluded with several smaller merchants, spreading rumors to smear Qu Wanqing’s reputation and began to isolate her.

The attitude of neighboring merchants toward Qu Wanqing gradually chilled. Their once-warm greetings turned into deliberate avoidance, and some even began to refuse to do business with her. Qu Wanqing keenly sensed this shift. Her brows furrowed slightly, and a burning fighting spirit ignited within her. "Trying to take me down? I’m not some pushover!" she sneered, a sharp glint in her eyes.

Then came the day of the regular Chamber of Commerce meeting. Shopkeeper Sun was prepared. He publicly proposed several new business regulations, ostensibly to standardize the market, but in reality, they were targeted directly at Qu Wanqing. His words were sharp and barbed as he tried to persuade other merchants to agree to his proposals.

"If these proposals pass, I’m afraid business won’t be so easy for Boss Qu," Secretary Song added, fanning the flames with a sinister smirk.

Qu Wanqing remained calm, having long since seen through Shopkeeper Sun’s ruse. She rose unhurriedly and refuted his proposals one by one, her logic impeccable and her evidence irrefutable, leaving the shopkeeper speechless. "Shopkeeper Sun, business should be built on integrity, not these underhanded schemes," she declared, her voice ringing out with such authority that it silenced the room. The other merchants, who had been watching from the sidelines, were stunned by her presence and wisdom, and they began to openly question the motives of Shopkeeper Sun.

The tension in the chamber became stifling, as if the air had frozen solid. Just then, a voice broke the deadlock.

"Boss Qu, I support you!" Boss Li appeared suddenly, a friendly smile on his face. His arrival eased the hostile atmosphere. He walked over to Qu Wanqing with a benevolent air, like a kindly old man, and said, "Boss Qu is young and promising—a woman who truly holds her own against any man! Shopkeeper Sun’s proposal is indeed a bit misguided. In business, we should prioritize harmony."

His words, seemingly intended to mediate, were actually filled with hidden traps. On the surface, he was helping Qu Wanqing, but in reality, he intended to make her drop her guard and fall into his snare.

Qu Wanqing saw through his intentions at once. She laughed coldly to herself: *Trying to play the fox in sheep's clothing? I'll play along with you!*

"Boss Li is right; harmony brings wealth," Qu Wanqing replied, a smile spreading across her face, though her tone held a hint of mockery. "However, I wonder if the ‘harmony’ you speak of means everyone dividing up my market, or if it means I should obediently hand over my business so that you gentlemen can ‘harmoniously’ take a slice of the pie?"

This sudden counter-question caused the smile on Boss Li’s face to freeze instantly. He hadn't expected Qu Wanqing to call out his intentions so directly. The surrounding merchants cast looks of surprise, clearly impressed by her sharp insight.

"Boss Qu, you jest. How could I..." Boss Li tried to quibble, but Qu Wanqing cut him off. "Boss Li, there is no need to explain; everyone here is a person of understanding. The marketplace is like a battlefield—the winner takes all, and the loser serves the victor. I, Qu Wanqing, am not easily intimidated!"

She scanned the room with a piercing gaze. "Everyone, Shopkeeper Sun and Secretary Song have been working in the shadows, using threats and lures to make you turn against me. Do you really think they will treat you with sincerity? I don’t need to explain the concept of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold' to you, do I?"

Qu Wanqing’s words were like a bomb dropped into the middle of the Chamber of Commerce. The small merchants who had been coerced by Sun and Song bowed their heads, their resolve beginning to waver. Seeing that the time was ripe, Qu Wanqing pressed her advantage. She produced a business plan she had prepared in advance, presenting her partnership proposal to the merchants and promising them more favorable terms. Her sincere demeanor and ambitious plans moved the majority of those present. They realized that working with Qu Wanqing might be far more promising than following Shopkeeper Sun and Secretary Song.

One by one, the merchants began to declare their willingness to cooperate with Qu Wanqing again. The faces of Shopkeeper Sun and Secretary Song turned ashen; their meticulously crafted conspiracy had been easily dismantled by Qu Wanqing. Watching them seethe with frustration, she curled her lips into a cold smile.

Late at night, Qu Wanqing sat alone in her study, flipping through the account books. Although Jiang Yu was not by her side, she did not feel lonely. She picked up a pen and wrote a few words in the ledger: *This is only the beginning...*

She set the book down and rubbed her tired eyes. Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, spilling silently onto the desk and reflecting her slightly weary face.

Although Jiang Yu was not there, she felt no loneliness, only a surge of strength. She recalled his words of encouragement before he left, and her lips curled into a gentle smile. Her eyes filled with tenderness and longing, as if he were standing right beside her. "Wait for me; I will become your strongest support!" she whispered, her voice filled with resolve.

However, the good times did not last. A new commercial trend suddenly swept through the market. A novelty item known as "Glazed Beads" became an overnight sensation, capturing a massive share of the market. These beads were crystal clear and brilliantly colored, and it was said they could bring good fortune, instantly winning the hearts of countless young women.

Qu Wanqing’s business suffered a huge impact; order volumes plummeted, and goods began to pile up in her warehouse. "What on earth is this thing? How did it suddenly become so popular?" Qu Wanqing looked at a glazed bead in her hand, completely bewildered. She realized that if she could not adapt to this new market shift quickly, all her previous efforts might go to waste.

The pressure weighed on her like a mountain, and the surrounding business environment became increasingly harsh. Qu Wanqing decided to study this emerging trend in depth to see if she could find a new opportunity within it. She visited the markets, investigated the supply sources, and analyzed consumer psychology, trying to find a breakthrough.

Just as she was preparing to take action, she received an anonymous letter. It contained only a few short sentences: "Stop investigating the Glazed Beads, or suffer the consequences."

After reading the note, Qu Wanqing frowned. Who had sent it? What secrets were hidden behind it? She didn't know, but she was not intimidated. She crumpled the letter into a ball and tossed it into the brazier. Watching it turn to ash, she curled her lips in a cold sneer: "Trying to scare me? I'm not some pushover!"