Chapter 15: A Finishing Move Cripples You—Niu Li Is Defeated
July 14, 1993.
For ordinary people, this day was perfectly mundane, but for Niu Li, it was of paramount importance.
It was the last day. If he could defeat Zhang Tianfeng, he would be safe, and might even forge a connection with Qin Lin.
After a restful night’s sleep, the early-rising Niu Li ate breakfast at a roadside stall.
A taxi screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, and one of Niu Li’s underlings stepped out.
“Morning, boss.”
“Why are you so late? Didn’t I tell you to come early?” Niu Li muttered, about to lower his head to eat. Just then, something caught his eye: an advertisement on the right-side car door.
“Wait!” he called to the driver, hurried to the car, and examined the hand-drawn style advertisement.
“This summer, let lovers become family.”
He recognized it immediately—only Zhang Tianfeng could create such eccentric artwork.
“Boss, is something wrong?” his subordinate asked. “It’s not just taxis, I saw the ad on buses and coaches too.”
“How many?”
“Not sure… At least forty or fifty vehicles, all over Xiyan City and the surrounding towns and villages.”
The subordinate added, “I specifically asked about it. Drivers said someone gave them fifty yuan to stick the paper on their cars for just three days.”
“Forget breakfast, go back to the wholesale market!”
Niu Li’s face darkened; the subordinate dared not ask more and quietly followed.
They hurried back to the wholesale market, just as a construction crew was leaving.
“Boss, you’re right on time! I was just about to message you—205’s been renovated. They even changed the shop name to ‘Blue Sail at the Port.’”
“Are you stupid? I told you, any movement at 205, you report to me. What’s the use of telling me now?” Niu Li cursed.
The subordinate was thick-skinned, sheepishly scratching his head. “I slept too deeply, didn’t hear anything.”
What a dumb pig!
Muttering under his breath, Niu Li asked, “How’s the shipment? Any complaints?”
“None. Everything’s normal. Shipments are higher than yesterday.”
That’s odd. If the kid made a move, it’s not logical for nothing to change. At the very least, there should be a couple of new accessories.
Thinking it over, Niu Li still felt uneasy. “You guys wait for me in the warehouse. I’ll check 205 myself.”
He jogged upstairs, just as Zhang Tianfeng opened the door to 205.
“Oh, Boss Niu, here so early to inspect? I told my construction crew not to make a sound, so the neighbors wouldn’t be disturbed. Did it bother you?”
“No, I just came to take a look.”
The shop’s style had completely changed: pale blue walls, stars on the ceiling, most wires tucked away, leaving just one display case, and new stools everywhere.
It was fresh, clean, and bright. With the new air conditioning, you could feel the coolness even before entering.
What on earth was this kid up to, spending so much money?
“Care to come in and have a look? The new air conditioner makes it really cool.”
“No need, I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
Forcing a smile, Niu Li quickly left.
Zhang Tianfeng shook his head, stretched, and went inside, ready to open for today’s battle.
Back in the warehouse, Niu Li kept pondering Zhang Tianfeng’s intentions.
After much thought, he couldn’t figure it out, so he prepared thoroughly. He sent his men to monitor the workshop and printing factory, while he personally oversaw the wholesale market, waiting for Zhang Tianfeng’s next move.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was nine thirty in the morning. The wholesale market started filling up.
As the first batch of customers entered 205, Niu Li was immediately notified.
“Boss, that guy’s still giving customers styling advice—no new accessories, no new stories.”
Hearing this, Niu Li wondered if Zhang Tianfeng had lost his mind.
This was a wholesale market, a place for bargains. You’ve been selling image design services for days; the upscale clientele has been squeezed dry. Who else would come?
After the first report, Niu Li remained skeptical.
After the second, he dropped his guard completely, convinced that Zhang Tianfeng had no tricks left.
Crowds poured into the wholesale market. When they saw a queue at 205, they quickly turned to the other wholesalers, bought accessories, and left.
Seeing replenishment orders come in wave after wave, Niu Li’s smile nearly split his face.
“What a fool! Does he really think Xiyan City is full of brainless women? Advertising on cars is useless!”
“Spent ten thousand, but all the customers he attracted are buying from me! Hahaha!”
Ecstatic, Niu Li waved his hand and shouted, “Lunch is on me today, order whatever you want. After work tonight, everyone gets a ten-yuan overtime bonus!”
“Boss, what about the workshop and printing factory?”
“Let them wait for instructions. No orders, they can do whatever.”
“Got it, boss!”
Feeling triumphant, Niu Li swaggered upstairs and strode into 205.
He was about to mock when he saw Gao Ran sitting at the counter.
He shrank back, forced a smile, and said, “Boss Zhang, thanks for advertising the wholesale market, and looking out for us poor folks. I’ll be off now.”
What was going on? That didn’t sound much like mockery.
“Who is he?” Gao Ran whispered.
On the day the goods were snatched, Niu Li sent his men; he hadn’t shown up himself. Qin Lin hadn’t told Gao Ran that Niu Li was the mastermind, so she didn’t recognize him.
Zhang Tianfeng quietly replied, “He’s just here to watch me fall. He’s like that character surnamed Niu in the novel—a great guy on the surface, but truly vicious underneath.”
“You’re talking about the book again. I’ve almost brought fifty sisters here to support your business. When will you start the next phase?”
“Soon, very soon!”
Today, Gao Ran was the first to arrive, and Zhang Tianfeng told her that fifty customers needed to make purchases before the next phase could begin.
Anyone else would have left long ago, but Gao Ran had become obsessed with “Summer Love.”
She wasn’t alone; dozens of women in her circle discussed the plot every day.
With the heroine unconscious, they couldn’t even eat.
After serving the last customer, Zhang Tianfeng said, “Thank you all for your support, giving an original author a chance to survive.”
“You’ve seen it—now the whole wholesale market is selling ‘Summer Love’ accessories. They’re all knock-offs; I haven’t received a penny.”
“So, here’s my rule: only customers who buy in my shop are eligible for the activity.”
“I’ll provide premium image design services, plus the latest summer-themed necklace.”
He produced a brand-new necklace. “Look closely—mine are different from the others. Each is numbered, with a hidden anti-counterfeiting mark, limited to 1,000 pieces.”
“Once all 1,000 are given out, I’ll have the money to print the complete story of ‘Summer Love.’ Then everyone will get to see it.”
“I’ll buy all 1,000 copies myself,” Gao Ran said, slapping the table. “Fifty yuan each, that’s only fifty thousand. I’ll pay it.”
My goodness, who knew? She’s a super-rich woman!
But Zhang Tianfeng’s true aim wasn’t the fifty thousand—it was the whole wholesale market.
A thousand customers, ten minutes of service each, meant 10,000 minutes, nearly seven days.
He wouldn’t drag it out that long; customers would leave. He wanted the wholesalers outside to panic.
After half a day of fishing, those needing restocking had already done so. Now, customers refused to buy, knowing the goods would rot in their hands—who wouldn’t panic?
Wholesalers and vendors in a panic meant Niu Li would suffer.
When Niu Li couldn’t hold on, Zhang Tianfeng would step in to buy the vendors’ accessories at a low price.
Buy low, sell high, or cooperate directly—he’d hold all the leverage.
“Miss, it’s not about the money; it’s about an original author’s self-respect.”
“They plagiarized my work, didn’t pay me, and even mocked me. I can’t swallow that.”
“Fine, leave it to me.”
Gao Ran had been disgusted by some vile people and hated the copycats most. She empathized deeply with Zhang Tianfeng’s plight.
She took his suggestion and left. Soon, the mood in the wholesale market shifted dramatically.
Vendors who’d been gleefully collecting money suddenly found customers refusing to buy. They’d rather queue outside 205 than support the business, even if the accessories were cheap.
Just as Niu Li finished his meal, he received feedback from the vendors.
“Trying to play games with me? Let’s see how you die!”
“Pass it on—ten yuan for three accessories, the more you buy, the more you get. I’ll cover their losses!”
“Whoever sells 1,000 sets first gets a personal reward of 5,000 yuan—remember, it must be to customers, not themselves!”
With only half a day left, Niu Li couldn’t allow any mistakes, even if it meant going bankrupt.
But he still underestimated the high-quality customers Zhang Tianfeng had chosen.
These cultured, artistic women had remarkable loyalty—and none were short of money.
Fifty yuan was half a month’s wages for an ordinary family, but for them, it was pocket change.
The lives of the wealthy are simple and unadorned; they never worry about money, spending their days eating, drinking, and having fun. When they finally found a story that moved them, how could they not support it?
Thus, the wholesale market found itself in a peculiar situation.
Even with vendors selling at low prices, bundling more freebies, the customers remained unmoved.
They’d rather stand under the sun with umbrellas, queuing outside, than budge an inch. Eating shaved ice, they discussed the next chapter of “Summer Love.”