Chapter 150: We’ll See What You Can Do

Regarding Tian Yongliang’s words, Zhao Fan did not answer. Instead, he asked directly, “If I send you, can you solve this problem?”

Tian Yongliang thumped his chest. “As long as Feiteng Supermarket hasn’t broken the law, I can solve any problem.”

Zhao Fan smiled. “Don’t be too sure of yourself. I’ll give you a chance. Go to Haicheng now, contact Jia Yuanteng, and break the deadlock created by this new rival.”

“No problem.”

Zhao Fan mentally reviewed Tian Yongliang’s abilities. Using the expansion of the Haicheng supermarkets as a follow-up test, he felt there should be no issue.

“All your expenses will be covered by Feiteng Corporation. Submit the receipts when you return.”

“No problem.”

Tian Yongliang did not linger. After speaking with Zhao Fan, he asked for Jia Yuanteng’s contact information and left. Before departing, he said, “To avoid any misunderstandings, President Zhao, please contact Group Leader Jia in advance so there won’t be any problems.”

Xu An glanced around. “President Zhao, you’re really handing this matter over to him just like that?”

Zhao Fan smiled. “What else?”

“Aren’t you going to test him a little more?”

Zhao Fan leaned back in his chair. “Haicheng is my test.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that loyalty was important?”

Zhao Fan raised an eyebrow. “Did I?”

Xu An fell silent. A few seconds later, he cleared his throat several times. “No. Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“All right. Go ahead.”

As Xu An reached the door, Zhao Fan’s hand, which had been reaching for his phone, suddenly stopped.

“Xu An.”

“Yes, President Zhao? Is there something else?”

“Come here.”

After Xu An leaned close, Zhao Fan lowered his voice and whispered a few words. “Understood?”

Xu An looked troubled. “President Zhao, wouldn’t that make it easy for them to target us?”

“Voluntary.”

“All right, all right.”

Xu An left with a deeply troubled expression.

After informing Jia Yuanteng about Tian Yongliang, Zhao Fan ended the call. He had done everything he could for the moment. Now all he could do was wait and see whether Tian Yongliang truly had the ability to solve the problem.

If he did, that would be best. But if he didn’t…

Zhao Fan brought up his plans. Haiyuan Supermarket had tremendous momentum, and with its powerful backing, Feiteng Supermarket had no advantage in confronting it in the short term. It lacked favorable timing, location, and support. All it could do was compete with Haiyuan Supermarket for customers in Haicheng.

As for competing for customers…

Zhao Fan took out a pen and began writing down the promotional campaigns he remembered.

Major sales, discounts, holiday events… He listed them one after another. By the time he came to himself, he had already filled more than a dozen pages.

Looking back over them, Zhao Fan felt a headache coming on. “Xiao Chen, have the department manager in charge of the supermarkets come here.”

“Understood.”

Before long, the department manager who had stayed behind at Feiteng arrived. Zhao Fan summarized the plans he had written and handed them over.

“Make the arrangements and put them in order of priority.”

“All right.”

“Oh, and the New Year is coming soon. Have your people design something around the theme of New Year goods. The supermarkets need to be decorated in advance.”

“All right.”

After the manager left, Zhao Fan called in the manager of the game division and asked him to design activities for the New Year as quickly as possible.

“It has to be done soon. If necessary, work overtime. When the New Year comes, I’ll give your department a few extra days off.”

“Understood.”

Amid the bustle, the New Year arrived.

The day before New Year’s Eve, Zhao Fan gave the entire company a holiday. Feiteng Supermarket was the sole exception. Because of the New Year goods, it remained open until five in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve.

When Zhao Fan returned home, he saw red couplets everywhere, and the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

“Dad, Mom, I’m home.”

His parents emerged from the kitchen, each carrying a dish.

“You’re back. Hurry and bring out the food.”

Zhao Fan rolled up his sleeves. After washing his hands, he helped carry the dishes to the table.

The television was already on, broadcasting the holiday gala. Although night had not yet fallen, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers had already begun outside.

After arranging the chopsticks, Zhao Fan listened to the booming sounds outside and asked his father, “Did you buy any fireworks this year?”

“I did. They’re in the stairwell. If you want to set them off, take them outside after dinner.”

“All right.”

Once they had all sat down, Zhao Fan filled their glasses with soft drinks.

“Dad, Mom, I’d like to toast you.”

This was Zhao Fan’s second New Year since his rebirth. Compared with his previous life, his current life was worlds apart.

Whether it was gratitude or thankfulness, what made Zhao Fan happiest was that his parents were still alive. Neither of them had been worn down by life into unrecognizable shadows, as they had in his previous existence.

“Xiaofan, your studies and career are both going so well now. When are you going to bring your mother a daughter-in-law? She doesn’t have to be especially beautiful. As long as she’s kindhearted and can help you, that’s enough.”

“Mom, I haven’t even graduated yet. There’s no need to hurry.”

“How can we not hurry? Finding a wife is something you have to do early. Otherwise, all the good ones will be chosen by other families. Wouldn’t that be a shame?”

His father spoke up. “You shouldn’t pressure Xiaofan. He’s different from before now. If he’s going to find a wife, she should be someone who shares his goals and can help him—someone capable.”

“Exactly. Dad’s right.”

“…”

Amid the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers, the voices of the Zhao family’s three members were gradually drowned out, leaving behind only the joy of the New Year.

They stayed up until dawn. Zhao Fan went to sleep and did not wake until the afternoon.

When he sat up groggily, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of something beside him. Looking more closely, he discovered a red envelope.

From his parents?

He picked it up and found five hundred yuan inside. He could not help laughing.

“I’m already this old, and you still give me a red envelope.”

Though he said that, Zhao Fan immediately placed the envelope in a drawer and carefully put it away.

Downstairs, his parents were watching a rebroadcast of the holiday gala. When he came down, his mother asked, “Are you hungry? There are dumplings we cooked this morning in the kitchen. Fry some for yourself.”

“All right.”

Zhao Fan rolled up his sleeves, went into the kitchen, and fried himself a bowl of dumplings.

“Dad, Mom, are we visiting relatives in a couple of days?”

His father was just about to answer when his mother gave him a hard pinch at the waist. The words vanished from his mouth.

His mother said, “We’ll see. If they call, we’ll go. If they don’t, we won’t.”

Zhao Fan sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere and looked at both of them several times.

“Dad, Mom, you two didn’t have a fight, did you?”

His father denied it. “No. Why would I fight with her?”

His mother snorted. “You don’t dare say so.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I was just confused for a moment. Don’t be angry. I won’t bring it up again, all right?”

“You…”

Just as his mother began to speak, his father’s phone rang.

Zhao Fan looked over and saw the words “Third Brother” displayed on the screen. He raised an eyebrow.

“Dad, it’s Uncle Three…”

He was calling on the first day of the New Year. Zhao Fan had not seen this happen the previous year.

His father cleared his throat. “He’s probably calling to wish us a happy New Year. I…”

His mother said nothing. She answered the phone directly and even turned on the speaker.

“Hello, Big Brother. Happy New Year!”

“Ah, happy New Year.”

“By the way, why don’t you come over to my place for a meal in a couple of days?”

“Sure. We’ll come the day after tomorrow.”

“Great.”

The call ended, and Zhao Fan’s father fell silent.