61: Chapter 62 Dual Supply Chain Formation

In the car.

Qian Xu looked out the window.

The fields of Gyeonggi-do.

Lush and green.

Kim Min-jun was driving.

"Mr. Qian, the Farmers Association side is settled."

"But Lotte Mart won't let it go at that."

"I know."

Qian Xu nodded.

"They definitely still have tricks up their sleeves."

"But we aren't afraid."

"Direct procurement from China + Korean farmers."

"A dual supply chain."

"No one can cut us off."

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Dual supply chain layout complete]

[Direct procurement from China: First batch of 5 billion KRW worth of goods arriving at port in 72 hours]

[Korean farmers: Letter of intent signed with Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association]

[Supply chain risk resistance: A-grade]

Qian Xu smiled.

"Representative Kim, head back to the company."

"We have more things to attend to."

"Understood."

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Mr. Qian walked into the office.

Kim Min-jun followed behind.

"Mr. Qian, what's next?"

"Contact the logistics for the direct procurement from China."

Qian Xu sat down.

"Confirm the arrival time."

"Also, storage."

"That storefront in Hongdae."

"Before renovations."

"Set up a temporary warehouse first."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away."

He walked out.

Qian Xu opened his laptop.

The screen displayed system data.

[Daily limit: 11.5 billion KRW]

[Accumulated balance: 34.2 billion KRW]

He smiled.

34.2 billion.

Enough to support Yunmengze Life Plaza.

He continued reading.

[Cultural export value: 1.281 million]

[Korean favorability towards China: 27.8%]

It went up by 0.3%.

Since returning from the Farmers Association.

The favorability rating had increased.

He leaned back in his chair.

Lotte Mart.

They thought by cutting off suppliers.

They could crush him.

But they didn't know.

He had two sets of supply chains.

Direct procurement from China.

Direct supply from Korean farmers.

Double insurance.

No one could cut him off.

His phone rang.

It was Ham Eun-jung calling.

"Mr. Qian, are you at the company?"

"Yes."

"Can I come up?"

"Sure."

A few minutes later.

Ham Eun-jung knocked and entered.

She was wearing a white shirt.

Black trousers.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail.

Her expression was a bit nervous.

"Qian Xu, I heard Lotte Mart made a move."

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"But we've already resolved it."

"Resolved it?"

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Direct procurement from China + Korean farmers."

"A dual supply chain."

"No one can cut us off."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Let's go."

"I'll take you to see."

"See what?"

"The goods from the direct procurement from China."

"They've already arrived."

Busan Port.

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

Mr. Qian was driving.

Ham Eun-jung sat in the passenger seat.

Kim Min-jun sat in the back seat.

"Qian Xu, have the goods arrived?"

Ham Eun-jung asked.

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Representative Kim confirmed it."

"They arrived at the port at two o'clock this afternoon."

"They should be clearing customs now."

Forty minutes later.

Busan Port, container terminal.

Qian Xu parked the car.

The three of them walked in.

The port was huge.

It was piled high with containers.

Kim Min-jun made a call.

Soon after.

A man wearing a work uniform walked over.

"Representative Kim!"

"I am Section Chief Park from the logistics company."

"Your goods have cleared customs."

"They are in Warehouse No. 3."

"Please follow me."

Warehouse No. 3.

The large door opened.

Inside it was piled with cardboard boxes.

Each box had Chinese printed on it.

"Yiwu Small Commodity City"

"Yunmengze Life"

"First Batch of Goods"

Ham Eun-jung was stunned.

"So many?"

"Yes."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"The first batch is 5 billion KRW."

"3,000 boxes."

"Covering 2,000 categories."

Ham Eun-jung walked in.

She picked up a cardboard box.

Opened it.

Inside were various Chinese snacks.

Spicy strips, potato chips, cookies, candies.

She smiled.

"These are very popular in Korea."

"I know."

Qian Xu nodded.

"In the creative section of CU."

"Chinese snacks sell very well."

"We can't even restock fast enough."

Ham Eun-jung looked at the warehouse full of goods.

"With these."

"Lotte Mart won't be able to cut us off."

"Yes."

Qian Xu smiled.

"They thought by cutting off Korean suppliers."

"They could crush us."

"But they forgot."

"China is a major manufacturing power."

"It can produce anything."

"And the prices are cheaper."

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[First batch of goods from direct procurement from China arrived at port]

[Supply chain verification complete]

[Dual supply chain layout: Formed]

[Cultural export value: +0.2%]

Qian Xu smiled.

"Let's go."

"Back to the company."

"Starting tomorrow."

"Yunmengze Life Plaza."

"Officially launching."

The next morning.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Mr. Qian had just arrived at the office.

Kim Min-jun knocked and entered.

"Qian Xu, Lotte Mart has made another move."

"What move?"

"They contacted the Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association."

Kim Min-jun frowned.

"They want to pressure President Kim."

"To cancel the cooperation with us."

Qian Xu smiled.

"And then?"

"President Kim refused."

Kim Min-jun also smiled.

"He said."

"The Farmers Association is not a subsidiary of Lotte Mart."

"They have autonomy in their operations."

"Plus, the price Yunmengze offers."

"Is 20% higher than Lotte Mart's."

"Of course the farmers choose us."

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair.

"Lotte Mart."

"Thinks that because they are the second largest retailer in Korea."

"They can do whatever they want."

"But they are wrong."

"This is a market economy now."

"Whoever offers a good price."

"The farmers will sell to them."

His phone rang.

It was Kim Seong-ho calling.

"Qian Xu, good morning."

"President Kim, good morning."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I heard Lotte Mart reached out to you?"

"Yes."

Kim Seong-ho's tone was relaxed.

"But they got a cold shoulder."

"Haha."

Qian Xu smiled.

"President Kim, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Kim Seong-ho said.

"Our Farmers Association."

"Only looks at price and sincerity."

"Lotte Mart offers low prices."

"And often delays payments."

"We haven't wanted to work with them for a long time."

"Yunmengze is different."

"Cash settlement."

"The price is 20% higher."

"This is a true partner."

Qian Xu nodded.

"President Kim, let's have a long-term partnership."

"Understood."

Kim Seong-ho smiled.

"I have already notified."

"All farmers in Gyeonggi-do."

"Starting today."

"Prioritize supplying Yunmengze."

He hung up the phone.

Qian Xu looked at Kim Min-jun.

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard it."

Kim Min-jun smiled.

"Lotte Mart this time."

"Has completely lost."

"It's not over yet."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"They definitely still have tricks up their sleeves."

"But no matter what moves they make."

"We have a countermeasure."

In the afternoon.

Hongdae, Yunmengze Life Plaza.

The renovation team had already entered.

Workers were tearing down the old decorations.

Dust was flying everywhere.

Qian Xu was wearing a hard hat.

Standing at the entrance.

Ham Eun-jung was standing beside him.

"Mr. Qian, when can this open?"

"In a month."

Mr. Qian looked at the construction site.

"Renovations will take 15 days."

"Stocking will take 10 days."

"Trial operation for 5 days."

"Officially opening in one month."

Ham Eun-jung nodded.

"What about T-ARA's comeback show?"

"Also in a month."

Qian Xu smiled.

"The day the Life Plaza opens."

"T-ARA will be at the Hongdae Livehouse."

"Holding their comeback debut show."

"A double celebration."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I've already made arrangements with President Park of STAGE 28."

"May 20th."

"We've booked the venue."

"T-ARA's comeback debut show."

Ham Eun-jung's eyes turned red.

"Mr. Qian..."

"You've arranged everything."

"It's only right."

Mr. Qian smiled.

"T-ARA has waited for six years."

"It's time to return to the stage."

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Cultural export event: Yunmengze Life Plaza + Hongdae comeback show]

[Dual event linkage]

[Estimated cultural export value: +1.5%]

[Estimated Korean favorability towards China: 28.5%]

Qian Xu smiled.

Lotte Mart.

They thought by cutting off suppliers.

They could crush him.

But they didn't know.

He had two sets of supply chains.

Direct procurement from China.

Direct supply from Korean farmers.

Double insurance.

No one could cut him off.

Furthermore.

In one month.

Yunmengze Life Plaza will open.

T-ARA's comeback debut show.

A double celebration.

By then.

We'll see who has the last laugh.