The departure of A-Kuan, though a minor operational setback, sent a clear, cold message: Boss Wei was watching. He wasn't overtly threatening, not yet, but his subtle interference was like an invisible hand tightening around the fledgling life of Fenyang FreshGo. Lin Yuan, however, felt no panic. He saw it not as a problem, but as a strategic maneuver by an opponent, a move that demanded a precise, calculated counter-move. This was the true battlefield, not of physical blows, but of information, leverage, and economic attrition.
The next morning, Lin Yuan printed out new hiring notices for drivers, not just for one replacement, but for three additional positions, aiming to increase their driver pool by 150% over the next few days. He had learned from the market that most small businesses in Fenyang operated on razor-thin margins, often unable to afford a full-time, salaried driver. The gig economy, however unreliable, was a lifeline for many struggling young men. His notices, posted conspicuously on the bulletin boards of the Fenyang Employment Office, the Cyber Nest, and a few popular tea houses, highlighted the fixed 10 yuan daily fuel allowance, the transparent, performance-based payment system, and the newly introduced 'Fenyang FreshGo Veteran Bonus' of an extra 50 yuan per week for drivers who committed for over a month. He even added a line about "opportunities for growth and stable income," a subtle appeal to ambition in a town where most jobs were dead ends.
He delegated the initial screening of applicants to Chen Guang, focusing on basic temperament and the ability to operate a scooter. But the final interviews, the critical assessment of character, Lin Yuan reserved for himself. Over the course of the next two days, they interviewed nearly a dozen hopefuls. Most were unsuitable: some were overly confident, others clearly just looking for quick cash without commitment, a few even had histories of unreliable work that Lin Yuan had quietly verified through discreet inquiries with local vendors. He quickly dismissed a swaggering young man named Ah Da who boasted of his speed but seemed dismissive of rules.
Then came Xiao Bing, a nervous young man in his early twenties, his clothes faded but clean, his hands calloused from manual labor. He spoke softly, almost hesitantly, admitting he'd been laid off from a construction site a few weeks prior. His eyes, however, held a quiet earnestness. Lin Yuan asked him about his experience with Fenyang's complex alleyways, his willingness to follow precise routes, and his understanding of customer service. Xiao Bing spoke of patience and diligence, describing how he used to carry heavy loads across construction sites, which gave him a good sense of spatial awareness. Lin Yuan detected a genuine desire for stability, a trait he valued above all. "Can you commit to reliable work, every day, from early morning until late afternoon, for at least two months?" Lin Yuan asked, his gaze piercing. Xiao Bing nodded firmly. "Yes, I need the work. And I need it to be stable."
They also hired Mr. Guo, a middle-aged man with a family, who had a scooter but previously cobbled together odd jobs like hauling small goods for market vendors. Mr. Guo was initially skeptical of the "escrow" payment, but after Lin Yuan patiently explained the system, emphasizing the daily fuel allowance and the stability, his skepticism slowly gave way to cautious interest. "If it's truly stable," he said, "and pays on time, then I'll try. My family needs reliable income." Lin Yuan saw the quiet desperation in Mr. Guo's eyes, a reflection of the silent struggles of many in Fenyang. This was his leverage, not fear, but the promise of a better life.
Lin Yuan personally trained the new drivers, spending hours riding with them, mapping out the most efficient routes, teaching them how to use Chen Guang's now-simplified phone interface for order tracking and confirmation. He emphasized politeness, punctuality, and the importance of accurate order fulfillment. "Every successful delivery," he lectured them, "is not just a single payment. It's a brick in the foundation of trust. It builds our reputation. And a strong reputation means more orders, more stability, more income for all of us." He also implemented a simple 'driver performance log', tracking each driver's daily deliveries, customer ratings, and any issues, providing clear, objective data for bonuses and future evaluations.
Over the next ten days, the results were astounding. With the expanded driver pool and Lin Yuan's meticulous routing and management, Fenyang FreshGo's daily order volume soared. From the initial 25-30 orders per day before Lin Yuan's intervention, they were now consistently handling over 60 orders daily, sometimes even hitting 70 on busy market days. The delivery success rate remained at nearly 100%, and positive customer feedback flooded Chen Guang's phone. Mrs. Li, the market vendor, even started recommending Fenyang FreshGo to her customers, acting as an informal, unpaid marketing agent. Old Man Zhu, a notoriously picky customer known for his complaints, actually left a positive review on the local WeChat group, praising the prompt and polite delivery of his specific brand of imported noodles. These small endorsements, shared within the tightly-knit community, were invaluable.
Lin Yuan presented the detailed financial report to Chen Guang at the end of the ten days, the numbers irrefutable.
* Total Gross Revenue (10 days): 650 orders (average 65 orders/day) * (average 50 yuan/order) = 32,500 yuan.
* Driver Payments (approx): (650 orders * avg. (8 yuan + 10% commission)) + (10 yuan fuel * 4 drivers * 10 days) + (small training incentives) = approximately 10,000 yuan.
* Supplier Costs: Approximately 18,000 yuan.
* Net Profit (10 days): 32,500 - 10,000 - 18,000 = 4,500 yuan.
Chen Guang stared at the ledger, his jaw slack. "Four thousand five hundred yuan... in ten days? Lin Yuan... that's more than I made in the last three months combined!" His eyes, once shadowed with desperation, now gleamed with a mix of awe and burgeoning respect.
Lin Yuan merely nodded. "My share of net profit for this period is 1,350 yuan," he stated calmly. "It's still a small sum, Chen Guang, but it's consistent. And it's growing. At this rate, we can project a monthly net profit of 13,500 yuan, potentially more as word spreads and our volume increases." He then showed Chen Guang another column. "Our operational efficiency has increased by over 35%, and our customer satisfaction index is nearly 98%. This isn't just about money; it's about building a reliable brand in Fenyang."
As Fenyang FreshGo thrived under Lin Yuan's unseen hand, Boss Wei's subtle moves continued, like a tide attempting to erode a newly built seawall. A rumor began circulating in the market, whispered by a few of Lao Hu's cronies – Lao Hu being a known gossip-monger who frequented Boss Wei's tea house – suggesting that Fenyang FreshGo was "using underpaid labor" or "cutting corners on quality." Lin Yuan immediately countered this by having Chen Guang post public notices in the WeChat groups, detailing the new driver payment structure and soliciting customer testimonials, effectively turning the negative rumor into a positive marketing opportunity.
More significantly, a week into their improved operations, a key supplier, Mr. Cheng from the Fenyang Grain & Oil Wholesale Co., suddenly informed Chen Guang that he would no longer offer credit, demanding upfront cash payment for all future orders. This was a direct financial squeeze, clearly orchestrated by Boss Wei, who had significant influence over local wholesalers. Chen Guang was panicking, as this would severely strain their cash flow.
Lin Yuan, however, had already anticipated such a move. His research into Boss Wei's network had revealed a long-standing rivalry between Mr. Cheng and another wholesaler, Mr. Yang, who ran a smaller, independent operation on the outskirts of Fenyang. While Mr. Cheng was entrenched, Mr. Yang was eager to expand and secure new, reliable clients.
"Don't worry, Chen Guang," Lin Yuan said, his eyes glinting with a familiar, predatory gleam. "We don't need Mr. Cheng's credit. We will shift our business to Mr. Yang's Wholesale Emporium. He offers slightly higher prices on some items, but his quality is better, and he's hungry for business. I've already quietly reached out to him. I assured him of our increased volume and consistent payments, and he's offered us a 2% discount for bulk orders paid in cash, and a 1.5% discount for orders paid within 24 hours." He had secured this by leveraging Fenyang FreshGo's newly established reputation for reliability and volume, a reputation cultivated entirely by his own methods.
This subtle shift in suppliers, away from Boss Wei's direct influence, was more than just a business decision; it was a quiet declaration of independence, a strategic move that showed Lin Yuan was not easily deterred. He understood that true power wasn't just about making money; it was about building self-sufficiency, about cutting the threads that tied one to the control of others. Every successful delivery, every satisfied customer, every calculated counter to Boss Wei's interference, was another small, invisible brick in the foundation of the empire he sought to build. He thought of his mother, working tirelessly, and the silent promise he'd made to her. The weight of that promise, far heavier than any threat, fueled his relentless drive. The shadow of the throne grew subtly, silently, with each passing day.