The hum of activity in the Jiang family's logistics office grew louder as their operations expanded. Small victories like securing Mr Lim as a partner had bolstered morale, but Jiang Han knew that their real challenge lay ahead. Hafiy Zafran's interference was just the beginning. Jiang Han had faced rivalries in his past life as a software engineer, but now the stakes felt more personal. This wasn't just about proving himself—it was about securing his family's livelihood.
Jiang Yu entered the room with a set of updated operational reports. "Ge, we've added three new trial partners this week, including Mr Lim. But..." His voice trailed off.
"What's the issue, Yu?" Jiang Han asked, his tone steady but curious.
Jiang Yu hesitated before replying. "It's Zafran Logistics. They've been targeting our prospects. Several smaller suppliers who were considering us have already signed exclusive deals with them."
Jiang Han's jaw tightened. "Hafiy Zafran is trying to strangle us at the roots. He's using his father's resources to outbid us."
"Exactly," Jiang Yu said, his concern evident. "How do we compete with that?"
Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, his mind working through scenarios. "We don't just compete, Yu. We outmanoeuvre. Hafiy is relying on brute force, but brute force has blind spots. We need to be smarter, faster, and more creative."
Jiang Han's first step was to identify suppliers and clients who valued reliability over cost. He compiled a list of local businesses that had experienced issues with larger firms like Zafran Logistics in the past. Using his Begging System, he activated the Strategic Networking skill, which provided insights into potential connections and vulnerabilities in the market.
System Notification:
Skill Activated: Strategic Networking
Effect: Enhanced ability to identify key allies and exploit market gaps.
Armed with this knowledge, Jiang Han approached a struggling manufacturer, Tan Industries, that had recently severed ties with Zafran Logistics due to repeated delays and poor communication. He set up a meeting with their CEO, Mr Tan Chee Meng.
The meeting began cordially enough, but Mr Tan was sceptical. "Mr Jiang, I've heard of your family's business. You're ambitious, but ambition doesn't always translate into results. What makes you think you can handle our volume when even Zafran Logistics couldn't?"
Jiang Han leaned forward, his expression calm yet resolute. "Mr Tan, I understand your concerns. But what Zafran Logistics offers in size, they lack in attention to detail. We may be a smaller operation, but that means we can adapt to your specific needs. I personally guarantee that your shipments will be prioritised and tracked with precision."
Mr Tan raised an eyebrow. "A bold claim. But talk is cheap, Mr Jiang. How can you prove it?"
Jiang Han smiled. "Give us one shipment. Let us handle it, and if you're not satisfied, I'll cover any losses personally."
The CEO's eyes narrowed. "You're either very confident or very reckless. Fine. One shipment. Don't disappoint me."
Meanwhile, Hafiy Zafran was growing increasingly frustrated. Despite his aggressive tactics, Jiang Han's business continued to gain traction. His assistant, Faizal, entered the room with a concerned expression.
"Sir, we've lost Tan Industries to Jiang Han. They're giving him a trial run."
Hafiy slammed his fist on the desk. "How is he doing this? He doesn't have our resources or our connections!"
Faizal hesitated before replying. "From what I've gathered, Jiang Han is focusing on smaller clients who value personalised service. He's building trust, one step at a time."
Hafiy's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Trust? Let's see how far trust takes him when his operations are disrupted. Prepare a team to intercept their next shipment. If we can delay it, Tan Industries will lose faith in Jiang Han before he even gets started."
Jiang Han received the notification of the sabotage attempt late at night. A panicked call from his driver informed him that the route to Tan Industries' warehouse had been blocked by a group claiming mechanical issues.
Jiang Han immediately sprang into action, calling Jiang Yu. "Yu, we have a problem. Hafiy's people are blocking our shipment. I need you to reroute the delivery through the southern bypass."
"That'll take an extra two hours, Ge," Jiang Yu replied.
"It's better than letting them win," Jiang Han said firmly.
System Notification:
Urgent Mission Triggered: Ensure the safe and timely delivery of Tan Industries' shipment.
Reward: Route Optimisation Skill (Advanced)
Failure Consequence: Tan Industries will cancel their partnership.
As Jiang Han coordinated the reroute, he noticed another opportunity in the system interface. By activating Dynamic Negotiation, he could turn this challenge into a chance to strengthen his relationship with Mr Tan.
He called the CEO personally. "Mr Tan, I want to inform you of a minor delay due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we're taking immediate action to ensure your shipment arrives safely."
Mr Tan's tone was measured. "Unforeseen circumstances, you say? Sounds like sabotage to me."
Jiang Han didn't deny it. "It's possible. But rest assured, this incident only strengthens our resolve to deliver excellence. Consider this a testament to our commitment—if we can handle disruptions like this, imagine what we can achieve under normal conditions."
There was a pause before Mr Tan replied, "You're quite the negotiator, Mr Jiang. I'll hold you to your word."
The shipment arrived at Tan Industries later that night, intact and on time. Jiang Han received a notification confirming the mission's success:
System Notification:
Mission Complete: Ensured the safe and timely delivery of Tan Industries' shipment.
Reward Unlocked: Route Optimisation Skill (Advanced).
As Jiang Han and Jiang Yu reviewed the day's events, Jiang Yu couldn't hide his admiration. "Ge, you turned what could've been a disaster into a victory. How do you stay so calm under pressure?"
Jiang Han smiled faintly. "Experience, Yu. I've faced worse in my past life. The key is to see challenges as opportunities. Hafiy's interference forced us to prove our resilience, which will only strengthen our reputation."
Jiang Yu nodded. "Still, Hafiy won't back down easily. What's our next move?"
Jiang Han's gaze hardened. "We keep building. The more allies we gain, the less power Hafiy has over us. But we won't just defend—we'll take the fight to him when the time is right."