Video Editor

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan considered it for three days.

The two barely spoke to each other during those three days.

They go out to look for work during the day, and return to their rented rooms at night, lying on their beds and staring blankly at the ceiling.

Xiao Ran went to the job market several more times, but still came up empty-handed.

Employers either rejected him because he lacked experience, or offered him pitifully low wages...

I only get two or three hundred a month. After paying the rent, I don't even have enough for living expenses.

Liu Yuan also visited several places, and the situation was similar.

Both have little work experience, so large companies don't want them, and small companies don't offer good compensation.

On the third night, the two of them had only fifteen yuan left in their pockets.

"What should we do tomorrow?" Liu Yuan asked.

Xiao Ran didn't say anything.

Tomorrow? Tomorrow we won't even have money for food.

"Old Xiao, I think... we could give that job Su Ning mentioned a try," Liu Yuan said hesitantly.

Xiao Ran remained silent.

“Xiao Ran, I know what you’re thinking,” Liu Yuan said. “Actually, I feel aggrieved too. Working for Suning is like bowing down to him. But we can’t even afford to eat right now, so what’s the point of talking about backbone? Let’s just focus on surviving.”

Xiao Ran sat up and lit a cigarette; it was the last cigarette he had.

Smoke filled the small room.

"Liu Yuan, why did we come to Shenzhen?" Xiao Ran suddenly asked.

"To... get ahead, to make money, to prove myself," Liu Yuan said.

"Who are we proving this to?"

"Prove it to...to everyone. Prove that we're no worse than anyone else."

Xiao Ran gave a bitter smile, "But what about now? What have we become? We can't even find jobs, we can't even afford food. What does that prove?"

Liu Yuan fell silent.

“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” Xiao Ran said. “We can’t go on like this. If we continue like this, we won’t even be able to survive, let alone prove ourselves. Han Ling is coming to Shenzhen next year, and I can’t let her see me like this.”

"so……"

“So, I’ll go to Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics.” Xiao Ran stubbed out his cigarette. “No matter what, I need a job first, to survive. Once I’ve saved enough money and gained experience, I’ll think about other things.”

Liu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's what I thought too. Lao Xiao, we're going to work, to earn money, not to beg Suning. He pays us, we work, it's a fair trade."

“Yes, fair trade,” Xiao Ran repeated.

The next morning, the two took a bus to Lanyuan Village.

……

The factory of Shengang Electronics is easy to find; it is the largest factory area in Lanyuan Village.

There were security guards at the entrance, dressed in neat uniforms and standing ramrod straight.

Seeing the two approach, he politely asked, "Who are you looking for?"

“We’re looking for Suning, Mr. Su,” Xiao Ran said.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but we are his classmates, and he asked us to come."

The security guard picked up the walkie-talkie, said a few words, and then said, "Please wait a moment, Mr. Su is in a meeting."

The two waited at the door for a while.

The factory was filled with the roar of machines, and workers in uniform were going in and out, everything was in good order.

It was completely different from the freight company Xiao Ran had worked for before.

A dozen minutes later, a girl in business attire came out. "Excuse me, are you Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan?"

"we are."

"My surname is Huang, and I am Mr. Su's assistant. Mr. Su, please come in."

"Thank you."

The girl was Huang Yunyun.

She still speaks a little slowly now, but she doesn't stutter much anymore.

The two followed Huang Yunyun into the office building.

The office building is clean and modern.

The company's development history and product introductions are displayed on the wall. Employees are all busy, with the sounds of phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and conversations filling the air.

Huang Yunyun led them to an office on the second floor. "President Su is inside. Please go in."

"Thank you."

Xiao Ran knocked on the door, and Su Ning's voice came from inside, "Come in."

Pushing open the door, I saw Su Ning sitting behind his desk looking at documents.

Seeing them come in, he put down the documents and said, "You've arrived? Have a seat."

The two sat down in the chairs in front of the desk.

"What's your decision?" Su Ning asked.

“We…want to give it a try,” Xiao Ran said.

"It's not about trying, it's about whether you'll do it or not," Su Ning said bluntly. "If you're going to do it, do it well. If you don't want to, leave now."

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan exchanged a glance.

"Let's do it," Xiao Ran said.

"Let's do it," Liu Yuan also said.

“Okay.” Suning nodded. “Let me explain briefly. Shengang Electronics mainly makes pagers, and we currently have two products: version 1.0, priced at 1,500 yuan, and version 2.0, priced at 1,800 yuan. Your position is sales, and you will be responsible for selling the products.”

Then he took out two more documents from the drawer. "This is the employment contract. The base salary is 500, and the commission is 5% of the sales revenue. There is a three-month probation period, during which the salary will be reduced by 20%. If you do well, you'll be hired permanently. If you don't, you're out. Sign it if you agree."

Xiao Ran took the contract and looked at it carefully.

The terms and conditions are very standard, all the necessary ones are included, and there are no hidden traps.

"What about training?" Liu Yuan asked. "We've never done sales before."

“There will be training,” Su Ning said. “Sales manager Li Xiao will train you for a week. He will teach you product knowledge, sales skills, and customer communication. After a week, you will go out and explore the market on your own.”

Where did you run off to?

“Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan… I’ve been to every place in the Pearl River Delta I could,” Su Ning said. “The company reimburses travel expenses, but you need an invoice. There are standards for meals and accommodation, and you have to pay for anything that exceeds them yourself.”

It's very formal and strict.

But it's also fair.

Xiao Ran picked up the pen and signed his name.

Liu Yuan also signed it.

"Alright, you're now employees of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics." Su Ning put away the contracts. "Assistant Huang will take you to complete the onboarding procedures, get your employee badges, and be assigned workstations. Training will begin tomorrow."

"Thank you, Mr. Su," Xiao Ran said.

"No need to thank me." Su Ning looked at him. "Xiao Ran, Liu Yuan, I'm hiring you not because we're classmates, but because you need jobs and I need people. In this company, there are no classmates, only employees and bosses. If you do a good job, I'll pay you. If you don't do a good job, I'll fire you. It's that simple."

"Understood," Xiao Ran said.

"Go out." Su Ning waved her hand.

The two walked out of the office, where Huang Yunyun was waiting at the door.

"Follow me." Huang Yunyun led them to the personnel department.

After completing the onboarding procedures, receiving my employee badge, and being assigned a workstation...

The sales department has a large office, with each person having a desk and a telephone.

The environment was even better than they had imagined.

"Don't be late for work at 8:30 tomorrow morning," Huang Yunyun said. "Manager Li is very strict."

"understood."

As they left the company, Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan stood at the door, looking at the sign for "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics Technology Co., Ltd." with mixed feelings.

"Old Xiao, are we... really going to do this here?" Liu Yuan asked.

"Otherwise what?" Xiao Ran said, "At least this place is legitimate and has a promising future."

"But Suning..."

“Don’t mention him,” Xiao Ran interrupted. “Here, he’s the boss, and we’re the employees. It’s that simple.”

Despite saying that, both of them knew in their hearts that things were not that simple.

Working for Suning means bowing down and admitting defeat.

But reality forced them to bow their heads.

……

The training began the next day, along with more than ten sales staff.

Li Xiao is a man in his thirties, not very tall, but very energetic, and speaks crisply and clearly.

“My name is Li Xiao, and I’m the sales manager. I’ll be leading you for the next week.” He got straight to the point. “Sales is hard work, but it can also be lucrative. If you do well, earning three to five thousand a month is no problem. If you don’t, you’d better get out of here.”

Lesson 1: Product Knowledge.

Li Xiao placed two pagers from Shengang Electronics on the table: "Version 1.0 is the basic model, with simple functions but stable quality. Version 2.0 is the upgraded model, with Chinese display, vibration alert, and long standby time. You need to memorize every parameter and every function."

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan held the product manual and memorized it line by line.

Lesson Two: Sales Techniques

"Sales isn't about begging people to buy; it's about helping them solve problems," Li Xiao said. "Why do customers buy pagers? It's for easier communication. You have to tell them that our product can solve their problems, and that it's better and cheaper than others."

He taught them how to start a conversation, how to introduce the products, how to answer customer questions, and how to close a deal.

Lesson 3: Customer Communication.

"Say the right thing to the right person," Li Xiao said. "When you meet the boss, talk about efficiency and image. When you meet white-collar workers, talk about convenience and fashion. When you meet housewives, talk about safety and contacting family."

Lesson 4, Market Analysis.

"How many pager users are there in Shenzhen now? How many potential users are there? Who are our competitors? What are our advantages? We need to understand all of these things."

The week-long training was very intensive.

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan both work very hard.

We attended classes during the day, reviewed in the evening, asked each other questions, and practiced together.

They knew this was their last chance.

We can't afford to fail again.

……

The training ended on Friday.

Li Xiao specifically called them to his office, saying, "It's been a week, and you've learned everything you need to. Starting next week, you'll go out and develop the market on your own. The company will provide each of you with ten sample units. If you sell them, the money will be returned to the company, and your commission will be settled at the end of the month. If you don't sell them, you'll return the sample units, but you'll lose your commission."

"Where are you going?" Xiao Ran asked.

“Find your own place,” Li Xiao said. “Office buildings, factories, shops, residential areas… go wherever there are lots of people. Remember, the first three months are the hardest. If you can get through them, you can make it. If you can’t, leave.”

After leaving the company, Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan stood at the intersection of Lanyuan Village, carrying ten pagers on their backs.

"Old Xiao, where do we start?" Liu Yuan asked.

“Start with the closest ones,” Xiao Ran said. “First, we’ll target the factories near Lanyuan Village, and then expand outwards.”

"Row."

The two divided the tasks: Xiao Ran went east and Liu Yuan went west, each setting off on their own.

Xiao Ran, carrying a bag, walked into the first factory.

The security guard stopped him. "What are you doing here?"

“I…I’m a sales representative from Shengang Electronics, and I’d like to talk to your boss,” Xiao Ran said.

"The boss isn't here, let's go!" the security guard waved impatiently.

The first attempt failed.

The second, third, fourth... all the same.

They either won't let you in, or the boss isn't there, or they'll just say they don't need it.

Xiao Ran didn't sell a single unit by the end of the day.

When I returned to my rented room that evening, Liu Yuan was also back; he hadn't sold a single unit either.

"It's too difficult." Liu Yuan lay on the bed. "Those people didn't even look at it and just said no."

“Let’s continue tomorrow,” Xiao Ran said. “Manager Li said the first three months are the hardest. We’ve only been here for one day, we can’t give up.”

"Ah."

The two encouraged each other, but neither of them felt confident.

Sales is a really tough job.

But they had no choice.

You can only bite the bullet.

To survive, to live in Shenzhen.

Also so that one day I can stand tall and proud in front of Su Ning and tell him that they are no worse than him.

This road is difficult, but we must continue.

Shenzhen, a city that doesn't believe in tears, is testing every dreamer.

The story of Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan continues.

……

In the office, Su Ning looked at the two pagers on the table... one was the Shengang Electronics 2.0 version, and the other was the latest model from Tianba Electronics.

Afu stood aside and reported, "Master, Huang Tianba has lowered the price to 980. At this price, it doesn't even cover the cost. He's gambling, trying to squeeze us out of the market with a low price."

Suning picked up Tianba's pager, removed the back cover, and looked at the parts inside.

"The chip is an obsolete model, the battery is refurbished, and the plastic casing is as thin as paper," Suning sneered. "Selling something like this for 980? He's treating consumers like fools."

“But master, the price is indeed very attractive,” Afu said. “Many consumers don’t understand the technology; they only look at the price. 980 is more than 500 cheaper than our 1,500, and sales have definitely gone up. Tianba Electronics estimates it can sell 20,000 units this month.”

"Twenty thousand units?" Su Ning raised an eyebrow. "How much money will he lose?"

“Each unit costs about 850, but sells for 980, resulting in a loss of 170 per unit. 20,000 units would be 3.4 million,” Afu said. “Huang Tianba is burning money to grab market share.”

Su Ning threw the pager back on the table. "Burning money? Can he afford it? Three million four hundred thousand is no small sum. Huang Tianba has made some money in the building materials business, but if he keeps burning through cash like this, how many months can he last?"

“According to my investigation, Huang Tianba has already mortgaged three properties in Shenzhen and borrowed another two million from the bank,” Afu said. “He’s really desperate and wants to fight us to the death.”

“Compete?” Suning laughed. “What can he compete with? Poor quality, poor service, all he relies on is low prices. This kind of model won’t last.”

"Afu, get ready, we're going to fight back."

"How should we retaliate? Should we lower prices too?"

"No price reduction. Not only will we not reduce prices, we will also keep them stable. But we want consumers to know that you get what you pay for. Tianba Electronics doesn't sell pagers, it sells junk."

"public opinion?"

"That's right! Even Lei Jun in later generations couldn't withstand the pressure of public opinion, let alone a foolish country bumpkin."

……

The following day, several major newspapers in Shenzhen published a report titled "Chaos in the Pager Market: Quality Traps Behind Low Prices."

The report provides a detailed comparison of the quality, features, and after-sales service of several mainstream pagers.

The article specifically mentions Tianba Electronics, highlighting its poor signal, short battery life, high failure rate, and virtually nonexistent after-sales service.

"A reporter's investigation found that a certain brand of pager was priced at only 980 yuan, far below the market average. However, consumers found many problems after purchasing it: it often failed to receive a signal, the battery would run out after only two hours, the casing was prone to cracking... What's more worrying is that the brand does not have a formal after-sales service center, so consumers can only accept their bad luck when problems arise."

The report also included several photos: a cracked casing, a bulging battery, and an angry complaint letter from a consumer.

On the same day, Shenzhen TV's economic channel also broadcast a special program: "Investigation of Electronic Product Quality".

The reporter went undercover at several electronics markets and interviewed many consumers.

"I bought this pager for 980 yuan, and it broke after three days. I contacted the seller, but they said I broke it myself and refused to repair it," a middle-aged man complained to the camera.

"I bought one because it was cheap, but the signal is terrible and it's unusable in the basement. My colleague bought one from Shengang Electronics for 1,500 yuan, and the quality is much better," said a woman who looked like a white-collar worker.

At the end of the program, the host concluded: "When purchasing electronic products, consumers should not only look at the price, but also at the quality and service. Being greedy for cheap prices may ultimately lead to more losses than gains."

These reports and programs immediately caused a sensation in Shenzhen.

Many people who originally wanted to buy Tianba pagers hesitated after seeing this news.

"980 is cheap, but if it breaks after a few days, wouldn't that be an even bigger loss?"

"I suggest buying from Shengang Electronics! They're a bit more expensive, but the quality is guaranteed."

"I heard that Shengang Electronics offers a three-year warranty, so they can repair it if there's a problem. Tianba's products, on the other hand, just break down and nobody cares."

As expected, public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of the government.

……

At Tianba Electronics, things were in complete chaos.

Huang Tianba slammed the newspaper on the table, his face turning pale with anger. "Who did this? Who's behind my back?"

Awei stood cautiously to the side. "Mr. Huang, I've checked. The report was published by several reputable media outlets, and the reporters are real journalists. But... but the content is clearly aimed at us."

"Nonsense!" Huang Tianba roared, "What 'quality trap'? What 'tricks behind low prices'? Isn't this targeting us? It must be that little bastard Suning's doing!"

"But...we have no evidence!"

"What evidence do you need?" Huang Tianba said. "Besides him, who else could it be? Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics is our competitor. The better we sell, the more uncomfortable they feel. They must have hired someone to write these reports!"

Just then, the phone rang.

Awei answered the phone, listened for a few words, and his expression changed. "Mr. Huang, something bad has happened... The distributor called and said they want to return the goods."

"Return the goods?" Huang Tianba was taken aback. "Return what goods?"

"They said...that our pagers have quality problems and can't be sold. Now, after seeing the reports, consumers are afraid to buy them. Distributors are demanding returns and refunds."

Huang Tianba snatched the phone. "Hello? This is Huang Tianba! What return? It's clearly stated in the contract that once sold, there are no returns or exchanges!"

The distributor's voice came through the phone, "Mr. Huang, it's not that we want refunds, it's that the consumers want refunds. Our store is piled high with your pagers, and we can't sell a single one. We need to do business too... we can't let this inventory sit unsold, can we?"

"That's your problem!" Huang Tianba said. "I've already sold the goods to you and received the money. Whether you can sell them or not is up to you."

"Mr. Huang, you're wrong about that," the distributor retorted angrily. "It's because your product quality is poor that it's not selling. It's been reported in the newspapers and on TV; who would dare buy it? If you don't give us a refund, we'll see you in court!"

The phone hangs up.

Huang Tian was so angry he almost slammed the phone down.

Then came the second call, the third call...

All of these were returned at the request of the distributors.

"Mr. Huang, we haven't sold a single Tianba pager this month. Let's return them all."

“Mr. Huang, a consumer came to return the goods with a newspaper, saying we sold counterfeit goods. We have to give them a refund, or they will cause trouble.”

"Mr. Huang, we've been working together for so long, you can't let us down..."

Within a single day, more than thirty distributors called, requesting refunds.

Huang Tianba calculated that if all the goods were returned, he would have to refund more than two million yuan in payment.

In addition to previous production costs, advertising expenses, bank loan interest...

Tianba Electronics is facing collapse before it has even started to turn a profit.

"What should we do, Mr. Huang?" Awei asked anxiously. "If we withdraw all of it, our cash flow will be cut off."

Huang Tianba slumped in his chair, his face deathly pale.

He hadn't expected that Su Ning, that little brat, would retaliate so fiercely, far more ruthless than his father.

It's not about lowering prices or poaching talent; it's a war of words.

One report and one program were enough to nail Tianba Electronics to the pillar of shame.

Consumers no longer trust Tianba, and distributors are afraid to sell Tianba.

It’s over.

It's all over.

“Mr. Huang, how about… we talk to Suning?” Awei asked tentatively.

"What are we talking about?" Huang Tianba said with a wry smile. "Ask him to let us go? Do you think he'll let us go?"

"Then...what should we do?"

Huang Tianba remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Lower the price. Lower it to 880, no, 850! Lower than the cost! I refuse to believe that no one will buy it at such a low price!"

"But Mr. Huang, then we'll suffer even greater losses!"

"We can't worry about that now!" Huang Tianba roared. "We need to survive first! As long as we can sell the goods and get our money back, there's still hope!"

"Yes Yes……"

……

The next day, Tianba Electronics announced a price reduction across its entire product line: pagers were reduced from 980 to 850.

This price doesn't even cover the cost.

But Huang Tianba was betting that there would always be someone who would try to take advantage of the situation.

As long as he can sell the goods and recover the funds, he can survive.

Let's weather this wave of public opinion and then slowly figure out a solution.

But he was wrong.

The price reduction to 850 yuan not only failed to boost sales, but also made consumers more suspicious.

"It's gone down in price again? From 980 to 850? How bad must the quality be?"

"There must be something wrong with it for the price to drop. Don't buy it, you'll be ripped off."

"Shengang Electronics' 1500 is a bit expensive, but I don't mind. Tianba's 850... who knows what that is?"

The price reduction strategy has completely failed.

Tianba Electronics' pagers are completely unsellable.

……

For Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics, sales have increased rather than decreased.

Many consumers who originally wanted to buy Tianba changed their minds and chose Shenzhen-Hong Kong after seeing the report.

"It's a few hundred yuan more expensive, but it gives me peace of mind."

"Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics offers warranties and after-sales service. You can find someone to help if there are any problems."

"It's high quality and lasts a long time, so it's actually more cost-effective in the long run."

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics' sales team took the opportunity to increase its promotional efforts, conducting promotions in various office buildings, factories, and communities.

"You get what you pay for. Shenzhen-Hong Kong pagers, quality guaranteed, three-year warranty!"

"Don't be greedy for cheap prices, you'll regret it! Choose Shenzhen-Hong Kong, choose peace of mind!"

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan ran even faster.

They carried pagers from Shenzhen and Hong Kong, promoting them everywhere, letting quality speak for itself and winning over customers with service commitments.

This month, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics' sales exceeded 10,000 units, setting a new record.

Tianba Electronics sold less than a thousand units, and a large number of them were returned.

Huang Tianba sat in his office, looking at the mountain of returned goods, feeling like crying.

He invested all his savings, mortgaged his property, and took out loans, all in an attempt to get a share of the pager market.

The results of it?
They didn't even get a cup, so they smashed the bowl.

"Mr. Huang, the bank called, urging us to repay the loan," Awei whispered.

Tell them to give them a few more days.

"There's no more leniency. The bank heard our business isn't doing well and wants to recall the loan early. If we can't repay it, they'll seize our mortgaged property."

Huang Tianba closed his eyes.

It’s over.

Completely finished.

He had worked hard for over a decade to build up his fortune, but all of it was wiped out by one wrong decision.

And all of this is because of that despicable Suning.

That young man he initially didn't take seriously.

"Su Ning..." Huang Tianba gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred, "You just wait... if I don't have a good time, you won't have one either!"

But he also knew that these were just empty words.

If someone really breaks the rules, Su Dahai, who has remained silent all this time, would definitely not turn a blind eye.

What does he have left to compete with Suning?
The money is gone, the factory has collapsed, and the reputation is ruined.

Shenzhen is such a cruel place.

The victor is king, the loser is villain; one must accept defeat.

He lost, he lost completely.

Suning won.

That was a very impressive win.

……

In the office of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics, Suning looked at the sales report and nodded in satisfaction.

"Master, Tianba Electronics is about to collapse," Afu said. "The property that Huang Tianba mortgaged is about to be seized by the bank, and the factory has also stopped production. It is estimated that it will announce its bankruptcy next month."

"I understand," Su Ning said. "Don't worry about him. He's just a clown, nothing to be concerned about."

"However, Master, Huang Tianba might resort to desperate measures if he loses. We must be careful of his retaliation."

“He wouldn’t dare.” Su Ning sneered. “He’s a rat in the street now, hated by everyone. If he dares to touch me, I’ll make sure he rots in jail.”

"Yes."

"By the way, how are things going with Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan?" Su Ning asked.

"Good performance," Afu said. "Xiao Ran sold thirty units this month, and Liu Yuan sold twenty-five. They're in the top five in the sales department. They're very hardworking and willing to learn."

“Okay.” Su Ning nodded. “Tell them to work hard, and the company will not treat them unfairly.”

"clear."

After Afu left, Suning walked to the window and looked out at Shenzhen.

In this city, stories of success and failure unfold every day.

Huang Tianba's story has come to an end.

More challenges and more competitors lie ahead.

As long as the product quality is excellent and the service is top-notch, there is no need to fear any competition.

The failure of Tianba Electronics serves as a reminder to other players looking to enter this market: low prices alone are not enough to compete with Shengang Electronics.

Quality is the only true measure of success.

In this pager war, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics won the first round.

Shenzhen will become a stage for even more players to enter.

What Suning needs to do is maintain its leading position and continue to innovate.

Let Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics become the benchmark in this industry.

...(End of chapter)