After leaving Zhongshan District, Xiao Luo and Li Zimeng caught up for a bit. Having a cuppa in a downtown café, Li Zimeng reported to him that Luo Workshop's factories in Xiahai City were still under construction, and they had engaged dozens of engineering teams to expedite its completion. She expected that all the factory buildings would be completed within half a year should everything go as planned without any hitches.

Li Zimeng also added that the procurement of their bakery equipment and renovations for the outlets were also underway and that everything was progressing on schedule.

Her only worry was that the bakery industry in Xiahai City was dominated by Sumir, a locally established business. When Luo Workshop started moving into the Xiahai City market, they would definitely come face-to-face with Sumir sooner or later.

“I'm sure you've done your investigation; do you know who the boss of Sumir is?”

Xiao Luo asked Li Zimeng after listening to her updates.

Li Zimeng handed a doc.u.ment to Xiao Luo and said, “Yes, I have. The person behind Sumir is the list star, Su Li.”

Su Li!?

Xiao Luo almost spat his coffee out, and he quickly looked at the doc.u.ment to find out more about Su Li's involvement. The information sheet was quite comprehensive and even included her biodata—her age, height, weight, hobbies, and her professional work, which amused Xiao Luo somewhat, as it had never crossed his mind that Su Li, his t.i.tular wife, would land up being Sumir's boss.

Xiao Luo could not make sense of it; a pop star getting involved in the baking industries?

“This isn't uncommon as many celebrities leverage their brand to start new businesses. I know a male celebrity who started a nationwide hotpot franchise, and with his celebrity status, the business is doing extremely well,” Li Zimeng said, “However, Su Li is more low-key, preferring not to expose herself as the boss of Sumir. Barely anyone knows that she is the owner.”

Li Zimeng pa.s.sed another doc.u.ment to Xiao Luo and said,” President Xiao, have a look. This information is the footprint of all Sumir's branches across the country. They're a big name and very well established in the market.”

Xiao Luo took the doc.u.ment and immediately felt some pressure. His Luo Workshop setup was, at most, the king of Jiangcheng, but Sumir, on the other hand, had outlets in every major city in the country. The scale of their business was significantly larger than Luo Workshop's, which was like a child's play compared to Sumir.

No wonder that woman was always strutting and acting like she was above everyone else—with such a.s.sets, she certainly earned the right to do so!

Xiao Luo c.o.c.ked his brow and reflected on how little of Su Li he actually knew.

“Li Zimeng, thanks for the hard work you've put in, getting things up and running.”

“It's my job, but you should know that my male colleagues have it tougher. They are always with the engineering team and work like horses, haha…” Li Zimeng responded, giggling and evidently delighted to have received Xiao Luo's praise.

“Then let them work, they could use a little more physical exercise for their health's sake.”

Xiao Luo took a sip of coffee and said,” I want you to come with me to visit Sumir's outlets. I plan to check out their products and what advantages they have over us. Then. Let's see what we can do with our products to create a more level playing field for our operation here.”

“Okay, will do.”

Li Zimeng nodded as she added some sugar to her coffee, before stirring it and lifting the cup to her lips gracefully.

It was almost 8 p.m. when they were done visiting every Sumir outlet in Xiahai City. Xiao Luo and Li Zimeng had dinner together and shared their thoughts and opinions on a.s.sessing Sumir's critical success factors. They now had a better idea of Sumir's products and operation, and how they'd positioned themselves in the market.

If Luo Workshop wanted to remain compet.i.tive in Xiahai City's market, it had to outdo Sumir—competence, service standards, better product offerings, and in every aspect of marketing and promotions.

Xiao Luo felt that the road to Luo Workshop's success in Xiahai City was a long and challenging one. Firstly, Sumir is already well-established with reliable operational capabilities and a large customer base; and, secondly, Su Li was the boss! With Luo Workshop's entry into the Xiahai City market, he would inevitably be forced to start a war with Su Li, and it made him feel rather uncomfortable.

After parting with Li Zimeng, he drove to the river to chill out.

The night had veiled the sky, muting the gay colors of daylight in its darkness, but the twinkling stars and a full moon made fair compensation, illuminating the cityscape with its subdued light and adding charm to the scene by the river-side.

Xiao Luo took in the sights and the fresh air as he ambled along the river walk. The reflection of lit-up buildings on the river's rippling surface gave the impression that there was another world beneath.

Then, Xiao Luo caught a waft of a terrible putrid scent, resembling decomposing garbage, emanating from close by.

Xiao Luo grimaced at the stench, and when he turned around, he saw an old man approaching him. He was wearing a pair of slippers and dressed in rags, with his shoulders and calves unclothed. He had a full head of disheveled white hair; even his brows and long beard were all white. But his eyes looked alert—very bright and piercing.

The stench evidently emanated from this man, as he looked terribly filthy. Xiao Luo glanced at his feet, and they looked as if he had danced barefooted on a bed of charcoal. They appeared so dirty that were he to put them in a pot of clear water to wash, it would undoubtedly turn brackish.

The old man walked toward Xiao Luo nonchalantly, then gave him a smile and said, “Little brother, may I sit next to you?”

“Err… no!”

Xiao Luo reacted without any hesitation as the stench was simply overbearing, and he could hardly breathe.

But the old man ignored Xiao Luo and proceeded to sit down beside him, and even flatulated loudly as he was about to sit.

Xiao Luo was annoyed and really felt like telling him off, thinking to himself this old man deserved a good walloping.

As the old man settled on the bench, he sighed in relief, as if he had just pa.s.sed motion after suffering from severe constipation. His body even quivered a little, giving the impression that he had derived great pleasure and satisfaction from that fart!

He reached out to Xiao Luo with his hand and said, “Hmm, nice to meet you, little brother. My name is Hong Ji, people just call me Brother Hong!”

“Oh, please…!”

Xiao Luo was getting agitated. It was already bad enough that a beggar he never met before suddenly approached him out of the blue and even broke wind most disgustingly; he was even now introducing himself as if that was the norm. Xiao Luo had a good mind to knock some sense into him.

“You, young people, shouldn't be so hot-tempered, I'm just making friends with you…”

“Old man, before I really get annoyed, just take the money and get out of here, as far as possible!” Xiao Luo took out a hundred dollar note and handed it to him angrily.

The white-haired beggar was stunned for a moment, then smiled, and responded, “Look at you, you're so young but have not learned anything good; all you do is insult a man with money. Hah, even though I am a beggar, I have my professional code of conduct too, and I don't take handouts,” he said. His words sounded righteous, but it didn't stop him from taking the money. He then held it up against light from the lamp post and checked it for authenticity. With a stern look on his face, he returned the money to Xiao Luo and said, “Give me another note, little brother, this doesn't feel right, and I suspect that it is forged.”

Xiao Luo was so infuriated that he actually started laughing out of sheer frustration. “I think you're asking for it!”

As Xiao Luo spoke, he reached out to grab the old man by his collar, intending to teach him a lesson.

Unexpectedly, the white-haired beggar was quick to react, leaning back before Xiao Luo's hand could reach and easily evading his attempted grab. Effortlessly, he moved in a balanced and controlled manner and kept out of Xiao Luo's range.

Hmm, so, he's a martial artist, it seems…

Xiao Luo focused his eyes on the man, convinced that this man had come looking for trouble, and decided he would not hold back. Xiao Luo instantly pushed his right hand to the ground, and his body swirled into action, bringing his left leg swing across at the old man's chest with fearsome power.