Chapter 106: Failed Planning Scheme!

With that said, An Qingguo snapped his fingers. From the several sedans parked at the entrance, six or seven impeccably dressed business elites swiftly emerged. Each carried a briefcase and laptop, advancing rapidly to stand before An Qingguo. They bowed slightly and greeted him respectfully. “We greet President An.”

“Good,” An Qingguo replied with a smile and gestured toward the group. “These are the foremost elites of the Jiangnan CBD business district, specializing in market foresight and big data analytics. Not merely competent, but veritable domain experts—unbiased and transparent. From past cases, conclusions drawn after their analysis have succeeded more than ninety percent of the time.”

“How about it, Lanlan? Any objections?” An Qingguo asked.

An Lan’s body trembled violently, nearly losing her balance. Fortunately, Ye Wushang steadied her at once, his voice filled with concern. “Lanlan, are you all right?”

“I—I’m fine.” An Lan’s breathing quickened, her words stumbling slightly.

Suddenly she recalled something. Emotion surged, and she seized his sleeve, speaking in a low voice. “Wushang, do you truly have confidence in this?”

“Me?”

“Two days ago I told you: to obtain those two medicinal herbs from the medicinal diet—Bai Zhe Cao and Xing Jiang Shui—you must present a genuinely effective future plan for the restaurant. At the time I only wished to chart a path for your sister and give you a career. I never imagined my eldest uncle would seize the opportunity to strike, gathering experts in advance. I have no experience in this domain, but with your talent, shouldn’t it be manageable?”

Ye Wushang opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Indeed. An Lan had spoken of this matter. And he had entrusted Rabbit with the task, yet he had no idea how well it had been executed.

This matter would determine An Lan’s standing in the An family. One misstep could strip her of power and leave her powerless. He regretted it bitterly. Had he known the true stakes, he would have prepared earlier. Now, was it too late?

“You have no plan?” An Lan’s eyes widened in alarm as she clutched his sleeve tightly. “Did you dismiss my words as empty talk?”

“Did you never intend to take them seriously? Do you not care for yourself, or do you not regard me at all?”

Her heart ached. Not from fear of losing influence in the family, but from Ye Wushang’s indifference. Though their bond held no legal weight, she felt closer to him than a friend. Each time he supported her arm, he no longer resisted, which she had taken as steadfast loyalty. Was she the only one wishing for more?

“Not Lanlan, please calm yourself,” Ye Wushang began. “Let me explain first…”

“Can you really plan it, Lanlan?” An Qingguo pressed, sensing weakness.

Seeing An Lan hesitate, An Qingguo pressed his advantage. “You yourself declared one shoulder would carry the load. If you cannot even devise a restaurant plan, how can you claim the group’s broader interests? I will have to reconsider the restaurant candidate as well. Before Grandfather and the elders, give us a clear answer.”

A sharp intake of breath cut him off.

A black sedan screeched to a halt at the entrance. The door opened and Rabbit bounded out from the back.

“Can do!” Ye Wushang nodded decisively.

Rabbit had arrived. With his experience and proven track record, the plan would hold.

“President An, since you have chosen the restaurant plan as your pretext, then the restaurant belongs to my sister and me. I will lead the effort. Should that pose any difficulty?”

Ye Wushang looked straight at An Qingguo.

An Qingguo sneered and inclined his head. “Of course not. Merely understand that commercial planning is no small affair. It demands thorough market analysis, feasibility studies, and practical execution. These experts will judge your work. If the proposal falls short…”

“I will resign as president!” An Lan declared, voice steady and resolute. “More than that, I will withdraw from all catering responsibilities and, like the uncles, become an idle member of the An family.”

The elders’ faces flushed with shame. Deep down they knew how much An Lan had carried them through the years. Yet now An Qingguo held the upper hand. In moments like this, choosing sides mattered greatly.

“Ha.” Old Master An rose, laughing heartily. “Then it is settled. Mr. Ye will devise the restaurant plan. The outcome will decide who rules the An family in the future—my son An Qingguo or my granddaughter An Lan. No one can sway the result; let facts decide.”

He stepped forward and placed a hand on Ye Wushang’s shoulder, speaking with gravity. “Mr. Ye, I am grateful for your talents and admire your strength. This planning falls to you. It concerns not only Lanlan’s future within the An family but also yours. I hope you will not disappoint me.”

Ye Wushang frowned. Strange words. While the planning did affect An Lan’s destiny, its connection to his own future remained unclear.

“Mr. Ye, Mr. Ye.” Rabbit hurried over, still catching his breath. “Forgive me for the delay. Traffic on the way slowed me.”

He produced a thick folder. “This is the planning report you instructed me to prepare.”

An Lan’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Wushang, you had Rabbit handle the plan you asked me to do?”

“This…” Ye Wushang’s expression turned awkward.

Rabbit noticed the tension and explained quickly. “Not Miss An. He gave me some guidance and asked me to tailor it to local conditions…”

“No explanations needed. I have no interest in them,” An Lan said coldly. She had hoped Ye Wushang’s confident tone meant he had prepared seriously, but the casual manner betrayed otherwise. He had merely tossed the task aside.

“Not Miss An, please let me explain…”

“Enough. Better to focus on the immediate matter first.” An Lan passed the folder to Ye Wushang. “Keep it. You are trustworthy, but he…”

“Do you trust him?”

Ye Wushang glanced at Rabbit and nodded. “Trust people without suspicion. Suspect people without employing them. Just as you trust me unconditionally, I trust Rabbit. Any flaws I will correct.”

“Thus, your position in the An family remains secure. On the catering front, I still wish to work with you side by side.”

He took the folder, turned to An Qingguo, and asked, “President An, may we begin?”

An Qingguo remained silent. His face darkened as he murmured to An Hailong, “Who is that man? Do you know him?”

“Rabbit.”

An Hailong, who moved in rough circles, had heard of Rabbit. “Dad, he’s a notorious hoodlum. He runs a company only to skim money, mixing in with all sorts of shady characters. Asking him to plan a restaurant scheme is like matching a dog to a tiger—mismatched.”

An Hailong grinned. “We’re definitely winning. No dog can satisfy those experts.”

After brief discussion, An Qingguo’s expression cleared with certainty. “No problem.”

Ye Wushang stepped before the experts, opened the folder, and began reading the plan. The experts opened their laptops, recording notes while cross-referencing big data. A large screen had been set up for all to observe, ensuring fairness.

Ten minutes later the presentation concluded. In summary, the strategy began with the existing restaurant, expanded into chain stores, and built a recognizable catering brand. To achieve this, heavy advertising would be deployed through television, news outlets, and newspapers. First attract attention, then perfect the product, letting word of mouth grow reputation.

“Clap!”

As Ye Wushang finished, the elites manipulated their computers. Data raced across the screen and, with a final keystroke, yielded the verdict.

“Opening chain stores: average concept, score sixty out of one hundred.”
“Advertising via television and news: outdated methods, score forty out of one hundred.”
“Word-of-mouth reputation: slow and unstable, score twenty out of one hundred.”
“Overall, the plan is unqualified and cannot be implemented!”