Chapter 28: Entrepreneurial Direction

3:00 PM.

After the car insurance transfer was completed, Tang Song finally obtained his driver's license, the green vehicle ownership book, his ID card, and other documents.

After putting his things away, he did another half hour of fat-burning aerobics.

Reclining halfway on the sofa, Tang Song opened the system interface and entered the [Dressing Center].

While looking at the components of the "Cool Night Breeze" set, he searched for corresponding keywords in a shopping app.

Unfortunately, the system interface did not allow for screenshots or photos; otherwise, he could have just searched for the exact same style and been done with it.

Alternatively, if he possessed superb drawing skills, he could have drawn the clothes himself and taken them to a tailor for custom making.

The level of fit would certainly have been perfect.

After being busy like this for over two hours—through repeated comparisons, inspections, and inquiries—Tang Song finally managed to piece together a complete outfit.

The styles and colors were very close, but he wasn't sure how they would look in person.

To be safe, he bought two different sizes for every item.

He was somewhat impatient to see his first set of attire.

Regrettably, from dispatch to shipping, it would be at least three days before he could receive them.

After having a simple dinner, Tang Song began to organize his ongoing tasks.

[Cognitive Awakening] was currently 35% complete.

He was in no rush for this task; instead, he allowed himself to fully enjoy the process of reading, understanding the content expressed in these classic works, and striving to cultivate reading into a long-term hobby.

[My First Car] was half finished. He only needed to invite a member of the opposite sex to check in at three scenic spots together to obtain the long-coveted [Vehicle Gift Pack], which would yield a car valued under 500,000 yuan.

This was a matter of immediate importance.

There were quite a few women in Yancheng he could hang out with.

University classmates, company colleagues, and his beautician friend, Zhao Yaqian.

Considering the existence of the [Betting Agreement], Zhao Yaqian was undoubtedly the optimal choice.

The best way to get closer to a girl is through travel; when in an unfamiliar place, being with someone familiar provides a greater sense of security and stability.

If there were some romantic little interactions, sparks of love might just fly.

Thinking of that beautician friend's sexy long legs and the 300,000 yuan betting fund, Tang Song took a deep breath.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Zhao Yaqian: "The weather has been great lately, perfect for traveling. If you aren't busy, Teacher Zhao, would you like to go out for a trip? We could enjoy the beautiful landscapes of our motherland and taste some local delicacies."

He waited for a while but received no reply.

Tang Song put down his phone and redirected his attention to the system interface.

Next was the most important part: the [First Stage Growth Plan Task].

With one million yuan in startup funds and an independent office space, the difficulty of the growth tasks had decreased significantly for him.

The main difficulty lay in choosing the right direction and project to create a profitable enterprise.

As an ordinary person who had worked for three years, Tang Song truly felt a bit lost on where to start.

Among the classmates he knew, quite a few had participated in entrepreneurship, but only a tiny minority had succeeded.

For example, his "white moonlight" who was far away in Shenzhen.

Recalling carefully, she had shared many insights regarding entrepreneurship with him.

According to her, on this rugged road, besides one's own and the team's hard strength, the most crucial element was the supply chain.

If you can obtain goods of similar quality at a lower cost, you are more likely to succeed than others.

To give a simple example: if you have a relative in the cold storage business, your costs for opening a restaurant will be lower than others.

Tang Song pondered deeply for a long time before finally taking out pen and paper to seriously write down two words: "Internet" and "Clothing."

Due to his professional background, he had some advantages in the "Internet" field; for instance, with mini-programs and apps, he could quickly recruit a team to complete development.

In this regard, he could consider himself part of the "supply chain," possessing a natural advantage.

Unfortunately, the internet boom had passed, and the market was now a "red ocean"—fiercely competitive with homogenized business models.

Aside from highly vertical industry software tools, the chances of success were slim.

The other field was "Clothing."

Jinxiu Trading mainly engaged in offline clothing agency business. It was a leader in Yancheng and considered a top-tier enterprise in the entire Yan Province.

When he developed the SCM (Supply Chain Management) system, he interfaced with many high-quality domestic and international clothing suppliers.

He had scraped a massive amount of product information and implemented functions such as intelligent price comparison, supplier rating systems, and procurement-supply coordination.

In other words, if he went into the clothing business, he could definitely secure lower prices for goods of the same quality.

This would make him more likely to succeed than others.

The "scratch-scratch" sound of a carbon pen rubbing against draft paper rang out from time to time.

While researching data, Tang Song recorded his thoughts in a notebook.

Recently, reading physical books and taking notes every day had made him gradually grow to love the feeling of handwriting.

"Ding-dong—" A WeChat notification sounded.

[Zhao Yaqian: "I'd quite like to go out and play, but I'm the only beautician in the shop. I only have time on weekdays, so I might not be able to coordinate with you (#PoorMe)."]

Tang Song smiled and replied: "There are fewer people at scenic spots on weekdays, making it better for sightseeing. We can go by car; it'll be convenient for the round trip."

After sending the message, Tang Song put away his notebook.

He pulled Maugham's *The Moon and Sixpence* from the bookshelf and waited for Zhao Yaqian's reply while reading.

Entrepreneurship was not something that could be rushed; it required detailed planning and analysis, and one had to consider the dividends and waves of the macro environment rather than judging solely on personal preference.

...

Tiankuo Garden Residential Community.

He Liting asked in confusion, "Didn't you say he didn't have a car? How is he going on a road trip?"

"Maybe he's borrowing a colleague's car," Zhao Yaqian said, scratching her hair. "Tingzi, how should I reply to him?"

He Liting blinked and smiled, "Go! Just remember to bring an umbrella."

"You! What kind of nonsense are you talking about!?" Zhao Yaqian's face instantly turned red. She slapped her best friend's butt hard. "We are friends; it's not as filthy as you think!"

"Going out to play is fine. It's perfect since things haven't been going well for you lately; just treat it as a way to relax and change your luck. Besides, you won't have to spend any money on the road."

Zhao Yaqian nodded and took out her phone to reply: "Then thank you, Brother Song. I'm free during the day on Wednesday."

As soon as the message was sent, a reply came immediately.

[Tang Song: "Then it's Wednesday. I'll pick you up at Tiankuo Garden. Let's head out early; we'll definitely be back by evening. The main reason for this trip is to thank Teacher Zhao for her tireless help, so I'll cover all the expenses. Don't try to compete with me!"]

Seeing this message, Zhao Yaqian breathed a complete sigh of relief and replied with an "OK" emoji.

"Qianqian." He Liting suddenly called her name.

"What is it, Tingzi?" Zhao Yaqian asked, puzzled.

"You haven't been in society for long and there are many things you don't understand. With your outstanding looks, you will encounter many men in the future who are a hundred or a thousand times better than him. Don't make blind decisions that will leave your future self full of regret."

Zhao Yaqian opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond.

He Liting was both her best friend and her distant cousin, three years older than her.

Since arriving in Yancheng, many of her decisions had been guided by the other woman.

Looking at He Liting's righteous expression, her heart suddenly felt cluttered and restless.

(End of Chapter)