Gao Qiqiang nodded and said, "Yes, before, Xiao Sheng and I spent a lot of money trying to build a relationship with him to expand our Xiaolingtong business. We spent over 100,000 yuan just at Baijinhan. Damn it, these officials are really unreliable. They can always go back on their word."

"Have you ever considered that Chen Shuting and Uncle Tai might be behind this?" Tang Ping asked meaningfully.

Gao Qiqiang tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then realized what he meant. He said, "Yeah, he's already fighting in the arena across from your internet cafe, so he'll definitely retaliate against me. This Chen Shuting is really ruthless; she's targeting our weaknesses."

Beside him, Gao Qisheng's eyes turned cold, and he said, "That bitch Chen Shuting dared to mess with my mobile phone shop!"

"Xiao Sheng, don't be impulsive!"

Gao Qiqiang quickly tried to dissuade her, pushing Gao Qisheng aside. He turned to Tang Ping and said, "Ping, what do you think we should do? She's clearly targeting the two of us."

"Don't worry, it might not be a bad thing. If Chen Shuting wanted to retaliate against us, she would have a hundred ways, but she might be using this method to test our strength," Tang Ping said.

"Look at our strength? Why?"

Gao Qiqiang frowned, clearly not having figured out the key point yet.

Tang Ping laughed and said, "Think about it, Bai Jiangbo is dead, and Chen Shuting is just a woman. Uncle Tai urgently needs a capable man to stand up for him and fight against Xu Jiang. Xu Jiang is getting more and more powerful, which is not in Uncle Tai's interest. He wants a balance."

“I understand. You mean Chen Shuting is testing the two of us?” Gao Qiqiang asked.

Tang Ping nodded: "Yes, if you do well, you might win Chen Shuting's favor and become the next Bai Jiangbo. Of course, if you have the ability, you might become Xu Jiang. As I told you last time, you might even become Uncle Tai."

If Chen Shuting was only targeting him, it might be revenge, but since she even had her eye on Gao Qiqiang's mobile phone shop, Tang Ping quickly guessed Chen Shuting's intentions.

Gao Qiqiang suddenly looked up, stared at Tang Ping, and asked, "Aping, what about you? Who do you want to be?"

Tang Ping laughed and said, "I am who I am, I am the sky! I don't want to be anyone else, I just want to do business well and make money. Of course, whether you, Gao Qiqiang, become Xu Jiang or Uncle Tai, it will benefit me. Old Gao, you understand what I mean, right?"

"You want to get me into the ring?"

Tang Ping nodded and said, "Yes, although there is some risk, I think that with our wisdom and ability, Xu Jiang will definitely be the one to lose. Next, it will be Uncle Tai."

Hearing Tang Ping's words, Gao Qiqiang became excited. He clenched his fist and laughed, "Great! I've been running a fish stall for so many years, and I've always understood one thing: the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish. I'm not afraid to take the risk. Besides, with you, A-Ping, supporting me, I have confidence!"

"You can definitely do it," Tang Ping said with a smile.

"So how exactly should we respond to Chen Shuting's test?"

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. If you want to run a successful PHS (Personal Handyphone System) shop, you can't avoid Gong Kaijiang. Throw money at him, give him benefits, until he's tempted. But Lao Gao, let me remind you, the PHS business can't last. After a year or two, sell it quickly and go into other industries. There are plenty of profitable businesses; there's no need to stick to this one," Tang Ping advised.

Gao Qiqiang nodded, deeply understanding, and said, "Yes, through this experience I've also realized that although PHS (Personal Handyphone System) is profitable, it's too easy for others to hold us hostage. And just as you said, if the PHS business becomes obsolete, we'll lose everything. I've got it, thank you, Aping."

"You're too kind. I'll be going now. Please feel free to contact me if anything comes up."

"Alright, ride your bike slowly, Ping!"

Back at the internet cafe, Tang Ping noticed that it was peak time for internet users in the evening, but the occupancy rate in his internet cafe was indeed much lower, with more than a dozen computers empty.

Today, the "Orange Red" restaurant across the street is having a trial opening event. They're giving away the same amount you recharge, plus free milk tea.

Most people went to the other side.

Although Tang Ping was unhappy, he didn't show it on his face. Sitting in his office, he began to think about how to deal with the Orange Red Internet Cafe across the street.

The most common way internet cafes compete is through price wars.

But this is also the dumbest way, and it would hurt the enemy a thousand while also losing eight hundred of your own. Tang Ping was unwilling to do such a thing.

The only way to attract more customers to the internet cafe is through operational activities and events.

Oh, and let's hold a competition!

The most popular game right now is StarCraft. If a competition were held, it would definitely attract the attention of many game enthusiasts. What do the customers who come to internet cafes mainly do? They definitely play games!

Bang! Bang!

Just as Tang Ping was thinking about the key point, his cousin Song Lili knocked on the door and came in, holding a cup of milk tea. She handed it to him and said, "Cousin, business is much worse tonight. Many of our regular customers went to the other side of the street. I heard that the owner sent a lot of people to the school to hand out flyers and even had some students recruit others. They reward old members with internet fees for referring new members."

"Hehe, what's wrong? Are you worried the internet cafe won't have business? Don't you have faith in your cousin?" Tang Ping asked with a smile.

"No, that's not it. I just heard Zhang Fan tell me that he has a way to help us deal with the internet cafe across the street."

Tang Ping asked curiously, "Oh? What method?"

Song Lili said, "I don't know either. How about I go and hand Zhang Fan over so you can ask him yourself?"

"OK."

A moment later, Zhang Fan came in and, without beating around the bush, said directly, "Boss, I went to check out the Orange Red internet cafe across the street this afternoon. Their system is pretty mediocre. I have a way to hack into it and mess up their system."

"Is this the solution you suggested?" Tang Ping said, slightly disappointed.

Using the Blacklist system is indeed the most effective and fastest way, but this method is too despicable. Moreover, it's illegal and criminal, and Tang Ping doesn't want Zhang Fan to go to jail.

Seemingly afraid that Tang Ping wouldn't believe him, Zhang Fan immediately added, "Boss, I can guarantee that I can hack into his system without being detected. If you trust my skills, I can demonstrate it to you right away."

"Need not."

Tang Ping shook his head and said, "Zhang Fan, I believe in your abilities, but it's not time for that yet."

Zhang Fan left somewhat disappointed. He seemed puzzled as to why Tang Ping didn't use his own methods to deal with the competitor.

On the first day of the trial operation of "Juzi Hongle", Tang Ping's internet cafe business was affected, with a sharp drop in turnover and fewer membership top-ups.

Because the other side of the street was engaging in a price war, offering many discounts on internet access, and also had an arcade and game center, it attracted a lot of customers.