Chapter 165: Theoretical Knowledge

From a vice president to a research assistant, it was a world of difference.

However, in the end, Shen Qian still agreed without any sign of reluctance.

According to her, as long as she was given time, becoming a vice president was just a matter of time.

This was the first time Li Dong had encountered such a confident employee. So confident that Li Dong was contemplating whether to just let her go.

In the end, Li Dong decided not to change his decision. Since she was so confident, he would give her a chance. The final decision was still in his hands; no matter how confident Shen Qian was, if she didn't have the ability, it would be useless.

...

In just three days, Li Dong met Shen Qian again.

This time, she brought with her a ten-page research report, which made Li Dong suspect whether Shen Qian had just found it online.

Given only three days, Shen Qian probably hadn't even figured out the work process. Li Dong didn't think her research report had much value.

He casually flipped through a page and then tossed the report aside.

Looking at the frowning Shen Qian, Li Dong said calmly, "Miss Shen, I see your efforts, but I still suggest you adapt to the domestic environment first. Also, I'd like to ask, how much do you know about Yuanfang Supermarket now?"

Shen Qian didn't answer his question but instead stubbornly said, "Mr. Li, this is the result of several sleepless nights. Aren't you going to take a look?"

Li Dong frowned and said, "There's no need to look further. To be blunt, what you're presenting is just theoretical knowledge!"

Seeing Shen Qian's discontented expression, Li Dong smirked, already anticipating this result.

These young elites think they can direct the world just because they learned a few things in school, not realizing that the real world is the best teacher.

Only when they hit rock bottom will they realize that the real world is not as simple as school.

Li Dong couldn't be bothered to say more. Some things, they wouldn't understand or accept without personal experience.

Shen Qian, however, was not willing to leave and bit her lip, saying, "Mr. Li, since you only glanced at it, I want to ask what you saw. You dismissed my hard work based on just the first glance!"

"Building a large shopping center!"

Li Dong continued, seeing Shen Qian still a bit confused, and said with a light laugh, "Miss Shen, as a returnee from studying abroad, you have a high vision. Let me ask, how much investment is needed to build a large shopping center in the center of Pingchuan City?"

"Taking an area of 60,000 square meters as an example, it would cost around 300 million..."

Li Dong interrupted her with a wave of his hand and smiled, "Miss Shen, please turn left when you leave and don't forget to close the door."

With that, he no longer looked at her and began to process documents.

Shen Qian's teeth were almost grinding with frustration. She said stubbornly, "Building a large shopping center is fundamental for a large retail store! Without a shopping center, citizens won't develop brand awareness, which is also the best promotion for Yuanfang..."

Before she could finish, Li Dong impatiently said, "I don't need you to guide me! I am the boss of Yuanfang, and I decide how Yuanfang should operate!"

"300 million? If your family has the money, you can play with it yourself! Yuanfang isn't worth 300 million even if sold. With that money, I could open a hundred stores and easily make over a hundred million a year. Why would I want to build a large shopping center with an uncertain future!"

After speaking, Li Dong said sternly, "Miss Shen, I think you can leave now. This is my office, not a classroom! I have no obligation to teach you how to do things. If you don't want to work, you can resign!"

Shen Qian's eyes were red, and she bit her lip in silence.

After a long while, Shen Qian added, "The shopping center might not be necessary, but an e-commerce platform must be developed! Foreign e-commerce has a significant impact on physical stores, and this trend is emerging domestically as well. I did some research, and currently, 15% of people aged 20-30 prefer online shopping."

"Besides, your planning for Yuanfang is very chaotic! The stores are scattered without a cohesive system, and there's no core competitiveness."

"Moreover, despite Yuanfang reaching this point, you are still implementing a store-supported strategy, which is too conservative!"

"Lastly, I want to tell you, losing me will be your greatest loss in this lifetime!"

After saying all this in one breath, Shen Qian finally felt relieved and left with a proud look on her face.

...

Shen Qian's parting words left Li Dong stunned. Losing her would be his greatest loss?

Her tone was so grandiose!

Li Dong was so angry that he wanted to spit in her face, but after he calmed down, he fell into deep thought.

Although Shen Qian's arrogance was off-putting, some of the things she said had a point.

The impact of e-commerce, the store-supported strategy, and Yuanfang's store planning...

These issues indeed made Li Dong reflect. After carefully considering, he felt that Shen Qian's points had some merit.

Even the shopping center plan, which Li Dong didn't approve of, might not be entirely a bad idea if not for the high investment.

He tapped his desk and glanced at the research report he had tossed aside, finally picking it up to read it thoroughly.

The more he read, the more shocked he became.

The research report not only covered the points Shen Qian mentioned but also involved many other aspects.

For example, logistics system construction, customer loyalty enhancement, and corporate culture development...

Many things were only briefly touched upon by Shen Qian, but Li Dong still found them very enlightening, feeling that her report seemed to point him toward a clear path.

After reading for over an hour, Li Dong finally put down the report and murmured, "Could it be that this person is truly a genius?"

If not a genius, how could someone with little work experience hit the core issues of Yuanfang so accurately?

In just three days, Li Dong had only asked for a market research report, yet Shen Qian had provided him with a future development plan.

Thinking of this, Li Dong furrowed his brows again. Something still felt off!

No matter how exceptional Shen Qian was, it was impossible for her to have such a broad perspective, and it was even more impossible to understand Yuanfang so thoroughly in just three days.

After all, Shen Qian had just returned from abroad, and Yuanfang didn't even exist when she left.

This plan could not have been written without a thorough understanding of Yuanfang or even a comprehensive review of it.

Li Dong frowned in contemplation. Could it be that Shen Qian had a hidden agenda?

...

Meanwhile, Shen Qian angrily returned home.

Throwing her handbag down, Shen Qian said angrily, "Dad, you really messed me up this time!"

"What happened? Did you have a quarrel with someone again?" Shen Qian's father removed his glasses and looked at his daughter with a smile.

"I didn't quarrel with anyone. I just got scolded!" Shen Qian said with a grievance, "It's all your fault for making me revise the research report. Our boss glanced at it and then scolded me, telling me to go home and play instead!"

Shen Qian's father laughed heartily, and after laughing, he asked, "Your boss looked at the report? Why did he scold you?"

"He said that even selling Yuanfang wouldn't be worth 300 million, and called me a paper strategist!" Shen Qian replied angrily.

Shen Qian's father laughed again, "Well, you can't blame me for that. You proposed the shopping center yourself, so being called a paper strategist is not unreasonable."

"Dad!"

Shen Qian was annoyed, huffed, and went into her room.

After Shen Qian left, her father's expression turned serious, completely different from the gentle demeanor moments ago.