The morning after their pivotal meeting, the Cyber Nest hummed with its usual low thrum, but for Lin Yuan and Chen Guang, the atmosphere was charged with a new, almost frantic energy. Lin Yuan had arrived even earlier, before Mr. Hou had fully opened, to secure their corner booth. He'd spent the predawn hours meticulously refining the batch routing algorithms, cross-referencing street maps of Fenyang with historical delivery data, identifying optimal paths that minimized travel time and maximized efficiency. His notebook was now a matrix of street names, average traffic density during peak hours, and precise customer locations.
Chen Guang, though still visibly anxious, was now spurred by a desperate hope. He had completed the refund calls to the five affected customers, guided by Lin Yuan's script. The initial shock from Old Lady Liu at the pharmacy had given way to gratitude when the 10 yuan discount was offered, and even Master Zhang, the stoic bookstore owner, had expressed cautious appreciation for the prompt resolution. This small act of proactive customer service had already begun to mend Fenyang FreshGo's tattered reputation, a crucial first step in building trust, a currency Lin Yuan valued more than anything.
Their first task of the day was to address the core of Fenyang FreshGo's operational chaos: the drivers. Chen Guang had managed to gather his two remaining semi-reliable drivers, A-Kuan and Xiao Zhao, at the Cyber Nest. A-Kuan, a burly man with perpetually greasy hair and a deep-seated skepticism born from years of unreliable pay, slouched in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed. Xiao Zhao, younger and leaner, fidgeted nervously, his gaze darting between Chen Guang and the quiet, intense Lin Yuan. Both drivers were accustomed to the erratic, unstructured nature of Fenyang's gig economy, where trust was a rare commodity and quick cash was king.
Lin Yuan began without preamble, his voice calm, cutting through the thick air of suspicion. "A-Kuan, Xiao Zhao, we are implementing a new system, effective today. Chen Guang has invested a new 200 yuan to cover the recent losses, demonstrating his commitment to resolving past issues. From now on, your payment will be held in escrow, released upon customer confirmation of delivery. You will receive a daily fuel allowance of 10 yuan, paid at the start of your shift, regardless of your deliveries. But your main earnings, your 8 yuan per delivery plus the 10% commission on order value, will be contingent on successful, confirmed deliveries. We will also introduce a performance bonus for drivers who consistently achieve a high rating from customers and maintain a 95% on-time delivery rate. This bonus can add an extra 50 to 100 yuan to your weekly earnings, potentially increasing your total income by 10-15% if you perform well."
A-Kuan snorted, a harsh, dismissive sound. "Escrow? What is that? More tricks to hold our money? We need cash, boy, not promises. How do we trust this 'system' when Chen Guang can barely keep track of his own orders?" His eyes flicked to Lin Yuan, still seeing just a young, unproven face.
"It's a digital ledger, A-Kuan," Lin Yuan explained, his voice unwavering, devoid of defensiveness. "Transparency for everyone. Your earnings will be visible on your phone. Customers confirm, funds release automatically. It protects both you from unpaid work and Chen Guang from lost inventory. More importantly, it creates trust. For the customers, and for us, with you." He then revealed a pre-drawn route map on his notebook, detailing a delivery path for that morning's batch of seven orders that had just come in. "This route, for example, will take you through South Street, then cut through Dongcheng Alley to reach Mr. Wu's Butcher Shop, and then loop back towards Central Market. It's the most efficient path, minimizing travel time by 18% compared to a haphazard approach. Less fuel, more deliveries, more earnings for you."
He then addressed Xiao Zhao, whose eyes had widened slightly at the mention of the performance bonus. "Xiao Zhao, you will be assigned nine orders this morning, focusing on the residential area near the Fenyang Public Library. Your route avoids the peak traffic congestion near the Gaokao cram school, especially around 8:30 AM when students arrive. This will ensure your deliveries are swift."
The detailed, almost scientific precision of Lin Yuan's planning was subtly unnerving to the drivers, accustomed as they were to chaotic, spontaneous runs. They exchanged glances, a mixture of skepticism and a nascent, cautious interest. The promise of stable, predictable earnings, especially the fuel allowance and the performance bonus, was appealing in their unpredictable profession.
Over the next three days, Lin Yuan personally oversaw the initial implementation of the new system. He woke before dawn, coordinating order pickups from various suppliers – Mr. Zhou's Vegetable Stall (known for his fresh produce), Madam Guo's Bakery (for specialty bread), and the bustling Fenyang Central Wholesale Market (for general groceries). He manually optimized each driver's route, sometimes even riding along with A-Kuan or Xiao Zhao on their scooters, silently observing their efficiency, pointing out minor navigational improvements, ensuring they followed the new system.
His presence was subtle but pervasive. He was always there, at the Cyber Nest, meticulously tracking progress on Chen Guang's computer, managing customer feedback, and preparing the next day's routes. He even drafted new, concise text messages for customers, providing clear delivery windows and confirmation instructions. He spent nearly 10 hours a day just on Fenyang FreshGo.
The impact was immediate and undeniable. On the first day alone, A-Kuan, following Lin Yuan's optimized routes, completed 18 deliveries, 3 more than his previous daily average, despite the new payment system. Xiao Zhao managed 21 deliveries, a personal best for him. Customer complaints, which had averaged 7-8 per day, plummeted to zero. Positive feedback, usually non-existent, began to trickle in via WeChat messages to Chen Guang – compliments on speed, politeness, and accuracy. By the end of the third day, Fenyang FreshGo had processed a total of 75 orders with a 100% success rate and zero customer disputes. This was a dramatic improvement from their previous average of 40-50 orders a day with a 15-20% failure rate.
Lin Yuan performed the calculations at the end of the third day, his pencil moving swiftly across his notebook.
* Total Gross Revenue (3 days): 75 orders * (average 50 yuan/order) = 3,750 yuan.
* Driver Payments (approx): (18+21+... orders) * (8 yuan + 10% commission) + (10 yuan fuel * 2 drivers * 3 days) = approximately 1,200 yuan.
* Supplier Costs: Approximately 2,000 yuan.
* Net Profit (3 days): 3,750 - 1,200 - 2,000 = 550 yuan.
This was a stark contrast to Chen Guang's previous situation, where he was consistently losing money. Lin Yuan's 30% share of that net profit for these three days would be 165 yuan. A small sum, but it was profit, not debt. It was a tangible start. He also calculated the reduction in fuel consumption for the drivers: an estimated 22% savings due to optimized routes, a significant factor for their bottom line.
"Lin Yuan," Chen Guang exclaimed, his face alight with a mixture of disbelief and awe, "it's... it's actually working! My sister even called. She said she heard good things from Mrs. Li from the vegetable market, who got her order in record time! The customer reviews are amazing! We even got a new customer, Mr. Sun, who runs the small stationery shop near the Fenyang Post Office." He thrust his phone at Lin Yuan, showing him the glowing reviews in a local community WeChat group, an online hub where village gossip and business reputations were fiercely debated.
Lin Yuan merely nodded, a flicker of quiet satisfaction in his eyes. He wasn't surprised; this was the logical outcome of applying sound principles to a chaotic system. He knew this initial success was fragile, a small seedling in harsh ground. Boss Wei's earlier threat, "The pond has teeth," resonated in his mind. He hadn't forgotten the powerful man's veiled warning.
As if on cue, the next morning, a subtle ripple disturbed the newfound calm. A-Kuan, usually reliable, called Chen Guang and informed him, his voice flat, that he was quitting. "Sorry, Boss Chen. Got a better offer. Someone offered me a full-time delivery job with guaranteed salary, no commission risk. Starting today." Chen Guang was panicked. "A-Kuan? But... but we just started making good money!" A-Kuan merely repeated his vague reason and hung up.
Lin Yuan listened, impassive. He suspected Boss Wei's hand immediately. A sudden, "better offer" for a low-wage driver, guaranteed salary – it was a classic tactic to disrupt a nascent competitor without direct confrontation. It was a subtle act of economic sabotage, a flexing of unseen muscle. It was a test. Boss Wei wouldn't simply hit him with brute force; he would try to strangle his nascent ventures at their roots, using his vast, unseen network of influence and resources.
"Don't worry, Chen Guang," Lin Yuan said, his voice calm, even as a cold resolve settled deeper within him. "We anticipated attrition. We have already drafted new hiring notices, remember? We will increase our driver pool by 50% this week to ensure redundancy. We'll find better, more reliable drivers. And we will implement a new driver incentive: a 'Fenyang FreshGo Veteran Bonus' for drivers who stay with us for more than a month, an extra 50 yuan per week. It's a small cost for employee loyalty and operational stability." He had already thought about how to counter such moves. This wasn't just about business anymore; it was a silent war, a clash of two very different philosophies of power. Lin Yuan understood that every challenge was an opportunity, every obstacle a chance to refine his strategy. The unseen algorithm had just encountered its first direct counter-measure, and Lin Yuan was already designing the next iteration.