Chapter 75: The Courier Industry

"Haha, Zhou Xuan, long time no see," Chen Yulin said with a warm smile.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Zhou Xuan, Li Yunxi, and Chen Yulin had found a teahouse by the river to enjoy some tea. "Haha, President Chen, as a big boss like you, your schedule is usually packed tight. How could I ever trouble you?"

Chen Yulin waved his hand dismissively and replied with great courtesy, "That is not necessarily true. If you, Zhou Xuan, are the one calling for me, I would certainly make time for tea, no matter how busy I am."

"Haha, then I am most grateful for your favor, President Chen. Come, let's have some tea!" Zhou Xuan said with a laugh.

"Why are you still calling me President Chen? I am over a decade your senior; just call me Brother Chen. There is no need to be so formal and distant," Chen Yulin said, clearly dissatisfied with the honorific.

"Haha, then I shall obey rather than decline. Brother Chen," Zhou Xuan said.

"That is much better. Truth be told, I came here hoping to get some advice from you, Zhou Xuan. What do you think is the best way for my transport company to transform?" Chen Yulin finally revealed the purpose of their meeting.

Zhou Xuan smiled. "Brother Chen, your transport company has developed quite well. In terms of the logistics industry, you are already ranked at least in the top five here in the Southwest. However, looking at the country as a whole, Tianyu Logistics is still too small. On one hand, the infrastructure in the Southwest is lagging; on the other, the economic development here simply cannot compare to the eastern coastal regions."

"You are absolutely right, Little Zhou. While Tianyu is doing decent in the West, there is still a significant gap between us and some state-owned enterprises or the large logistics companies in the East," Chen Yulin agreed earnestly.

"Compared to logistics, the courier industry is currently in its infancy and holds immense potential for the future. Companies like S.F. Express, Shentong, ZJS Express, and Tiantian have already accumulated a great deal of experience. Once the courier industry truly explodes, they are sure to see a period of rapid development. If you intend to enter the courier market, Brother Chen, you must act quickly."

In his previous life, S.F. Express was a formidable titan. As the first courier company to go public, its market value once exceeded 300 billion yuan, placing it on par with the likes of Baidu. For a courier enterprise to reach such heights was nothing short of a miracle. Thus, Zhou Xuan was convinced that the courier industry was full of promise.

Later, companies like Yunda, Yuantong, Zhongtong, and Huitong, which were founded between 1999 and 2003, also became leaders in China's courier top ten. It could be said that the rise of online shopping and the surge in shipping volume fueled the rapid development of the industry. If Tianyu Logistics entered the sector now, it would surely secure a vital place in the future market. With his guidance, it was not impossible for Tianyu to become the first courier company to go public.

Hearing this, Chen Yulin’s expression turned serious. "That is precisely why I am here today. I hope you can give me some detailed pointers, Zhou Xuan."

Seeing the anticipation on Chen Yulin’s face, Zhou Xuan decided that he would have to offer some real substance, otherwise, Chen would not let it go. This suited Zhou Xuan's own agenda; there were so many profitable industries that he could not possibly dominate them all. It would be beneficial to help those around him occupy future high-ground positions. By doing so, his own future ventures would be surrounded by a network of allied enterprises, forming a cohesive group that would make future endeavors much more convenient.

It was well-known that businessmen had always preferred to form alliances, each taking what they needed—internally, this was conducive to complementary advantages, and externally, it strengthened their influence. Examples included the legendary Mount Tai Club, Jiangnan Club, China Entrepreneur Club, and the Chang'an Club.

Zhou Xuan pondered for a moment before saying, "How about this, Brother Chen? I will compile a document for you to reference later."

Since he had decided to help Chen Yulin transform, Zhou Xuan would not just pay lip service. After all, this logistics and courier company would be a major asset to his future ventures. He hoped that the Tianyu Group would not only push forward in the logistics industry but also take the lead in the courier sector. Only by achieving industry-leading status would they be worthy of joining the Huanyu family.

"Good! Zhou Xuan, thank you for the hard work." Chen Yulin was overjoyed to hear that Zhou Xuan would compile a document for him. Since Zhou Xuan was taking the time to do it, he was certain it would not just be empty talk, and he valued it highly. Looking at Zhou Xuan, Chen felt a surge of excitement and wished he could ask him to go back and write it immediately.

"My goodness, you two start talking business the moment you meet. Weren't we supposed to be out for tea today?" Li Yunxi interrupted, unable to hold back.

Zhou Xuan felt sheepish upon hearing Li. "Oh, Teacher Li, my apologies. I have neglected you. Please, have some tea."

"Old Li, are you upset now? How about this, I'll treat you to a big meal tonight," Chen Yulin laughed as he spoke to Li.

Li Yunxi curled his lip in disdain. "What kind of good food is there in this small county? Even the most expensive meal costs only a few hundred yuan; you have the nerve to bring it up."

"Oh, Old Li, you are being picky. You should know that the truly delicious food is found in those small alleyway 'greasy spoon' joints. The food in typical large hotels isn't much to speak of. Unless it’s the work of a top-tier national chef, it doesn't taste as good as the food in those tiny eateries," Chen Yulin said, sounding as if he were accustomed to delicacies and found the hotel food lackluster.

"I agree with that. When it comes to eating, the 'greasy spoons' are authentic, and the top-tier chefs offer great ingredients and skill, but their prices are beyond the reach of the average person," Zhou Xuan added, fully in agreement.

"Hmph, you two certainly have plenty to say," Teacher Li replied, clearly unconvinced.

"Haha..."

The three of them spent the rest of the time chatting and relaxing, enjoying themselves immensely.

That evening, Chen Yulin treated everyone to a meal at a well-known local eatery—the very type of 'greasy spoon' they had discussed. The taste was truly incomparable, so satisfying that the memory remained vivid for Zhou Xuan. He thought to himself that he must bring Liu Yixue here next time; he was sure she would love it.

In the following days, the Huanyu Internet Cafe Management System continued to dominate the national market, capturing one stronghold after another, leaving competitors like the Tengfei system completely powerless.

Meanwhile, after two months of sales, *Those Things About the Ming Dynasty* finally surpassed two million copies, much to Zhou Xuan's delight. The publishing contract signed with Keda Press in the provincial capital last month had paid off; following a month of intense promotion, the second volume of *Those Things About the Ming Dynasty* was officially released nationwide on April 8th.

Zhou Xuan’s other book, *The Spring Breeze Is Not As Good As You*, was released simultaneously. The launch of the two books caused a sensation in the national book market. The pseudonym "Zhou Zhixuan" once again drew significant attention, with many newspaper offices scrambling to uncover the true identity behind the name.