HDRDTH -Chapter 49 Basic Operation—Sit Down

In the old industrial district of Jiangcheng, at the Hongxing Shoe Factory.

On the dusty factory gate, the red-painted word “Hongxing” had already peeled away so badly that its original form was barely recognizable.

Inside the factory yard, it was eerily quiet—no roar of machines, only a few stray cats rummaging through piles of discarded cardboard boxes in search of food.

The factory manager’s office was on the second floor, not even equipped with an air conditioner.

Old Lin, the owner of Hongxing, stood by the window. In his hand was a low-quality cigarette burned down to the filter. His hair was already mostly white, his eye sockets deeply sunken.

His desk was piled high with debt collection notices, bank demand letters, and employees’ resignation letters.

“Factory Manager Lin… we really can’t hold on anymore. There are over a hundred thousand pairs of shoes sitting in the warehouse, unsold. The bank is coming tomorrow to seal off the factory,” the old accountant said at the door, wiping away tears. “Everyone knows you’ve done your best… please… don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Old Lin took a hard drag from his cigarette and immediately coughed violently. Looking out at the rusted equipment outside—this was the work of his entire life.

Hongxing had once been glorious. But now, on every street, young people wore Nikes and Adidas. Who would still wear their outdated, unfashionable domestic shoes?

“Old Zhang, go home first. I… I’ll think of something,” Old Lin said hoarsely, waving his hand.

After the accountant left, Old Lin crushed out his cigarette and slowly walked to his desk.

He opened the drawer.

Inside was a bottle of sleeping pills.

He was truly exhausted. As long as he took them, all the debt and pressure would end.

Just as his hand was about to touch the bottle—

Bang!

The office door, already on the verge of collapse, was kicked open violently.

Wang Dafu walked in swaggering, wearing a flashy Armani suit, sunglasses, and carrying a briefcase. He looked like a mob boss collecting protection money, followed by two bodyguards in black suits.

“W-who are you people? If you’re here to collect debts, go to the finance office—I have no money!” Old Lin jumped in shock, quickly pulling his hand back.

Wang Dafu took off his sunglasses and glanced disdainfully around the shabby office before sitting down heavily on the creaking sofa.

“Debt collection? Do I look like someone short on money?” Wang Dafu pulled a document from his briefcase and slammed it onto the desk. “I’m Wang Dafu, general manager of Salty Fish Films. Our CEO… cough, our Mr. Yu has spoken. You know Su Qian, right? The ‘national daughter’ who sang The Lonely Warrior at the Spring Festival Gala. We’re giving Hongxing a free endorsement.”

Old Lin froze.

Even though he had been overwhelmed recently, he had watched the Spring Festival Gala.

That girl singing in the darkness, and that soul-shaking song—it had moved even a man in his fifties like him to tears.

“Su Qian? Endorsing us for free?” Old Lin widened his eyes, then gave a bitter laugh. “Mr. Wang, don’t joke with an old man like me who’s already half in the grave. My factory is getting sealed tomorrow. I can’t even afford advertising fees—how could I possibly hire a star like that?”

“Who the hell is joking with you!” Wang Dafu slapped the table, sending the documents scattering. “Our Mr. Yu said it’s free—zero cost! But there’s a condition: the ad must be shot immediately, using The Lonely Warrior as background music. The slogan is: ‘Wear domestic shoes, walk forward with lonely courage.’ So? Deal or not? If not, I’ll find someone else!”

Old Lin tremblingly picked up the contract.

Black on white, stamped with the seal of Salty Fish Films. It was truly a free endorsement!

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Even if I have to sell everything I own, I will make this advertisement!” Old Lin said, tears streaming down his face as he bowed deeply to Wang Dafu.

This was heaven’s blessing—no, that mysterious Mr. Yu’s lifeline saving him!

Over the next three days, the business world of Jiangcheng witnessed a miracle.

Salty Fish Films deployed their top production crew and rushed overnight into Hongxing Shoe Factory.

No famous director was hired—because the script was personally written by Yu Xian.

Three days later, a one-minute commercial was launched simultaneously on CCTV prime time and all major online platforms.

The ad began with muddy roads in a storm.

A delivery worker wearing worn-out sneakers struggled forward in heavy rain; a Chinese teenager on a basketball court was mocked by foreign players, gritting his teeth as he fell and got back up again and again.

Then the music began—Su Qian’s soul-piercing The Lonely Warrior.

The scene shifted.

Su Qian stood in simple sportswear, wearing a pair of Hongxing sneakers, her gaze firm under the sunlight.

“We may not have flashy appearances, but we have the toughest foundation. Wear domestic shoes, walk forward with lonely courage. Hongxing, walking with you through every dark alley.”

No flashy special effects. No bragging about high-tech cushioning.

Only the simplest visuals—and the most powerful emotional resonance.

That night, the internet exploded.

Netizens who had regretted Su Qian rejecting international luxury brands were instantly ignited after seeing the ad.

[Holy crap! This is insane! THIS is the kind of shoes Chinese people should wear!]

[Free endorsement?! Su Qian and Mr. Yu are on another level! Turning down 80 million just to support a struggling domestic brand!]

[I checked—Hongxing had losses in recent years, but during last year’s floods, they secretly donated 50,000 pairs of shoes! A company like this cannot be allowed to fail!]

[Brothers! Buy it! Buy it all! Don’t let conscientious domestic brands suffer!]

Wild consumption began.

Overnight, Hongxing physical stores across the country were flooded with customers. Many didn’t even check sizes—they just paid and left holding shoe boxes.

Online, the flagship store’s inventory of over 100,000 pairs sold out in just five minutes. The website crashed.

Old Lin sat in his office, watching the skyrocketing sales data on his computer, crying uncontrollably.

A revival from death.

In just one night, Hongxing not only paid off all its debts, but also received calls from distributors nationwide waving cash and begging for stock.

Meanwhile, Yu Xian was lying on the sofa at Jinshui Bay Villa, eating grapes peeled by Su Wanyi while lazily switching TV channels.

“Xiao Yu, you’re really amazing,” Su Wanyi said, watching the news coverage of Hongxing’s revival with admiration. “You just casually picked a brand, and it caused such a huge sensation.”

“Basic operation. Sit down,” Yu Xian said lazily, spitting out a grape seed and yawning.

At that moment, noisy commotion erupted outside the villa gate.

Wang Dafu rushed in, drenched in sweat.

“Dad! Something’s wrong! There’s trouble outside!”