In the bustling, crowded, and fast-paced Capital, Lin Xiao forged ahead entirely on his own, striving to make his mark in a commercial world fraught with opportunities and challenges. The trading business he had entered was a fiercely competitive red ocean, where various factions fought relentlessly and used every possible means for their own gain.
The established merchants who had entrenched themselves in the Capital for years used their deep foundations, vast networks of connections, and accumulated wealth to fully suppress Lin Xiao as a newcomer. They banded together to tightly control the major market share, making it exceptionally difficult for Lin Xiao to expand his customer base. Every encounter with a potential client faced heavy obstacles; he was either maliciously slandered by competitors or outbid by offers of far superior terms.
Transportation routes were monopolized by other powerful factions who deliberately made things difficult for Lin Xiao, causing frequent shipping delays and a sharp increase in costs. A project that originally had an adequate budget saw its profits severely squeezed due to these logistics issues. As for funding, lacking the backing of a powerful family or financial consortium, Lin Xiao's path to financing was arduous. Major money lenders viewed his projects with caution, requiring him to calculate every single investment meticulously. A single misstep could fracture his capital chain and plunge his entire business into a desperate plight.
Chapter 106