Chapter 48: The Ultimate Victor

He Zhixing and his partners ran their clothing store with great success; within less than a year, their brand had already made a name for itself. They soon opened two more chain stores in succession, and established both a clothing company and a clothing factory. With government support, they secured patents and trademarks, and North Wind Fashion was officially rooted in the Baiyun District of Guangzhou, preparing to expand into neighboring Chinese cities.

Many scattered clothing shops in the surrounding regions, seeing how well their branded apparel was selling, came one after another to seek cooperation, requesting to stock products from their company. He Zhixing welcomed these business owners. Five of them signed contracts on the spot—North Wind Fashion would supply their goods at wholesale prices, allowing the partners to sell the brand in their own stores. Payment was made upon bulk order, and any unsold or slow-moving items, provided they remained undamaged, could be unconditionally returned or exchanged for different styles.

Thanks to the innovative bursts of inspiration the two founders had in integrating cutting-edge fashion and artistic elements, their offerings became more and more avant-garde and sought after. Every time new items launched, affluent men and women rushed to place the first orders.

Their factory kept expanding, gradually forming a fully-fledged company with multiple specialized departments. Each year, they contributed over a million in taxes to the local government, raising the region’s profile. A private enterprise’s brand was now driving local influence; the era of relying solely on foreign investment for economic growth was coming to an end.

China, too, would soon be able to create its own powerful brands and establish many “Made in China” labels. The pride in this achievement was immense. The drive to develop Chinese brands and bring them onto the world stage had always been a central concern and aspiration for the nation’s economy.

China would no longer rely on foreign investment for strength and prosperity. For the Chinese people to become global players, they needed to build their own brands. He Zhixing even studied the local geomancy: the area sat beside a river, with a vast river bend forming a natural delta. This, he believed, nurtured the flourishing of local agriculture, industry, and commerce. During the rains, many roads held pools of water—not due to poor drainage, but because the place was abundant in water and, symbolically, in wealth.

Only by creating brands could one establish a foothold, accumulate wealth, and resist being swept away—gathering water to attract fortune was exactly what suited the area’s development trend.

At that time, the local mayor sought He Zhixing out for a private conversation. With the constant influx of migrant workers and successive global crises, many industries had been relocating, shutting down, or going bankrupt, leaving the government both anxious and helpless. He Zhixing’s company was the first locally-grown brand to rise to prominence, even earning praise and coverage from national television.

The mayor’s visit was informal, but his concern was pressing. Amidst an economy that struggled to move forward, only North Wind Fashion was thriving—he came to He Zhixing in hopes of uncovering the secret to success.

He Zhixing said, “From a geomantic perspective, this town is blessed with water and wealth. The main road branches inward, surrounded by flourishing water features; when it rains, the streets hold water, which draws prosperity. The water accumulates, bringing in the vital energy of the dragon, encircling the city.”

In closing, he told the mayor, “If you want this place to flourish and become a modern, vibrant city, you must harness the power of brands. Only by cultivating multiple strong brands together can the government transform this town into a globally recognized city.”

The mayor listened to his words and fell into deep thought. When he opened his eyes, he asked, “So you’re saying that run-of-the-mill, unbranded businesses won’t survive here? No wonder the government’s work has been so ineffective these past two years—turns out, it’s a matter of competition between enterprises and brands.”