Chapter 227 Claiming It as Their Own
Yang Long was indeed anxious at this moment. After seeing the design draft his wife had secretly passed to him, he realized that Liu Ran possessed considerable design talent.
If she were to use this design draft to compete, the first prize would likely be hers. Therefore, Yang Long had to take precautions.
He drove straight to the Liu family's residence.
Upon arriving at the Liu family mansion, Madam Liu Xin, the elderly matriarch, and over a dozen core members of the Liu family were already gathered, discussing matters.
Liu Xin had brought the design draft back to the old Liu family residence.
Liu Xin was furious. She slapped the design draft and said to Madam Liu, "Grandmother, look! Look at what Liu Ran has done. That treacherous bitch, she simply cannot stand to see me prosper."
Madam Liu glanced at the draft and said, "What is this? Scribbled all over the place."
Liu Xin knew that Madam Liu couldn't understand this type of drawing. She explained, "Grandmother, I took this from Liu Ran's desk today. I went to ask Liu Ran for the Imperial Jade Skin Cream, and that bitch gave me a few boxes as if she were shooing away a beggar."
"That's all fine, but later I found many clothing design drafts on her desk. That's when I realized the bitch was planning to secretly enter the joint fashion design competition held by the six cities of Jiangnan."
"Grandmother, you know that Brother Long's main business is currently clothing. This fashion design competition is being held in our Qingzhou City. Brother Long's clothing factory already has considerable strength, and with the geographical advantage, he should have secured first place with ninety-nine percent certainty."
"But now, Liu Ran, that bitch, has suddenly barged in and insisted on participating in this competition."
Madam Liu frowned upon hearing this and said, "Isn't Liu Ran selling cosmetics? Why is she meddling in the clothing industry?"
At this moment, Yang Long entered.
Yang Long's expression was also extremely grim.
The Liu family members present did not understand the quality of fashion design drafts, but Yang Long did.
Yang Long spoke to Madam Liu and the others, "Grandmother, I've had the design department of our clothing factory review this design draft just now."
"They said this design draft is very ingenious. If nothing unexpected happens, this design draft will win first prize in this fashion design competition."
"Therefore, if we don't find a way, the first prize will be taken by Liu Ran, that bitch."
Liu Xin, standing nearby, abruptly turned to look at Yang Long in disbelief.
Then, Liu Xin almost jumped up and shouted angrily, "Grandmother, Grandmother, did you hear that? Liu Ran, that bitch, she just can't stand to see us do well."
"And Chen Yang, that good-for-nothing Chen Yang. He used to seem obedient, but now that he has a bit of money, he's started instigating Liu Ran to disrupt my and Brother Long's lives and businesses. This pair of scoundrels, Grandmother, you absolutely must give us justice!"
Hearing these words, the old lady's brows furrowed.
She thought for a moment and said, "That bitch Liu Ran is completely disrespectful and doesn't listen to me. What can I do?"
"However, she's just selling cosmetics, and she wants to sell clothes? It's not that easy."
"How about this: tell a few people in the family to go and help Liu Ran, keep a close watch on what that little bitch is up to at all times, and report anything to Yang Long."
"Yang Long is the son-in-law with the highest status in our old Liu family residence. We Liu family members must fully cooperate with Yang Long."
Liu Xin immediately nodded upon hearing this. Then, Liu Xin turned to look at Yang Long and asked, "Brother Long, you mean this design draft is very good, right?"
Yang Long nodded, his expression tinged with some frustration, and said, "My design department people said that this design draft is beyond their capabilities. It should be a design draft Liu Ran came up with in a burst of inspiration, and it should be able to win first prize."
Hearing this, Liu Xin clapped her hands, her eyes lighting up. She said to Yang Long, "Brother Long, that's excellent news."
Yang Long snorted and glared at Liu Xin, "Are you stupid? Liu Ran is about to win first prize, and you say it's excellent?"
Liu Xin shook her head and giggled, "Brother Long, you said yourself that this design draft is good. So, if we claim this design draft as our own, won't everything be perfectly resolved?"
"This draft belongs to us. We'll design clothes based on this draft and then enter the competition. If Liu Ran, that little bitch, brings out the same work later, we'll just need to do a little maneuvering, plus Grandmother and all of us testifying collectively, and we can naturally prove that Liu Ran copied us, not that we copied Liu Ran's work."
Yang Long, who had been quite depressed, exclaimed "Ah!" after hearing his wife's words and realized it. He quickly said, "Will this tactic work? You know that in the design industry, being found guilty of plagiarism has very serious consequences. One might never be able to work in the fashion design industry again."
Liu Xin immediately patted her chest and said, "Brother Long, what are you afraid of? You also said that serious plagiarism is within the fashion design industry."
"Even if the worst happens and we are found to have plagiarized, we'll shift all the blame to my family members or to Grandmother."
"Grandmother is not in the fashion design industry, so the law won't punish her! The design industry might condemn, but Grandmother wouldn't know. Besides, I don't believe Liu Ran would really dare to let Grandmother go to jail."
"So, we've hit the jackpot this time! I never imagined that the design draft I casually took from her desk would be so valuable! Hehehe."
Yang Long stroked his chin and nodded, "Xinxin, your idea is not bad. If this design draft were ours, I would immediately instruct someone to set up a Hanfu factory and build it as quickly as possible."
"Then, using this design draft as a prototype, we'll hire some celebrities and masters to imitate ten more drafts based on this design draft to enter the competition. It will surely be brilliant."
"With a bit of maneuvering, we can ensure our work appears first. Even if Liu Ran participates, her clothes will be similar to ours, which will undoubtedly reduce the impact."
"Perhaps this could even be a new business direction!"
"I'm calling my father now to invest fifty million to set up a Hanfu factory."
Madam Liu, who had initially been displeased because she realized Liu Xin and Yang Long were trying to make her take the blame for stealing Liu Ran's design, suddenly became energized when she heard Yang Long talk about investing fifty million to build a clothing factory.
She coughed and said to Yang Long, "Xiao Long, you're quite busy with work now. Your existing clothing factory is the main concern. If you're going to set up a Hanfu clothing factory, I think it would be better to let Xuhui be the new factory manager."
"Xuhui has some understanding of Hanfu, and if the plagiarism incident were to erupt, Xuhui, as Liu Ran's cousin, wouldn't be overly held accountable. What do you think?"