Chapter 424: Chapter 344: Copy Copy Copy (Thanks to “ballking1” for the Silver Alliance!)

December 31st, Shen Qingning once again used illness as an excuse to take sick leave from school and did not return to Xinhang Apartment, leaving Lin Lu home alone.

For many young men and women, New Year’s Eve was bound to be an eventful night.

The plan was to go out for the New Year countdown, but as it unfolded, some ended up counting down on top of someone else.

As a result, sales at “Persistent Visit” surged unexpectedly right before New Year’s Eve!

Cheng Zhu couldn’t tell how many pieces of their own QQ lingerie would be torn around the world… no, globally tonight.

He had definitely set aside time for Lin Lu today.

The two had just confirmed their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. It would be odd not to spend New Year’s Eve together.

But before he left the house, Cheng Zhu sent a WeChat message to Liu Feng.

“Chuaner, do you still have the contact information for the B&B we stayed at during the autumn outing?” he asked.

“Yes, I have the owner’s WeChat, I didn’t delete it,” replied Liu Feng.

The reason he hadn’t deleted it was that he intended to visit a few more times. For him, this B&B was also the place where he and Chen Tingting had cemented their relationship.

“Then can you send me a friend request? I’m organizing a company team building event,” Cheng Zhu came up with an excuse on the spot.

After adding the owner as a contact, Cheng Zhu didn’t say much and began booking the same suite with the large floor-to-ceiling windows that he had stayed in previously.

He didn’t book for today.

In fact, the B&B was almost full now, and hotels throughout Hang City were making a killing.

After taking care of these matters, he put on his coat and left.

The plan for tonight was to first have dinner with Lin Lu–she had surprisingly booked a restaurant a few days earlier–then watch a movie together, and finally join the crowd in front of the mall to partake in the excitement, watching the New Year countdown on the LED screen to welcome the arrival of 2015.

That night, amidst the crowded throng, Lin Lu threw herself into Cheng Zhu’s arms during the earth-shattering countdown and, on tiptoes, quickly kissed him as everyone shouted, “Happy New Year!”

….

….

January 1, 2015, New Year’s Day.

Cheng Zhu woke up early on the first day of the new year.

Last night, he had received many New Year’s greetings via WeChat.

From Jiang Wanzhou, Shen Minglang, Wang Anquan, and even the artist Hu Yan in Shanghai…

Ye Zi, as usual, posted a WeChat Moment visible only to Cheng Zhu: Boss, Happy New Year.

But he did not receive a WeChat message from Shen Qingning.

Instead, the counselor Chen Jieyu sent him a rare message of blessings.

This afternoon, there was a New Year’s performance at the kindergarten attended by Little Youzi.

Cheng Zhu would attend as a representative of the Cheng family, bringing along a full 30 cups of Youu Tea.

This was the pomp of our milk tea tycoon!

“I’m really looking forward to showing off at the kindergarten!” Cheng Zhu thought to himself.

The kindergarten teacher in Little Youzi’s class was quite ordinary-looking, something Cheng Zhu had noticed early on.

But whether there would be beautiful young mothers among the parents and friends attending today, he wasn’t sure.

Of course, Cheng Zhu wasn’t up to any mischief, just purely curious.

He wasn’t the type to take pleasure in cuckolding others or find it thrilling.

He already monopolized too many resources, and encroaching upon others’ established resources would really lead to internal condemnation.

“Guys, I’ve still got some scruples as a man!” — Cheng Zhu.

He had invited Lin Lu to join him in showing off at the kindergarten today.

But Little Lu had to go home, to stay at home.

According to her, this was a family rule.

But she wasn’t clear about why such a rule existed, it seemed somewhat superstitious, instructed by a master.

Regrettably, Cheng Zhu did not have the pleasure of feasting his eyes on any beautiful mothers at the kindergarten.

Instead, it was mostly second-time mothers.

These days, there were still many people secretly having a second child.

In fact, after the policy opened up later, those who vigorously had a third child might still be these people…

When Little Youzi’s performance ended, Cheng Zhu rewarded them with 30 cups of milk tea, and he instantly became a god in the eyes of the kindergarten children!

Not just the children, even the teachers wanted a cup.

Even some parents wanted to sneak a taste from their kids, curious about what this Youu Tea, with its huge reputation in Hang City, actually tasted like.

You see, it’s New Year’s Day! If you were to buy Youu Tea today, wouldn’t you have to queue for several hours?

Thirty cups of milk tea neatly lined up on the table, inciting a scramble.

There were actually just over twenty students in the class; Cheng Zhu had brought a few extra cups, even accounting for the teachers and the principal, there was still a surplus.

He was going to grab a cup for himself, but the children crowded together, and it seemed that kids from other classes had also run over to ask for it, so he let it be, letting the teachers maintain order.

Cheng Zhu muttered to himself, “Forget it, forget it, I can’t compete with you kids.”

In the end, he still got a cup of milk tea: it was Little Youzi who trotted over to give it to him.

“Brother, here you go! How could you forget, you’ve got an awesome little kid too! I snatched it for you!”

Looking at her round little face, Cheng Zhu couldn’t help but think his sister was really adorable.

But it seemed that after spending more time with Lin Lu, she was also becoming more and more conceited?

Oh no, my sister’s going to be spoiled by her, turning into a conceited child!

….

….

The kindergarten’s New Year’s performance ended at three-thirty in the afternoon.

First, Cheng Zhu drove his sister to the fresh food supermarket owned by his family to find their mom, and then he headed to Star City.

Today, the new product “Succulent Grape” was officially launched, and he still wanted to check it out.

However, on days like New Year’s Day, the area around Star City was particularly congested.

At times like these, his saucy little pink scooter came in handy.

Although riding the scooter in the dead of winter was quite cold, it certainly saved time.

On the way, he passed a Mo Tea shop.

Cheng Zhu deliberately stopped to take a look and saw that the screens in the Mo Tea were continuously playing ads for the new product launched today: Black Sugar Pearl Milk.

He noted the price, only 13 yuan.

This price was consistent with Mo Tea’s brand positioning, less than half the price of Youu Tea.

In a few years, the price of drinks like Ancient Tea’s fried black sugar pearl milk, even for a medium-sized cup on delivery, would sell for 17 yuan.

He noticed that the business was quite good for Mo Tea on New Year’s Day, with quite a few people queuing up to buy milk tea.

Before the customers ordered, the staff would promote the new Black Sugar Pearl Milk with a few official phrases.

“Go ahead, keep copying,” Cheng Zhu thought.

“At the rate you’re copying, you might not be as fast as I am at launching new products.”

There was no helping it; these big brands were like massive ships, with stores often numbering several dozen or even over a hundred.

Nationally coordinating a new product launch was not something that could be executed swiftly with a slap on the thigh.

“Even copying homework is such a hassle.”

Cheng Zhu joined the queue to buy milk tea without hesitation.

When it was his turn, he didn’t wait for the clerk to make recommendations, he simply said, “Just give me a cup of Black Sugar Pearl Milk.”

He was quite curious about how the knockoff version of their roasted black sugar boba would taste.

Interestingly, at that moment, Mo Tea’s boss was also outside Youu Tea, holding a cup of the very product he had copied–the Youu Tea’s roasted black sugar boba milk tea.

….

….

Mo Tea, a Taiwanese milk tea brand.

In the 2.0 era of milk tea, Taiwanese brands had an exceptionally strong dominance, occupying at least half of the milk tea industry, if not more!

The owner of Mo Tea, a man named Zhou Jianxiong, had started Mo Tea as a small shop run by him and his wife in Taiwan. Now, with over a hundred franchise stores across the country, he was a mogul in the milk tea industry.

A few days ago in Shanghai, he was meeting daily with several company executives from the mainland.

Today, he specifically came to Hang City to personally check out the legendary Youu Tea.

In the era when various brands were engaged in price wars, a tea shop that dared to charge more than thirty yuan per cup was somewhat beyond the industry insiders’ understanding.

However, during recent meetings, it was unanimously agreed within the company that the mastermind behind Youu Tea was highly capable and skillful.

Just the move of setting up shop opposite Starbucks was brilliantly played!

The popularity of this store was partly due to product innovation and mastery of human psychology, and of course, the owner’s marketing strategies played an important role.

Zhou Jianxiong was well aware that merely setting high prices would not convince everyone that their tea was a notch above the rest.

But after mingling with Starbucks, it suddenly seemed different.

Now, this brand was also wrapped in the “Internet celebrity” cloak, giving it a distinct flair.

Just a few days ago, this tea shop had even made it to the Weibo hot search, enjoying countless limelight.

In his mind, Cheng Zhu was a highly capable young man.

Of course, the more capable he seemed to Zhou Jianxiong, the greater the threat he posed to him!

Zhou Jianxiong’s visit to Hang City today was hosted by a super franchisee known as President Guo, Zhou Guodong.

There were 5 Mo Tea shops in Hang City, all owned by Zhou Guodong.

In the afternoon, Zhou Jianxiong had his assistant line up at Youu Tea early.

He and Zhou Guodong set off a good while later.

On the way there, the two talked about Youu Tea in their business van.

Zhou Guodong was somewhat displeased with Cheng Zhu.

After letting Wang Zhenggang pass his business card, the other party had not made any contact at all.

He was puzzled by what this young man intended to do. After discussing it with Zhou Jianxiong, he felt that Zhou Jianxiong was also unsure.

He refused to franchise and was slow to open new branches; what was he really up to?

“I told you to listen to me, to get in touch with me. Now look, Mo Tea has copied your product, and they’re selling it so cheap. I’m curious how you’re going to sell yours now!” Zhou Guodong felt a trace of satisfaction.

On the road, he also shared with Zhou Jianxiong, “Brother Xiong, once our Black Sugar Pearl Milk launches today, I guess the sales of black sugar boba will definitely drop.”

Zhou Jianxiong was the kind of boss who would lower his stature to interact with his subordinates. Since they shared the same surname, he insisted that Zhou Guodong call him Brother Xiong.

“That’s not going to happen so quickly,” Zhou Jianxiong gestured dismissively with his hand.

Zhou Guodong’s remark certainly resonated with him, but he knew very well that it wouldn’t have such a big impact on Youu Tea just on New Year’s Day.

But when they arrived at Star City, they found that indeed not many people were drinking black sugar boba.

Because many people were holding Youu Tea’s newly launched Succulent Grape!

….

(ps: Second update, the monthly ticket raffle event ends tomorrow, remember to vote if you want to participate, voting means automatic entry~)