Chapter 321: Handsome and Insightful

After leaving Linchuan University, Liu Jiaming and He Yijun were waiting for him in the brightly lit lobby of Longkai Hotel to welcome him to the seat.

Once in the private room, Liu Jiaming expressed heartfelt gratitude for the marketing ideas provided by Jiang Qin, toasting thrice at the start of the meal, showing his sincerity though he blushed from drinking too quickly, admitting he felt a bit dizzy.

Jiang Qin joked, “Are you trying to play me? I haven’t even received the planning fee, and you’re dizzy before I’ve shared the first marketing plan? How can we both win then?”

“President Jiang, President He, you guys chat first. I need to rest a bit.”

Liu Jiaming leaned back in his chair, his face red as if he was a young lady cornered against a wall, his gaze somewhat dazed.

“President Liu is just too grateful to you. He’s never drunk so hurriedly before, and his tolerance is just this low. He’s completely confused himself in one go.”

He Yijun chuckled and added an explanation to Jiang Qin.

As a company producing herbal tea, Jiaduoji has been pondering for years how to break into the market and turn a blank space into a blue ocean but has always struggled to find a way, feeling restricted as if choked.

The reason Liu Jiaming joined Jiang Qin’s strategic partnership plan was actually with an attitude of giving it a try.

It’s like someone with a terminal illness who can’t find a cure – they’ll believe anything. What if it works? Wouldn’t that be a jackpot?

What Liu Jiaming never expected was that this time it actually worked.

Thus, Liu Jiaming’s gratitude towards Jiang Qin was genuinely heartfelt, so much so that it went to his head as soon as the meal started, because what Jiang Qin offered was not just a marketing idea but also a cure for Jiaduoji’s inherent deficiencies.

“Let President Liu rest for a bit. I’ll chat with President He.”

Jiang Qin looked towards He Yijun: “How’s the mall next door now?”

“It’s been remodeled and can start operating in November,” said He Yijun.

“Actually, Wanzhong Mall can also be seen as a product, or rather a brand. Everyone is trying to take their brand beyond Linchuan. President He, why not give it a try?”

“You mean make Wanzhong bloom nationwide? I’d love to, but I don’t have the money. Building a mall costs too much, I can’t handle it.”

Jiang Qin lowered his voice: “You have two malls and support from Linchuan Municipal Government. There shouldn’t be a problem with loans. Besides, in our Linchuan business group, there are many mine owners with a lot of cash flow, involving stars and shooting movies. If you have an idea, there’s no need to go it alone. I proposed establishing the business group precisely for resource sharing.”

After hearing this, He Yijun frowned and fell into deep thought: “You mean I should learn from you, use others’ money for my own business?”

“How can it be for your own business? This is for our Linchuan business group. How can you not even realize this? I recommend you take a political education course at Linchuan University.”

“But this carries quite a bit of risk.”

Jiang Qin took a sip of wine: “Old He, I know you. You’re not afraid of risks. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have cut off Wanzhong’s most profitable direct sales and dived headfirst into mall reform.”

He Yijun turned to look at Jiang Qin: “You’re motivating me so much, are you trying to win something?”

“Win something? I am the largest shareholder in Wanzhong Group besides you. I am genuinely doing this for our Wanzhong!”

“I almost forgot you were my shareholder.”

Jiang Qin poured He Yijun a drink: “President He, you’re very capable, and your shareholder is both handsome and sharp. With our combined strengths, as long as we play by the rules and avoid forbidden areas, what’s there to fear?”

He Yijun took a sip of his drink: “You’re right. After the wine reception a few days ago, indeed a few mine owners talked to me about investing in Wanzhong.”

“That’s right. For mine owners used to big earnings, the internet seems like a bubble. The money it makes is just a drop in the bucket for them, not worth the anxiety. But building malls, a tangible industry, that’s what impresses them.”

He Yijun nodded silently, then swirled his drink in his glass and sank into thought again.

After a while, Liu Jiaming recovered from the effects of the alcohol, his face slightly less flushed. He sat up from his chair and scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, President Jiang. I’m really not good at drinking. I embarrassed myself just now and couldn’t even express my thanks. Let me punish myself with three more drinks.”

“?????”

Jiang Qin was stupefied, thinking are you addicted to drinking? Have three drinks, recover a bit, and then three more. And who’s paying later, me or Old He?

“President Liu, hold on. Let’s not rush with the drinking. Let’s chat about important matters first.”

“Oh right, important matters first, important matters first.”

Liu Jiaming reached into his bag, took out a card, and pushed it across the table: “President Jiang, this is your planning fee.”

Jiang Qin waved his hand and refused the card: “President Liu, starting with money is too vulgar.”

“?”

He Yijun gave him a look, thinking you weren’t saying this before. When I was reforming Wanzhong, you almost took it over without paying attention. Why are you taking the high road now?

Liu Jiaming was also puzzled: “President Jiang, if you’re not after money, what are you after? I…I’m not Dai Wenli.”

Dai Wenli is that altruistic female boss who was always hovering around Jiang Qin at the wine reception, making everyone thirsty just watching.

Liu Jiaming felt if President Jiang wasn’t after his money, he must have other motives, but he’s a man.

“Here’s the thing, the first phase of Zhihu’s promotion has been completed. Now we need to do the first site marketing for Linchuan’s brands. President Liu, take a look at our marketing services. If you have ideas, we can go deeper.”

Jiang Qin took a plan out of his bag and handed it over, just as planned six months ago, Zhihu would still attract businesses with advertising services.

Only this time, the attraction shifted from individual merchants to major brands.

Zhihu now dominates six economically developed university towns, and video drainage is bringing Zhihu even further, allowing college student audiences to first familiarize themselves with the brand, laying the groundwork and stepping stone for subsequent promotion.

“Would you like to join me in first capturing the national university town market?”

The biggest draw isn’t even Zhihu’s speed of dissemination, but the mentioned details in planning and marketing guidance.

At the Linchuan wine reception, Jiang Qin’s words enlightened Liu Jiaming and showed Linchuan businessmen the basics of internet marketing and his powerful marketing logic. This service and its add-ons are attractive enough for brands wanting to expand beyond Linchuan.

Liu Jiaming didn’t take long to weigh the pros and cons and decided to join the plan, opting for the fourth tier out of five marketing stages, valued at three million for marketing promotion.

Yes, with the addition of auxiliary services, Jiang Qin has now tiered Zhihu’s partnership plans into tiers of three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, one million, three million, and five million.

Five million is a tough sell, maybe not selling one in six months, but at least we have it. As long as this tier exists, it shows our service matches this level.

Most importantly, having the highest tier of service listed first makes the one and three million tiers seem more approachable.

Liu Jiaming chose the three million tier because he calculated that the phrase “Afraid of getting hot from hotpot? Drink Jiaduoji” is worth three million alone.

President Jiang discourages discussing money as he conducts himself with great integrity, so how could you consider buying a cheaper plan?

Although saving money is a smart business tactic, there are times you simply shouldn’t cut corners.

After the meal and as the banquet ended, Jiang Qin, like a gentleman, declined President Liu’s “all-inclusive” suggestion and returned to Linchuan University. Just as he entered through the gates and was heading towards Room 208, he suddenly received a friend request from someone named Qi Qi.

Who is Qi Qi?

Don’t know…

Jiang Qin rejected the friend request, but within three steps, another request appeared, this time labeled “The junior who helped you throw away trash.”

“?”

After pondering for a while, Jiang Qin suddenly remembered the scene in front of the Xitian Milk Tea Shop and accepted the friend request.

【Hello, Senior!】

【Hello.】

Jiang Qin replied politely and then put his phone into his pocket. He went to Room 208, opened his computer, and began emailing Zhihu’s primary marketing plan to various enterprises in the Linchuan Business Group.

Soon, his phone began ringing incessantly as numerous directors called to inquire about the cooperation details.

This behavior is like a common human fault: despite the clear details in the plan, some prefer asking directly over the phone—it’s so easy!

Previously, Jiang Qin wouldn’t entertain such calls, but this time he patiently clarified their queries, after all, they were eager to bring their money.

By the time he finished the calls, it was already 11:30 PM. Jiang Qin didn’t feel like returning to the dormitory and just pulled out a blanket from the cupboard and headed to Room 207 to stay overnight.

“Senior, have you slept?”

In the female dormitory of the School of Finance, Qi Qi held her phone for over an hour, feeling a bit melancholic as she recalled the sight of him skillfully driving an Audi.

It turns out, a true idol can confidently ride a girlish electric bike and drive a low-key Audi without worrying about what others say.

It’s like being so tall you don’t mind others joking you’re short, just laugh it off, light as a feather—yes, yes, I’m short.

But if you really are short, jokes about your height may leave you raging and hysterical.

Indeed, those who have it often say they don’t, and those who don’t often boast that they do.