Chapter 357: The Little Rich Girl Gets Hooked Again

Chinese people have a habit deep in their genes. It’s called “since we’re here, we might as well do something,” feeling it’s a waste to do nothing.

Since Xitian’s rose taro became a hit amongst college students, the surrounding three stores also benefitted from the increased customer flow.

After all, since we’re here.

Standing in line anyway, why not enjoy some hotpot or grilled fish?

Besides, the four strategically allied stores make life easier; the hotpot restaurant staff even brings the milk tea right to customers’ tables, so there’s no need to run back and forth.

Feel it’s too much trouble or takes too long? Think it’s unnecessary just for a milk tea to try hotpot or grilled fish?

You could also take your “Xihan Heqing” membership card to Burger King for a special price meal with chicken wings and nuggets while waiting for your milk tea. Isn’t that delightful?

Especially on “Crazy Thursday,” when Burger King offers a half-price promotion for members. Who could say no to that?

Not in the mood for fast food but something warm and budget-friendly?

Don’t worry. Our Yang Ji is under renovation. Join the “Xihan Heqing” membership to enjoy the discount.

Can you resist?

College students wave their hands, unable to resist.

While students find the offer irresistible, stable business like River Hotpot capitalizes by launching free activities such as manicures and glasses cleaning while waiting for food, igniting marketing buzz across various university towns again.

Under this joint marketing and bundling strategy, local brands from Linchuan quickly take root in one city after another.

You see, breaking into new markets is tough for a brand.

Because primary consumer choices are directly linked to brand recognition.

Look at fast food chains. In ’09, aside from KFC and McDonald’s, consumers perceived other brands possibly as imitations, preferring familiar tastes over risky trials.

Regional culinary differences also add to the challenge, make promoting businesses like hotpot and grilled fish feel like rowing upstream.

Yet, today, they’ve somehow made great strides, advancing rapidly and invigoratingly!

Why?

Because of joint marketing.

Bundling four brands enhances consumer recognition of the value, similar to trusting well-established brand products more.

Moreover, milk tea brands are the most readily accepted among college students.

What Jiang Qin does is use “Xihan Heqing” as a fast track, introducing new culinary and fast food brands via bundling.

Watching sales data flow back from various locations, owners who joined the marketing trial on a whim, now felt dreamily light.

“Everyone, our first round of marketing has concluded, and the results were modest. Thank you for bearing with us.

“But this is just the beginning. Come November, each brand will start its marketing phases. Please pull together and give it your all.”

“Finally, may this prosperous era be as we wish.”

“—Jiang Qin.”

On a deep autumn night, all strategic partners received Jiang Qin’s email.

One entrepreneur in the marketing trial recalled being silent for a long time upon reading this email before calling a few members of the Linchuan Business Group, finding out they too were restless and spontaneously decided to book a foot bath session.

That night, though, Jiang Qin politely declined, claiming student duties.

October 26, Chongyang Festival, Monday.

After three days of cooling, Linchuan embraced a fairly bright day, slightly warmer.

But everyone knew this was just a brief shine before the impending winter.

At eight in the morning, Jiang Qin emerged from his blankets, yawned, and suddenly noticed Jiang Tian had posted in the QQ group.

【Let’s meet at the big field at 9:30 for height and weight measurements and physical testing. Data will be archived. Hope our Finance Class 3 can all make it. Please.】

Jiang Qin squinted, suspecting the message targeted him.

At that moment, Cao Guangyu, Zhou Chao, and Ren Ziqiang also clambered out of their beds.

They were already awake, but who wants to leave a warm bed in early autumn?

Due to the physical tests, their plans to lie in were spoiled, and they resignedly got up, some dressing, some washing up.

“Old Cao, what are you up to?”

Jiang Qin, just out of bed, noticed young master Cao fussing with his shoes and couldn’t help asking.

“Ah? Nothing, just changing my insole.”

Cao Guangyu laughed awkwardly, quickly put on his shoes, then nonchalantly headed to the balcony.

Zhou Chao, brushing his teeth, couldn’t help but look puzzled: “Brother Cao, how come you seem taller?”

“Nope, I’ve always been this tall, just like I’ve always been a rich second generation, maybe it’s not so obvious.”

“……”

At 9:25, Room 302’s F4 arrived at the field, each holding a meat bun, and the other classes were almost ready, lining up under Xue Hongying’s direction for basic height and weight measurement.

Jiang Qin looked around, pretending to casually scan every face before stopping suddenly.

Under the brilliant winter sun, Feng Nanshu stood about twenty people back, wearing a white hoodie, her hair in a high ponytail, sporting a cool, rich, and aloof demeanor.

Spotting Jiang Qin looking her way, the little rich girl raised her right hand to her left cheek, making a scissor gesture, looking cool and formidable.

At 1.7 meters, her stunning looks made her stand out, as if she belonged in a different painting from the rest.

Jiang Qin returned the scissor gesture and mouthed “We’ll talk later.”

“What’s Jiang Qin saying?” Gao Wenhui asked curiously.

Feng Nanshu squinted, “He said he missed me.”

“?”

As time passed and the line moved, when it was about Cao Guangyu’s turn, he suddenly realized shoes must be removed for the height check, panicking hugely.

“Damn, we have to take off shoes?”

Jiang Tian couldn’t help turning back, “To measure net height, of course, shoes come off.”

Cao Guangyu disagreed, “That’s nonsense. Didn’t we have to take them off last year?”

“Last year, they used the information provided at school entry. We didn’t measure. Are you losing your memory?”

Hearing this, Cao Guangyu held his breath, reluctantly moving with the line, his face full of resistance.

When his turn came, the girl from the student council adjusted the measuring stick and coldly instructed him to remove his shoes, but Cao hesitated looking more troubled than if asked to strip off his underwear.

“Brother Cao’s feet don’t stink,” Zhou Chao wondered aloud.

Jiang Qin folded his arms, “Probably old Cao has something sneaky in his shoes.”

“?”

As Jiang Qin expected, when Cao Guangyu removed his shoes, his height visibly shortened.

Jiang Qin nearly laughed his head off, thinking although Cao was unremarkable, he always brought moments of amusement—making a joke even in this situation wasn’t easy.

“One sixty-nine.”

“What? Impossible. This can’t be right,” Cao Guangyu argued, his face twisted.

The student council girl frowned, “We’re all using the same stick. How come it’s only wrong for you?”

“It’s definitely incorrect. Don’t write it yet. Measure me again.”

“No, hurry up. Don’t waste time. Others are waiting.”

“I don’t accept this result. I’m going to file a complaint!” Cao stormed.

Knowing Cao Guangyu’s temperament, Jiang Qin intervened, “Okay, okay, no need to measure again. Just write 172 for him.”

The student council girl looked up, saw it was Jiang Qin speaking, dared not argue, and reluctantly wrote 172.

Cao Guangyu took his form, thinking: Jiang’s influence sure is valuable. Had I known, I would’ve aimed for 180.

After height measurements, everyone was taken to another part of the field to split into groups for short and long runs, standing long jump, sit-ups, and pull-up tests.

Jiang Qin scanned again and spotted Feng Nanshu standing dazedly beside the sandpit, seemingly soul-lost, so he walked over and lightly tapped her head.

The little rich girl gasped as if instantly soul-filled, and called out “Brother.”

“Why so silly today?”

“Your recent interviews were too many. I couldn’t keep up,” Feng Nanshu yawned while speaking.

Jiang Qin squinted, “Hooked again? I thought you had quit that habit. You haven’t been staying up late, have you?”

Feng Nanshu stayed dazed a bit longer, murmuring, “It’s okay, Jiang Qin, I’ll quit.”

“How can I believe that with your clearly addicted expression?”

Just then, Gao Wenhui and Fan Shuling walked over, “Jiang Qin, now that you’re this wealthy, why not buy a house and live together with Feng Nanshu?”

“You good person, don’t talk nonsense,” Feng Nanshu blushed.

Jiang Qin’s expression turned cold and stern, “Who said I’m rich, and who said we’re living together?”

“Feng Nanshu watches your videos daily in the dorm. We dream of your face now!”

“Little rich girl, you might like watching, but the dorm is a shared space. You can’t keep the volume up. It will disturb everyone’s rest.”

“Jiang Qin, I didn’t. I always keep the volume very low, but they say my expressions are so engaging, they lean over my desk to watch.”

“Then they deserve it.”

Just then, Cao Guangyu ran over, “I just heard someone’s moving in together. Who’s that?”

Jiang Qin grinned, “No one’s moving in. I’m just stressing you’re one seventy-two, but they don’t believe.”

Young master Cao: “……”