Chapter 581: Iced Bing Hong Cha Hits the Market

The young man sneered: "Don't talk about surpassing Japan and becoming the second-largest economy. Even if we surpass Germany and become the third-largest economy, I'll stand on my head and eat shit."

The middle-aged man said: "He probably thinks that by then, we won't remember anymore."

Zhao Hongxing looked at the two and said coldly: "Even if Zhou Andong is hit by a car or struck by lightning in the future, it has nothing to do with me. So, what we need to talk about is not the future, but the present."

Kyle spoke: "Increase promotional efforts and advertising investment, seek cooperation with local governments, and within one year, we must spend all five million US dollars."

Jiang Yuping frowned and said: "Fifteen million US dollars is the five-year marketing budget. Spending five million in one year—how are we going to explain such a huge gap to headquarters?"

Kyle said: "I will report to headquarters and explain the situation; they will agree."

Jiang Yuping stopped talking and looked at Zhao Hongxing. After all, Zhao Hongxing was the General Manager of the Greater China region.

"I think five million US dollars is even too little." Zhao Hongxing gritted his teeth and said: "Since we want to fight with capital, then let's use money to crush Zhou Andong."

…………

Zhou Andong's exclusive interview once again sparked widespread discussion. Those who supported him published articles one after another to back him up and expressed great anticipation for the day when Zhou Andong's prediction—that China would surpass Japan and become the second-largest economy by 2010—would come true.

Those who didn't support him naturally mocked him heavily. One person named Gao Junchen criticized Zhou Andong mercilessly and finally asserted that even by 2210, China shouldn't dream of surpassing Japan to become the second-largest economy.

There was also a guy named Jia Jin who threatened that if China surpassed Japan to become the number one economy by 2010, he would jump from a ten-story building to apologize to Zhou Andong and the people of the whole country with his death.

April 15, 1993, the 24th day of the third lunar month, Thursday!

Xuri Sheng Iced Bing Hong Cha hit the market comprehensively. The first to respond were the universities, and the one with the greatest support was Beijing Normal University.

Early in the morning, after Principal Zhao Fangru finished his morning exercises, he didn't go home but walked leisurely with his hands behind his back to the small shop.

When the proprietress saw him, she hurriedly said: "Principal Zhao, why are you here? Whatever you want, just make a call, and I'll send it to you."

Zhao Fangru waved his hand: "Has Xuri Sheng Iced Bing Hong Cha hit the market?"

"It has!" The proprietress said: "The goods were unloaded in the middle of last night."

Zhao Fangru said: "Give me a bottle!"

"Alright!" The proprietress picked up a bottle of Iced Bing Hong Cha from the counter.

Zhao Fangru took it, opened the cap, and drank a mouthful somewhat impatiently.

"Hmm?" Zhao Fangru smacked his lips, then drank another mouthful: "Not bad, not bad."

The proprietress smiled and said: "It's said that it tastes even better if you put it in the refrigerator to chill."

Zhao Fangru said: "How much is a bottle?"

The proprietress waved her hand: "It's just a bottle of drink, just drink it, no need for money."

"That won't do!" Zhao Fangru took out money from his pocket: "How much!"

The proprietress said helplessly: "Two yuan!"

Zhao Fangru gave the money: "How much are Coca-Cola and Pepsi?"

The proprietress said: "Three yuan!"

It seems Zhou Andong is going to fight a price war. Zhao Fangru pondered for a moment and drank a mouthful of Iced Bing Hong Cha.

Holding the bottle cap in his hand, preparing to cover it, he suddenly saw the words "Another Bottle" inside the cap.

"Proprietress, what's going on with this?" Zhao Fangru handed the bottle cap to the proprietress.

The proprietress took it, looked, and said pleasantly surprised: "Principal, you won a prize, I'll give you another bottle for free."

Zhao Fangru said: "Give me another bottle for free?"

"Right!" The proprietress said: "Iced Bing Hong Cha just hit the market, it's a benefit from the manufacturer to consumers, with a total of 1.5 billion bottles given away. The winning probability is as high as 20%, meaning about one in five bottles wins."

Zhao Fangru was stunned: "A total of 1.5 billion bottles given away?"

"Right!" The proprietress nodded: "That's what the manufacturer said."

"Zhou Andong, what a grand gesture." After a long, long time, Zhao Fangru sighed: "Compared to you, the two Cokes are a bit petty. I'm now very much looking forward to whether your war with the two Cokes can create a miracle."

Zhao Fangru walked out of the shop's door and suddenly turned back: "Have someone send a few cases to each office in a while, then go to the finance department to settle the bill."

The sun rose high, and Beijing Normal University gradually became noisy, especially the small shop and the cafeteria, where students buying Iced Bing Hong Cha formed lines.

Suddenly, at the cafeteria sales point, a boy's excited shout came: "Another bottle, I won a prize again."

"Fuck, this guy bought one bottle and has already won seven."

"This luck is truly one of a kind."

"Just now, a girl also won five bottles."

"Fuck, I bought two bottles and didn't win any."

"Then why are you here again?"

"I'm buying another bottle to try my luck."

Jiang Yuyue and her roommates came to the small shop in a grand manner, only to find it full of people.

"No way!" Bai Juan said, dumbfounded: "Is it that exaggerated?"

"Ah, I won a bottle." An excited shout came from the small shop.

"What won a bottle?" Bai Juan looked at Jiang Yuyue.

Jiang Yuyue said: "The words 'Another Bottle' are printed inside the Iced Bing Hong Cha cap. Whoever buys one gets another one for free."

Bai Juan became excited all of a sudden: "We're going to buy several cases, isn't the probability of winning even higher?"

Jiang Yuyue said: "There are so many people, let's come back tonight."

There were too many people, and Bai Juan and the others could only shake their heads helplessly.

"Let's go, we'll come back tonight."

But what they didn't expect was that in just one morning, Xuri Sheng Iced Bing Hong Cha was sold out in the small shop and the cafeteria.

And in other universities, by nightfall, the goods were also sold out, and they all called to request replenishment as soon as possible.

Coca-Cola China Headquarters, 15th-floor conference room of the Kaiyuan Building.

Zhao Hongxing held an Iced Bing Hong Cha bottle cap in his hand, looking at the words "Another Bottle" inside, his face changing constantly.

A few days ago, he bought a few bottles of Iced Bing Hong Cha through channels, but didn't pay attention to the bottle caps.

"Marketing department, haven't you finished the statistics yet?"

Kyle shook his head: "We have to wait a bit longer."

The middle-aged man said: "This morning, I walked around and saw many places where people were queuing to buy Xuri Sheng Iced Bing Hong Cha."

The young man said: "The advertisement has been running for half a month, plus this prize-winning sale of 'Another Bottle'. For consumers, the attraction is not small."

"However, I believe this situation won't last long. After all, in terms of product competitiveness, it can't compare to our Coke. I estimate that in a few days, this phenomenon of queuing to buy Iced Bing Hong Cha will slow down and eventually return to calm."

The middle-aged man nodded: "I also feel this phenomenon won't last long."

Now, no one realized how lethal "Another Bottle" was. Billions of bottles given away were enough to change the pattern of the entire industry and shake the status of any big boss in the arena. ===== CHAPTER 582 =====