Chapter 411: Chapter 331: Stand Tall Again

Shen Minglang did indeed want to chat with Cheng Zhu about business matters and hear his opinions.

He himself had repeatedly failed and fought again, while Cheng Zhu had repeatedly fought and won.

Even if he was younger, it didn’t matter, for a truly skilled person could be one’s teacher, and he ought to humble himself and seek advice if needed.

Of course, this was also because he found Cheng Zhu pleasing to the eye, as they were good friends.

That’s how young people are–if they find someone displeasing, they’ll think, “So what if he made a bit of money? Big deal!”

Since they were going to discuss serious matters, he definitely wouldn’t invite just anyone.

But since Shen Qingning was his sister, she was family; naturally, she could come along.

“No thanks,” Shen Qingning responded in a direct and immediate reply.

The proud and charming girl chose not to see Cheng Zhu; it was her instinctual first reaction.

She began to pack up things in her room to take home.

Such as a romance novel with a tragic twist she hadn’t finished yet.

But throughout the process, she seemed somewhat distracted.

Finally, after ten minutes, the proud and charming girl picked up her phone and sent Shen Minglang a WeChat message: “What are you guys having, Chinese food?”

“Yep, the cousin seems to not like Western food, so I picked an innovative fusion restaurant,” Shen Minglang replied.

The proud and charming girl typed: “Okay, I’m good with Chinese food.”

That’s Ningning for you.

Shen Minglang didn’t think much of it; he simply sent the restaurant location to his sister and said he would head out early.

…

In the Persistent Visit studio, Cheng Zhu sat in front of the computer in his office, looking at a series of backend data.

“If the current trend can hold steady, I figure I can make upwards of five thousand in 2015 just by relying on domestic e-commerce and exports,” Cheng Zhu leaned back in his chair, feeling good.

He knew that these few years were when he could make the most money, and it would get harder and harder later, but that was fine–as long as he could rake in what he could.

For now, QQ business was his biggest confidence booster.

As for whether to enter the market to do QQ toys, Cheng Zhu already had a basic plan in his mind.

The market actually had better prospects than QQ lingerie, and it would only get better as time went on.

What’s more, unlike family planning products, there was no big, nationally recognized brand in China yet.

Mention family planning products, and young people could list them like treasured items, Durex, Okamoto, Jissbon–anyone could name a few.

But if you ask what brands there are for QQ toys, a lot of people really couldn’t name any on the spot.

And when an industry with an ever-expanding user base lacks famous brands, what does that represent?

It’s an incredibly tempting piece of cake!

The profit would be even more staggering than QQ lingerie, the profit of all profits!

In the end, many family planning brands started joining the fray, going straight to factories to produce and then put their labels on QQ toys, each selling very well.

Of course, there are many reasons why it’s difficult for such products to become branded in China.

At least family planning products are easier to promote, and their ads are easier to market–after all, small umbrellas are truly daily necessities.

QQ toys are just too sensitive.

Cheng Zhu had been hesitating precisely because he hadn’t figured out how to manage the brand for QQ toys.

But after opening the milk tea shop, his experience with the shop had given him planning and direction.

“Maybe… I could give it a try?” he thought.

Since he’d decided to become a global QQ mogul, he couldn’t stick with just QQ lingerie.

“Otherwise, it’s almost like I’m discriminating against single dogs.”

“QQ lingerie needs two to use together.”

“QQ toys can provide solo pleasure.”

As times progressed, people’s mental stress kept increasing, their mental states getting worse.

–Which young person isn’t a bit crazy?

Release! Sometimes you just need a bit of self-release!

Just like the kindergarten teacher used to say: Come on, let’s all–“move our little hands!”

“If I remember correctly, female consumers of toy products seem to have stronger purchasing power than males.”

“As a Reborn, I should do something beneficial for humanity,” Cheng Zhu thought to himself.

He was just going to earn a little extra billion or so in the process.

After closing the backend of the computer, Cheng Zhu called the middle-aged factory manager Ah Bin in Guan Yun County to discuss some business.

After talking business, Cheng Zhu smiled and said, “Brother Bin, I saw your Moments, congratulations on getting the Benz.”

He bought a 2014 Mercedes-Benz S320.

The Mercedes S-class is the dream car of many middle-aged men.

“It’s all thanks to following Mr. Cheng and having my share of the soup,” Chen Bin said with a laugh.

He was indeed very excited after picking up the car at the dealership a few days ago.

After all, for many late bloomers who had accumulated experience over the years, what he picked up was not just a car–it was the dignity he had lowered in the past years.

…

At five in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu left the Persistent Visit studio and headed to the restaurant that Shen Minglang had chosen.

When he arrived, Shen Minglang was already looking at the menu.

“Cousin, take a look,” he handed the menu to Cheng Zhu.

Cheng Zhu scanned it briefly and added two dishes.

“Let’s add a vegetarian dish as well, Ningning is coming too,” Shen Minglang told Cheng Zhu.

Cheng Zhu was slightly startled to hear this.

He’d been planning to take the initiative to ask Shen Qingning out, but he hadn’t expected her to come for dinner today.

“Did you call her?” he asked.

Well done, Shen Minglang.

No, well done, big uncle!

“She asked me if I was eating with you, so I just invited her along,” Shen Minglang replied.

“She initially said no, but then when she heard it was Chinese food, she agreed,” he elaborated in detail.

Cheng Zhu pondered for a moment.

Seems like Ningning was caught in a dilemma again?

–That’s exactly what I wanted!

Shen Qingning got caught in traffic on the way over, so the first dish arrived before she did.

Shen Minglang had already asked the waiter to uncork the wine; he had brought a bottle of “Hibiki 21 years” and gave Cheng Zhu a bitter smile:

“This was from the stock at the bar, let’s finish it today!”

His bar, Jiuyin, had closed last week.

Some of the unsold liquor was returned to the merchants, and some the merchants didn’t really want to take back, so he ended up bringing it home.

Something like “Hibiki 21 years” wasn’t cheap wholesale.

In a bar, the prices would be really steep, to the point that ordinary people couldn’t afford it.

Many people bought this whiskey to give as gifts or to decorate their homes, not to drink themselves.

“Cousin, have you had this before?” Shen Minglang asked.

Cheng Zhu had certainly drunk it in his previous life, and he had been gifted with it before, but now he just shook his head.

Actually, he wasn’t really a fan of its taste.

“Well, don’t make it as tough as the other day at the KTV, this isn’t cheap, you know,” he pre-emptively rebuked Cheng Zhu’s previous misdemeanor.

“Got it,” Cheng Zhu said with a smile.

While waiting for Shen Qingning, he and Shen Minglang briefly chatted and he roughly knew why Shen Minglang had invited him for the meal.

The repeated failures in business had finally damaged Young Master Shen’s self-confidence!

He was beginning to realize there was a problem with his abilities.

Congratulations, congratulations!

This is a blessing for the Shen family!

False loss of wealth: Careless spending, indulgence in food, drink, and pleasure, playing with cars, watches, and women.

True loss of wealth: I want to start a business! I want to prove myself!

It was like the age-old saying: the royal family didn’t fear a ruler who was content with his lot, but rather those wastes with too much ambition and aspirations.

This was also a common situation among second-generation wealthy kids.

Many young rich second-gens didn’t like to help out at home, were unwilling to work in the family business.

They preferred to get a sum of money from home and then do what they were interested in, immerse themselves in the industries they liked.

For someone like Shen Minglang, if you let him engage in eating, drinking, and playing, plus sleeping with an escort at night, the costs for a year might well match the losses of his high-concept designed bar.

Not to mention, this was already who knows how many times he had failed in his business ventures.

And second-gens like him would also have many wealthy friends around them.

Once these friends played together for a while, suddenly as if a string was pulled, they’d consider starting a project together!

But when such friends, who only played together, had their collective moment of inspiration and started doing something after a brief discussion, it often lead to spectacular failures.

And once a project began, it was easy for them to disagree and have conflicts.

Shen Minglang had already passed this phase, transitioning from liking to partnering in business with friends to blaming them for previous failures, deciding he had to go solo!

Now, he had reached the later stage of going solo, falling into self-denial.

Second-gens like Shen Minglang, each time they did something, would make a grand spectacle.

For instance, on the opening day, he would ask friends to bring all their luxury cars to park right in front of the shop.

And the bigger the initial scene, the more embarrassing it was when they ultimately had to close down.

Over time, starting a business was no longer about making money, but about trying to prove oneself, or rather, about picking up the face that had been lost.

In contrast, look at Cheng Zhu–he was successful in everything.

So, Shen Minglang did admire him.

Most importantly, the projects that Cheng Zhu was currently working on were ones that young people would be interested in.

Young Master Shen had a new project idea recently; he wanted to ask for Cheng Zhu’s opinion before he started, which was the reason for this meal.

And so, after chatting for another four or five minutes, Shen Qingning, who had been delayed by traffic, finally arrived at the restaurant.

Dressed entirely in black, she was also wearing a pair of black boots.

She still carried herself with that same powerful presence.

After scanning the restaurant, her gaze settled on the table where Shen Minglang and Cheng Zhu were seated.

After nodding slightly towards Cheng Zhu as a greeting, she took a seat next to Shen Minglang.

Compared to usual, she seemed even colder today.

…

(ps: It’s the last day of the month, I’m asking for double monthly tickets!!!)