Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 225 Thunder (Seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and subscriptions!)
After seeing Gu Yongxian off, Chen Bingwen pondered for a moment.

He picked up the phone and dialed the R&D center's internal number.

Using on-the-ground promotion to sell the Pulse series products is just one sales tactic; the core strength lies in the product itself.

If the product isn't good enough, even the best promotion will be in vain.

The person who answered the phone was Zhou Zhiyuan's assistant.

"Chen Sheng? Professor Zhou is in the lab, I'll go get him."

“Don’t disturb his experiment. After he comes out, have him come to my office,” Chen Bingwen said.

About half an hour later, Zhou Zhiyuan rushed to Chen Bingwen's office, his white coat still stained with some reagent.

"Chen Sheng, you were looking for me?"

"There's been some trouble in North America; Coca-Cola's bottling plants are starting to play tricks."

Chen Bingwen gestured for him to sit down and briefly explained the situation: "Our products are too dependent on their filling lines and channels, and we are always at their mercy. Being passively attacked is not a solution."

We need to establish our own production and sales system more quickly.

How's the progress on the high-fructose corn syrup replacement plan that I asked you to focus on, and the enhanced 'Pulse Thunder' formula?

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately realized that they needed to speed up.

He adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "The adaptation test of the new HFCS-55 formula is basically complete. We have optimized the sweetness curve and taste, and the cost can be reduced by more than 35%. Mass production is no problem."

As for the enhanced version…

He paused, then said excitedly, "Mr. Chen, I have an even bolder idea."

He took out his notebook and opened it: "You mentioned the concept of 'Pulse Thunder' before, which is high in sugar and caffeine, aiming for the ultimate instant energizing effect."

I reviewed a large amount of medical literature and energy metabolism research from North America and discovered an opportunity.

“The FDA currently does not have clear, mandatory limits on the caffeine and taurine content in beverages.” Zhou Zhiyuan tapped a few lines of reference numbers on his notebook. “This is a very good opportunity.”

Conventional energy drinks typically contain 50-80 mg of caffeine per 250 ml, and their energizing effect is more of a placebo effect.

If we want a truly 'thunderous' effect, I suggest pushing the caffeine content directly to 160 mg per 250 ml.

Chen Bingwen raised an eyebrow slightly.

160 mg!

This figure far exceeds that of any beverage currently on the market, and is almost the caffeine content of a cup of strong coffee.

Zhou Zhiyuan continued, "But that's not the most crucial point."

Caffeine can be energizing, but its effects are short-lived and can have noticeable side effects.

Therefore, my idea is not to simply add caffeine, but to adopt a synergistic amplification strategy.

The taurine content was also significantly increased, directly to 1000 mg per 250 ml.

1000 milligrams?

Chen Bingwen repeated it.

This dosage certainly sounds extremely powerful.

Although Red Bull with such a high taurine content was sold in his previous life, Chen Bingwen had never tried it.

“Yes! 1000 mg!” Zhou Zhiyuan said with great certainty. “Only this dosage level can truly have a significant physiological effect, rather than just a placebo effect.”

With 160 mg of caffeine and a high sugar concentration of around 11%, it can quickly raise blood sugar, promote the absorption of caffeine and taurine, and provide a strong and sustained energizing effect in a short time, far exceeding that of regular cola or coffee.

This is the real 'Thunder'!
I've also adjusted the taste; using a small amount of sodium citrate to mask the bitterness and strange flavors works perfectly.

Zhou Zhiyuan's words made Chen Bingwen realize that the combination of high caffeine, high taurine, and high sugar was absolutely nuclear-level in 1979.

He could almost imagine the reactions of truck drivers who had to work late into the night, students rushing to meet deadlines, and people working overtime late into the night when they came into contact with this product.

This is no longer just a simple beverage, but a tool that provides powerful, instant energy.

"Do you have any samples?" Chen Bingwen asked.

Zhou Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and quickly ran back to the R&D center to get a few samples and hand them to Chen Bingwen.

"Mr. Chen, this is the prototype sample that has just been prepared."

Chen Bingwen took the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and without hesitation, tilted his head back and took a big gulp.

The liquid has a refreshing taste, with a distinct sweetness and a faint medicinal flavor.

But just a minute or two later, he suddenly realized that the drowsiness he had felt in the afternoon had completely disappeared, and he felt refreshed.

"This effect," Chen Bingwen said with slight surprise, "is even faster than strong coffee."

"The high sugar content promotes absorption, and the caffeine and taurine work synergistically," Zhou Zhiyuan explained. "I have done tests, and the effect is three to five times faster than with regular coffee."

Chen Bingwen took another sip, carefully sensing the changes in his body.

Indeed, this energizing effect is direct and intense, without any gradual process.

He put down the sample bottle, looked at Zhou Zhiyuan, and asked, "What about safety?"

Chen Bingwen asked a question that he cared about most.

If such a high dosage causes safety issues, it will inevitably drag down the entire product line.

Even though there were similar products in his previous life, Chen Bingwen had to be cautious about launching such a high-dose beverage to the market.

After all, Americans are known for their fondness for drugs.

"As long as it does not exceed four bottles per day, short-term consumption is safe for healthy adults."

Of course, we must clearly indicate the ingredient content and recommended daily intake on the label.

Zhou Zhiyuan answered confidently, "This is designed for people who need a high-intensity boost, not for drinking like water."

"Give me the test data as soon as possible."

Chen Bingwen pondered for a moment and said, "If the effects and safety are as you say, then we'll proceed with 'Pulse Thunder' according to this plan."

What we want is an ultimate experience that no one else can imitate.

"clear!
"I'll finish the final report tonight!" Zhou Zhiyuan stood up and walked away full of energy.

After Zhou Zhiyuan left, Chen Bingwen answered a long-distance call from Mi Lisi.

Now that the enhanced version of "Pulse" energy drink has been confirmed, the process of acquiring beverage factories in North America must be accelerated.

"Simon, the situation in North America has changed."

Chen Bingwen succinctly informed Mellis that the Coca-Cola bottling plant had begun to secretly make things difficult for Zhou Zhiyuan and about his new formula proposal.

"Originally, I thought I could leverage the channels of Coca-Cola and Pepsi to achieve stable development for a period of time."

But the current situation compels us to become stronger as soon as possible.

You need to speed up your negotiations. For the factory in Illinois, as long as the equipment meets the standards, you can make some concessions on the price. The key is to act quickly!
After securing the contract, immediately modify the production line to prioritize the production of 'Pulse Thunder'.

"Understood, Mr. Chen."

If that's the case, I'll expedite the second round of negotiations and strive to reach an acquisition agreement as soon as possible.

"very good.

"Get it done as soon as possible; time is money," Chen Bingwen emphasized.

Less than a week after Gu Yongxian sent out his lawyer's letter, a vice president in charge of international business at Coca-Cola headquarters personally called Chen Bingwen.

“Mr. Chen, this is Robert Jones. We take your lawyer’s letter very seriously and have immediately launched an internal investigation.”

Robert Jones sounded very sincere as he apologized to Chen Bingwen over the phone, saying, "We sincerely apologize for any communication and execution discrepancies that occurred during the cooperation with the franchised bottling plant. Please believe me, this was absolutely not the headquarters' intention."

We have ordered the relevant factories to rectify the issues within a specified period to ensure that the production and supply of 'Pulse' are given priority.

“Mr. Jones, what we hope to see is continuous and stable cooperation. Some minor issues are understandable, but frequent deviations will inevitably affect the foundation of our cooperation,” Chen Bingwen responded humbly and assertively.

"Of course, we completely understand."

"Coca-Cola values ​​its relationships with every partner," Robert Jones assured. "We will strengthen oversight to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again."

Sure enough, in the following days, Li Ming reported to Chen Bingwen that the bottling plants that had previously tried to cheat had indeed improved their cooperation, and production line malfunctions and delivery errors had significantly decreased.

When Chen Bingwen received Li Ming's report, he simply replied, "Understood. Keep an eye on things, and proceed with the sales plan as originally planned."

He understood perfectly well that Liang Le would never be content to work for others indefinitely.

Accelerating the acquisition of its own factories and launching high-profit new products such as "Pulse Thunder" to establish independent brand power is the long-term solution.

That afternoon, Chen Bingwen was working in his office.

Secretary Ali called the internal line, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Cheng Long is here. He says he wants to see you."

Ali's voice came through.

Cheng Long?

Chen Bingwen was stunned for a moment.

Since attending the opening ceremony of "Junior Brother Takes the Field", he has hardly paid any attention to the film company, and has devoted all his energy to the commercial battlefield of Chen Ji.

When Cheng Long visited, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have neglected this business.

"Invite him in."

Soon, Cheng Long strode in, his usual smile on his face, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

As Chen Bingwen's business grew larger and his management team expanded, the aura he developed from being in a high position made Cheng Long feel noticeably pressured when he met Chen Bingwen.

"Mr. Chen, did I disturb you?"

"Ah Long, have a seat. What brings you here all of a sudden?"

Chen Bingwen gestured for him to sit down.

“Mr. Chen, it’s like this,” Cheng Long said, rubbing his hands together with a hint of anticipation, “The post-production of ‘Young Master’ is all done, and Golden Harvest has scheduled the premiere for Friday at the Lisheng Theatre.”

If Boss Zou were to issue it personally, it would be a very big event.

I would like to invite Mr. Chen to attend the premiere.

As he spoke, he took out a beautifully crafted invitation from his pocket and respectfully placed it on the table.

“You are the biggest boss of our Dragon Films. I’m not comfortable with you not attending the premiere.”

Chen Bingwen picked up the invitation and looked at it. The lettering was in gold, and the design was very grand.

He then suddenly remembered that he was still the largest shareholder of Weilong Film & Television.

During this period, I have been busy fighting with Li Jiacheng and making moves in North America, and I have indeed completely forgotten about the film and television company.

Jackie Chan personally came to invite me, and his attitude was so humble that I couldn't refuse, both out of courtesy and reason.

Next Friday night

Chen Bingwen quickly glanced at the calendar on the table. "Okay, I understand."

I'll make time to go that day.

"That's great! Thank you, Mr. Chen!" Cheng Long immediately beamed with joy, clearly relieved. "Then I won't bother you any longer, you go ahead with your work!"
The premiere is at 7 PM. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance!

On the night of the premiere, the entrance to the Lisheng Theatre was brightly lit and crowded with people.

The huge movie poster was particularly eye-catching, with Jackie Chan, along with his fellow students Yuen Biao and Yuen Wah, standing at the entrance to greet guests, creating a lively scene.

As Chen Bingwen's black Mercedes-Benz slowly drove to the end of the red carpet, some of the media cameras, which had been focused on the celebrities, instantly turned towards him.

The car door opened, and Chen Bingwen, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, stepped out with steady steps.

He didn't try to be flamboyant, but his youthful appearance and the fame he gained from frequent appearances in financial news made him attract a lot of attention as soon as he appeared.

"Chen Sheng!"

"It's Chen Bingwen from Sugar Heart Capital!"

"He's here too? Is he close to Jackie Chan?" Flashbulbs immediately went off, and reporters exchanged information in hushed tones.

The recent surge in the stock price of Qingzhou Yingni has exposed Chen Bingwen's wealth, making him a media focus.

His appearance at the movie premiere at this moment naturally attracted attention.

When Raymond Chow, who was greeting guests, saw Chen Bingwen, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he immediately greeted him with a big smile.

"Mr. Chen! What a rare guest! I didn't expect you to come and support us. Welcome, welcome!"

"Mr. Zou, it's been a long time. I'll definitely be there to support Ah Long's movie." Chen Bingwen smiled and shook hands with him, exchanging pleasantries.

Upon entering the cinema lobby, one finds that a considerable number of people have already gathered.

Many of them are actors and directors from Golden Harvest, as well as some social celebrities.

Chen Bingwen's appearance immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"Is that Chen Bingwen? The one who's been in the news a lot lately?"

"So young? You look like you're not even twenty."

"I heard he's worth hundreds of millions."

Quiet discussions spread among the crowd.

Many girls stared intently at Chen Bingwen, their eyes gleaming and their voices mingling.

"That's Chen Bingwen? He's even younger and more handsome than he appears in the newspapers."

"I wish I could get to know him."

I heard he's not married yet.

Chen Bingwen could feel the gazes directed at him.

But he remained calm as he spoke with Raymond Chow, Jackie Chan, and several other actors he knew.

"Mr. Chen, your recent moves in the capital market are truly admirable."

Raymond Chow said with a smile, his words carrying a hint of probing.

In terms of asset size, Raymond Chow and Chen Bingwen were no longer comparable at this point.

"Mr. Zou, you flatter me. It's just a small business," Chen Bingwen replied calmly, not wanting to elaborate.

The premiere officially began, and everyone entered and took their seats.

Laughter and applause filled the air throughout the film screening.

Jackie Chan's unique comedic fighting style is indeed captivating.

Chen Bingwen looked at the screen, pondering in his mind.

If this movie is successful, Dragon Films will have established a firm foothold in the Hong Kong film industry.

Next, we could consider having Jackie Chan make more of his influential films from his previous life to expand his influence and thereby boost sales of the Chan Kee product line.

(End of this chapter)