Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire.

Chapter 243 Investing 5K (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and additional subscriptions!)

However, peaceful days are always short-lived.

Chen Guofu knew in his heart that his and his wife's return this time could not be just a simple family visit.

The fame and wealth of his son, Awen, are like a giant magnet, inevitably attracting attention from all sides.

Sure enough, on the morning of the third day after they returned to Wang Qiaozhen's parents' home, several jeeps slowly drove into this quiet village that was rarely visited by outsiders and stopped in front of the Wang family's old house.

Several people got off the car. The one in the lead was a man in his forties, wearing a Zhongshan suit and looking like a cadre. He had a warm smile on his face, and behind him were several people who were obviously local staff.

Village officials had already arrived upon hearing the news and quickly stepped forward to introduce Chen Guofu: "This is Director Zhang from our county, who has come specifically to visit you two."

Director Zhang strode forward, warmly grasped Chen Guofu's hand, and shook it vigorously: "Mr. Chen, welcome back to your hometown! On behalf of the county, I extend a warm welcome to you and your wife!"

I had heard you were back long ago, and not wanting to disturb your reunion with your family, I waited two days before coming. Please forgive any rudeness!

Although Chen Guofu was mentally prepared, he was still a little uncomfortable when county officials actually came to his door. He quickly said politely, "Director Zhang, you are too kind. We just came back to visit our elders and relatives. We would not dare to trouble you, leader."

"No, Mr. Chen, you're being too polite."

You are a successful person who came from our area, and now you have returned home in glory. It is an honor for our entire county!

Director Zhang smiled broadly and spoke with great enthusiasm, "Our county is now vigorously developing its economy, encouraging foreign investment, and revitalizing the local area."

Mr. Chen, you have seen the world and built such a large business in a metropolis like Hong Kong Island. Your vision must be exceptional.

Would you be interested in taking this opportunity to explore the investment environment of my hometown?

As the forefront of reform and opening up, Guangdong Province actually reached a consensus by the end of 78: whoever could retain Hong Kong businessmen first would be the first to prosper.

In some counties, there have even been scenes of leaders going to the port together to pick up people, and the first thing they say to Hong Kong businessmen is, "Just bring up any projects you have. We can make a decision on the land, people, water and electricity on the spot."

Now that Hong Kong businessmen like Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen, whose hometowns are in Shunde, are returning to visit relatives, how could the leaders of Shunde not take it seriously?

Director Zhang's words made Chen Guofu's heart skip a beat.

He knew nothing about investing; he was just an honest, hardworking craftsman who relied entirely on his son's talent.

So he quickly waved his hand and said, as Chen Bingwen had instructed him beforehand, "Director Zhang, you flatter me too much."

I'm just an ordinary businessman; my son, Awen, handles all the business matters.

I'm back this time purely to visit relatives. I have no say in business matters, and I know absolutely nothing about them.

Director Zhang clearly didn't believe him, taking it as a modest excuse, and continued enthusiastically, "Mr. Chen is too modest!"

Like father, like son!

Mr. Chen Bingwen is a young and promising man. We have seen reports about him in the newspapers. He is truly remarkable!

Although our county's conditions are not as good as those in Hong Kong Island, we have our own advantages: abundant labor force, low land costs, and preferential policies.

Especially now that the development of township enterprises is being encouraged, and processing trade is being promoted, there are many opportunities.

Even if Mr. Chen only helps us make a connection, act as a bridge, and invite Mr. Chen Bingwen back for a visit, that would be a tremendous support for our hometown!

Chen Guofu felt a chill run down his spine; he was really not good at handling this kind of situation.

He could only repeatedly emphasize, "Director Zhang, I really don't understand these things."

Ah Wen—he's very busy in Hong Kong too. I never get involved in his business affairs, nor can I. This time he's back to see the elders.

Seeing this, the staff member accompanying Mr. Chen stepped forward at the right time and said to Director Zhang politely but firmly, "Director Zhang, Mr. Chen's return to his hometown this time is indeed for the purpose of a private family visit."

Business investment matters involve professional assessments and group strategy, and are not within the scope of Mr. Chen's trip at this time.

If you have specific cooperation intentions or project information, you can submit them to Sugar Heart Capital or Mr. Chen Bingwen's office through formal business channels.

Upon hearing this, Director Zhang's enthusiasm waned slightly, but his smile remained: "Understood, understood. Business cooperation must certainly be conducted according to the rules."

In that case, Mr. Chen and Ms. Wang, please go and visit your relatives with peace of mind and enjoy a good reunion with your families.

I'm just here to express the county's welcome and goodwill; I absolutely won't cause any trouble.

This is a small local specialty; please accept it as a token of our appreciation.

He gestured to the people behind him to hand over several boxes containing tea and local pastries.

"In addition," he lowered his voice and said to Chen Guofu, "Mr. Chen, if it is convenient for you sometime, the county would like to invite you and your wife to a simple meal. There is absolutely no other intention than to show hospitality and let you know about the new look of your hometown."

"Look—" Chen Guofu looked at the other party's sincere and expectant eyes, and couldn't refuse outright, so he could only vaguely reply, "Thank you, Director Zhang. As for the dinner—we'll see, we'll see when."

After seeing Director Zhang and his entourage off, Chen Guofu let out a long sigh of relief, feeling more tired than after a whole day's work.

He looked at the pile of "local specialties" on the table, feeling a mix of emotions.

He knew this was just the beginning.

In the days that followed, Chen Guofu's peaceful days were over.

Although Director Zhang no longer came in person, people from different departments in the county and town would always find various excuses to "visit" him.

Some were concerned about the lives of the elderly, some wanted to understand the situation of overseas Chinese, and some were trying to find out about Hong Kong Island indirectly, exploring the possibility of investment.

Chen Guofu was exhausted from dealing with the situation, but he kept his son's words in mind: do not make promises, do not express opinions, and push everything to his son.

He kept saying, "I don't understand business, Ah Wen is busy, you have to ask him about this."

On Wang Qiaozhen's side, female cadres from the Women's Federation and the Overseas Chinese Federation also came to chat with her, implying that they hoped she could contribute more to the development of her hometown.

After a few days, Chen Guofu finally understood what it meant to be "a person fears becoming famous, just as a pig fears becoming fat."

He originally just wanted to quietly spend time with the elderly, but he became the focus of attention from all sides.

This made him realize more deeply the enormous influence of his son Ah Man's success in Hong Kong, as well as the unavoidable troubles that followed.

That night, he lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He sighed to Wang Qiaozhen beside him, "Qiaozhen, I only now realize how difficult it is for Awen to be out there."

We only saw his success, but we never imagined he had to deal with so much behind the scenes, with so many eyes watching him. We've only been here a few days, and we're already finding it hard to keep up.

Wang Qiaozhen also sighed: "Yes. I used to think that he made money easily, but now I see how much thought and pressure he carried behind that money."

We can't help him, but at least we shouldn't cause him trouble.

The next day, after much deliberation, Chen Guofu realized that things couldn't continue like this.

He consulted with staff from China Resources and they decided to end his trip to his hometown early and return to Hong Kong Island.

Before leaving, he secretly left Chen Bingwen's grandmother a sum of money that was enough for them to improve their lives and renovate their house, and repeatedly told them to take care of their health.

Grandma held her daughter and son-in-law's hands, giving them countless instructions, and tears streamed down her face again.

As he left the village, Chen Guofu looked at his relatives and old house getting further and further away in the rearview mirror, feeling both reluctant to leave and a sense of relief.

This visit to his family made him feel the warmth of family affection, but also made him truly realize the weight and troubles that fame and wealth bring.

He understood his son's situation better and resolved to be more low-key when he returned home, trying not to cause his son any trouble.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA.

The weather was fine with a moderate breeze.

The massive canyon presents a magnificent and precipitous scene under the sunlight.

At the edge of the canyon, reporters from multiple media outlets and many spectators who had come after hearing the news gathered.

NBC's live broadcast van was already in place, the camera focused on Rick Stevens, who was standing on the edge of the cliff, making his final preparations.

On the edge of a cliff, Rick Steven, wearing a specially made glider suit with a huge "Pulse" logo behind him, is making final checks.

NBC's live camera focused on him and the deep canyon behind him.

Countless families across the United States watched this scene unfold on their television screens.

The live stream was interspersed with impactful short films from "Pulse Thunder," emphasizing the brand's spirit of "energy, limits, and challenges."

"Viewers, this is NBC News. We are now broadcasting live from the Grand Canyon, Colorado, on Rick Stevens' incredible feat of gliding across the canyon without power—a highly dangerous challenge that, if successful, will be another milestone in the history of extreme sports."

The voices of television presenters are transmitted to every household via signal.

Rick Stevens stood at the edge of the canyon and took a deep breath.

Below him was a bottomless canyon, with the Colorado River meandering like a ribbon through the valley floor.

"Rick, are you ready?" An NBC reporter handed him a microphone.

Rick flashed a confident smile at the camera: "Today, I want the world to see the courage of humanity and the power of pulsating thunder!"

Not far away, Mai Lisi, Li Ming, Zhou Zhiyuan, and others were closely monitoring the situation on the scene.

Despite countless calculations and simulations beforehand, the sight of this natural wonder still inspires awe.

At 10:00 a.m. local time, Rick Steven gave a thumbs-up to the camera and then resolutely jumped off the edge of the canyon.

The enormous glider unfolded in the air currents of the canyon, like an eagle soaring between heaven and earth.

NBC's helicopter followed the entire process, and the live television signal was broadcast throughout the United States.

The hang glider skillfully weaved between the updrafts and downdrafts in the canyon, each thrilling turn eliciting gasps from viewers in front of their televisions.

Thousands of viewers sat in front of their televisions, holding their breath as they watched this thrilling scene unfold.

The entire crossing lasted more than twenty minutes, and when Rick Stevens finally landed safely in the designated area on the other side of the canyon, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The NBC host shouted passionately, "It's a success!"

He succeeded!

Rick Stevens has successfully conquered the Grand Canyon!

This is a victory for human courage and wisdom!

In the video, Rick Stevens holds up a bottle of "Pulse Thunder" and shouts into the camera, "Thank you Pulse Thunder for giving me the ultimate energy!"

Nothing is impossible!

At this moment, the whole of America was in an uproar.

The following day, major North American media outlets reported on it.

The sports, entertainment, and even finance sections were dominated by news about "flying over the Grand Canyon".

The name "Pulse Thunder" became known throughout the United States overnight thanks to this epic marketing event.

In the days following the successful "Flying Over the Grand Canyon," the phone at Chen's Food North American office rang almost non-stop.

The entire sales team was so busy they barely had time to breathe, their voices were hoarse, but everyone's face was filled with a smile that was a mixture of excitement and exhaustion.

On the office whiteboard, the sales curve was almost vertically soaring.

The name "Pulse Thunder" truly took off thanks to Rick Stevens' incredible leap and the live broadcast on NBC.

Convenience stores and distributors who were previously cautious about this new product with its strong flavor and high caffeine content are now rushing to buy it, afraid of missing out on this sales frenzy.

My colleagues from the marketing department brought me the latest media monitoring report.

Almost all mainstream media outlets, including sports, entertainment, and even finance sections, have been reporting extensively on the feat of "flying over the Grand Canyon," and the brand and product image of "Pulse Thunder" have been repeatedly and forcibly implanted into the minds of tens of thousands of consumers through these reports.

The brand's image of pushing limits and maximizing energy was firmly and decisively cemented in one fell swoop.

Just as the "Flying Over the Grand Canyon" craze continued to sweep across the United States and orders from various channels poured in, the meeting at the FDA headquarters in Maryland regarding the final review conclusion of "Pulse Thunder" was also drawing to a close.

The immense public pressure and widespread social attention acted like an invisible hand, pushing the FDA's review system to operate at a faster pace than usual.

On the conference table were hundreds of pages of supplementary technical documents submitted by attorney Irving Carter, as well as detailed minutes of Zhou Zhiyuan's closed-door technical meeting with FDA experts.

The reviewer chairing the meeting tapped on the table and looked around at the experts and officials present: "Gentlemen, based on all the data we have received and verified, plus the detailed instructions and warnings provided by the applicant."

Currently, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that the "Pulse Thunder" product poses a clear safety risk to ordinary healthy adult consumers at the recommended intake level.

He paused, then continued, "Although its caffeine and taurine content is relatively high for a non-alcoholic beverage, it does not exceed the safety thresholds under the current regulatory framework."

The potential health risks mentioned in the complaint lack sufficient empirical support.

Given that the product clearly indicates the unsuitable groups and daily limits, I believe the reasons for further extending the review are insufficient.

.

Another official added, "We must take into account the current public sentiment and media environment."

In the absence of clear safety risks, excessively delaying a product that is popular with the market and does not violate current regulations may trigger unnecessary public scrutiny and backlash.

After a brief silence in the meeting room, a consensus was finally reached.

The reviewer finally made the decision: "Therefore, based on the existing scientific evidence and regulatory provisions, I recommend that Pulse Thunder pass this review."

The relevant official notification documents will be formally delivered to the applicant after the internal issuance procedures are completed.

Soon, a document bearing the official FDA letterhead was delivered to Chen's Food North American office.

Li Ming almost held his breath as he opened the envelope.

After quickly browsing through the contents, his face instantly lit up with ecstasy. He slammed his fist on the desk with a loud thud, startling his colleagues outside.

He picked up the phone, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement, and dialed Chen Bingwen's number first: "Mr. Chen!"

It's approved! We've received the official FDA approval notice! Completely approved, with no restrictions whatsoever!

On the other end of the phone, Chen Bingwen was also very happy to hear the news.

"Very good. Thank you for your hard work these past few days. Immediately relay this message to all distributors and media!"

Chen Bingwen said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away!"

Li Ming hung up the phone and immediately ordered, "Public relations team, get the press release ready! We need to turn the FDA's review notice into a new round of product promotion!"

Sure enough, once the news of the FDA's approval was released, the channels that had still had a last bit of doubt were completely relieved, and the order volume once again saw a surge.

The rumors about "questionable security" that were previously spread by some media outlets and competitors have been debunked.

Atlanta, Coca-Cola headquarters.

Several heads of the marketing and strategy departments were having an emergency meeting, while NBC's "Flying Over the Grand Canyon" was playing on the television screen.

Highlights and the latest market monitoring data.

"Their sales have exploded in the past 72 hours."

The main channels are gas station convenience stores, stores around universities, and nightclubs.

Sales of our pulsating products, sold through our channels, have also seen a corresponding increase!

A market analyst gave a serious report.

"That marketing method—it was insane, but also incredibly effective."

Another executive twirled the pen in his hand and remarked, "The brand image of challenging limits and breaking through oneself has been established immediately."

People are talking about this now, thinking that drinking it is cool and shows courage and individuality.

Our regular guys can hardly compete with this kind of topicality.

"Their caffeine and taurine content far exceeds that of our regular product line," added the head of product development. "While the FDA has approved its safety, this high-intensity stimulant has indeed captured a previously overlooked market segment: hardcore users seeking the ultimate energizing effect."

"We can't just sit idly by." A senior vice president tapped on the table. "They've used our channels to achieve initial penetration, and now they're all grown up and want to go solo."

We must react.

First, we need to accelerate the research and development of our own functional beverages. The formula needs to be readjusted, the taste needs to be closer to the mainstream, but the efficacy needs to be competitive.

Secondly, regarding distribution channels, we notified our core bottlers and chain stores to ensure that our shelf space and promotional resources are not squeezed out.

Third, consider launching a new marketing campaign targeting younger consumers, emphasizing our classic brand values ​​and reliable quality to counter their extreme image.

Similar discussions were also taking place at PepsiCo's headquarters.

Both giants are keenly aware that a formidable new competitor has successfully established itself in the North American market with a textbook marketing campaign and a disruptive product.

The market competition ahead will be even more intense.