Living in a county town, starting as a stock market maker...

The car was parked at the hospital.

Gu Ming helped Chen Mo, who was still in a daze, to the emergency room for a check-up and a tetanus shot.

Fortunately, the wound looked scary, but it didn't damage any bones or ligaments.

After dealing with all that, Gu Ming drove Chen Mo home.

It's that dilapidated neighborhood on the edge of the city, where even the streetlights are dim.

Before leaving, Gu Ming left behind a single sentence.

"Starting tomorrow, forget your previous identity and remember the first rule I taught you."

"I'll pick you up for class in three days."

After saying that, he started the car and quickly disappeared into the night.

After dealing with Chen Mo's matter, Gu Ming's attention returned to Longquan Winery.

That old guy from the old era.

……

The next day, in the chairman's office of Longquan Winery.

The atmosphere in the office was very dull.

Zhou Jianjun sat in his large leather chair, his face gloomy.

Two contracts were laid out on the mahogany table in front of him, with the company seal and checks placed to the side.

One million two hundred thousand.

This is the price he paid for his stupidity and arrogance.

He lost.

He was utterly defeated by that kid who was even younger than his son.

Every time he tried to outsmart his opponent, they saw through his schemes easily and retaliated with even more direct tactics.

From initially defaulting on debts to later poaching employees.

His prized methods and connections were utterly useless against Gu Ming's unconventional tactics.

Zhou Jianjun couldn't understand the young man's moves at all.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a knock on the door.

The secretary said from outside the door, "Mr. Zhou, Mr. Gu from Star Media has arrived."

"Let him in."

Zhou Jianjun took a breath and forced a stiff smile; this was his last act of dignity.

The door opened.

Gu Ming walked in alone, still wearing the same white shirt and casual pants, with a polite smile on his face.

He was not accompanied by a lawyer or an assistant.

He looked very relaxed, not like someone who was there to sign a million-dollar contract.

Gu Ming's relaxed demeanor caused Zhou Jianjun's hard-won upright posture to collapse again.

The signing process went smoothly and quietly.

The lawyers on both sides checked the contract terms one by one without any further communication.

After confirming that everything was in order, Zhou Jianjun picked up the pen, his hand feeling somewhat heavy. He stared at the contract, and finally signed his name.

The moment he stamped the official seal, he felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body.

After finishing the business, the lawyer put away the documents, bowed, and left the office.

Zhou Jianjun took out a bottle of Guofang 1915, which he had treasured for many years, and two crystal glasses from the wine cabinet.

He personally poured wine for the two of them.

The golden-yellow liquor swirls in the glass.

"Come here, Mr. Gu."

Zhou Jianjun picked up his cup, his smile tinged with fatigue.

I'd like to propose a toast to you.

Gu Ming picked up his wine glass but didn't say anything; he just looked at him calmly.

"President Gu, you are truly... young and promising, with a keen eye for talent."

When Zhou Jianjun spoke, his voice was somewhat hoarse.

"If my good-for-nothing son had even half your ability, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

"Honestly, this time, I, Zhou Jianjun, am convinced. Consider it... a lesson learned at a cost."

He paused for a moment, then downed the glass of wine in one gulp.

"So, I guess I've made you my friend."

He said these things because he wanted to save face for himself.

They even tried to portray this failed business deal as a case of a senior mentoring a junior, a case of becoming friends after a fight.

He wanted Gu Ming to know, and he also wanted himself to believe, that although he had lost money, his status and position were still intact.

He is still the same Jay Chou who has the final say in Hegang.

Gu Ming was just a lucky kid who happened to find his weakness.

After hearing his self-comforting words, Gu Ming smiled.

He swirled the wine in his glass, but didn't drink it.

Zhou Jianjun was in a daze when Gu Ming put the wine glass back on the table and then took out a document from his briefcase.

It was a thick report with a blue cover, looking very formal.

"President Zhou."

Gu Ming gently pushed the document in front of Zhou Jianjun.

"You think you spent 1.2 million just to buy an endorsement and that song?"

Zhou Jianjun was stunned.

He subconsciously looked down at the document.

The line of large, gold-embossed words on the cover made his pupils shrink sharply.

— "White Paper on the Brand Revitalization and New Media Integrated Marketing Strategy of Longquan 1915".

Zhou Jianjun's heart skipped a beat.

His hand trembled slightly as he reached for the white paper.

Turn to the first page.

This is the directory.

Chapter 1: Brand Story Reshaping – From Hegang Specialty Products to Memories of the Times

Chapter Two: Core Consumer Group Positioning – Grasping the 35-50 Year Old High-Spending Nostalgic Consumer Group

Chapter 3: New Media KOL Matrix Marketing Plan - Joint Promotion by Hundreds of Bloggers with Millions of Followers

Chapter 4: Short Drama Integration and IP Customization - Creating the series of short dramas "Guofang 1915: Our Fathers".

Chapter 5: Private Domain Traffic Conversion and Community Operation - Establishing the Longquan High-End Member Club.

Chapter Six: Sales Growth Model and Risk Assessment for the Next Three Years...

Zhou Jianjun's breathing became increasingly rapid.

He quickly flipped backward.

Each page is filled with text, and also includes charts and data.

It explains how brands should package their stories, who to hire for promotion, how to execute the content, and how to monetize traffic.

This solution is logically sound, innovative in its ideas, and meticulously detailed.

This is far from a simple marketing plan.

This is clearly a plan that could turn Longquan Winery around and even take it to the next level.

His hand holding the document began to tremble violently.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Only now did he understand.

He was wrong.

That's completely wrong.

He had always thought that Gu Ming was just a kid who was good at creating hot topics and taking advantage of public opinion.

But this white paper told him that creating a hit like "The Sky Over Hegang" was nothing special for this young man.

That was just a stepping stone.

This kid's ambition and ability are not about earning this 1.2 million.

What he really wanted to sell was the opportunity to transform Longquan Winery.

And he himself, this old man abandoned by the times, threw away this precious opportunity with his own hands because of that little bit of money in front of him, because of that ridiculous pride.

"These papers are what I really want to sell."

Gu Ming stood up, slowly packed up his contract, and put it back in his briefcase.

What you have is just a free sample.

He glanced at Zhou Jianjun, who was sitting blankly in his chair with a pale face, and added another sentence.

"I could have sold this to your competitors, such as Beidacang or Fuyu Laojiao."

"The price is ten times the current amount."

Done.

Gu Ming turned and left.

She didn't look at the man again.

The office door closed gently.

Zhou Jianjun was slumped in a chair, panting heavily.

He stared intently at the thick white book on the table.

Looking at that white paper, he knew that he had personally ruined the future of Longquan Winery.