Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

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"So what is the Tengda Life App?"

Before Pei Qian could ask anything, the journalist questioned him first.

Rui Yuchen was well-prepared. He retrieved his cell phone and said, "Tengda Life App is a new software that Tengda Corporation released after gathering all of its businesses. It includes many functions!

"For example, it includes the original Fish-Catching Take-Out application, as well as new and improved functions. One can get real-time updates on their delivery man's location, and they can make reservations on the menu in advance.

"On top of that, it has other functions like daily lessons, logistics delivery, reservations for the nameless restaurant, the map for Thriller Hostel, Deposit Fitness, rental of the Sloth Apartments, and so on. You could even use it to read novels on Zhongdian Chinese Network, look for all the Fish-Catching Internet Cafes, or download Tengda's mobile games.

"Moreover, we have fully linked TPDb websites' reviews with the application so that one can check TPDb ratings and comments on the app.

"In the future, we'll also be releasing powerful functions like Tengda Mall and the like!

"Of course, since we spent little time researching and developing it, many functions will still have to be improved later. However, combining the various aspects of a Tengda Life represents Tengda's expansion into more areas of our daily lives!

"The Tengda Life app will control many aspects of our lives. Fish-Catching Take-Out's lifelong principles of health, sustainability, and exquisiteness also represent the common standards of all the businesses in the Tengda Life app!

"Our mission is to bring a healthy, sustainable, and exquisite method of modern living to every single customer!"

The journalist looked pleasantly surprised. She had not expected to reap such a huge benefit.

Before this, she had only expected to conduct an interview with a food and beverage business that had been doing a good job of sorting garbage. Yet, she had also discovered that Fish-Catching Take-Out had been doing so many things in secret!

What's more, all of its principles had been summarized perfectly!

Its food has to be healthy so as not to damage the body; its materials have to be sustainable so as not to pollute the environment; and its products have to be exquisite so as not to deceive customers.

Fish-Catching Take-Out uses recyclable cutlery, dealt with its garbage by using microbial waste processors to turn rubbish into treasure, and had a special app to provide customers with a better experience. It was perfectly embodying the spirit of the country's current push toward garbage sorting!

That was not all—the rest of Tengda's businesses were also doing the same. Education, entertainment, fitness, internet cafes, logistics delivery… all of those came together in one app for customers' convenience.

The journalist instinctively asked a crucial question. "Where can one download the application?"

Rui Yuchen smiled. "You can download it from various major application stores, or you could just search for it on search engines.

"However, I think many people in Jingzhou already have the application in their cell phones because it used to be the 'Top Student, Come Quick' application! They wouldn't need to register again. Instead, they can just update the application to have the Tengda Life app at their fingertips!"

The journalist's expression filled with joy. "That's great! That's exactly the material I wanted!

"Branch Manager Rui, you have put it so well. The three principles, in particular, are really worth amplifying to set the bar for all food and beverage businesses! I can tell that you think a lot about these things in your daily life."

Rui Yuchen nodded. "That's right. Those concepts are etched deep in my heart. However, I was not enlightened on my own. I learned this from Boss Pei of Tengda Corporation.

"At this point, I have to mention Fish-Catching Take-Out's past life.

"In fact, Fish-Catching Take-Out was born more than a year ago. At the time, Boss Pei had already insisted that it had to be healthy, sustainable, and exquisite. That was why we operated the business based on those principles.

"However, until last month, Fish-Catching Take-Out had made no breakthrough and had been consistently incurring losses.

"The reason for this is simple. Compared to other take-outs in the market that are priced competitively, Fish-Catching Take-Out's sales model was incomprehensible. Most customers thought that Fish-Catching Take-Out was bland and scoffed at the idea of reclaiming cutlery. Thus, although we had a small proportion of loyal customers, our revenue was never able to cover the costs of reclaiming cutlery.

"Yet, even so, Boss Pei did not give up. He did not even think about changing Fish-Catching Take-Out's operation model. Instead, he continued to invest more money into Fish-Catching Take-Out.

"He set up more and more branches, established a Gourmet Laboratory to develop new dishes, and provided customers with better service.

"Obviously, he was determined to live out his own principles!

"At last, Fish-Catching Take-Out's principles shone through. As everyone learned more about health and the environment, Fish-Catching Take-Out became increasingly validated! As our losses turned into profit, Boss Pei only had one opposite thought in his mind:

"Where is Fish-Catching Take-Out falling short?

"We thought about the problem of pollution due to food waste. Thus, we purchased microbial waste processors that cost more than a hundred thousand yuan each, thereby maximizing our adherence to the principles of health and sustainability!

"So Fish-Catching Take-Out's success should not only be attributed to its business model, but also to its ideals and its determination!"

As the journalist listened to this, she became moved as well.

As a local of Jingzhou, she already knew of Fish-Catching Take-Out's existence early on. However, she never knew that the brand had endured through so many ups and downs; much less that such a hot-looking brand had been incurring losses all the way up to last month!

The fact that it could withstand the pressure, cling to its principles, and increase its investments just to normalize a 'healthy, sustainable, and exquisite' way of living…

It was really amazing!

The journalist asked, "Can I take pictures of the back kitchen and the microbial waste processor?"

Rui Yuchen nodded. "Anytime! Please, follow me."

Rui Yuchen had 120-percent confidence in Fish-Catching Take-Out's back kitchen. It was clean, tidy, and organized. One could say that it was a mini version of the nameless restaurant's back kitchen.

He had exchanged ideas and lessons on kitchen management with Lin Canrong many times before. Fish-Catching Take-Out Store Number One was the brand's benchmark store. Of course, Rui Yuchen had to hold it to much higher standards.

Ten minutes later, the photographs were taken.

Rui Yuchen led the journalist and the cameraman to the entrance.

"This is the cleanest and most organized kitchen I have ever seen," exclaimed the journalist as she held her thumb up.

"That's our job. That's right. I have a gift for you."

Smiling, Rui Yuchen handed a brand new lunch box to the journalist.

She reached out, looking confused. "This is an… insulated lunch box?"

Rui Yuchen smiled and explained, "This is the new brand that Fish-Catching Take-Out has developed, and it's called 'Food Harmony'. It's the product of the cross between a modern take-out business and traditional culture.

"Food, as in 'food is the most important to people'. Harmony, as in 'gentlemen seek harmony, not uniformity', and 'man interacts harmoniously with nature'. At the same time, it sounds like 'food box', which was the ancient form of take-out in our country.

"We have worked hard to mix the traditional 'lunchbox' culture within our modern Fish-Catching Take-Out business, to create this special lunchbox. At the same time, we perfected its aesthetic, convenience, and insulant characteristic and honored our gourmet culture.

"I'm giving you this gift as goodwill from me to you."

Once again, the journalist looked pleasantly surprised. "Thank you! Thank you so much! This is valuable as memorabilia, and yet very practical as well! Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by us!"

Obviously, the journalist was moved as well. Once she confirmed with the cameraman that they had all the material they needed, she reluctantly left with her lunchbox.

Rui Yuchen walked the journalist and the cameraman all the way out and watched them get onto their car before he finally heaved a sigh of relief and returned to the store.

Phew, it's a good thing I didn't mess up in front of Boss Pei!

One didn't get many opportunities like that to star on television. Grasping it well would mean a valuable chance to get an instant fame boost and a surge in the brand's value.

Otherwise, it would all be in vain.

The effect of the interview would have been greatly discounted if not for the clean and tidy kitchen and the newly-purchased microbial waste processor. Tonight, once the news aired, the effect and coverage would be better than that of any advertisement that they could afford to buy!

"Boss Pei…

"Eh? Where's Boss Pei?"

When Rui Yuchen returned from sending the journalist off, he discovered that Boss Pei was already gone.

"Why did Boss Pei leave? Is he unhappy with my performance? He can't be. I did quite well.

"Hmm… he finished his food. I guess he should be quite happy with my performance. Perhaps he left quietly because he can completely trust me now. After all, Boss Pei has always been this free and easy.

"It's a good thing that I've been working on adopting Boss Pei's spirit. I was well-prepared, so that I could answer the questions so perfectly.

"Lucky me!"

Rui Yuchen looked comforted and elated.

…

…

August 12th…

At Fei Huang Workspace…

Huang Sibo and Zhu Xiaoce were working hard on editing the short film, 'New Life'.

There were two layers of meaning: an old building was given a new lease of life through renovations, and one would start a new life once they moved in. Both of those were included in the publicity video for the Sloth Apartments.

The videographer who had done the filming was very experienced and professional. He had accumulated a lot of rough footage, including everything necessary.

However, to reduce it all to a five-minute clip was no easy feat.

That was because five minutes was too short. Not only would they have to retain the meaning in each raw clip and ensure that each transition was natural and not abrupt, but they also had to ensure that the contrast between the old buildings and the new buildings was etched deeply in the viewers' minds to bring across the idea of a 'new life'.

That called for a lot of skill.

Luckily, everyone at Fei Huang Workspace was very experienced. They had even edited a movie before. Editing a short film was challenging, but not impossible.

As Huang Sibo and Zhu Xiaoce discussed the meaning behind each scene, they repeatedly adjusted various factors and strived to achieve the best effect. Just when they were frowning deeply and struggling with ideas, they heard a celebratory shout from the office area.

"What are you doing here?"

"Brother Huang! Director Zhu! Look who's here!"

Huang Sibo and Zhu Xiaoce looked up, their eyes widening in disbelief.

It was a familiar face.

Chen Lei!