Chapter 152 The Finale
In Shenzhen in 1984, forests of scaffolding could be seen everywhere, and the roar of bulldozers and the rhythm of pile drivers intertwined into a symphony of special economic zone construction.
On this hot land, Funing Tea Talk ushered in a milestone moment - the 100th store in the country was grandly opened next to the newly developed Shennan Avenue.
On the opening day, the brand new glass curtain wall sparkled in the subtropical sunshine.
The two lion dances at the door leaped and moved to the deafening sound of gongs and drums, attracting passers-by to stop and take a look.
Long firecrackers hung down from the second floor, exploding with crackling sounds, and red confetti flew like snowflakes. The shop assistants, wearing uniform beige uniforms and aprons with the word "Fu" printed on them, were full of energy and greeted customers with smiles they had practiced countless times.
The interior decoration of the store is refreshing: light-colored wooden tables and chairs are matched with warm yellow lights, and freehand landscape paintings and tea knowledge introductions are hung on the walls. It is both modern and oriental.
The most eye-catching part is the open operation area, where customers can clearly see the entire process of the store clerk using the latest sealing machine to seal the milk tea.
The news of the opening discounts had already spread through the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, and a long queue soon formed at the door. There were not only builders from all over the country, but also curious Hong Kong businessmen.
Shen Lingning stood at the window of the office on the second floor, overlooking the bustling crowd downstairs.
Jiang Weidong walked over quickly, holding the data he had just compiled, unable to conceal his excitement: "Lingning, we've sold over 500 cups in the first two hours! Shenzhen people's spending power is truly extraordinary."
"This is just the beginning." Shen Lingning turned around, his eyes determined. "The SAR is a window, but also a springboard. We need to accumulate experience here and prepare for going global."
On the same day, at a meeting at the Changan headquarters, Shen Lingning announced the establishment of the Foreign Trade Department, which would be headed by Lin Jianlu, who was proficient in English and had just graduated from the Foreign Trade College.
"Our goal is not simply to sell tea, but to let the world know about Chinese tea culture."
She showcased a series of newly designed products: tea in tins printed with calligraphy, tea sets incorporating traditional patterns, and illustrated manuals on tea culture.
In the next six years, while Funing Tea Talk was deepening its presence in the domestic market, its Foreign Trade Department frequently appeared at the Canton Fair and various international food exhibitions.
Shen Lingning personally led the team and explained the unique flavor of Qinnan tea to foreign merchants over and over again.
The process was not smooth. There was prejudice against "Chinese tea", doubts about quality, and harsh trade terms, but every setback made the team more mature.
In the early spring of 1990, after several rounds of difficult negotiations, preparations for Funing Tea Talk's first overseas store were finally completed in a street-side shop in a Chinese community in Los Angeles.
On the eve of the opening, Shen Lingning was alone in the store doing the final inspection.
She stroked the dark wooden counter and adjusted the position of the calligraphy excerpt from "The Classic of Tea" on the wall, ensuring that every detail perfectly presented the Eastern aesthetic.
It was a sunny day on the opening day.
The store's exterior blends modern minimalism with Chinese elements like soaring eaves and angled corners. The giant "FU TEA" logo stands out – a decision Shen Lingning made after careful consideration. "Fu" is derived from the pinyin of "Fu," meaning blessing, making it easy to remember. "Tea" directly refers to the product category, making it easier for the international market to recognize.
The press conference was held in the square in front of the store.
Facing dozens of international media outlets and curious local people, Shen Lingning, wearing a modified cheongsam, calmly walked onto the makeshift podium.
Behind her is a red sign with gold letters reading "FU TEA", and in front of her are densely packed microphones.
“My friends.”
Her English is clear and fluent, with just the right oriental accent.
"Today, we bring you not only a cup of tea, but also the reflections of a 5,000-year-old civilization on modern life. From Chang'an to Los Angeles, we want to restart the Silk Road, but this time, we bring you the 'Tao of Tea' that is integrated and innovative."
The milk tea offered for tasting on site quickly caused a sensation.
The blonde and blue-eyed customers were so attracted by the cup holders printed with the Chinese character "Fu" (Fu) calligraphy that they held them up and took photos with the store.
After trying the osmanthus oolong milk tea, a local food blogger praised it repeatedly in front of the camera: "This has completely changed my understanding of tea!"
That night, Shen Lingning received a fax from Jiang Weidong in the hotel where he was staying: the Shenzhen store's single-day sales had reached a new high, and the foreign trade department had received its first European order.
Standing by the window, gazing at the dazzling nightscape of Los Angeles, she knew this was just the beginning. A larger international market was opening its doors, and what awaited her were not only opportunities but also more complex challenges.
The next day, next to the report in the lifestyle section of the Los Angeles Times, there was news that the beverage brand under the Shanmu Group was about to enter the North American market.
Obviously, this business war across the Pacific has just begun.
She confidently declared: "This is not only a small step for Funing Tea Talk to go global, but also a new exploration of Chinese tea culture in the modern context.
We hope to revive the ancient Silk Road, but this time, we bring a fusion and innovative 'Tea Way'."
At the scene, the blonde and blue-eyed customers were so attracted by the special cup sleeves printed with calligraphy that they took selfies with them, creating a unique landscape.
With its unique oriental charm and fine-tuned tastes adapted to local conditions, Funing Tea Talk has successfully established a firm foothold in the overseas market.
The success in overseas markets has attracted the attention of more powerful competitors.
Several large Japanese beverage groups, including affiliated companies of the Yamaki Group, with which they had a feud in the past, began to pay close attention to the developments of Funing Tea Talk. An international business war centered on the market, technology, and even the right to set standards quietly began.
With the expansion of overseas markets, logistics and product preservation have become bottlenecks.
Shen Lingning is surrounded by outstanding talents, and one of his sponsors is Meng Weiguo, who has grown into a well-known food engineering expert in China.
He led the R&D team and, after countless experiments, successfully mastered the freeze-drying and room-temperature fragrance preservation technology of milk tea powder, greatly reducing transportation costs and difficulty and extending the product's shelf life.
In its report, Time magazine called Shen Lingning the "Queen of Oriental Milk Tea".
At the same time, Funing Tea Talk launched the highly creative "Tea Saint Blind Box" series in China, which turned the images of tea saints such as Lu Yu into Q versions.
It is equipped with a small toy that can move and pour tea automatically through a spring. Once launched, it became popular across the country and became a phenomenal product, further consolidating the brand's position in the hearts of young consumers.
However, troubles also followed.
A Japanese consortium coveted Qinnan's unique selenium-rich tea resources and attempted to steal the related soil improvement and tea tree cultivation patented technologies.
The two sides went to court again.
In court, Funing Tea Talk's Chief Technology Officer, Jiang Weidong, faced the opposing lawyer's arguments with a cold smile and said, "You can steal the laboratory data, but you can never steal the spiritual energy nurtured by the Qinling Mountains and the Han River!"
At the critical moment, Shen Yuchuan used his technical advantages to assist the legal team and hacked into the other party's server used for internal communication. He played the recorded evidence of the other party's executives instructing the theft in court, and the evidence was irrefutable!
The judge announced in court that Funing Tea Talk won the case.
In the interests of fairness and justice, this official proceeding was held in the United States and broadcast live to the world.
The moment they heard the victory, all the Chinese present burst into tears and cheered. China has become truly powerful!
At the moment of victory, something strange happened!
A Japanese staff member in the audience lost control of his emotions and pulled out a hidden pistol to shoot Jiang Weidong!
At the critical moment, Li Yizi, the security chief who had been secretly protecting the core technical team, rushed forward and blocked the bullet with his body!
Li Yizi was seriously injured but was rescued and out of danger.
This business dispute ended in such a thrilling way, which also made Shen Lingning more aware of the cruelty of international competition.
At the same time, after the meeting, Shen Lingning, who was interviewed by foreign media, looked at the crowd with tears in his eyes when he was about to leave after answering reporters' questions.
Fu Bao and Zhou Weiguo, who were accompanying them, also subconsciously looked into the crowd and saw a pair of white-haired old people looking at Shen Lingning with tears and smiles.
There was also an elegant and handsome middle-aged man next to him, who was also looking at Shen Lingning on the stage with tears in his eyes.
Three generations of the Shen family met in a foreign country after more than ten years.
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