Chapter 127 Are you here to watch the ads or to order the spicy lamb trotters?
Su Yingxue walked into the Longwu Building, her footsteps echoing through the shadows of the sycamore leaves. The sound of her high heels clicking on the marble floor was particularly crisp in the high-ceilinged lobby. Zhang Yang was already standing in the reception area beneath the gilded logo, impeccably dressed in a suit, waiting for her.
"President Su." He strode up to her, his gaze sweeping over the plastic bag in her hand bearing the logo of the vegetable market, and his expression paused subtly.
Just as Su Yingxue was about to speak, she suddenly caught a glimpse of Manager He from High-Gloss Advertising deep in the hall. He was holding a folder and whispering with his subordinates around an antique-style tea table. When Manager He looked up and saw her, his scrutinizing eyes narrowed noticeably.
"Oh, isn't this from some company..." Manager He was interrupted by Zhang Yang before he could finish speaking: "Manager He, this is General Manager Su from Tengyue."
The air suddenly froze. Manager He's expression was as if it had been paused, and even the young subordinate chewing a mint next to her was stunned, his gaze shifting back and forth between her and the plastic bag: "This...this isn't the actress who plays the third female lead on TV..."
"Let's go in." Zhang Yang coughed and led the two towards the conference room at the end of the corridor. Su Yingxue could feel Manager He's gaze like a fine needle, pricking her back from time to time.
The moment you push open the carved wooden door, the air filled with the scent of sandalwood wafts out. This company, which has taken Chinese style to an art form, has a bronze hot pot model on its mahogany conference table, and sword decorations hang beside the calligraphy inscription "Brotherhood of the Jianghu" on the wall. No wonder outsiders say that the owner of Longwu transitioned from a martial arts school to a hot pot restaurant.
The man at the head of the table was playing with a pair of walnuts when he heard the noise and looked up. Long Meng, in his forties, had the upright posture of a martial artist, a neat buzz cut, and when he smiled, the scar at the corner of his eye lifted up: "The two leaders have come at the right time. I was just wondering... who should go first?"
Manager He immediately stepped forward: "President Long, we at Gaoguang suggest using a combination of 'celebrity endorsement + low price strategy'." He skillfully unfolded the PPT, and the red dot of the laser pointer lingered on the four large characters "Top Celebrity Endorsement" for a long time.
Manager He opened the PowerPoint presentation, the red dot of a laser pointer sliding across the screen as he confidently began his presentation:
Our core strategy is:
1. Celebrity Endorsement – Invite the hottest young male/female stars of the season to quickly open up the market by leveraging their fan base;
2. Omnichannel traffic generation – Launching short videos on platforms such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili, focusing on nostalgic memories of street food stalls;
3. Low-price promotion – In the first month, a limited-time offer of '9.9 yuan hot pot base + 5 yuan meat dish' will be launched to attract young consumers, and then gradually guide consumption upgrades.
He emphasized, "The hot pot market is fiercely competitive now, and we must use the most direct method—low prices + high traffic—to quickly seize market share. Longwu, as a long-established hot pot brand, needs to reactivate its young customer base, and our solution can help the brand quickly 'break out of its niche.'"
Long Meng's expression grew increasingly cold, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the table.
As the meeting room grew increasingly cold, Su Yingxue observed that while the plan seemed perfect, it relied too heavily on short-term traffic and lacked long-term brand loyalty.
Su Yingxue took two plastic lunch boxes out of the plastic bag and gently placed them on the conference table.
The first lunchbox contained spicy lamb trotters.
The chili oil is rich and glistening with a slight sheen. The lamb trotters are stewed until tender and chewy, yet still retain a satisfying texture. The chili oil permeates every muscle and tendon, and the surface is sprinkled with a few peppercorns and sesame seeds, releasing an intense and enticing aroma. With a gentle pinch, the skin and meat of the lamb trotter tremble slightly, and the gelatinous substance gleams invitingly under the light. A closer sniff reveals a numbing, spicy, and savory aroma with a hint of tangerine peel. The spiciness unfolds in layers: first a slight tingling on the tip of the tongue, then the numbing sensation of the peppercorns spreading throughout the mouth, and finally, the natural savory flavor of the lamb lingering on the taste buds.
The second lunchbox contained braised pork intestines.
The pork intestines were cleaned meticulously, without a trace of fishiness. Their smooth surface and folds were soaked with the braising liquid. Sliced into even, thin pieces, each slice was an enticing amber color, with a slight sheen of oil that wasn't overly greasy. The braising liquid was incredibly fragrant, with the aromas of star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves perfectly blended. The flavor was savory with a hint of sweetness, and the intestines had a perfectly chewy texture. With each bite, the braising liquid burst in your mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Manager He had initially been somewhat disdainful, but as the aroma of spicy lamb trotters filled the conference room, his brows unconsciously relaxed. Long Meng's nose twitched slightly, and even Zhang Yang couldn't help but glance at him a couple more times.
Su Yingxue smiled and handed over disposable gloves: "Please try them. I made them especially according to the old Chongqing style."
Manager He was closest to her. He hesitated for a moment, then took off his gloves and picked up a piece of lamb trotter. The first bite was an explosion of spicy and savory flavor in his mouth. The tender yet chewy texture of the lamb trotter made his eyes widen slightly. He then picked up a piece of fatty intestine, and the rich braising sauce made him nod slightly in approval.
Long Meng grabbed a piece of fatty intestine with his hand, chewed it a couple of times, and found the taste unique and delicious. His eyes immediately changed: "This taste... this is even better than the taste we had in the mountain city back then."
Su Yingxue smiled slightly: "President Long, our Tengyue project is like these lamb trotters and pork intestines—they may seem ordinary, but if you put your heart into it, they will be memorable."
After Manager He finished speaking, Su Yingxue slowly opened her PPT. Instead of data, what appeared on the screen was an old photo of a hot pot restaurant on a street in old Chongqing—a few plastic stools, a pot of boiling red soup, and a group of people sitting around it, chatting and laughing.
Our core strategy is:
Returning to the 'human touch'—hot pot is not just food, but also a connection between people. We suggest Longwu strengthen the concept of 'community hot pot,' such as: 'Neighborhood Hot Pot Day': at a fixed time each week, regular customers bring new friends to eat and receive complimentary special side dishes;
'Taste of Memories': Introducing several classic hot pot bases, such as 'Chongqing Old Stove Hot Pot Base from the 1990s', to evoke nostalgic feelings;
'Interactive experience': Waiters can teach guests how to make their own dipping sauces, and even hold 'hot pot knowledge mini-classes'.
Fun Dining – Making Hot Pot More Enjoyable:
'Blind Box Hot Pot Base': Randomly selected hot pot bases with different flavors, increasing the surprise factor of dining;
'Challenge events': such as the 'Spiciest Hot Pot Competition', attracting young people to check in;
'DIY Package': Allows customers to mix and match ingredients themselves, increasing their sense of participation.
Differentiated competition – not competing on low prices, but on emotional connection.
Longwu's advantage lies in its 'established reputation'; rather than competing on price with emerging brands, it should focus on emphasizing the 'taste of home'.
She picked up a lamb trotter from the table: "Like this—it's not a fancy ingredient, but it tastes like something out of my memories. Longwu's hot pot is the same. It doesn't need to become a 'high-end restaurant,' but rather to make customers feel, 'Eating here is like coming home.' But it should be even more comfortable than eating at home. From eating here once a month, it should become a comfortable place you can go anytime, anywhere."
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