Ning Yuan smiled and said, "Yes, not only the big brands you mentioned, but also the major steel mills have their own soft drink factories to help their steelworkers replenish their energy."
She paused, then said seriously, "But because there are so many soda factories, their finished products all taste pretty much the same, while ours tastes different and have a richer flavor."
Ning Yuan pointed to the people queuing outside: "As you can see, many people like it."
"As long as the soda recipe is right, you can open a chain of fruit sparkling water shops like ours in larger cities in mainland China."
She pointed to the bamboo cup: "Moreover, this kind of freshly made soda is inexpensive, and the production process attracts curious customers."
"If the price is the same as other brands of bottled soda, there will be a market for it!"
Ning Yuan had considered opening a milk tea shop a long time ago, but the cost of that business was high, and the fresh milk was not stored properly, which could easily lead to hygiene problems.
It was completely unsuitable for the era of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
However, the model of chain milk tea shops can be fully applied to sparkling water shops.
Fruit sparkling water will sell well as long as it's freshly made, delicious, and inexpensive.
Ning Bingyu raised his eyebrows: "You're right, the mainland market is huge, so why shouldn't I invest in a soft drink factory myself now and cooperate with you?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Yuan laughed: "Because you're not stupid, you have a brain."
One sentence instantly darkened the faces of everyone around Ning Bingyu.
Rong Zhaonan glanced at Ning Yuan.
Vivian, Ning Bingyu's secretary sitting next to him, said coldly, "Miss, do you know how many people want to talk to Young Master Ning about investments every day?"
"If you weren't Mr. Rong's sister, do you think you'd be qualified to sit across from Young Master Ning?"
Rong Zhaonan, who hadn't spoken until now, lazily raised his eyes to look at her, his long legs spread wide.
"Then do you know who is qualified to sit at this table with Ningning? You're not Young Master Ning's secretary, you're only fit to stand on the side!"
Vivian froze, her face turning red.
Ning Bingyu gently pushed up his sunglasses, raised his hand to indicate that Vivian didn't need to say anything more, and slightly curved the corners of his lips into a smile—
“It’s my fault for not teaching Vivian well, which led her to speak recklessly and not act like she was asking for favors when she came to the mainland to do business.”
He was clearly criticizing Vivian, but Ning Yuan understood.
He was calling her out by name, saying that Rong Zhaonan, her "brother," hadn't taught her well, causing her to speak recklessly!
Ning Yuan pressed Rong Zhaonan's hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.
She merely smiled, appearing completely innocent: "Young Master Ning, are you angry? I'm just stating the facts. The Ning family has been away from the mainland for decades."
She took a coffee cup from the table and then tapped it on the table—
"Like a cup that has been removed from its original place, if you want to put it back on the old table, you need to understand how things work in mainland China to make money. It's not that easy, and it's not just about having money."
Ning Yuan paused, under the strange gazes of him and his secretary Vivian.
She took a sip of her coffee with an innocent expression: "I respect Young Master Ning, but please don't treat me like a fool and try to test me."
This "special business deal" that the Ning family made with Rong Zhaonan during their return to China is different from their usual investment and business dealings in mainland China.
They were just helping the transport companies move the goods.
The mainland has only been open for a few years, and all policies and regulations are still being improved.
The fact that Coca-Cola was able to build a factory in Beijing was part of a cooperative project between the two countries, and it had special symbolic significance.
Even so, Coca-Cola couldn't open a factory in Shanghai and went to Beijing instead. Was it because Coca-Cola was poor and couldn't afford to open one in Shanghai?
If even Coca-Cola can't do it, the Ning family certainly doesn't have the ability to elevate it to the level of international cooperation. They also don't understand the current situation in the inland areas, so how could they dare to invest in building a factory casually?
Ning Bingyu's words were purely a test of whether she had any brains.
Ning Bingyu smiled coldly and tapped the table lightly: "Even if the Ning family wants to find a partner, they will look for a strong beverage factory in the mainland."
He paused, looked Ning Yuan up and down, making no attempt to hide the indifference beneath his gentle exterior—
"You're just a student running a small shop. Do you have money? Do you have the resources or established sales channels and models? What do you know about how the mainland market works?"
Ning Yuan nodded with a smile, admitting, "Yes, I'm just a student who runs a small shop, but why doesn't Young Master Ning think about this—"
She drawled, "Do you think those large state-owned beverage factories will listen to you, a foreign government official?"
Ning Bingyu paused, his hand already set off the coffee cup, and looked at Ning Yuan.
Ning Yuan shrugged and sighed: "What is the status of state-owned factories in the mainland? The workers working there are highly sought after, and the factory directors have absolute authority."
"Even if you invest, how much say will you have, and how much power will you be able to get those big factory managers to listen to your production arrangements?"
Ning Bingyu had indeed read the information about state-owned enterprises in mainland China. His expression turned cold, and he had to admit that the young girl in front of him was right.
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "I'm different. I'm just a nobody. You can use me to test the waters in the mainland market."
"You see, if your business fails, you'll know the pitfalls of doing business in mainland China next time."
She clenched her fist and continued in a serious tone, "Failure is the mother of success. You will definitely make a fortune when you enter the mainland market next time. This time you won't lose out."
Ning Yuan tried her best to paint a rosy picture for Young Master Ning—
"If you succeed in this business opportunity I'm investing in, you'll gain valuable experience, and expanding into other industries will be a natural progression!"
She exclaimed earnestly, "You've not only not lost out, but it's a win-win situation! You're so lucky!"
Even Secretary Vivian couldn't help but smirk: "Miss Ningning, it's as if our boss profits from your investment regardless of whether it succeeds or fails?!"
Ning Yuan gave Vivian a thumbs up: "Beautiful lady, all my words are less concise than your one-sentence summary!"
Looking at Ning Yuan, who seemed to say, "Ah, we're such kindred spirits!"
Vivian choked: "..."
This little girl knows how to seize an opportunity!
Ning Bingyu squinted at Ning Yuan for a while, then suddenly gave a mocking laugh—
“Miss Ningning, you do have a very clever tongue, it even makes my heart flutter, but…”
"Then let's take action instead of just thinking about it! My daughter has always been amazing!"
An old, gentle voice suddenly rang out behind them.
Ning Bingyu looked behind him and saw Old Tang carrying a pot of coffee over to refill their cups.
“When we were sent to the countryside, our family almost starved to death. We relied on her to sell mountain products to support us. Now, she has opened this coffee shop in just a year and a half.”
Old Tang's words stunned Ning Bingyu, who gently pushed up his sunglasses: "This coffee shop doesn't belong to you, Old Tang..."
Old Tang smiled and shook his head: "According to your Hong Kong government, my daughter is the real person in charge. She's the one who's taken care of everything in this shop, big and small!"
The person in charge—the real boss.
Ning Bingyu looked at Ning Yuan, a thoughtful look and surprise flashing in his eyes.
Ning Yuan smiled through her large, dark eyes: "I just told my brother that the reason I'm cooperating with you this time is because I see that you and my brother have a good relationship."
She shrugged: "It doesn't matter if you don't invest, Mr. Ning. With this coffee shop that specializes in receiving overseas Chinese, foreign scholars and leaders, I'll find investors sooner or later."
Ning Bingyu was a smart man, and he understood immediately.
What she meant was that she wasn't begging him to invest.
Ning Bingyu looked at her for a while, then suddenly curled his lips slightly: "I underestimated you, Ningning. I apologize."
He paused, took a small sip of coffee, and said, "I'll have Vivian handle the details regarding the investment."
"If the project is truly suitable, I would be very happy to work with you..."
Ning Bingyu gently pushed up his sunglasses and used a new term he had heard from Ning Yuan—
"Let's work together for a win-win situation!"
Ning Yuan looked at the business tycoon in front of her, and was amazed that he could so easily apologize to a young girl like her.
She was secretly amazed by the young master Ning's composure, resourcefulness, and shrewdness.
Vivian looked at Ning Bingyu in disbelief: "Young Master..."
This is far too hasty!
Not only her, but also the senior business investment advisors of the Ning family around her frowned.
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