Chapter 423 We do not export goods, but we can export standards
Ideal City.
Fang Chang stopped in front of a spacious door, looked at the envelope in his hand, opened it, took out a card from it, and swiped it on the door.
The pale blue ripples spread along the door lock, and the door opened backwards with a click.
What came into view was a spacious reception room. There were several sofas on the black, white and gray plaid carpet. The simple and elegant decoration was very corporate style.
In this crowded city, spaciousness itself is a luxury.
A woman of about 25 or 26 sat on the sofa in the middle. She was wearing a silver coat, and what impressed people most was her slender legs and the two delicate eyebrows on her beautiful face.
Those two delicate eyebrows were like soft crescents, but they could not hide the heroic eyes and the radiant light in those eyes.
Most of the people who could attend this party were upper-class people in Ideal City.
From her temperament, Fang Chang could feel that she was at least a rich woman.
At least.
"Hello, Ms. Li Shuyue, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." After all, he was a guest, so Fang Chang made a gentlemanly opening speech.
The woman sitting on the sofa made a gesture of invitation and said in a pleasant voice.
"Don't be so polite, warrior of the alliance, I am the one who disturbed your rest, please don't be polite, just sit down."
"Then I won't be polite."
Fang Chang smiled faintly and found a sofa not far away to sit down.
The waiter brought tea for the two.
There was a fragrance in the mist, which smelled very light, but there was a kind of comfort that made people feel relaxed and happy.
The two exchanged greetings for a while, but they talked about some irrelevant topics.
Interestingly, Fang Chang could feel that she was different from the rich ladies on the dance floor. Her twinkling eyes did not show any admiration or curiosity. Her admiring eyes were more like encouraging him to continue talking.
Was it to investigate the investment environment of the alliance?
Thinking of this, Fang Chang could not help but perk up. He was no longer restrained and started to talk a lot, from the development of the alliance to the individuals in the alliance.
For example, Teng Teng, who ran a small workshop, was praised by him as an art master.
Ya Ya, a strong perception system who wandered around like a street kid all day, was praised by him as a mushroom fairy who pursued the most perfect mushroom.
And Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes became the heir of the Scrambled Eggs family who mastered 888 lost recipes, and Yin Lena became Bear Grylls who explored edible alien species...
Even the idiot Mosquito was praised by him as a rocket scientist who dreamed of exploring the edge of the Milky Way.
Manager...
The manager didn't seem to need him to brag. The figure riding on the Deathclaw and bathing in the sunlight that broke through the dark clouds was full of style.
I heard that Ideal City already had a film studio and planned to shoot a movie based on him.
I don't know if he knew about this.
When bragging, Fang Chang had no psychological burden at all. After all, there was more than 3,000 kilometers between here and the Alliance. Even if they were curious, it was impossible for everyone to go there.
"Wait, what is the lost 888 recipes..." After listening for a long time, Li Shuyue seemed to be most interested in this and asked curiously.
Fang Chang said with a smile.
"That, there are too many contents, I can't finish it for a while. Among the items that appeared in the auction before, those related to food are more or less related to the recipe."
"Including this?"
While speaking, Li Shuyue reached out from the drawer of the table next to her and took out a pack of instant noodles, her eyes full of curiosity.
Seeing the Laokeng pickled cabbage instant noodles in her hand, Fang Chang's expression suddenly became awkward.
"Uh, this was made by a mosquito."
Li Shuyue frowned.
"But doesn't he dream of becoming a rocket scientist who wants to board the Koinbo belt?"
Fang Chang hurriedly explained.
"This is a work that he works out of interest. Although his main job is to tinker with rockets, he occasionally makes some strange things... like this one in your hand."
Oh no, I've boasted too much, and it seems a bit exposed.
Fang Chang said in his heart.
However, Ms. Li Shuyue didn't seem to think that there was any loophole in the story. She just sighed softly after a long silence.
"Incredible... It seems that the rumor is indeed not groundless."
Fang Chang was stunned.
"Rumor? What rumor?"
"Someone on the Endpoint Cloud is discussing that the ancestors of Shelter No. 404 are all artists," Li Shuyue said with a smile, "I didn't believe it at first, but now I do."
Fang Chang coughed.
"Although I don't know where you heard this rumor from, but there's nothing wrong with saying it... We did inherit something special from the Human Union, especially in terms of culture."
Hearing him say this, Li Shuyue's eyes became brighter.
But Fang Chang could feel that she didn't completely believe what he said, at most she believed half of it.
But what does it matter?
The corner of his mouth pulled up a barely perceptible smile, he had already predicted her prediction.
Believe half?
That's really bold...
Seeming to have grasped the information he wanted to know, Li Shuyue suddenly changed her expression and said with a serious look.
"Let me introduce myself again. I am the CEO of Ruyue Group. This is my business card."
With a light stroke of her slender fingertips, a pale blue holographic window appeared on the white coffee table and floated in front of Fang Chang.
Fang Chang, who thought it was just a special effect of the game, was not surprised. He dragged the business card in front of him with his index finger and took a look.
But he soon realized that it was useless to look at it. He didn't know anything about Ideal City and couldn't understand what was written on this business card.
Ruyue Group?
Isn't there only five major groups in Ideal City?
"...Our company is invested and controlled by Ideal Group. It mainly operates in food sales and processing-related industries."
Looking at Fang Chang who was staring at the business card and lost in thought, Li Shuyue continued in a pleasant voice.
"To be honest, this is the first time I've seen such an interesting product. Although it's not very healthy and the shelf life is not very long, the taste is surprisingly good... How did you come up with these novel cooking methods?"
Fang Chang's expression was a little subtle. After thinking for a while, he made up a reason that sounded like that.
"For us, food belongs to the category of culture. Eating is not just to meet nutritional needs, but also a kind of spiritual satisfaction."
"This sounds very interesting."
Li Shuyue said with interest.
"I have consulted historical documents. Similar cooking techniques have appeared in history, but they were gradually replaced by scientific concepts in the early days of the prosperous era. The subsequent dietary concepts are like ours now... According to you, it is just to meet nutritional needs."
"Maybe it's because the spiritual world of people after the prosperous era is rich enough, and they no longer need to be satisfied by sacrificing health or other things. Of course, this is just my personal guess."
Fang Chang just said it casually, but he didn't expect that Ms. Li Shuyue nodded thoughtfully.
"That's an interesting idea. Maybe the truth is as you said."
"Maybe, but I'm not an expert after all." Fang Chang said casually after taking a sip of black tea.
"But I feel you know a lot. I learned from your ambassador that you are not only a soldier, but also responsible for the promotion of alliance products," Li Shuyue looked at him with bright eyes, "Are you interested in cooperation?"
It turned out that they found me because of this matter.
Hearing Li Shuyue's words, Fang Chang smiled happily.
Isn't this what he was waiting for?
"Of course, we are here to seek cooperation. I wonder what method you want to use?"
No more nonsense, Li Shuyue got straight to the point.
"According to our market research, we believe that the next six months is the best window period for alliance products to enter Ideal City. The residents here are very interested in your cultural products. I think food will be a good entry point."
"We can provide two plans here. The first plan is that you are responsible for production and transportation, and we are responsible for sales. The second plan is that we will jointly establish a subsidiary company. You provide personnel and technology, especially related food formulas, and we provide funds and venues to produce and sell in Ideal City."
After listening to the detailed description of the two plans quietly, Fang Chang nodded gently.
"No problem, we can provide all of what you said."
Li Shuyue was happy in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face, just smiled.
However, just when she was about to use "happy cooperation" to lead the topic to the contract, the man opposite suddenly changed the subject and said.
"However, compared with the two plans you provided, I have a better proposal here. I wonder if you are interested?"
Li Shuyue raised her eyebrows because her excitement was poured with a basin of cold water.
"Oh?"
To be honest, she didn't think that a survivor settlement with backward business could come up with any relatively novel ideas.
However——
Let's just listen to what he was going to say.
Not paying attention to the disapproval in his eyes, Fang Chang cleared his throat and began his deception.
"Whether it is exporting products or exporting formulas, it is actually not in our best interests. After all, those formulas are not very difficult to tell the truth. If our products can really sell out in Ideal City, I'm afraid that within two days, your competitors will be able to refer to your sales data and make a competitive product that better meets market demand."
Li Shuyue said immediately.
"Don't worry about this. We have a complete patent law, and we also have our own R&D laboratory. We will improve the formula according to the feedback from the market and consumers. As long as we do it faster and better than our competitors, there is no need to worry about being replaced."
Fang Chang nodded and said simply.
"Of course, what you said makes sense, but let me make an assumption. If the subsequent formula is completed in Ruyue Group, will it still be related to our joint venture subsidiary?"
Li Shuyue's face was surprised, and her heroic eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? Are you worried that we won't keep our word?" Fang Chang said in a gentle voice. "Of course I don't mean that. It's just a reasonable assumption. You have technical advantages, and you know the local market and rules better than us. You can maximize your interests within the framework of the rules... To be honest, if there is a contract dispute, I really don't have much confidence that I can win over you." Li Shuyue said impatiently. "So what is your proposal?" "It's unrealistic to use expensive transportation capacity to transport cheap consumer goods, and the formula itself is not that valuable. We don't plan to export products or formulas, but standards." "Standards?" Looking at the hesitant Li Shuyue, Fang Chang nodded and said simply. "That's right." Li Shuyue frowned. "Can you be more specific?" "To be more specific, just tell a story." Looking at the blank expression on her face, Fang Chang smiled and threw out the set of rhetoric he had prepared long ago. "For example, cola, this thing actually has no technical content, but Nuka-Cola is sold better in Boulder City than Vega Cola or other colas, because the managers of the alliance recommend it as a substitute for alcohol in public, because the awakened people of the alliance are drinking it... Those mercenaries will wonder if they can also awaken after drinking that thing."
"For example, fried chicken, the technical content is even lower, but as long as we want, it can annihilate a division of the legion tomorrow... I mean a 10,000-man army. For example, the pack of instant noodles in your hand, although to be honest, I don't like it very much, but as long as we need it, it can also become our military rations... Then they will be sold well on the endpoint cloud, do you understand what I mean?"
Listening to Fang Chang's vivid description, Li Shuyue looked at the man in front of her with interest.
Good guy, even the wastelanders know the brand effect?
It is not about taste, nor nutrition, but about using cultural added value to empty consumers' wallets.
If that's the case, it would be difficult for her company to kick him out after developing the market and completing product upgrades. After all, what's valuable is no longer patents and formulas, but the inherent impression in the minds of consumers.
In fact, the products of Ideal City are popular in the wasteland, not only because of technology, but also because of the brand influence behind it.
And she did consider doing this, creating a best-selling brand with alliance characteristics, using higher barriers to restrict competitors from entering the market, and harvesting the wallets of Ideal City residents.
However, she originally planned to do this after the Ruyue Group completely digested the technology of the partner.
After all, it is better to have this kind of hen that lays golden eggs in your own hands, and there is no need to let others share a piece of the pie.
But she didn't expect that the ambition of the man in front of her was so big.
He had just come to Ideal City from that remote place, and he had already thought about turning the alliance's products into a best-selling brand of Ideal City.
"Interesting." Li Shuyue's eyes floated with admiration.
She has seen many wastelanders.
Most of those people are rude, short-sighted, cunning, not very smart, but always clever.
However, this cannot be blamed on them.
After all, in the precarious environment of the wasteland, people with a long-term vision may not even live to the next month.
This guy is really capable of considering such long-term things.
Should I agree?
But even if I don't agree, they can probably find someone else to cooperate.
Thinking that she was praising his proposal, Fang Chang showed a happy smile on his face.
"It seems that we have reached a consensus, so let's talk about the details of the cooperation next... For example, how to sell this standard."
Li Shuyue stared at the face for a while, and suddenly threw out a sentence that had nothing to do with business.
"Although we generally don't give permanent residence to wastelanders, there are exceptions in some cases."
Naturally changing her sitting position, her right leg gently rested on her left knee, and a smile rose at the corner of her plump lips.
"...I suddenly like you a little. Have you considered settling in Ideal City?"
Although it was a joking tone, the expression did not seem to be joking.
Fang Chang admitted that the proposal was indeed very attractive.
Life here is indeed very beautiful, compared with the wasteland world, it is like a different game.
However——
"It is an honor to be appreciated by you, but I already have someone in my heart."
Looking at the polite man in front of her, Li Shuyue was slightly stunned, obviously not expecting that her proposal would be rejected.
But she was only stunned for a moment, then smiled lightly and said indifferently.
"Don't get me wrong, I only like your business ability. Let's get back to the topic, let's talk about the details of the cooperation."
Appreciation is appreciation, but it is just appreciation.
It's like passing by a store window and seeing a new luxury item.
She doesn't mind buying it with a credit card, but she won't go to the door to line up like the nouveau riche.
With her assets, family and looks, she can have any man she wants, and she doesn't need to compete with anyone.
However, the guy's unmoved look still annoyed her.
Am I not attractive at all?
Fang Chang didn't take the sarcasm to heart, just smiled lightly, crossed his fingers on his knees, and said calmly.
"Of course, when I say that my heart belongs to someone, I mean that my heart belongs to the alliance."
"Then as you wish, let's talk about the specific details of the cooperation."
...
The lounge next to the banquet hall.
The mole, who was lying on the sofa, was having a lot of fun with the virtual reality glasses.
Suddenly, the colorful light and shadow flashed and disappeared from his sight.
The confused mole looked up and saw that the glasses were in Fang Chang's hands.
"What are you playing? You're so into it."
Seeing Fang Chang about to put on his glasses, Mole quickly reached out and snatched them back, smiling embarrassedly with sweat all over his forehead.
"I just played some ordinary little games, which I randomly browsed on the endpoint cloud."
As expected of residents of "Utopia", the people here are really open-minded.
Fang Chang asked curiously.
"Is it fun?"
"It's just so-so, not fun, but playing a virtual reality game in a virtual reality game is beyond my expectation."
While speaking, Mole couldn't help but praise it in his heart.
To be honest, these days, big companies are making games with their feet, making DLCs with their butts, and making money with their brains. They are reheating old things over and over again, but they are unwilling to do something new.
Such in-game Easter eggs can be picked out separately as a masterpiece released as an independent masterpiece, which is simply the conscience of the industry.
I have to praise A Guang, it is worthy of boasting that it is a 100% real virtual reality game.
This is too real!
"... In short, the operability is OK, the degree of freedom is OK, and the content is quite large, but it is not realistic enough."
Fang Chang was stunned and asked after a moment of silence.
"... Is this game serious?"
"Pfft, what are you thinking, it's just a normal RPG game, have you played Free Lancer? The kind that looks at spaceships!" Mole saw the expression on his face and knew that this guy must have thought wrong, so he quickly changed the subject, "Stop talking nonsense, by the way, why are you back so soon?"
He still remembered that this guy went out around eight o'clock, and he came back before ten o'clock.
It's a bit fast...
"Talked about some business matters,"
"Only talked about business?" Mole looked at this guy with suspicion, "I don't believe it."
Fang Chang rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain to him, and found a place to sit down casually.
Of course, he would not tell this guy that he had just negotiated a deal worth several hundred million for the Alliance.
Ideal Group's holding company, Ruyue Group, plans to invest 100 million Cr to jointly establish a chain catering organization, "Changyue" catering, with Niuma Group.
The brands currently confirmed include the "KFC" fast food restaurant, which mainly provides fried chicken and cola, and the "Niuma" hot pot restaurant.
Exporting "pre-prepared dishes"?
Selling instant noodles?
Of course, that kind of business can be done, but the profit is too low, and he really doesn't look down on it.
Moreover, the food safety standards of Ideal City are too high, and ordinary food cannot be imported at all. In addition, the Alliance's own grain is not surplus. Instead of importing grain from the Alliance, it is better to produce it directly locally.
Just like Fang Chang said, export standards.
The plan that has been finalized is that the "Ruyue" Group will send employees to the Alliance, and the Niuma Group will be responsible for arranging the training of these employees. After the training, they will return to Ideal City to serve as chefs and store managers.
Still immersed in the game just now, Mole recalled for a while, staring at the glasses in his hand, and suddenly spoke.
"By the way... I found this virtual reality game interesting, but the gameplay is too simple."
Fang Chang glanced at him.
"How can it be enriched?"
Mole: "It's not a question of how to enrich it. Let me give you an example. I just played about three RPG games, one with an interstellar theme, one with a fantasy theme, and one that is probably about fictional history. All three games are open world types like Skyrim, with huge maps, cool skills, simple interactions with NPCs, and a high degree of freedom... But the selling points of all three games are the same, which is ridiculous!"
Fang Chang glanced at him.
"Isn't that good? If there is one in reality, I'll buy it up."
By the way, even the easter eggs are made so detailed?
In the past, Brother Guang boasted to him that most of the content of "Wasteland OL" was automatically generated based on the player's cognition and dreams, but he didn't believe it at the time.
Now it seems that he is not bragging.
He has to experience it when he has time.
Expecting Fang Chang to have this reaction, Mole made a helpless expression.
"That's what he said, but it's boring if the entire game platform is full of this type. I haven't seen any MOBA or chicken-eating games at all... Is it outdated?"
Fang Chang was slightly stunned.
Although this sounds a bit outrageous, he seems to have found a way to make money...
...
The next morning, in a building in the huge complex, a ray of sunlight came through the floor-to-ceiling window of the president's office on the top floor.
Looking at the draft contract in her hand, Li Shuyue, leaning on the office chair, faced the steel forest that emerged from the clouds, holding a cup of coffee in her hand, and took a sip with a frown.
100 million Cr.
This budget is just a small number for the parent company Ideal Group, but it is not small for Ruyue Group.
After thinking for a moment, she stretched out her index finger and gently stroked the table.
The pale blue holographic window projected in front of her, interweaving a three-dimensional bust.
The AI assistant said softly with a smooth electronic voice.
"Dear boss, what can I do for you?"
She said concisely.
"Help me get a ticket to the southern part of the Valley Province."
With a distance of 3,000 kilometers, even the most authentic news will be distorted.
She would always feel uneasy if she didn't go there to take a look.
The AI assistant reminded.
"The company does not have a fixed flight to the southern part of the Valley Province. According to the relevant provisions of Resolution 1001, the leasing of aircraft capacity requires filling out a form for declaration, stating the relevant reasons, and providing relevant certificates."
Li Shuyue said casually.
"Just write it for me, and fill in the reason as market research."
The virtual image floating on the desk nodded slightly.
"Yes, sir."