77: Chapter 78 Interview with South Korean Media

First day of business. 12,000 customers. 850 million KRW in sales.

Qian Xu stood at the entrance of Yunmengze Life Plaza. He looked at the black metal sign and smiled.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram.

"Mr. Qian, the rehearsal is over!" "How are the numbers?"

Qian Xu replied, "12,000 customers on the first day." "850 million KRW in sales."

Jeon Bo-ram replied quickly, "Wow!!!" "That's amazing!" "Let's celebrate tonight!" "I'll treat you to Korean BBQ!"

Qian Xu smiled. "Okay." "What time?" "Seven o'clock!" "The usual spot!" "Your place!"

Qian Xu smiled. "Okay."

He put his phone away and was about to leave when a KBS interview van pulled up to the curb. The door opened, and a female reporter stepped out. She was in her thirties, wearing a black suit, holding a microphone, followed by a cameraman.

"Excuse me, are you the person in charge of Yunmengze Life Plaza?" The female reporter walked over quickly.

Qian Xu looked at her. "I am." "And you are?"

"I'm Park Ji-hye, a reporter from the KBS Social News Department." The female reporter handed him a business card. "We received reports that a new Chinese supermarket has opened in Hongdae with over 10,000 customers on its first day. We'd like to do an interview."

Qian Xu took the card and glanced at it. KBS Social News Department. Park Ji-hye. "That's fine," he nodded. "But the interview time is limited. I have other plans."

"No problem." Park Ji-hye smiled. "Ten minutes is enough."

The cameraman set up the equipment. Park Ji-hye stood in front of the camera. "Hello viewers, we are in Hongdae. Today, a Chinese supermarket called Yunmengze Life Plaza opened its doors. The first-day foot traffic exceeded 12,000 people, with sales reaching 850 million KRW. This is a very rare achievement in the always competitive Korean retail market."

She turned to Qian Xu. "Mr. Qian, could you introduce the features of this supermarket?"

Qian Xu looked into the camera. "Yunmengze Life Plaza is a supermarket with 'Chinese Quality, Korean Prices.' 60% of our goods are sourced directly from China, and 40% are from local Korean farmers. Our prices are 20%-30% lower than mainstream Korean supermarkets. As for services, we offer unconditional returns, free shoe repair and clothing alterations, and free blood pressure checks. These services are not available in typical Korean supermarkets."

Park Ji-hye nodded. "30% lower prices? Unconditional returns? These sound very attractive. But will Korean consumers really accept Chinese goods?"

Qian Xu smiled. "You can ask them." He pointed to the supermarket entrance. The queue was still there. Park Ji-hye turned around. "Okay, let's go interview some customers."

She walked to the front of the line. There was a Korean woman in her forties holding shopping bags. "Hello, ma'am. I'm a reporter from KBS. Did you come to shop at Yunmengze today?"

"I did!" The woman's eyes lit up. "I bought three bags of rice! In Korean supermarkets, they sell for 40,000 KRW a bag. Here, it's only 28,000 KRW! That's 30% cheaper!"

Park Ji-hye was taken aback. "It's that much cheaper?" "Yes!" The woman lifted her shopping bag. "And the quality is very good! I've already tried it! It's just as delicious as Korean rice! I'll be coming here to shop from now on!"

Park Ji-hye turned to the next customer, a man in his thirties wearing glasses and holding a thermos. "Hello, sir. What did you buy?"

"A thermos." The man held up the cup in his hand. "Korean supermarkets sell this for 30,000 KRW. Here, it's only 10,000 KRW. And the quality is great. It's stainless steel, with a matte finish. It's about the same as those expensive brands."

Park Ji-hye took the cup and looked at it. "It's indeed very nice. What do you think of this supermarket?"

"It's very good." The man nodded. "The prices are cheap, and the service is great. I just bought a rice cooker. The cashier said if I'm not satisfied, I can return it unconditionally within 30 days. That's impossible in Korean supermarkets."

Park Ji-hye continued walking. A young girl was standing in front of the cultural merchandise section, holding a panda keychain. "Hello, are you here to buy cultural merchandise?"

"Yes!" The girl held up the keychain. "This panda keychain is only 3,000 KRW. It sells for 8,000 KRW online in Korea. And it's so cute! I bought five to give to my friends!"

Park Ji-hye smiled. "What do you think of Chinese goods?" "They're great!" the girl said. "My previous impression of China was that things were cheap but poor quality. But seeing these products today, the quality is very good, and the designs are beautiful. I'll be coming often."

Park Ji-hye returned to the camera. Her expression was somewhat complex. "Viewers, we just interviewed several customers. Their assessment of this Chinese supermarket is unexpectedly high. Cheap prices, good quality, and great service. It surprised me."

She turned to Qian Xu. "Mr. Qian, how did you do it? Why can Chinese goods be sold so cheaply in Korea while maintaining such good quality?"

Qian Xu looked at her. "Because 'Made in China' is no longer the 'Made in China' of ten years ago. China has the most complete supply chain, the most advanced production technology, and the strictest quality standards in the world. For the same product, the production cost in China is 30%-40% lower than in Korea, but the quality is the same, or even better. That's why we can sell them cheaper without sacrificing profit."

Park Ji-hye was thoughtful. "So, are you opening this supermarket just to make money?"

"Not entirely." Qian Xu smiled. "I want Koreans to know that Chinese goods are not synonymous with cheap and inferior quality. Chinese quality can be better than Korea's. Chinese service can be more considerate than Korea's. And Chinese bosses can be more conscientious than Korean bosses."

Park Ji-hye was stunned. She looked at Qian Xu. This young Chinese man stood at the entrance of Yunmengze Life Plaza with an endless stream of customers behind him and a confident smile on his face. She suddenly felt that this man was not simple.

"Mr. Qian, one last question. Do you think Yunmengze Life Plaza can succeed in Korea?"

"It has already succeeded." Qian Xu smiled. "12,000 customers on the first day. 850 million KRW in sales. That is the best proof."

The interview ended. Park Ji-hye turned off the microphone and looked at Qian Xu. "Mr. Qian, thank you for the interview. This interview will air on KBS News tonight."

"Okay." Qian Xu nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."

Park Ji-hye turned around. She walked a few steps, then looked back. "Mr. Qian." "Yes?" "I'll say this privately: what you are doing is remarkable." "Thank you." Qian Xu smiled.

The interview van drove away. Qian Xu stood at the entrance, looking at his phone. A system notification popped up: [Cultural Export Event: Positive KBS Report] [Influence: +0.3%] [Korean Favorability Toward China: 28.1%]. He smiled. KBS. Korea's largest television station. His interview would air tonight. This was the first time a Chinese supermarket had received positive coverage in mainstream Korean media.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Jeon Bo-ram. "Mr. Qian, I saw the KBS interview van! Did you get on TV?"

Qian Xu replied, "Yes. It airs tonight."

Jeon Bo-ram replied quickly, "Wow!!! I want to watch it! Let's watch it together while we have Korean BBQ tonight!" Qian Xu smiled. "Okay."

He put his phone away and looked at the sign for Yunmengze Life Plaza. The black metal sign with gold lettering read, "Chinese Quality, Korean Prices." He smiled. This was just the beginning. Tomorrow, the day after, in the future, Yunmengze would open a second, a third, a tenth location in Seoul. He would let Koreans know that Chinese supermarkets are better than Korean ones, and force the Korean media to report positively.

Seven o'clock in the evening. Cheongdam-dong, Qian Xu's home. The doorbell rang. He opened the door. Jeon Bo-ram stood at the entrance, wearing a pink hoodie and carrying two bags.

"Mr. Qian! I bought the ingredients for the Korean BBQ! Pork belly! Kimchi! And Soju!" Qian Xu smiled. "Come in."

Jeon Bo-ram walked in and put the bags on the dining table. "What time does KBS News air?" "Eight o'clock." "Okay!" Jeon Bo-ram opened the bags. "Let's grill the meat first! We can eat while we watch!"

The two busied themselves in the kitchen. Jeon Bo-ram washed vegetables while Qian Xu sliced the meat. "Mr. Qian, you were amazing today," Jeon Bo-ram said while washing vegetables. "Even KBS reporters came to interview you. That's not something just anyone can get."

"Just good luck," Qian Xu smiled. "They happened to be passing by." "It wasn't luck," Jeon Bo-ram turned to look at him. "It's because you did a good job, that's why you got interviewed. What you're doing is worth reporting."

Eight o'clock sharp. The two sat on the sofa. KBS News was playing on the TV. Jeon Bo-ram held up her Soju glass. "It's starting!" The image of Yunmengze Life Plaza appeared on the screen. Park Ji-hye stood at the entrance. "Hello viewers, we are in Hongdae. Today, a Chinese supermarket called Yunmengze Life Plaza opened its doors. The first-day foot traffic exceeded 12,000 people." Jeon Bo-ram excitedly patted Qian Xu's shoulder. "Mr. Qian! You're on TV!" Qian Xu smiled, watching the screen.

The footage switched to customer interviews. The Korean woman held up her shopping bag. "30% cheaper! I'll be coming here to shop from now on!" The Korean man held his thermos. "Cheap prices, good quality. 30-day unconditional returns. This is impossible in Korean supermarkets." The young girl held the panda keychain. "My previous impression of China was that things were cheap but poor quality. But seeing these products today, the quality is very good, and the designs are beautiful." Jeon Bo-ram watched the TV, her eyes reddening slightly. "Mr. Qian... look at what they're saying. Koreans finally know how good Chinese goods are."

The footage cut back to Park Ji-hye. She looked into the camera. "Interviewing Yunmengze Life Plaza today left a deep impression on me. Chinese goods are no longer the cheap, inferior products we once thought they were. Chinese quality is changing. Chinese service is even more considerate than Korea's. I hope there will be more Chinese supermarkets like this." Jeon Bo-ram turned to look at Qian Xu. "Mr. Qian... KBS is praising you!" "They aren't praising me," Qian Xu smiled. "They're praising China."

The news ended. Jeon Bo-ram raised her Soju glass. "Mr. Qian, this glass is for you." "For what?" "For letting Koreans see the real China." Qian Xu also raised his glass. "Cheers." The two clinked glasses and drank in one gulp. Jeon Bo-ram put down her glass, her face a little flushed. "Mr. Qian." "Yes?" "Tomorrow is the second day of business. Will the numbers be even better?" "They will." Qian Xu nodded. "Today was just the beginning. Tomorrow, more people will know. Yunmengze Life Plaza will become a landmark in Hongdae." Jeon Bo-ram smiled. "I believe in you."

The two continued eating Korean BBQ. The news was still playing on the TV, but the content had changed. Jeon Bo-ram picked up a piece of pork belly. "Mr. Qian, the Comeback Show rehearsal is tomorrow. Are you coming?" "I'll come." Qian Xu nodded. "I'll handle the supermarket business in the morning and head over in the afternoon." "Okay!" Jeon Bo-ram's eyes lit up. "We've almost finished practicing our new song. I'll sing the complete version for you tomorrow." "I look forward to it." Qian Xu smiled.

Ten o'clock in the evening. Jeon Bo-ram finished cleaning up the dishes and stood at the door. "Mr. Qian, goodnight." "Goodnight." Qian Xu smiled. "See you tomorrow." "Yeah!" Jeon Bo-ram turned around. She walked a few steps, then looked back. "Mr. Qian." "Yes?" "You were really handsome today." After saying this, she blushed and quickly stepped into the elevator. Qian Xu stood at the door, watching the elevator doors close, and smiled.

He walked back to the living room, picked up his phone, and opened the system. [Positive KBS Report Complete] [Korean Favorability Toward China: 28.1%] [Cultural Export Value: +500,000] [Cumulative Cultural Export Value: 1.778 million]. He smiled. A positive KBS report. This was the first time mainstream Korean media had reported positively on a Chinese supermarket. Tomorrow, more people would know about Yunmengze Life Plaza. He turned off his phone and looked at the Seoul night view outside the window. The lights were brilliant. He smiled. This was just the beginning.