497: Chapter 497 Strategic Planning, Decisive Victory! The Battle of Public Opinion!

Chapter 497: Strategizing and Winning from a Distance! The Battle of Public Opinion!

Rongcheng, Guodilao Headquarters.

"Mr. Lei, I feel like we can't stay silent anymore!" Vice President Chen Jianyun found Lei Mingwei. "Nine Fragrance Hotpot is about to step all over our faces!"

"Mm!"

Lei Mingwei's face darkened as he slowly lowered his head.

Chen Jianyun said indignantly, "We must suppress Jiuxiang's arrogance; they're becoming a bit too much!"

Lei Mingwei closed the marketing department's report, and after a moment of reflection, he said, "I understand!"

The current Nine Fragrance Hotpot was already giving them a headache!

Taking advantage of their group company's acquisition offer to the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain, Nine Fragrance Hotpot had directly hyped up its popularity.

Then, Jiuxiang Catering used various online self-media and internet trolls to spread the 'Jiuxiang Threat Theory' everywhere.

Subsequently, they used the fact that the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain was suppressing Guodilao in Rongcheng and Shancheng to create the illusion that the two companies were 'evenly matched' or even that Nine Fragrance Hotpot was suppressing Guodilao!

The reality was that the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain didn't even have a hundred branches.

Meanwhile, their Guodilao branch count had long surpassed four thousand, with operations extending overseas, and their peak market value reaching a valuation of four hundred billion...

Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain would be lucky to be valued at one billion right now!

Yet, through online marketing, they had somehow projected the aura of a hundred-billion-level catering giant!

Do ordinary people understand?

They don't.

Instead, they might feel that since Sichuan and Chongqing are the birthplaces of hotpot,

and people in Rongcheng and Shancheng think Nine Fragrance Hotpot is good, then Nine Fragrance Hotpot must truly be good.

If Guodilao can't beat someone on its own home turf, then it's simply inferior to Jiuxiang!

...Behind the scenes, Jiuxiang Catering was guiding public opinion in exactly this way!

What was most disgusting was that all of Jiuxiang Catering's hype and marketing were based on Guodilao's popularity!

And once Guodilao stepped into the fray, it might just play right into Jiuxiang Catering's hands.

If both sides openly clashed and competed, Jiuxiang Catering would actually benefit more.

It was like an eighteenth-tier minor celebrity clashing with a top-tier star; the less famous you are, the more you gain!

Lei Mingwei rubbed his temples. "Have the marketing department promote our overseas market expansion achievements so everyone knows Guodilao's true strength. Also, mention it to the PR firm—have them hire some people to criticize Nine Fragrance Hotpot for leeching off our popularity!"

"Understood, Mr. Lei!"

Chen Jianyun nodded.

After leaving the Muya Holy Land, Su Yang and his group visited Sidingcuo and Honghaizi.

Honghaizi is known as the 'Mirror of the Sky' because its wide surface and clear water reflect the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding mountains, creating a magnificent painting-like scene.

Su Yang carefully chose his angles, trying his best to capture the most beautiful scenery!

By the afternoon, Su Yang received a call from Ji Guoxiong.

"So, they really released their overseas performance and operating data?"

Ji Guoxiong said in a relaxed tone over the phone, "Yes, just as you expected, Boss. Some self-media outlets have started criticizing us for leeching off Guodilao's popularity. Although the bloggers under Spark Media are working hard, we're still at a slight disadvantage... the tide of public opinion is shifting, and it's a bit unfavorable for us!"

Su Yang said calmly, "Then continue executing the plan!"

"Understood!"

Just as a group of people were singing praises of Guodilao's performance, lauding how they pushed Chinese catering onto the world stage, and frantically criticizing Nine Fragrance Hotpot for shamelessly leeching popularity—and while many passersby were starting to feel a bit repulsed by Nine Fragrance Hotpot...

A piece of news about Nine Fragrance Hotpot waiters having two days off per week and a monthly salary exceeding ten thousand yuan hit the trending searches with lightning speed!

Almost the moment this news hit the trending searches, the direction of domestic public opinion flipped once again.

Originally, the comments under the trending search for Guodilao's overseas performance were overwhelmingly positive.

However, other voices soon emerged:

"What's the point of earning so much? I remember Guodilao's waiters on the mainland only get four to six thousand in salary, right? With all that money you're making, have you considered sharing some profit with the low-level employees?"

"Exactly, and they even pay management millions in annual salary... Tsk tsk! What a 'great' company!"

"Haha, estimated second-quarter profits exceed 1.5 billion, yet they're linked with Nine Fragrance Hotpot in the trending searches. What an irony. Even though that company is small, they're willing to share money with their bottom-level staff!"

"What's the use of Guodilao making more money? It all goes into the pockets of the capitalists!"

"In terms of scale, Nine Fragrance Hotpot is indeed far inferior to Guodilao, but their waiters' monthly salaries exceed ten thousand, and they have two days off. They are the truly conscientious enterprise!"

"Compared to Jiuxiang, Guodilao is nothing!"

"Jiuxiang may be small, but being small is also very cute!"

"This is a market where bad money drives out good. Nine Fragrance Hotpot must be sharing its profits with employees, which is why its scale can't compare to Guodilao!"

"Exactly, only black-hearted merchants who squeeze employee salaries can grow their company scale!"

"..."

Meanwhile, under the news of the Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain trending search, it was almost universal praise.

"When is Nine Fragrance Hotpot opening in Shanghai? I'll definitely go support you then!"

"When are you opening a store in Liao Province? I can't wait!"

"Nothing more to say, I'm going to feast at Jiuxiang today!"

"I'm from Shancheng, and I can testify that Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain is truly good to its employees. Outstanding waiters can even take their whole families on a free seven-day trip. I'm so jealous!"

"Is this another Donglai Supermarket? The more companies like this, the better!"

"It's just that some waiters' salaries exceeded ten thousand in May, is there a need to hype it up that much?!"

"Haha! But Jiuxiang is willing to give triple overtime pay, willing to give employees two days off, and willing to give waiters the chance to earn over ten thousand a month. Which other catering company can compare?"

"I've never received triple overtime pay; every day is voluntary overtime... Ahhh, I want to be a waiter now. Their salary is higher than mine!"

"I've never been to Nine Fragrance Hotpot before, but I'm willing to support them now!"

"I'll support them too. If they're this good to their employees, they probably won't cut corners on ingredients. Let me taste if it's as good as the rumors say—and it's not even expensive!"

"Didn't they say you're leeching off Guodilao's popularity? Then leech off it hard! A conscientious company like yours deserves the spotlight!"

"When is your Jiuxiang Hotpot Restaurant hiring? I want to apply; I want to serve plates!"

"..."

Although there were still some discordant notes among these comments,

they were quickly drowned out by the messages from other netizens...

And those self-media bloggers who spoke up for Guodilao and criticized Nine Fragrance Hotpot for excessive marketing and leeching popularity suffered a great disaster.

"You're just a dog for capital. Unfollowed!"

"I misjudged you. Blocked!"

"You actually attacked a conscientious catering company like Nine Fragrance Hotpot? Trash, go die!"

"Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain should market itself aggressively; everything it does is right!"

"..."

Many self-media bloggers on various platforms were flamed until they shut down.

Those with weaker mental fortitude directly deleted their videos and knelt to apologize!

At Spark Media, Gong Zihao, dressed in women's clothing, spoke passionately to the camera, completely shedding his usual delicate aura to look like a warrior instead:

"I told you! I'm absolutely on Nine Fragrance Hotpot's side!"

"Nine Fragrance Hotpot's taste is truly excellent. Although the waitresses don't have fancy tricks, their service is very thorough!"

"I'm a die-hard fan of Nine Fragrance Hotpot, and many employees in our company are die-hard fans too!"

"..."

The comments below also chimed in:

"The streamer really is a die-hard fan of Nine Fragrance Hotpot. Me too. Followed!"

"Keep it up, streamer!"

"Keep it up, streamer!"

"We support Jiuxiang Catering too!"

"..."

At the same time, those self-media bloggers who had stood by Nine Fragrance Hotpot during the crisis also saw a certain increase in followers, most of whom were financial knowledge bloggers associated with Spark Media.

Seeing this wave of traffic, they were all beaming with joy!

At Jiuxiang Catering headquarters, Ji Guoxiong's face lit up with a smile as he looked at the comments on the trending search.

Yu Siying also made a special call to congratulate Ji Guoxiong: "Congratulations, Mr. Ji!"

Yu Siying knew very well that with the excellent foundation laid by this wave of public opinion, Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain's reputation and brand image were effectively established nationwide.

As long as Ji Guoxiong could maintain Jiuxiang Hotpot Chain's good reputation, its development would surely be a smooth path!

Moreover, she believed Ji Guoxiong could do it.

After all, the person standing behind Ji Guoxiong was... that man!

Hearing Yu Siying's words, Ji Guoxiong also said sincerely, "I also have to thank President Yu for your full support!"

Yu Siying smiled and said, "Consider it mutually beneficial!"

After this marketing campaign, Spark Entertainment Group's fame had grown even larger!

Ordinary people might not know Spark Entertainment Group, but those in the industry knew who was helping Nine Fragrance Hotpot!

"And I don't dare take the credit!" Yu Siying looked toward Western Sichuan and said, "The marketing plans we formulated were all finalized by the boss. Every marketing beat was controlled by him. Our Spark Entertainment Group was entirely under the boss's command, running along the lines he drew..."

"Indeed!"

Thinking of his boss, Ji Guoxiong couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

He also knew very well that from the moment Guodilao intended to acquire Jiuxiang, every marketing plan was personally overseen by Su Yang—link after link, simply seamless!

After all, he had also participated in formulating the marketing plans...

Even though the boss wasn't in Rongcheng, he had completely controlled the entire direction of public opinion.

He had allowed them to go from a slightly famous hotpot chain to a large enterprise with a reputation rivaling a giant like Guodilao in a short period!

Ji Guoxiong murmured, "Is this what it means to 'strategize in a tent and win a battle a thousand miles away'?"

"It should be!"

Although Ji Guoxiong didn't say who, Yu Siying knew exactly who he was talking about!

"Are you ready for the press conference?" Yu Siying asked with a smile. "When the public opinion reaches its peak, you'll need to step forward personally, Mr. Ji."

"I've been ready for a long time!" Ji Guoxiong laughed. "I've had the script ready for two days; I can recite it backwards!"