Chapter 267 Counterfeits
Liu Ran never expected that this "Zizai Liangcha" would become an internet sensation.
The company's daily sales had already reached hundreds of millions of yuan. The sheer number of customers was overwhelming, and production capacity couldn't keep up.
The primary issue was the lack of prior inventory. With the sudden surge in sales, no factory could produce such a large quantity of beverages daily.
Liu Ran stroked her chin. She had a nagging feeling that behind this explosive popularity, there must be hidden crises.
Liu Ran preferred a steady, step-by-step approach. Now, her company, Yangyangyang, had soared to unprecedented heights, which made her overly worried.
At this moment, the office door chimed, and Zhang Ziqi entered, holding a bottle of Yangyangyang Zizai Liangcha.
The herbal tea was exquisitely designed, packaged like an ancient wine gourd. Its exterior featured a picturesque landscape painting in the style of "Qingming Shanghe Tu," with Zhang Ziqi and Lin Yueyu, dressed in traditional attire, holding bottles of Zizai Liangcha at the bottom.
They were both endorsers for the Zizai Liangcha.
The entire beverage was designed to resemble a wine gourd, exuding an air of sophistication and antiquity, while its colors held a touch of nobility.
Its immense popularity was partly attributed to its beautiful, unique, and distinctive packaging. Zhang Ziqi walked in with a cheerful smile and sat opposite Liu Ran. She spoke, "General Manager Liu, what did you need me for?"
Liu Ran nodded and said to Zhang Ziqi, "Xiao Zhang, the current popularity of Yangyangyang Zizai Liangcha has far exceeded our expectations. As the livestream host for this product, you've gained considerable fame."
"This situation might cause you inconvenience, making it difficult for you to travel or dine without being recognized."
"Therefore, I plan to have the company provide you with a car. From now on, when you come to work here from Jinling University, a driver will pick you up and drop you off."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziqi quickly waved her hands and said, "Oh, General Manager Liu, there's no need to spend more. Why would a female student like me need a car?"
"Besides, this product's popularity has little to do with me. I feel a bit uneasy accepting such a high commission!"
"Perhaps, General Manager Liu, you could reduce my salary and just give me the base pay."
Liu Ran chuckled at her words. "Xiao Zhang, other employees are always striving for a raise, and you're the first one asking for a pay cut!"
"However, you are still a student. While your salary is indeed high, don't spend it recklessly. Save it up for when you no longer wish to be a host, so you can pursue your own aspirations."
Zhang Ziqi nodded and said, "General Manager Liu, I understand."
Liu Ran replied, "Alright, then the provision of a dedicated car is decided. It is indeed necessary to pay attention to your public appearances. You should go now, as it's almost time for your livestream."
Zhang Ziqi nodded and left with the drink.
She unscrewed the cap and took a gulp, her mood instantly improving.
Soon, Zhang Ziqi entered the livestream room and began sharing some interesting anecdotes from netizens after drinking the beverage, mostly contributed from the comment section.
There was a story about someone who was heartbroken after a breakup. After drinking a bottle of the beverage, their mood improved, and they burst into laughter.
Their girlfriend, who had secretly returned to reconcile, was surprised to find him not sad but laughing heartily. This turned a fake breakup into a real one.
These humorous anecdotes, picked up by Zhang Ziqi, were indeed quite amusing.
Zhang Ziqi truly possessed a talent for livestreaming. Since her depression was treated by Yangyangyang Zizai Liangcha, she had become noticeably more cheerful and increasingly professional in her hosting.
After the livestream ended, Zhang Ziqi instinctively checked the backend orders. A sense of gratitude welled up within her.
The backend orders were numerous. Due to mass production, the cost of this beverage was around three yuan per bottle. Even with a one-yuan shipping fee per order, the total cost was below four yuan.
This meant that today alone, she had helped the company earn over ninety million yuan, and she would receive a commission of ninety thousand yuan.
She already had a base salary of one million yuan, and now, with an additional daily income of ninety thousand yuan, Zhang Ziqi felt a bit dizzy.
She thought of Chen Yang, feeling immense gratitude towards him in her heart.
The next two days.
Zhang Ziqi continued her regular livestreaming.
However, on the afternoon of the third day, during a livestream, a group of thousands of people suddenly flooded the room, all angrily cursing at the same time.
"Zhang Ziqi, you bitch, pretending to be pitiful and selling beverages on your livestream. We trusted you and bought this dark-colored drink solely because of you. Who knew that after buying it, we found it expensive and disgusting, and it's not sugar-free at all. After drinking it, I had diarrhea all night yesterday!"
Following this, someone immediately sent greetings to Zhang Ziqi.
If it were just a few people cursing in the livestream, it would have been manageable. But soon, tens of thousands of people had entered, each launching personal attacks and insults, calling the beverage garbage.
Zhang Ziqi initially didn't comment, understanding that many people were easily angered. However, she soon realized this was different.
The sheer number of people entering suggested a large-scale operation. If it were a competitor hiring paid commenters, how many people would they need?
Zhang Ziqi's expression finally changed. She nervously asked, "What… what is going on?"
"Dear viewers, did the Yangyangyang Zizai Liangcha you bought originate from orders placed through my livestream? If it's direct sales from our company, it's impossible for it to be counterfeit!"
At this point, someone with a high-level title stated in the livestream, "Zhang Ziqi, your company has indeed sent out counterfeit products this time. The taste is completely different from the Zizai Liangcha I drank last time."
"I've bought from your livestream five times, a total of twenty bottles. The first four times were excellent; I had no side effects after drinking it. I also felt more energetic and happy, constantly wanting to laugh."
"But the beverages I bought this time have a taste like rotten taro, and a lot of sugar has been added. Drinking it truly causes diarrhea."
Seeing the person speaking, Zhang Ziqi knew the situation was serious because this person was undoubtedly a loyal fan.
Zhang Ziqi quickly apologized in the livestream, "Everyone, please don't rush. I'll call the company immediately to inquire about the situation."
As soon as Zhang Ziqi finished speaking, the office door was pushed open, and Liu Xiaomei hurried in.
Liu Xiaomei rushed to apologize in the livestream and then said to Zhang Ziqi, "Ziqi, the situation is not good. Our goods were switched out mid-transit."
"The company has already called the police, but the results are not out yet. It's likely that at least seven to eight hundred thousand packages were swapped."
"This means that customers who received Yangyangyang Zizai Liangcha last night and today might have received counterfeits."
"Quickly appeal to everyone in the livestream to check if their products are fake. We will immediately discuss our subsequent response."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziqi's face turned pale. She knew the matter had escalated significantly.