The incident had caused quite a stir at the time, and even now, many people harbored misconceptions about their factories. This interview was a good opportunity to clarify things, and Song Qiao was determined to make the most of it.
"Who would you say is the person you are most grateful to during your entrepreneurial journey?"
After answering the second question, the reporter, without giving him any pause, moved on to the third.
"The person I'm most grateful to is my wife."
Song Qiao answered without hesitation.
"Although my wife initially misunderstood my business, she genuinely hoped for my success throughout the process and bore the entire responsibility of taking care of our family."
Song Qiao spoke these words sincerely, without any embellishment.
His statement deeply moved Liu Yushi, the reporter sitting across from him, and her gaze towards Song Qiao was filled with admiration.
After the third question, Liu Yushi continued to ask a series of questions, all of which Song Qiao answered with well-chosen words, subtly revealing Xiang Piaopiao's corporate culture and employee benefits.
By the end of the interview, both reporters were captivated by Song Qiao's charisma and felt a strong curiosity towards him as an entrepreneur.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Song."
Once the cameras were off, Liu Yushi politely stood up and shook Song Qiao's hand gratefully.
She had interviewed no less than ten young entrepreneurs so far, and Song Qiao was the one she respected the most.
"You're too kind, Ms. Liu. We are friends now. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
Song Qiao replied with a smile.
Recent company publicity campaigns had made him acutely aware of the importance of media and public opinion in product promotion. If he could forge connections with a few reporters, he would not be left in the dark when needed.
His own media company, which he had established, was already taking shape, awaiting the recruitment of a few experienced key personnel.
After a few more exchanges with Liu Yushi, Song Qiao politely escorted them out of the factory.
That evening at eight o'clock, the interview program aired, immediately sparking widespread public discussion.
Starting from scratch, without any connections or background, Xiang Piaopiao had become a city-wide sensation within three months, with an average weekly turnover of three to five hundred thousand yuan, a rare feat in commercial history.
Moreover, Song Qiao's character was impeccable: he treated his employees well, was low-key and humble, and every aspect of his demeanor inspired genuine respect.
Xiang Piaopiao once again triggered a frenzy of purchasing. It had gradually become a popular local product, with almost every household keeping a few packages in their refrigerators.
"Boss, you're so cool."
Lin Jing watched the television with great interest and couldn't help but give Song Qiao, who was beside her, a thumbs-up.
She had always enjoyed following celebrities, but now, it seemed, any idol would pale in comparison to her boss.
"Don't praise me too much, I'll get shy."
Song Qiao joked while reviewing the ledger organized by Lin Jing.
This interview had served as a major promotional event, leading to a significant increase in Xiang Piaopiao's sales.
...
"Boss, something's wrong."
Just as Song Qiao was in high spirits, Ah Wei burst in with a somber expression.
"One of our guys just reported that a city in the neighboring province has a counterfeit product mimicking our Xiang Piaopiao, named 'Xiang Piaopiao'."
"Because it's cheaper than ours, it has taken over that market for the time being. Our Xiang Piaopiao has no cooperation with any stores there."
Song Qiao's heart skipped a beat, and he asked in surprise, "Is the quality of their product the same as ours?"
"No, that's not clear yet. One of our guys just said the taste isn't very good."
Ah Wei replied in a low voice.
"Alright, tomorrow, you bring Li Lili with you, and we'll go take a look."
Song Qiao pondered for a moment and then made a decisive call.
If the competitor's product quality was comparable to theirs, the company would be in serious trouble.
In his past life, there had been numerous cases where high-imitation brands had caused the downfall of original brands.
The tactic of "bad money driving out good money" was a daily occurrence.
Ah Wei understood the seriousness of the matter and agreed, "Okay, I'll go inform Sister Lili right away and have her prepare."
He then turned and left the shop.
The next morning, Ah Wei, Li Lili, and Song Qiao drove to the city in the neighboring province.
"Ah Wei, get out of the car in a bit and buy a few packages of their stinky tofu. I'll taste it first."
Upon arriving, Song Qiao calmly instructed.
"Yes, boss. Please wait a moment."
Ah Wei agreed and then hopped out of the car.
It only took him a few minutes to return from a nearby supermarket with several packages of "Xiang Piaopiao" stinky tofu, packaged similarly to Xiang Piaopiao.
Song Qiao took the stinky tofu without ceremony, tore open a package, and Li Lili also opened one.
Instantly, an indescribable stench permeated the car.
Then, Song Qiao took a small bite and immediately frowned.
This stinky tofu was far inferior to their own product. It solely emphasized the smell and then the saltiness, completely lacking the lingering flavor of their own product.
No wonder their sales weren't high. It turned out their product quality wasn't up to par, and their sales were merely leveraging their publicity.
Song Qiao looked at his two employees and said with certainty.
"Damn it, isn't this ruining our reputation?"
Ah Wei, with his quick temper, cursed after taking a bite and threw the stinky tofu away.
"Yes, boss. If the locals haven't tried our Xiang Piaopiao stinky tofu, they'll think this is what Piaopiao tastes like."
Li Lili chimed in, agreeing.
"Boss, should I bring a few brothers tonight and give that owner a warning to stop production?"
As he spoke, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Ah Wei's eyes. Having navigated the world for many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a despicable competitor, and he was inclined to solve the problem through force.
"No, if we do that, wouldn't Xiang Piaopiao be seen as playing dirty? Besides, it wouldn't be in accordance with the law."
Song Qiao directly rejected Ah Wei's suggestion.
He then said calmly, "Since their product quality is not good, I naturally have a way to deal with them."