Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 504 - 503: Lipstick and Watermelon Knife

Chapter 504: Chapter 503: Lipstick and Watermelon Knife

Lin Nianhe had no way of explaining from scratch what brand positioning was or which were marketing strategies. Talking about these things then would not only be incomplete but also likely to confuse them thoroughly, leaving them without a clue as to what should actually be done.

She could only use the simplest, most straightforward and safest method to solve the problem—she took full command and then used facts as the basis to clarify the pros and cons for them.

At times, all-member participatory decision-making was nothing more than a superficial form of token democracy, insisting on having hoodlums and robbers elect their leader would only result in them choosing the most belligerent thug. Similarly, letting those who know nothing about marketing develop sales strategies was even more terrifying than amateurs instructing professionals.

Fortunately, Wong Xiao and the others trusted Lin Nianhe a lot. Hence, even though they all found Lin Nianhe’s requests peculiar, they still accepted the arrangements and pondered the personas that Lin Nianhe had set for them amidst the train’s clamor.

The train quickly arrived at the provincial city, and several factory delegations boarded, mostly from heavy industry plants. Lin Nianhe did not recognize these people, but Wong Xiao was very familiar with them, and a group of them chatted in the aisle warmly.

"Hey, hey, Old Wong, it’s really you who came this time?"

"Old Wong, I knew I would meet you here, I specially brought a bottle of fine liquor, we brothers should have a drink tonight!"

"Old Wong..."

Amidst the friendly calls of "Old Wong", Wong Xiao’s smile was as tight as a walnut.

He was very clear in his mind that the cold demeanor Lin Nianhe requested was for the foreigners to see, but he needed to be warm and generous with his compatriots.

He introduced Lin Nianhe and the others to these factory and deputy factory directors, looking exceedingly proud.

The few people in front of them did not tease Old Wong for taking three girls along on the trip; being in high positions, they naturally knew what not to say. One by one, with clear eyes, they stated that if there were any heavy jobs, just find them to do it, so as not to tire out the female comrades.

Wong Xiao accepted all the offers, arranged to drink together in the evening, and then returned to his bunk to sit down.

Once there were no other people around, Wong Xiao finally sighed with relief and said quietly, "This bunch is really opportunistic."

Lin Nianhe, who was reading a book, casually asked, "What happened?"

"How could they have ever bothered with me before?" Wong Xiao curled his lip, "Ever since our factory’s Head Flower became a hit in the provincial city, they all treated me like their own older brother, nearly lifting me to the heavens."

"A pauper is ignored in the bustling market, yet in the mountains afar, a rich man finds kin." Such is human nature.

Lin Nianhe turned a page in her book and said leisurely.

"They just want to buy some Head Flower from me," Wong Xiao continued to curl his lip, "I still don’t get it. The Head Flower isn’t food or drink, how can it sell so well?"

Wen Lan perked up and nodded along, "I don’t get it either. Isn’t it better to spend that money to buy half a jin of meat?"

Wong Xiao and Wen Lan looked at each other, feeling like they had found soulmates.

Lin Nianhe pressed her lips together and chuckled, uttering four words: "The lipstick effect."

Wong Xiao and Wen Lan asked in unison, "What does that mean?"

Lin Nianhe looked up and saw Wang Shumei and Niuwa also looking at her curiously.

The question was easy to explain. She closed the book and began, "During an economic recession, lipstick sales actually skyrocket. That’s because people’s desire to purchase doesn’t diminish, and ’lipstick’, representing inexpensive products, can just satisfy people’s not-so-full wallets and their buying desires at the same time. Such cheap non-essentials become ’luxury goods’ during economic downturns and provide the greatest comfort to people’s consumer psychology."

This time, Wong Xiao didn’t say anything and only sucked on his teeth, while Sister Lan continued to be direct, "What does that mean?"

Lin Nianhe looked at Wen Lan and felt she should use an example that she would understand better, "For instance, you feel that you’re about to encounter danger, especially feeling insecure, so you want to buy a knife for self-defense. But when you get to the store, you realize you don’t have enough money for a better watermelon knife; your money can only buy a cheap fruit knife. At this time, you..."

Without waiting for Lin Nianhe to finish, Wen Lan frowned and interrupted her, "Eh, what kind of danger requires me to buy a knife? Isn’t a shovel much more effective than a knife?"

Lin Nianhe: "..."

Hmm...

A shovel is indeed more effective than a watermelon knife, a little longer is a little stronger, especially a winter shovel, that thing is sharper than an axe...

Lin Nianhe suddenly shook her head vigorously, realizing she had been led astray.

What on earth is this all about!

Is this about whether a shovel or a machete is more useful?

What she had said was clearly about the machete and the fruit knife... ugh, it’s lipstick and Head Flower!

Lin Nianhe felt it was very necessary to have an in-depth discussion with Wen Lan.

"Sister Lan, do you think the attack range of a weapon is more important, or is flexibility more important?"

"Saving money is more important!"

"Tch... same question as before, but this time you have plenty of money, would you choose a machete or a fruit knife?"

"I choose a brick."

Lin Nianhe looked at Wen Lan, silently gave her a thumbs up after a long silence: "Sister Lan, you truly are a scientist."

Wen Lan tilted her chin up, made a brick-grabbing gesture with her right hand, and swung it twice through the air: "Dare mess with me, and I won’t even need a knife, just ka-ka, two swipes, and I’ll have smacked him silly!"

Lin Nianhe stroked her chin and affirmed: "Using brute force to overcome cleverness, that’s also a method."

Beside them, Wong Xiao had a full head of sweat.

Why aren’t they talking about that lipstick effect? He still didn’t understand it!

He wanted to signal his confidante with his eyes to continue asking, but confidante Lan was all about bricks and shovels and completely missed his gaze.

Wang Shumei pulled Niuwa over and earnestly instructed: "Niuwa, be obedient, don’t remember a word of their conversation."

Niuwa obediently nodded: "Okay, I won’t remember the machete and the brick."

Wang Shumei: "..."

She kicked Wen Lan who was about to speak again: "Shut your mouth! You’re leading the child astray!" Then she glared at Lin Nianhe as well.

Wen Lan opened her mouth, saw Niuwa, and ultimately gave up continuing the argument with Lin Nianhe.

Lin Nianhe chuckled and raised her book to continue reading.

They stopped making a fuss, and only Wong Xiao was left frowning, silently pondering the lipstick effect while looking out the car window.

He thought and thought... and finally understood—

"Xiao Lin, let’s make lipstick too!"

Lin Nianhe: "...?"

To conclude from the lipstick effect that we should make lipstick... really has no problem whatsoever!

Wong Xiao looked at Lin Nianhe eagerly, rubbing his hands together as he spoke: "What do you think of this idea?"

"Terrific."

Lin Nianhe nodded affirmatively, then said: "However, you’ll need to build me a lab, hire some experts in biology and chemistry, as well as a professional colorist, provide ample money and materials, and give me a year and a half, and I’ll be able to produce it for you."

Listening to Lin Nianhe’s words, Wong Xiao felt like money was gushing out like water, and his voice inevitably weakened: "Is this thing really that much of a hassle? Isn’t it just the same principle as colored paper?"

Lin Nianhe: "Even for the sake of your own health, you wouldn’t want to make lipstick for Aunt Wong out of colored paper, would you?"