The Legend of Scholar Qi is set against the culture of Jiangshui, a fermented vegetable drink found throughout Gansu Province. Originating in the Qin dynasty, it was an essential food in the lives of ordinary people during the agrarian age. After nearly two thousand years of evolution, it has become a delicious ingredient today and a technological product that brings people in western China together through shared feelings, enjoyment, understanding, and aspirations. Jiangshui has inspired products such as Jiangshui beer, Jiangshui noodles, Jiangshui yogurt, and Jiangshui coffee, as well as “Let Go,” a series of city-symbol-branded summer drinks made with Jiangshui, sweet fermented barley, and cucumber, which has helped spread the brand.
The marketing strategy centers on the principle “Without publicity, there is no marketing.” Drawing on new cultural and creative content, the novel is designed to span more than twenty chapters, depicting deliberately crafted scenarios and realistic characters and storylines to highlight the city’s symbolic culture.
