Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the legendary commercial battle between two Taiwanese food giants, Master Kong and Uni-President, in the Chinese instant noodle market, particularly focusing on the marketing strategies involving collectible cards that captivated the youth of China in the 1990s [1][12]. Group 1: Market Competition - In the early 1990s, Master Kong and Uni-President entered the mainland market, leading to a fierce competition that lasted for 30 years, with various product lines being targeted at children [1][3]. - Both companies quickly realized the profitability of targeting children, as they could leverage their spending power to boost sales [3][4]. - The competition extended to the packaging and promotional items, with both brands offering collectible cards to attract young consumers [6][8]. Group 2: Marketing Strategies - Uni-President launched the "Little Raccoon" brand, while Master Kong introduced the "Little Tiger Team" to specifically target children [5][17]. - The introduction of the "Water Margin" cards by Uni-President in 1999 marked a significant turning point, leading to a massive surge in sales and popularity among children [12][13]. - The phenomenon of card collecting became a major activity among schoolchildren, with some even discarding the noodles to keep the cards, leading to criticism from schools and media [16][26]. Group 3: Product Evolution - Following the success of the "Water Margin" cards, Uni-President attempted to replicate this success with other literary themes, such as "Three Kingdoms" and "Fengshen Yanyi," but these efforts did not achieve the same level of success [22][24]. - The initial excitement around card collecting eventually waned, as the market became saturated and children's interest diminished [26][28]. - In recent years, Uni-President has attempted to revive interest by launching new versions of the collectible cards, targeting nostalgia among adults [30][31].