1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 248 Divide and Win Over
Xu Wenxiang thought she could influence everyone with her 'future prospects' and the warmth she felt when they were together.

That's exactly what she did. At the dinner table, she overcame the inconvenience caused by the language barrier and communicated with each group leader, painting a rosy picture of money and the future.

After drinking round and round, he finally brought his wine glass to Chen Jiazhi.

"Director Chen, are you really going to be so disrespectful today? You won't even have a drink with your brothers during such a good opportunity?"

"No, I have to drive later. There will be other opportunities." Chen Jiazhi raised his drink and clinked it with hers. "President Xu, please enjoy your drink. It's getting late, so I have to go now."

Xu Wenxiang, who reeked of alcohol, seemed to sober up considerably upon hearing these words.

Other people's hearts are made of flesh and blood, but his is just a cold, hard stone!

Chen Jiazhi greeted Yi Dinggan, Qi Yongfeng, Ao Deliang, and Guo Mancang one by one, telling them to go home early. They had all drunk quite a bit, but were still barely sober.

He guessed Xu Wenxiang's intentions: the party wouldn't end until everyone was drunk. This woman, along with Huang Jianyuan and the other two, and even Xu Yao, had a decent alcohol tolerance.

He was especially grateful to have Li Mingkun at that moment. Even today, he resolutely refused to drink, and thus entrusted the task of taking everyone home to him.

“I’m trying to keep an eye on them.” Li Mingkun nodded heavily.

"Just make sure he gets home safely, that's all." Chen Jiazhi lit a cigarette for him and left.

The vegetables at Jiangxin Market have already been delivered today, but his own vegetables are still waiting to be sold.

First, he drove the van home, then Chen Zhengxu took over driving the van, while he drove the light truck with Li Cai on a night trip.

After a week of practice, the two of them gradually became more skilled at driving.

"Director Chen really cares about his business!" Xu Wenxiang said loudly, slightly drunk. "If he could put more effort into Jiangxin Market, everyone here might be able to earn even more commission."

She noticed the change in everyone's expressions.

"However, it's understandable. If Director Chen sells vegetables like this every night, he can earn at least ten thousand yuan."

"Then he'd definitely be willing to go through the hard work to run it."

"I just want to clarify one thing: I didn't mistreat him, and neither did Jiangxin Vegetable Market. You may not know, but he alone took 30% of the market's profits!"

"Just two months ago, Director Chen took away more than 40 yuan in dividends!"

From the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, Xu Wenxiang knew that most of the people present were hearing the exact numbers for the first time.

"Of course, this is a testament to his ability. He didn't let you down either, securing at least five or six thousand yuan in commission for each of you. The shareholders and I are willing to pay for it."

She raised her glass, and after everyone stood up and raised their glasses, she drank it all in one gulp.

The others did it too, all the while thinking about the difference between 40 yuan and 5 yuan.

"I did not mistreat him."

"Similarly, you also have the opportunity to receive the same compensation as him, and I believe you all have the potential to become excellent farm managers!"

In that instant, Xu Wenxiang noticed that two or three people seemed quite interested, and she continued to organize her thoughts.

“Besides Jiangxin Market, the shareholders will continue to invest in new markets, and new market managers will be needed. The candidate will be chosen from among you.”

"You also have the chance to take home a dividend of 40 yuan!"

At that moment, someone shouted "Bravo!" and a cheer erupted. Xu Wenxiang raised her glass again, and the atmosphere became even more lively than before, with toasts going back and forth.

Li Mingkun saw that several "drunkards" were already high on their liquor and chatting enthusiastically with the shareholders, while he quietly drank his beverage.

In fact, Li Mingkun had mixed feelings; 40 yuan was 80 times more than 5 yuan.

If we continue to follow Jiazhi, can he bring each person an income of 40 yuan?

I'm afraid it will be difficult.

Even though he knew his abilities were not as good as Jiazhi's, the success of two consecutive batches of dishes boosted his confidence.

Perhaps I also have the potential to become an excellent farm manager!
40 yuan is not acceptable, but 10 yuan is fine, or even 5 yuan is not unacceptable.

Moreover, Jiazhi has already received the money safely, proving that the shareholders are trustworthy.

I imagine others think the same way...

"Team Leader Li, you have a really calm and composed personality, just as good as Director Chen. It seems you'd be suitable to be the director too!"

Before anyone knew it, Xu Wenxiang had also come to Li Mingkun's side, who was lost in thought.

...

"Brother Chen, it seems like those shareholders at Jiangxin Vegetable Market have some ideas?"

On the way to the Dongxiang vegetable market, Chen Jiazhi focused on driving until they entered a road with streetlights, at which point Li finally asked the question that had been bothering him.

He also attended the banquet tonight, but like the other family members, he went home early. However, he was aware of the situation at the scene.

"Ah."

Chen Jiazhi calmly replied, "It's normal to have ideas. After all, I made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn't stay at Jiangxin Vegetable Market for long. Recently, I've been eyeing their sales channels. I can covet their channels, and they can also try to win over my people. That's their response."

Li Cai has also been involved in the search for a new base location recently, and asked, "What if people are lured away? What will happen to the new base?"

“I don’t necessarily need them; I can easily rebuild a new team,” Chen Jiazhi said. “Besides, it shouldn’t be that we can’t keep any of them.”

Does he still remember Ao Delian's vow to be with him? If he can't resist that temptation too?
It's definitely upsetting, but on the bright side, it's better to expose the problem sooner rather than later.

Then there's Yi Dinggan, who is practically a different person before and after getting drunk. He's interested in money, but it's not what he values ​​most.

And Qi Yongfeng, he's been with him for a long time, he should be able to resist temptation, right?
The small team is about to face another test of cohesion, and Chen Jiazhi can only try his best to think positively.

It's not that he has no affection for Jiangxin Market; it's just that he made it clear from the beginning that he would only stay for a year before leaving. Of course, he will manage it diligently for the rest of the time.

"Have you made any progress with the sales channels in Hong Kong?" Li Cai asked again.

Chen Jiazhi shook his head: "No, apart from knowing the price and quantity, I only met one boss from Hong Kong from beginning to end, but I didn't get his contact information."

He thought of Xia Youche, who was tall and thin, and was the only one who had come here once.

From then on, almost no one came to the market to investigate anymore.

"It's also my own fault for being too awesome. Every time vegetables come to market, it's when the market is at its best, which causes many people to place orders without checking the goods."

"That's really awesome."

Li Cai had gotten used to the word "awesome" and agreed with it. He was quite impressed when he made a fortune by hoarding Dutch beans.

But when I started serving dishes in the past week, I experienced a completely different feeling.

Jiangxin vegetable market has a daily sales volume of 170,000 to 180,000 yuan, and the base in Dongxiang also has a daily sales volume of more than 10,000 yuan.

The two markets are not close to each other.

However, he managed to manage both bases well at the same time, no, he also managed to manage sales in the market.

After more than a week, Li Cai also suffered a setback in sales and realized the gap between the two.

He was being completely dragged along.

From knowing nothing at all, I've now learned to drive and am starting to get the hang of selling vegetables.

That's why he started paying attention to the Hong Kong market, because the price difference between the two is huge.

Is there any way to contact Hong Kong?

“No.” Chen Jiazhi pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s put it aside for now and focus on the mainland market.”

Li Cai suddenly asked, "Does Xu Yao know something?"

Chen Jiazhi was stunned for a moment.

“Zhengxu mentioned it to me,” Li Cai said. “Maybe I can give it a try.”

"It's enough to have this heart."

Chen Jiazhi had previously considered having Li Cai seduce Xu Yao several times. He knew that Li Cai was attracted to good looks, but if he asked, Li Cai would most likely agree. However, he couldn't get past his own mental hurdle in the end.

He trained these people; if it weren't for a last resort, there would be no need to wrong his own people.

"There's no need for that. It's not good for either you or Xu Yao. If things really fall out in the future, just focus on the mainland market. Besides Guangzhou, there's still the Shenzhen market waiting for us."

Li Cai replied casually, though he also wanted to demonstrate more of his value.

Chen Jiazhi added, "It will take at least six months to establish the new base, so it's useless to have the channels in the Hong Kong market now. Don't think about it too much."

"Hmm~"

Six months might be just right, so it won't seem so abrupt.

The car gradually quieted down again, and while the road conditions were good, Chen Jiazhi pondered the delivery for a moment.

We've made some progress in the last couple of days, but perhaps we can speed things up a bit.

...

Chen Zhengxu drove his van to the market and wiped the sweat from his hands as he got out of the car.

Damn it, it's been so many days, why do I still feel anxious driving alone?

He lit a cigarette to calm himself down, then took out a handwritten list from the inner pocket of his notebook, felt the money in his inner pocket, and then got out of the car to buy vegetables.

In the past two days, stall number 56 has reached a preliminary agreement with a restaurant to supply vegetables to them daily.

Although the volume was small and the money earned was not much, he worked with great enthusiasm because he had found a way to make money.

Next, as long as we acquire more restaurant and hotel clients, profits will come sooner or later.

A short while later, he finished buying the groceries and parked his car in a corner of stall number 56.

Then he sat by the passageway watching the passersby, pondering the question his uncle had given him: how to expand his customer base.

Should we continue to tap into our existing customer base?

Li Cai has already been doing this, and this current client was discovered in this way, but many more people have chosen to refuse because it is profitable for the buyers.

Therefore, this method of developing new customers is also inefficient, and a new direction is needed.

Just as he was lost in thought, a truck loaded with bok choy and snow peas made a grand entrance, like a Hong Kong celebrity, followed by a line of tricycles and handcarts acting as fans.

It was just another ordinary night.

"Zhengxu, move one basket each of snow peas and bok choy to the van." Chen Zhengxu opened the van door and saw two baskets of vegetables placed together.

"Uncle, have you got any new customers?"

"No."

Chen Jiazhi had an idea to develop new customers, but he didn't elaborate because he saw Curly Hair also riding a tricycle and squeezing at the back of the vehicle.

(End of this chapter)