1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 327 Outstanding
Several months later, Chen Jiazhi returned to the Spruce Hotel and found that business had improved considerably, with the tea room bustling with activity.

He entered the private room, where Xu Wenxiang and Huang Jianyuan were sitting and waiting for him.

"Mr. Xu, Mr. Huang, it seems that your work at the hotel has been very effective."

"It's alright, Mr. Chen. It's just that I've been focusing all my energy on the hotel lately, so I've neglected the development of the market." Huang Jianyuan laughed heartily and poured tea for Chen Jiazhi. "I didn't expect Mr. Chen to give us such a big surprise."

He added, "In such a short time, the market has already made over eight million!"

Chen Jiazhi pondered for a moment and said, "This money will not be distributed as dividends for the time being. It will be used for reinvestment. You all know about the projects in Yunnan and Shanghai."

Huang Jianyuan hesitated for a moment while holding his teacup, then asked, "President Chen, I heard Huang Chuan mention before that you intended to invest in a base in Lianzhou. Why are you suddenly going to Yunnan?"

Chen Jiazhi said, "For long-term development."

Huang Jianyuan smiled and said, "Could you be more specific, Mr. Chen, so I can learn something from you?"

Chen Jiazhi gently tapped the table, "At the current pace of the vegetable basket project, the domestic vegetable supply will soon exceed demand, and the quality advantage of vegetables from advantageous production areas will be amplified in the future."

Moreover, labor and other costs in Yunnan and other regions are far lower than in coastal areas, and initial investment is also relatively low.

"But it's too remote..."

"Ahem~" Xu Wenxiang coughed twice. "Alright, Mr. Huang, that's not what we're talking about today."

She added, "Mr. Chen, we could also further integrate the business resources of the vegetable market and our two companies."

Chen Jiazhi came for this very reason; his previous talk about withdrawing his shares and transferring assets was just to scare the two of them.

He is still quite humane.

After all, the foundation of the market was built by Huang Jianyuan and Xu Wenxiang.

The subsequent communication went much more smoothly, and the reliable fresh produce and the wet market were integrated into one entity.

The two will leverage the hotel's customer base to continuously provide potential customers for their delivery business.

Both the Spruce Hotel and Huang Jianyuan's restaurant in Hong Kong cater to a clientele that includes many business owners and executives.

These are all still undeveloped; simply building bridges and providing contact information can provide assistance to Kaopu Fresh.

At the same time, Huang Jianyuan mentioned Lianzhou, which also reminded Chen Jiazhi of Lianzhou cabbage and Zengcheng late-season cabbage.

If Yunnan represents the long-term goal, then high-quality vegetables, represented by these two regions, represent the medium-term goal.

However, if you want to take the high-end route, it's best to wait until the delivery business expands further.

After all, if he can make Zengcheng cabbage, others can too. Without sufficient advantages, rushing to promote it could very well benefit others.

Therefore, promoting the delivery business, especially developing and expanding the high-end customer base, is very important at present.

After establishing the domestic strategy, Chen Jiazhi extended the discussion to Hong Kong and Macau, as he wanted to expand the delivery business to both regions.

However, after gaining a deeper understanding of the situation in Hong Kong, I felt that the timing was not yet right.

Xiangjiang Restaurant and Hotel purchase vegetables through order contracts with various vegetable vendors.

Once a major category of vegetables like bok choy is removed from the contract, it becomes very difficult for restaurants to obtain other types of vegetables from the produce section.

Chen Jiazhi thought of supermarket fresh food delivery.

However, the two largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong, Wellcome and ParknShop, do not have much involvement in fresh food business and also rely on vegetable stalls.

However, both of them have the capability to bypass the vegetable market, but they currently have no plans to do so.

Even at Jiangxin Market, it's not always possible to squeeze in.

This means that we will have to cooperate with Tongxingtai Vegetable Market at this stage.

During the conversation, Xu and Huang gradually learned about Chen Jiazhi's overall plan for the company, and they felt more confident. At least the development path was clear and straightforward, and it wasn't just something they decided on a whim.

"Mr. Chen, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

"It was a pleasure working with you. I will still have Zhengxu handle the follow-up client communication. Please teach him any areas where he might be lacking."

Xu Wenxiang smiled and said, "Aside from his low level of education, he's alright in every other way, and his attitude is quite positive."

"Okay, I'll have him learn more about ********" After a friendly handshake, Chen Jiazhi was quite satisfied with the meeting, and the reliable delivery business will see an improvement in the short term.

After leaving Yunshan, Chen Jiazhi drove directly to Kaopu's office.

There weren't many people at work during the day, but Chen Zhengxu and Li Cai, who had been notified in advance, were both there.

He first told Chen Zhengxu about the results of his conversation with Xu and Huang.

"We'll have to rely on you, Uncle. I reckon the factory's order volume will explode this time."

Chen Zhengxu paced back and forth in the office, while Chen Jiazhi pressed down on his shoulder.

“You should learn from Li Cai. Besides work, you should also start dating. Otherwise, I won’t be able to explain it to my older brother.”

"I also want to date and find a wife, but I'm too busy!" Chen Zhengxu teased. "Besides, Li Cai just broke up with his girlfriend and spends all day singing 'A Thousand Reasons to Be Sad,' how can he have the mood to think about these things?"

"We've gotten off-topic," Li Cai said, displeased. "Brother Chen, aren't we talking about work now?"

“Besides work, life is also very important.” Chen Jiazhi found a chair and sat down, saying, “In addition, you would be better off learning some management knowledge.”

I know you're busy, but you should be able to learn things on your own by combining theory with practice. Focus on improving yourselves.

Compared to the other people in the market, the two were younger and already had some basic knowledge, so they weren't so averse to learning.

After seeing Chen Zhengxu off, Chen Jiazhi chatted with Li Cai for a while about the supplies the stall urgently needed.

Due to natural constraints, uneven supply during peak and off-peak seasons has long plagued vegetable supply in large and medium-sized cities.

However, solutions have gradually emerged.

In Guangdong, off-season vegetables are grown by taking advantage of the cold climate in northern Guangdong.

Currently, a certain scale has been achieved. However, large-scale bases are basically established or partnered with by the buyers themselves, making it difficult for outsiders to intervene. Randomly purchasing from farmers may even lead to conflicts.

In the long run, Kaopu Fresh also needs to have cooperative bases in northern Guangdong.

In the short term, during the summer, the only option is to purchase from individual buyers, buying whatever is available, while also coordinating with shipments from the north.

Over the next few days, Chen Jiazhi integrated the vegetable market and Kaopu Fresh.

Subsequently, departments such as production, marketing, procurement, distribution, finance, and administration were established.

Production includes vegetable markets and nurseries;
Procurement includes purchasing supplies for vegetable markets, delivery services, and sourcing from suppliers...

Chen Jiazhi reads various books every day, sets up positions based on needs, and begins recruiting.

He originally wanted to hire two college students, but after interviewing several people, none of them came due to reasons such as the work environment.

Therefore, he stopped insisting.

Subsequently, by combining internal screening and external recruitment, every position was filled.

That day, he reviewed the entire management system again. He didn't know much about management, but for the current business, the current number of people should be sufficient.

"Dong Dong Dong~"

"Please come in."

Tong Gang walked in and said, "President Chen, I just received news that the vegetable market has passed the assessment for pollution-free vegetable base, but the demonstration base still needs to be assessed on-site. The town has notified us that relevant leaders will be coming down, and we need to prepare."

Chen Jiazhi asked, "Does the demonstration base receive any money?"

Tong Gang nodded, "Besides the fact that pollution-free vegetables can be sold at a premium of over 20%, there will also be subsidies in other aspects." Chen Jiazhi blinked. The vegetables at Jiangxin Market have always been sold at a premium, and now they can be considered to have official recognition.

"Okay, let the departments make preparations."

Chen Jiazhi thought for a moment and then said, "In the future, you should also take the lead in paying attention to similar honors and subsidies."

"it is good."

Before joining the WTO, China's subsidies for agriculture were very straightforward, consisting of export tax rebates, cash grants, and policy incentives.

After joining the WTO, subsidies changed their form and became subsidies for specific aspects of the process.

During the production department's routine debriefing in the evening, Chen Jiazhi listened in and heard Yi Dinggan make many arrangements in preparation for the leaders' upcoming visit.

Chen Jiazhi said, "We don't need to be too deliberate, as long as it doesn't affect our normal work, but things like cleaning up plastic and other trash are necessary."

It's good to have money, but subsidies are just icing on the cake.

Then, Chen Jiazhi explained the standards for pollution-free vegetable bases to everyone.

It's really nothing special.

First, the site should be far away from the three wastes, flat and contiguous, with fertile soil, unpolluted water sources, and stable social security, etc.

Secondly, in terms of production technology, the core focus should be on preventing pesticide pollution.

Two years ago, there was a phenomenon in society where citizens generally had a "fear of poisoning" mentality, specifically buying "insect-infested vegetables" and eating wild vegetables.

This has spurred the development of pollution-free vegetables, and the concept is currently being promoted throughout the country.

Citizens in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities are also willing to pay a premium of more than 25% for pollution-free vegetables.

Jiangxin Market naturally meets the standards, and even exceeds them in many aspects.

For example, with the application of a new round of well-rotted manure, the soil in the vegetable market has become looser and the organic matter content has become richer, making it difficult to see the sticky state of the paddy fields anymore.

Vegetables grown in such loose soil naturally look beautiful.

After two days of simple preparation, the market environment became much fresher, with blue skies, black soil, green vegetable fields, and over 500 lively vegetable workers.
The expert panel that came to review the project was very satisfied with the result, and the reporter also took many photos and shots.

The leaders from Panyu were also visiting Jiangxin Market for the first time, and they expressed their appreciation when they heard that the market employed more than 500 people.

With fiscal and tax reforms and state-owned enterprise reforms, there is currently significant employment pressure in China.

The Jiangxin vegetable market, even including the newly built area, covers only 900 acres, yet it has created jobs for more than 500 people.

Even in rural areas, which are more of a headache for the higher-ups, such achievements deserve to be publicized.

During the inspection, Chen Jiazhi also introduced the facilities, including the cold storage, packaging, and foam box factory.

While promoting the product, it also indirectly illustrates the distribution of more than 500 people in various stages.

This also received praise.

Jiangxin Market has received high praise from all aspects.

Two days later, Chen Jiazhi received news that Jiangxin Vegetable Market had been recognized as one of the model bases.

In addition, there is some financial and policy support.

Meanwhile, local television stations and newspapers also featured excellent reports about Jiangxin Market.

This has brought a lot of attention to the market, and leaders at various levels have come to visit.

The article also featured Kaopu Fresh.

With the help of this report, Chen Zhengxu, in cooperation with Xu and Huang, quickly secured vegetable supplies for several large hotels and restaurants in the city.

Ironically, a famous hotel relied heavily on two farmers for vegetable deliveries, giving the impression of a makeshift procurement system.

This quickly shattered the illusion that Reliable Fresh had of high-end hotels.

The professional delivery service offered by Kaopu Fresh is a game-changer, which has boosted its business volume.

By the end of July, Kaopu Fresh's daily delivery volume had increased to more than 30,000 jin.

With the brand of pollution-free vegetables and the expansion of high-end business, the profit margin of delivery gradually increased to 25%, with a daily profit of six to seven thousand yuan.

This is already quite considerable.

...

In his office, Chen Jiazhi reviewed the various tasks for July.

Aside from a surge in vegetable production at the beginning of the month, prices remained relatively stable in the middle and end of the month, and prices also fell back down.

Xu Yao knocked on the door and came in. "President Chen, the July salaries are ready. When is the best time to pay them?"

Chen Jiazhi gathered the documents on the table. "How many should we distribute in total?"

"More than 50 yuan." Xu Yao hesitated and asked, "Should we prepare the money in advance?"

Chen Jiazhi shook his head. "No, wait a couple of days. Things aren't safe right now. I'll withdraw the money today and get paid on the same day. Bring a few more people with you when you withdraw the money."

Xu Yao seemed relieved as well, "Okay."

This year, many notorious criminals have emerged in various places. At the beginning of the year, a major case of robbery and shootout involving wage payments occurred in Hegang. Recently, a similar case occurred in a factory in the city.

This made Chen Jiazhi more cautious, and he deposited the cash from his stall into the bank on the same day.

But Li Xiu was still on tenterhooks, as Li Cai was the one who collected most of the money from the stall.

Chen Jiazhi had no choice but to reduce the amount of produce he supplied to the stalls again, and send more vegetables to Tongxingtai.

This can reduce the risk.

"What a troubled time!"

Chen Jiazhi packed up the documents, closed the door, went downstairs, and rode his bicycle eastward towards the market.

Not long after, Yi Dinggan followed him, and they walked around the field before leaving get off work together.

The newly acquired 300 mu of land has been handed over. The original paddy fields were severely flooded, but the two wastelands that were once piled up as vegetable hills have been transformed into lush green vegetable fields.

The new seedling greenhouse is also here, with brand-new steel frames and plastic film, and the inside is filled with plug seedlings. The rest of the vegetable market is also in good condition.

Whenever Chen Jiazhi sees the thriving vegetable market, he has enough confidence in the future.

"Jiazhi, do you think a fight is likely to break out?"

"We can't fight."

When I got home and ate dinner, the TV was showing footage of military exercises being conducted in the Taiwan Strait.

This is the second large-scale military exercise recently, and the situation is very tense.

The whole family is very concerned, and the house is filled with various voices discussing politics every day.

Chen Shaochang would sit in front of the television all day long, occasionally shouting indignantly that he was going to call them, and also mentioning that some people from the town had gone there with them.

Chen Jiazhi also occasionally pays attention to the situation. This year, the country is indeed facing a difficult situation, beset by internal and external troubles. However, he knows that a war is unlikely, and that no matter how great the difficulties are, they will eventually pass.

The projects in Yuanmou and Shanghai have been delayed again and again due to various issues. What he can do now is to focus on running the vegetable market well.

(End of this chapter)