Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 223 Life Circumstances
Lanzhou Airport Domestic Arrivals Hall.

Lin Xiaxia, looking travel-worn, stood at the arrival gate. After more than half a year of honing her skills in the western market, the naivety between her brows had faded, replaced by a calm and capable demeanor.

The assistant gently touched her arm and whispered, "President Lin, President Fang and the others should have arrived!"

Before he finished speaking, Fang Zhihui and his group of four walked out calmly, wearing "work uniforms" custom-made by the company's luxury brand Valentina Cz (Valentina Orange, abbreviated as "VC").

The well-tailored dark suits, adorned with the "VC" logo, made the four men look every bit the elite, a stark contrast to the bustling travelers around them.

Fang Zhihui's trip was to prepare for expanding into the market in Great Russia, and his second stop was to learn from the Western Flagship Store.

After all, the domestic and international market environments are vastly different, and ultimately, only his three adventurous colleagues were willing to follow him on this unknown journey.

As former members of the Marketing Department's "Four Heavenly Kings," Lin Xiaoxia and Fang Zhihui were quite familiar with each other.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Xiaxia led them to a business vehicle and headed to their destination—the Orange Building in Lancheng.

As the vehicle entered the city, the uniquely designed three-story tower came into view in the distance, standing out against the relatively low skyline of Lanzhou.

Lin Xiaxia keenly noticed the fleeting surprise in Fang Zhihui's eyes.

She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Mr. Fang, don't you think it's quite unique?"

Fang Zhihui nodded subconsciously at first, then immediately shook his head, carefully choosing his words: "The Orange Building in Lancheng is very unique and left a deep impression on me!"

Lin Xiaxia laughed heartily.

"To be honest, it does require some aesthetic tolerance to see it during the day, but it only shows its truly amazing side when the lights come on at night."

The Jade Palace in the heavens, with twelve towers and five cities!
This is why I ultimately approved this design.

She began to introduce the building to Fang Zhihui, a building into which she had poured countless efforts.

"President Fang, our Lancheng Orange Building is positioned as Orange's strategic foothold in the western region. It will not only serve as a commercial and logistics hub, but also integrate into the local cultural heritage of Lancheng!"

She pointed to the base of the building.

"Look at the first and second floors. The design is inspired by the ribbons of the flying apsaras in Dunhuang. The glass curtain wall is inlaid with our orange gradient grid, symbolizing the fluidity of the ancient Silk Road and the vitality of our brand!"

Then, Fang Zhihui followed her gaze upwards.

"The facade of the middle three to eight floors simulates the stratification of the Danxia landform in the Hexi Corridor, using ochre-red terracotta panels and horizontal metal lines to form the unique 'orange-red' visual symbol of our oranges!"

Finally, she pointed to the top of the building.

"The design was inspired by the Jiayuguan Fortress, with a cantilevered steel frame that forms the geometric shape of an orange slice."

At night, with the addition of LED light strips, the Jade Palace in the sky looks absolutely stunning; it has already become a new landmark in Lanzhou!

"Functionally, we are developing vertically integrated commercial complexes."

The first floor is our flagship store, and the entrance features a water feature inspired by Crescent Lake.
Floors two through eight are available for rent.
Floors nine through eleven are our own logistics and office area. Floor nine is a smart warehouse, and floors ten and eleven are office space. The design uses a 'sandbar oasis' concept, and the environment is very nice!

Fang Zhihui listened very attentively, understanding the significance of this study trip.

After studying here for a month, he will fly directly to North America to first visit Peng Bo, the head of the North American branch of Chrysanthemum Company, and then try to befriend the telecommunications oligarchs of Great Ross in order to pave the way for establishing an Orange flagship store in Moscow.

The car soon arrived at the Orange Building.

Upon entering, a life-size replica of the "Crescent Moon Spring" comes into view, its gentle murmur adding a touch of liveliness.

Fang Zhihui recalled seeing a similar waterfront design at the flagship store in Shancheng and couldn't help but ask curiously, "President Lin, I've noticed that the Orange Buildings in Shancheng and Lancheng seem to pay a lot of attention to the layout of water elements?"

"Haha!" Lin Xiaxia smiled mysteriously, "President Fang is very observant. I wonder if you've heard about the fish tank that President Gong set up in President Chen's office?"

"Huh?" Fang Zhihui looked at Lin Xiaoxia in surprise: "I didn't expect that someone as high-achieving as President Lin would believe in this?"

Lin Xiaxia still had that cheerful smile, but her tone carried a hint of deeper meaning.

"Some things in this world are difficult to fully explain with science."

It is better to believe it exists than to believe it does not.

If Mr. Fang doesn't believe me, you are free to decide on the decoration of the Mosk flagship store yourself based on the actual situation!

Fang Zhihui was silent for a moment, then showed a learned expression on his face: "President Lin is right, I understand, thank you!"

He had already made up his mind that he would find a way to incorporate water features into Mosk's flagship store, no matter what, even if it was just a small fountain or an indoor water curtain.

Upon entering the building, the Orange flagship store on the first floor was bustling with people.

With Orange 2's focus on lower-tier markets and the gaps left by competitors' fierce battles in coastal areas, the customer traffic targeting the western market is quite considerable.

Lin Xiaoxia led Fang Zhihui and his group on a tour of each floor.

When Fang Zhihui arrived on the second floor, he noticed the luxury stores, especially the VC (Valentina Cz) store sandwiched among LV and Gvcci.

He asked with great interest, "President Lin, I heard that VC's monthly sales in Chongqing can reach around 200 million. How is it performing in Lanzhou? If the data is ideal, I might consider bringing them in from Da Ross!"

Lin Xiaoxia knew that after her training in the west, she would likely return to take over as the marketing manager, and Fang Zhihui would probably be her direct subordinate in the future, so she did not keep anything to herself.

She tapped her fingertips lightly on the railing, not giving a direct number, but instead analyzing the differences between the two places.

"President Fang, Lancheng and Shancheng cannot be simply compared."

Chongqing is a municipality directly under the central government with a high level of consumption. Furthermore, VC has already entered the business districts of several core provincial capitals in Southwest China. Combined with the high foot traffic at the Orange Building store in Chongqing, the monthly sales of 200 million yuan are the result of both effective distribution channels and strong consumer spending!

She took out her phone, pulled up the sales data for the western region, and handed it to Fang Zhihui.

"Lanzhou is a second-tier provincial capital, and its urban population is nearly 40% smaller than that of Shancheng."

However, as a luxury item, VC is more readily accepted here than we expected. It officially went on sale last month, and its first month's turnover was 87.

If we can establish connections with the business districts of the six core provincial capitals in western China, and combine this with localized operations, achieving monthly sales of 420 million should not be a problem.

But now we're stuck in the supply chain. It takes two days to ship it from Chongqing along with the phones, which is severely impacting our cash flow efficiency in the western region!

When discussing the specific implementation of the Great Ross project, Lin Xiaoxia's tone became more pragmatic.

"If you want to lure them over, there are two key points you need to figure out first."

First, how well is the local government accepting luxury brands like VC, and is it necessary to increase this acceptance through sponsoring fashion events?
Secondly, supply chain costs, including logistics timeliness, tariffs, and customs clearance procedures, will severely erode profits if these are not streamlined.

In addition, packaging and labeling must be localized and comply with the regulations of Great Ross.

If you need Lancheng's store setup plan for reference, I'll send it to you later.

My personal suggestion is to first find a reliable local luxury goods agent to cooperate with, test the waters first, rather than trying to break into the market on our own.

Fang Zhihui nodded repeatedly, his attitude very humble: "I have learned a lot, President Lin, thank you for your guidance!"

Afterwards, Lin Xiaxia took them to visit the other floors: the beauty and hair salon on the third floor, the affordable clothing section on the fourth floor, and the local specialty lamb hot pot restaurant on the fifth floor.
Upon arriving at the Western Orange flagship store's office area on the tenth floor, Lin Xiaxia gathered several branch managers from headquarters and had a brief exchange with Fang Zhihui and his three colleagues.

She then arranged for someone to lead them to the grassroots directly operated stores to learn about the operation model firsthand.

Just as Lin Xiaoxia was busy arranging the study schedule for Fang Zhihui and his group, Wang Haocun, her former subordinate and current head of the channel team at the headquarters of Orange Technology in Shenzhen, called her.

Although the two are at the same level, Wang Haocun was promoted after Lin Xiaoxia was transferred.

In addition, everyone in the company knew that Lin Xiaoxia was likely to be the future head of the marketing department, so Wang Haocun was very humble and kept a low profile.

"Mr. Lin, I'm sorry to bother you!"
I have something to report to you. The company has decided to hold a large-scale year-end party this year, inviting all senior executives and outstanding employee representatives from Orange Group companies, as well as important partners to participate.

For your western direct sales channel region, there is one slot for a senior executive representative and three slots for outstanding employee representatives.

Outstanding employees will be awarded three titles: 'Technical Pioneer', 'Market Vanguard', and 'Service Star', with customized trophies, certificates, and bonuses.

Please prepare a list for me as soon as possible; our administrative colleagues will then send out the formal invitations.

Lin Xiaoxia first politely expressed her gratitude and congratulated him on taking charge of the channel team, and then subtly tried to win him over with a few words. If she were still a novice, she might have been dismissive of "rising stars" like Wang Haocun.

But after struggling alone in the western market, she deeply realized that success depends not only on personal ability, but also on the support and cooperation of everyone in the team.

Every coin has two sides; only by uniting people's hearts can we achieve steady and long-term progress.

She immediately set to work, continuing to push forward the plan to expand the VC brand to the core shopping malls of the six provincial capitals in western China, while also beginning to select outstanding employees for the direct sales channels in western China.

In terms of selection, she naturally had her own priorities. She chose two people from the "Twelve Warriors" who had followed her to the west to develop the region, and promoted a new employee who had performed well locally as a "Service Star".

Shortly after the list was submitted, the official invitation letter and subsidies for airfare and accommodation arrived.

It is worth mentioning that the company allows each attendee to bring two additional family members.

The same invitation also arrived in the mountain city.

Chen Lan, the head of the Southwest Direct Store, handed three exquisite invitations to the selected outstanding employees, informing them that they would be flying to Shenzhen with her on January 5th.

An elderly woman, who had been awarded the title of "Service Star," said with some concern, "Mr. Chen, I'm so old, I've never been on a plane before, and I don't have anyone at home to take care of me. I'm afraid I'll embarrass you if I go out!"

Her young colleague next to her smiled and encouraged her, "What are you afraid of! President Chen is still here!"

Chen Lan gently reassured them, "Don't worry! We'll be traveling with the main group from Orange Science. There will be so many of us that we could almost charter a plane. We're all family, so what's there to be ashamed of?"

The aunt then smiled憨厚ly.

"We're all family here? That's good! That's good!"

On the other side, there's Shancheng Orange Technology Micro Motor.

This medium-sized precision manufacturing company, with more than 800 employees, has now begun an intensive selection process.

Ultimately, the department leaders, along with outstanding employees, selected a delegation of 66 people.

After learning from his second sister Chen Lan that there were many attendees at the Orange Science Conference, Chen Mo decisively instructed the administration department to coordinate and charter a plane to depart from Lancheng, stop over in Shancheng, and then fly to Shenzhen.

The plan is to bring everyone to Shenzhen on the 5th, and reserve two days for everyone to relax and have fun in Shenzhen.

The administration department quickly tallied the number of people:

From Lancheng, Lin Xiaoxia, along with three outstanding employees and some family members, totaling approximately six people,
In Chongqing, the number of people involved, including those from the Southwest direct sales channels and Orange Technology employees and their families, reached 264.

A total of 270 people.

They contacted an airline and chartered an Airbus A330-300 large passenger plane.

When Lin Xiao, the head of the administrative team, finally submitted the temporary financial approval report to Chen Mo for his signature, he looked at the charter flight fee totaling 180 million yuan.
This was only because the airline offered a discounted price of 20 yuan, considering that they had also booked the return trip.

Even Chen Mo was taken aback; the cost of this Orange Group annual meeting was likely to be an astonishing figure.

The time soon came to the 5th.

In front of the brand-new, modern factory of Shancheng Orange Science and Technology, Director Feng directed his assistant to organize everyone to board the vehicles, preparing to head to the airport a little earlier than planned.

Wang Xiaofang, a "technology pioneer" in the Advanced Precision Processing Group of the Orange Technology Department - Laboratory, held her daughter Xiaoying's hand, and the mother and daughter boarded the bus chatting and laughing.

The surrounding workers greeted the well-behaved Xiaoying in the friendly local dialect of the mountain town.

Xiaoying wasn't shy at all, sweetly calling out "Auntie" and "Uncle".

In the bus carrying the leaders at the front, Director Feng sat next to Fan Xingping.

"Old Fan, your wife is the head of the direct-sales store in the Southwest region. Why don't you come along this time?" Director Feng asked with a smile.

As Chen Mo's brother-in-law, Fan Xingping always kept his wife's instructions in mind, working diligently in the factory and never abusing his power.

He replied with a smile, "Yes, yes, Xiao Lan is going too!"

Director Feng, true to his old-school state-owned enterprise leadership style, said meaningfully, "Have your daughter Xiao Lan put in a good word for Orange Technology with General Manager Chen!"
The factory is doing well now, but it's also burdened with 4.2 million yuan in loans, so we can't go all out!

Fan Xingping understood the implied meaning and quickly waved his hand, displaying a touch of the "henpecked husband" humor unique to men from Chongqing.

"Director Feng, please don't joke around. You know I can't make decisions at home. Xiao Lan has to handle this herself!"

Fan Xingping's subtext was quite clear: I can say it, but whether my wife does it or not is not my business!
Factory Director Feng smiled and didn't continue the topic.

Among the leaders of Orange Technology, there was a slightly conspicuous figure: Liu Zhiyu, the technical director of Orange Home Smart.

This pure technician thrives in the fertile ground of fine processing and manufacturing in the Orange Science industry.

Compared to the miscellaneous tasks of a product manager at Orange Home, he can focus wholeheartedly on his technical research here, and the laboratory is well-equipped. Since completing the development of the first generation of Phoenix Glass, he has become quite "happy and reluctant to leave".

Orange Home's General Manager Ye Xinghong urged him several times, but he always made excuses to avoid it.

If it weren't for past friendships, he would have applied to Chen Mo for a formal transfer to Orange Science and Technology long ago.

This was a real hardship for Ye Xinghong. It was truly a case of "when will you return, but there is no set date." His capable assistant had gone to the mountain city and was unlikely to return!

Upon arriving at Shancheng Airport, the Orange Group members proceeded in an orderly fashion through the group entrance to enter the waiting area.

Just then, Xiaoying, with her sharp eyes, spotted the "pretty" auntie who had sold her the Orange 1 phone at a low price and who also loved eating tangerines.

She was also waiting at the same gate, and she immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Auntie!"

Chen Lan turned around upon hearing the sound and saw Xiao Ying, a surprised smile appearing on her face.

"Xiaoying! It's you!" She walked over and affectionately ruffled Xiaoying's hair.

Chen Lan and Fan Xingping had no children, which is why she felt particularly sorry for and compassionate towards Xiao Ying, who was well-behaved but slightly timid.

Wang Xiaofang had just returned from the restroom when she saw her daughter talking to a well-dressed and elegant lady.

She was startled, fearing that Xiaoying might bump into someone because of her lack of manners, so she quickly stepped forward and pulled her daughter away.

Xiaoying quickly explained, "Mom, this is the pretty supermarket lady I told you about!"

Wang Xiaofang then understood and thanked him repeatedly.

Chen Lan could tell that Wang Xiaofang was an honest person, and they had a very pleasant conversation.

Learning that Wang Xiaofang was an outstanding employee of Orange Technology made me feel even more that fate was wonderful.

The more she looked at Xiaoying, the more she liked her, so she simply said to Wang Xiaofang, "Xiaoying and I hit it off. I'd like to adopt her as my goddaughter. What do you think?"

"Honey! Your iced coffee is here!" Fan Xingping came over with a cup of coffee.
Wang Xiaofang was even more surprised when she saw Fan Xingping, the production manager of her own factory, walking over next to her. It turned out that this Sister Chen's husband was actually him.

Chen Lan smiled as she took the coffee and handed it to Xiao Ying: "Try it! This coffee has milk and sugar in it, so it's not bitter at all!"

Wang Xiaofang quickly waved her hand on behalf of her daughter, saying, "Sister Chen, how could you possibly accept this?"

Chen Lan noticed the fear in Fan Xingping's eyes after he arrived, and smiled gently, "It's nothing, it's all fate! Bring Xiaoying to our house to play often in the future!"

She thought to herself, "This is nothing yet. I'm still the second sister of the big boss of Orange."

Seeing that Wang Xiaofang seemed a little uneasy, she didn't point it out. Instead, she warmly invited the mother and daughter to visit when they had time, and said with a smile that she would give Xiaoying a gift to celebrate their reunion in Shenzhen when she arrived.

Wang Xiaofang was flattered and thanked him repeatedly. She felt warm inside, but also a little uneasy and expectant.

If Fan Xingping, the production manager, could look after her at the factory, wouldn't it be much easier for Xiaoying to get a job there after graduating from high school next year?

Well, forgive Wang Xiaofang's thoughts, they are just that simple and unpretentious. She doesn't dare to ask for more. Ordinary people can't give back, so they are unwilling to accept too much kindness!
For people with a conscience, excessive gratitude is a burden!

From the very beginning, Xiaoying and her daughter's trip to Shenzhen seemed to be filled with unexpected encounters.

(End of this chapter)