Twenty years of cold chain

Inside the temporary housing unit in the industrial park, Hu Shutong sat alone on a small stool, his phone on the table, staring blankly at the screen. He would glance at his watch every now and then, but unfortunately, no call came in as time passed. There was a pack of Yu Dajun's cigarettes next to him; Hu Shutong looked at it a few times, then finally grabbed his pocket and went outside.

The signing of contracts with the three major farmers' markets became the catalyst for all of this. If Tongxing had supplied goods to several county-level farmers' markets, the situation would certainly not be as dramatic as it is today. Regarding the three major markets, the major vegetable vendors in each county had already reached several agreements in private, and it could be said that even the detailed distribution rules had been drafted. Tongxing's rash entry caused a huge uproar.

Walking in the park, Hu Shutong no longer felt the same "a stroll that made him feel relaxed" that he used to have when he walked on campus. On the contrary, his steps were somewhat heavy.

In the past, he was always thinking about how to solve the problems ahead, but now he is full of worries about what to do about yesterday and how to make up for it tomorrow. His path has changed from a step-by-step approach to a tangled mess of trying to straighten himself out.

Perhaps this is the path of entrepreneurship; one doesn't have three heads and six arms, but one still has to face countless challenges. The park is being built brick by brick, wall by wall, and Hu Shutong cannot fail its growth. This is the greatest effort he has put into this path, and also the base for his countless ambitions in the future.

No matter how chaotic the road ahead or how heavy the pressure, he never regretted getting involved in the three major markets and kept encouraging himself that this was the best start for Tongxing.

Because it allows Tongxing to be seen by everyone from the very beginning, it naturally comes with a greater burden. Hu Shutong understands all the reasons behind this, but at this moment, every second, people's hearts will always fluctuate. And the beauty of human life, such as speaking and listening, becomes something that people don't want to say, don't say much, or can't say, depending on their circumstances.

In Qingyan, a storm of vegetable-grabbing targeting Tongxing is quietly brewing.

Hu Shutong received unprecedented treatment. Rumors circulated that Tongxing was as fierce as a tiger, and if they waited for him to come down from the mountain, it would be too late. In reality, this was far more than just a simple act of flattery; it was a deliberate attempt to stir up an atmosphere among vegetable merchants and farmers.

It must be said that those big-time vegetable vendors were quite prescient, nipping the problem in the bud to the extreme. Their concerns were multifaceted. First, Tongxing's equipment was undeniable; second, the support Tongxing received was also alarming. Once Tongxing grew strong, no one in Qingbei would be able to claim a leading position anymore, a qualitative shock to the格局 (geju, a term encompassing the overall situation, structure, and power) that had existed for over twenty years!

More importantly, they knew that Tongxing needed to give an explanation. Such a large piece of land couldn't be used for nothing; the mission it bore and the value it was meant to create were undoubtedly profound. A Tongxing that couldn't move its goods was like a raging inferno, with no sound of its sharp blades, only its last gasps waiting to be salvaged. They wouldn't have to worry about it for many years to come.

This makes next year's situation quite anticipated. Large vegetable vendors have already blocked all channels, and farmers only recognize their own vendors, ensuring everything is orderly and without any side vendors. But what about Tongxing? If it can't fulfill its orders to the three major markets, then it will escalate to a serious issue that affects people's livelihoods.

Hu Shutong called Lei Xiaoxi again, but there was no answer. After a long time, Lei Xiaoxi replied with a text message. After reading it, Hu Shutong felt anxious. If they waited any longer, things would really get out of control.

Hu Shutong hurried back to the prefab house and continued working on the proposal, which was already the third draft. Since it hadn't been rejected, it meant there was still room for discussion. This wasn't something Hu Shutong had proposed arbitrarily; there were precedents in China, and it was currently in a process of refinement. He believed that the path he had chosen would definitely have great potential.

The mechanical noises outside made him restless, so Hu Shutong put on his headphones and started listening to music. This music player, sent to him by Luan Pingxin, was called an MP3 player; it was only the size of an eraser but could store dozens of songs. With a few ocarina tunes playing, he quickly became engrossed in them.

Much later, when Hu Shutong looked up and glanced casually at the door, he couldn't believe his eyes for a moment. He thought he was too busy to see clearly and blinked hard.

But the person in front of him was standing with his arms crossed, head tilted to the side, looking at him with a bright, smiling gaze.

Hu Shutong jumped to his feet. "What brings you here!"

Luan Pingxin had been watching for a while, imagining Hu Shutong wearing a safety helmet, wandering around the park, or giving orders like a boss. But in the end, he was still holding a pen and paper, and from this angle, he really hadn't changed at all.

Upon closer inspection, however, Hu Shutong was quite different. The Hu Shutong in Luan Pingxin's eyes was different from the Hu Shutong others saw. He seemed to have been covered by something, losing some of his sharpness and cheerfulness, looking heavy, as if his unconcealed worries were being outwardly expressed. He must have been tormented a lot lately.

"Hey Boss Hu, you really don't seem to care about Bai Leng's matter at all! You haven't given it a second thought?"

There was a sudden exclamation, followed by a sharp slap on the forehead—today was the day Bayer was coming to inspect the facilities. Bayer had invested heavily this time; only after the refrigeration compressor rooms and equipment rooms of each cold storage facility were inspected and verified to be fully compliant would Bayer deliver the equipment.

In this situation, Hu Shutong felt even more guilty. Luan Pingxin had put in so much effort to turn Tongxing into a demonstration park for refrigeration equipment. In fact, this was the most important part of Tongxing's various preparations. If a series of investments were made in refrigeration equipment, with Hu Shutong's limited funds, everything would have to be rearranged and compressed again.

"The tech team is all out, do we need to go over the script again?"

"No need, no need, I'll obey."

"I see."

"fourth……"

"How come there's a fourth one?"

"After this is all over, I want to eat fish, fish cooked over a wood-fired stove!"

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.