Twenty years of cold chain

The sunlight before dusk filtered through the dense foliage, twinkling like stars, dazzling the eye, accompanied by the ethereal calls of birds, making everything appear bright and clear. At a street stall beneath the trees, Olympic mascot keychains were being sold, advertised as limited edition factory direct sales.

When Hu Shutong asked about returning to Qingyan, he didn't see any surprise on Luan Pingxin's face; she simply fell silent. It was clear that Luan Pingxin's mindset had changed over the years. Three to five years ago, if someone had told her to leave Bai Leng, she would have thought that person was crazy.

But the current situation is frustrating. As Bayer shifts from being technology-driven to market-driven, individual will can only be swept away by the tide. Market trends have the most say, and no one can say that Bayer is arbitrary. Foreign cold chain equipment companies are building numerous factories in China. If Bayer doesn't devote all its energy to seizing market share, even if it has cutting-edge products, it won't be able to promote them in the future. That's the reality.

This problem exists not only in the cold chain sector but also in the food industry. As foreign fast-food chains aggressively dominate the market, few domestic companies are willing to focus on developing new products and formulas. Instead, they either imitate existing products or focus on price competition, prioritizing market share before research and development—this has gradually become their survival strategy.

Luan Pingxin walked slowly with her head slightly lowered, asking what probably every stranger in the world would say if they wanted to go back home: "What can I do if I go back? I have no background in Qingyan."

"Pingxin, technical skills are the most important foundation. As long as you nod your head, I'll start making arrangements immediately."

"What are you going to arrange?"

"You can set up a refrigeration technology research institute, and use your technology to specifically connect with enterprises for business. The research institute is independent, business is business, and research and development is research and development. You are in complete control of everything."

Luan Pingxin stopped in her tracks. Hu Shutong's suggestion was something she hadn't expected. Technology is complex, and for those who have spent a long time studying technology, the things beyond the technology itself are even more complex. Just hearing about this idea was enough to give her a headache. In her mind, it would require investing a large sum of money, renting land, hiring professional talent, and handling all sorts of management. Unlike Hu Shutong, who had ventured out into various fields outside of academia, she was completely unprepared to run a business herself.

The term "Refrigeration Technology Research Institute" sounds very official and might be associated with a government agency. However, this is not the case. Most technology research institutes are actually enterprises. For example, many coastal cities have shipbuilding engineering technology research institutes, and biotechnology research institutes, environmental technology research institutes, industrial technology research institutes, and so on can be found in various provinces and cities.

These research institutes all collaborate with governments and enterprises. Some focus on research and innovation, achieving both fame and fortune by expanding throughout the province. Others provide technical support tailored to the specific needs of enterprises, and many have grown into large and powerful entities.

"Pingxin, with your resume and technical achievements, once you return to Qingyan, we will first seek policy support. Nowadays, there is increasing emphasis on refrigeration technology in the cold chain industry. There is no such entity in the entire Qingning. We can also apply for R&D funding in the form of specific research projects. Director Lei has helped me a lot over the years, and he will pay even more attention to your matter."

"As for future customers, Tongxing will sign a cooperation agreement with you first. Whether it's insulated boxes or ultra-low temperature equipment, they will be useful in the warehouse or on the road."

"So, I'll just stick with you as my sole client, right? Then you'll have to support me?" Luan Pingxin said with a smile and a sidelong glance.

"I can afford to raise them."

"That's really true!"

Hu Shutong laughed, "Let's not talk about new technologies for now. We need to focus on low-consumption and environmentally friendly technologies, improve them, and then promote their implementation throughout the province. I'm not bragging, but at this level, we'll definitely get recognition as an advanced enterprise, a model enterprise, and corresponding support and subsidies. For our partner companies, you can provide all kinds of technical support, including new technology applications, equipment replacement, and even refrigeration training. So, you can do so much. It would be good enough if you could take care of Tongxing."

After Hu Shutong's words, Luan Pingxin's thoughts immediately became more substantial. There were things that urgently needed improvement, things that needed to be pursued with great effort, and things that shouldn't be left with regrets. Before she knew it, she had actually begun to seriously consider this matter, and it has to be said that the guy next to her was quite audacious.

As she pondered these thoughts, just as another worry resurfaced, Hu Shutong seemed to enter her mind.

"You don't need to worry about the personnel matters. I'm quite familiar with the president of the Refrigeration Society. He graduated from National Tsing Hua University and has always advocated for industry consolidation. This Refrigeration Society is all show and no substance; it still doesn't have a real authority. They just sit down and hold meetings when they encounter problems. Ping-hsin, if the research institute is established, it will be equivalent to the Refrigeration Society having a base. I'll talk to them about this, and I'm sure I can get through to them!"

Luan Pingxin blinked rapidly. She suddenly realized that Hu Shutong wasn't just discussing ideas with her, but that everything was truly ready, and all that was needed was her approval. This gave her an unexpected sense of security.

This also shows that Hu Shutong's work in Qingyan over the years has been solid and down-to-earth. What surrounds him is not superficial, but real stories of you and me in this industry.

Hu Shutong didn't urge Luan Pingxin at all, but instead laid out the options, giving Luan Pingxin a choice.

When the topic of returning to Qingyan was first raised, Luan Pingxin worried that Hu Shutong would be overly indulgent, spending money and effort to fulfill her research ambitions. Now it seems that it was not a greenhouse focused solely on technology, but rather a platform where learning and application were constantly put into practice.

In Hu Shutong's view, with Luan Pingxin's abilities combined with the current needs, this is where she truly shines! Hindsight is 20/20, but he thinks Bai Leng's actions were a limitation for Luan Pingxin, forcing her to only take on one project at a time, burying herself in work without producing results. In reality, top researchers are like octopuses, constantly observing, thinking, and doing; they cannot be judged by a single perspective.

More importantly, if this matter succeeds, it will mean that on this future Qingyan land...

They can finally fight together!

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.