Twenty years of cold chain

The participants in Tongxing's dinner were all from cold chain logistics companies and large cold chain parks. Among them were Chen Zhe from Tiansheng Cold Chain, as well as two cold chain companies that were established two years ago and received key policy support: Qingtong Cold Chain and Hongli Cold Chain. These two companies mainly operate in the Qingnan market, located in the east and west respectively, and are both quite competitive.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Chunrong also became a guest of Tongxing. One thing at a time, if Hu Shutong does not get Chunrong's support, he will be missing a major figure, and it will be difficult to move forward in sync in the future.

In Chunrong's view, supplying the Olympics was already a done deal, and those past events were somewhat unpleasant to recall. When Tongxing extended an olive branch, it wasn't something that required much deliberation. In this era, the larger the industrial park, the more it understood the necessity of strategic alliances. The booming food and distribution industries made everyone want to expand and strengthen their businesses. Time waits for no one, and great profits can be lost in the blink of an eye. It was definitely not the time to dangle with Tongxing.

Hu Shutong knew that some things were easier to discuss and agree on over drinks. If a formal meeting were held and everyone was sitting upright, it would seem awkward to expect anything to be accomplished so quickly. Tongxing was not exactly a force to be reckoned with; it wasn't particularly distinguished in terms of years of service or background. To take the lead in front of these true industry peers would seem presumptuous.

Therefore, the conversations at this banquet were filled with rhetoric.

"Selling lanterns on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month is just the right time!"

"Why do crabs walk sideways? It all comes down to having more legs! If we want to learn how to do it, then you'll just have to contribute two legs and I'll contribute two!"

"What Mr. Zheng said is really creepy. How fast you run and how far you go isn't determined by your legs. All of Qingnan and Qingbei combined is just a big shell!"

"Yes, yes! I underestimated it!"

"Let me tell you, a few days ago a friend of mine who lives abroad sent me a cell phone. It didn't have any buttons, it was all screen! It was like cutting a small piece off a computer!"

"Really? How do I use it?"

"At first I was puzzled too, but then I discovered that the screen responds when you tap it, and phone numbers are all displayed on the screen! You know how fast times are changing these days, even in our industry. Who knows, someone might use some new trick to leave us behind one day!"

Hearty laughter frequently erupted throughout the gathering. As the wine flowed freely, everyone became tipsy, yet their hearts shone brighter than mirrors. Hu Shutong, amidst his laughter and conversation, revealed several ideas. He believed that true industry collaboration required a practical approach, and he used an ancient allusion to illustrate the form of an alliance.

The banquet lasted from nine o'clock until midnight. Only Chu Lihe accompanied Hu Shutong. It must be said that Chu Lihe deserves great credit for organizing this event. Including Tongxing's many foreign affairs in recent years, Chu Lihe has been extremely outstanding. He has been handling both Tongyun City and Panhu, and every matter has been handled steadily and properly. Basically, he has been in charge of Tongxing's external expansion strategy.

Unbeknownst to many, the mindset of Tongxing employees gradually changed. Before, after Hu Shutong left, everyone would "ask Su Mu for advice on everything," but now everyone began to weigh their options. Moreover, it was obvious to everyone that General Manager Hu and Chu Lihe were getting very close, which was an unmistakable signal for anyone who wanted to develop their career, get promoted, and receive a raise at Tongxing.

Moreover, everyone knows that Tongxing is currently facing a critical period, and competing for external expansion is where their greatest strength lies, and it will best reveal who Hu Shutong's strongest ally is. In contrast, Su Mu increasingly resembles a conservative, capable administrator of managing the industrial park, but when it comes to expanding outwards, he's like a farmer tending to his land, only concerned with the immediate fields and ditches. Compared to what Chu Lihe is doing, he's simply not in the same league.

It is unclear when exactly, but the term "Mingda Gang" began to circulate privately in Tongxing, and this claim became increasingly prevalent as more and more "Qing" gangs joined.

At midnight, the lively laughter and chatter over there made Su Mu's residence seem rather desolate. This was the first time he hadn't attended any of the various events that had taken place at Tongxing over the years.

Su Mu neither smokes nor drinks; his only hobby in his spare time is jigsaw puzzles. The project before him is daunting; he's been working on it for over ten days without success. The final scene resembles the moonlight tonight: a crescent moon over a deep blue rice paddy. However, the individual puzzle pieces are very similar, and no matter how he tries to assemble them, he can't create the final picture.

Before long, his wife Tang Min returned. She saw Su Mu hunched over like a fisherman, as if afraid of bumping into the light bulb if he looked up, tiptoeing and being very careful.

"Old Su, are you going to keep holding back like this? Chu Lihe is already riding roughshod over you! We're the real veterans of Tongxing! We laid the foundation together with President Hu! No matter what, we can't let Qingdao University enjoy the shade of the trees that Mingda planted!"

"What does it matter if it's Mingda or Qingda? As long as we're on the same page and moving towards a better future, nothing else matters."

"Old Su, it's not that we want to fight, it's that Chu Lihe is too domineering! He's the one who clearly distinguishes between Mingda and Qingda! Look at the state of Mingda now, it's full of Qingda companies, and they all look down on us like we're entitled to a free house from a land expropriation!"

"Calm down, it's not as exaggerated as you say."

Tang Min suddenly stepped forward, sweeping the jigsaw puzzle pieces in front of Su Mu onto the floor. Her eyes welled with tears as she spoke, "Su Mu, you need to understand, we are the real outsiders here! If you don't fight for us, how are we supposed to survive?"

Su Mu stood up and slowly picked up the jigsaw puzzle pieces from the ground. "Xiao Min, Tongxing hasn't reached the point of fighting for power yet. How old are we so-called old folks? Tongxing Elementary School students haven't even graduated yet. Nothing is more important than venturing out into the world. We can't afford to make a mess of things!"

"According to you, when it really comes down to fighting for power and profit, will Tongxing still have you?"

Su Mu paused for a moment, then said, "I believe in President Hu."

"Ha! Can President Hu hear you and believe him? Even if he could, would he have time to believe? Old Su, who's the one so furious, who's blinding the Tongxing people? Your belief will only ultimately benefit Chu Lihe! In the end, all you can say is that even without merit, you still put in the effort. What does effort amount to!"

Su Mu slowly closed his eyes. He realized that he, too, was being pushed forward against his will. After a long while, he glanced out the window. It truly was as the saying goes, "The crescent moon shines over the nine provinces, some are happy, some are sad."

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.