Twenty years of cold chain

As night fell, Hu Shutong and Li Zhou left the fishing port. Guo Xiangxu had prepared a private dinner, and the colleagues in the cold chain area were waiting for Hu Shutong to hold a general meeting, but he didn't plan to take care of any of these things.

Hu Shutong exuded an emotion that Li Zhou had never seen before. His expression was like the last rays of a setting sun, a final burst of excitement after utter exhaustion. He spoke very little, puffs of smoke drifting through the cracks in the cold winter car window. The hissing sound was not like the wind being squeezed, but like the relentless tugs of a struggling mind.

Li Zhou understood Hu Shutong's frustration. From a personal perspective, even the most composed person would be angry about this incident. It was clearly filled with indifference, yet he still tried to cover it up with the words "it's good for everyone, and even better for you." However, from the perspective of considering the overall situation, Hu Shutong had no choice but to swallow his anger. As another roommate said, once this matter was brought to light, it could very likely bring the entire fishing port's early-stage outbound transportation to a standstill. There were just too many things involved.

Leaving before nightfall, in Li Zhou's view, had a hint of escapism. People always have to weigh the pros and cons, and business owners especially have to consider gains and losses when faced with a large operation.

Li Zhou was quite open-minded; he believed that taking a step back would open up a whole new world, and that temporary compromise was for long-term progress. It wasn't that Hu Shutong couldn't afford to lose, but that Tongxing couldn't bear the consequences. The people above, those who saw it and those who didn't, were all people Tongxing couldn't afford to offend. Since they were determined to extract this money, how could they not have a well-thought-out plan?

In his view, Hu Shutong's sullen demeanor was nothing less than a cover for his inner embarrassment. Over the years, no matter what he did, people could always see the fierceness that was emanating from his feet.

Let everything stop here. Go back to Qingyan, go back to Tongxing, go back to the place where you keep your word. Continuing your journey in your familiar surroundings is the most worthwhile thing to do.

But just as Li Zhou was thinking this, the road in front of him veered off course.

The car headlights swept past the road sign, and Li Zhou's eyes widened. "Shutong, where are you going?"

"Go to Qingdian."

"Now that things have come to this, why can't you just..."

Hu Shutong glanced sideways at Li Zhou, who looked even more annoyed. "Why couldn't you have told me beforehand?!"

"You can't drive, what's the point of saying anything?"

"I need to go back to Daye! All the meetings, big and small, are scheduled for a week from now!"

"That'll give you a few more days of relief."

"You're really shameless. Tell me honestly, what are you going to do in Qingdian?"

"You'll only know when you get there."

Unbeknownst to them, the atmosphere in the carriage had shifted slightly. Hu Shutong didn't stop; he simply left the fishing port. He was still operating at his own pace, still trying to find some inner guidance, and also telling Li Zhou that he wouldn't give up on this matter.

Instantly, it boosted people's morale. Li Zhou's previous thoughts of making peace vanished. With his mind wandering, he thought that if a person is so depressed and frustrated, it will be difficult for him to achieve great things in the future. One action leads to all things. In short, he had manipulated both clockwise and counterclockwise.

"This trip wasn't entirely fruitless. Although we didn't sell any cold storage equipment, we did manage to get a few Che Yunxing vehicles out of the market. Suddenly, a grand strategy is brewing in my mind!"

How big is it?

"Previously, vehicle-mounted logistics and cold storage terminal software were all internal circulation systems. If all companies use Daye's equipment, then we can try external interconnection between companies. Take the companies in the fishing port logistics zone as an example, how about using technology to achieve inter-company networking?"

Hu Shutong didn't rush to answer. Such a question was meaningless if it was too superficial, but difficult to achieve if it was too profound. Because companies don't always disclose everything to each other. Whether it was the former Cold Chain Network or the industry associations and alliances in various regions, there was a rule of "clear understanding": cooperation was not the only purpose; cooperating for the sake of competition was the foundation for coming together. This was not limited to the cold chain industry.

"Let's talk about it after you've implemented the technology. Then we can discuss it together."

"Tsk tsk, okay, Mr. Hu."

The night was dark and the moon was nowhere to be seen. Soon after, fireworks lit up the sky over the distant city.

New Year's Day 2009 is just around the corner.

Some people celebrated New Year's Eve on the Bund, some at Jiefangbei, and some at the Bell and Drum Towers. These two people stopped when they saw a sign that read "Parking and Accommodation, Free Water".

The hotel was cold, but thankfully there was hot water and liquor. The two bought instant noodles and snacks to go with the liquor, and drank in a small room of about 30 square meters.

2008 has passed just like that, but this year—

And yet, one can't help but say, "It's finally over."

"Time flies so fast," "Another year has passed in the blink of an eye"—these are the most common sentiments at the end of each year, but they really don't apply to 2008.

What is more heartbreaking than natural disasters is man-made disaster. The tainted milk powder scandal that shocked the nation and the industry's lack of self-discipline that was unbearable to look at are not only the keywords of this year, but also the scars that will never heal!

How far is the road to food safety? No one can say for sure. "Where there are people, there is conflict" sounds like a chivalrous saying. But in reality, "Where there are people, there are also those who do inhumane things" is a more comprehensive statement.

Every year on March 315th, there are exposés, and every year on March 315th, there are something new and exciting.

Now that a huge sum of money is right in front of us, how can we focus on management all day long? Just like in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, businesses need to set sail quickly, and cruise ships need to move fast too.

So many of our everyday necessities, the instant noodles and sausages we choose for convenience, please don't let them "explode in silence"!

This year felt like three years to Hu Shutong. At this time last year, he was still asking about milk sources, but now he is in prison. For Hu Shutong personally, this is a deeply painful loss.

Looking out the window, sporadic fireworks are still lit, whether in the countryside or the city, casting a final silhouette of the year.

Suddenly, the familiar sound of an ocarina rang in my ears, calming the pounding strings of my heart.

The past is like a curtain, the future like falling pearls; we know not where people go or where things will go. Since everything is uncertain and the destination is unpredictable, there is no point in thinking too much.

Let's take a look at 2009 together.

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.