Twenty years of cold chain

Hu Yuntong used to feel that Tongxing's office was serious and solemn, but now, in this setting, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. Hu Shutong ordered some beer and light meals, and whenever asked, Hu Yuntong would only nod and say "anything is fine," his hands under the table, appearing very reserved.

Mounted from Yuncheng

Under the joint management of Hu Yuntong and Guan Xiaoman, the transit was smooth and had some highlights. Although Hu Shutong assigned him several capable assistants, the word "Xiao" was no longer used when people referred to Hu Yuntong.

Hu Yuntong is quick-witted and resourceful, a trait he shares with his brother Hu Shutong. However, he differs significantly from Hu Shutong, emphasizing a boldness that sets him apart. If delays occur during transit...

He would act swiftly and decisively on any suggestions from those around him that he deemed feasible. During negotiations with clients, he always took the initiative; if they wanted to reduce storage and shipping costs, he would increase the quantity of goods ordered; otherwise, he would meticulously list everything, like a detailed beverage order, leaving no room for compromise.

Many things seemed risky at first glance, but the rewards were substantial. Moreover, under his management, Tongxing was not led astray by the southern suburbs in the overall situation of Yuncheng.

"Yuntong, if I asked you to set aside 40,000 tons of reserve storage capacity, could you do it?"

"W-What do you mean? Who is it for? How long is it for?"

"That means if something happens, you can quickly allocate and free up that storage capacity in the shortest possible time. Once it's operational, it's expected to be available within a quarter."

Having just taken a sip of beer, and before he could even wipe the foam from his mouth, Hu Yuntong's eyes widened as if he'd heard something horrifying. "Brother, are you kidding me! I can transfer the money out of your pocket in a week!"

"A quarter of that would be absolutely agonizing!"

"If it's only for a week,"

Why would I ask you to come back and drink with me?

"Brother, even if I start preparing from the blink of an eye, I still can't spare you a quarter of time, unless you don't care about the client's interests, then I can go all out."

"We cannot compromise on our customers' interests, but we must also be prepared for the 40,000-ton inventory buildup this quarter."

If it were anyone else, Hu Yuntong would probably have flipped the table, but all he felt was utter grievance. "You want everything, but you don't care about my life or death! We're brothers!"

"Yuntong, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a cowherd whose calf was born with difficulty walking, so he carried the calf to graze in the fields every day."

Even when the calf grows to over 200 pounds, he can still carry it, do you understand what I mean?

"You think you're a cowherd? That's clearly a natural-born strongman!"

Hu Shutong burst out laughing, which made Hu Yuntong roll his eyes in anger.

"Yun Tong, Yuncheng should have a smoother plan. Things can't be accomplished in a day, but you can keep an eye on this backup warehouse in the following operations. Also, we can get more involved with the South Suburbs and try to explore the flexibility of the warehouse capacity after working together."

"You just opened your mouth and you've already boasted about 40,000 tons! Besides, let's put aside whether it's 40,000 or 80,000 tons for now. Aren't you worried at all about Tongxing's current situation? Chunrong can't stand seeing us so excited. If this really works out, they'll control us in every way! Those guys are ruthless! Haven't we seen enough of their dirty tricks?"

Hu Shutong paused for a moment, then looked intently at his younger brother, "Yuntong, Chunrong has been focusing on how to collect the vegetables, rarely thinking about where they will end up. I've looked at all the channels provided, but you have to understand that the market is always dynamic, and channels aren't just pipes; they change. If we can't use market access as a guide for Qingning vegetables, this project, at least for now, is just floating."

"I understand. Production has its own pressures, and sales have their own pressures."

Hu Shutong nodded and said, "The vegetables must be transported south. However, if they are all collected and stored in Qingning, it means that we are still stuck in a huge wholesale market in the production area. Smooth distribution channels are the key to everything. Otherwise, it will only increase the pressure on distribution."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yuntong keenly realized that things were gradually moving in his direction; no wonder they brought up the Tengku matter first.

"The current situation is that Chunrong is doing its best to do the first half of the job well, and it has already done a great job of integration. We can only cooperate. If we don't want to fall into this situation, we can only start from the second half, which is essentially about harvesting and selling vegetables."

Hu Yuntong understood the relative importance of both points; they were both crucial, but the latter was undoubtedly more difficult. If two equally mature proposals were presented, it was obvious which would have more say. Like everyone else, he was focused on how Tongxing could seize the top position in the association. Now, however, a fresh perspective revealed a clearer picture of who was superior!

"So I want to take Yuncheng as an example and come up with a dispatch plan. What we want to illustrate is a model. The southward movement of Qingning vegetables requires secondary dispatch in the middle. That is to say, we need to establish a transit base outside and use it to radiate the market."

Hu Yuntong, who is well-versed in Yuncheng's business, understands this deeply. A logistics hub is not just about speed and proximity to anywhere; it is an integrated channel. A mature logistics hub has a magnetic pull on both the upstream and downstream, and it is also sensitive to the market. Yuncheng is certainly not the only hub, but it is a prime example.

Hu Yuntong fully understood his brother's intention. In addition to using the warehouse capacity, he also wanted to refine the channels and create a real-life case to illustrate where the focus of cultivation should be and what should be the most important thing to do.

"Brother, even if things go as you expect, we can't afford it. Once you propose the plan, a pilot program is inevitable. To defeat Chunrong, the price we're paying is too high! Ultimately, we don't have the capacity to operate like that. Storage capacity is limited, and we also have to cater to our clients. Unless we build a second phase of Yuncheng, fully developing what you call a transit base, that wouldn't be enough!"

At this point, Hu Yuntong suddenly stared blankly, each link connected to the next, suddenly filling people with endless anticipation!

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.