Twenty years of cold chain

Luan Pingxin and Lei Xiaoxi are cousins. The most important thing on the first day of the Lunar New Year is to visit the Lei family. The Hu family lives in the north of the city, and the Lei family lives in the south of the city. If there is no traffic jam, it only takes half an hour to get there.

The couple prepared gifts and, after breakfast, paid their first New Year's visit after their marriage.

Lei Xiaoxi and his wife had prepared red envelopes. After chatting for a while, Lei Xiaoxi's wife started preparing lunch. There were plenty of ingredients in the kitchen, and Luan Pingxin helped while chatting with her sister-in-law.

In the living room, the television was on very low volume. Lei Xiaoxi walked to the tea cabinet and examined it for a while.

Finally, they took out a green porcelain jar that was only the size of a palm.

"You must have been very busy before the New Year."

"I'm used to it, it's just that the journey is a bit tedious."

Lei Xiaoxi smiled.

"Qingyan, Yuncheng, Mingyuan,"

Your life revolves around three points and one route; it sounds terrifying.

Hu Shutong smiled wryly, "That's why I discussed with Pingxin that we won't go back to our hometown for the Lunar New Year. We'll take advantage of these few days to relax."

Lei Xiaoxi set out two jade cups, picked up the teapot and slowly poured tea, her gaze becoming fixed.

"Is this situation easy to resolve?"

"Things have stabilized for now. As for what happens next... we'll figure out how to deal with each situation as it comes."

Hearing Hu Shutong's words, Lei Xiaoxi's expression also became uneasy. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about before the New Year, but I couldn't even find you at Tongxing, so I put it aside for now. I guess you really can't spare the time."

"What is it?"

"Right after New Year's Day, the Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation intended to launch a forum for young entrepreneurs in cold chain logistics, and had even drafted some topics. Given how busy you are, you'll probably send someone to participate. In that case..."

I felt the overall quality of the forum was lacking.

Hu Shutong laughed and said, "You flatter me too much."

Lei Xiaoxi laughed too, "How can I carry this alone? The important thing is that the industry recognizes you, so I postponed this matter until after the New Year. What I was thinking was that since this matter was initiated by the Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation of the National Development and Reform Commission, it would be better to put it directly in Tongxing. The Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation will handle the publicity and organization, and you will be responsible for the implementation of all aspects of the forum. Tongxing doesn't need to submit any hosting qualifications. After you start work, you can draft a forum agenda and send it to me. I will discuss it at the meeting and give you a reply soon."

"What does Mr. Hu think?" Lei Xiaoxi teased.

Hu Shutong nodded repeatedly, "No problem, I will arrange everything in advance, including the venue, procedures, and reception."

"Regarding the topics, I have a few suggestions for you to consider. Firstly, an interpretation of the cold chain environment and trends during the 12th Five-Year Plan period; a corresponding industry report should be issued after the forum. Secondly, further consolidating the southward transportation of vegetables; this is a major project for the people's livelihood across the province. Since the pilot program has already shown initial success, and the experience gained in Tongxing is very efficient, this path should be steadily and surely continued."

It is essential to use this forum as a platform for the industry to collectively voice its opinions.

Hu Shutong found it difficult to include the second issue in the agenda for a simple reason: Tongxing was both the leader and a beneficiary of the vegetable transport to the south. To spearhead the decision on the future of the vegetable transport on Tongxing's home turf seemed arrogant and would inevitably attract gossip within the industry.

However, if this is an issue for the Department of Economic and Trade Affairs, the situation will be completely different. It will become a function assigned to Tong Hing, and the subsequent work will be carried out under the general framework.

"Shutong, the National Development and Reform Commission has taken note of Tongxing's contribution to the transportation of vegetables to the south. The development of events is also in line with our initial considerations: to leave industry matters to professionals. You don't need to have any reservations about this forum. The vegetables can be transported out and the prices can be stabilized. This is Tongxing's greatest confidence."

These words gave Hu Shutong a jolt. It was so easy to say the word "confidence," but only when you put it into practice did you realize how difficult it was. Looking back on the time he spent working hard to transport vegetables to the south, how his younger brother was driven to the brink of rage by the pilot project to free up warehouse space, how he led the expert team through many days of hardship, traveling all over the major regions of Qinghai and Ningxia, inspecting transshipment, contacting end consumers, coordinating the export chain, and smoothing out the internal network, Hu Shutong did everything in his power.

After the pilot program was launched, the entire project became Tongxing's top priority, and countless Tongxing employees devoted their energy to it. Hu Shutong not only oversaw the entire process but also took the time to write the pilot report, making it as detailed as a manual.

At this moment, Hu Shutong saw the reward. Don't underestimate these few words; they established Tongxing's position in the major project of transporting vegetables to the south. This forum was a joint statement from the industry, and in fact, it was also Tongxing's own announcement to the outside world.

What's exciting about this isn't just that; it also means that Tongxing now has a significant role to play in the construction of the eight key infrastructure projects for the cold chain this year. With this support, Hu Shutong's vision for the external transportation network has become even clearer. It's foreseeable that after this forum, Tongxing will be bustling with visitors.

At this moment, Lei Xiaoxi was also filled with emotion. Tongxing had been growing and expanding, and normally, it would not only continue to lead, but would also widen the gap further.

However, the reality is that Tongxing, amidst this trend, must be vigilant in keeping up. Because in the ever-revitalizing national landscape, more and more capital is focusing on cold chain logistics. It's no exaggeration to say that a single decision by someone with substantial financial resources can change the cold chain situation in a region; the current trend of financing and mergers and acquisitions is the best proof of this.

In this climate, few people remember what happened in the past; all they care about is looking forward, speeding up, expanding their market share, and earning more commission.

Fortunately, Lei Xiaoxi remembered.

Hu Shutong is someone who has witnessed every step of this journey from beginning to end. There are some things he didn't realize before, until suddenly many people in the cold chain industry emerged, and suddenly large industrial parks and cold storage clusters with a capacity of thousands of acres couldn't make the headlines in the industry. Only then did he understand that the trend was pushing people forward and that the industry was expanding.

No one dares to predict how the influx of foreign capital will lead this industry, but Tongxing's consistent approach is truly remarkable.

"Shutong, I know that Tongxing will eventually have to go through the financing process, but I have something to say to you, you should think it over carefully."

"you say."

"This is just something we family members talk about, something I, as your second brother, wanted to say to you."

Hu Shutong smiled and said, "Second Brother, just say what you want to say."

"You are the most professional person in the industry I have ever met. Tongxing is where it is today because of your autonomy. With you holding the reins, other people's opinions can only be suggestions, and they cannot make substantial interventions. That's why you need to be even more cautious about financing. The power of words driven by interests is very dangerous."

Hu Shutong understood that Tongxing Financing had already shown many promising signs. Given Tongxing's current situation, it was an ideal investment destination for many people. "I understand what you're saying. The momentum is hot right now, and we'll go where the market is booming. That's the standard for investors."

Lei Xiaoxi nodded and uttered a rather alarming remark—

Sometimes, what we fear is not a lack of understanding, but that those who lack understanding are very wealthy.

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.