Twenty years of cold chain

Huaiyang Lane, north of Laogumen.

An old woman selling sweet potatoes was picking out large, golden roasted sweet potatoes for a little girl. A pair of chubby twin boys were happily eating lamb skewers sandwiched in sesame flatbread with their father. A young man selling DVDs hung his box around his neck and called out the latest movies.

A red lantern runs through the entire alley, lined with dense barbecue stalls on both sides, blurring the lines between shops. It's common to see customers chatting while eating skewers at one stall.

This is the epitome of the simple joys of everyday life.

Hu Shutong and Yu Dajun sat amidst the bustling crowd at a small, square table, with green folding stools. The beer was a large, one-liter bottle of draft beer, and the plates contained golden-brown chicken wings, savory squid tentacles, and sizzling lamb skewers and pork ribs.

Before meeting, I had a lot of grievances to vent: this person was a scoundrel, that person caused trouble, and so on. But once we met, old friends were overjoyed to see each other, and the aroma of meat and wine brought joy. All those unhappy things were left behind, and I didn't want to mention anything that would spoil the mood. I just talked about my experiences over the past few days in a simple and straightforward way.

Hu Shutong was happy for Yu Dajun when he went to Pengcheng. He had previously noticed Chenxing's neglect of the workers in the southern suburbs. Yu Dajun possessed a kind of "centripetal force," which couldn't be obtained through mere words, but rather through genuinely wanting what his fellow workers deserved and fighting for.

Moreover, Pengcheng is a higher platform, and this is a time when cold storage facilities are being built in large numbers. People with expertise in cold storage construction are urgently needed talents in the engineering industry. With Yu Dajun's comprehensive abilities, that is the stage where he can truly showcase his talents.

"If you hadn't been involved in this matter in the southern suburbs, I would have quit long ago. This project is really ill-prepared; it's full of pitfalls, and we've stepped into them with perfect precision. You said on the phone before that you wanted to buy some time for the southern suburbs. If it were half a month ago, there would still be hope, but now Pengcheng has asked me to keep a close eye on Panhu Fishing Port. A new supervisor will be sent there soon. Once he takes over, with Minghe's current material and equipment support, it won't be long before the delay compensation process starts. Everyone at Minghe will be furious."

Hu Shutong knew that Yu Dajun had covered up a lot of things and held out until he returned, which was a huge favor.

"To be honest, you've only brought trouble to the southern suburbs, and I'm following you in your troubles. Even now, if you still won't let go..."

"How is it?"

Yu Dajun raised an eyebrow, took a big gulp, getting beer foam all over his beard, and then slammed the large glass down on the table with a thud. "Then we'll just have to think of another troublesome way."

Hu Shutong smiled. In fact, the matter in the southern suburbs had brought him a lot, including practical experience in large-scale projects and the interpersonal relationships involved. As for the trouble he mentioned, he knew that Yu Dajun was mostly joking.

"No matter what method you use, I won't be able to escape."

"I know a little."

"I saw the entire economic zone plan in Pengcheng. In the short term, this is a major event that has the entire engineering industry in an uproar! I'll see if I can make a copy of the plan next week. Can you give me some advice and tell me if there are any tricks to bidding in Pengcheng?"

Hu Shutong continued, "These projects in the center of the building won't satisfy Pengcheng's appetite. What he really wants are the aquatic product trading area, the processing area, and the cold storage area. From the information I've seen so far, the plans for these three areas are vague. If Pengcheng wants to secure the projects, he needs to start from there."

Yu Dajun stared wide-eyed. Good heavens, no wonder he's a veteran in the industry. He thought Pengcheng's planning map was something special, but this guy already knows it inside and out.

Hu Shutong quickly understood Yu Dajun's actions. In this way, two things became one. He had something to say in the group, and he was also going to do this anyway.

At the same time, Hu Shutong already knew that he could not give the final three-district planning proposal to Pengcheng, but that did not prevent him from making bidding content that was favorable to Pengcheng.

The Three Zones Plan is not a secret; to be precise, it's a process of selecting the best option. Major construction companies will inevitably leverage their networks to find solutions that fit the Three Zones Plan as closely as possible. Pengcheng Construction has always had a good reputation for construction quality, so when Yu Dajun approached them, it was essentially within Pengcheng's network.

Moreover, the matter in the southern suburbs is no small matter. If the supply problems of materials and equipment are fully exposed, the project risks being cut short. In his heart, Hu Shu made a deal with himself, and after a beer, he had made up his mind.

"Brother Dajun, just wait for my news. The time we gain in the southern suburbs will be beneficial to Pengcheng."

Yu Dajun nodded; Hu Shutong's words reassured him the most. He had spoken eloquently and insightfully about Panhu Fishing Port in front of Yu Ziyan, but with Hu Shutong, Yu Dajun knew he was a complete novice. At this point, it was unnecessary to elaborate; in Yu Dajun's mind, this guy had always been incredibly capable.

The wine went down quickly, and the night breeze was gentle, suddenly making one feel sentimental.

In the past, when they sat together, they would often chat about Lu Xiaofeng and Chu Liuxiang under a clear, bright moon. Now, they talked about the South Suburb Logistics Park and the Fishing Port Economic Zone. And these weren't just things they knew about from newspapers or television; they were real things right beside them, things they could easily control.

"Shutong, I don't know when I developed this bad habit."

Which one are you referring to?

Yu Dajun rolled his eyes at him. "I don't know why, but now when I see meat or vegetables, or even when I go to the market to buy some fruits and vegetables, I'm wondering where this sense of novelty comes from."

Hu Shutong burst out laughing, "Brother Dajun, I can only say that you're now a proper cold chain professional!"

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.