Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Chapter 123 Another Year

He called Lao Wang, Lao Li, and Xiao Liu together for a year-end brainstorming meeting.

It's not about setting specific goals, just chatting and going over the general direction for next year.

Old Wang spoke first: "Xiao Qian, the money in the account is just sitting there anyway. I was thinking, shouldn't we buy a few more cars? We have eleven now, which is a tight budget. If we expand to another city, it won't be enough."

Old Li said, "We need to add more vehicles and more people. The sales staff can't keep up right now; one person is responsible for several counties, and they can't manage everything. If we expand further, we'll need to hire at least fifteen more people."

Xiao Liu said, "We need to rent another warehouse. The one in the south of the city is almost full, and there isn't one in the north. We need to find another one."

Qian Cheng nodded after listening. "You're all right. But I have an idea, listen to it."

All three of them were looking at him.

Qian Cheng said, "We won't expand next year."

Old Wang was taken aback: "Not expanding?"

"We're not expanding anymore." Qian Cheng leaned back in his chair. "We have five cities now, that's big enough. If we expand any further, management won't be able to keep up, and the quality won't be able to keep up either. Instead of spreading the pie too thin, we should make the pie we have now thicker."

Old Li asked, "How do you make it thick?"

Qian Cheng said, "Two points. First, increase yield per unit area. Currently, the yield per mu in our base is not high, far behind that in the south. Old Zhao said that if the technology and fertilizers catch up, the yield per mu can increase by another 30%. Second, improve quality. Now that the market is open, consumers are more discerning. Cheap is not enough; it has to be fresh and look good. The same vegetables with better appearance can sell for twice as much."

Old Li nodded: "That makes sense."

Old Wang asked, "What about the truck and the warehouse?"

Qian Cheng said, "We'll add two more vehicles and rent another warehouse. But not to expand the scale, but to improve efficiency. The existing vehicles are tiring to run, and the drivers are tired too. With two more vehicles, we can take turns driving them, so the vehicles never stop even when the drivers are resting. The same goes for the warehouse. With more warehouses, the vegetables can travel less and maintain their freshness."

Xiao Liu said, "Okay, I'll go find a place."

After the meeting, Qian Cheng sat in his office and reviewed the technical report written by Lao Zhao once more. The old man's handwriting was poor, crooked and messy, but the content was solid. It clearly described what kind of vegetables to plant, when to fertilize, how much to fertilize, when to water, and how much to water. Qian Cheng carefully put the report away, thinking that next spring he would have Lao Zhao travel to various cities to give lectures and promote the technology.

At the end of the year, the company held another summary meeting. Director Liu also attended, listened to the report, and looked at the accounts. He was very pleased.

"Xiao Qian, your company has done a great job this year. Next year, the province is going to launch a 'vegetable basket project' on-site meeting, and I plan to use your company as a model so that people from all over the province can see for themselves."

Qian Cheng said, "Director Liu, we will fully cooperate with the on-site meeting. But I have an idea, and I'm not sure if I should say it."

speak."

Director Liu said, "Go ahead and speak."

Qian Cheng said, "If the on-site meeting is held, other cities will definitely come to learn. After they learn, they will also want to set up their own bases and supply chains. At that time, won't our company's market share be squeezed out?"

Director Liu thought for a moment and said, "You're right, that's a problem. But the 'vegetable basket project' is a provincial decision, not just a matter for one or two companies. Your company has grown big now; you can't just think about yourself, you have to think about the whole province. Helping others is helping yourself, you understand that principle."

Qian Cheng nodded: "I understand. I'm just reminding you that we need to be prepared."

Director Liu looked at him with admiration in his eyes. "Xiao Qian, you've matured."

The meeting ended, and Director Liu left. Qian Cheng kept everyone behind for a small meeting, where they finalized next year's plans. No expansion, just increased output and improved quality. Two more vehicles will be added, ten more people will be hired, and another warehouse will be rented. The total budget is 150,000, half of last year's.

Old Wang said, "Small change, you're taking it."

Qian Cheng said, "Yes, hold back a bit. Pull your fist back so you can punch with more power."

In December, Qian Cheng went to Jinzhou to check on the winter vegetables there. The cabbages, radishes, and potatoes had all been harvested, filling the warehouse to the brim. Old Zhao walked around the fields and said the land needed a rest, to be recuperated over the winter, and then planted again next spring.

"Master Zhao, you'll need to travel to more places next year. Liaoyang, Anshan, Fushun, Yingkou—you'll all need to go and explain your techniques."

Old Zhao said, "Okay, I'll go. As long as you don't mind bothering this old man, I'll go."

Qian Cheng laughed: "Nobody's bothered by you, everyone's looking forward to you going."

After returning from Jinzhou, Qian Cheng went to Liaoyang. Sun Li was there keeping an eye on things, renewing contracts for several villages whose contracts were expiring. After Boss Huang left, the market in Liaoyang stabilized considerably; no one was competing with them, and the farmers felt more at ease.

Sun Li asked, "Manager, if we really don't expand next year, will we have a surplus of manpower?"

Qian Cheng said, "There's not enough surplus. Increasing output and quality requires someone to oversee it. Have you trained those new recruits under you?"

Sun Li said, "We've trained them. Two of them can already run independently, and we've signed contracts with several villages."

Qian Cheng nodded: "Okay, I'll mentor you for another year, and you'll be able to handle things on your own next year."

Before the New Year, the company distributed bonuses. Just like last year, veteran employees received 50 yuan each, and new employees received 30 yuan each. Old Li, Old Wang, Little Liu, and Sun Li each received 100 yuan. Qian Cheng still refused to accept it.

Old Li said, "Xiao Qian, you should take a share."

Qian Cheng said, "Uncle Li, the company's money is my money. I don't need this hundred yuan. Take it and buy some nice things for the New Year."

Old Li didn't say anything more and put the money in his pocket.

On New Year's Eve, Qian Cheng took Zhang Mingxi and Nian En back to his hometown.

Laowozi Village has changed again. The gravel road at the village entrance has been paved with asphalt, and streetlights have been installed on both sides. Many families have built two-story houses, and some even have cars parked in front of their doors. Captain Li said that the per capita income in the village has now quadrupled compared to five years ago, making it one of the wealthiest villages in the county.

Hou Yufen was waiting at the door. When she saw Nian'en, she squatted down and opened her arms. "Nian'en, come here, let Grandma hug you."

Nian'en ran over and threw herself into her arms. Hou Yufen hugged her and kissed her little face. "You've grown taller and fatter."

Nian'en said, "Grandma, I miss you."

Hou Yufen's eyes reddened, and she carried her into the house.

Qian Lu and his sister-in-law also arrived. Xiao Ni is ten years old this year and has grown quite a bit taller. She wears a ponytail and speaks like a little adult. When she saw Nian En, she took her hand.

"Little sister, I'll teach you how to ride a bicycle."

Nian'en said, "Okay."

The two little girls ran out, and laughter echoed from the yard.

Qian Cheng sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and talked to Qian Lu. Qian Lu said that the village's vegetable fields had expanded again, now covering more than a thousand mu (approximately 67 hectares), specifically for supplying the company. Qian Cheng nodded and said it was good. Qian Lu then asked about Boss Huang, and Qian Cheng said he had run away and wouldn't be coming back.

"Brother, we won't expand the company next year. Let's focus on doing the existing ones well," Qian Cheng said.

Qian Lu thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. You've been working too hard these past few years, you should take a break."

Qian Cheng laughed: "We can't rest. Not expanding doesn't mean we're not doing anything; there's still a lot to do."

In the evening, the family sat around the table for their New Year's Eve dinner. Hou Yufen stewed chicken, steamed fish, and made dumplings. Nian'en ate several dumplings, her belly round and full, rolling around on the kang (heated brick bed). Xiao Ni took a small notebook and taught Nian'en to write. Nian'en wrote crookedly, but very seriously, writing each stroke carefully.

Qian Cheng looked at them and felt at ease.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Qian Cheng went to pay a New Year's visit to Zhang Changtian.

Zhang Changtian had aged considerably; his hair was completely white, and his back was bent, but he was still in good spirits, planing wood in the yard. Seeing Qian Cheng enter, he put down the planer and stood up.

"You're here?"

"You're here. Happy New Year, Master."

Zhang Changtian hummed in agreement and ushered him into the house. Deng Jingshu came out from the inner room, took Qian Cheng's hand, and asked him all sorts of questions.

He then asked Zhang Mingxi and Nian'en if they were doing well, and Qian Cheng said they were both.

Zhang Changtian sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), smoking a pipe, and remained silent for a long time. After a while, he suddenly spoke.

"Chengzi, your company is quite large now."

Qian Cheng said, "It's alright, over a hundred people."

Zhang Changtian nodded and said, "With so many people, there's a lot to manage. You have to keep an eye on things. Don't let anyone take advantage of the situation."

Qian Cheng said, "I know."

Zhang Changtian glanced at him and said, "You're a smart man, I don't need to say more. Just don't forget where you came from."

Qian Cheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart. "Master, I won't forget."

Zhang Changtian didn't say anything more, tapped his pipe, stood up, and went to the yard.

Returning from his hometown marked the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. On the eighth day of the new year, Qian Cheng returned to work. When he arrived at the office, Lao Li was already waiting. A map lay spread out on the table, covered with dense markings.

"Xiao Qian, we won't expand next year, but I'd like to take a look at these places." Old Li pointed to several points on the map. "They're all in western Liaoning. The land is good and the water is plentiful. If the conditions are right, we can do some preliminary research first, and then expand the year after next."

Qian Cheng glanced at the map, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay, you go take a look first. Don't rush to sign the contract. Get a clear understanding of the situation first."

OK."

Old Li nodded and put the map away.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Qian Cheng stayed home to celebrate the festival with Nian En.

Zhang Mingxi cooked a table full of dishes and also bought glutinous rice balls. Nian En'ai, who loves sweets, ate several, her mouth full of sesame filling. Qian Cheng tried to wipe her mouth, but she dodged away.

"Dad, are you going on a business trip tomorrow?"

Qian Cheng said, "I'm not going out; I'll be staying home this week."

Nian'en was delighted and took his hand. "Then you'll help me set off the flowers."

Qian Cheng took her to the yard to set off fireworks. Nian'en was afraid of the loud noise, so she covered her eyes and peeked through her fingers. When she saw the fireworks exploding in the sky, she jumped for joy.

"Dad, it's so beautiful!"

Qian Cheng held her close, watching the fireworks in the sky, his heart filled with tenderness and joy.

Life went on like this, neither fast nor slow, steadily and peacefully.

The company is moving forward, the home is moving backward, and in the middle is Nian'en's laughter, one after another, filling the entire day.

Once the Lantern Festival (January 15th of the lunar calendar) is over, the New Year celebrations are officially over.

Qian Cheng returned to the company and called Lao Li, Lao Wang, and Xiao Liu together for a short meeting. The plan was set before the new year: no expansion this year, just solidifying the existing business. But how to do that? They needed to come up with concrete methods.

Old Li said first, "I've been to several places, and promoting technology is the top priority. There are a few villages in Liaoyang that have been growing vegetables for three years, but the yield hasn't increased. The land is still the same, and they've applied fertilizer and watered it, but the vegetables just won't grow. Old Zhao took a look and said it's due to repeated cropping and that crop rotation is necessary."

Qian Cheng asked, "How do we take turns?"

Old Li said, "We rotate vegetables and crops. This year we plant vegetables, next year we plant corn, and the year after that we plant vegetables again. The land rests for a year, and the fertility returns."

Qian Cheng frowned: "Are the farmers willing to do this? Growing corn doesn't make money, would they really take a break?"

Old Li said, "No, we have to find a way. Old Zhao said we can use organic fertilizer, farmyard manure, to restore the soil's vitality. We don't need to rest for a whole year, just one season is enough. We can plant corn in the spring, harvest it in the summer, and then plant vegetables in the fall. There's still time."

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Okay. Have Lao Zhao write a plan, clearly outlining the key technical points of crop rotation. Also, calculate how much less money farmers earn from planting one season of corn. The company will subsidize half of it; we can't let the farmers suffer losses."

Old Li nodded and wrote it down in his notebook.

Old Wang continued, "I have an idea about quality. Right now, our vegetables are delivered to the market and sold mixed with other people's produce, so you can't tell the difference between good and bad. I was thinking, could we set up our own retail store to sell our vegetables exclusively? We could put our own brand on it and sell them at a higher price."

Qian Cheng asked, "Shops are easy to set up, the key is location. We can't afford to rent in the city center, and nobody comes to the outlying areas."

Old Wang said, "It doesn't need to be big, about ten square meters is fine. It doesn't need to be in the city center, just near a residential area. Our vegetables are fresh, and the prices are fair; the locals appreciate that."

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Go and do some preliminary research to see which residential area is suitable. Xiao Liu, you take care of renting the storefront."

Xiao Liu nodded.

After the meeting, Qian Cheng went to the Commerce Department to see Director Liu.

Director Liu was reviewing documents in his office when he saw him enter and put down what he was holding. "Xiao Qian, you've come at the right time. The province is holding a meeting on the 'Vegetable Basket Project,' and it's scheduled to be held at your company. Get ready; you'll need to speak."

Qian Cheng asked, "Director Liu, when will the on-site meeting be held?"

"May. At that time, the directors of commerce bureaus and vegetable company managers from all over the province will come. You will have to talk about your company's experience."

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, I'll get ready."

Director Liu looked at him and said, "Xiao Qian, once the on-site meeting is held, your company will become a model for the entire province. There will definitely be people coming to visit and learn from you. You need to be mentally prepared."

Qian Cheng nodded: "I know."

After leaving the Commerce Bureau, Qian Cheng rode his bicycle to the north of the city to check out the warehouse that Xiao Liu had mentioned. The warehouse wasn't large, located next to a residential area. It used to be a grain store's warehouse, but the store moved, leaving it empty. Qian Cheng walked around inside; some plaster was peeling off the walls, and the roof was leaking, but it could be used after some tidying up.

Xiao Liu said, "The rent is forty yuan a month, which isn't expensive. If I rent it, I'll find someone to fix it up and buy some shelves to use as a secondary warehouse."

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, let's rent it. Be careful when they do the repairs, don't waste money."

Xiao Liu nodded.

The warehouse arrangement was settled, and the vehicle arrangements were also progressing. Manager Zhao from the transportation company called to say that two more vehicles could be rented long-term, on a yearly contract. Qian Cheng had Lao Wang handle the paperwork.

With four vehicles plus the company's own seven, there were a total of eleven vehicles. Old Li rearranged the transportation route and increased the frequency of the trips, shortening the journey from the fields to the provincial capital by half a day.

Qian Cheng calculated that by saving half a day of travel, the freshness of the vegetables could be greatly improved.