Fifty million a day, trapped in the county town, can't spend it all.

After Zhang Yang finished speaking, the master craftsmen below raised all sorts of questions: "What kind of cooperation do you mean? We're called intangible cultural heritage inheritors, but we only get a small subsidy every year."

"Here's what we're thinking: your original subsidies will remain unchanged, and I'll give each of you an additional 20,000 yuan per year, with no conditions. I just hope this craft can be passed down. If you're willing to cooperate, I'll allocate a small area in our factory specifically for you as your personal studio, where you can train apprentices and make tea." As Zhang Yang said this, everyone in the audience took a deep breath. An extra subsidy, and no conditions at all.

Zhang Yang took in everyone's reactions, then changed the subject and continued, "However, the Sichuan red tea products made by each of you need to be supplied to my company first. We need finished products to open up the market. In addition, we will also grade each of your handicrafts. I hope you can understand this."

"When I make that tea for you, do you buy it at market price?"

Zhang Yang smiled knowingly: "Of course, and we'll be buying at market price. Our company only takes operating expenses, which means I don't make any money."

"Not making money? Who would believe that?"

Whether you believe it or not, I will not force you to.

For more than an hour, Zhang Yang didn't preach any grand theories. He simply explained the situation of the "fragrant economy," the current state of Sichuan red wine, and his plans to build a factory. He also asked the experienced craftsmen who came to attend to share their views and opinions.

Cheng Kainian glanced at his watch: "It's been almost two hours. Lunch has been arranged. Everyone, please eat first. We can continue our discussion after lunch. Those who are willing to cooperate can sign the letter of intent this afternoon. Those who are not, the county will subsidize your travel expenses and lost wages for coming here today. We won't see you off. It's up to you, everyone."

Everyone silently got up and walked towards the restaurant.

Zhang Yang walked at the back, following behind the crowd.

A voice sounded behind him: "Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Yang turned around, and Lin Qiao stood behind him, holding a small notebook in her hand. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were very serious.

"What you just said, is it true?"

Zhang Yang looked into her eyes: "Which sentence?"

"Make Sichuan Red Tea a signature dish of Mou County."

"It's true."

Lin Qiao lowered her head, opened her notebook, tore off a piece of paper, wrote down a number, and handed it to him: "This is my phone number. If I haven't arrived by the time we sign the agreement this afternoon, please give me a call."

Zhang Yang took the note, glanced at it, and when he looked up, Lin Qiao had already turned and left.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Of the thirteen workers in the conference room, eight have left, leaving only five.

Zhang Yang was not disappointed; he had anticipated this outcome. Those who were willing to stay were the ones who could work together.

Cheng Kainian sat down next to him, glanced at the list, and said in a low voice, "Five, plus Lin Qiao, that makes six."

Zhang Yang nodded.

He stood up and walked to the tea masters: "Masters, since you are willing to stay, let me make a statement. The tea factory is ready. There is a separate workshop on the east side, fully equipped, and the water and electricity renovation has been completed. You can enter the workshop at any time. It will not be mixed with the main production line, but will be used to produce Sichuan black tea."

"I'll handle the procurement of raw materials. You just need to follow the traditional methods. I don't care about the quantity, I only care about the quality. Good tea has a good price, and inferior tea has an inferior price, but here, there is only good tea."

"In addition, the factory has recruited a new batch of young people. If you want to learn, you can take on a few apprentices. Passing on the skills is more important than anything else. I will give you an extra 100,000 yuan for each apprentice you train."

"One hundred thousand?" A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Zhang Yang chuckled, took out his phone, and sent a message to "Little Jasmine": "With so many people here, judging from your username, you wouldn't happen to be called Lin Qiao, would you?"

A reply came quickly: "Are you General Manager Zhang?"

Zhang Yang smiled and looked at Lin Qiao sitting in the corner, then walked over and asked, "I didn't expect it to really be you."

"Hello, Mr. Zhang!" Lin Qiao smiled.

"Little Jasmine, why didn't your master, Zhou Mingyuan, come?"

Lin Qiao shook her head: "My master is not in good health and can't come, but he said that if this place really wants to do Sichuan black tea, he asked me to stay and take a look."

"So you saw it, right?"

Lin Qiao looked into his eyes and nodded.

Zhang Yang smiled and turned to Cheng Kainian, saying, "Director Cheng, bring the letter of intent. Sign what you can, and then we'll get on stage as soon as possible."

Cheng Kainian got up to get the documents and distributed them to everyone.

Zhang Yang also took a copy and signed his name at the bottom. The six agreements were returned one after another. Lin Qiao was the last to submit hers. When she handed back the agreement, Zhang Yang noticed that she changed "one-year cooperation period" to "three years" and added a note next to it: "Withdrawal midway, voluntarily assuming liability for breach of contract."

Zhang Yang looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Lin Qiao explained calmly, "I'm a very serious person. Once I've made a decision, I don't want to change it halfway through."

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Okay."

Cheng Kainian collected all the agreements, glanced at them, and said in a low voice, "President Zhang, all six have been signed."

Zhang Yang nodded and immediately took out his phone to call Chen Rou.

"Hey bro, is it over there?"

"It's finished. All six masters have signed. Please make the arrangements. Divide the workshop on the east side into six independent studios. Separate each area with partitions, make sure the doors and windows are soundproof, and equip them with tea tables, shelves, and workbenches."

"Are there any specific requirements?"

"It should be quiet, well-ventilated, and well-lit. Air conditioning should be installed, and each workshop should have independent temperature control so that the masters can work undisturbed. In addition, each person should be provided with a new set of tea-making tools, according to the standards of traditional craftsmanship."

Chen Rou noted everything down on the other end of the phone: "Okay, I'll arrange for people to come to the site for construction in the next couple of days."

"Also," Zhang Yang thought for a moment, "all equipment should be of good quality; don't skimp on it."

"clear!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang looked at Cheng Kainian and said, "Director Cheng, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

Cheng Kainian was putting the agreement into a document bag: "Go ahead."

"Could we put up a plaque for the six masters' studios in the name of the county? 'Sichuan Red Kung Fu Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor Studio'. This would be both recognition and protection."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kainian paused for two seconds, then laughed: "President Zhang, that's a good idea. I'll go back and coordinate with the comrades at the Culture and Tourism Bureau to get the plaque approved as soon as possible."

Zhang Yang nodded: "Thanks."

The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Zhang Yang, Cheng Kainian, and Lin Qiao in the conference room.

"Mr. Zhang, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," Lin Qiao said as she approached Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang nodded, and then the two sat down at a tea table, where Zhang Yang began to pour tea.

"Tell me your thoughts."

Lin Qiao took the tea, took a sip, and put the cup down: "President Zhang, I agree with most of what you said today, but there's one thing you might not have considered."

"you say."

"The craftsmanship of Sichuan black tea is very mature, but there is a problem: each inheritor has a different technique, and the style of the tea produced is also different."

It's good to put them all in one workshop so they can exchange ideas, but if their styles are too diverse, it will be difficult to establish a unified brand externally.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang nodded; he had indeed not considered this issue.

What are your thoughts?

Lin Qiao thought for a moment and said, "My suggestion is to let the masters make their own tea in the early stages. You should keep a sample of each batch of tea, seal it, and clearly label it as made by whom and what batch it is. Once you have accumulated a certain amount, you will naturally be able to see whose style is more suitable for the market, and then decide whose standard to follow."

Zhang Yang looked at her, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "You had all this planned out before you came?"

Lin Qiao smiled and said, "I also learned from my master. My master has taken on so many apprentices, and each apprentice makes tea differently."

"That's a good idea, I've made a note of it."

Afterwards, the two chatted for almost an hour, from the history of Sichuan black tea to the current market situation, and then to the current situation of tea farmers in Mou County. Although Lin Qiao looked very young, her business acumen amazed Zhang Yang.

He was about to ask some other questions when his phone suddenly rang.

Zhang Yang glanced at the caller ID; Ye Mei was calling him.

"Mr. Ye."

Ye Mei's tone was somewhat anxious: "Mr. Zhang, I've run into a problem. The urban management officers have arrived and said someone reported us for disturbing the peace with our construction. They want me to stop work and cooperate with the inspection."

Zhang Yang frowned: "Where are you right now?"

"The urban management officers' vehicle was still at the entrance of the shopping mall."

"What exactly happened? Who reported it?"

"The report was anonymous, without specifying who it was, but it was very detailed, specifying the time of construction, the type of equipment, and the decibel level exceeding the limit. Everything was clearly stated."

"Mr. Ye, please keep them calm for now, I'll be right there."