Chapter 107 How to break the deadlock?

"Give me a specific time! Don't give me empty promises like 'as soon as possible.' I need it down to the hour, understand?"

He listened with a cold laugh, his voice as cold as ice, as if it could freeze the person on the other end of the microphone.

With a loud "smack," the phone was slammed onto the table.

His brows were furrowed tightly.

He was extremely agitated, but he had to force himself to calm down.

The goods are currently stuck in the process and cannot be retrieved at all.

The system is showing a stagnant status with no updates.

Those below couldn't push it, and those above couldn't contact the key approval bodies.

The whole thing is a complete mess.

There is a lack of clarity regarding responsibilities, procedures, and information gaps.

How can we break this deadlock?

He couldn't think of a solution for the time being.

Experience taught him that the more hasty he was in such situations, the more likely he was to make a mistake.

Although Zhou Shufen didn't hear the whole thing clearly, she could guess about 70-80% of it from the tone and expression.

She put down the book in her hand and asked softly.

"What's wrong? Are you having some trouble?"

She paused, then added.

"If you'd like, you can tell me...maybe I can be of some help."

Guo Zhenyi looked up at her, his gaze gradually softening from its previous coldness.

He sighed softly.

"The goods are stuck in customs."

"The approval process takes a long time, and we can't move forward or get it done right now. This batch of goods is very important; it affects the progress of several projects. This matter... is quite troublesome."

Customs operates according to strict rules and procedures.

The reality is that projects can't wait, customers can't wait, and cash flow can't withstand long-term depletion.

This can't go on forever; it's not a solution.

Zhou Shufen nodded, but did not respond immediately.

Instead of offering suggestions rashly, she truly put herself in his shoes and pondered possible breakthroughs.

She and Guo Zhenyi work in different industries, and their job duties are quite different.

She didn't know much about foreign-related procedures such as customs declaration and clearance.

But since her rebirth, she has become exceptionally sensitive to any developments in the business world.

In addition, during this period, she deliberately took the time to study a lot of documents and information about foreign trade policies, customs supervision, and cross-border logistics.

Although I can't call myself an expert, at least I'm no longer a complete novice.

Right now, Guo Zhenyi is frowning with worry.

If this shipment is held up in customs for too long, it will not only affect the delivery of customer orders, but may also result in late fees and even the risk of being returned.

At this critical juncture, the solution Zhou Shufen came up with was at least a practical and feasible approach.

After all, there's no point in just sitting in the office worrying.

"I have an idea."

She spoke slowly.

"The goods are usually stopped for a few reasons: incomplete declaration documents, incorrect data, sensitive product category, or random inspection. We can go back and review the goods' documents to see if any information was filled in incorrectly or if any documents were missing, such as the certificate of origin or quality inspection report."

Yang Yu, who was standing next to him, first frowned slightly, then slowly nodded.

"That sounds pretty promising. There's no use in being anxious right now. We should focus on laying a solid foundation first. Maybe the problem lies in some inconspicuous little detail."

"I suggest finding a company that specializes in customs brokerage to help you check."

Zhou Shufen continued.

"These kinds of professional matters should be left to professionals. They deal with customs every day, are familiar with various declaration regulations, and are aware of common pitfalls. If they do find a problem, they can help us remedy it in time, and maybe even use the expedited channel to minimize the losses."

Zhou Shufen's tone was steady, exuding an unquestionable composure.

Instead of blindly stumbling around in confusion, it's better to spend a little money to hire outside help, which saves time and effort.

"Also, don't forget to call the customs office to find out where the review process is at."

She suddenly remembered something and quickly added a sentence.

"You must be sincere and avoid appearing evasive or impatient. Let them know that you are actively cooperating and willing to correct the problem as soon as possible. This will make them more willing to provide suggestions and may even speed up the process."

Once the direction is determined, subsequent actions can be taken in a targeted manner.

She learned these skills little by little after her rebirth.

The knowledge I've accumulated bit by bit is finally coming in handy.

In her previous life, she missed several key turning points due to her lack of information and slow reaction, ultimately leading to a tragic end.

In this life, she must never repeat the same mistake.

From then on, she would try her best to absorb and digest any useful information she encountered, even if it was just a little bit of fragmented knowledge. She was willing to spend time organizing and understanding it.

Guo Zhenyi listened as she analyzed each point.

Her thinking was clear, and every step she took was logical and well-founded, which gradually made his originally chaotic thoughts clear.

His eyes lit up when she finished speaking.

"Wow! That's a very comprehensive and logical explanation. I understand it all! It's much better than me trying to figure it out all day!"

"Then why don't we get moving?"

Zhou Shufen smiled and urged him on.

"This kind of thing can't be delayed. The sooner it's dealt with, the better the chances of success. If we wait two more days, we might not even have a chance to explain."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away!"

Guo Zhenyi nodded and immediately took out his phone.

He assigned each specific task to the students.

He stayed at the company headquarters to oversee operations.

A moment later, he dialed another number.

As soon as the call connected, the other party asked anxiously.

"Manager Guo, what's the situation on your end? I heard the cargo is stuck at customs, is that true? What's the progress? When can we get it released? Please don't let anything go wrong at this crucial moment! Every day of delay is a significant loss!"

"President Yu, please don't get upset. I know you're anxious; I would be anxious too."

Guo Zhenyi quickly spoke up to comfort him.

“We are already doing everything we can to handle this. We have contacted our overseas suppliers and asked them to urgently send an additional batch of goods of the same specifications, which should arrive at the port as early as next Monday. We guarantee that this will not delay your production schedule or affect your customer deliveries.”

"Time is limited, you should know that."

Mr. Yu's tone remained firm.

“Even with the fastest restocking, there are still procedures to follow, and you know the air freight costs. I can't keep waiting. Besides, the market waits for no one. If we miss the window of opportunity, this deal is essentially ruined. You need to give me a definite timeframe, not just a verbal promise!”

"This was indeed our oversight, and we apologize for the trouble we have caused you. On behalf of the company, I sincerely apologize to you."

Guo Zhenyi did not shirk responsibility and apologized again with a sincere attitude.

"But I can assure you that I will do my utmost to coordinate resources from all parties and mobilize all available forces to completely resolve this issue. Whether it's expedited customs clearance locally or tracking overseas restocking, I will personally oversee it and never let go."

"All right."

Mr. Yu's tone finally softened slightly.