Chapter 130

The inspiration for holding the food fair came from Ye Manzhi's trip to Guangzhou the year she got married.

After returning from Guangzhou, she has been thinking about the "Famous Dishes and Delicacies Exhibition".

Occasionally, when I look through old photo albums, I would drool at myself eating and drinking so much.

She later often paid attention to news in the newspapers. After the "Famous Dishes and Delicacies Exhibition" in Guangzhou, no other province or city had held a similar food-themed exhibition.

If the Department of Industry can take this opportunity to hold a food trade fair, it will definitely be the first shot in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the light industry!

But Ye Manzhi knew that this proposal would most likely be rejected by the leadership.

The main reason is that food has been in short supply in the past two years. Not only have the food quotas of urban residents been reduced, but many members of rural cooperatives are also waiting to eat the returned grain.

Under such circumstances, holding a food industry trade fair with great fanfare might be labeled as extravagant and hedonistic.

That's why Ye Manzhi didn't bring it up at the group meeting, and only dared to talk about his thoughts with Xia Zhuyun in private.

It is up to the leader to decide whether to adopt her opinion.

Xia Zhuyun also knew that there were certain risks in holding this trade fair.

But risks and opportunities coexist. She has reached her current position with courage and vision.

She had just been criticized by her superiors for the textile review team secretly dividing up samples.

If a food fair could be held at this time, not only would the problem of remaining samples be properly resolved, but more importantly, it would also make up for her mistake and prove to her superiors that she was actively looking for a solution to the problem.

Therefore, she recommended Ye Manzhi's proposal to the review panel that afternoon and tried to find ways to reduce the risks of holding a food fair.

"This food fair is not only a celebration of the light industry's tenth anniversary, but also a showcase of our province's achievements in increasing production and saving, and supporting agriculture through light industry!"

When Ye Manzhi heard these words at the meeting, her heart immediately settled down.

She couldn't help but sigh silently, a leader is a leader, look at the breadth of his vision and his high ability!

She still has a lot to learn!

The food industry trade fair was scheduled to be held during the New Year's Day holiday.

This suddenly made the work of the provincial excellence evaluation team more intense.

According to the original plan, the "Food Industry Quality Products Evaluation Conference" was to be held at the Binjiang Hotel for six days.

One or two categories are evaluated every day, and judges from other places can also take the opportunity to have a look around Binjiang.

Now time has become particularly tight. The provincial excellent list must be announced before December 25, and the work of the review team has been compressed to be completed within three days.

It seemed that Xia Zhuyun wanted to avenge her previous shame by working as a food group judge.

Every step of the review process is strictly controlled.

In order to prevent someone from defying the law and bribing the judges, she only notified the 59 judges the night before the formal review - some categories of products in this evaluation adopted the method of market sampling, sample reference, and password review.

In other words, some products are sampled from the market, and the products sent by the companies are only for reference. All the outer packaging is removed, and all people can see are the numbers, not the manufacturer and trademark.

Once the evaluation method was announced, not only the corporate representatives who stayed in Binjiang to wait for news were dumbfounded, but Ye Manzhi was also dumbfounded.

The first day's evaluation focused on "alcoholic beverages" and "meat, eggs and poultry products".

Since the meat processing factory where Chang Yue'e worked also participated in the provincial excellence evaluation, Ye Manzhi took the initiative to report to his superiors and applied for abstention.

She doesn't have to rate meat, poultry, or egg products, but she does have to rate alcoholic beverages.

As we all know, beer, white wine and sausages are standard, and sausages are a standard side dish.

Ye Manzhi took a sip of wine, ate a bite of sausage, and tasted more than a dozen kinds of liquor with great relish.

She has been drinking for quite a while. She had drunk white wine before she got married, and after they got married, she often had a drink with Wu Zhengrong. She could tell the quality of white wine after just two sips.

However, when it came to beer and wine, without any trademarks, she really couldn't tell the difference between the products of different factories.

She drank a sip of beer and a bite of meat until her cheeks turned red and she almost got drunk, but she didn't understand what she was drinking.

While scoring on the evaluation form, Ye Manzhi thought guiltily that it was fortunate that the evaluation panel included many experts from the Food Research Institute, the Light Industry Science Research Institute, and major wineries from other places.

Her score will not have much impact on the final evaluation results.

Ye Manzhi does not participate in the evaluation of meat, eggs and poultry products, but she has always paid close attention to the evaluation results.

The password review method is an opportunity for small factories. The judges are not influenced by the fame of the products and personal relationships. The scoring process is relatively fair. Some high-quality products produced by small factories can also have a chance to stand out.

The preliminary list of provincial excellent products was released after three days of evaluation.

Ye Manzhi saw the evaluation results at the first time.

The "Guangming Small Sausages" submitted by Binjiang Guangming Meat Products Processing Plant did not make it into the provincial preliminary list.

But it scored very highly at the judging panel, with 58 judges giving it a high score of 92 points, ranking fourth among all processed meat products.

This shows that the sausages were recognized by most judges in terms of taste, quality and hygiene.

Ye Manzhi ran back to her parents' home that same day and told Chang Yue'e the good news.

"Director Chang, this is a great achievement! You can brag about it later!"

"What are you bragging about? You didn't actually win the award."

Ye Manzhi comforted her, "You didn't win the award because your factory is small, your output is too low, and your prices are a bit high. If you can expand your production quickly, maybe you can catch up with the evaluation of excellent products."

The provincial quality evaluation must be comprehensively reviewed in combination with production volume, economic and social benefits. Low production is the biggest shortcoming of small sausages.

Chang Yue'e frowned and discussed with her, "The comrade from the provincial approval committee called me and said that the province is going to hold a food fair and asked me to send more products. Do you think it's okay if I don't participate in the fair?"

"Why not participate in such a great event? It's a great opportunity to promote our products at the trade show!"

"Participating in a provincial quality evaluation can be a real drain on a small factory like us," Chang Yue'e said. "We sent over 10 kilograms of sausage samples alone, and we can't collect any money from the committee for participating; all the costs are borne by the factory. Small factories like us simply can't afford to participate."

Ye Manzhi smiled and said, "Don't worry. The merchandise at this trade fair isn't free. The prices at the trade fair will be the same as in stores. Just send the goods over, and the supply and marketing cooperative will be responsible for selling them. The factory will be the final settlement. Since the sausages are an unplanned product, you don't have to rush production. Just give away as many as you can, and it doesn't matter where you sell them. This will help you recover your funds before the New Year."

*

The Food Industry Fair officially opened at the Provincial Workers' Cultural Palace on New Year's Day 1963.

The trade fair lasts for three days, and the first day is the busiest.

It happened to be the New Year's Day holiday, and in addition to representatives from major companies and factories, many citizens also flocked to the event despite the heavy snow and cold wind.

In order to prepare for this trade fair, all members of the Chemical and Light Industry Department were mobilized, and with the addition of personnel seconded from the Binjiang Municipal Industrial Bureau, the preparations for the trade fair were completed in less than ten days.

Hundreds and nearly a thousand products are placed in three areas: one is the concentrated display area for provincial excellent products, one is the display area for other excellent products, and the other is the display area for increased production and savings, and light industry supporting agricultural achievements.

Ye Manzhi was assigned to guard the third display area.

Compared with the first two exhibition areas, the area where she is is the quietest.

Citizens buy tickets to visit mainly to buy products at the exhibition. Who wants to see the results on display?

Most people just strolled around this area and then went to the first two exhibition areas with their cash and various tickets to buy food and drinks.

Even Comrade Wu Yuzhuo, who was full of sweet words, couldn't resist the temptation.

Before going to bed last night, little Wu Yuzhuo heard that his mother would actually go to work during the holiday, so he generously said that he would bring his father to the workplace to accompany her so that the whole family could celebrate the New Year together.

But when she really entered the exhibition, yesterday's promise immediately became a thing of the past. She rode on her father's shoulders and ordered her father to take her to the booth selling candy and pastries to take a look.

"Chief Ye, we are guarding this side. Why don't you go to the front and take a look?" The girl in the Municipal Industrial Bureau's office suggested with a smile.

Ye Manzhi was accustomed to being addressed as "Section Chief Ye". She did not hold any official position and was a cadre of the provincial department. When others did not want to call her by her name, they would call her Section Chief Ye.

"Section Chief Ye" shook his head and said, "Although our exhibition area doesn't have many visitors, it's of great significance. We might have reporters and leaders coming to visit, so we shouldn't take it lightly."

She withdrew her wandering gaze and focused her attention back on the nearby booth.

After folding her arms and thinking for a while, she took out a dollar and two food coupons and gave them to Liu Ying, the girl who had just chatted with her.

"Xiao Liu, please go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a pound of soybeans and a block of tofu. If you have detergent and facial oil, it would be best if you could get two. If you can borrow them, lend them. If you can't, buy them. Try to choose ones produced in our province."

Liu Ying was confused, but she didn't ask too much. She took the money and ran out.

When she came back, all the things Ye Manzhi mentioned were gathered together.

Aside from the money spent on the tofu, everything else was borrowed from the supply and marketing cooperative. "I left my work ID there. I'll just return the items after the fair is over."

Ye Manzhi thanked her and then took the girl to rearrange one of the booths.

"Chief Ye, what's the point of setting up this booth?" Liu Ying was a little confused.

Facial oil is not food, why put it together with soy sauce and MSG?

Ye Manzhi was about to explain when she saw Section Chief Zhao Guilin running over with an anxious look on his face.

He said to the people in the exhibition area, "The director will be accompanying the leaders to visit the third exhibition area soon, and there will be reporters accompanying them. Everyone, please cheer up and do a good job of serving and explaining!"

Several people agreed in a low voice, quickly stood up, straightened their clothes, and stood next to the booth.

About a quarter of an hour later, Director Luo came to the third exhibition area accompanied by two leaders, followed by several directors including Xia Zhuyun.

Of course, reporters with cameras also followed.

The leaders passed by each booth and stopped when they saw one that interested them to listen to the staff's explanations. Xia Zhuyun would occasionally make some supplementary remarks.

The most important contents were displayed at the front. The leaders had stayed at the first few booths for a long time. The contents of the subsequent displays were similar, and the leaders obviously quickened their pace of visiting.

Soon they arrived at the second to last booth where Ye Manzhi was.

The reporters had already put away their cameras and were about to call it a day when a leader from the Ministry of Light Industry stopped and asked, "Isn't this a food industry trade show? Why are there cosmetics and detergents mixed in?"

Ye Manzhi said with a smile: "This is an important achievement of increasing production and saving in our province's food industry."

"Oh, then please introduce him to everyone."

"In recent years, due to the tight supply of raw materials, many enterprises in our province's food industry have been shut down waiting for materials. For example, in the oil and fat industry, some oil mills are shut down for almost half of the year."

The leader, who was wearing a woolen Zhongshan suit, nodded and did not comment on the phenomenon she introduced.

This situation is also common in other provinces and cities.

Ye Manzhi continued, "To solve this problem, our Provincial Department of Industry has proposed several effective solutions. On the one hand, we're actively looking for substitutes to expand the source of raw materials. For example, breweries are using potatoes and fruits instead of grain to make wine. On the other hand, we're making comprehensive use of existing raw materials to maximize their value."

She pointed to a small tub of bulk soy sauce on the stand.

"This is the soy sauce produced by Qingjiang Seasoning Factory in our province. Before they adopted the integrated utilization of raw materials, they used soybeans to make soy sauce, like most breweries. However, they no longer use soybeans directly to brew soy sauce at their factory."

The other party nodded and said, "Well, some factories use the soybean dregs and bean cakes after oil extraction to brew soy sauce."

"Yes, some factories do brew soy sauce as you describe, but breweries in our province use their raw materials more meticulously. First, there are two extraction processes for soybean oil. The bean cake left over from cold pressing is used to make tofu," Ye Manzhi pointed to the tofu she had just bought, then to the bag of MSG next to it. "The bean cake from hot pressing is used as the raw material for making MSG, and the byproduct of MSG production is high-quality soy sauce."

Ye Manzhi led the group to the other side of the booth. "In addition, sunflower seed oil extraction is also being comprehensively utilized by major companies. The sludge from sunflower seed oil extraction can be used to make detergents. The extracted glycerin can be used as a raw material for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries."

Everyone looked at the detergents and facial oils on the stand and nodded in understanding.

"The sunflower seed shells left after oil extraction can be used to extract furfural, a chemical raw material. Sunflower seed cakes can be used to make soy sauce, and the soy sauce residue can be used as feed for poultry and livestock, or as fertilizer for farming."

"After this comprehensive utilization, the value of the raw materials is equivalent to 3-5 times that of simply pressing oil or brewing soy sauce, which can meet the production needs of multiple links."

The leader in the Mao suit smiled and nodded. "You've really maximized the utilization of these tiny soybeans and sunflower seeds. Is this kind of comprehensive production technology complicated? Does it require additional investment in equipment?"

“There’s no need for additional state investment; each factory is figuring out its own way.”

Xia Zhujun added, "This technology isn't complicated, and each factory has developed it using traditional methods. Companies in our province that have done well in this area, such as the Binjiang Liquor Factory, Qingjiang Seasoning Factory, and Jincheng Sugar Factory, haven't asked for money from higher authorities. Furthermore, they all won awards in this provincial quality product competition."

The leader in the Zhongshan suit clapped his hands and said, "The food industry is characterized by seasonal production, and insufficient raw materials in factories is a common problem. Your efforts to increase production and save money are very representative. Not only do you maximize the use of raw materials, but you also tap into human potential. It's truly worth learning from!"

The leaders listened to the introduction, took photos in front of the booth, and soon moved to the next exhibition area.

The crowd that gathered nearby to watch the excitement gradually dispersed.

Wu Yuzhuo was standing in the front row of the crowd, still holding half a sausage in his hand. When he noticed the crowd around him had dispersed, he shouted "Mom!" and then held up her sausage, handing it to her like a treasure: "Mom, this is for you!"

Ye Manzhi looked at the sausage that she had chewed into pits, and said with an expression that was hard to describe: "Baby, eat it yourself."

"I've eaten," Wu Yuzhuo carefully opened his other hand. "I picked out all the white meat for you and left it for Daddy!"

Neither the mother nor the daughter likes the white meat in the sausage, so she has considerately chewed out the white meat!

Ye Manzhi and Wu Zhengrong: "::::::"

My daughter is such a caring little girl.

Ye Manzhi said modestly, "Dr. Wu, it's not good to eat only fat. Why don't you eat that half sausage as well?"

Wu Zhengrong turned his eyes away from the sausage that looked like it was being chewed by a dog and declined, "The child gave it to you specially. Don't waste her kindness."

The couple began to give in to each other.

When Comrade Wu Yuzhuo showed a puzzled look, with confusion in his bright eyes, Wu Zhengrong finally gave in.

He ate the handful of fat his daughter had picked out and pushed the remaining half of the sausage to Ye Lai Ya. "Let's each eat our own. Don't be polite."

Ye Manzhi: “…”

Ah, this sweet burden.

Comrade Chang Yue'e should quickly expand the production scale of her sausages.

By then, Wu Zhengrong won’t have to eat fatty meat, and she won’t have to eat “little poop” either.

*

The three-day food industry exhibition came to an end, which meant that Ye Manzhi’s work in the “Provincial Excellence” evaluation project was completely completed.

Although the review work in other light industries is still going on, it has nothing to do with her anymore.

Xia Zhujun praised her arrangements for the trade fair that day. It was said that the display was very good and the provincial leaders were quite satisfied.

Then she was asked to write a report on the comprehensive utilization of raw materials in the food industry.

Ye Manzhi knew that this report was to be submitted to provincial leaders, so she consulted a lot of information and contacted the directors of several factories to provide the most detailed and accurate data possible.

After she handed the report to the director and wrote a summary of her recent work, she returned to her nine-to-five office life.

The Chinese New Year comes early this year, and it will be the Spring Festival in just over twenty days.

Ye Manzhi attaches great importance to the first Spring Festival after moving.

As soon as Laba Festival came, she began to busy herself with purchasing New Year's goods, going to the store to buy flowered cloth to make new clothes for her children to wear during the New Year.

When she had nothing to do at work, she wrote a big cleaning plan. As a "municipal health activist", she would lead two family members, Wu Zhengrong and Wu Yuzhuo, to clean the house.

However, Wu Zhengrong really couldn't stand her diligence in cleaning the house every week.

Just as Ye Laiya was about to arrange for him to participate in labor again, Wu Zhengrong put down his book and said in a serious tone, "When I went to the kindergarten to pick up Youyan today, the teacher said that some parents suggested that the kindergarten should open interest classes to cultivate children's interests and hobbies."

"Ah, what classes are the kindergarten planning to offer?"

Ye Manzhi was not surprised by this.

The kindergarten of the Military Academy accepts children of the faculty and staff of the military academy. Those who can be teachers in the military academy are not only soldiers, but also highly educated.

It is not surprising that such parents would suggest to the kindergarten that their children develop interests and specialties.

"Kindergartens can only do so much. They're mainly focused on physical exercise and intellectual development." Wu Zhengrong glanced at his daughter, who was still immersed in a picture book. "They say they offer gymnastics, dance, and art classes, all for $1.50 a month. Your daughter is quite capable. She signed herself up for all three classes."

"..." Ye Manzhi said with a smile, "Does she have time to learn?"

"The class times of the three interest classes overlap, and the teacher said I can only choose two at most."

Ye Manzhi thought to herself that this child was truly her, Ye Lai Ya's, daughter.

Although she didn't like studying when she was a child, she was very keen on playing the pipa and singing.

It seems that Comrade Wu Yuzhuo still follows her.

Ye Manzhi felt very happy, so she took her child to the company's dance team rehearsal early in the morning on the weekend so that she could feel the atmosphere of the dance class in advance.

After winning the first prize in the National Day Gala, the Industrial Department dance troupe was retained.

Rehearse twice a week.

Sometimes we rehearse on weekends, sometimes we rehearse after get off work on weekdays. The time is quite random and depends entirely on everyone's work schedule.

Ye Manzhi tries to attend every rehearsal. On the one hand, she really likes dancing, and on the other hand, she can use the rehearsal opportunity to connect with colleagues from other departments.

Others seemed to share her opinion, and the dance team's rehearsal attendance rate was particularly high.

If it is the weekend rehearsal, some colleagues will bring their children to the company to play.

Several little girls came today. After Wu Yuzhuo let go of his mother's hand, he ran over like a little chicken that had found its organization and quickly started playing with the little sisters.

Ye Manzhi was not too worried about her daughter's social skills. The child and Yi Yi next door ran around the compound all day long and played with everyone.

She withdrew her gaze from Wu Yuzhuo and heard someone beside her ask with a smile, "Didn't Director Guo say he'd take us to Beijing to participate in the National Art Festival this year? We've already practiced two dances, so why hasn't Director Guo given us a definite answer yet?"

Ye Manzhi is also very concerned about the upcoming performance arrangements, and she also wants to go to Beijing to see it.

Liu Wenli from the Personnel Department whispered, "Director Guo might not have time to manage any cultural performances lately, haha."

"What's the matter?"

Liu Wenli didn't say anything, but stretched out two fingers and made a walking gesture.

Others: “…”

Is Deputy Director Guo going to be transferred?

Someone asked out loud what he was thinking.

Liu Wenli laughed it off and said, "I'm not sure. It could be something completely unreliable."

But since she can say it, there is an 80% chance that the news is true.

Liu Wenli works in the Personnel Department and is always well-informed.

Whether it's from within the unit or outside the unit, she always gets the news one step ahead of others.

The job transfer of the department leader had nothing to do with a small fry like Ye Manzhi, so she just listened to it casually.

However, during a break in the rehearsal, Pang Ting, who was standing next to her, whispered, "Now that Director Guo is gone, our Finance Department and your Chemical and Light Industry Department will be in a mess..."

Ye Manzhi didn't quite understand at first, but after a few seconds, her head suddenly buzzed.

Yes, the leadership of the Industrial Department consists of one director and three deputies. Director Guo is a female leader. After she is transferred, her successor will most likely also be a female cadre.

If they were to be promoted from within their own units, Director Wang of the Finance Department and Xia Zhuyun of the Chemical and Light Industry Department would be the most likely to make the cut.

Once Xia Zhujun gets promoted, the people from the Chemical and Light Industry Department will be able to sit in a row and enjoy the fruits.

Section Chief Lu from Comprehensive Section 1 and Zhao Guilin from Comprehensive Section 3 may both be transferred.

Ye Manzhi felt very cold in her heart, not knowing whether she should be happy for Xia Zhuyun or worried about herself.

If Zhao Guilin made progress at this juncture, who would be the chief of Comprehensive Section 3?