Qian Duoduo nodded and said, "This management is quite good. So, what about your sales figures?"
At this point, Zhang the tofu maker glanced at Qian Sheng but remained silent.
Qian Sheng received a look from Zhang the tofu maker, sighed, and said, "That's why I asked you to come!"
Qian Duoduo was slightly taken aback when she heard Zhang the tofu maker's words. Then, a thought flashed through her mind. She remembered that when the tofu shop first started, she was personally responsible for all the sales work. Her gaze swept over Zhang the tofu maker and finally landed on Qian Sheng. She said, "Dad, why don't we find a place to sit down and have a good talk?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang the tofu maker quickly replied, "Alright, let's talk in my office." After saying that, he took the lead and walked ahead, while Qian Duoduo and Qian Sheng strolled leisurely towards Zhang the tofu maker's factory manager's office.
Upon entering the office, Qian Duoduo looked around and found that the room was not large, but it was arranged in an orderly manner. There was a simple desk in the room, and a row of cabinets was placed against the wall, giving the whole space a somewhat formal feel.
Zhang the tofu maker warmly invited Qian Duoduo and Qian Sheng to sit down. He picked up two cups, went to the kettle next to him, filled them with water, and then returned to his seat, smiling as he said, "This is some jasmine tea I bought a couple of days ago. It's Monkey King brand! Try it and see how it tastes."
Qian Duoduo took the cup, looked at the tea leaves inside, and couldn't help but sigh at the strict quality requirements people in this era had for products. She took a deep breath, savoring the fragrance of jasmine; this familiar scent reminded her of a time before she transmigrated into the book.
She blew on the tea, took a sip, savoring its sweetness and fragrance, and exclaimed, "Hmm, this is indeed authentic Monkey King brand jasmine tea, it tastes excellent!" She put down the cup and looked at Zhang the tofu maker.
Qian Sheng took a sip of tea, then exclaimed, "Pah! It's so hot! I almost burned my teeth!" He put down the cup and said, "Old Zhang, tell Duo Duo about the current situation at the tofu shop. Our Duo Duo is always out doing business, so he's definitely thinking more than those of us who are stuck in this little corner of the earth."
Zhang the tofu maker nodded and said, "Our main customers are still the three state-run restaurants. They also occasionally go to the markets in various villages or towns."
Qian Duoduo was taken aback. After putting down her water glass, she said, "No, you're only delivering to state-run restaurants right now. What about the others?"
Qian Sheng and Zhang the tofu maker looked at each other, their faces showing bewilderment and confusion about the problem.
Qian Duoduo looked helplessly at the two old men in front of him, whose combined age was over a hundred years old. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "I say, you two, your way of doing things is wrong! Look, even now, you are still using the same tricks I used back then?"
Back then, due to national policies, private trading was impossible, so I had no choice but to establish connections with state-run restaurants. But things are different now. The private economy is booming and growing, yet you remain stuck in the old ways, clinging to outdated methods. How long can this tofu shop survive like this?
Hearing Qian Duoduo's words, Qian Sheng nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "In that case, Duoduo, what should we do now?"
Zhang, the tofu maker standing nearby, fell into deep thought after hearing Qian Duoduo's words. Indeed, as she said, back then, when Qian Duoduo was only a teenager, she had the courage to go to several communes and state-run restaurants to vigorously promote her family's tofu; on the other hand, people like them only knew how to deliver tofu to others in a routine manner and then settle those IOUs once a month.
They say you can tell what a child will be like at three and what they will be like at seven. This person is now one of the few college students from the village who has made a name for themselves outside the village. That's something they showed from a young age. It seems I really am getting old.
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment and said, "Change is inevitable."
Qian Sheng asked, "Do you have any specific ideas?"
Seeing his father's anxious expression, Qian Duoduo said, "Shangzhi County and Maoershan Town are not far from here. Maoershan Town is only a few miles closer to the county seat."
Now every town has a farmers' market and a large fair; these are advantages that should be utilized.
Zhang the tofu maker looked down at his hands, gently touched the cup beside him, and said, "We've considered selling to individual customers, but that would increase manpower and costs."
Qian Duoduo nodded and said, "That is indeed a problem. I'll go to the county town and the town tomorrow to take a look around. After all, I just got back, and I'm not sure what the situation is like there now. After I'm done, I'll talk to my dad and Uncle Zhang about it."
Zhang the tofu maker nodded and said, "You college students really do have the sharpest minds."
Qian Duoduo said with a smile, "Uncle Zhang, we have many capable people in our tofu shop. Actually, you don't need to keep Jia Ao here. He is knowledgeable and cultured. You can let him go out and explore the market."
Zhang Doufu fell silent. Jia Ao and Chunmei had been a good couple for many years. But the outside world was too dazzling. After seeing so many beautiful flowers, how could he still be good to his own plum blossom?
Looking at him, Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "He and Sister Chunmei have been married for so many years and have children. Uncle Zhang, are you still afraid he'll run away?"
Zhang the tofu maker smiled somewhat embarrassedly after his thoughts were exposed by a single sentence.
Now that they had a preliminary plan, Qian Sheng took Qian Duoduo for another stroll around the tofu shop and chatted with Zhang Chunmei, Li Xiaohua, Jia Ao, Wang Shuang, the Wang Dan sisters, and some other people they knew well.
They talked about nothing more than mundane family matters. They also longed for the life outside that Qian Duoduo had mentioned, but their families were all here, and they were unfamiliar with the situation outside and afraid of being scammed.
Qian Duoduo accompanied Qian Sheng out of the tofu shop. They hadn't gone far when they saw a man and a woman coming towards them.
Qian Duoduo sensed that the atmosphere between the two was a bit strange, so she immediately grabbed Qian Sheng's arm and said, "Dad, let's go that way. I think there's a popcorn popping stall over there."
Qian Sheng was naturally willing to buy this rare snack for his elderly daughter, who rarely came back to the countryside. He also saw Qiao Tiezhu and his wife across the street, so he nodded and the two of them turned and headed down another road.
When Qiao Tiezhu walked down this street, he saw the stylish and beautiful Qian Duoduo, and his heart suddenly raced. Then he remembered how Qian Duoduo had rejected his confession years ago. A hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes.
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