Chapter 172
Ye Manzhi was very upset about the difference of four hundred yuan per ton and could not forget it.
As it was almost time to get off work, she called the research institute and asked Wu Zhengrong to go home as soon as possible and pick up the cub.
Hearing that there was something important to discuss, Wu Zhengrong did not delay. He handed over the work at hand to Lao Zhou and went to the kindergarten.
As a result, when the father and daughter hurried into the house, they were faced with a table full of meat and vegetables.
To be precise, it was a table full of dishes made with luncheon meat.
"Director Xiaoye, did our family celebrate the New Year early?"
"Haha, a practice run." Ye Manzhi asked, "Do you want white wine or beer today?"
Whenever there are delicious dishes at home, they always have a drink, and after winter comes, they usually drink soju.
But luncheon meat is a foreign product, so it might go better with beer.
Wu Zhengrong took off the military water bottle from the little girl, poured out the water inside, and put it back on her.
"Comrade Wu Yuzhuo."
"arrive!"
"Turn around! Target: the state-owned Bayi Restaurant." Wu Zhengrong put a large Lei Feng hat on her head. "Go get a beer."
After Wu Yuzhuo joined the Children's League, he received communist education every day and obeyed orders in all his actions.
When she heard her father solemnly assign her a task, her sense of mission suddenly rose.
He took the fifty cents, stuffed it into his cotton gloves with great life experience, reminded him, "Wait for me to eat meat together," and ran out with the kettle in his arms.
Ye Manzhi nudged Dr. Wu with her elbow and said, "Other children go there to get soy sauce, but our Youyan is the only one who gets beer for his parents."
"Making the most of your people." Wu Zhengrong asked as he took off his military coat. "What's going on today? Is our luncheon meat about to expire?"
Ye Lai Ya has the habit of stockpiling goods and always stocks a lot of canned food.
Occasionally I can open a can to satisfy my craving.
Today's table includes a cold luncheon meat dish, pan-fried luncheon meat, stir-fried luncheon meat with green peppers, and some kind of soup made with luncheon meat. The cost is higher than buying fresh meat. The only reason she is willing to use luncheon meat in a meeting is that the can of luncheon meat is about to expire.
"What? These cans are all fresh." Ye Manzhi relayed the information she had heard from Director Zhang to him, pinching her waist and saying unconvincedly, "How can the cost per ton differ by 400 yuan? Let's try the two products and see what the difference is."
Wu Zhengrong glanced at the six plates and two soup bowls on the table and said with a smile, "No wonder there are two servings of each dish."
It looks quite lively.
"Let's compare the formulas and see what the differences are."
Remembering the recipe, she ran back to the kitchen and took out two cans.
"Can you help me check if the ingredients are the same?"
Luncheon meat is mostly for export and is rarely seen in other stores except the Friendship Store.
So, the can of Merlin ham luncheon meat she bought from the factory's technical department had its ingredients listed in English, which was different from the ones their factory exported to East Germany.
Wu Zhengrong helped her translate. "Pork, ham, starch, salt, then all the seasonings, and finally nitrite. If their starch content is high, it may also reduce costs."
The couple speculated for a long time without any clue. When the kid came back with a pot of beer, they could finally start eating.
Ye Manzhi picked up two pieces of fried luncheon meat and gave them to the child who had worked so hard running errands. "Baby, try these two pieces of meat and see if they are delicious. What's the difference?"
Wu Yuzhuo ate both pieces of meat contentedly and commented, "They're both delicious. This piece of meat is a little fattier."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
That's because she is not good at cooking and she added too much oil.
She tasted each dish herself and couldn't tell much difference.
Luncheon meat is for export, and international customers have very high requirements for the quality of canned food.
When we first exported canned pork to the Soviet Union, they specially sent an expert to the factory for guidance.
If the hygiene conditions and product quality are not up to standard, people will directly refuse to accept them.
Therefore, the China National Food Import and Export Corporation has very strict control over product quality. If Meilin adjusts the formula and reduces the pork content, it will not pass the inspection of the head office.
The quality of canned luncheon meat produced by the existing food factories in China should be similar.
Wu Zhengrong filled her glass and asked, "Didn't you say they have a raw material base? Could it be that their pork is cheaper than yours?"
“Not likely.”
When this was mentioned, Ye Manzhi had something to talk about.
When she first started working at the Department of Industry, she was in charge of food industry business.
She has a mental account of the prices of most food ingredients, so sometimes when she goes to the store to buy something, she feels reluctant to spend money because she finds that the retail price is too different from the purchase price or wholesale price.
"Our country implements a unified policy of raising and purchasing live pigs. There are unified prices for wholesale and retail prices. The purchase price may fluctuate depending on the supply situation, but any fluctuations are nationwide."
Ye Manzhi navigated Dr. Wu's blind spot. "Our factory also has a breeding base, raising a lot of fat pigs. However, the pig farm is a separate accounting unit, and the food factory has to do accounting when it takes live pigs from the pig farm. We pay the same price here as we do from other pig farms. The raw material base only ensures a continuous supply of raw materials and has no impact on the price of raw materials."
When it comes to live pig prices, there may only be price differences between regions.
But the prices in big cities like Shanghai are sometimes a little higher than in other areas, and the purchase price of live pigs there may be more expensive than theirs!
Thinking of this, Ye Manzhi felt even heavier in his heart.
Other people’s purchase price for live pigs may be higher, but the cost per ton can be reduced by 400 yuan!
Where exactly is the gap?
Wu Yuzhuo ate the meat with big mouthfuls, and did not forget to listen to his parents' conversation with his ears perked up.
After she had eaten and drunk her fill, she provided the adults with a new idea.
"Mom, have you been deceived? Tang Xiaojun always lies and even cheated me out of my orange candies."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
"That makes sense. Director Xiaoye, don't just believe everything you hear. Director Zhang's information is likely inaccurate. You should find a way to confirm it first." Wu Zhengrong accepted this conclusion and looked at the young accountant. "Tell me, how did Tang Xiaojun deceive you? How did you fall for it?"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
*
This kind of thing really needs to be confirmed by someone.
But if she asked the factory leaders directly about the cost price, it would seem too inappropriate.
The next day, she went to the factory. As soon as she entered, she said to Zhou Ruyi in the secretary's office, "Ruyi, can you help me find out if there have been any large-scale conferences related to canned foods held in East China in the past six months? Provincial, municipal, or inter-factory competitions are also fine. They must have Shanghai participating."
The factory office makes clippings every day and collects all reports related to the food industry.
Zhou Ruyi went to the factory office to borrow a few sets of clippings to look through. Soon he went in to report, "Last month, three provinces and one city in East China held a food and non-staple food conference, and several factories in Shanghai also participated."
Ye Manzhi studied the report for a long time, rehearsed it in his mind, and then took turns with Zhou Ruyi to call Luo Jianmin of Shanghai Yimin Factory No. 2.
Two hours later, the long-distance call was finally connected.
When Luo Jianmin received Ye Manzhi's call, he was surprised and a little uncomfortable.
At the beginning, Ye Manzhi represented Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory to discuss cooperation with them, and also said that the city might allow Yimin No. 2 Factory and Meilin Factory to merge.
As a result, the cooperation between the two parties failed to be reached, but Ye Manyi's words came true.
Three months ago, the canning equipment and technical workers of Yimin Factory No. 2 were merged into Meilin Factory.
He also came to Meilin Factory as deputy director.
Ye Manzhi held the receiver and said in a tone that sounded warm and cheerful to anyone, "Director Luo, long time no see! The Chinese New Year is coming soon, so I want to wish you a happy New Year in advance! Happy New Year!"
Luo Jianmin laughed heartily in response, "Okay, okay, Director Ye, I wish you a happy new year too!"
His eyes subconsciously turned to the desk calendar. There were still more than ten days until the Spring Festival, and the people of Binjiang had actually started to wish each other a happy new year so early?
He attributed it to regional differences and different customs, and greeted his distant friends cordially.
Ye Manzhi smiled and said a series of auspicious words, then got to the point: "Director Luo, you've been at Meilin Factory for several months. How are you? Are you adapting well?"
Luo Jianmin said in a high-spirited tone, "Although I've changed offices, I'm still doing familiar work. There's nothing I can't adapt to!"
"That's great, that's great. Meilin Factory is already a benchmark in the industry, and this merger with Yimin Factory No. 2 is an even stronger alliance, providing a broader platform for development," Ye Manzhi flattered. "Director Luo, last month, you three provinces and one city held a food conference, and I was paying attention to it in Binjiang. Meilin Factory is truly amazing, managing to keep the cost of luncheon meat under 2,000 yuan per ton! It really puts other food factories to shame; we can't even begin to catch up with this achievement."
Luo Jianmin is habitually modest: "We all learn from each other and draw on each other's strengths to overcome our weaknesses. On other indicators, we still need to exchange ideas with our fellow units."
Information within the industry is mutually shared, and the food and non-staple food conferences in the three provinces and one city in East China are very large.
Many newspapers reported on it at the time.
It's normal that Binjiang noticed it, but I don't know which newspaper is so ignorant of the rules that it also reported the cost price?
He frowned slightly and wanted to ask Director Ye which news report she was paying attention to.
Ye Manzhi brought the topic back to New Year's greetings. After a few words, she sighed and said, "Director Luo, the factory requires that long-distance calls cannot exceed three minutes. I'm just wishing you a happy new year in advance and asking about your work at your new company..."
She said a few more polite words, and then without waiting for the other party to ask her anything, she hung up the phone.
Luo Jianmin glanced at the receiver and thought to himself that Binjiang Factory was strange.
They say it will control costs, but Deputy Director Ye actually made a long-distance call to wish everyone a happy new year!
It can't be controlled, it can only play for three minutes...
He shook his head and put down the phone, while Ye Manzhi in Binjiang was already walking around in circles in the office.
It's over!
The cost of luncheon meat from this factory is actually 2,000 yuan per ton!
How is this possible?
Where did the more than 400 yuan go?
Ye Manzhi put on a military coat, a scarf and a hat, and ran to the fourth workshop where luncheon meat was produced.
Unlike other workshops, the production of canned meat is not seasonal.
As long as there are orders, we can start work all year round.
When Ye Manzhi entered, the workers in the workshop were working hard.
She called out the workshop director and deputy director who were inspecting the production line, found a deserted corner, and asked, "Director Guan, how are the tasks being completed these days?"
"Production is progressing normally," Guan Duofu said, explaining his difficulties as usual. "Director Ye, the canning workshop made a lot of profit for the factory last year, right? Could you give us another set of luncheon meat equipment? We're completely overwhelmed right now!"
"Let's wait a bit about the equipment. We'll try to get an extra set this year," Ye Manzhi whispered. "Director Guan, Director Liu, I just heard that the Meilin factory has very strict cost control on luncheon meat, and they can save 400 yuan per ton compared to us! You're the workshop directors and you know the situation best. Can you identify the gaps there first?"
"Impossible! The production cost of our luncheon meat has been reduced to the lowest possible level!"
"Nothing is impossible. I heard this from the factory manager." Ye Manzhi lowered his voice. "Don't make it public for now. Check the workshop first."
Deputy Director Liu said: "If there really is a gap, we will definitely actively improve it and not be afraid of losing face."
Therefore, there is no need to be sneaky when checking.
Guan Duofu faked a cough and said, "Director Ye, we've taken note of this and will begin a quiet investigation today."
After Ye Manzhi explained the precautions and left the workshop, he said to Lao Liu, "This matter really cannot be made public. We will do whatever Director Ye says."
Deputy Director Liu said, "The whole country is learning from Shanghai and trying to catch up with it. It's normal for there to be a gap between us and Meilin Factory. We have nothing to be ashamed of!"
"It's not a question of whether it's embarrassing or not." Guan Duofu pulled him out of the workshop and said, "Director Ye comes to our workshop every day. How could she not know everything about the workshop's situation? Why did she specifically ask about the completion of the production tasks just now? Do you think the leader has nothing to say to you?"
“…”
"Not counting the additional ones added midway, we have at least 800 tons of tasks this year. A difference of 400 yuan per ton means 320,000 yuan for 800 tons. Even if we can only find half of the difference, it will be enough for us to buy two sets of equipment."
"Yes, isn't that great?" Deputy Director Liu still didn't understand.
"Old Liu, use your brain, please! We're a cannery, not a cannery! Even if we save money, it's for the factory! There are so many workshops in the factory, which one doesn't need money urgently? Which one doesn't want to buy new equipment? If we really find this difference of hundreds of thousands, can we use all the money on the cannery? It would be good enough if the factory leaders can buy us a set of equipment."
*
Ye Manzhi was indeed a little hesitant about finding the gaps.
She is the deputy director of operations of a food factory. Logically, she should stand at a higher level and look at the problem from a global perspective.
However, since the factory has assigned contracted workshops to the deputy directors, and it is a personal assessment indicator, the deputy directors are bound to have emotional biases.
Wang Shihu is also actively trying to recruit advanced individuals for the chefs in the pastry workshop!
The canning workshop is not a separate accounting unit, and the money saved must be included in the factory's general ledger.
Her current relationship with Niu Enjiu is not very harmonious, and Niu Enjiu may not be willing to give her face.
If this money could really be saved, it would be good if the factory could use 20% to buy equipment for the canning workshop.
Just when she was weighing the pros and cons and hesitating, Niu Enjiu convened an enlarged meeting.
Factory Director Lao Niu announced a piece of good news at the meeting - the First Food Factory’s staff quarters were rated by the city as a “standardized unit on the life welfare front”!
What does standardized unit mean?
Other units must meet this standard!
This is a great honor and an affirmation from superiors of the food factory’s logistics and employee welfare work!
However, there was little joy on the faces of the factory managers and union chairmen present.
The head of the logistics department was actually very happy in his heart, as this was the achievement they had made.
But after catching a glimpse of the leaders' constipated faces, he quickly suppressed his smile and sat down at the last seat as if he had lost his parents.
Jiang Wenming was the first to speak up, saying, "That's great! At the end of the year, there are all kinds of awards and commendations. I didn't expect our family compound to be nominated for an award, too!"
Except for Ye Manzhi and Wang Shihu, all other factory leaders lived in the food factory's staff quarters.
The conditions in their compound are indeed very good. The level of sanitation, entertainment facilities, and cultural activities are higher than those of many other units' staff quarters.
This award is well deserved for them!
However, the timing of this award is rather delicate.
After Bao Xu had an accident while driving a forklift last time, the employees turned their attention to allocating housing to the company.
There was no substantial evidence that Bao Xu was driving under the influence, and even the police were unable to find out anything.
But it is a fact that his poor living environment affects his rest.
Some curious employees went to see the area near Bao Xu's house. The environment was very noisy. Not only was it next to the street, but it was also next to a vegetable market. There were residents coming and going to buy vegetables, and there were shouts of hawkers from time to time.
Bao Xu's family voluntarily paid 350 yuan to compensate the factory for its losses, and also paid 100 yuan in nutrition expenses to the injured Xiao Xu, which saved Bao Xu's iron rice bowl.
The matter had come to an end, and it was just before the Chinese New Year, so the employees' attention had already been diverted. However, the city suddenly awarded the family compound a major award to commend the food factory's living welfare work.
Doesn’t this attract everyone’s attention again?
Pi Yuzhen, the union chairperson, said, "The problem isn't the lack of housing, but the inequality. It's a fact that some employees live in poor conditions. The factory should face up to the problem and actively address it. Avoiding it isn't the solution."
Niu Enjiu: "..."
If he had money, would he not provide housing for his employees?
If you want to build a family compound, you have to spend real money!
The food factory has expanded rapidly in recent years. The factory has to give priority to business development and has temporarily put aside the housing issues of some employees.
According to the factory's plan, the profits this year or next year can be used to build new houses.
But last year a fire burned down the canning workshop, and the factory was short of money. Moreover, most of the employees had housing, so the issue of the family compound had to be shelved.
Niu Enjiu has been the director of a food factory for several years and has always made great progress, but this is the first time he has had to live in such a tight financial situation.
"Our family housing complex won an award, and the staff will probably bring up the topic of housing allocation again. Let's discuss how we can solve the housing issue."
Deputy factory directors: “…”
How else can it be solved?
The factory made considerable profits last year, but the canning workshop, candy workshop, biscuit workshop, and grain replica workshop all submitted reports to purchase equipment, and they also wanted to buy another truck.
Giving one point to these workshops would be enough.
The cost of building a family compound is as high as millions. Where do they have the spare money now?
Wang Shihu said, "We'll take our time with the construction, and we definitely won't be able to produce a plan before the Lunar New Year. But the employees worked really hard last year, so I suggest we increase the Lunar New Year benefits a bit this year so everyone can have a good year!"
With generous holiday benefits, employees don’t have to keep paying attention to housing allocation.
"That's fine," Niu Enjiu said, flipping through his notebook. "Pork is hard to buy before the New Year. We have our own pig farm, so we can give each employee two pounds of pork. Also, we won't sell the bones removed from the luncheon meat workshop for the time being. We can give them to everyone as a New Year's gift."
Ye Manzhi remained quiet throughout the whole process and didn't say much.
Until the end of the meeting, she didn't dare to mention the issue of finding gaps in luncheon meat.
The cost of building a family compound is very high. Two or three hundred thousand yuan is invested and not even a sound is heard.
Given her relationship with Lao Niu, if the cannery really saved this money, it would definitely be used as a construction fund for the family compound to appease the employees who wanted housing.
If the family compound can really be built, Ye Manzhi will agree. At least it can improve the living environment of some employees.
However, judging from the current financial situation of the food factory, it is absolutely impossible to come up with the remaining hundreds of thousands.
After the money goes through the fund account, Lao Niu can use it for other purposes.
There are many places in the factory where money is needed.
*
The Chinese New Year is approaching, and Ye Manzhi doesn’t want to find something to do for herself. She wants to have a good New Year!
So, she asked Director Guan of the luncheon meat workshop to find the shortcomings on his own first, and then arrange for him and the technicians to go to the Meilin factory for training after the Spring Festival.
During this period, either the canning workshop and the pig farm should be turned into separate accounting units, or other solutions should be found.
Ye Manzhi had a plan in mind, so he put down all the work at the factory.
Every day after get off work, I go to stores and markets to buy New Year’s goods, looking forward to the New Year.
After the Little New Year, she started to prepare new clothes for herself, Wu Zhengrong and the little boy.
In the past few years, supplies were tight, and Wu Zhengrong used all of his cloth coupons to make clothes for his mother and daughter.
Dr. Wu only had two new pairs of shorts every year, and the rest of his clothes were those issued by the army.
This year, Ye Manzhi decided to dress up her man and make him a new shirt.
After the cub was born, Wu Zhengrong no longer had the privilege of having his clothes measured for him. He was suddenly pulled over by Ye Lai Ya to have his measurements taken, which made him feel flattered!
Dr. Wu took the initiative to take on the house cleaning job before the New Year.
Of course, this work was also his in previous years.
Wu Yuzhuo spent the whole day with his parents busy preparing for the New Year, cleaning the house, buying New Year's goods, and waiting for the New Year's benefits from his parents' unit. He was so happy every day.
…
However, just as everyone was looking forward to the factory's New Year benefits and waiting for a prosperous new year, the superior suddenly issued a notice to Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory:
A new deputy director is coming to the factory soon!
After hearing the news, Jiang Wenming looked at each member of the team one by one and asked in confusion, "Our factory has always had four deputy factory directors. Is the provincial department going to reshuffle anyone's job?"
Ye Manzhi and a few others looked at each other and shook their heads.
If someone's job needs to be adjusted, the organization will talk to them in advance.
Not talking about it means staying where you are.
Niu Enjiu said, "I've confirmed with the department leaders that our original team members remain unchanged. Comrade Zhu Kehai is the newly appointed deputy director."
Several people looked at each other, really confused by this appointment.
The four current deputy factory directors all have their own responsibilities, and everyone has almost gotten used to each other.
Today's food factory development is stable and progressing.
So, what’s the point of getting another deputy factory director?
Before the Spring Festival, the factory directors and managers of subordinate units would go to the provincial department to pay New Year's greetings to their superiors.
When the leader came to the food factory for investigation a few days ago, Ye Manzhi took the opportunity to wish Xia Zhuyun a happy new year.
But then a deputy factory director suddenly showed up, and several colleagues couldn't sit still and started asking around to find out about Zhu Kehai's background.
Ye Manzhi was not idle either. She followed the large group of people who came to pay New Year's greetings and went to the provincial department.
As soon as Xia Zhujun saw her enter, she asked directly, "Are you here to inquire about the news?"
"Haha, I came to wish you a happy new year and to ask about Comrade Zhu Kehai's situation. Director Zhu is not a cadre of our provincial department, right? I never heard of him when I was working in the department before!"
"No, he used to work in the Political Department of the Provincial Food Import and Export Company and was the director of the Cadre Labor Office."
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