Chapter 190
When attending the Canton Fair, Ye Manzhi exchanged his concentrated juice production line for two jam production lines from other provinces.
At that time, the construction of the soda factory was nearing completion. According to her plan, the space vacated in the soda workshop could be used as a jam workshop.
However, the sudden influx of orders for banquet dishes made the factory realize the potential of the Chinese market, so the soda workshop was transformed into a banquet dish workshop.
There was no place for the new jam production line.
"Director Yu, Anyang County is west of the city. While it's far from the urban area, it's very close to fruit-producing areas," Ye Manzhi explained. "Our Binjiang area is particularly suitable for producing applesauce and strawberry jam, and there are two communes in Anyang County that grow strawberries. Geographically, we actually have a greater advantage than the food factory."
Yu Zhijiang agreed, saying, "Ever since I received the call from the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau, I've been thinking about the factory space. The food factory is out of space, so we'll definitely have to find another location. Yesterday, I told Director Jiang that since we're going to build a factory, we should build it next to where the raw materials are produced. The fruit can be picked and brought directly to the factory, saving on long-distance transportation costs."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
The Shuguang factory is located in the county town, so it is not possible to deliver raw materials directly to the factory.
It seems that they don't want to cooperate and want her to give up!
Yu Zhijiang really doesn't want to cooperate with outsiders.
He had just come to the food factory as director, and the three fires of a new official had not yet been started.
The previous factory director, Niu Enjiu, ran the food factory so well that the product range was very wide, so it was difficult for his successor to achieve results.
After he came to the factory, he has been searching hard for a breakthrough.
Unexpectedly, a few days ago, I suddenly received a notice from the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau - the province was going to hand over two jam production lines to the food factory!
Isn’t this just because you feel sleepy and someone offers you a pillow?
He now needs to make a big move to establish himself in the factory.
The arrival of these two production lines is truly a timely relief!
Ye Manzhi could probably guess what the other person was thinking. She smiled and said, "Director Yu, building a factory near a fruit-producing area is a good idea, but being too close to a fruit-producing area also has certain side effects."
"Our factory has fruit purchasing contracts with several communes year-round to spread risk and protect against crop failures. If we were to locate our jam factory within a single commune, we'd be completely dependent on the local supply of raw materials. If there were a famine, or if the locals switched to other crops, our jam factory would be in a very vulnerable position."
"Furthermore, transportation conditions below the commune level are very poor. The roads are mostly bumpy gravel and dirt roads, and the exported jam needs to be packed in glass jars. Whether it's empty jars being brought in or finished products being shipped out, the risk of loss increases during transportation."
"Director Yu, the Shuguang factory is located in Anyang County. The roads leading to the city are all smooth dirt roads and asphalt roads. It is close to the raw material production area and convenient for transportation. This is much more convenient than building a factory in the countryside."
She felt that Yu Zhijiang was actually quite capable, but he had been working in the department for many years and lacked grassroots experience.
Some details in production are not taken into consideration at the moment.
Of course, it could also be that someone just made up an excuse to fool her.
Yu Zhijiang didn't want to cooperate with outsiders, but his words were not just to evade Ye Manyi.
He has been considering the feasibility of building a branch factory in the countryside these days.
"Director Ye, what you said makes a lot of sense. Over-reliance on raw materials from one location is very risky, so I want to plan one or two planting bases for the food factory. Not only should we build the jam factory there, but when the time is right, we'll also move the fruit and vegetable canning workshop there."
Hearing this, Ye Manzhi sighed, "Director Yu, you're going to do something big!"
"Haha, it's still in the planning stage."
Ye Manzhi actually quite approved of his plan.
When she first came to the food factory, she also wanted to set up a planting base, but unfortunately the factory was short of money at the time, so they only built a pig farm and there was no follow-up.
In the long run, it is necessary to establish a planting base to supply sufficient and fresh raw materials.
but……
"Director Yu, this massive initiative of yours will take at least a year or two to complete, and it requires a significant investment. The factory needs to support workers in raising funds to build housing, and the canning workshop needs to add new equipment. Can the existing funds support building a factory in the countryside?"
Yu Zhijiang said: "If you build a factory in the countryside, you can find a way to borrow some money from a rural credit cooperative."
When it comes to money, he can't help but want to scold Niu Enjiu.
The entire food factory looks like a sea of flowers from the outside, but inside it is like a honeycomb, full of holes.
There are so many places where money is needed.
Especially the fundraising for building a house completely tied his hands and feet.
In this situation of insufficient funds, there is no need to build a house.
But if he stopped the house construction as soon as he took office, he would undoubtedly become a villain in the eyes of the employees.
It is not a good idea to build the house, nor is it a good idea not to build it. We can only postpone it temporarily on the grounds that it is not suitable to start construction in winter.
Ye Manzhi advised, "Director Yu, don't be so hasty to deny the possibility of cooperation between the two sides. Building a factory together will benefit both parties. Shuguang Factory can provide ready-made workshops, warehouses, and workers' dormitories. It is close to the raw material production area and has convenient transportation. We can even borrow the cold storage of our Shuguang Popsicle Factory."
The nature of Factory 833 is special, so the subsidiary factory is built outside the factory.
The Shuguang Popsicle Factory does not need so many factory buildings, so the extra factory buildings can be used by the jam factory, and the cold storage can also be lent to the jam factory to store some fruits.
"The food factory only needs to provide the two free production lines and start production as soon as possible without any capital investment. The only condition of the Shuguang Factory is to arrange for some family workers. This is a good thing for both of us!"
To put it bluntly, Yu Zhijiang was the one who got something for nothing.
She negotiated those two production lines with the dealer at the Canton Fair after much effort.
Yu Zhijiang didn't have to pay anything. He picked the peaches she left as soon as he arrived at the food factory.
If the two sides cooperate, he won't even have to worry about the factory and workers' dormitories.
Ye Manzhi really couldn't figure out what he was hesitating about...
Yu Zhijiang said, "Director Ye, please give me a few more days to think about this matter."
The production line was brought back by Ye Manzhi. If the food factory cooperated with the Shuguang Factory where Ye Manzhi worked, even if it achieved some results, the credit would be attributed to Ye Manzhi.
He wanted to use the planting base and jam factory as the first step to his new job.
Now is not the right time to cooperate.
"Director Yu," Ye Manzhi was still trying to persuade him, "Let's cooperate first and get the jam factory up and running as soon as possible. A year earlier means we can start making money a year earlier. Once the planting base is ready, we can move the jam factory there."
Her main purpose was to settle the family members of Factory 833 and borrow the production equipment of Factory 833.
Many conditions regarding the jam factory can actually be negotiated.
Yu Zhijiang smiled and said, "Director Ye, you're right. There are indeed many benefits to our cooperation. But I'm new to the food factory, so please wait for a few days while I discuss this with the other comrades on the team."
"Okay, then I'm good news for the factory director."
It is obvious that the food factory is short of funds, and everyone should take into account the actual difficulties of the factory.
*
When Ye Manzhi walked out of the food factory, it was already past closing time.
It was a rare opportunity for her to go into the city, so she didn't go back to Shuguang Factory. Instead, she took a bus back to the military industrial compound to visit her parents.
She had not yet had time to tell her family about her transfer, but with her fourth brother as a mouthpiece, Old Ye and Chang Yue'e gathered the whole family to celebrate several days in advance.
"I, the person involved, am not here, so what are you celebrating for?"
Ye Shouxin beamed and said, "You're already the first deputy director of Factory 833. You must be so busy! How can you have time to come back and celebrate? We can just celebrate at home. Don't let it interfere with your work!"
The fourth brother complained, "Dad, why are you being so fawning when talking to Lai Ya? It's not like you at all!"
"You know shit!" Old Ye rolled his eyes at him. "Zhou Zhenye has been the factory director for so many years, and he's only now been promoted to the first deputy director of Factory 656. Look at our Lai Ya, he's now the first deputy director of Factory 833, on par with him!"
Ye Manzhi laughed and said, "Dad, can you be more serious? I'm the deputy director of Shuguang Factory, not the deputy director of 833 Factory. Shuguang Factory only has about a thousand people, while 656 Factory has over ten thousand. How can I be on equal footing with Director Zhou?"
The first deputy director of Factory 656 is similar to the deputy mayor.
Chang Yue'e peeled an orange for her to eat and muttered, "Your father used to keep a low profile and never brag about you. But when he heard you became the first deputy director of Shuguang Factory, he wanted to tell everyone in the factory about it."
Factory 656 and Factory 833 are both military factories, and both are large-scale units with good welfare.
In Lao Ye's mind, the value of Factory 833 is quite high. Even if Shuguang Factory has been converted from military to civilian use, it is still incomparable to ordinary state-owned units.
Ye Shouxin pinched the taxi driver's chubby cheeks and said proudly, "Zan Lai Ya is now on par with Zhou Zhenye, while Zhou Mu is still working as a technician at the Binjiang Second Machinery Factory! Hahaha, it's a good thing I broke off the engagement with his family, otherwise Zhou Mu would definitely hold Zan Lai Ya back!"
Chang Yue'e corrected: "It seems that Zhou Mu has become an engineer."
Zhou Mu is not a very good person, but he has always been a good student and is very suitable for technology.
"..." Ye Manzhi said helplessly, "How long ago did this happen? Youyan is already 6 years old, why are you still arguing with Zhou Mu?"
Ye Shouxin shouted, "Why wouldn't I care? I do care! I still haven't spoken to Zhou Zhenye yet!"
"Dad, Zhou Zhenye is the deputy factory director, and you never talk to him. No wonder you can't become the deputy workshop director!" The fourth brother took the opportunity to encourage his father, "It seems that Yadu has become the first deputy factory director. You should also work harder and strive to become the deputy workshop director!"
If he wants to keep the house, he still has to rely on Old Ye to try harder.
Ye Shouxin squinted at him. "You're just a gatekeeper. What qualifications do you have to ask me to work harder? I'm an eighth-level welder, a municipal model worker, and an advanced worker. What are you?"
"Who am I? I'm just your son. You're so capable, yet you haven't become the director. It must be Zhou's fault!"
Ye Shouxin was too lazy to bother with his son and said to his daughter, "Laiya, work hard and make sure Zhou Mu can't get married!"
"..." Ye Manzhi was speechless. "What does it have to do with me whether he gets married or not? It's not something I can influence!"
"Humph, you're the same age as Zhou Mu. Our Youyan is already six years old, but Zhou Mu is still a bachelor! The Zhou couple always wanted to find a good wife for their son. A few years ago, they were very close to Deputy Director Liu's daughter. But then you went to the food factory to become the deputy director two years ago, and not long after that, the two families stopped talking about marriage. Director Liu's daughter got married last year."
Shen Liangmei speculated: "Director Zhou is so ambitious, is he trying to find someone better than our Lai Ya for Zhou Mu?"
"Of course! If he finds someone worse than Zan Lai Ya, wouldn't his family's breaking off of the engagement become a joke?" Ye Shouxin wanted to laugh out loud three times, "Now that Zan Lai Ya has become the first deputy director of Shuguang Factory, I want everyone in the factory to know, and let the Zhou family know too! Doesn't he want to find someone better for his son? Go ahead, I want to see when Zhou Mu can finally get married!"
“…”
Ye Manzhi had dinner at her mother's house and ate a belly full of melon.
When she arrived home, Wu Zhengrong was making a rifle model in the living room.
Ye Manzhi hung up the clothes, moved a small stool and sat next to him. While watching him tinker with the model, she shared with him the gossip she had heard today.
"I think my father is just being overly sentimental. When I was deputy director of the food factory, he was afraid people would ask me for favors, so he didn't really publicize the news. Director Zhou might not have heard about my appointment."
Wu Zhengrong polished the edges with sandpaper and said without looking up, "You should have heard about it a long time ago."
"How do you know?"
"I told Zhou Mu." Wu Zhengrong said in a normal tone, "The research institute has a partnership with Binjiang Second Machinery Factory. I told him casually when we met at the factory."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Then you are too casual.
"Why are you telling him such a thing?"
"He asked, so I told him." Wu Zhengrong glanced at her and asked, "I'm going to the Second Machine Factory again soon, and I wanted to share the good news of your transfer to Shuguang Factory with him. What's your attitude? If you don't want him to know, then I won't tell him."
"..." Ye Manzhi quickly held his face and kissed him twice, "Speak, whatever you want."
Men are so narrow-minded. He and Old Ye are still thinking about those old things!
She had forgotten it a long time ago!
Wu Zhengrong said "hmm" and continued to rub it with sandpaper.
He and his father-in-law had the same idea. Since the Zhou family wanted to marry their son to a good wife, they should encourage him to marry someone better than Ye Lai Ya.
Ye Manzhi changed the subject and asked, "Is this gun made for Youyan? Doesn't she already have a wooden gun? Why is she making another gun?"
"That gun is a bit long and heavy to wear in winter. It's not convenient for her to carry it on her back while on sentry duty."
Ye Manzhi shouted towards the study, "Baby, are you going to stand guard again?"
Wu Yuzhuo threw down his books and ran out of the house. "The leader said that it's the off-season now and the children's group will be responsible for guarding the compound."
"It's so cold, isn't it too tiring for you to go out and stand guard?"
"This can help strengthen the children's willpower." Wu Yuzhuo used idols as an example, "Even Uncle Lei Feng had to stand guard!"
Ye Manzhi actually wanted to persuade her daughter not to go out and suffer. What good could a little brat do as a sentry? It was good enough that she didn't get slapped away by the beggars.
But Wu Yuzhuo still wants to emulate her uncle Lei Feng and become a group leader, so she really has to perform well in her daily life.
*
Ye Manzhi supports her daughter's work and helps Dr. Wu polish the new gun with sandpaper.
The next morning, Wu Yuzhuo happily went to kindergarten carrying his new gun.
Ye Manzhi also went to work with a blistered finger on his arm.
Factory Manager Xiaoye shook her hands and secretly decided that in the future, she would let the tough and sturdy Wu Zhengrong do this kind of rough work, and she would just do the sewing and mending that she was good at.
"Ruyi, was there a call from the food factory this morning?"
"No."
Ye Manzhi flipped through the calendar and saw that the withdrawal date for Factory 833 was January 15th, which was less than ten days away.
If the food factory holds a team meeting today, there will probably be a result in the afternoon.
Ye Manzhi did not arrange any more work outside and waited in the office.
After lunch break, she received a call from Yu Zhijiang.
"Director Ye, I called a meeting this morning to discuss this," Yu Zhijiang sighed. "The jam factory isn't very large. Giving Factory 833 300 regular employees all at once would be like having to hire all of Factory 833's family members. That would be terribly unfair to the families of the food factory workers. The employees might object."
Ye Manzhi asked, "If we build a new jam factory in the countryside, will the employees' families be willing to work there? Won't we still have to recruit people from nearby communes?"
"The two are different. Family workers can choose whether to go to the countryside or not. Everyone has the right to choose, but if 300 positions are given to Factory 833, there will basically be no chance for anyone else to work there," Yu Zhijiang said. "Director Ye, how about this? If your Shuguang Factory has any unused factory buildings, we can rent them."
Ye Manzhi frowned and said in a gentle tone, "I understand the situation. I need to discuss the site rental with the factory. Director Yu, let's find another opportunity to contact each other."
After hanging up the receiver, she went out, turned right, and went to Lei Wanyuan's office.
"Director Lei, Yu Zhijiang from the food factory has refused to cooperate."
Lei Wanyuan snorted, "Director Yu is such a jerk! You were the one who got the production line, and now we're providing him with the land, factory buildings, and warehouses for free. How can he still be so ungrateful?"
"Director Yu has only been transferred to the food factory for a month, and many tasks are still in the exploratory stage."
Lei Wanyuan nodded in understanding.
It seems that the guy named Yu hasn't achieved anything yet and is waiting to use this jam factory as a first step!
The origin of raw materials and the establishment of family workers are just excuses; these conditions can actually be negotiated.
"Did Director Yu say anything else?"
"I said," Ye Manzhi said sarcastically, "I want to rent our factory."
Lei Wanyuan's face turned cold and he said, "Let them go have fun."
If you don’t want to cooperate, then don’t cooperate. Business must be done with mutual consent. There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, they are using the equipment that Director Ye found for them, but not only do they not cooperate with us, they also want to rent our factory and come right under our noses to annoy us. This is not enough to take advantage of us, and it is even a bit humiliating.
After the Shuguang Factory was converted from military to civilian use, its strength was not as strong as before, but not everyone could control it.
"I asked Captain Bai this morning what he thought. They might consider our proposal to loan some equipment to the Shuguang Factory. Therefore, the issue of these 300 employees must be resolved. Since there's no jam factory, we can temporarily recruit people from the Shuguang Factory and the popsicle factory. At worst, we can solve the problem over three years."
"That won't even get us 300 regular employees, let alone 100." Ye Manyi called out "Director Lei".
Lei Wanyuan waited for a few seconds but she didn't say anything, so he took the initiative to ask, "Director Ye, do you have anything to say?"
Ye Manzhi frowned and pondered for a long time before whispering, "Those two production lines were actually obtained from other provinces in exchange for imported production lines. I negotiated the imported production lines, but the replacement jam production line was arranged by Deputy Director Duan of the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau. This was a provincial-level exchange and has nothing to do with the food factory."
Lei Wanyuan confirmed with her: "You mean, these two production lines actually belong to our province, and it is the province that decides which company to allocate them to?"
"Yes. Director Duan promised me that he would hand over the equipment to the food factory. Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory is the largest food factory in the province, and it does a lot of export business. So after the equipment was shipped to our province, it was directly allocated to them."
"But the food factory doesn't have any spare buildings. If we follow their plan to build a planting base and a factory nearby, it will take a year before they can officially start production. If they don't start production for a long time, the province may consider handing the equipment over to other units. After all, there's more than one food factory in our province."
Lei Wanyuan was a straightforward man. He slammed the table and said, "Since the food factory doesn't want to cooperate, let's take over the two jam production lines and do it ourselves!"
He is not a timid person.
With a formal employee position, he can borrow 833's production equipment. Even if it means offending a sister unit, he will never miss this opportunity!
"Director Ye, don't worry about what happens next. I'll go talk to the provincial government!" Lei Wanyuan said. "You used to be the director of a food factory. Taking over their production line will easily affect the relationship between colleagues. If we really get our hands on the jam equipment, you can claim you were ignorant and put the blame on me."
"Haha, it's okay. It's all about work. How can it affect our relationship?"
The relationship between Ye Manzhi and Yu Zhijiang is at most a matter of face, what kind of feelings do they have?
As long as the plight of Factory 833 can be resolved, then let it have an impact for the sake of face.
Moreover, the reason why Yu Zhijiang was able to sit back and relax was because he felt that the two production lines would definitely fall into his pocket.
If the situation changes, he may not be able to sit still.
By that time, the situation will change and it will be unknown who will ask for help!
Lei Wanyuan asked Deputy Factory Director Kang Jian to submit an application to the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau, while he and Ye Manzhi went to the Provincial Department to cry poor to the leaders.
The first place they went to was Xia Zhuyun's office.
After Ye Manzhi finished explaining the general situation, Lei Wanyuan muttered, "Director Xia, the provincial government must be aware of the current situation at Shuguang Factory. The military representative submitted the equipment list long ago, and all usable equipment will be removed."
"I was prepared to go broke, but Director Ye came up with a plan that convinced Factory 833 to change their minds! As long as they can provide 300 permanent jobs, we can borrow their equipment for three years."
Ye Manzhi continued, "Leader, these two jam production lines would only be icing on the cake if placed at Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory, but giving them to our Shuguang Factory is a timely help, even a lifesaver. This can also alleviate the pressure on the province to a certain extent. As long as Shuguang Factory can be self-reliant, we will definitely not ask for money."
Xia Zhuyun nodded slightly.
Xiao Ye’s idea is indeed a good one. Exchanging interests between the two parties is more effective than personal relationships and emotional cards.
“What’s the situation with these two production lines and where are they now?”
"Over at the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau," Ye Manzhi said, "the Bureau called the food factory a few days ago and told them to take over the equipment. But there are no vacant workshops on the factory grounds, so they have nowhere to put the equipment. So, these two production lines haven't been taken over yet."
The situation at Shuguang Factory is much more serious than that at the Food Factory. As long as the provincial leaders do not want to invest money in Shuguang Factory and do not want to clean up the mess, there is still a great possibility that they will be able to obtain these two production lines.
Xia Zhujun picked up the phone and said to the two of them, "I'll contact the comrades at the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau to find out the situation. You guys go back and wait for news."
Ye Manzhi and Lei Wanyuan did not stay long. After leaving the provincial department, they went to the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau to find Deputy Director Duan.
…
Several factory managers at Shuguang Factory caused quite a stir in the province, and within a few days, the food factory heard the news.
Chen Qian relayed the news he had just received to Yu Zhijiang.
Yu Zhijiang was shocked and said, "Did Shuguang Factory go to the provincial government to grab the jam production line? Where did you hear that?"
"I heard it from an acquaintance in the Foreign Trade Bureau."
In fact, he received a call from Ye Manzhi's secretary this morning.
Then he got the exact information from an acquaintance in the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau.
"What's wrong with them? How can they do things like this?" Yu Zhijiang was shocked and angry. "That equipment belongs to our food factory. Isn't Shuguang Factory's behavior a clear attempt to steal it?"
Chen Qian thought to himself, this is clearly an attempt to steal your trick.
Ye Manzhi got that equipment from the Canton Fair. They came to you in a nice way and asked for cooperation, but you didn't agree.
Now, in order to solve the problems of Shuguang Factory, the province is likely to hand over the two jam production lines to Shuguang Factory.
This time we got nothing, are you satisfied?
Yu Zhijiang called the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau to confirm.
After hanging up the receiver, he said angrily: "Let's go to the Shuguang Factory!"
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