Chapter 243
The city's commendation conference for the industrial and transportation front commended model workers from light industry, heavy industry and transportation together.
After hearing about the big move of the Light Industry Bureau, Lei Wanyuan made a special trip to the second floor and solemnly visited Ye Manyi.
"Director Ye, you guys are really causing me so much trouble by making such a fuss!"
Ye Manzhi pretended to be confused and asked, "What do you mean?"
"It's fine if you just gave the TV tickets to the employees privately, but why did you have to give out the awards at the commendation ceremony?"
When the workers from the three fronts hold a meeting together, and only the model workers and advanced workers from the light industry get TV tickets, what will the comrades from the heavy industry and transportation fronts think?
They both do the same job, so what’s the difference between them?
Why can't we treat everyone equally?
Ye Manzhi spoke frankly, "Director Lei, I'll speak my mind to you. I don't know what the situation is like in your heavy industry, but there are many problems within the light industry. Overstaffing is one thing, but the most important thing is the lack of enthusiasm among the workers. The working atmosphere in most factories is different from that of Shuguang Factory."
Both of them came from Shuguang Factory, which first implemented the work system of a military factory, and later promoted the "Angang Constitution". It also frequently conducted technical training and labor competitions, and provided benefits to workers in various ways.
Therefore, the workers at Shuguang Factory are very energetic, regard the factory as their home, and have a high level of self-consciousness in their work.
However, after Ye Manzhi went to other companies for research, he found that not all companies were Shuguang factories.
The company leaders attach great importance to ideological and political studies, and the workers are waiting to eat from the big pot. The products produced have not changed in seven or eight years.
Ye Manzhi said, "By publicly awarding the prizes this time, we also want to inspire others. Who doesn't envy those who have a TV? It's incredibly difficult for ordinary workers to get a TV ticket, but now anyone who becomes a model worker or an advanced worker has a chance to get one. Isn't that an opportunity?"
Lei Wanyuan frowned and asked, "Will this work?"
The situation she described also exists in the heavy industry, but the general environment is like this, and Lei Wanyuan has no choice.
"Who cares if it works? Let's just give it a try. Binjiang sells over 40,000 TVs every year anyway, so it doesn't matter who they sell them to. Who can object to giving TV tickets as a reward to the working class?"
Lei Wanyuan said, his hands behind his back, "I'd also like to give the model worker a TV ticket, but the problem is that I don't have the authority to do so!"
The industrial system is only responsible for production, while product sales are decided by the commercial system. All TV tickets on the market are printed and issued by the Commercial Bureau and the Hardware and Electrical Company.
"That's easy. Just go to the Commerce Bureau and ask for a few thousand TV tickets. Better yet, get someone from the transportation department involved. Then the three of us can present the awards together and make everyone happy."
Ye Manzhi snorted, "Director Lei, just go to the Commerce Bureau and ask for tickets without hesitation. Even if they're reluctant, they'll have to give them to us, at most with a discount. Our Light Industry Bureau initially asked for 10,000 tickets, but it ended up being 4,500. Just ask for more, and they won't dare refuse."
It had been less than a year since televisions entered the homes of ordinary people.
There is no standard for the issuance of TV tickets, and most of them are taken away by related units and people with connections.
Now that the industrial system is holding a commendation meeting, what's wrong with asking them for a few thousand TV tickets?
If they stubbornly refuse to give it, we'll have to talk about the issue of connections.
Lei Wanyuan nodded at her with amusement, "You, you, you've offended Old Chen!"
"Haha, he has to take a detour when he sees me!"
Lao Chen is the director of the Commerce Bureau and often deals with the Light Industry Bureau.
The Light Industry Bureau and the commercial department must balance production and sales plans, with industry responsible for production and commerce responsible for sales, and they have to sit down and hold a meeting every quarter.
According to the agreement, the Commerce Bureau and the Foreign Trade Bureau must request goods from the Light Industry Bureau 45 days in advance. The Light Industry Bureau will then assign production tasks to enterprises, and the enterprises will then apply to the Materials Bureau for raw materials.
However, the Foreign Trade Bureau is still okay, as it can basically order goods 45 days in advance, while the Commercial Bureau can generally only order goods 15 days in advance, and sometimes it has to wait until the end of the season. In addition, the product varieties are varied, which affects the production arrangements of enterprises.
Therefore, disputes often arise between the Industrial and Commercial Bureau and last quarter Ye Manzhi had a big fight with Director Chen and even went to the city to request arbitration.
She is now a celebrity in the Commerce Bureau.
Everyone knows that the director of the Light Industry Bureau is not easy to deal with, and you might have to go to the city for arbitration. Therefore, the production and sales plan for the first quarter of this year was submitted 45 days in advance.
Lei Wanyuan was also a straightforward person who was not afraid of offending others. After listening to her suggestion, he really called the people from the transportation department and went to the Commercial Bureau to ask for TV tickets.
Giving awards to model workers and advanced individuals is a serious matter.
Besides, the votes have already been given to the light industry, so why not give them to the heavy industry and transportation sectors?
The two sides argued for several rounds, and finally the three companies of industry and transportation asked for a total of 8,000 TV tickets.
On the day of the official commendation meeting, awards were presented on the spot to model workers, advanced individuals and advanced collectives.
This award ceremony has caused a huge uproar.
Everyone came to the city to receive the award, and was prepared to receive only the award certificate and certificate. Who would have thought that they could actually get TV tickets!
When the first person got the TV ticket, the whole venue was shocked.
"Are you really giving us a free ticket? Does everyone get one?"
"How could it be fake? The textile factory representative has already got it!"
"My kid always goes to the building next door to watch TV, annoying the adults there. I was trying to figure out where to buy him a ticket! Now, if I can get this ticket back, his mother and I will be so excited!"
The venue was bustling with people, and everyone was staring at the podium eagerly.
In fact, the city's timing in awarding these TV tickets was perfect.
There are still ten days left until the Spring Festival.
The city established the Broadcasting Administration Bureau last year to overhaul the work of the television station.
Starting from New Year's Day this year, there will be television broadcasts at 18:30 every day, and the color television programs of Beijing Television will also be broadcast.
Although there are no color TVs on the market in Binjiang, it is still exciting to be able to watch black and white TV programs every day!
There are no secrets in this city, and it is impossible to keep such a big thing secret.
There were thousands of employee representatives who came to receive the awards that day. It’s hard to describe the shock these people caused after they went home with their TVs and plane tickets.
The news spread quickly from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Everyone's relatives connected to their relatives, and friends connected to their friends. Soon, employees from other systems also heard the news.
The industrial system gave out TV tickets at the commendation meeting before the New Year!
Then why doesn’t the education system do this?
Why doesn’t the medical system issue it?
Why not release the commercial system?
The commendation conferences of various systems are held one after another. The municipal party committee auditorium is busy every day with conferences held every day.
Therefore, in order to reward the advanced representatives of each system, the Commercial Bureau took out another 10,000 TV tickets.
Director Chen was so annoyed by these people that he took a jeep to the Light Industry Bureau.
Ye Manzhi stood upstairs and saw the jeep from the bureau, feeling only envy.
Alas, the Light Industry Bureau is rather stingy from top to bottom.
Last year, when there was a surplus, she was reluctant several times and did not want to buy a jeep. After New Year's Day, she added five bicycles to the bureau to make it easier for everyone to go out for research.
In fact, several directors really wanted to get a car, but the bureau had many places where money was needed, and she couldn't take the lead in opening the door to buying a car.
Riding a bicycle can exercise your body, so you should still ride a bicycle.
As she was staring at the jeep downstairs with envy, Director Chen had already come upstairs in a menacing manner.
They argued frequently and had even gone to the city for arbitration, so Director Chen didn't hold back. As soon as he entered the room, he said, "Director Ye, the Light Industry Bureau took the lead in giving TV tickets to advanced individuals. Our Commerce Bureau has already issued 18,000 tickets. That's the six-month quota!"
Binjiang can only get 45,000 televisions every year.
It’s still the first quarter, and the quota for half a year has been used up. What should we do next?
"Everyone got their TV tickets before the Spring Festival, and most people will definitely want to buy a TV to go home for the New Year. Can the Shuguang factory transfer 20,000 TVs?"
A TV costs 430 yuan, which is not something all winners can afford.
People with average financial conditions may exchange TV and plane tickets for money, but even so, there will be a climax in TV sales before the New Year.
Ye Manzhi smiled politely and said, "I've already troubled you enough by allocating so many TV tickets from the Commerce Bureau. How can I burden the Commerce Bureau with more trouble on this sales front? Director Chen, don't worry. I already contacted Shuguang Factory at the beginning of the year. They'll add 15 more shifts this month to produce 9,000 TVs. Adding that to the original planned quota will definitely be enough."
Hearing this, Director Chen felt a little relieved.
It’s different to have a team at Shuguang Factory!
The annual output value of Shuguang Factory has now surpassed that of the sewing machine factory and the bicycle factory, making it the number one in the city's light industry system.
The factory leaders' value also rose accordingly.
The emperor's daughter will never have trouble finding a husband, and Shuguang Factory's televisions will never have trouble selling, so now everyone in the Commercial Bureau is rushing to curry favor with the Shuguang Factory leaders.
He wanted the Shuguang Factory to add a few more shifts and allocate more television quotas to the city.
But what did Kang Jian say?
The two imported production lines are antiques and need to be used sparingly. Two shifts of production per day is already the limit.
However, adding 15 shifts is as easy as eating and drinking water for Ye Manzhi. How can one not be jealous!
Ye Manzhi was just secretly envious of other people's jeeps. How could she have imagined that she would also be the object of envy?
The TV was no longer a thing for her, and she was thinking about something else at the moment.
"Director Chen, it's rare for you to come to our bureau," Ye Manzhi said with a warm smile, "How about having lunch in the cafeteria today? It's my treat!"
Director Chen had dealt with her several times in the past six months and knew that no banquet was too good to be true. He said cautiously, "I still have work to do at the bureau. Since the supply of televisions is not a problem, I will go back first."
Seeing that he didn't want to eat, Ye Manzhi didn't force him, which saved her money and food coupons.
She refilled the other person's teacup and talked about another thing.
"The Commerce Bureau has reduced orders for thermoses, enamel basins, and safety shoes for two consecutive quarters. They've also reduced orders for four or five other products. Is there something wrong?"
She brought it up so suddenly that Director Chen thought for a moment before saying, "It's not a big deal. If the demand is low, it's probably because the major stores still have inventory. Also, products like thermoses are fragile, and the defective rate can reach 40%. We generally don't order too many."
Although it was a planned economy, the Commercial Bureau also sold products based on market conditions.
For a best-seller like a television, you can never give them too much.
However, for the three old items such as thermoses, enamel basins and rubber shoes, the demand will have to be based on market conditions. If there is any inventory backlog, the demand will be reduced.
Ye Manzhi chatted with him for a few sentences, but didn't get anything special out of him, so she had to let him go.
*
She was busy with work at the bureau and had no time to purchase New Year's goods this year, so she could only hand over the task to Wu Zhengrong and Wu Yuzhuo who were on winter vacation.
The father and daughter got along very well when they were at home. Wu Yuzhuo even made a list and wrote down all the things he would need for the New Year.
Ye Manzhi also confidently handed the task over to the two idle people.
I thought it was just a small matter and there would be no problem, but Wu Yuzhuo only went out with her father for one day and then went home to complain to her mother.
"I don't want to go shopping with my dad anymore!"
"What's wrong?" Ye Manzhi glanced at the pile of New Year's goods, peeled two pine nuts and said, "Isn't this a good buy?"
I bought everything I needed.
Wu Yuzhuo complained, "My dad goes shopping like he's on the march. He checks the items on the list, buys them, and then goes straight to the next counter. I don't even have time to properly shop!"
Chief Justice Ye Manzhi looked at Vice President Wu and said, "The child wants to go shopping, so why don't you accompany her for a while?"
They often go shopping and go to the vegetable market together, and Wu Zhengrong actually has quite a lot of patience.
Apart from anything else, he can accompany me to shop all over the shops on China Street!
Wu Zhengrong was indeed very patient when accompanying her, but that was only on ordinary days.
He was transferred to work at the Military Academy this year. One advantage is that he can spend his winter and summer vacations with the students.
This is the first time I’m in charge of purchasing New Year’s goods this year, and I didn’t expect there would be so many people in the store.
"There are already a lot of people in the store, and your daughter always goes to crowded and bustling places." Wu Zhengrong glanced at the high school student. "There are so many people and so noisy, what's there to shop for?"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
She understood her daughter's grievances. The New Year is all about joining in the fun, so of course one has to go to a lively place!
Dr. Wu has always been like this. She had no intention of changing him, so she said tactfully, "Tomorrow is the weekend. Youyan and I will go out for a walk together. You can rest at home for a day."
Wu Zhengrong glanced at the pile of New Year's goods, meaning that everything had been bought, so what else was there to look for?
"..." Ye Manzhi replied simply and clearly, "You don't understand."
The next day, Wu Zhengrong sent the mother and daughter to the store and turned the car around to keep an appointment with his comrades.
Ye Manzhi took her daughter into the First Department Store and wandered around aimlessly.
Dr. Wu is extremely efficient at work. She has to buy New Year's goods for half a month every year, but others can buy everything in one day.
The two went up to the third floor and were greeted by a snaking queue of people waiting to buy a TV.
Wu Yuzhuo said, "I saw the same scene in another store yesterday. There were so many people buying TVs!"
"Well, it's Chinese New Year. Now that we have TV tickets, we all want to have some fun during the Spring Festival."
When relatives visit each other, it is a matter of face to put a TV at home.
Ye Manzhi silently calculated in his mind that if Shuguang Factory worked overtime in January to produce 26,000 televisions, the output value would be more than 10 million yuan. If the old production line could be improved in the second half of the year, it would be no problem to reach an output value of 180 million yuan by the end of the year.
The rapid development of Dehua Special District was mainly due to the huge role played by several radio factories transferred from the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.
After Shuguang Factory increases its production capacity, it may be able to compete with those radio factories.
Ye Manzhi was lost in thought as she followed Youyan around the counters.
When you come to the daily necessities area, the atmosphere is obviously different from other counters.
It can’t be said to be deserted, but there are definitely not many people.
No one would rush to buy daily necessities such as teacups, thermoses, and mirrors before the New Year unless they are urgently needed.
Ye Manzhi paid attention to the market conditions of light industrial products, and after returning home, he wrote down the situation in the store.
*
She did not talk to the company leaders before the New Year, so that everyone could have a peaceful and lively Spring Festival.
However, as soon as she started working after the Spring Festival, she met with the heads of fourteen companies.
These fourteen companies have one thing in common – their products are nothing new.
The products produced ten years ago are exactly the same as those produced ten years later.
Some factories have even been producing for twenty years without changing the patterns.
Director Wang of the Revolutionary Committee of the Municipal Enamel Factory No. 1 argued confidently, "Director Ye, it's not that I don't want to produce other patterns, but the market only recognizes Double Happiness! What young couple wouldn't buy a Double Happiness washbasin when they get married?"
"So, you've been producing Double Happiness washbasins for 21 years? You don't even bother changing them?"
To be precise, in addition to producing Double Happiness washbasins, they also produce Double Happiness rice bowls and Double Happiness spittoons.
As soon as you enter their warehouse, you will see a sea of red, everything is Double Happiness.
"Ahem, the market just recognizes this, and there's nothing we can do about it."
Ye Manzhi said bluntly, "In the second quarter of last year, the commercial sector's orders from the Enamel Factory No. 1 began to decrease. As far as I know, there is also a backlog of enamel products in the store warehouses."
Enamel products are generally produced and sold by Binjiang itself, and are rarely imported from other places.
The local people use whatever the enamel factory produces.
In the past, supplies were scarce, choices were limited, and people were not picky.
However, in recent years, many districts and counties have opened enamel factories, and the municipal enamel factory has been resting on its laurels, and its product varieties are far inferior to those of the small district and county factories.
Director Wang said in embarrassment, "Director Ye, I'm not trying to shirk responsibility. With the decrease in orders, we've considered adding more colors and new varieties. However, technical upgrades require funding, and our cash is tied up in inventory. Do you think the bureau can approve some funding for technical upgrades?"
Ye Manzhi knew that he had met a veteran.
If the municipal bureau wants him to change, it must provide financial support.
However, at present, only the camera factory has successfully squeezed money out of her hands. The bureau will not approve the money unless she is completely destitute.
This matter has spread among the company a long time ago, and everyone says that the new director is a Pixiu.
Ye Manzhi asked: "How much inventory do you have?"
"It's quite a bit," Director Wang said truthfully, "almost over 100,000."
"So many?" Ye Manyi asked in surprise.
The unit price of enamel products is low, and most of them are priced in single digits.
There are at least tens of thousands of items worth one hundred thousand.
Director Wang explained: "Although the commercial sector has requested less goods, we cannot stop production. Over the past six months, we have accumulated some inventory."
Ye Manzhi thought, your inventory backlog is not just a small amount.
She took note of the situation at Enamel Factory No. 1 and then met with the heads of other factories one after another.
Without exception, all fourteen companies have inventory backlogs.
Without clearing out the inventory, it would be a dream to add more styles and launch new projects.
Ye Manzhi called Director Chen from the Commerce Bureau and discussed with him to place orders from these companies first and try to help them clear their inventory.
Director Chen chuckled and said, "Director Ye, it's not that I don't want to help. We can order from these companies, but consumers won't buy them! Sending those old patterns to stores will also tie up their inventory. What do you think we're doing? The problem still lies with the factory. You should find a solution from the factory."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
How can she find a solution if she doesn’t clear out the existing inventory?
During a meeting of the bureau's leadership team, the capable Zhang Baineng suggested, "Why not allocate some funds for technological transformation to these enterprises? Those that can switch production should do so as soon as possible, and those that can't should add some trendy products."
He now hopes that Ye Manyi will agree to approve the funds for those fourteen companies.
With this precedent, other projects can also use the funds of the bureau.
He wasn't complaining, but working under Ye Manzhi, the top leader, although he could achieve results, was extremely exhausting.
When he was in the Municipal Revolutionary Committee, he tried his best to spend money to solve problems. But when he came to Ye Manzhi, he tried to save as much as possible.
In order to find a way out for those projects, he even grew white hair.
Ye Manzhi didn't care about everyone's complaints.
At the beginning of this year, the bureau approved the photosensitive materials factory project, which was fully funded by the Light Industry Bureau.
If she hadn't held on to her money, how could this factory have been built?
This was all saved by her, she is so proud!
She was not very happy to hear what the great man said.
But she was still very happy with the situation that Er Nengnai Hebineng introduced.
"Last year, the bureau recruited retired senior workers to serve as consultants in enterprises, training mid-level and senior workers, and the results were very good. We just completed the half-year assessment this month, and 31 level 6 workers have reached level 7. Another 212 level 3 workers have reached level 4."
In other words, the number of both senior and mid-level workers has increased.
This is undoubtedly good news for Ye Manzhi.
Please, retired master, this move was not wrong.
She praised He Bineng's work at the meeting. It was he who took the initiative to propose the semi-annual assessment, and this assessment greatly boosted morale.
After get off work, she went back to the military industrial compound to ask about Lao Ye's training of apprentices at the bicycle factory.
Ye Shouxin boasted without any modesty, "If I personally take action, is there anything I can't accomplish? In this assessment, one of my apprentices was able to reach the seventh level, and four other guys also went from third level to fourth level workers. The factory even gave me a prize!"
Ye Manzhi asked in a playful manner: "What prize is it? Let me take a look!"
"Don't mention it," Chang Yue'e said disdainfully, "It's the teacup again!"
"Ahem, it's not just a teacup," Ye Shouxin brought out a brand new enamel washbasin and showed it to his daughter, "but also a towel, a toothbrush, nail clippers, work shoes, work gloves, anyway, everything that can be used."
"This is obviously the inventory the factory purchased in previous years," Fourth Brother said with a sneer, "I gave it to you as a clearance, and you treat it like a treasure!"
"I'm happy to!" Old Ye retorted, "The factory gave me so many things for free, why am I being so picky?"
Ye Manzhi looked carefully at Lao Ye's prizes. They were not anything particularly outstanding, but they looked quite lively when put together, and the people who received them were also very happy.
When she went to work again, she called the leaders of all fourteen companies and asked them one by one which factory had ready-made technology and patterns that could be switched to production immediately.
These business leaders had come into contact with her several times and knew that she liked to dig deep into things. If they lied at this time, they would probably end up exposing themselves instead of being exposed.
So, after some hesitation, only six companies were able to come up with ready-made solutions.
Ye Manzhi had an idea in mind and asked everyone to go back first.
This time she went to the Commerce Bureau in person.
Director Chen got a headache when he saw her, but since she was a guest, he could only receive her warmly.
Ye Manzhi took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Director Chen, I'm here to help the Commerce Bureau clear out their inventory!"
“…”
What inventory can the Commercial Bureau have?
"The shops and factories are full of thermoses, enamelware, mirrors, combs, and the like, aren't they?"
"Well, there are some."
"Most of these products are needed by newlyweds. What do you think? We can package them up and make them special wedding merchandise, selling them to consumers at wholesale prices. Of course, people who aren't newlyweds can also buy them. After all, selling five or six items together is cheaper, and there will definitely be a few items that you can use at home."
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