Chapter 195
Niu Enjiu was not surprised by Ye Manzhi's request.
The two have been working together for nearly two years, and the other has always been the one who cuts through mountains and builds bridges across rivers.
but……
"Director Ye, how long have you been away from the First Food Factory? The Binjiang brand trademark is already in place. It should be fine if you go back to the factory and discuss it. Wouldn't it be too far to go to another food factory?"
Ye Manzhi bluntly said, "Because of the two jam production lines, I have offended Director Yu. Secretary Niu, you and I are both in Yu Zhijiang's account book. If he had a gun, would he shoot you first or me first?"
Niu Enjiu was stunned when he heard this, then he laughed out loud: "Hahahaha, then maybe you should hit me first."
Compared to the two dispensable production lines, the hole he left behind is obviously more hateful.
Before he left the food factory, he was anxious to resolve the housing problem for the employees. Of course, he also had the selfish desire of not wanting his successor to take advantage.
The food factory's working capital for the next one to two years has been pre-allocated to fundraising for building construction.
Yu Zhijiang has been working in the department for many years and is directly responsible for the tobacco and alcohol industry. Apart from seeing younger colleagues getting promoted one after another, which makes him feel a little uncomfortable, he has actually not suffered any hardship.
The development of the food factory was on the right track. Yu Zhijiang thought that he could take advantage of the situation after coming from the provincial department, but he did not expect to face a headwind.
Thinking of this, he said frankly, "Our two former factory directors are probably equally hateful in the factory director's heart."
"So, why would he let us take advantage of the food factory for free?" Ye Manzhi said cryptically. "The Industrial and Commercial Bureau received a letter from the public, which has delayed our trademark registration. After hearing about it, Factory Director Yu came to Shuguang Factory specifically, hoping to cooperate with us to set up a factory and let the jam factory use the Binjiang brand."
She spoke cryptically, but Niu Enjiu, who had worked his way up from the grassroots, quickly understood that it was Yu Zhijiang who was doing something tricky.
He did not comment on such matters. Everyone had different positions, and he thought it was nothing to occasionally use extraordinary measures for the sake of their respective jobs.
"Director Ye, I can help you contact the company you mentioned, but you have to be mentally prepared. After all, you're going to use someone else's trademark, so when both parties negotiate, they're bound to give the other company some advantages."
Ye Manzhi smiled and said, "I came to the provincial leaders because I wanted to find a food factory outside of Binjiang City. That way, our sales at this year's Spring Canton Fair can be counted towards the other party's region."
Niu Enjiu said, "The conditions you proposed are good for the regional foreign trade bureau, but the other companies won't benefit from them and may not be willing to accept them. Furthermore, there may be some resistance from the Binjiang Municipal Foreign Trade Bureau."
As far as the province is concerned, as long as the two companies reach an agreement, they generally will not intervene to stop it.
After all, the benefits are not flowing into the fields of outsiders.
But the Binjiang Municipal Bureau is probably getting restless.
"It's better to have resistance, Secretary Niu, please don't introduce me to companies that are particularly willing and easy to negotiate with," Ye Manzhi said embarrassedly, "it would be best if we could both negotiate for a few more rounds."
Niu Enjiu was suddenly speechless, pondered for a moment, pointed at her and said with a smile: "Director Ye, you!"
…
The Provincial Food Industry Corporation is the superior unit of all food factories in the province, so this is just a piece of cake for Niu Enjiu.
He didn't even need Ye Manzhi to wait for long, as he contacted the Huicheng Cannery right in front of her.
In order to allow both sides to negotiate for a few more rounds, he did not introduce the conditions offered by Shuguang Factory on the phone.
He just said that he was a matchmaker and asked the two factories to negotiate privately.
So, after Ye Manzhi returned, the two factories began to discuss cooperation with each other.
The Shuguang factory doesn't even have a finished jam product, so it's still unknown whether it can participate in the Canton Fair. In fact, it's useless to talk about it.
But Lei Wanyuan and Ye Manzhi made a big fuss about the cooperation negotiations.
Lei Wanyuan also took a boat to Huicheng Special District and met with the deputy director of the Foreign Trade Bureau.
It seems like we really have to use the cannery’s export trademark.
Therefore, on the third day after Lei Wanyuan returned from Huicheng Special District, Shuguang Factory was summoned by the Binjiang Municipal Foreign Trade Bureau.
"Lao Lei, the Municipal Bureau has no objection to you borrowing the export trademark of an external factory, but you can find a ready-made trademark in Binjiang City. There is no need to borrow it from Huicheng District."
"Director Lu, I'd like to find one in Binjiang City, but borrowing someone else's trademark won't cost us anything. Shuguang Factory is broke right now, so how can we offer them any benefits?" Lei Wanyuan said logically. "But it's different if we find a company in another city. As long as we count this year's foreign trade volume towards theirs, we'll be giving them a benefit."
Shuguang Factory has made two preparations for this matter.
If the Binjiang Foreign Trade Bureau is willing to help them obtain the "Shuguang" trademark, then everyone will be happy.
If we can’t get it, we can only cooperate with Huicheng Cannery.
However, if only foreign trade volume is calculated, the cannery will not receive any real benefits and may not be willing to cooperate. Therefore, they must pay an additional price and give away the foreign exchange quota they received at the Canton Fair.
Export-earning units can obtain a 5%-7% foreign exchange quota, which can be used to purchase imported equipment in the future.
After they used someone else's trademark, the payment for the goods was converted into RMB and still deposited into the Shuguang Factory's account, but that part of the foreign exchange quota would be allocated to the Huicheng Cannery.
The cooperation between the two parties is a one-time deal, which is better than being taken advantage of by Yu Zhijiang all the time.
Ye Manzhi looked at Deputy Director Lu's expression, knowing that the other party might not take seriously a jam that had not yet been officially put into production.
She said gloomily, "Director Lu, if you have your own trademark, who would want to borrow someone else's? Air guns, jam, electric fans, toys, we have to borrow other people's trademarks to export them. It really makes us feel bad."
Director Lu put down his teacup and asked in surprise, "Even toys and electric fans have to borrow the trademarks of foreign manufacturers?"
Toys and light industrial machinery are considered major export items.
Although the electric fan has not yet been officially launched on the market, Director Lu is still very confident about this type of product.
Lei Wanyuan said in a gruff voice, "What if we don't lend it to you? The factory is waiting for the rice to be cooked, and we can't miss this Canton Fair. The Industry and Commerce Bureau has blocked the trademark application, so we can only think of this stupid solution."
Director Lu frowned and said, "The trademark issue is really a bit troublesome."
The letters received by the Industrial and Commercial Bureau from the public are similar to letters of complaint. The content of the letters is targeted and is considered to be very reasonable suggestions.
Now all units attach great importance to letters of complaint, and will definitely strengthen the review standards for such possible problems.
Ye Manzhi said, "The Administration for Industry and Commerce is following regulations. Our products do pose a certain risk of leaks. But, Director Lu, could our Foreign Trade Bureau pass on a message for us? The 'National Defense Education Model Gun' produced by the Shuguang Factory has officially entered mass production and has been put on the market. We've received orders from the Guangzhou Southern Building, Binjiang First Department Store, Third Department Store, and several government kindergartens."
"The Industrial and Commercial Bureau, the Foreign Trade Bureau, and representatives from the military can first evaluate this model. If there are no problems, please send us the 'Shuguang' trademark. We promise to use the trademark only on this model gun. Once other products have passed their own evaluations, we will expand the scope of use of the trademark."
Regarding Shuguang Factory's request, Deputy Director Lu claimed that he needed to discuss it in the bureau and did not give a reply on the spot.
Leaving the Foreign Trade Bureau, Lei Wanyuan scoffed, "There's progress this time. They're willing to discuss it."
They had proposed the same method to the Foreign Trade Bureau before, but they were told to go back and focus on production, saying that impatient people cannot eat hot tofu.
Ye Manzhi smiled: "It seems that Director Lu is also anxious."
If this incident had not happened, the Municipal Foreign Trade Bureau would have thought it could sit back and relax and stay out of the matter.
If they borrowed a foreign trademark, the foreign trade volume would be counted towards that foreign company. No matter how many orders Shuguang Factory could secure, it would be tantamount to handing over its own achievements to someone else.
If this were really done, the Binjiang Foreign Trade Bureau would just be waiting to be laughed at by its sister units.
*
After receiving the attention of the Foreign Trade Bureau, the progress of Shuguang Factory's trademark registration has made rapid progress.
The Foreign Trade Bureau first sent a technical team to the Shuguang Factory to conduct a strict review of the design drawings, finished products, and semi-finished products of toy guns, air guns, and electric fans.
After determining that the probability of their product being leaked was low, the Foreign Trade Bureau intervened and negotiated with the Industry and Commerce Bureau.
Once someone was willing to endorse Shuguang Factory, things became much easier for the Industrial and Commercial Bureau.
The "Shuguang" brand will be issued for use in toy guns first, while other products will be discussed after passing the joint review of various departments.
The successful trademark registration finally gave Shuguang Factory a chance to feel proud. Lei Wanyuan said to Ye Manzhi, "Director Ye, let's go to the food factory and express to Director Yu our regret and sorrow that we can't cooperate in setting up a factory together."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
You want to piss people off, right?
She actually wanted to piss off Yu Zhijiang.
However, she has always been cautious about those villains who put on a fake smile in front of others but plot behind their backs.
"Director, don't go to the food factory for now. Currently, only toy guns can use the trademark. Other products have not yet passed the review. Let's not get into any more trouble and focus on developing and strengthening our own products first!"
Lei Wanyuan gradually calmed down and said proudly, "Okay, wait until we have a bicycle production line, and then we'll go tell Director Yu the good news!"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Zhou Ruyi said that since the beginning of spring, the employees who had raised funds from the food factory have repeatedly approached the factory leaders to request to start construction.
Yu Zhijiang himself is still stuck in the hole of raising funds to build a house, so he may not want to hear any good news from them.
However, having an official trademark is a great joy for Qi Caiyun and the families of Factory 833.
The jam factory is finally hiring!
Recruitment conditions were posted at the gate of the family compound and on the bulletin boards of each residents' group.
In order to let all the left-behind family members know the recruitment news, the neighborhood committee director and the resident group leader shouted in the courtyard for three days with a loudspeaker.
Some team leaders even have to go door to door to notify everyone.
There is no way. Now the indicator of staying in the city to work is too precious. If some family members did not receive the notice and ran to Shuguang Factory to say that the factory was operating behind the scenes, it would be another troublesome matter.
Ye Manzhi's work has been relatively relaxed recently, so when she had nothing to do, she visited the family compound a few times.
She felt that the personnel and logistics departments were well organized.
However, that day Zhou Ruyi came in to report, "Principal Liu from the children's school is here."
"What's the principal doing here?"
"It seems to be related to the jam factory's recruitment," Zhou Ruyi said. "Director Lei wasn't home. He waited there for an hour but saw no one, so he came over here."
"Then let Principal Liu come in quickly."
Principal Liu, a man in his fifties, came in and got straight to the point: "Director Ye, I'm here today to report on the jam factory's recruitment issues!"
"Ah, what's the problem with the jam factory recruiting workers?" Ye Manzhi was confused. She felt that the recruitment work this time was done very well.
"Because of the jam factory's recruitment, a large number of high school students at the children's school have dropped out," Principal Liu lamented. "Some students will receive their high school diplomas in just one semester! It's such a shame to see them drop out now."
"How many students have dropped out of school?" Ye Manzhi asked.
"30 people."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
That's really not a small amount.
The jam factory is only recruiting 60 people this time.
After getting the export orders, we will add more staff little by little.
Ye Manzhi patted his forehead and said, "Dropping out of school is a voluntary choice made by students and parents. It's not appropriate for Shuguang Factory to interfere."
The recruitment conditions this time are actually quite broad.
Office clerks are required to have a high school diploma, workshop workers are required to have a junior high school diploma, be 16 years old or above, and have a Binjiang City household registration.
Apart from this, there is only one restriction: the applicant must not be a current student.
"I just think it's such a shame. If I drop out now, wouldn't all my tuition and time have been wasted?" Principal Liu asked. "Can the factory relax its hiring requirements a little?"
"Principal Liu, this is a state-owned enterprise recruitment operation. We can't change the established recruitment rules just for a certain group."
Having said that, she still called the head of the personnel department and went to the family compound together.
On the way, Principal Liu asked, "Chief Wu, the jam factory's recruitment requirements require that applicants cannot be current students. Is this requirement necessary?"
"That's absolutely necessary. This situation has happened before when our factory was hiring," Chief Wu explained. "Some high school students used their junior high school diplomas to take the exam, but after passing, they couldn't bear to give up their high school education. So their parents used all kinds of connections at the factory to try to get them to make an exception and retain their child's work eligibility for one year, allowing them to come back to work after they graduated from high school."
Ye Manzhi said, "That's definitely not possible. The factory is hiring because it needs workers."
"Yes, that's why it didn't work out. It would have been fine if he had gone back to school, but his parents couldn't bear to part with the job they'd gotten through the exam, so they had him complete the employment paperwork. Within a month, the job was transferred to a relative. How could the successor be as competent as the one who got in through the exam? This has happened several times, so to prevent this kind of chaos, we're not hiring any current students."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
This is really a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole barrel.
In order to participate in this recruitment, thirty high school students chose to drop out of school.
Principal Liu took them to a student's home.
It is said that this boy is a good student and if he takes the college entrance examination this year, there is a high probability that he will be admitted to university.
"Comrade Chen, your Che Liang is a promising student who will go to university and earn a job in the government after graduation. It would be a shame for him to give up his studies now."
Che Liang only had a junior high school diploma, so when he went to the jam factory he could only work as a worker in the workshop.
Principal Liu had come to persuade him several times, but Che Liang's mother said impatiently, "Principal Liu, going to college is good, but can you guarantee that he will be admitted? Isn't the purpose of studying to work? Now that there is a ready-made job opportunity, let him go. His father is working class, and he is also working class. Our family doesn't think it's a pity."
"The factory recruitment test isn't just about academic performance," Principal Liu advised. "There are at least hundreds of people taking the exam. Are you sure he'll pass?"
"If you don't pass this time, just wait until next time. Isn't the jam factory hiring 300 people? There's always a chance you'll pass." Che Liang's mother waved her hand and said, "Principal Liu, please stop trying to persuade me. Last year, many high school graduates went to the countryside because they couldn't find jobs. Even if Che Liang graduated from high school, what would happen?"
The woman moved her lips but didn't say anything else.
Given their family's financial situation, they couldn't find a good job for their child. Instead of sending him to the countryside, it would be better for him to work in a jam factory.
Principal Liu walked out of the tube building with a sigh.
He discussed with Ye Manzhi, "Director Ye, the jam factory is looking to hire 300 family members of employees from Factory 833. We're only hiring 60 this time, and there will be 240 more vacancies later. If any current students pass the exam, can we reserve the job quota for them so they can return to school and finish their studies, and then have them start working directly at the factory when we next recruit?"
Ye Manzhi was silent for a long time, then looked at him and said, "Principal Liu, I understand your concern for the students. However, there are too many family members of employees at Factory 833. Taking care of them would be unfair to everyone else. This job quota is very valuable to everyone. Just because a student passed this recruitment exam doesn't mean they will definitely pass the next one. If we recruit them and then they don't work, the factory won't be able to explain to anyone else."
“…”
"Principal Liu, factories need to ensure fairness in hiring, but high schools are still considered ivory towers. Why don't you think of a solution within the school?" Ye Manzhi suggested. "Thirty students dropped out this time, but not all of them will pass the job recruitment exam. If some don't make it, the school might be able to make some concessions and allow them to return to complete their studies."
*
After seeing off Principal Liu, Ye Manzhi specifically emphasized to Section Chief Wu and Qi Caiyun that this recruitment exam must be strictly controlled.
Some students chose to drop out of school in order to take the job recruitment exam.
We can't let the price others pay become a joke.
Qi Caiyun solemnly promised to do a good job, and then the recruitment work of the jam factory began vigorously.
Director Qi is in full charge of the jam factory.
On the other side, at the Shuguang Factory, Lei Wanyuan held a rare and solemn team meeting.
This time the meeting place was not his office, but the conference room!
This shows how serious this meeting is!
Lei Wanyuan happily announced two good news.
"The first good news is that orders for the 'National Defense Education Model Gun' have exceeded 1,500! While the unit price isn't high, this is a good start for our production conversion!"
Pah pah pah——
Everyone applauded.
"The second good news is that the trial production of electric fans has achieved initial success! Yesterday, the workshop completed the testing of two electric fans, one with direct blowing and one with oscillating motion. The results are very good. I used them in the workshop for most of the day and caught a cold that evening!"
As he said this, he sneezed loudly.
Ye Manzhi, who was about to applaud, said: "..."
Lei Wanyuan went on to say, "In addition to these two pieces of good news, there are two other things that deserve our attention. The first is that we purchased the motors for our trial electric fans on credit from the county motor factory, a total of 300 units. We only paid a small deposit initially, and agreed to pay the balance this month. However, the rental situation in the family compound is not ideal, and I'm reluctant to pay the balance. If anyone from the motor factory comes to collect the debt, everyone should be more cautious."
Everyone: “…”
Is this something you don't have to pay if you don't want to?
"Another thing is, when Factory 833 left, they took most of their trucks with them, leaving us with only one broken-down old truck. It's barely usable, but it can't meet our transportation needs. For the past two months, we've even borrowed a few trucks from other factories to transport raw materials and finished products. However, they also need trucks, so constantly borrowing isn't an option. It would be best if we could buy three or four..."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
I thought I could relax a little more recently.
I never expected that the factory really needs money everywhere.
The Shuguang plant needs to transport a large amount of steel, which places high requirements on the truck's load capacity.
The total price of three or four trucks may be less than one hundred thousand!
Ye Manzhi was wondering where she could get more than 100,000 yuan to buy a car. When she returned to the office, she received a call from Wu Zhengrong.
Dr. Wu asked her to go to the Workers' Cultural Palace after get off work to watch the performance of Henan Yu Opera Theater. The director of this performance was Teacher Chang.
"Wow, do you need to buy tickets in advance for this kind of performance? Do you have tickets?" Ye Manzhi asked.
"Jiang has four tickets. The couple is going together, so they can give us two."
Ye Manzhi nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, then I'll go straight to the Cultural Palace after get off work this afternoon to wait for you and Youyan!"
She hadn't been to a show for a long time, so it was a good opportunity for her to relax.
Wu Zhengrong said, "Today is Saturday. Youyan wants to go to the old house to watch TV. There are performances broadcast on TV on Saturdays, so let her go there to watch the broadcast."
"..." Ye Manzhi felt pity for Captain Xiao Wu in her heart and said without any psychological burden, "Okay, let's watch it together today. The child may not understand Henan Opera, so I won't bring her along to suffer."
Wu Zhengrong chuckled, agreed on a time and hung up the phone.
Ye Manzhi put down the receiver and hummed with a smile: "Brother Liu's words are too biased. Who said women enjoy leisure time?"
While she was admiring herself in the room, Zhou Ruyi knocked on the door and came in, saying, "Director, Deputy Director Wang from the County Motor Factory is here!"
The lyrics in his mouth were interrupted, and Ye Manzhi said in surprise: "You are not here to collect the debt so soon?"
"It seems so." Zhou Ruyi said with a hint of amusement, "After receiving the call from the security guard, Director Lei and Director Tian both went to the workshop."
Ye Manzhi muttered, "Why didn't the security guard call us?"
"Our line was busy just now."
Ye Manzhi: “…”
She just called Wu Zhengrong.
"Where is Director Wang?"
"The reception room."
Ye Manzhi walked around the room with his arms folded, silently weighing whether he should go to the workshop with everyone or stay to receive Director Wang.
Although the final payment has to be made this month, it’s not the end of the month yet.
Director Wang came too early.
Did he hear from somewhere that Lao Lei wanted to postpone the payment?
Ye Manzhi thought about it for a long time and finally decided to meet Director Wang first.
It is only natural to pay back debts, but always putting it off is not a solution.
Director Wang had already finished two cups of tea in the reception room. When he saw Ye Manzhi appear at the door, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that the leaders of Shuguang Factory are not avoiding us, so there is still hope of collecting the debt.
As he said, a lean camel is bigger than a horse, and Shuguang Factory would not default on its debts as the factory director worried.
Ye Manzhi shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, then said with a smile, "The factory has been busy trial-producing new products lately, and the factory directors are all in the workshop, so Director Wang is sorry to have been waiting. Actually, I was just planning to go to the motor factory to discuss cooperation between our two factories, but I didn't expect Director Wang to come before me!"
Director Wang came to collect the money and hadn't considered any cooperation, but he still followed the other party's words and asked, "How does Shuguang Factory want to cooperate?"
"Haha, that must be a big collaboration!" Ye Manzhi said excitedly, "Director Wang, have you heard? Our factory has successfully trial-produced electric fans! Summer is just around the corner, and the peak season for electric fan production and sales is about to begin. We at Shuguang Factory are preparing for a big push!"
Director Wang nodded subconsciously, "Well, now is a good time."
"Director Wang, I heard that the motors used in electric fans aren't the main product of the motor factory," Ye Manzhi said. "But both our factories are located in Anyang County, and motors are ancillary to electric fans. If the motor factory can continue to supply us with electric fans, then every time we sell an electric fan, we can guarantee that the motor factory will sell a motor. If we can continue to cooperate, how much trouble will that save the supply and marketing department of the motor factory?"
Her words should have been very touching.
But when Director Wang heard this, his heart skipped a beat for no reason.
Director Wang had heard of the first female director in the history of Shuguang Factory.
It is said that Deputy Director Ye was transferred from Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory.
How did Binjiang No. 1 Food Factory become successful?
It relies on swallowing up and eating up its peers!
Could it be that Director Ye has taken a fancy to their motor factory?
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