With hope in her heart, she walked with determination until she reached the half-open office door deep in the market.
She knocked twice softly on the mottled wooden door. Then, a deep baritone voice penetrated the crack in the door, saying briefly and forcefully, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and the scene inside came into view: a slightly plump middle-aged man was sitting in front of a desk piled with documents, his brows furrowed, and he was concentrating on reviewing the report in his hand.
Xu Qinghe spoke politely in a clear and pleasant voice, "Hello, Director Zhao. I'm Xiao Xu from Fengtai Village. I've come here on behalf of the village chief to discuss the possibility of cooperation between our two villages."
Upon hearing this, Director Zhao slowly raised his eyes, looking over his glasses and carefully examining the young woman in front of him who was dressed simply and carrying a heavy burden.
She seemed to carry the unique freshness of the mountains and her eyes flashed with indomitable spirit and tenacity.
Director Zhao's expression returned to his usual indifference, and his tone revealed a hint of disapproval.
"Chen Hong has already briefly mentioned your intention to me. However, our supermarket has always preferred to work directly with regular manufacturers. To be honest, this is our first time collaborating with a rural village. Even though supply has been a bit tight recently, we're more concerned about cost and efficiency. There are many strong villages around the county town, with convenient logistics and low costs. Choosing them is obviously more sensible, isn't it?"
Having said that, Director Zhao raised a barely perceptible smile, as if observing Xu Qinghe's reaction.
However, Xu Qinghe did not show any panic or frustration. The smile on her lips was still gentle, as if she had already expected the other party's answer.
"You're absolutely right. If we're simply talking about supplying vegetables, any of the surrounding villages would be more than capable of doing so. However, I didn't come here without any preparation."
As she spoke, she gently placed the backpack on the ground, carefully took out two food boxes wrapped in clean cloths, and placed them one by one on Director Zhao's desk.
It was a plate of juicy green bean sprouts and a bowl of golden, delicate pea flour, carefully served with exquisite bamboo chopsticks.
"Director Zhao, why not try some of the fresh flavors from the mountains first." Xu Qinghe's smile was full of confidence.
Although Director Zhao is knowledgeable, he was still a little surprised by this sudden "gift".
The bean sprouts looked ordinary, but he knew very well that good bean sprouts tasted very different from those on the market; and the bowl of seemingly ordinary yellow dish aroused his curiosity.
"The bean sprouts are growing well and are quite unique." Director Zhao thought to himself. As he spoke, he picked up the chopsticks involuntarily and decided to give it a try.
The bean sprouts are crisp and refreshing with a subtle sweetness. Even after long-distance transportation, they still retain their unique flavor and refreshing aftertaste, which is completely different from the common bean sprouts on the market that have a bland taste and are easy to get stuck in your teeth.
Then he tried the bowl of pea flour. It had a delicate texture, distinct layers of cold dressing, and a spicy and fresh flavor that awakened his dormant taste buds.
"This pea flour is quite novel. What kind of delicacy is it?" Director Zhao's face showed great interest, and Xu Qinghe patiently answered his questions.
"Although the production process of pea flour is complicated, it tastes excellent and is suitable for all seasons. It is especially suitable for solving the problem of unstable vegetable supply." Xu Qinghe's words are full of pride in his own products.
After hearing this, Director Zhao's eyes flickered, which was both a recognition of Xu Qinghe's craftsmanship and an admiration for her courage.
"Both of these appear to be made by you personally. So, are you confident in your ability to maintain a stable, long-term supply? Also, this kind of home-made processing shouldn't be in compliance with regulations, yet you're so bold as to come directly to our door. Aren't you worried about getting in trouble?"
There was a hint of playfulness in his words, but he also implied concern for Xu Qinghe's situation.
After all, in this legal society, if you are not careful, such behavior may bring immeasurable consequences.
However, facing Director Zhao's questions, Xu Qinghe appeared unusually calm.
Xu Qinghe stood in the office of the supply and marketing cooperative, sunlight streaming through the half-open window onto her calm face. Her voice was clear and calm. "Director Zhao is absolutely right. These two handmade products in my hands are indeed the crystallization of my personal skills, but they also carry the beautiful vision of our entire village to cooperate with the supply and marketing cooperative. As long as the supply and marketing cooperative is willing to lend a hand and work together, I am willing to selflessly pass on these skills to the villagers, making them our common and valuable assets, and ensuring a continuous and stable supply to meet market demand."
She continued, "Director, you should be well aware that seasonal vegetables are limited by season and cannot be supplied year-round. Furthermore, the limited size of each household's vegetable garden makes it difficult to guarantee both quality and quantity. In contrast, the bean sprouts and pea flour I recommend are not only suitable for all seasons, but also have a stable production and supply capacity. As long as the supply and marketing cooperative has demand, we will provide it as promised, eliminating your worries."
Xu Qinghe gently stroked the seasoning packet in his hand, his tone revealing a hint of pride. "As for this seasoning, it's carefully blended according to a secret recipe passed down from our ancestors. It's one of a kind. We imagine that if the supply and marketing cooperative is interested, we can sell this special seasoning as a set meal along with the pea flour. Although the price will be slightly higher than selling the pea flour alone, it will definitely be worth it. Of course, if the customer only wants the pea flour, we will also provide more affordable options."
She paused slightly. "The reason I'm pushing this matter so actively is entirely out of my heart. I want to help our village develop and make every household's life more fulfilling. I hope you can understand my intention and give us a chance to try."
Xu Qinghe's heart was burning with enthusiasm. She knew that this cooperation was not only of great significance to the village, but also a key step for her to demonstrate her abilities and win the respect of the villagers.
Director Zhao's eyes were deep, clearly persuaded, yet he feigned a gesture, trying to negotiate a better price. "What you're saying is indeed very attractive, but we haven't had such a cooperative model before, so we need time to carefully consider it. How about I give it some thought before I give you an answer?"
"Okay," Xu Qinghe answered decisively without any hesitation.
Seeing Director Zhao's surprise, she smiled and added, "But please make a decision quickly. After all, I have to go to the pork factory to discuss cooperation. Although we are small, we also hope to make the most sensible choice. If the pork factory agrees to cooperate, I am afraid we will be unable to meet the needs of the supply and marketing cooperative at the same time."
This sentence cleverly emphasized Xu Qinghe's importance of cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative, and also implied that their choice was not the only one, which invisibly strengthened his own negotiating position.
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