Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 330 - 234 Concerned with Hometown Construction

The typhoon has passed, but the rain continues to fall.

Flood prevention efforts by the Typhoon and Flood Prevention Command Center are still ongoing; Han Yu cannot return to Yingchuan Port for now.

After chatting with Old Zhang and Jin Weiguo for a bit, he took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and walked with an umbrella to the large warehouse that Huang Jiangsheng and Zhang Erxiao had rented at Bailong Port.

Though their business is affiliated with the Bailong Port Food Station, they also registered a company with the Industry and Commerce Department. The sign for Linghai Longgang Grain and Oil Company hangs at the warehouse entrance.

He thought they would, as in the past, buy their own groceries and cook for themselves. After all, they were old friends; gathering and chatting was what mattered, not the food.

But now they’re big bosses with mobile phones and pagers—cooking would be beneath them.

After sitting and chatting a while, Zhang Erxiao got up and called out as Xiao Yu arrived, "Salted Fish, let’s go to Bailong Port Restaurant."

"We’re not outsiders, why go to a restaurant?"

"This is a warehouse, open flame is strictly prohibited, we can’t cook here."

"If you really couldn’t cook, why buy rice cookers and gas stoves?"

"We rarely get together, let’s go," Xiao Jiang urged with a grin.

Laughing, Huang Jiangsheng pulled him up, saying, "We haven’t seen each other for years, of course we should gather properly. Er Xiao already spoke to the restaurant’s Boss Lady; they have reserved a private room for us, it wouldn’t be right not to go."

Seeing Xiao Yu looking eagerly at him, there was no need to ask; he obviously wanted to go. Han Yu could only smile and say, "Okay then, since you’re all big bosses now, taking advantage of your wealth doesn’t weigh on my conscience."

"What big bosses, we’re just trying to make a living."

"How many shops have you opened in East Sea?"

"Still the same six as before, but we don’t rely on retail anymore."

"You’re doing wholesale?"

"Many little shops and market stalls that also sell grain and oil come to us for wholesale, but nowadays we mainly supply grain and oil to restaurants, big and small."

"You’re not selling eggs anymore?"

"No, they’re troublesome to take care of, high loss rate, and they can’t be stored for long."

Umbrella in hand, Huang Jiangsheng led the way to the restaurant, speaking of business.

Zhang Erxiao couldn’t help but mutter, "The grain station no longer bothers us, but we have more troubles with the oil mill than before. They aren’t performing well, and despite us helping them sell so much oil yearly, they are still picky with us."

Han Yu asked with a smile, "You’re a major customer for them, why would they make things difficult for you?"

"Bureaucracy—the offices are full of desk-workers, more than those who actually work. Every section chief, every director, acts like they’re the boss, showing us their bad attitude."

"Salted Fish, if they’re giving us attitude, it’s because they want to get something out of us, they’re hoping we’ll bribe them, treat them to dinner."

No longer just a simple welder, Xiao Jiang said bitterly, "It’s said that the customer is king, but it’s the other way around with them. They know we only source oil from them; one minute they say there’s a raw material shortage, the next they’re asking for advance payments." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Huang Jiangsheng, not wanting to offend those officials at Four Factory Oil Mill, smiled and said, "The soy oil market is really tight, without soybeans what can they press for oil? But soy oil sells better than rapeseed oil in East Sea."

Xiao Yu asked curiously, "Brother Huang, do East Sea people prefer soy oil?"

"Mainly because rapeseed oil has a specific taste that some people don’t like. It’s hard to please everyone, so restaurants prefer using soy oil for stir-frying."

"You East Sea people are so picky, we all eat rapeseed oil. We even used to eat oil pressed from cotton seeds."

As Zhang Erxiao and Xiao Jiang talked about the difficulty of sourcing soy oil, an idea struck Han Yu, and he asked with a smile, "Have you considered changing suppliers?"

"Not just considered; we’ve visited several plants."

"Then why not switch to a different one?"

Zhang Erxiao said helplessly, "There are oil mills in several surrounding towns and villages, but the scale is small, mainly pressing rapeseed oil. Linghai Oil Mill does press soy oil, but their wholesale price is higher than Four Factory Oil Mill’s. Plus, we haven’t had much interaction, they not only ask for a deposit from us but also insist on full payment upon collection."

Huang Jiangsheng added, "Food is different from other things; quality is very important. We don’t dare to buy cheap oil from small workshops without a guarantee on quality because if someone gets sick we’ll be facing lawsuits."

Afraid Salted Fish wouldn’t believe him, Xiao Jiang looked up and said, "In East Sea, checks are often conducted. You need a certificate of qualification, sometimes they even take samples for testing."

Sometimes what you seek is hardly found when effort is exhausted, yet it arrives effortlessly.

Thinking about the favor he owed, Han Yu smiled and said, "I’ll introduce you to an oil mill. It’s about the same size as Four Factory Oil Mill, and I guarantee the quality of their oil. If you’re interested, you could talk to them."

Zhang Erxiao asked instinctively, "Is there an oil mill in Yingchuan Port?"

"Not Yingchuan Port. The mill I’m talking about is in Si Gang."

"Si Gang? That’s so far away!"

"Speaking of distance, Bailong Port is even farther from East Sea, but you’re still managing to sell oil there, right? If you include the transport costs, their oil isn’t more expensive than Four Factory’s. If there’s profit to be made for you and you don’t have to defer to anybody’s face, why not collaborate?"

"That makes sense. Salted Fish, are you familiar with them?"

"I know the Secretary of that town."

"Our volume is huge; last year we purchased oil worth over six hundred thousand from Four Factory Oil Mill. Can they guarantee the supply?"

"They should be able to."

If Four Factory Oil Mill found out we are purchasing oil from other factories, they would definitely make things harder for us than now.

Zhang Erxiao didn’t dare to switch suppliers lightly. After exchanging glances with Huang Jiangsheng, he pressed Salted Fish, "We don’t have that much working capital. At most, we can pay thirty percent upon collection, and the rest has to wait until all the oil is sold before we settle with them."

Fearing Han Yu wouldn’t believe it, Xiao Jiang added, "This is how we settle accounts with Four Factory Oil Mill."

Han Yu also felt he should clarify things for Old Lu and asked with a smile, "Generally, how long does it take to settle everything?"

"At most two months."

"I’ll ask for you, but I think it shouldn’t be a problem."

"Will they trust us?"

"With my guarantee, how could they not trust you?"

"Then ask quickly, use my cell phone."

Zhang Erxiao didn’t want to see the faces of those officials from Four Factory Oil Mill any longer and immediately took out his cell phone.

It was Han Yu’s first time using a "cell phone" and he was still not familiar with it. He pulled out the phone book, found Secretary Lu’s cell phone number with Zhang Erxiao’s guidance, and dialed it.

The call went through but after two beeps, the other side hung up.

"Secretary Lu must be in a meeting."

Han Yu handed the cell phone back to Zhang Erxiao and went into the restaurant’s private room with a slightly embarrassed look.

Huang Jiangsheng hurriedly asked the Boss Lady to serve the dishes. Han Yu neither drank alcohol nor could he drink it, so he ordered a soft drink.

Flood prevention efforts were still ongoing. Xiao Yu also dared not drink and asked for the price of soft drinks, not surprisingly grumbling that the Boss Lady was ripping them off since it was much more expensive than what his family sold.

As the cold dishes were served, Huang Jiangsheng called for Han Yu and the others to eat when Zhang Erxiao’s cell phone rang.

He could see the caller ID and answered in front of everyone, "Hello... yes, the call was just made, are you Secretary Lu? The call was made by Salted Fish, I’ll let Salted Fish speak to you."

Han Yu quickly recovered and hurriedly took over the cell phone.

"Xiao Han, is there news about the construction machinery?"

"Secretary Lu, it’s not about construction machinery. I have a few friends doing grain and oil business in East Sea; they are doing it on a large scale..."

Han Yu briefly explained the situation.

Old Lu, who just returned from inspecting the drainage on Liu Xia River embankment to the town government, was delighted and laughed, slapping his thigh: "We can collaborate on grain and oil as well. You and Director Zhang have visited Liangzhuang Oil Mill; whether it’s scale, output, or quality, it is top-notch among all the county’s township oil enterprises..."

After listening to his self-praise, Han Yu cautiously said, "Secretary Lu, I understand what you’ve mentioned, and I’ve introduced them to a few friends who are very interested. It’s just... their grain and oil business is so large, they have six wholesale stores in East Sea alone, funds are quite tight..."

They just want to defer payments.

Arranging for goods with thirty percent upfront and settling the rest within two months, this deal is doable.

Besides, with Han Yu and Zhang Mingdong from the police as guarantors, would the other party dare to delay payments?

Moreover, where else in Liangzhuang would one find a deal worth six or seven hundred thousand a year?

After clarifying the details, Old Lu made a decisive statement: "The payment terms are no issue. You just mentioned they also sell rice along with oil, we in Liangzhuang have rice as well and can cooperate fully. Xiao Han, how about this, you help me invite Manager Huang to visit Liangzhuang, and we will definitely give him a warm reception."

"Alright, I’m having a meal with them right now."

"There’s one more thing. The typhoon has just passed and it’s still raining. I know you and Director Zhang must be very busy. Once the rain stops and the waterlogging is drained, I’ll have Yu Changzhang from the building materials machinery factory personally visit your place for business. He’s unfamiliar with the area and mainly relies on your help; I’ll ask for a favor in advance."

"Alright... alright, it’s not a favor."

"It is a favor, Comrade Xiao Han. On behalf of the over twenty-four thousand Liangzhuang people, I ask for your help, and on their behalf, I also welcome you and your in-laws to visit your hometown when you have time. The Liangzhuang Town Committee and government will surely give you a warm reception."

"Secretary Lu, you are too kind."

"This is not kindness; this is what we should do."

Unexpectedly, treating that young man to a meal actually makes him able to help with some matters.

The more Old Lu thought about it, the happier he became, and he added with a laugh, "By the way, please convey to your in-laws that if there is anything back home and they can’t make it back, they can call me. As long as I, Lu Huisheng, can handle it, I’ll make sure it’s done properly for them."

"Thank you, Secretary Lu."

"No need to thank me. You care about the construction of your hometown, and I, as an official of your home, must certainly help you to lay aside any worries. In short, work in peace outside and leave your hometown matters to me."

Han Yu really wanted to say his father-in-law’s hometown was in Dinghu, not Liangzhuang, and Dinghu seemed to have some conflict with Liangzhuang.

But that was just a thought he would never dare say out loud.

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