That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1304 Moutai is going to rise to two or three thousand?

"Director Li, let me raise a glass to you. Although this is our first meeting, I have long admired your name."

"No, no, I can't hold my liquor. I really can't drink anymore, or I won't be able to work this afternoon."

"Then I'll do it, you can do as you please."

"Okay, okay, mmm."

"."

Li Ye has a high alcohol tolerance and the straightforwardness of a Dongshan native. He never plays games when someone sincerely toasts him. Anyone who has drunk with him knows that Li Ye is loyal and righteous when it comes to drinking.

But today he was unusually timid. When Director Han of the Red Star Manufacturing Plant offered him a toast, he drank it all, but he just pursed his lips.

This displeased Director Han. He considered himself the head of the Red Star Manufacturing Plant and had already given Li Ye, the deputy director, a lot of face by toasting him. But Li Ye actually foolishly said, "I'll drink it all, you can do whatever you want."

So after putting down his wine glass, Director Han asked with a barbed tone, "Director Li, is this wine not to your liking? Should I call the legal representative to go out and buy a bottle of Moutai?"
Logically speaking, we should serve you, such a distinguished guest, with the finest wines. However, our factory has implemented strict hospitality standards since last year, and no one is exempt.
So I'm so sorry, it's my fault, I neglected you. I'll pay for it myself and have someone go out and buy you a bottle right now."

Factory Director Han stood up and was about to send someone out to buy wine.

Li Ye smiled and said, "Director Han, you've misunderstood. I can't distinguish between good and bad liquor anymore. A bottle of brandy costing thousands of dollars and a bottle of Erguotou costing only a few dollars, they all taste the same to me, so please don't be shy."

Factory Director Han said with a half-smile, "Oh, you can't even handle wine that costs several thousand dollars a bottle? No wonder. We've only ever seen those high-end brandies in the Friendship Store; we really didn't know they cost several thousand dollars a bottle."

Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "Whether it costs several thousand or tens of thousands a bottle, it's just a bottle of wine. Drinking it will make you drunk, and being drunk will interfere with things. We still have work to do this afternoon, so let's drink in moderation."

"That's true, work is still the most important thing."

Factory Director Han nodded, sighed, and said, "But speaking of this wine, I really don't understand it, especially after the reform and opening up; it's become increasingly incomprehensible."

Ten years ago, our factory was thriving. Back then, a bottle of Moutai only cost eight yuan. Even ordinary employees in our company could buy a few bottles for weddings and funerals.
But in recent years, life has been tough for everyone, yet Moutai liquor has risen to over 100 yuan. Who can afford it anymore? If these liquor sellers aren't selling to ordinary people, who are they selling to?

"You're kidding me! When Moutai was eight yuan a bottle, only factory managers like you could afford it. The average worker's salary was thirty or forty yuan; who would dare to drink it on a regular basis?"

Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "The issue that Director Han mentioned is something we actually studied as a social practice when we were in school. In fact, after comprehensive analysis, the price of Moutai liquor has not increased."

"Back in 1977 or 1988, a bottle of Moutai cost eight yuan. An apprentice in a factory in our county earned thirteen yuan and fifty cents a month, so it took almost half a month's salary to buy a bottle of liquor."

Two years ago, the wages of workers in Beijing were over 100 yuan, while a bottle of Moutai liquor cost 89 yuan, which was equivalent to more than half a month's salary.

This year, wages here have increased again. The lowest wages are just over 100 yuan, while those in well-performing companies are 200-300 yuan. And then the retail price of Moutai liquor broke 100 yuan.

A bottle of Moutai costs over a hundred yuan, which is more than half a month's salary for an average worker. According to this economic law, in another twenty or thirty years, when our salaries reach four or five thousand yuan, a bottle of Moutai should cost two or three thousand yuan.

"."

Li Ye has essentially "revealed a secret." When a bottle of Moutai costs two or three thousand yuan, isn't that still more than half a month's salary for an ordinary person?

Factory Director Han was stunned for a moment, then asked in shock, "What? A bottle of Moutai has gone up to two or three thousand yuan? Are you kidding me? What's the point of running a business then? We can just sell our houses and land and store all the money in Moutai!"

"It's unbelievable, but if we had stocked up on a batch when it was eight yuan a bottle, it would have increased more than tenfold by now, which is much higher than the interest rate in the bank."

"What?! Bank deposits?! That's way higher than loan sharks, it's practically robbery! Impossible, absolutely impossible. A hundred or so yuan is the absolute maximum, let alone two or three thousand? Ha~"

Factory Director Han chuckled and asked Li Ye, "Factory Director Li, you also run a business. What do you think would happen if the price of a commodity increased every year?"

Li Ye glanced at Factory Director Han and said calmly, "Factory Director Han, do you mean someone is manufacturing similar products to compete with us?" "Yes, that's right."

Factory Director Han slapped his thigh and said eloquently, "Take our factory as an example. Before the market was opened up, the price of a workpiece that cost 230 yuan hadn't changed for more than ten years. But now, thanks to a group of individual vendors, it's hard to sell even for 160 yuan."
Therefore, the good days for Moutai won't last many more years. Once Caotai and Tiantai liquors appear on the market, it's not impossible for them to go back to eight yuan a bottle, let alone over a hundred yuan. They're just alcohol diluted with water, so even eight yuan wouldn't be a loss for them."

"."

[I gave you a chance, but you failed! What can I do?]

Li Ye pursed his lips and nodded in agreement, "Yes, what Factory Director Han said is true. Any product will have to lower its price if it encounters similar competition. Let alone dropping it to eight yuan, it's possible it could even drop to three yuan."

"Yeah!"

With a ruddy complexion, Factory Director Han raised the bottle of liquor, pouring wine for Li Ye as he said, "That's why I say a Moutai that costs over a hundred yuan and a Xifeng that costs a few dozen yuan are both made from grain, and there's not much difference between them. Factory Director Li, please don't look down on them."

Li Ye quickly covered his wine glass and calmly said, "Director Han, I think it's almost time for work, so let's not drink anymore, okay? Work is more important, right?"

A clear look of displeasure flashed in Director Han's eyes, and the red glow on his face seemed to have faded considerably.

He put down the bottle and sat up straight: "That's true. So, where are the two factory managers planning to go this afternoon?"

Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang exchanged a glance, then Li Ye said, "Let's go to the workshop and take a look. Then we can invite some of the frontline workers to visit our company. Since we're interested in cooperating, we should reciprocate and see if we can work together."

"To select workers to visit your company?"

Factory Director Han and his two colleagues were all surprised.

Then he asked, puzzled, "If it weren't for Director Li, what could the frontline workers possibly understand when they come to visit your place?"

Li Ye patiently explained, "It's not about understanding anything, but about seeing if they can adapt to our unit's work model. Because if we really merge, they will naturally have to work according to the current work model of our branch factory."

"."

Factory Director Han looked at Li Ye and almost asked, "Why should we work according to your model?"

But he held back, because he was afraid Li Ye would retort, "If we don't follow our profitable model, are we supposed to follow your near-bankrupt model?"

However, Li Ye's practice of inviting frontline workers to "test the work" still made Director Han very uncomfortable.

What does it matter if the workers are adaptable? If our management doesn't agree, we're not going to cooperate with you for a second.

"Alright then! Which workshop would the two factory managers like to inspect?"

"Let's go with the shearing workshop!"

"We already visited the shearing workshop this morning. Okay, okay, we'll do whatever the two factory managers say. This way, please!"

Factory Director Han and others accompanied Li Ye and Lu Zhizhang to the shearing workshop, but when they arrived, everyone's faces darkened.

It's already past working hours, but there aren't many people in the workshop. Compared to when I visited this morning, there are at least half as many people.

As the head of the branch factory, Lu Zhizhang had been keeping a low profile and hadn't said much all day, but now he had to smile and express his opinion.

"Director Han, does this mean we're not welcome?"

(End of this chapter)