Reborn in the 1980s, starting with fishing and hunting to build a fortune

Chapter 108 Purchasing Department

The next day, at 5:30, the kerosene lamp in the Li family's house was lit again.

Li Xiangyang suddenly felt a little dazed, as if the kerosene lamp lighting up at this moment meant that money would come in today.

When he got up and went out, Li Xiangdong had already led the two sheep from the pasture.

We're leaving soon, and there's no time to kill them, so we'll tie them all up with ropes and lead them away on horseback later.

The other two sheep, along with the four rabbits, five pheasants, and fifteen catties of wild boar meat caught a few days ago, were all packed into sacks and hung on their respective horses.

Along the way, the wind and snow continued to blow so hard that people couldn't open their eyes, and they could only move forward slowly.

By the time they arrived in Wuzhen, it was already fully light.

Outside Wuzhen, due to road congestion, it is almost impossible for outsiders to get through, and the area is deserted. However, inside Wuzhen, because the roads are blocked and residents cannot go out, it appears somewhat bustling.

At this time, ten minutes before the state-run restaurant opened, a dozen or so employees had already gathered at the entrance, waiting to come in for their meal.

However, the ingredients for today have not yet arrived.

The manager of the state-run restaurant—or more commonly, the director at the time—immediately convened an emergency meeting of internal staff in the back room.

The purchasing agent, the chef, and the warehouse keeper were all called over.

Sitting in the middle of the crowd, Director Jia was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged, and he slammed his fist on the table.

"We're opening in ten minutes, but the ingredients still haven't arrived. I'm wondering if we're still opening?"

The area below was completely silent, with the purchasing team members practically burying their heads under the table.

Tu Weimin, the head of the purchasing team, felt even more ashamed.

He had been out all day yesterday, begging and pleading, and only managed to bring back a few fish and some pork, which was far from enough to meet the minimum requirement set by the director.

Rice, flour, and cooking oil can last for a few more days, but customers don't just order these; they mostly want to eat them with meat.

But there's nothing he can do now.

No one knew how long the snow disaster would last, so in a panic, everyone frantically hoarded supplies. In just a few days, they brought home everything edible available in the market.

You want them to take some out? No way!

So now all he can do is pray silently.

I pray that the road from Li Xiangyang's village to Wuzhen is still passable, and that Li Xiangyang can come over soon so I can bring him some ingredients.

"What's wrong? Why isn't anyone saying anything? Are you pretending to be mute?"

The director questioned loudly.

"Reporting to the director, I just checked the warehouse this morning. The rice, flour, and cooking oil can last for another six days, but we're running out of meat."

The custodian spoke in a low voice.

He was only responsible for the hotel's supplies and entry/exit registration; nothing else was his concern.

He shouldn't be held accountable.

The head chef, being shrewd, quickly chimed in upon hearing the storekeeper's words: "Anyway, whatever amount of ingredients you can give our kitchen, our kitchen can guarantee to make that much food. If you don't give our kitchen any ingredients, then there's nothing we can do."

It means that their kitchen is only responsible for cooking, and whether the food tastes good or not, and whether they can buy the ingredients, is none of their business.

After the chef finished speaking, the back room fell into a deathly silence, as if everyone had stopped breathing.

A moment later, the director helplessly extended his index finger and tapped the table.

"We've covered the kitchen and the warehouse, so what does the purchasing department have to say?"

The two purchasing team members looked at each other, then turned to their new team leader, Tu Weimin, and whispered, "Team Leader Tu, why don't you apologize to the director?"

"Get out of here, you two! What are you talking about? Do you think this can be solved by just giving in?!"

Tu Weimin didn't listen to them.

Wasn't his former purchasing team leader laid off because he was considered incompetent?

He absolutely cannot follow his old path now, even if he knows he will die, he must stubbornly persevere.

He stood up, his neck stiff, and said, "Our purchasing team has nothing to say. We'll go out and get the ingredients right now!"

As he was saying this, he was about to get up and leave, but was stopped by the deputy director who had been silent all along.

"Weimin, you already said that yesterday."

Tu Weimin's body trembled. What was bound to happen had finally happened. The last team leader to be laid off was a relative of this deputy director. He was laid off by the director because he couldn't get things done, and the deputy director had held a grudge against him ever since.

I thought he was the one behind it all!

Actually, it had nothing to do with him. It was just that the director couldn't stand him colluding with the original head of the purchasing team and having too much power, so he brought him up to check and balance him.

But now, the deputy director's relative has left the state-run hotel, and he has become an insignificant person who can be replaced at any time.

"Today—just today, I'm sure I can get the ingredients back."

Tu Weimin reached out and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

As he spoke, he tried to get up and leave again.

"Wait, what's the rush!" The deputy director called out to Tu Weimin again, having waited a long time for this opportunity: "What if—...you still can't get the ingredients back today?"

"this----"

Tu Weimin's heart tightened; the deputy director had already revealed his true intentions.

He turned to look at Director Jia, who had promoted him, hoping to see if he could help him out of this predicament.

Director Jia shook his head slightly, indicating that he couldn't do anything about it.

have no choice--.

He then turned to his two purchasing agents, Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang, hoping they could put in a good word for him.

Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang pretended not to see it—Tu Weimin was instantly enraged.

Since he took over as the head of the new purchasing team, he has never been harsh on these two young men; in fact, you could say he has treated them quite well.

But at the crucial moment, those two rascals actually pretended to be dead!

Tu Weimin smiled bitterly, thinking, "How cold-hearted the world is! They probably think I'll be fired like the former purchasing team leader, so they're rushing to distance themselves so they can take my place, right?"

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, and a terrifying thought popped into his head: "Could it be that... Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang are waiting for me here? Is that why they've been shirking their duties all this time, going out every day but not bringing back a single ingredient?"

They're just waiting for me to get fired so they can fill in!

Thinking of this, Tu Weimin's eyes suddenly turned fierce as he stared intently at Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang, and slowly said, "Xiao Liu, Xiao Zhang, why don't you two come out and tell me what we should do if 'our' purchasing department can't get the ingredients back today?"

He emphasized the word "we" very much!

Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang were taken aback. Why wasn't Tu Weimin following the script? They then secretly glanced at the deputy director, seeking help.

The deputy director was so angry his face turned black. Why were those two staring at him like that? Did they want everyone to know that they were plotting to get rid of Tu Weimin?

Director Jia and Tu Weimin were also surprised. Why were they looking at the deputy director?

Or is it that the three of them are in cahoots?

In that case, Director Jia would have no choice but to protect Tu Weimin.

He immediately said, "Xiao Liu, Xiao Zhang, Team Leader Tu is asking you a question! Your purchasing team hasn't brought back any ingredients today. What are you going to do?"

"Ah—our purchasing team—"

Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang were both confused by the question. Wasn't it supposed to be about Tu Weimin personally? How did it become their purchasing team? The two of them tried to shift the blame to each other.

Finally, it was Xiao Liu who spoke up: "Xiao Zhang and I just went to buy things wherever Team Leader Tu told us to."

Alright, alright, these two are starting to shirk responsibility, aren't they?

Tu Weimin suddenly gave a bitter smile. Since you are so ruthless, then don't blame me for being ruthless too!

Tu Weimin immediately stood up and said, "Regardless of whether there is a snow disaster or not, if the purchasing department cannot buy the goods, it is the dereliction of duty of the purchasing department as a whole!"

If the purchasing department can't buy anything today, then Xiao Liu should resign!

If the purchasing department can't buy the goods by tomorrow, then Xiao Zhang should resign!

If the purchasing department can't buy the goods by the day after tomorrow, then I'm resigning!

The hotel has reorganized its purchasing department!

I wonder if the deputy director is satisfied with this response?

"Ah ...

Upon hearing Tu Weimin's words, Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhang, who had been watching with a detached, amazed.

The deputy director, who was determined to get rid of him, was so angry that his lips twitched.

"That bastard Tu Weimin, he left, but he still managed to pull this damn stupid trick on me."

Just then, a kitchen apprentice rushed in, beaming, and said, "Team Leader Tu, a herdsman named Li Xiangyang came to the backyard looking for you. He brought—brought a lot of ingredients—and sheep!"

"What--.?"

"real--?

""

"Take us to see it!"