Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 963 Keeping Assistants and Secretaries Busy

Director Liu opened his eyes wide with curiosity: "We even have a winery in France? That's amazing, boss, you guys are so trendy."

Xiao Wei said, "It was mainly for supplying restaurants, so we just bought it. We might expand next year, so I'll have to go there."

Sister Jin slapped the table and said, "We've gone off-topic, we've strayed far from the point. We were talking about vegetables and meat."

Li Na said, "It's none of your business, why are you so concerned?"

Sister Jin said, "How can it not be a problem? If we really build a farm, won't you be in charge of personnel? I won't be involved in any of the messy stuff!"

Director Liu shook his head and said, "There's no need to build it ourselves now. I think we should talk to rural areas in different places about cooperation. They raise the livestock according to our requirements, and we will buy them all. This is much more reliable, and we don't need to invest much. The overall cost is the lowest."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and said, "I'm more familiar with things in the countryside. If that's the case, we'll need a technical team, one to provide guidance and the other to supervise. Let me tell you, when the scale gets large, anything can happen. If you feed them rat poison and they grow fast, do you believe me?"

Director Liu said, "There's no need to build our own technical team. Don't we have a collaboration with the Agricultural University? We can just set up a project there to study vegetables, fruits, and aquaculture—how to make them grow well and fast, how to test pesticides, and how to prevent diseases. Besides, they definitely have relevant research there; that's what they do. You're ignoring a great opportunity."

Xiao Wei asked, "How much would that cost in a year?"

Director Liu said, "What money? If we need them to set up a project, someone will provide the funding. We'll provide the experimental space and handle the product recycling. That's all. They can conduct experiments and research freely. Go ask them; they'll be overjoyed."

Sister Jin said, "We can actually sign agreements with rural areas to buy chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs in a unified manner, and let them raise more. If each family raises a little, the output of a village will be quite high. If we negotiate with more villages, the output will increase. There is no need to think about raising a large number of chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs at once. If an epidemic comes, they will all be wiped out."

Director Liu said, "The key is the price we pay. We need to keep a close eye on market price fluctuations. Even a small profit is necessary."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I think Sister Jin makes a good point. Encouraging farmers to raise livestock is better than us doing it ourselves. I'll go back to my hometown in a few days and talk to the county officials. We'll do a pilot program first, and if it works, we'll roll it out."

Sister Jin raised her hand and said, "And my family's place too, I'll go back and talk to them. My family can still negotiate rice purchases."

Director Liu said, "That's true. The area around Fengtian is all rice-growing region, with one harvest per autumn. We can think about that. Mr. Zhang, I have something to tell you. Our supermarket... that's complicated, let's just call it a supermarket. The supermarket absolutely cannot touch any war preparedness supplies. Remember that, no matter how cheap the price is, I hope we don't touch them, whether it's grain or meat."

Li Na said, "Is it the kind of frozen meat that used to be sold in grocery stores? The kind that's half and half?"

Director Liu nodded and looked at Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei said, "We have plenty of fresh meat, why would we bother with frozen? We don't sell frozen meat."

Director Liu said, "Meat is actually relatively easy to identify, but grain is a bit harder to tell, so we need to find a reliable and stable grain and oil supply channel. Let me think about it, how about I set up a grain collection team, we can go out and collect it, and then we'll package it ourselves when we get back?"

Xiao Wei said, "That's fine. Let's be prepared for both possibilities; we can't let things stop with the grain bureau either."

Director Liu said, "In recent years, with the liberalization of grain and oil prices, quite a few people have been dumping reserve grain. How should I put it? If this is discovered, it will be a big deal. I'm afraid we'll get implicated. It's not worth it."

Xiao Wei waved his hand and said, "It's okay. We're just a retail business. As long as the supply channels are clear and the contracts are complete, it'll be fine. I understand that. Director Liu told me that as long as we don't engage in private transactions, it'll be fine, no matter who the other party is."

Director Liu stood up and said, "That's fine then. I'll go back to my work. I've been exploring the farmers' and grain and oil markets these past few days; I haven't had much experience with this area before. You guys get back to work."

Li Na closed her notebook: "Busy my ass, just looking for trouble."

Sister Jin chuckled, took her notebook, and walked away hand in hand with Li Na. Xiao Wei, with his hands on the table, looked left and right, then sheepishly returned to his office with his notebook. He hesitated at the door for a moment, then said, "Shi Li, come here."

Shi Li agreed and followed Xiao Wei into the office.

Xiao Wei sat down behind his desk, put down his notebook, looked at Shi Li, and asked, "What tasks did Li Na assign you before you came in?"

Shi Li was a little nervous and said, "I am, I am here to assist you, Mr. Zhang, in your work, to complete the tasks you assign, to collect and organize the information and documents you need, and to record and organize the work content and progress of the various departments and companies below and report to you."

Milina's responsibilities include notifying and recording meetings, receiving and sending official documents, writing and organizing documents, relaying information up and down the chain of command, and, of course, completing any tasks you assign her on short notice.

Xiao Wei scratched his face, nodded, and said, "From now on, you'll come with me when I go out. I neglected you before. We're going to Xidu on the 7th or 8th, so get ready for the business trip. The work you need to keep an eye on these days includes the construction of the brewery, the demolition of Zhongjie, the blueprints from the design institute, the blueprints for Zhongjie in Shenshui Bay, Harbin, and the blueprints for warehouses in various locations. Oh, and the person in charge of the hotel from Hong Kong is arriving these days, so make the arrangements in advance."

Shi Li nodded, stood there taking notes, and said, "President Zhang, Principal Shan's family members have arrived. Are they allowed to choose any apartment in the building across the street?"

Xiao Wei was taken aback for a moment: "Shan Hongmei's family moved here? Okay, just pick any apartment to stay in for now. Tell them it's temporary. Next year, when the apartment buildings with elevators are built over there, all the families from our area will have to move there. You should pick one too, it'll be more convenient if it's close by. There are other people moving from Longcheng these next few days, so if I'm not around, you or Milina can make the arrangements. Go ahead and get busy, call Milina in."

Shi Li was a little excited. She turned around and walked out, even jumping up and down, sticking out her tongue as she quickly went out.

Less than a minute later, Milina walked in with a notebook: "Mr. Zhang, you called me?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'm going on a business trip in a few days. You take care of the house. If anything happens, ask Li Na. Also, inform Manager Zhang from the shopping mall that he and I are going to Xidu on the 8th. It's mainly about the opening of the shopping mall, the Ziyou Shopping Mall, and the supermarket and convenience store in the Jibei area. He needs a few people to come and give us a number."

Also, supermarkets in Fengtian are about to open in major universities; have him come up with a plan. And the expansion of convenience stores and supermarkets into the city also needs a plan. Start in Fengtian, then expand to other cities.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Wei said, "Inform him that the warehouse has been planned, and the construction of the section within Liaodong Province will begin immediately. All cargo transportation has been entrusted to the military. Ask him if there is anything he needs to replenish."

We just had a short meeting, mainly discussing the issue of supermarket sourcing, including the raising and cultivation of vegetables, poultry, eggs, and meat. Could you call Manager Liu from the feed company and ask him to inquire with the Agricultural University about potential cooperation?

(End of this chapter)