Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 975 Colored Face

Han San laughed and said, "I heard that some Japanese people make colorful noodles by mixing vegetable juice with flour. I think you could try it and register a domestic patent or something."

Xiao Wei said, "That's been around for a while, right? I remember my mother-in-law used persimmon juice to make dough. When washing the seeds in the fall, she felt it was a waste to throw it away, so she strained out the juice, and it was quite delicious. It was pink. Cucumber juice is light green; I've tried both."

Han San said, "Go apply for a patent, then produce it and sell it. I think that should work."

Xiao Wei said, "What about the cost? We can eat it ourselves, but if we sell it, it's fine. A pound of noodles is half noodles and half vegetables, how much would we sell it for? Add to that the cost of machinery and labor, what about the output?"

Han San said, "You're just serving instant noodles, aren't you? Even dried noodles come with a 'product' (likely referring to a product or service). Besides, there are plenty of people wearing mink coats, how come the whole country can't afford your noodles? Who's your restaurant serving then?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yeah, you're right. This thing can even be patented?"

Han San said, "Sure, why not? You can apply for any new gadgets."

Xiao Wei suddenly froze, something flashed through his mind. Han San fed him a few times, and Xiao Wei said, "I'll tell you in a bit." After hanging up the phone, he sat there thinking, what was it?

Patent? No. Colored noodles, no. Vegetable juice and noodles. Vegetable juice.

Xiao Wei took a pen and wrote down the words "vegetable juice" in his notebook.

Then Xiaowei dialed Han San's number again.

Han San asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered something. Let's set five lines then. How long and tall is the machine?"

Han San said, "The span should be at least 110 meters. As for the height, 4.5 meters is enough. A 5.5-meter height is sufficient for your factory building. The width should be 5 or 6 meters. If you want to build it, I can ask the manufacturer for the factory building plans; they can provide them."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, let's do it. Five lines. I'll handle the liaison. Calculate the production volume of the dried ingredients and bowls, and get them all together."

Han San said, "Aren't you going to make those oil packets? They still require the same supporting equipment. Your original supply can't keep up, and there's also the packaging, plastic bags, and cardboard boxes. It's not cost-effective to buy them from outside once production increases."

Xiao Wei said, "I'll figure out the packaging, but we definitely need to expand production of the soup base. You mean we could combine them?"

Han San said, "Of course we'll put them together. You use a lot here, so it'll save you a lot on transportation costs. It's the same if other places get supplies from here, isn't it? You can just shut down your old small workshop. Anyway, the food factory has already moved out."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's do it then. If there's anything else I haven't thought of, please make a plan, and we'll discuss it later."

Milina came in, and the materials Manager Zhang had prepared were delivered. Xiao Wei took the materials and asked, "Milina, if there were noodles that were colorful, like red ones that tasted like persimmons, green ones that tasted like cucumbers and celery, and purple ones that tasted like sweet potatoes, would you eat them?"

Milina thought for a moment and said, "I think so, I'll try it. If the color is nice, I'll definitely buy it. But it can't be too expensive."

Xiao Wei asked, "How expensive is 'not too expensive'? How much do you think is expensive?"

Milina touched her lips with her finger a few times and said, "If it's dried noodles, it'll be under three yuan; if it's instant noodles, it'll be under two yuan. Anyway, it's not like we eat it every day."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "You and Shi Li discuss whether you can do a survey. Don't mention colored noodles, just talk about vegetable noodles, noodles with vegetable ingredients. Ask college students and ordinary citizens, and then give me the results."

Milina said, "Okay, how long do you need it?"

Xiao Wei said, "No rush, we can get it done when we have time."

Milina pointed to the materials in Xiaowei's hand and said, "Director Liu's are at the back." She came over, looked at Xiaowei's teacup, and went to refill it with hot water.

Xiao Wei looked down at the materials. Manager Zhang gave some suggestions and opinions on the management positions and managers. Later, Director Liu also gave some suggestions. Finally, the two of them recommended several people and wrote down their abilities, work experience, personality and weaknesses in detail.

Xiao Wei glanced at it and said to Milina, who was standing to the side, "Give this material to Li Na, let her take a look. Give this list to Li Na too. Let Li Na discuss it with Manager Zhang and Director Liu."

Tell Manager Zhang that I won't interfere with the personnel management within his scope of responsibility; just file a record with Li Na for management positions. However, whether it's appointment or recommendation, competence and character must be guaranteed. I don't want those old hands who've gotten by in the workplace.

Milina nodded, took the materials, and went out.

The phone rang again.

"Xiaowei, our school has agreed to let you move out of the third or second dormitory and stay on one floor. But there are conditions: we need to guarantee 15 work-study slots, and the original conditions remain unchanged."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, fifteen spots aren't many, and it's not like I'm stuck working at this store. When do we sign the contract?"

Xiao Hong said, "They're working on it here. I'll bring it back when it's done. I'm hanging up now."

After hanging up the phone, Xiaowei thought for a moment and then called Director Xu of the Liaoning University Administration Office.

"Brother Xu, how's the contact going?"

Director Xu said, "You're too impatient. There are thirty or forty schools. I still have to weed out the unsuitable ones for you. If there's a student affairs office or service center, I can ask them directly. If not, I'll have to find someone to ask the school. Don't worry, don't worry, I'll get the numbers and call you when I find them."

Xiao Wei asked, "You know all the schools?"

Director Xu said, "Most of them, I guess. We often have meetings together, some are quite familiar, and some are just acquaintances."

Xiao Wei said, "I've already signed contracts with the Electrical Engineering College and the Police Academy, and I just finalized things with the Engineering College. I just remembered to ask you about it."

Director Xu chuckled a few times and said, "You're fast! Impressive. Okay, I'll hurry."

Xiao Wei said, "We can take out a portion of our annual profits, no less than 30,000 yuan, and work with the school to create a grant to help students from impoverished families. We can also provide a few work-study positions for students who are particularly disadvantaged."

Director Xu said, "That's great! Really? Do we have it?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, everyone is the same."

Director Xu thought for a moment and said, "You can't do it this way. Every school is different. You have to take into account the number of students and their backgrounds. For example, what kind of subsidy would you give to a vocational college? Their students are all wealthier than the average family. And the police academy is even better; they don't charge tuition and they get government subsidies, right?"

Alright, that's good enough. I'll put in a little effort and get you a copy of the basic information for each school.

For schools like ours, the College of Engineering, Fengtian University, Agricultural University, Aerospace University, and the University of Technology and Architecture, which have a large number of students from diverse backgrounds, you set a quota. For vocational colleges, which have fewer students and a more homogeneous student body, setting another quota is unnecessary, understand?

(End of this chapter)