vrcanaries Chapter 42 Adding Dishes
Chapter 42 Adding Dishes
The morning meeting lasted until nearly noon before concluding without any breaks or pauses. After the meeting, a county committee staff member announced, "Distinguished leaders and comrades, thank you for your hard work! The county committee has prepared lunch; please proceed to the county committee canteen for your meal."
The attendees rose and left the meeting room for the county government canteen. As they walked, they continued discussing the content of the recently concluded meeting, exchanging views and opinions. Some seemed more relaxed, joking with each other, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
The county government canteen is located on the first floor of the county government building. It is simply and elegantly decorated, and the environment is clean and tidy. There are three round tables inside, each neatly set with tableware and food. Because there is a standard allowance for each meal, the lunch is relatively simple: a stir-fried pork dish, a boiled fish dish, and various side dishes such as radishes and tofu. The staple food is unlimited white rice.
The attendees entered the canteen one after another and found their seats. They began to prepare for lunch, chatting as they ate. County Head Yang Xilai also came to the canteen, ate with everyone, and expressed his gratitude and encouragement. The entire canteen was filled with laughter and joy, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
After everyone was seated, Zhao Yuan nodded to County Magistrate Yang and explained that he had carefully prepared some braised dishes the day before, hoping to take this opportunity to get to know everyone. He also wanted to add some dishes for everyone in County Magistrate Yang's name.
After obtaining County Magistrate Yang's approval, Zhao Yuan took out the various braised dishes that had been prepared in advance.
There were 3 tables in total today. Zhao Yuan asked the waiter for 3 plates and divided the braised pig's face, braised pig's ears, and braised pig's intestines into 3 plates.
Zhao Yuan, holding a plate, stood in front of County Chief Yang and his group's table and introduced himself.
"Hi everyone! I'm Zhaoyuan. County Chief Yang has added some dishes for you! I hope you enjoy your meal and are satisfied! May our county's fireworks industry become more and more prosperous under the leadership of all the factory directors! May our county's fireworks export business get better and better every year!" After saying this, Zhaoyuan happily placed three plates on three tables.
Zhao Yuan's voice was like a spring breeze, gently blowing into everyone's ears and making them feel more cheerful.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised by the extra dishes, and the cafeteria instantly turned into a tea party. Before the meal even started, some people couldn't resist reaching for the plates that had just been served.
At this moment, County Chief Yang stood up and spoke, waving his hand to signal everyone to be quiet:
"Everyone, please be quiet. Let me introduce you to Zhao Yuan, the translator. He's the same Zhao Yuan that Director Zheng mentioned earlier. Zhao Yuan played a crucial role in Xiongxiong Fireworks Factory's success in securing this big order so quickly. Not only is Zhao Yuan fluent in English, but he's also an excellent cook. I've tried his food, and I'm still savoring the taste days afterward. What we just served was his own cooking. Please have a taste."
After hearing County Head Yang's introduction, a burst of laughter erupted in the canteen, and many people looked at Zhao Yuan. They were already looking forward to the meat dishes, and after hearing this introduction, they were even more eager to eat.
Everyone held their chopsticks, waiting for County Chief Yang to give the order to begin the meal.
"Let's eat. Today we'll just eat, no alcohol, and no toasting. Everyone, just enjoy your meal. Once you're done eating, go home and quickly implement the spirit of today's meeting. Let's work together to make our county's fireworks industry stronger and bigger, and make fireworks exports better and better."
County Chief Yang gave the order to start serving meals.
After hearing what County Chief Yang said, pairs of chopsticks reached for the plate of braised dishes.
"Wow, this pig's face meat is so delicious!"
"Wow, is this pig intestine? It doesn't smell bad at all, and it's so soft, chewy, and delicious. The more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes."
"Try this pig's ear, it's so delicious."
The cafeteria was filled with exclamations of praise, and many people asked Zhaoyuan how he could make pig intestines taste like this.
Before long, the three plates of braised dishes were reduced to empty plates.
.....
Lunch ended in a pleasant atmosphere, and people left the cafeteria in small groups with satisfied smiles.
Several factory managers stopped Zhao Yuan to chat and left him their contact information, including their factory addresses and phone numbers.
Two middle-aged men stood to the side, and after everyone else who had greeted Zhao Yuan left, they approached him.
“Brother Zhao, I heard about your business with Director Zheng in Huacheng from County Chief Yang. I didn’t expect you to be so good at English. The food you cooked today was also superb. So, capable people can do anything.”
The speaker was Lu Tiejun, the factory director of the Honghonghuohuo Fireworks Factory.
"Director Lu, you flatter me."
Zhao Yuan responded with a smile.
"Brother Zhao, let me introduce you. This is Yang Fushan, the factory manager of Feiteng Fireworks Factory."
Lu Tiejun pointed to the middle-aged man beside him.
"Hello, Director Yang, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Zhao Yuan went over and greeted Director Yang.
"Brother Zhao, it's a pleasure to meet you. We'll need your help with the export of fireworks from our factory in the future."
Factory Director Yang shook hands with Zhao Yuan.
"Brother Zhao, are you planning to go home or do you have something else to do in the county?"
Lu Tiejun asked.
"I think everything should be fine now. I'm going to say goodbye to County Chief Yang and then head home. The car will be leaving soon."
Zhao Yuan said.
"If you're planning to go home, take our car back today. It just so happens that Director Yang is going the same way. Let's go to our factory together and take a look. I'd like to ask you to give me more guidance on the fireworks export business."
Lu Tiejun said.
"I wouldn't dare to offer guidance, but let's learn from each other and go talk to County Chief Yang together."
After saying this, the three of them went together to bid farewell to County Magistrate Yang.
The three of them rode in a Yuejin car belonging to the Honghonghuohuo Fireworks Factory and headed towards the factory.
On the way, Lu Tiejun shared his views and plans for fireworks exports with Zhao Yuan. The three of them discussed the export and sales of fireworks together.
Upon arriving at the factory, Director Lu took out the export fireworks packaging that Zhao Yuan had helped translate and design last time, and asked Zhao Yuan to review it again to see if he had any new ideas.
Zhao Yuan carefully examined the fireworks with their new packaging and was very satisfied.
The three went to Director Lu's office to discuss how to proceed with the work based on the spirit of today's meeting.
Both Director Lu and Director Yang looked at Zhao Yuan.
“Brother Zhao, you went to Huacheng with Zheng Ziqi this time. I heard that you were the one who communicated with the foreign businessmen the whole time, and then you signed the contract in a daze and even paid 70% of the payment. Zheng Ziqi said that he was still confused after signing the contract. Our two families also want to sell fireworks to foreign businessmen. What should we do next? Can you give us some advice?”
"Director Lu, Director Yang, you're too kind. I wouldn't dare offer suggestions, but I can share some of my limited knowledge."
Zhao Yuan said modestly.
"Brother Zhao, don't be so modest. Director Zheng admires you to the skies now."
Factory Director Lu said with a smile.
"If it were me, I would work with everyone to make the products into gift packages with our national characteristics, that is, to give the products cultural added value. In this way, it is not just about selling fireworks, but also about selling concepts and cultural stories, so that we can make money from both the products and the stories. This is just my personal, shallow opinion."
Zhao Yuan said.
Director Lu and Director Yang were completely baffled.
Indeed, the concept of a "gift package" is still unfamiliar in this era. People have no idea how concepts can be sold for money, or how stories can be sold for money.
Factory Director Lu and Factory Director Yang were completely baffled. They looked at each other, and finally couldn't help but ask:
“Brother Zhao, we don’t understand any of what you’re saying. Just tell us what to do.”
Director Lu said.
"Yes, that's right, Brother Zhao, you just need to tell us what to do."
Factory Director Yang echoed this sentiment.
Zhao Yuan understood that it was normal for them not to understand what he was saying.
"Let me ask you first, Director Lu and Director Yang, what are your own thoughts? Are your two companies competitors or partners?"
Zhao Yuan wanted to understand the relationship between the two families first, so he asked directly.
"Director Yang's factory produces products that are different from ours, so we can complement each other. Director Yang is also a person who wants to get things done and is capable of doing things."
"How about this, Director Yang, bring your factory's products over tomorrow and tell me about them. We'll first decide which gift packages to make and what products to put in each gift package."
Zhao Yuan said.
"We still don't know whether the county committee wants everyone to go it alone or to join forces and go out to sea together."
Zhao Yuan continued.
Factory Director Lu and Factory Director Yang were once again completely baffled. What on earth was this about going to sea together?
Zhao Yuan immediately realized he had made a mistake.
"What I mean is, I don't know if the county committee means that everyone should find their own buyers, or that we should find buyers together. If we find buyers together, how should we do it? I don't think I heard anything about it during the meeting."
Zhao Yuan added.
"County Chief Yang didn't say that we would find buyers together, he only said that the county would provide strong support. I think it's probably up to each of you to find buyers yourselves."
Director Lu said.
"If that's the case, let's choose the products first and decide on the type of gift package."
Zhao Yuan said.
"However, I personally suggest that it would be easier to operate by establishing a fireworks export and sales company."
Zhao Yuan continued.
"Director Lu and Director Yang, if we each operate independently, doesn't that mean each fireworks factory will have to find buyers on its own?" Zhao Yuan said. "Wouldn't that disperse our resources and information?"
After a moment of contemplation, Director Lu said, "I think Zhao Yuan makes a good point. We can consider establishing a fireworks export sales company for unified management and operation." Director Yang nodded in agreement, "This will improve our efficiency and competitiveness, and also allow us to communicate better with foreign buyers."
Zhao Yuan added, "Moreover, we can share resources and information, which is more conducive to our product innovation and market expansion."
Factory Director Lu and Factory Director Yang both thought the idea was good, but they felt it needed to be reported to the county government and get the support of the county party committee. The three of them immediately agreed to start preparing for the fireworks export and sales company. They would go to the county party committee tomorrow to report their ideas to County Head Yang and Secretary Zhang.