Chapter 103 Each with their own thoughts

Chapter 103 Each with their own thoughts

"What? You paid?"

"Well, Deputy Section Chief Lin forced me to take it. I said I'd just give him the cost price, but he insisted on giving me the full meal allowance."

"That's four dollars!"

Chen Youfu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

He knew Lin Deqiang's family situation very well; four yuan was no small sum.

The things Zhang Wenshan delivered haven't been paid for yet. A good-for-nothing who drinks and gambles can't possibly save any money.

As for the remaining one, he was wearing a faded coarse cloth jacket and didn't look wealthy at all.

They could easily eat for free, so why did they have to grit their teeth and pay the bill?

Chen Youfu frowned deeply as he looked at the pile of loose bills in the chef's hand.

"How many people were there when he gave the money?" Zhou Daguo suddenly asked.

"Quite a few."

"Alright, once you've given it, it'll be credited to your account normally. Now you can leave!"

Zhou Daguo waved his hand, and after the door closed again, he suddenly seemed to have all his strength drained away, and slumped back in his chair.

"Master, what's wrong?" Chen Youfu panicked and rushed forward anxiously.

"It's alright, it's alright." Zhou Daguo sighed deeply. "You must cultivate a good relationship with that Zhang guy and make sure you can reliably get supplies from his fishing group."

"Yes, I understand, I'll do as you say."

Seeing his master's expression, Chen Youfu disregarded his pride and hurriedly agreed.

"You don't understand."

Zhou Daguo slowly shook his head, raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples, his tone full of helplessness.

"Do you know what the purchasing departments looked like after the reforms of state-owned factories in other places?"

Chen Youfu shook his head subconsciously.

"In the past, raw materials for production were allocated according to a plan. Even if you had money, you couldn't buy any goods."

"When we do procurement, as long as we get the connections, run the plans, get the quotas, get the permits, and then urge the delivery, we don't have to worry about anything."

Zhou Daguo paused, traced a line on the table with his fingertip, and his tone suddenly turned serious.

"Things are different now. The market has been opened up, and the planned supplies have been cut by more than half. Our old methods are no longer effective."

A wave of dizziness washed over Chen Youfu, and he nearly lost his balance.

Zhou Daguo pretended not to see and continued, "These days, the purchasing department has to search all over the world for materials. Sometimes, when things get urgent, they have to bite the bullet and snatch them."

"All the old connections Master built up are now completely useless, not to mention some factories where the workshops can find their own ways to get goods, and the finance department is keeping them completely blocked—"

Chen Youfu's face gradually turned pale, and his lips began to tremble.

How could this happen?

He only vaguely understood the business his master was talking about, but a sense of crisis arose within him, and he had no idea what to do.

"That...that guy surnamed Zhang, can he really help us?" he asked, trembling.

"able!"

Zhou Daguo suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly hardening, his tone resolute.

"We can learn how to do new business and figure out the methods slowly, but the key is that we must stay and maintain the core position of the purchasing department. That's the fundamental thing."

Chen Youfu blinked, a sudden thought flashing through his mind, and he instantly realized, "Master, you mean—that fishing and hunting group that helps people in need?"

This kind of legitimate, perfectly correct action, which also carries the guise of assistance, can be firmly secured, and no matter how the factory reforms or changes, it will be impossible to easily move them.

The key is that Zhang Wenshan's side needs to cooperate and only recognize them.

But if that's the case—

"We can look for other villages," Chen Youfu suggested, drawing inferences from one instance to another. "We've already agreed to only recognize us, so why insist on begging the Zhang family?"

"He's reliable."

Zhou Daguo waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"I found out that he only takes 10% of the profits from the fishing and hunting group, and uses the other 40% to handle sales, losses, and procurement—he doesn't do anything shady."

"What?"

Chen Youfu exclaimed in surprise again, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

"What's in it for him?"

Those in need only need to contribute their labor; they don't need to bear any risks and are guaranteed to make a profit.

Zhang Wenshan, on the other hand, needs to buy tools, develop sales channels, and bear losses—there are countless risks involved, and he might even have to lose money.

"Who knows?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Zhou Daguo's eyes, but he quickly regained his resolve.

"No matter what his motives are, we'll find someone else who's definitely not as clean as him."

"What's in it for him?"

On the way out of the farm machinery factory, Lin Deqiang heard his brother-in-law's guess and couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Wenshan shrugged, put his hands in his pockets, walked slowly, and said in a nonchalant tone, "He probably wants to use my fishing and hunting group to keep his job at the factory."

He was able to directly reject the offer from the head of the sales department of the agricultural machinery factory, partly because he knew the future situation, and partly because he was simply afraid of dying.

The fishing and hunting team was his lifeline.

Absolutely no risk can be taken.

Lin Deqiang recalled a conversation he had with his brother-in-law, and his eyes lit up as he instantly understood the hidden meaning.

But then she quickly asked in confusion, "Isn't that a good thing? Why refuse?"

"It could easily cause trouble for the hunting and fishing groups."

"Isn't this a bit conservative? Can the fishing and hunting team's profits sustain this?" Lin Deqiang asked, squinting as he looked his brother-in-law up and down.

No matter how you look at it, Zhang Wenshan's noble character and selfless spirit should never be found in him.

He used to be a complete scoundrel and would never have had these qualities.

Now that he can hold his own against Zhou Daguo, his mind must be more agile, and he is even less likely to suffer a loss for nothing.

What is the purpose of the fishing and hunting group?

My brother-in-law is clearly making more money by working independently.

"Actually, I'm the one who benefited," Zhang Wenshan shrugged. "Without the fishing and hunting team, my sister and I wouldn't have been able to get our permits at all."

"Furthermore, I can use the tools I buy, and I can also sell my own products through my own channels."

"Wait until the eldest sister sets up her stall—"

"Alright!" Lin Deqiang hurriedly interrupted, glancing subtly at Lang Qiuping behind Zhang Wenshan, signaling him not to say anything more.

Zhang Wenshan lowered his eyelids and deliberately said, "It's alright. Qiu Ping is one of us. There are some things I can't do myself, so he does them."

The words fell.

Lang Qiuping, who had been standing silently behind him, suddenly raised his head, his gaze falling on Zhang Wenshan's back, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.

He paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "Brother Shanzi, whatever you say, I'll do. We'll never discuss our affairs with outsiders."

Wow, that's good at winning people's hearts.

Lin Deqiang couldn't help but roll his eyes, confirming that his brother-in-law definitely didn't possess those noble qualities.

The fishing and hunting group would certainly have a greater advantage.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind them.

He instantly became alert, his hand instinctively reaching for his waist. He turned around abruptly, only to find it was a girl from the factory.

The other party ignored Lin Deqiang and came up to Zhang Wenshan, blinking his big eyes and asking.

"Is this the lucky fish you caught?"