Chapter 226: The Indicator Obtained by Force (First Update)
“This target must have been snatched away with great effort. The opening is on the 20th and the reporting is on the 17th. These times must have been calculated with a stopwatch, right?” Yin Qianfeng paced back and forth in the office, and said with an annoyed look to Xie Hushan, Zhang Cheng, Yang Liming, Han Laogou, Han Hongzhen and others who had rushed over after hearing the news.

He never ate pork again, but he saw pigs run.

The large state-owned enterprises in Bingyang County did not have the same notification method as the Zhongping Light Industrial Processing Factory in terms of their targets for participating in the Canton Fair in previous years.

It is really too bullying to notify Zhongping Light Industry Processing Factory in this way.

“The province has definitely given us the quota. It can’t be faked. But the method of giving the quota is wrong. How could it be that the Zhili Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau just called the county and sent a telegram informing them to report to Yangcheng and that was it?” Yin Qianfeng stopped and looked at Xie Hushan:

“Someone’s quota was taken away by us, and they are unhappy about it. But they don’t have the ability to take it back, so they can only do some dirty things to make Zhongping look bad at the Canton Fair!”

Seeing that everyone was silent and just looking at the notice telegram sent down from the county, Yin Qianfeng continued:

“Don’t think that I, a commune secretary, have never seen the world and don’t understand the ins and outs of it. I don’t really understand the Canton Fair, but I know that when the state organizes such events, it must pay attention to methods and ways!”

“The reason why I’ve been feeling uneasy these past few days is because I can guess the general procedures of this kind of foreign trade fair. The specific exhibition indicators for the Canton Fair will definitely be determined one month before the official opening. Now there’s still half a month left before the opening, and there’s still no news. It’s probably hopeless, so I asked Minister Zhang to find Hu Saner and see if he could ask the Overseas Chinese Federation for help.”

“In the end, they only notified us today that the quota was given to us. No officials from the provincial foreign trade bureau called us, and no officials from the provincial organization department explained the precautions. What does this mean? It means that they gave us this quota unwillingly.”

“Why do I say the list will be out a month in advance? Because for this kind of foreign affairs activities, the provincial organization department and foreign trade bureau will definitely provide some basic training for the participants, explaining the specific precautions and relevant foreign affairs disciplines when participating in the exhibition, and unifying the external caliber to prevent a group of unsophisticated people who don’t know how to open their mouths when they see foreigners. What’s more, they are afraid of those who don’t know how to speak to foreigners and say everything they should and shouldn’t say!”

“But look at this notice. It doesn’t mention sending Zhongping people to the province for training. It just says that four people are given a travel quota at public expense and are asked to report directly to Yangcheng before the 17th. It doesn’t even mention which companies Zhongping Light Industry is cooperating with this time.”

“This… This is clearly looking down on us!” Yin Qianfeng, who ranked high in terms of temper and self-restraint in Zhongping, couldn’t help but swear in the end:

“Or… don’t participate! If you say you don’t want to participate, I will immediately write a report to criticize them! This is too much of a bully! Let them see the backbone of us Zhongping people! Our quota was obtained in an honest way, and we can’t bear this!”

No wonder when the county delivered the notice, they sent a young official to make a trip, and not even a leader showed up to give instructions and express concern. I guess the county also felt that this was a shame. In fact, the factory belongs to Zhongping Brigade, and the county has no power to interfere, otherwise they would have used this notice to set off a warning and directly let Zhongping refuse to participate in the exhibition.

“Don’t worry, that would be exactly what they want, wouldn’t it? This quota was snatched by the fourth girl by relying on her gender advantage. It’s like snatching food from a tiger’s mouth. If she gets upset and wants to save face, the benefits will be gone. That’s what they’re thinking. They’re waiting for us peasants to have backbone and want to save face, and not make money to save face. How can those old farmers get what they want?” When Xie Hushan heard that Yin Qianfeng wanted to persuade him to give up the quota and to be angry with him, he immediately said:
“It’s about making money, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You can turn the table after you’ve had a full meal. Why are you in such a hurry? After the exhibition, we’ll take the contract and scold Lao Deng for making trouble for us. At that time, the county and city leaders will all help. But if you scold him now, you’re just a commune secretary, and the noise is too small. The provincial government won’t even hear it.”

Yin Qianfeng let out a long breath: “It’s a happy thing. Let these guys who monopolize the quota make things difficult for us.”

“If we send four people to Guangzhou like headless flies, without any knowledge of the precautions and saying whatever they want to everyone they meet, the people we send might be sent back as soon as the exhibition opens, and in the end not only won’t the deal but also will be criticized.” Han Laogou listened to Zhang Cheng whispering the contents of the document to him, took two puffs of his cigarette, and said with a somewhat grim expression.

Compared to Yin Qianfeng who felt that Zhongping did not receive the proper treatment and respect in this matter, Han Laogou was more concerned about the practical issues. If there was no organizational arrangement, Zhongping would send four people to Yangcheng. If one of them said something wrong by mistake and was attacked by others, that would allow those who did not get the target and tried to trip up Zhongping to succeed.

Xie Hushan glanced at the notice, put it back on Yin Qianfeng’s desk, and said:
“It’s easier not to go for training. If we are really notified to go to the provincial capital for training, the factory that is causing trouble is also in the provincial capital, which will be even more troublesome. It’s good like this now. We can travel light and pack up in a few days and then leave.”

“It’s easy to say, but when we get there, where can we find an interpreter? Where is the booth? How can we contact the brother organizations of the Zhili Provincial Joint Operations Department? Where can we stay? What can we eat?” Yin Qianfeng said to Xie Hushan:

“And…and you want to make T-shirts to sell to foreigners, but now we only have calendars and T-shirt samples. Do you want to ask the team to gather several sewing machines and sew a few pieces for you overnight?” “I have been thinking about this since last year, Secretary Yin, believe me, I have been preparing the plan for so long. Not to mention the ready-made clothing samples that you are worried about, I have even arranged models in Hong Kong Island. By the way… do you know what a model is? It is the kind of beauty on the calendar, wearing clothes produced in Zhongping, for foreigners to see on the spot. It’s a pity that you are a leader and can’t go to Yangcheng in person. How about this, I will bring back the photos of models accompanying me, Lao Yang, the fourth girl, and Accountant Zhao for dinner and drinks and show them to you.” Xie Hushan said to Yin Qianfeng with a smile.

Seeing that this kid was calm, Yin Qianfeng felt relieved. If this kid had really been thinking about this matter for a year, he should have thought of all the possible situations.

This guy is a gangster, but he is not stupid.

And when he heard the name Accountant Zhao, he couldn’t help but:

“Accountant Zhao? You have arranged the four indicators already? Zhongping has such a good thing, but you would rather take Accountant Zhao with you than take me and Old Man Han with you?”

Xie Hushan said, “Accountant Zhao is the only social person in our team who has seen the world. He must be brought along when we go out, just like when the County Animal Husbandry Bureau went to XJ to pick horses a few days ago, they had to bring along my Sixth Master. He is a figure who can stabilize the sea.”

“Only four places… Never mind. I’ve been serving the people for so many years, and the farthest I’ve been is Beijing. I don’t know what the south is like.” Yin Qianfeng chuckled twice:

“You are the team leader, and Accountant Zhao is in a good position to make money. But speaking of it, are you just so casual about deciding the four positions?”

Xie Hushan pointed at Yin Qianfeng and said to the others with a smile: “Look, look, Secretary Yin is an old bureaucrat as soon as he opens his mouth. Is he trying to get at me? Look how calm my second uncle is. He didn’t say anything. He knows better than you do. Let me tell you, what’s the point of going to the south? Wait until I have fooled the foreigners and signed the contract. Then I will let you go abroad as the leader of Zhongping to inspect the foreigners, and the expenses will be reimbursed by the foreigners.”

“Ahem… such a ridiculous thing, right… don’t say it in front of everyone. Wait until the meeting is over and tell me in detail. I love to hear it, but it can’t delay work…” Yin Qianfeng deliberately shook his head and smiled, but then changed the subject:
“What I mean is, there are four places. Xiao Yang is also working at the offset printing factory, so there’s nothing wrong with him going. After all, the calendar is just a cover for participating in the exhibition. There’s nothing wrong with Xiao Han going either. She earns the quota, and we are the face of the company. It’s also appropriate for you to go. You’re the backbone, and you’re the one who came up with the whole thing. But there’s only one left. Would you like to reconsider?”

“To be honest, which cadre doesn’t want to go out and see the world at public expense? We are trying to get something for nothing this time. If we really sign the contract and the county and city leaders come to investigate and find nothing, your connections with the quota may be of use. Not to mention taking the risk for you, I can tip you off in advance and give you some tips on the personality and habits of the leaders who come to investigate, so that you can be prepared.”

Yang Liming noticed that Xie Hushan looked at him after hearing Yin Qianfeng’s words and nodded slightly. Yin Qianfeng was telling the truth. In previous years, Bingyang companies that participated in the Canton Fair would basically reserve two or three places for the county leaders in charge of this area. It was not that the county leaders were short-sighted and wanted to seize the opportunity to take advantage of the public travel, but they were simply looking for an opportunity to see the world.

If the leading cadres do not know what the outside world has become like and have not personally felt the changes brought about by reform and opening up, how can they explain the meaning of reform and opening up to the masses? It is said that a special economic zone is being built in Shekou, Yangcheng, and it is often mentioned in newspapers, but 99% of the cadres in the country cannot describe what the special economic zone looks like. Without seeing it with their own eyes, they have no right to speak.

“Then let’s do this. Taozi, Lao Yang, Lao Yang’s wife, Accountant Zhao and I will all go to Yangcheng at our own expense with letters of introduction. There are four places, and the fourth girl will definitely take one. After all, the quota was obtained because of her. Secretary Yin, you will decide on the arrangements for the remaining three places?” Xie Hushan spoke up.

The expenses of these four places are reimbursed at public expense, not by the brigade or the commune, but by the Light Industry Foreign Trade Corporation under the Foreign Trade Bureau of Zhili Province. Of course, the foreign trade company does not bear the travel expenses for the companies below for nothing. Once a business cooperation is truly reached, the subsequent shipment, export, transshipment, delivery and other procedures will be the responsibility of the other party.

When Yin Qianfeng heard Xie Hushan say that he would give up three places, he couldn’t help laughing: “Wow~ He is rich and powerful and speaks in a tough tone. He even brought his wife with him at his own expense when he went out to participate in the exhibition. But I wonder why he had to bring Accountant Zhao with him. The biggest worldly experience of this social person in your team is to eat in a restaurant in Yaoshan City. Do you need him to teach you?”

“Okay, let him do whatever he wants.” Han Laogou said beside him:
“Accountant Zhao has to go. He is steady and prudent. Hu San’er is young after all. When it comes to a critical moment, we may not be able to trust his words. Old Zhao will take a look for us and come back to say something that carries weight.”

“What are you looking at? Are you going to withdraw from the organization’s management now? You must be hiding something from me.” Secretary Yin said dissatisfiedly as he looked at Han Laogou helping Xie Hushan explain.

Han Laogou let out a long sigh: “Just wait and see. If it works, I’ll tell you in detail.”

(End of this chapter)