Chapter 211: Losing Face

The Nanhui Hotel is the best hotel in Nanhui County and also serves as the reception place for the Nanhui County Committee and County Government. It was renamed after the establishment of Linyang City two years ago, as Nanhui County made the name change to keep up with the economic development brought about by reform and opening up.

A Crown sedan pulled up to the hotel entrance and stopped. Zhou Ming and Su Han got out of the car, and Yuan Zhigang, the Sales Director of Factory 760, along with another young man, rushed over to greet them. Yuan Zhigang had arrived earlier to make arrangements, and the young man beside him was evidently someone he had brought along for the meal, as inviting people to dine and discuss business was a customary practice in China.

Yuan Zhigang managed only a brief greeting before Zhou Ming asked, "How's the arrangement going?"

"I've booked the private room, and I've called all the town supply and marketing cooperative directors to invite them," Yuan Zhigang replied.

Zhou Ming nodded. Supply and marketing cooperatives are a unique commercial structure in China. Due to certain historical reasons, there was a need for a unified sales network, and the supply and marketing cooperatives served as such a large-scale unified sales company. Although the role of these cooperatives evolved over time, they were essential for purchasing goods in rural areas or supplying stores in cities.

In the 1980s, with the onset of reform and opening up, supply and marketing cooperatives underwent adjustments. Despite these changes, the old concepts were not easy to eradicate. Zhou Ming recalled that even in the late 1990s, items like food and fabric tickets could still be used at the cooperatives affiliated stores at Factory 760.

Because of this, Yuan Zhigang's first instinct to open up the market for Eight Treasure Porridge was to approach various town supply and marketing cooperatives.

Under Yuan Zhigang's guidance, Zhou Ming and Su Han arrived at the hotel's private room. Along the way, Yuan Zhigang briefly introduced the people he had invited, all from nearby town supply and marketing cooperatives.

After the introductions, Zhou Ming suddenly asked, "Have you previously invited these cooperative heads for a meal?"

Yuan Zhigang sheepishly nodded. "Yes, but the results were not good. However, that was my fault. I believe with Boss Zhou here, success is assured!"

Zhou Ming shook his head. "Director Yuan, why don't you mention that your approach was wrong when you met with them?"

Yuan Zhigang was taken aback by Zhou Ming's comment, not understanding how the approach could affect success. Was that the reason for his previous failures?

Zhou Ming, not realizing that his casual comment was taken so seriously, continued, "It's not really about who is doing the talking. The supply and marketing cooperatives are the big bosses in this context. They control all the sales channels and are essentially an institutional unit. We have no prior cooperation or strong connections with them, so pushing our product through them is not simple."

"Well, Boss Zhou, you've traveled far and wide and are surely well-experienced. I'm confident that with your presence today, you will have a solution," Yuan Zhigang flattered.

"Perhaps," Zhou Ming said with a wry smile. In reality, he didn't have much confidence.

As Zhou Ming mentioned earlier, supply and marketing cooperatives were the big players at this time. They controlled almost all grassroots sales channels and were institutional units, separate from the party and government agencies. Without a solid connection, it was nearly impossible to sell products through them unless one resorted to bribery or other means.

Zhou Ming and Yuan Zhigang waited in the private room for an hour. The private room's server came in several times to inquire about the meal's arrival, but none of the cooperative directors showed up.

"Let's wait a bit longer. Our guests have some issues and haven't arrived yet. I'm sorry," Yuan Zhigang told the restaurant staff, then turned anxiously to Zhou Ming.

"Director Yuan, what's going on? Didn't you say you had everything arranged?" Zhou Ming asked.

Zhou Ming's tone was calm, but it made Yuan Zhigang tense up, breaking into a cold sweat. He stammered, "Well… I'm not sure."

Zhou Ming smiled slightly and wiped the sweat off Yuan Zhigang's forehead. "Director Yuan, don't be nervous. Are you sure you contacted everyone?"

Yuan Zhigang immediately replied, "I'm absolutely sure I contacted everyone!"

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you contact them again and check the situation?"

Yuan Zhigang nodded and quickly went to get the restaurant's phone. After a while, he returned with a fearful expression. Zhou Ming could tell from his demeanor, "What's the matter? Have the cooperative directors not been able to come?"

"Only… only three were contacted, and they said they had urgent matters. The others haven't responded yet," Yuan Zhigang said, his head bowed as if he were a student caught cheating.

"This is unacceptable!" Su Han immediately slammed the table. "Director Yuan, what kind of work have you done? Did you not contact them properly? How could there be such last-minute cancellations?"

Since returning from Yanjing, or rather, after breaking the ice with Zhou Ming, Su Han had changed a lot. Yuan Zhigang could only shake his head and explain, "Manager Su, it's not like that. I contacted everyone, and they had all agreed. I didn't deceive you or Boss Zhou!"

Before Su Han could say more, Zhou Ming interjected, "I trust Director Yuan. After all, he wouldn't really invite us here just to make us wait for an hour, unless he's ready to quit working at Factory 760."

Yuan Zhigang nodded vigorously, his eyes full of gratitude. At this moment, he wanted to shout, "Long live understanding!"

"It seems that the situation is more difficult than we anticipated. These cooperative heads didn't even give us a chance to speak and directly snubbed us," Zhou Ming said with a wry smile. He then turned to Yuan Zhigang and asked, "By the way, Director Yuan, isn't there a supply and marketing cooperative in Nanhui County that, like our Factory 760, was restructured according to the city's unified plan and eventually leased to a private owner?"

Yuan Zhigang nodded. "Yes, it's the cooperative near our Factory 760. It's now renamed Wehui Supply and Marketing Cooperative."

"And the owner of this Wehui Supply and Marketing Cooperative? I can understand that public officials might not come, but a private owner should still show up, right?" Zhou Ming asked.

"The owner of Wehui Supply and Marketing Cooperative is Yan Fuping. I heard he used to be a cadre in the Linyang City Committee. Later, he responded to the call of reform and opening up and went into business, making quite a bit of money. When Wehui Supply and Marketing Cooperative was restructured, he took over the lease," Yuan Zhigang explained. "I also paged Boss Yan earlier, but he hasn't responded yet, so I'm not sure about his situation."

Hearing this, Su Han asked Zhou Ming, "Do you think Boss Yan will come?"

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to be sure. While it's understandable that public officials might not come—after all, they are guaranteed income—private individuals bear the risk of profit and loss. Unless they have an exceptionally important matter, they should still make an appearance. Even if business doesn't work out, maintaining relationships is beneficial. I believe Boss Yan, having bravely ventured into business, should understand this principle."

Just as if to prove Zhou Ming's words right, the door of the private room was knocked open. A rotund man walked in. Seeing the sparse attendees in the large room, he was momentarily taken aback but did not say anything. He simply apologized, "Sorry, I was dealing with some matters in the city and arrived late."

Yuan Zhigang immediately stood up and said, "It's fine, Boss Yan. As long as you're here."

This fat man was clearly Yan Fuping, the owner of Wehui Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Yuan Zhigang introduced him to Zhou Ming and Su Han.

Upon learning that Zhou Ming was the big boss who had spent millions to acquire Factory 760, Yan Fuping was astonished. "I didn't expect Boss Zhou to be so young. Truly impressive!"

Zhou Ming responded politely, "Boss Yan, you flatter me. You are the one who responded first to the Party's call, left your job, went into business, and achieved success!"

Yan Fuping waved his hand helplessly. "Boss Zhou, you're just flattering me. My achievements are insignificant compared to yours. I've been in business for a few years, but the money I've made might not even be a fraction of what you have!"

After some pleasantries, Zhou Ming invited Yan Fuping to sit down. Yuan Zhigang then went to call the waiter to serve the food. Seeing this, Yan Fuping glanced at Yuan Zhigang but didn't say anything.

Zhou Ming started by toasting Yan Fuping. When Yuan Zhigang suggested that his young companion serve wine to Yan Fuping, Yan Fuping waved his hand, saying, "Director Yuan,

 I have matters to attend to this afternoon. One drink is enough."

Yuan Zhigang said, "That won't do! Boss Yan, your presence is a great honor for us. If I only ask you to drink one glass, people will say I don't know how to entertain guests! Boss Yan should have a few more drinks. I know you enjoy drinking!"

Yuan Zhigang insisted on pouring wine for Yan Fuping, but Yan Fuping moved his cup aside and said, "Director Yuan, I really have things to do this afternoon. If not, I would definitely stay and drink with you."

Before Yuan Zhigang could react, Yan Fuping turned to Zhou Ming and said, "I've heard that Boss Zhou is a very pragmatic person, and as a businessman, I also value efficiency. Therefore, many of the formalities are not so important. Since Boss Zhou specially invited me and arranged such a grand meal, I believe there must be something important you want to discuss with me today?"

Hearing Yan Fuping's words, Zhou Ming's heart sank: it seemed that this dinner was not going to be easy to handle.