Chapter 205: Our advantage

'Zhou Ming, do you think Li Qingyuan really has a way to get this order?'

Su Han asked Zhou Ming. At this time, they had already left the Lakeside Building and returned to the car. When the car started, Zhao Jun, Li Qingyuan, and the other two deputy general managers of the branch company were waving at them from not far away. Although Zhou Ming did not need it, they insisted on seeing them off.

Zhou Ming opened the window and waved to those people as well. When he turned back, he didn't answer Su Han, but instead asked her, 'What do you think?'

Su Han thought for a moment and said, 'I think it will be difficult. Zhao Jun is the general manager of the Hangzhou City branch that I appointed. His work ability has been inspected by me and several deputy general managers. The Hangzhou City branch has achieved monthly sales of several million yuan just a few months after its establishment. While our Lin Yang Baobao Congee brand is certainly an important reason, Zhao Jun's personal ability is also a very important factor that should not be ignored.'

'So now, in the face of this tender, he will settle for the second best option and join forces with Hangzhou City Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and then take orders from the supply and marketing cooperative. I think it must be because it is very difficult to take orders directly,' said Su Han.

'The difficulty is of course very great,' Zhou Ming also said, 'First of all, Hangzhou City Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the shipping company have been in a long-term cooperative relationship. Not to mention how good their personal relationship is, just the supply and marketing cooperative's understanding of the shipping company is something we cannot match. They know exactly what is needed on an ocean liner, how all the goods should be distributed, and how to make contingency plans.'

'Secondly,' Zhou Ming continued, 'Hangzhou City Supply and Marketing Cooperative is also the largest and most comprehensive supply and marketing company in Binjiang Province. Whether it's vegetables, fruits, or other daily necessities, they have the most complete and extensive range of goods. We, on the other hand, have to prepare everything on an ad hoc basis.'

Zhou Ming leaned back in the car's chair and let out a breath, saying, 'Finally, and most importantly, I'm afraid the supply and marketing cooperative has already been preparing for this order for a long time. Whether it's inviting the head of the shipping company out for dinner, drinks, and a sauna, or promising kickbacks and other benefits, their public relations work has already begun, while ours is just a sudden idea. We've done no preparation at all, except for a head full of enthusiasm.'

Su Han looked at Zhou Ming blankly. Although she was used to Zhou Ming's way of speaking, she still found it hard to understand when she heard him list so many problems.

Zhou Ming smiled and said, 'But despite the many problems in front of us, and the fact that we have a significant disadvantage compared to the supply and marketing cooperatives, we still have an advantage that no one else has.'

'What advantage? Are you going to get Du Peng's connections involved? Or do you want the government to intervene in this bidding?' Su Han asked.

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'No. If we need to use the connections of government agencies to force intervention, then the meaning of business itself will be lost. And if there is no other way, there is no need to give this order to Li Qingyuan, because he simply cannot complete it.'

Su Han keenly picked up on Zhou Ming's unspoken meaning: 'So according to you, Zhou Ming, if we compete in a business-oriented way, we still have a chance?'

'Why not? Don't you think these difficulties are also our opportunities?' Zhou Ming asked in return.

Su Han silently repeated Zhou Ming's question several times, but in the end she still didn't understand, so Zhou Ming had to give her a hint: 'Han, if you were in charge of the supply and marketing cooperative and knew that you had this absolute advantage, would you still continue to prepare nervously?'

'Of course not,'

Su Han said subconsciously, and as she spoke the answer, she immediately realised what Zhou Ming was referring to: 'Zhou Ming, do you mean that they will let their guard down and become arrogant?'

'This is inevitable, because they no longer have any opponents in this bidding meeting. If they do what Manager Zhao said, what is there to be nervous about?'

Zhou Ming said in a relaxed tone, but although Su Han had got an answer, her expression did not lighten up at all, because she knew very well that things could not be that simple. If that was the case, then couldn't just anyone turn the tables? There were obviously other reasons.

But what Su Han didn't expect was that Zhou Ming continued, 'Xiao Han, don't look at me like that. This is our greatest advantage. Because the supply and marketing cooperatives are state-owned units, their systems are rigid and inflexible, and they will be slow to respond. As long as we can find a way to exploit one of their loopholes, we can pounce and turn the situation around.'

Su Han was very excited when she heard Zhou Ming's words: 'Zhou Ming, then let's do this order. I'll help you. Even if we don't use too many resources, I believe we can succeed!'

'We, as the bosses, should not take away the jobs of the employees below us, should we?' Zhou Ming said to Su Han with a smile, 'Since we have given this project to Li Qingyuan, we have to trust that he can get it done. As long as the supply and marketing cooperative doesn't find someone with strong government connections to pressure them or use any illegal means, I won't intervene.'

'But what if he can't get it done?' Su Han asked again.

'If he can't get it done, then he can't get it done. It's just a few million yuan order. Do we really need that kind of money? In comparison, Li Qingyuan's abilities are more important,' Zhou Ming said.

Su Han was overwhelmed by emotion at Zhou Ming's words. She thought back to just two years ago, when they were still poor people who had to save every few cents and considered tens of dollars to be a huge sum of money. Seeing a few hundred dollars would make them excited for the New Year. But now, Zhou Ming could just throw away a multi-million dollar order just to test a manager's ability. Su Han couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of fate.

Su Han looked at Zhou Ming and thought to herself: This is a real man, and only he can accomplish this miraculous transformation. She must also work hard to enrich herself, keep up with his footsteps, and always be his woman!

While Zhou Ming and Su Han were talking about this in the car, in the Lakeside Building, Zhao Jun and Li Qingyuan also returned to the company.

'Manager Li, come to my office for a moment, I have something to tell you,'

Zhao Jun took the initiative to invite Li Qingyuan to his office. Li Qingyuan nodded and said yes, and followed Zhao Jun to his office.

When they arrived at the office, Zhao Jun invited Li Qingyuan to sit on the sofa in the reception area and offered to make a cup of tea for him and himself.

Zhao Jun sat in front of Li Qingyuan with the tea in his hands and handed it to Li Qingyuan, saying, 'Things have been pretty busy recently, with the acquisition of Baby Smile. Manager Li has been at the company for a week already, and I haven't had time to have a proper face-to-face chat with you. I really need to apologise to you.'

Li Qingyuan shook his head and said, 'President Zhao is being modest. This really doesn't matter. I can understand you. After all, our company is currently experiencing a period of prosperity, and you must be very busy.'

'I'm glad you understand,'

Zhao Jun nodded and took a sip of his tea, before continuing, 'I know that Manager Li used to be the chairman of the board of directors of Baby Smile Company, and now that Baby Smile Company has been acquired by our company, Baobao Congee Company, Manager Li has been hired by Boss Zhou as the marketing manager, and he must be anxious to achieve results to prove himself.'

Li Qingyuan also took a sip of tea and said, 'President Zhao, I do hope to achieve results in the company. After all, I joined the company halfway through, and as soon as I arrived, I was placed in the position of marketing manager. However, I am not someone who is eager for quick success and instant profit. I will not recklessly take on various projects just for the chance to achieve results. That way, instead of achieving results, I will actually fail.'

'It seems that Manager Li is also a sensible person. But yes, Manager Li has certainly got what it takes to be able to do what he has done, turning a company like Doll Smile from the brink of bankruptcy to one that makes millions every month.'

Zhao Jun took out a pack of cigarettes while he spoke, pulled one out for himself, and handed the rest to Li Qingyuan, saying, 'So what exactly is Manager Li thinking about this shipping company order?'

It was indeed this question!

Li Qingyuan did not answer Zhao Jun's question right away, but instead picked up Zhao Jun's pack of cigarettes. He took out a cigarette and lit it, and Zhao Jun did not rush him.

After a moment's thought, Li Qingyuan said, 'Zhao is always like this. I have carefully analysed the situation of this shipping company's bidding, and I think our company has a chance to win.'

'Really?' Zhao Jun said, taking a deep drag on his cigarette and then asking while extinguishing the cigarette he had just lit in the ashtray, "Is Manager Li a native of Hangzhou?'

'My ancestral home is not Hangzhou, but I have worked and lived in Hangzhou for more than 20 years, so I can be considered a Hangzhou native," Li Qingyuan replied.

'Since Manager Li is a native of Hangzhou, why did you say such a childish thing?'

Zhao Jun said, slapping his hand on the table, 'Manager Li, do you really think that by solving the problem of the supply channel and by being determined ourselves, we can take the order away from the supply and marketing cooperative? Do you know how closely the supply and marketing cooperative is related to the shipping company? I'm not afraid to tell you, I saw the boss of the supply and marketing cooperative and the chairman of the shipping company go golfing together yesterday. With this kind of relationship, what can you do to compete?'

'And, do you think that if you fight and lose, you'll be fine? Don't you know that the supply and marketing cooperative is also a major customer of our company? If you compete with him for orders now, what if he decides to terminate our cooperation?'

Zhao Jun questioned Li Qingyuan, 'Mr. Zhou, it's fine if you don't know the situation here, but why, Mr. Li, are you still so naive, even though you are the chairman of the board of directors of Baby Smile and have lived in Hangzhou for so long?'

Zhao Jun's questions hit Li Qingyuan like a hammer, putting him under enormous pressure. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

But Li Qingyuan was able to withstand the pressure. He said, 'Mr Zhao, first of all, I want to make it clear that I am not being selfish and only thinking about my own achievements. I have really thought about what you said, but I don't think these are the real problems.'

'So what if the head of the supply and marketing cooperative is on good terms with the chairman of the shipping company? This tender is open to public bidding, and as long as we perform well enough, no one can take the order away! I also don't think the cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative is important, because with the rise of future business methods like those of large shopping malls and department stores, the share of supply and marketing cooperatives will become smaller and smaller. Besides, I don't think they will really do that just because of this order competition!

Li Qingyuan finally said, 'Besides, I don't think we don't have any advantages at all.'