sbdcsierra Chapter 1751 Taking the Train
Chapter 1751 Taking the Train
Chapter 1751 Taking the Train
The next day, Ye Yaodong brought up the freight department at a large meeting, but after discussion, the freight department was modified again.
After all, in his opinion, if they really set up a freight department, they would still have to go outside to take orders and jobs. It wouldn't be appropriate to bring it to the factory, as it wouldn't be convenient for people to come and go to take orders.
A separate freight office needs to be set up to facilitate the entry and exit of outsiders to discuss orders and dispatch vehicles.
It's somewhat similar to Linji, but Linji focuses on waterways, while he's now getting into land-based logistics.
He hadn't planned to run long-distance routes; he only intended to deliver to surrounding cities. However, Zhoushan is an archipelago, and its land-based development and market are limited, incomparable to sea-based transportation. In the end, they decided to locate the freight office in Shanghai.
The factory also set up a freight department to handle freight matters separately. After all, the factory already has several delivery vehicles and plans to add more, so it needs a separate department with a clearer division of labor.
Ye Yaodong thought about it for a moment and felt that this was acceptable. It would be better to place the freight department office in Shanghai, after all, it is a first-tier city and is currently in a period of rapid development.
It's like going independent and expanding into a new industry, allowing for better capital utilization.
He still has a piece of wasteland in Pudong that hasn't been utilized yet, which is perfect for setting up a freight department. It doesn't need to be anything special, just a large enough place to park more vehicles, and a few buildings to fence off the area.
After establishing a freight department in Shanghai, we can also cooperate with Lin Jishang. If some goods arriving in Shanghai by waterway need transportation, we can directly ask him to arrange it, making perfect use of resources.
Furthermore, the connections he has made in Zhoushan, including factories and other businesses, mean that if there's a need to transport goods to Shanghai, he'll definitely need to take the land route after the waterway. With good relationships, he's not afraid of not getting any work.
Once the freight department is properly organized, it will be operational immediately.
At the same time, if he is interested in local freight transportation, he can also cooperate with the two brothers, Ah Jiang and Cheng He, and he will invest and take a share.
However, after talking with the two brothers, he gave up on the idea. The two brothers were worried about the pressure and thought they would just try it out on their own for now.
If they were to really cooperate, Ye Yaodong would definitely only contribute money. Neither of them dared to take on too much responsibility all at once. They thought they would try it out on their own first, and once they were familiar with it and really wanted to make it big, they would come to Uncle San for help.
Ye Yaodong respected their choice. The local market wasn't big, and after the meeting, he was somewhat indifferent about whether he would participate or not.
I've also talked to them about when the loan will be approved and we need to go to Shanghai to order a car. He'll go with us and also help us get the Shanghai freight office ready in advance.
Car production takes time, so while we wait, we can set up the office so that we can put the cars into use as soon as they arrive.
For him, acquiring ten vehicles would only cost a few hundred thousand yuan. Land would be free, and the site could be set up with minimal investment. It's a small investment, but the future return on investment is considerable, making it a viable option for the future of logistics.
He earns a lot of money every year, but he mainly focuses on the integrated business of fishing boats and processing plants. Now he needs to expand into other areas.
Lin Xiuqing took the children back to Shanghai the next day. All three of them still had to go to school, and she only learned about the final decision over the phone.
Ye Yaodong briefly mentioned to her that he also planned to go to Shanghai soon, and the site needed to be constructed in advance. Fortunately, there were people left in Shanghai, and they were all under A Qing's management now.
"The application for the Canton Fair has been submitted, and we've recruited English-speaking talent. The rest is up to fate. I have some free time now, so I'll find an opportunity to talk to Lin Jishang and then go to Shanghai to consolidate the land."
"Should we just hire existing drivers? That would be faster and they'd be more experienced. Sending people to train takes longer."
“Experienced drivers are trained by their respective companies. Unless they start their own business, they won’t be laid off so easily. Anyway, there are still several months left. It won’t take us long to send people to take the test. After they pass the test, they can practice driving in the cars at their own factory. It won’t be that quick for the cars in Shanghai to be put into use. There’s still time.”
"Okay, how are the preparations for the Canton Fair going? It's almost April, and it still hasn't been approved? There's only a month left, is there enough time to prepare?"
"It should be soon. The main thing is that applying for import and export rights takes time, and there are customs registrations and various other registrations. There are also a lot of procedures to go through when applying to join the Ocean Chamber of Commerce. Anyway, we have prepared almost everything we need to. The personnel going to Guangzhou have already been selected. We are just waiting for the approval."
The self-operated import and export rights license is merely an admission ticket to the exhibition.
After obtaining the approval document, the factory still needs to apply to the provincial or municipal foreign economic and trade commission (foreign economic and trade commission), submit materials such as the enterprise's scale, production capacity, product quality, and foreign exchange earning potential, and obtain official approval after strict review.
With this approval, companies can register with customs, obtain an import/export enterprise code, and use it to apply for exhibition booths from the organizer of the Canton Fair (China Foreign Trade Centre).
There are quite a few procedures involved, mainly because it's their first time doing this, the policy was just issued, and they're not familiar with most of the processes.
In previous years, applications had to be submitted two or three months in advance, but this year, due to policy reforms, the applications are still being processed.
"That's still in time. We've already recruited people who understand English and foreign trade. As for the details, we'll wait for the approval and then consult with them to make preparations."
"Okay, I'll call you again in a few days before I go to Shanghai."
"it is good."
Ye Yaodong not only has to keep an eye on the Canton Fair, but also on the fishing moratorium in June.
We don't know what the regulations will be like this year, or whether they've changed again, or if they're just sticking with last year's.
There's no official notification yet, so it's unlikely the fishing moratorium will be moved to May. It's highly probable that the moratorium will be in June or July, with fishing resuming in August.
Anyway, most of the crew members on the big ships took advantage of the Chinese New Year holiday or the rest days during last year's typhoon season to get their seafarer's certificates.
He also instructed that once the Canton Fair was over, he should continue to apply for the offshore fishing permits, making preparations for both scenarios, so as to minimize the impact on him regardless of whether fishing was banned or not.
The first half of the year was very busy for him. He was extremely busy from the beginning of the year until April, and attending the Canton Fair was a top priority.
After the Canton Fair in May, the factory will likely enter another busy peak season.
This year is a pivotal year in my country's economic history and marks the beginning of "Made in China" going global.
Just one year after the top leader's southern tour speech in 1992, the spring breeze of reform and opening up swept across the country with unprecedented force.
As far as he knew, there were no fewer than 20 local production units that had been granted the right to operate their own import and export, but this was merely the ticket to participate in the exhibition.
Most of the applications that followed were rejected, and very few were approved.
The size of the enterprise does not match the production capacity of many small factories. Their processing plant has been expanded again and again, and they have two years of experience in domestic sales and exhibitions before they were approved.
After receiving the results, the entire factory was overjoyed and worked diligently to make preparations in the remaining time.
For example, if you want to form a sales team, each team must be equipped with at least one person who understands English and is also familiar with foreign trade pricing.
Their company's business cards also need to be reprinted, and they must include both Chinese and English. The sales staff participating in the exhibition all need to be upgraded in appearance, with titles such as manager and supervisor...
We also have to "lobby for funds" and send special personnel to communicate with relevant departments to try to get a better standard exhibition booth.
Then we have to plan the railway transportation route in advance, calculate the time, and arrange the shipment to transport the samples and exhibition equipment to Guangzhou.
There wasn't a single idle person in the entire factory; everyone was walking with a brisk pace because time was just too tight.
Other companies that regularly participate in exhibitions started preparing two months in advance, while they now only have less than 20 days left.
Although they did some preparatory work in the early stages, it was only a rough outline, mainly focusing on the setup and product aspects.
Other tasks also require urgent training, such as finalizing the exhibition team, determining the list of exhibited products, and the factory working overtime to produce the best samples and print promotional materials.
Finally, all the prepared exhibition equipment and materials were packed up and sent to Guangzhou via railway freight.
Everyone knew that this exhibition was crucial for the factory, and everyone repeatedly checked and confirmed to ensure that no mistakes were made at any step.
Ye Yaodong also kept a close eye on it from beginning to end, as this exhibition was crucial to the factory's future development.
Even Ye's father, a man with nothing better to do, became nervous. The closer the date got, the more nervous he became, and the more serious the atmosphere in the factory became.
"Dongzi, my heart is pounding! Is everything ready? Should I come with you?"
"No need, you stay at the factory and keep an eye on things for me. Aqing can come with me."
"Those children..."
"With Huimei's help, and other bodyguards."
"Have all the goods that needed to be brought and shipped been transported? There shouldn't be anything missing, right?"
"No, I checked it four or five times."
"We're leaving tomorrow, and it'll take several days on the road. We're traveling such a long way, I don't even know if we'll make any money."
"If you don't understand, you don't need to worry about it. Just help out at the factory and keep an eye on production."
The Canton Fair lasts about half a month from beginning to end, but it is "held in phases and exhibited according to product categories". It is usually divided into two or three phases, with each phase showcasing completely different product categories. Exhibitors and buyers also come at different times according to product categories.
They need to depart 5 days in advance, first going to Shanghai to take the train.
Ye Yaodong secured a sleeper berth through connections, since the train journey would take approximately 40 hours.
They boarded the train in Shanghai around the evening of the first day and will arrive in Guangzhou early on the morning of the third day.
If there are many stops, then it's even more; delays are commonplace.
These days, all trains are green-skinned trains with the letter K.
If there are no sleeper tickets, then you'll need a rock-solid seat.
When everyone set off, they were carrying large and small bags. The tension they felt earlier was now mixed with a bit of trepidation, as most of them had never traveled this far before.
"Boss, will our trip go smoothly, right...?"
"You'll come back safely, won't you..."
Ye Yaodong looked at the young salesmen speechlessly. "What nonsense are you talking about? We're going there to expand our business, make big money, and take the factory to the next level, not to send you to the battlefield."
"It feels almost like going to war."
"Don't worry, I'm going with you too. If I can take you there, I can bring you back too. Try your best to close more deals. Those with excellent business skills will be given the opportunity to purchase a house in the family compound at a discount."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Housing is still a scarce resource for people today, not to mention that it's cheaper to buy a house, which is the most attractive benefit.
"That's great!"
Are we newlyweds also eligible to buy a house?
Ye Yaodong affirmed, giving them confidence, "Of course, our factory judges by contributions, and our sales staff judge by results. Don't worry, you won't lose out working with me."
"The factory is currently in a growth phase. I've even set up such a large platform as the Canton Fair for you. It helps me make money, and you make money too. This year's commissions will definitely make you so rich you won't know what to do with them."
"If you don't believe me, ask a few veteran salespeople. They've made a fortune in commissions from the Shanghai trade fairs over the past two years."
"This is still domestic trade. The Canton Fair has a larger international market and can also generate foreign exchange. Previously, it was monopolized by state-owned enterprises. This year is the first time it has been opened to manufacturing enterprises. How can it be worse than domestic sales?"
"Don't worry, we guarantee we'll return with a full load this time. We'll strive to triple our sales this year! By then, you'll all have your own houses!"
Before setting off, everyone drank another bowl of chicken soup, instantly boosting their morale and filling them with confidence.
Lin Xiuqing packed her luggage early in the morning, calculated the departure time, and waited for them in a conspicuous place outside the Shanghai Railway Station three hours in advance.
Ye Yaodong arrived half an hour later than her; their train was in the evening, so it was better to arrive early than late.
"How long have you been waiting?"
"We didn't wait long, only an hour and a half. Let's go eat first, otherwise it won't be convenient to eat on the train later, with so many people."
"Let's go find a place to eat first, and chat while we eat. We've been on a boat since this morning, and then on a car, and we're starving. We still have to take a train for two days and one night."
Airplane tickets are still hard to buy. Getting a plane ticket is an extreme luxury and a difficult thing. He might be able to manage to buy one or two, but what about everyone else? They still have to travel by train.
Everyone, carrying large and small bags, found a nearby stall and sat down.
Ye Yaodong asked someone to buy some more food, since there were too many people and they would have to stay on the train for two days.
"You're out now. Did the three children say anything?"
"They didn't say anything, but they were all eager to join. I didn't let them join; studying is the priority. I came out at noon while they were at school, since I had already asked Huimei to help out anyway."
"Actually, you can go with me if you want..."
Lin Xiuqing rolled her eyes at him, "You can't do that. If you get used to taking leave, will you still have the mind to study in the future? You'll just want to run around everywhere every day, and you won't need to study."
"Ok."
“You’re still thinking about getting your son into college, and you’re letting him take leave so easily during such a crucial period as high school? This isn’t just for a day or two, it’s been a whole week.”
"Ah."
"There will be plenty of opportunities to broaden one's horizons in the future. Right now, children should focus on their studies. If they're constantly running around, they'll lose their sense of perspective..."
Ye Yaodong didn't dare to refute at all, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, you're right."
Seeing that he admitted his mistake so quickly, Lin Xiuqing stopped nagging and instead looked at the people traveling with her. There were men and women, young and middle-aged, with the young ones mostly being girls. She looked at them with some curiosity.
"There are several unfamiliar faces this time. Are they all newly recruited salespeople?"
"There are also people to help with the setup. This is our first time participating in the Canton Fair, and we have no experience at all. We'd rather bring more people so we won't be too busy later."
"Is the accommodation also arranged by the Canton Fair?"
"Yes, the Canton Fair will make overall arrangements. When you arrive, just go and sign in to get your number."
They usually stay in state-run guesthouses or hotels near the Canton Fair, where the conditions are basic, but during the Canton Fair period, it is definitely difficult to find a room.
"I heard it takes 48 hours by train. Luckily, I managed to get a hard sleeper ticket through connections. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to stand the hard seat. It's too far. I hope that I can gain more from this long journey."
Lin Xiuqing felt aches and pains in her back just thinking about it, and she couldn't help but hold her waist with her hands.
"Do not worry."
As they chatted, the noodles and other dishes they ordered arrived one after another. Everyone ate quickly and then prepared to enter the station.
The plaza in front of the station was teeming with people: business travelers in suits carrying briefcases, migrant workers with huge burlap sacks, tour groups wearing travel agency hats, and students in school uniforms...
Even standing outside, they could hear the loudspeakers inside continuously broadcasting train information.
Ye Yaodong looked at the train station that was getting closer and closer, with the huge characters "Shanghai" on it.
"This city truly lives up to its name. Even the train station is so big. It looks much more upscale and impressive than our provincial capital."
"I heard it was built a few years ago. I just peeked inside from the entrance and it was packed with people. When you leave later, don't get lost. Stay close to each other and make sure you keep your luggage in front of you and hold it tight."
"Understood, ma'am."
Ye Yaodong said, "Let's go in and wait. Stay close. If you get lost in the crowd, find your train number and look for it. But don't lose your ticket. If you lose it, you'll have to go home on your own."
"know."
The pillars in the waiting hall were tall, but the lighting was still dim. It was getting dark outside, and the air was filled with the smells of sweat, instant noodles, and cigarettes.
The benches were always full of people; there were never enough seats.
Many people sat on their luggage, which consisted of cardboard boxes tied with rope, colorful woven bags, and old leather suitcases.
A briefcase is a symbol of a respectable businessman, while snakeskin bags and woven bags are the standard equipment for migrant workers.
People weren't clutching smartphones, but rather paper tickets, ID cards, and letters of introduction from their employers. Their expressions were mostly numb with waiting and anxious anticipation of departure.
There were long queues stretching as far as the eye could see in front of the rightmost window, with the lines pressed tightly together to prevent anyone from cutting in line.
People craned their necks, staring intently at the small blackboard above the window, on which the remaining votes were written in chalk.
"Tickets to Guangzhou? All sold out for the next three days!"
There were also scalpers walking back and forth in the queue, asking, "Does anyone want tickets to Guangzhou? Does anyone want tickets to Hangzhou...?"
Such conversations happen every day.
Ye Yaodong ordered large backpacks for everyone to carry their luggage for this exhibition. Each person carried one on their chest, which made it much more convenient.
"Keep your tickets and ID cards safe, don't lose them. There are plenty of pickpockets and thieves inside, so be careful."
Lin Xiuqing also reminded everyone, "Stay close, don't get lost, keep moving forward and find your train number to wait for."
"Wow, there are so many people!"
"I'm sweating buckets."
“The waiting room in my hometown is only the size of two classrooms, but there are so many people here.”
Ye Yaodong wasn't too worried about the others, only telling them to look after each other, while he held his wife's hand tightly.
"Stay close, don't get lost."
Lin Xiuqing laughed as she walked: "Even if I get lost, I can find my way. Just keep an eye on the train number. You're quite tall; I can't even see you when I'm on tiptoe. Just follow you."
"Ah."
They followed the flow of people forward and stopped when they saw the corresponding train number written above the ticket gate.
"Found it, this is it. Let's find an open space to gather everyone and count heads, and make sure everyone is sticking together." Ye Yaodong shouted, waving his hand behind him.
All around were shouts, children's cries, and shouts of beating and cursing, creating a chaotic and noisy scene.
There were absolutely no seats available, and the open space was piled high with luggage, so they could only squeeze into relatively empty spots to stand.
He was already sweating profusely. "Damn, this is really tough, with so many people."
"Let's count heads first to see if everyone has arrived."
Lin Xiuqing wasn't very familiar with the people who came with her, but she recognized everyone's matching bags, so she only needed to check the backpacks.
I felt relieved when I saw that everyone was following along.
"The train won't arrive for another hour and a half. If you need to use the restroom, you should let everyone know. It's best if two or more people go together, otherwise we won't even know if one is missing."
"If you don't have anything to do, don't wander around. There are too many people."
"I understand, I know."
Everyone is aware of their own limitations. Many of them are traveling far from home for the first time and are afraid, so they naturally stick close to the group and dare not wander off.
This was the first time the couple had taken a train to such a far place, and they were both a little nervous. However, as the boss, they naturally had to take the lead in reassuring everyone.
Before leaving, Ye Yaodong repeatedly reminded everyone that since he had brought people out, he naturally had to be responsible for them. He explained everything several times beforehand, so there was no mistake.
An hour before departure, the ticket gates began to stir, and the crowd became even more agitated, searching for their luggage and children.
There are no automatic turnstiles now; only a few uniformed staff members manually check tickets.
Before the appointed time, the crowd had already lined up to wait for their tickets to be checked, and their group quickly squeezed in as soon as possible.
You have to get on the bus as soon as you're in the front row, otherwise it will get more crowded towards the back. If you line up early, you can get on the bus sooner.