74: Chapter 74 Preliminary Preparations

Chen Qunfeng held a large megaphone and shouted loudly.

"Folks, our township's yellow peach production is too high this year. The total yield has exceeded 100 million catties. With such a massive quantity, it's very difficult to get a good price."

"Being able to sell them for fifty cents a catty took every ounce of my effort. I barely managed to get the buyers to agree to this price; they originally only wanted to offer forty cents."

"Sell as much as you can while the purchase price is still fifty cents. I estimate that in two days, it'll be hard to even get fifty cents..."

Hearing this, the fruit farmers all wore miserable expressions and sighed in despair.

Finally, some people began selling the yellow peaches they had brought over to the buyers.

Basket after basket of yellow peaches were weighed one by one. Even after receiving their money, the fruit farmers couldn't bring themselves to be happy; the price was simply too low.

Most others were just observing, planning to wait a little longer.

Because the price was pushed so low, the buyers Chen Qunfeng brought in took from morning until noon to finally purchase all the yellow peaches they needed.

Inside the office.

Ma Zhengnan was reporting the situation to Qin Chuan with a worried expression.

"Secretary, Township Head Chen contacted several buyers to come over, but the purchase price is too low—only fifty cents. The fruit farmers probably won't even earn back the cost of their labor."

After listening to the report, Qin Chuan asked, "How many catties were purchased in total?"

"Several large trucks came. They probably bought about a hundred tons. It took until now to barely fill the trucks."

A hundred tons was roughly 200,000 catties.

Compared to the township's total yield of over 100 million catties, this was just a drop in the bucket—not even a fraction of a fraction.

Qin Chuan nodded slightly and said slowly, "This purchase speed is too slow."

Ma Zhengnan agreed, "Yes, the harvest period for yellow peaches is at most about a month. If they aren't sold within this time, they'll just rot in the fields."

Although he wasn't the township head and the sale of yellow peaches wasn't his responsibility, he was truly anxious in his heart.

Qin Chuan pondered for a moment and then said, "It seems our township has a Plastic Products Factory, right? Give them a call and tell their boss to come over."

Ma Zhengnan was a bit puzzled. "Secretary, that plastic factory is barely hanging on because of poor performance. I heard they haven't even been able to pay wages for two or three months."

Dahe Township didn't have many enterprises, and the plastic factory was one of the few. It was established several years ago with an investment of several million to develop the industrial economy and was a township-owned collective enterprise.

Due to limited business, its performance had always been poor. The dozens of employees hadn't been paid for two or three months.

Ma Zhengnan didn't quite understand. Could it be that the Secretary saw the factory hadn't paid wages and was planning to allocate some funds from the township finance to pay the workers?

Qin Chuan said, "Call them and have the person in charge of the plastic factory come over immediately."

Although Ma Zhengnan was confused, he still made the call.

A short while later, Yang Hongzhi, the head of the plastic factory, arrived.

It was clear he was a bit nervous; his forehead was even slightly beaded with sweat.

The plastic factory's performance was poor, and it had been shut down for several days. With no orders currently and no way to pay wages, he wondered if Secretary Qin was going to dismiss him.

"Hello, Secretary Qin."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly and asked, "Director Yang, I heard the plastic factory used to make specialized plastic crates for fruit. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Yang Hongzhi replied. "We did indeed. There are mainly two specifications. The molds are still there, but they haven't been used for over half a year."

Qin Chuan asked, "Can the molds and equipment still be used?"

"Yes, they are fully functional. I can guarantee that."

Qin Chuan continued to ask, "If we use these two types of plastic crates to pack our yellow peaches, do you think they would work?"

"No problem. Last year, a fruit buyer ordered these crates specifically for yellow peaches. The small one holds exactly about 10 catties, and the large one holds about 50 catties."

For long-distance transportation, yellow peaches must be packed in these specialized plastic crates and stacked neatly.

It turned out they were perfect for packing yellow peaches.

This was a pleasant surprise.

Qin Chuan said, "Director Yang, go full throttle and organize production immediately. For now, produce one million of each of these two types of specialized fruit crates."

What!

One million of each!

Yang Hongzhi was stunned, thinking he had misheard!

He had been the director since the factory was established, and in all these years, he had never received such a massive order!

One million of each model!

Instantly, he became a bit excited. "Secretary Qin, I'll go back and organize production right away!"

Qin Chuan said, "Be quick. I hope to see the first batch of finished products by tomorrow morning. Also, go to the Finance Office to apply for 500,000 yuan in funds. I know your money for buying raw materials might be tight."

"Thank you, thank you, Secretary Qin!"

Yang Hongzhi thanked him repeatedly and then left excitedly to organize production.

Ma Zhengnan was even more puzzled.

He was completely in the dark!

What was Secretary Qin Chuan doing? To order so many plastic crates all at once—could they really be for the yellow peaches?

But the sales of the yellow peaches were already a problem. Why order so many plastic crates?

Qin Chuan saw Ma Zhengnan's confusion but didn't explain. He simply smiled and said clearly, "Old Ma, send out a notice. At ten o'clock tomorrow morning, every village director and village party secretary will have a meeting in our Auditorium. All township leaders must also attend."

Ma Zhengnan was even more bewildered.

Why was another meeting being called out of the blue, and such a large-scale one at that?

Was it to gather everyone to discuss the sale of the yellow peaches...?

His heart was full of doubt, but he held back his questions. Ma Zhengnan nodded and went to carry out Qin Chuan's instructions.

The sales channel had already been arranged.

The first fleet of trucks from Hongtai Supermarket Chain would arrive in Dahe Township early the day after tomorrow.

The purchase price for the yellow peaches was also set at 2.5 yuan per catty, with 1,000 tons per day.

Since the first fleet would arrive in Dahe Township around seven or eight o'clock the day after tomorrow to begin purchasing and loading the yellow peaches, some preparations could now begin.

Such as ordering the specialized plastic crates for the yellow peaches, holding a meeting to arrange tasks, and so on.

In the afternoon, Qin Chuan took Director Hu Qibin and Ma Zhengnan and even visited the plastic factory in person.

It wasn't far—only a ten or twenty-minute walk. The factory wasn't large, just a small plant with dozens of employees.

The once quiet factory was now bustling. Machines roared, and the workers were all fully engaged in their tasks.

Hearing that Secretary Qin had arrived, Yang Hongzhi practically jogged over.

"Secretary Qin, you're here."

Qin Chuan waved his hand and said, "Come, take me to see the production. Are there any finished products yet? It would be even better if I could see them."

"There are already finished products. This way, please."