Siheyuan: Bringing Warehouses to 1959

There are many people in Zeng Wangcai’s network of relationships. Many of them are no longer with us, having fallen in the storm, but quite a few are still around.

But he doesn't protect everyone, such as Director Qian.

Lao Qian was originally just a small director of a purchasing station. Later, because Zeng Wangcai always sold things to him, his political achievements were remarkable.

So as Lao Qian climbed up step by step, he felt grateful every time he thought of Zeng Wangcai.

The country's first private economic entity is about to be born in Chaoyang District. This event has a huge impact, so the boss Zeng Wangcai has become a celebrity in the district.

After hearing about this, Lao Qian had always wanted to visit, but he didn't have the time. Now, he felt a little embarrassed to meet him in this kind of occasion.

"Comrade Zeng Wangcai, Comrade Zeng Wangcai..." Old Qian stepped forward and pulled Zeng Wangcai away, "Stop arguing..."

"Oh, help is coming?" Zeng Wangcai wiped the corner of his mouth, full of fighting spirit, "I'm not afraid of a few more, grandma, let's scold him together..."

"......." Lao Qian was speechless. "It's me. Don't you recognize me? Lao Qian, Lao Qian from the purchasing station."

"Director Qian..." The two salesmen were so frightened when they saw Old Qian that they dared not breathe.

Especially when he saw Director Qian being so polite to Zeng Wangcai, he was so scared that his face turned pale.

This guy is the head of the entire district supply and marketing cooperative. If you offend him, you will be sent to clean the toilets.

"What are you two doing?" Without waiting for Zeng Wangcai to speak, Old Qian immediately spoke up and scolded the salesperson, "How can you quarrel with customers? With this kind of service attitude, how can you serve the people on the front line?

"This is outrageous. You must write a self-criticism, you must..."

"Wait a minute!" Zeng Wangcai remembered, "Director Qian, I haven't seen you for many years. Where do you work now?"

"You remember? You are a forgetful person. You forgot our cooperation at the purchasing station."

"Look at what you're saying. Come on, have a smoke and let's talk slowly."

"Wait a minute, let me handle the problem first!" Lao Qian did not forget his responsibilities and scolded the two salesmen.

However, Zeng Wangcai stopped Lao Qian from punishing the two men.

It’s not that Zeng Wangcai is soft-hearted, but he feels that it is unnecessary. The problem with the salespersons’ service attitude is not a problem with just one or two salespersons. The root of the problem is not with them, but with those above them.

As he grows older, Zeng Wangcai's temper has changed, and he is more willing to consider issues from the perspective of the overall situation or results.

For example, if these two salespeople had just said something excessive, Zeng Wangcai wouldn't mind squeezing them to death, but they did a good job as sparring partners just now, the quarrel was not scumbag, the language was civilized, and the quarrel was enjoyable...

"Why don't you thank him for his generosity!" Old Qian finally listened to Zeng Wangcai.

"No need. Let's chat for a while and reminisce about the past. My son and daughter still need to go shopping." Zeng Wangcai said with a smile, "Le Le, go shopping with grandma..."

The opponent who had just been arguing with suddenly became a god. The two salesmen couldn't resist and could only greet him with grateful smiles.

Some of the Nanluoguxiang residents who were watching the excitement at the door felt relieved, but most of them just smiled and passed by. As there was nothing exciting to watch, they all left.

"The supply from the supply and marketing cooperatives is still so tight." Zeng Wangcai said for the sake of conversation.

"Yes, it's better than those years, but not much better." Old Qian sighed, "It can only guarantee the basic living of the people. We can't say we are rich. We still have to rely on robbery for meat. In addition, that... you know, it has delayed production. It's good to be in this state now."

In summary, nothing has changed in more than ten years.

While the two were talking, grandma took the three babies to finish shopping.

Just as Zeng Wangcai said, the supply was tight and there was nothing to buy. The three children only got a piece of rare malt sugar each, and the two boys got a string of firecrackers.

"Dad, there are too few things here. There are not as many as in our grocery store."

"Dad, maltose is delicious, you eat it..."

"Dad, there are only firecrackers here, no fireworks."

"Dad, let's open a grocery store..."

Open a grocery store?

The child's words were like a needle piercing Zeng Wangcai's brain, giving him a new idea.

"Wangcai, do you also run a grocery store outside?" Lao Qian asked curiously.

"Wait a minute, let's talk in detail, wait a minute..." Zeng Wangcai ran out, picked up the little leopard and went to play with his grandmother and the others.

After making arrangements for his family, Zeng Wangcai returned with a bag of tea, a set of travel-sized tea sets and other small items in his hands.

"Let's go in and talk. I know there's a place behind the store." Zeng Wangcai said, pulling Lao Qian.

Lao Qian was eager to have more contact with Zeng Wangcai, so he naturally would not refuse. He immediately arranged for the salesperson to clean up the back.

The store is actually located in the backyard of a courtyard house, with plenty of space in the front.

The entire three-courtyard courtyard belongs to the supply and marketing cooperative. People live in the front and middle courtyards, there is a shop in the back courtyard, and other places are used as warehouses. Those that are not in use are abandoned.

The salesperson cleared out a sheltered area in the backyard and brought the two men a charcoal stove for them to warm themselves up, as well as an iron kettle.

The simple scene of making tea around the stove has been set up.

"Director Qian, I would like to know the number of stores in the current supply and marketing cooperative, as well as its business model." Zeng Wangcai started talking.

Although Lao Qian didn't know what Zeng Wangcai was going to do, he still told Zeng Wangcai the data very professionally.

After listening to the lecture, Zeng Wangcai concluded: "That is to say, the current stores cannot meet the needs of ordinary people, whether it is the goods or the number of stores, which means that ordinary people sometimes have to run several blocks to buy a bottle of soy sauce, right?"

"That's right! There's nothing we can do about it. We can't make it work. If we open one more store, we'll have to hire more people." Lao Qian told the truth.

Zeng Wangcai nodded, thinking that it was very difficult for Lao Qian to say this.

In the current system model, there are almost no grassroots cadres who can consider issues such as cost and livelihood.

Once a store is opened, employees' salaries will still be paid regardless of whether the business is good or bad. Income cannot be linked to work performance, so there is naturally no way to talk about service and economic benefits.

However, Zeng Wangcai is not considering this now. He is considering the issue of house renovation.

"Director Qian, how many families live in front of this yard?" Zeng Wangcai asked again.

"I don't know about that." Old Qian said with a smile, "You've stumped me. But generally speaking, there are two courtyards and one backyard, and there are more than a dozen households."

Director Wang, the former employee of the purchasing station who had not gotten a word in, now the director of the Jiaodaokou Supply and Marketing Cooperative, interrupted at the right time and said, "Twelve households, twelve households in total, all of them are employees of our supply and marketing cooperative."

"They are all from the supply and marketing cooperative? That makes it easy..." Zeng Wangcai rubbed his palms and said, "Director Qian, I want to buy both this yard and the store..."