Reborn in 1977

Chapter 384: A Trivial Matter

In the Political Work Section office of the Health Department of the District Committee, Section Chief Zhou leaned back in her chair, looking at Chen Fan with curiosity, and asked, "So, you're saying that today, the three cooked food stores sold nearly ten thousand yuan?"

Chen Fan quickly waved his hand, "Only 8,000, not nearly ten thousand. Far from it, far from it."

In the morning, a total of 300 chickens, ducks, and geese, plus vegetarian dishes, sold for more than 2,400 yuan. In the afternoon, Secretary Yang and the others organized another 200 or so chickens, ducks, and geese to be sent over. The workers in the cooked food workshop were working non-stop, and even the transportation team members who came by boat helped with the slaughtering and plucking. In the end, they were all sold out. Today's turnover was just over 8,000 yuan.

"That's still a lot."

Section Chief Zhou tasted a piece of braised chicken and said in confusion, "This stuff is delicious, but do that many people really buy it?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "It's just the first day of opening today, and most people came to join in the fun. Also, our main store is located in front of the dock, and many travelers also come to buy it.

Those travelers who take boats, especially those who take long-distance passenger ships, have a half-hour break, so many people will get off the ship to move around. Think about it, what kind of people take long-distance passenger ships when it's not a holiday?"

Section Chief Zhou chuckled, "Who else could it be? At least half of them are on business trips."

Chen Fan nodded, "That's right. These people get subsidies every day, so they're not short of money. Although our braised dishes aren't anything rare, they're not very common. Plus, it's meat that doesn't require coupons. All things considered, it's slightly cheaper than the dishes in restaurants, so it's not surprising that many people buy it."

After a pause, he picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and sighed with feigned melancholy, "But, I estimate that it'll only be good business for three to five days at most. Once the novelty wears off, I'll be thanking God if I can sell 2,000 yuan a day!"

This was the honest truth, but it was also mixed with some exaggeration.

Even in later generations, when a new restaurant opens, there will be a period of popularity. Once the regular customers around have tried it, whether they are satisfied with the taste or not, there will mostly be a period of decline in customer traffic.

However, if the taste is excellent, the amount of decline will be less and the time period will be shorter. Otherwise, it will probably be a one- or two-month period of popularity, followed by a three-month period of decline. If you don't find a way to stabilize customer traffic during this time, you will enter a period of loss, followed by a period of closure.

Many small restaurants disappear like a flash in the pan.

The opening of Luwan Cooked Food Store is naturally similar. The opening is very popular, but after the popularity period, at least the local residents of the county will have lost their novelty. It would be good if they came to buy it once a month, so it is naturally impossible to have such a high turnover again.

On the contrary, the passenger ships that dock regularly every day are more worthy of anticipation.

Therefore, when he left, he repeatedly told Luo Haixia, the leader of the cooked food workshop, that they could make a little more on the first day tomorrow, but the total amount should not exceed today's amount. Then, they should summarize and analyze the sales situation every day, especially the sales of the two stores in the county, and be prepared to increase or decrease the amount of goods at any time, just in case the customer traffic suddenly decreases, causing a lot of waste.

However, this is the result that may occur based on the situation that the cooked food store has no countermeasures.

But does Chen Fan have no backup plan?

This backup plan is the exaggeration in his words.

In the future, after a period of time, arrange for new products, or engage in promotions, or offer membership cards, etc., to firmly occupy the C position on the hot topic list of Gufeng County. Even if the sales decline, it should be limited.

At the same time, take advantage of this time to actively develop the markets of the District Committee and the surrounding counties. When there are more stores, at that time, he will only have to worry about whether there are enough ingredients, not the problem of declining sales.

However, he came here today to seek cooperation, so of course he had to play the emotional card. If he was too confident, who would go all out to help him?

Sure enough, before Chen Fan could speak, Section Chief Zhou frowned slightly, looked at him, and said, "So, your pressure is not small. With so many chickens, ducks, and geese to sell, relying on these three stores and the purchases of several units, how long can you sell them for?"

Chen Fan smiled bitterly. Just as he was about to speak, Section Chief Zhou lightly patted the table, looked at him reproachfully, "What can I say about you? You don't want the cadre job that's delivered to your door, and you have to take root in the production team to show that you have the ability, right?"

Hearing this, Chen Fan just grinned foolishly and didn't take up the topic at all.

Section Chief Zhou pointed at him angrily, paused for two seconds, and then said, "I can't help you with anything else. The canteen of the Health Department is too small, and 20 pounds of cooked food a day is the limit. However, I can help you say hello to the several directly affiliated hospitals in the district and the Health College.

While it's not yet off work, I'll call them later. Tomorrow, you can go directly to the vice presidents in charge of logistics and see if you can open a window in their canteens, or set up a store at their door, and also do the business of the surrounding residents."

Chen Fan was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Section Chief Zhou."

Although he was confident that he could negotiate it himself, the result would definitely not be as good as Section Chief Zhou's greeting.

Otherwise, wouldn't her favor be wasted?!

However, Chen Fan was greedy and shameless. He smiled cheekily, "Section Chief Zhou, can I ask you something?"

Section Chief Zhou picked up her teacup, took a sip, and glanced at him, "Speak."

Chen Fan pointed in the direction of the Yangtze River and asked curiously, "Do you know the leaders at the dock? Or even those at Yunhu Water Transportation Company?"

Section Chief Zhou couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Do you want me to introduce you to the leaders of the three Yunhu bus stations too?"

Chen Fan's eyes lit up and he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "Okay, okay."

However, he was a little puzzled. Is the Health Department's influence that great? Do they even have connections with leaders in both water and land transportation?

If it was just acquaintance, it shouldn't be to the point of saying such a thing.

Section Chief Zhou looked at Chen Fan, and her face suddenly filled with a strange smile, "I'm not very familiar with the leaders of the passenger terminal, the water transportation company, and the bus station…"

Hearing this, Chen Fan was stunned and couldn't help but blink. What does that mean?

Section Chief Zhou continued, "However, there are people in our office who are familiar with them. It just depends on whether you dare to find them."

Chen Fan rolled his eyes twice, "Who is it?"

Section Chief Zhou coughed dryly and smiled, "One is Xiao Lin, Lin Liwen. Her father is the deputy director of the passenger terminal. The other is Xiao Xia, Xia Yuping. Her grandfather is the leader of the Traffic Management Office, her father is the director of the First Passenger Station, and her mother is…"

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Fan decisively raised his hand in surrender, "Section Chief Zhou, please let me go!"

There's nothing else to it. Every time he comes to Section Chief Zhou, she encourages Chen Fan to go on blind dates with the young ladies in her department, and it's these two. The most embarrassing thing is that they seem to really have taken a liking to him. Now that she's making this move again, it would be strange if Chen Fan wasn't having a headache.

It's easy to understand why the two young ladies would forgo working in their own departments and come to the Health Bureau. Just like in later generations, the consensus for girls was almost always to become teachers or nurses. The transportation system was dirty and tiring; how could it compare to the Health Bureau?

However, medical care ultimately belonged to the business line. The political work section, which specialized in logistics, was even more suitable for them.

Therefore, it's easy to understand why they appeared here.

Sister Zhou chuckled a few times, waved her hand, and said, "Alright, alright, I see that you really don't have any interest in this, so I won't make things difficult for you."

Then, she shouted towards the door, "Xiao Lin, Xiao Xia, come in here for a moment."

Two girls immediately ran over excitedly, greeted Sister Zhou first, and then their gazes involuntarily wandered to the side.

Chen Fan sat upright with a stiff smile, silently sighing in his heart. It seemed he was still too young and couldn't let go.

Sister Zhou glanced at him, then went straight to the point, "Xiao Chen is here to find sales channels for their production team's chickens, ducks, and geese. It's the braised food you just ate. He wants to find a storefront at the passenger wharf and at the entrance of the passenger station…"

Lin Liwen immediately raised her hand, "This is simple. I'll just tell my dad when I get back."

She only said half of her sentence before turning to look at Chen Fan, smiling, "Do you want to open it outside or inside? There's a row of houses outside that all sell souvenirs. They're all boring. It just so happens they have extra space that can be vacated for a braised food shop.

If you want to open it inside the waiting hall, that's fine too. You don't even need a storefront; just set up a stall. It's very simple."

Speaking of which, she seemed to hesitate for a moment, "However, there aren't many people inside the waiting hall, just those few people. The business probably won't be too good. How about setting up one inside and one outside?"

Chen Fan opened his mouth wide and couldn't help but swallow. The Yunhu passenger wharf waiting hall, and then one inside and one outside?

The waiting hall was the entrance, and the souvenir shops were at the exit. Of course, people outside could also come in here to pick up people. This was equivalent to catching all the passengers entering and exiting the passenger wharf in one fell swoop.

Such a good thing existed?!

Before he could react, Xia Yuping next to him quickly said, "There's no problem on the passenger station side either. Although there are no houses outside, there's open space to build your own. You can also have one inside and one outside. Oh, I mean all three passenger stations will work. We can also get you a kitchen."

Lin Liwen also quickly said, "There's an empty room on the ground floor of the waiting hall that can also be used as your kitchen."

After they finished speaking, Chen Fan snapped his mouth shut, blinked his eyes dryly, was it that simple?

Then, he quickly stood up, extended both hands, "Thank you, thank you! On behalf of all the members of the Lujiawan Production Brigade, I express my heartfelt gratitude to you."

Shaking hands with Chen Fan, both girls blushed.

One said, "It's just a small matter, it's nothing."

The other said, "It's just a small favor, no need to thank us."

However, the two voices overlapped, and they couldn't help but glare at each other. The two good friends were both a little indignant.

Chen Fan smiled stiffly, muttering in his heart, this favor was not easy to repay.

I already have someone I belong to, and I will never succumb to favors!

So, refuse?

How could that be possible?!

Many people in later generations knew that by the 1980s, social and economic activities were becoming increasingly active. At that time, engaging in transportation was the most profitable thing to do; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as robbing money.

And in the Yunhu area, as long as it was related to transportation, these two young ladies could connect him to their network. Even if it wasn't for Lujiawan, but just for himself, could he let this go?

There's no way!

At worst, he'd find a way to repay the favor later.

…

The next day, September 2nd, Friday.

In the morning, Chen Fan first went to the Traffic Management Office with Xia Yuping, and then ran to three bus stations separately. He didn't know how Xia Yuping had explained things to her family, but as soon as Chen Fan arrived, he was warmly welcomed, as if he wasn't the one asking for a favor, but rather going to deliver benefits?

Anyway, no matter what, the matter of opening shops at the three bus stations was settled.

There was no need for one inside and one outside. They would just allocate a piece of land in the courtyard at the entrance of the station, relying on the courtyard wall for Lujiawan to build their own houses. The depth would not exceed 3 meters, and the length would be limited by the courtyard wall. You could build as long as you wanted.

Of course, there were conditions. After the house was built, it would belong to the bus station. Lujiawan only had the right to use it, not the ownership.

What kind of condition was that?

The land belonged to them, and the rent was only a symbolic 50 yuan a year. Did you think you could own the house after you built it?

So, without saying a word, he immediately agreed.

After confirming the intention, he quickly called Lujiawan.

At the brigade headquarters office, four leaders, plus the public security director and the women's director, and finally the stationed cadre, seven people were squeezed into the office, passing around a deposit book.

Secretary Yang looked at the five-figure number on the deposit book, his face stiff with laughter, "Yesterday's sales of more than 8,000 yuan, plus the payment for the live poultry sent to the county these past few days, is almost 20,000 yuan. When has our Lujiawan ever been so rich!"

Xiao Lie Wen drank his tea and laughed heartily, "This is nothing yet. Xiao Chen has already gone to the prefectural committee and will definitely not return empty-handed. In the future, our production team's money will increase day by day!"

An Quan smoked his cigarette, coughed dryly, and said to Secretary Yang, "Uncle Yang, didn't Xiao Chen mention before that he wanted to separate breeding, processing, and sales?"

Secretary Yang looked up at him and nodded, "That's right, we've already done that. Now the manpower and books are all separate."

An Quan pointed to the deposit book and smiled, "Now that the books are separate, should this money also be sorted out?"

Secretary Yang frowned slightly, "We're all one family, is there a need for that?"

Team Leader Zhang, Ye Shubao, and Xiao Lie Wen all nodded in unison, obviously meaning the same thing.

An Quan smiled and was about to explain the necessity of separating the accounts.

At this time, Secretary Yang said another sentence, "If they are separated, then none of the three books will have more than 10,000 yuan."

An Quan's eyes went dark. Was that the reason?

He helplessly covered his forehead, "Then let's wait until there's more money, and then divide it when there's more, so each family has more than 10,000 yuan."

Secretary Yang grinned and laughed, "We definitely understand the principle of dividing the family and dividing the accounts. Don't worry, when there's more money, I will definitely ask Accountant Li to open two more accounts and separate the accounts."

An Quan smiled and nodded. He then said, "I don't know how Xiao Chen's side is doing?"

Just then, the phone on the table suddenly rang.

Secretary Yang looked at the phone and grinned, "No need to ask, it must be Xiao Chen calling."

As he spoke, he picked up the phone, "Hello, this is Lujiawan, who is this?"