2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 204 Annual Meeting
2005 was an extraordinary year for Tan Jincheng and FlashTech.

From nothing to a large-scale industrial enterprise, with annual sales exceeding 6000 million yuan, sales of 3.8 electric scooters, and increased brand awareness, FlashTech has secured a place for itself in the rapidly developing electric vehicle industry.

Two factory buildings have been put into operation, and a new industrial base is under construction. They have also cooperated with a high-end research institute on a lithium battery project, opening up a second front.

The number of employees has grown from just Sun Yuming at the beginning to more than 600 by the end of the year, making it a member of the medium-sized enterprises.

To qualify as a medium-sized enterprise, a company must meet several criteria: more than 300 employees, sales exceeding 3000 million yuan, and total assets exceeding 4 million yuan. FlashTech meets all of these criteria except for the last one, which is questionable: total assets exceeding 4 million yuan.

Industrial enterprises with more than 1,000 employees and revenue exceeding 400 million yuan can be considered large enterprises. FlashTech still has a long way to go to reach the level of a large enterprise.

Compared to the hardships of 2004, although 2005 was still tough, life was much better. Although I was often short of money, I was no longer as afraid of running out of money and not having enough money to go home as I was when I first went to the Canton Fair.

Their personal lives have also improved significantly compared to before. In 04, when they went on business trips, Tan Jincheng and Zhang Xupeng only dared to stay in budget hotels and ate and drank at ordinary roadside restaurants. Many times, they would just grab a bite at the Shaxian International Hotel.

These things changed a lot after the Canton Fair in the spring of 2005. Although they were no longer extravagant, they at least lived like wealthy people.
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Annual meetings are gatherings held once a year by certain social groups. They are annual events for businesses and organizations, primarily to thank customers, boost morale, enhance a sense of identity, and set goals for the following year.

It is unknown when it first appeared, but Taiwanese factories on the mainland habitually refer to it as "year-end party," and they are very enthusiastic about holding annual meetings.

However, Taiwanese companies are notoriously stingy. They may adopt various forms of frugality, but their actual welfare benefits are far inferior to those of other foreign-invested enterprises, and even some domestic private enterprises cannot compare.

The average worker expects a monthly salary of NT$3000, which is taken directly into their pocket. However, Taiwanese companies can divide this NT$3000 into countless portions, requiring you to put in many times more effort to actually receive it. The way they calculate salaries is truly eye-opening.

In the early 2000s, domestic private enterprises, apart from having relatively low wages, really couldn't compare with Taiwanese companies when it came to playing tricks.

January 22nd, Sunday, the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month.

Today is the Little New Year in some areas, but in Ningbo and Tan Jincheng's hometown, the Little New Year is celebrated on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. But no matter what, it can still be considered a festival. Similarly, many employees of FlashTech also celebrate the Little New Year on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.

Today is the annual meeting day of FlashTech. FlashTech workshop employees, who have hardly had a day off since last December, are enjoying a rare day off today.

After the annual meeting, we only need to work for two more days before we can go home for the Chinese New Year. In fact, everyone knows that we don't need to work as hard as before for the last two days. We can just organize our departments, do some cleaning, and that will basically get us through.

Xu Xinglei and Zhao Xinbin, wearing newly bought down jackets, strolled leisurely into the factory gate. Tan Jincheng didn't go to any high-end hotel for the annual meeting, but instead chose the new factory area.

Simply tidy up a temporarily empty workshop, hire a few chefs from the hotel, and purchase some good ingredients. This is much more cost-effective than going to the hotel, and it's also more low-key.

"How much money did you get in total?" Xu Xinglei asked Zhao Xinbin in a low voice.

Their salaries were paid in advance this Friday to put their minds at ease. Of course, this is for December; January's salary will be withheld. In addition to their salaries, their year-end bonuses were also paid out at the same time.

In terms of paying salaries during the Chinese New Year, FlashTech is quite humane. The age structure of the company's grassroots employees is mainly concentrated between 20 and 30 years old, and most of them are unmarried young people. Don't expect these people to save any money normally.

Therefore, how much money they can earn during the Chinese New Year holiday basically determines their quality of life when they return to their hometown for the holiday. Whether they stay at home watching TV or go out to play cards with some high-end cigarettes in their pocket depends on this month.

“Last month I had perfect attendance and earned 4800 yuan, plus a year-end bonus of 2500 yuan, for a total of 7300 yuan. What about you?” Zhao Xinbin said happily.

Last month, working overtime became much more worthwhile than usual, with significantly higher overtime pay. So Zhao Xinbin pushed himself to the limit, and with his year-end bonus of 7300 yuan, something he never dared to dream of before.

Since Flash Technology has only been established for a little over six months, Tan Jincheng did not calculate the year-end bonus for grassroots employees based on their length of service. Even if you only worked for one month, as long as your attendance rate met the standard, you would still receive a year-end bonus of 2500 yuan.

The new parts procurement contract has taken effect, greatly reducing procurement costs. As for the year-end bonuses of the grassroots employees, Tan Jincheng will naturally not be too stingy. There are only about five or six hundred employees, so giving a few hundred yuan more is not much money.

"I have two hundred yuan less than you, but it's still a lot. I have more than 1 yuan in my hands when I go home this time," Xu Xinglei chuckled. He was among the first batch of employees at FlashTech's new factory and had been working like a dog for the past few months, so he was able to save more money for the New Year.

"It's still better at the old factory. Breakfast there is free, so you can eat as much as you want. It's also close by, so you can sleep in a little longer."

"Yes, but the old factory generally doesn't hire anymore, so it's a bit difficult to get there unless there's a large-scale resignation. I don't know if there will be a chance to get there next year."

"Hey, what do you think we're having for dinner today? Our class monitor said they hired a chef from a hotel to cook for us, but I wonder what good dishes they have." "We'll find out soon enough. Let's go find our seats and grab a good one."

"That's true, let's go."

Just then, two Audi A6s slowly drove past them and into the factory's parking area.

"Look, that car in front is the boss's car, and I don't know whose car is behind it," Zhao Xinbin pointed out.

"I know that. I heard it from my fellow villager. The car in the back belongs to the boss's childhood friend. He often goes to the old factory area and is a rich man."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Only rich people can drive Audis?"

"That's not what I meant. I've heard gossip from people over there. When the old factory was first built, the boss's childhood friend helped manage it while he was away on business. It's said that they started out doing business together, so I guess it means the boss was helping him get rich."

"Damn, this is awesome! Why don't I have a childhood friend like that? I have to go home and ask my buddies if any of them have made a fortune."

"Haha, I'll go back and ask too."

A steady stream of people converged on the factory area, while four minibuses slowly drove in. These were all employees from the old factory area who had come to attend the annual meeting together. Once the minibuses came to a stop, one by one, they got out of the vehicles.

Before long, the parking area was packed with people. Tan Jincheng got out of the car and looked at the crowd, feeling a sense of pride.

Zhang Xupeng also got out of the car, accompanied by Li Yanning, the Li Jinglan sisters, and Liu Wenbing. These three were originally employees of Jinpeng Trading and had considerable interaction with Tan Jincheng.

Therefore, when Tan Jincheng invited Zhang Xupeng, he also invited them to come and join in the fun. In addition, employees of Jinyi Industrial also participated in the gathering.

Compared to the beginning of the year, Tan Jincheng's temperament has changed a lot. In addition, since they haven't seen each other for a long time, Li Jinglan no longer dares to talk nonsense with Tan Jincheng as she used to.

This was a kind of oppressive aura that Li Jinglan couldn't quite explain. Li Jinglan really wanted to go up and joke with Boss Tan, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Jinglan has become more ladylike. She used to be quite lively, didn't she?" Tan Jincheng said, glancing at her.

"I'm afraid of you, aren't I? You're a big boss now, you can meet with the district's top leaders anytime you want, I don't dare to speak casually in front of you." Zhang Xupeng said absentmindedly, looking at the crowd.

Jinpeng Trading had already closed for the holiday yesterday. If it weren't for Tan Jincheng's invitation, the three of them would have already gone back to their hometown. Zhang Xupeng, of course, would have gone back with Tan Jincheng.

"Forget it, just take the three of them inside and find them a seat. Someone will take care of things for you. I'll go to the door to meet someone."

"Is your sister-in-law coming too?" Zhang Xupeng asked, glancing at her sideways.

"Yes, she took a taxi directly from the train station, she should be here by now," Tan Jincheng nodded.

School had already let out for summer vacation, and Gu Qingqing, who hadn't gone home for the summer, felt it would be unreasonable not to go back for the winter vacation as well. So, after the vacation started, Gu Qingqing returned to Yiwu.

Gu Qingqing, who was bored at home, also came to join the fun at FlashTech's annual meeting. Tan Jincheng originally planned to pick her up, but he was too busy lately, and the two drivers also had to pick up guests today, so they couldn't spare the time.

Zhang Xupeng didn't say anything, but waved to the three people behind him and said, "Let's go in first, let's eat President Tan out of house and home today."

Li Yanning glanced at Tan Jincheng without leaving a trace. In just one year, she really didn't expect Boss Tan to have achieved such success. When she first joined the company, she was worried that Jinpeng Trading would not be able to continue operating.

However, in just a year and a half, Jinpeng Trading not only developed well, but Boss Tan also opened two more companies and became a star enterprise in the district, frequently appearing in the newspapers.

If Li Yanning had any other thoughts about Tan Jincheng, who was handsome and capable, when Jinpeng Trading was just starting out, she wouldn't even dare to think about it now.

The differences between people can unconsciously stifle some unrealistic ideas.

(End of this chapter)