2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 501 Opportunity?

Xie Junhong came in a hurry and left happily.

Local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) are definitely profit-driven, but once you get in, who wouldn't want to climb higher?

Although the support mainly came from the district government, the city investment company that holds shares in FlashTech and FlashTech Group is undoubtedly the biggest winner.

As the actual manager, FlashCheer's transformation from a small workshop into one of the top 500 private enterprises in China in just a few years is undoubtedly a highlight of his investment career.

However, missing out on Orange Technology was also a major stain on his career.

For investors like Shen Nanpeng, missing out on a deal or making a bad investment isn't a big deal, but for Xie Hongjun, it can easily attract attacks from competitors, since everyone wants to get ahead.

Every round of financing for Orange Technology generates buzz, and during internal company meetings, he would be subjected to sarcastic remarks from competitors.

He has been trying to win over Cheng Hao recently. Cheng Hao owns 2.4% of the shares, but he doesn't intend to take them all. He would be willing to buy even 1% or just a fraction of Cheng Hao's shares to make up for any losses.

However, there is now a better option. If Flash can be launched ahead of schedule, he can stand up straighter.
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"Don't leave yet, there's something very important to do."

In the top-floor conference room, everything had been said, and just when everyone thought the meeting was about to end, Tan Jincheng solemnly asked everyone to sit down again.

"Is there anything else?" Gu Qingqing asked, voicing the questions that had been on everyone's mind.

However, she could roughly guess what it was about. She had been writing and drawing at home these past few days and had also researched a lot of information about snow. Maybe it was about this.

"What I am about to say must be kept strictly confidential. You must also carry out my instructions discreetly and without any publicity. Especially Mr. Qin, you must be particularly careful."

Sure enough, Gu Qingqing smiled. Could this guy really believe it's snowing in Guangdong Province?

Forget it, let him be. It's not a bad thing to be prepared. If it really snows in Guangdong, then the electronic equipment that was prepared in advance will be incredibly useful.

"Oh, okay, Mr. Tan, please go ahead." Qin Junchao was a little confused.

Why was he specifically mentioned? He's practically invisible among the higher-ups. Although Jinyi Industry is very profitable, it has never had a strong presence within the group. For a time, Tan Jincheng even considered merging it into Flash Technology.

"According to information I obtained by chance, the weather this year is abnormal, and there may be widespread snowfall across the country, which may even affect the three southern provinces."

After Tan Jincheng finished speaking, he paused for a moment to let everyone digest the words. Apart from Gu Qingqing, everyone present was in a daze.

"The three provinces of South China? When was the last time it snowed in Guangdong? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Xupeng looked at Tan Jincheng incredulously.

Tan Jincheng smiled and said, "I have indeed looked that up. The last time Guangzhou had a notable snowfall was in 1929, which was 78 years ago."

"So you kept us all here just to talk about this? Everyone's busy, okay?"

Gu Qingqing knew some inside information, so she didn't care about Tan Jincheng's words. But the others didn't think so. The boss kept them behind and specifically mentioned that there would be widespread snowfall this year.

Given the earlier instructions for Qin Junchao to secretly prepare, it's clear the boss believed this and told everyone to prepare for a snow disaster. Tianjin and other areas can prepare as they see fit, but Shenzhen...???

However, only Zhang Xupeng dared to ask. He had a special relationship with Tan Jincheng and often went to Guangdong Province, so he knew what the weather was like there.

"It sounds a bit outrageous. If people find out, they'll definitely laugh their heads off. That's why I had President Qin prepare it in secret."

"Is this news reliable?" Lin Yumin asked as well.

It's snowing in the three southern provinces, so you can imagine how much snow has fallen across the country. If that's true, then it's definitely necessary to prepare in advance.

Unlike others, Lin Yumin, although he also felt that this preparation was too outrageous, after experiencing a wave of nostalgia and the expectation of going public, did not think that his boss's preparation was particularly boring.

He had seen Tan Jincheng at home; he was like a big boy, not very serious, always playing around with his sister. But at work, he never joked around and always had his own ideas about every step he took.

"It should be reliable. I got the news by chance. That person is usually very careful with his words, so he doesn't dare to say it publicly. After all, this news sounds a bit far-fetched."

It's not a good idea to admit that you're a cheater, so you can only blame it on some unknown expert. Anyway, once the snow falls across the country, no one will care about that anymore.

As for his concern afterward, Tan Jincheng had already come up with a reason: he said it was to prepare for some winter donations.

"Does Mr. Tan mean that I should secretly prepare some snow protection supplies in case there is a sudden heavy snowfall and we are caught unprepared?"

"That's right. In addition to the usual snow protection supplies, we also need to purchase more winter clothes for the employees. People in Guangdong Province probably don't have that many winter clothes. I've already thought of a reason for you: just say that at the request of the group, we are preparing to do some donations."

"Um, what if it really snows and they ask us for donations?" To be honest, Qin Junchao was still a little confused. He was perfectly normal when it came to work, but now that he was being asked to prepare winter clothes for Dexian Electronics, he really couldn't process it.

Having lived in Shenzhen for more than half a year, he knew all too well what kind of weather Shenzhen had. He could have worn just a single layer of clothing when he arrived.

"Then let's buy more. Anyway, the performance of Dexian Electronics this year is not bad. Let's just consider it as the first year of acquisition without making a profit. If it doesn't sell, we'll donate it to our hometown. Let's just consider it a benefit to our hometown folks."

"Okay, I understand. I'll make preparations secretly when I get back." Qin Junchao nodded mechanically.

"We need to pay more attention to this. Other regions have some experience with snow disasters, but Guangdong Province certainly doesn't. Also, we need to make sure that the company's daily work schedule is fuller this year and that the holiday is extended, so that if a snow disaster really happens, employees won't be stuck on the road and unable to get home."

"That's easy. The electronics factories over there usually close for the holidays late. We can just increase the overtime pay for working during the Spring Festival. I'm sure a lot of people won't go back."

Before the advent of high-speed rail, many migrant workers did not return home for the Spring Festival every year. The journey was inconvenient, and the wages were very low, so they would try to save on travel expenses.

Taking the minibus fare from Ningbo to Yicheng as an example, the round-trip cost for one person is about 500 yuan. This 500 yuan is equivalent to one-third of most people's monthly salary, not to mention the expenses after returning home.

The distance from Ningbo to Yicheng is over 600 kilometers. Not to mention employees from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan who live even further away, some of whom only go home once every four or five years.

"Yes, that's the idea. We'll try our best to keep the employees in Shenzhen for the Chinese New Year, and then we'll have a New Year's Eve dinner and all that."

Since the boss spoke so seriously, Qin Junchao couldn't possibly take it lightly. Although he didn't have any specific ideas, it was alright; he could just go back and plan it out in detail later.

"That's easy. The employees in the electronics factory are relatively easy to manage. We can prepare better food in the canteen and have a year-end party or something."

"Oh, speaking of which, this year's annual meeting won't be a group event. Everyone can organize their own. Send all the best moments to headquarters, and I'll hold a contest on Kaixin.com to see whose annual meeting is the best. Netizens will comment, and headquarters will give awards to the winners."

“Oh, then we at Bafang are going to benefit from this. We were a branch venue last year, so we have experience,” Wang Qinghua said with a smile.

"Haha, Mr. Wang, don't look down on us. The Guangdong Electronics Factory attaches great importance to this kind of annual meeting. Although I haven't been in charge for long, our company has talent in this area."

"Haha, let's have a competition then."

“If you’re talking about this, then FlashTech definitely has the biggest advantage. We hosted it last year, so are you not taking us seriously?” Sun Yuming chimed in.

"Give me a break. You're just a branch office, and part of your business is on construction sites. How can your operations be as good as ours?"

"What's wrong with construction sites? Do you look down on them? We'll have a huge construction site party sometime."

"Can I buy some votes? Just don't remove my vote-buying data, Mr. Gu."

Speaking of construction sites, Zhang Xuhui has even more to say. His place is indeed a huge construction site, but by the time the Chinese New Year arrives, there probably won't be many people there, and it certainly won't be as lively as the other sites.

"What do you think?"

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. I'm serious. Be careful about the heavy snow. I'm specifically mentioning President Qin, but those of you who are further north need to be even more careful, especially in Tianjin, where it usually snows heavily."

“Understood, we will take it very seriously. President Tan never jokes when it comes to work,” Lin Yumin replied.

Aside from Zhang Xupeng, he and Wang Qinghua were the most senior among those present. Wang Qinghua was very independent, but he was different. At this time, it was necessary for him to step forward and support Tan Jincheng.

"That's right. Sometimes Mr. Tan seems a bit neurotic, but in the end, he always gets good results. He's always been very lucky. You guys don't know, do you? We're both football fans. Back in the European Championship final between AC Milan and Liverpool."

He, a die-hard AC Milan fan, actually bet on Liverpool to win the championship, and as you all know, part of the initial funding for Flashpoint came from there.”

"The champagne-opening party at halftime?" Zhang Xuhui couldn't help but ask. They really didn't know about this, not even Gu Qingqing.

Zhang Xupeng rolled his eyes at him: "You're talking about opening champagne at halftime in front of an AC Milan fan? I think you're asking for trouble."

"Indeed, he bet that Chun Ge would be the champion back then. At that time, Chun Ge had only made it into the top ten. He said that Chun Ge had the look of a champion. At that time, Chun Ge's popularity was not as high as Zhou Bichang's."

"Yes, my gut feeling tells me we should believe this. Anyway, there's no harm in being prepared in advance. If it's true, have you all thought about what kind of opportunities the company would face?"

The lively scene in the conference room immediately fell silent.

Yes, if there is really widespread snowfall across the country, what kind of development opportunities will Flash Group, which has made preparations in advance, face?
PS: Some readers have noticed that there are more Internet-related chapters recently. As I mentioned before, the Internet storyline is a side plot, and it will usually be written together in a group, while the main plot remains unchanged.

Oh no, it didn't send! I only realized it when I woke up in the middle of the night.

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(End of this chapter)