Chapter 94: Establish A Food Factory?
Old Hu was originally drinking water, and after hearing this, he almost sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
He looked at Lu Qiaoge in disbelief. What the heck, establishing a food factory just with your flaky pastries, and you’re dreaming of setting up a food factory?
He really dared to think big.
He had recently been thinking about whether to do something in the name of the neighborhood committee, but after thinking it over, he still had no good ideas.
“Qiao Ge, this is a bit wildly imaginative. Do you know how many procedures are needed to establish a food factory? Not to mention anything else, just passing the hygiene department is tough.”
Then he added: “Not to speak of funds, equipment, and all sorts of miscellaneous things. It’s completely different from establishing a volunteer service station.”
Lu Qiaoge was not shaken at all: “There are always more methods than difficulties. Whatever other food factories need, we’ll prepare. As for funds, once it’s running, it will make money.
“How can it be as simple as you say?”
In Lu Qiaoge’s view, it really wasn’t that complicated.
Huang Juan noticed something and lowered her voice: “Old Hu, I think it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work, so be it; we won’t lose much. If it really succeeds, with no one else in this office, won’t your son Hu Ze and Qiao Ling be able to come back legitimately?”
Old Hu’s expression changed slightly. Huang Juan waved her hand: “No need for fancy words. Our kids can’t stay in the rural area forever. Let’s give it a try. No matter what, it’s the department store that came to us proactively, not us scrambling everywhere for connections. This is a rare good opportunity. Whether it works or not, let’s try.”
Old Hu put down his large tea mug and seriously pondered it. Then he asked Lu Qiaoge: “Have you thought about where to set up the factory?”
Lu Qiaoge took out the prepared plan and handed it to Old Hu.
Another plan. This girl never just talks; she actually does things.
Old Hu and Old Huang exchanged a glance. They must not forget what they just discussed with her.
Old Huang nodded subtly. The matter of introducing a partner definitely couldn’t be forgotten; he’d talk to Qiao Ge privately later.
Old Hu carefully looked at the plan. It wasn’t much, just two pages.
Although it was a food factory, it was the smallest type, like a workshop or something.
The location was chosen at the former pickle factory of the neighborhood committee, which disbanded a few years ago, but the factory was still there, just a bit rundown.
What Lu Qiaoge feared least was rundown places. Those volunteers were all capable people; this bit of work was no trouble for them.
Setting up a factory in the neighborhood committee was actually very simple.
Self-sustaining, collective enterprise—straightforwardly, not on the payroll means temporary workers.
Especially since there were still many factories under the neighborhood committee now.
As expected, Old Hu was very satisfied with Lu Qiaoge’s plan.
It didn’t start with something big and unrealistic. This was like a workshop team. In the pickle factory, a room was selected for the handicraft group. Su Hui was the main technical personnel, and besides her, there was Zhou Li’s husband Chang An.
Old Hu realized that Lu Qiaoge was indirectly solving these people’s household registration issues.
A total of fourteen people: five had their household registrations transferred back themselves, and nine still had theirs in the rural area, including his son Xiao Ze.
Old Hu suddenly said: “Little Lu, if I don’t agree, what do you plan to do?”
Lu Qiaoge blinked her eyes and said straightforwardly: “Director Hu, the reason you disagree is nothing more than your son being here, and you’re worried people will say you have selfishness. But this matter needs to look at the big picture first. When 516 needed workers, besides our factory dependents and those from the military, why not recruit from outside? Isn’t it because we prioritize our own people first?”
Old Hu and Huang Juan exchanged a glance, and both smiled.
Old Hu pointed at Lu Qiaoge: “Then tell me, how much goods can the department store take in a day?”
It was food and drink for tens of thousands of people, especially the military dependents’ compound where incomes were pretty good—the purchasing power was terrifying. It was just that grain was still scarce now; buying pastries required cake tickets, and white sugar needed sugar tickets. According to her knowledge, rice could only be widely promoted next year, so doing food now wouldn’t worry about not selling out and expiring. The worry was whether raw materials could keep up.
Lu Qiaoge: “We’ll supply as much as they want.”
Old Hu: ……
That was just nonsense.
Everyone knew that buying grain now required a slip of paper. They wanted to produce more, but flour had to be supplied sufficiently.
Lu Qiaoge: “Director Hu, if you agree, hurry up and get the approval. Once the factory is established, I can guarantee you this: not only will the workers’ monthly salaries not be affected, but by year-end, we can hand over a considerable profit to the neighborhood committee.”
The neighborhood committee’s factories had no finance allocations.
As long as the authorities didn’t provide money, and it was normal operations, approval was simple.
As long as Old Hu gave the go-ahead, it would basically be fine.
Lu Qiaoge still had to continue her work: besides mediation, she also helped others with odd jobs.
Everyone liked having Lu Qiaoge help with tasks.
Especially Sister Hua, who loved Lu Qiaoge’s calligraphy.
She called to Lu Qiaoge: “Qiao Ge, come help me re-register the personnel who got married and divorced in the first half of this year.”
Over there, Sister Qiao picked up the notebook and said: “First, Qiao Ge has to come with me to a few residents’ committees. It’s almost the end of the month; we need to verify and settle the paper box money.”
Paper boxes weren’t just matchboxes but also pastry gift boxes.
Sister Hua naturally couldn’t compete with Sister Qiao for her. Lu Qiaoge smiled and said: “Sister Hua, when I get back this afternoon, I’ll handle it for you.”
Sister Hua also smiled and agreed.
Sister Qiao was just about to take Lu Qiaoge out when they ran into the Wei family with gloomy faces.
Old Man Wei, Old Woman Liu, Wei Qiang.
This time, Old Man Wei’s eldest son Wei Rui was also there.
Wei Qiang walked ahead, with Old Man Wei’s family of three following behind.
Although Sister Qiao really wanted to see what they were up to, she had proper business. Unexpectedly, Old Woman Liu saw Lu Qiaoge and glared at her viciously, saying: “It’s all your fault for your loose mouth; otherwise, could my family have ended up like this?”
Before Lu Qiaoge could speak, Sister Qiao was displeased: “Comrade Old Liu, you still haven’t realized where you went wrong. If you had a mother’s heart, treated Wei Qiang well, as your own son—even closer than your own—even if Wei Qiang learned his background, he would still recognize you as his biological mother. How can you have the nerve to blame others? Your thought has a big problem. I suggest holding a meeting so the comrades can properly educate you!”
Old Woman Liu: “……”
I just said one sentence, and you said all that. You’re a cadre, so you bully people like this?
But she didn’t dare retort. She knew she was in the wrong; she just didn’t like Lu Qiaoge and wanted to take it out on her.
Lu Qiaoge held Sister Qiao’s hand, expressing gratitude for her protection.
To be honest, in less than a month since she arrived, she could have stood out a lot, but most cadres protected and helped her.
There were some who didn’t like her; she wasn’t money, so not everyone could like her. For example, the cashier and accountant in the finance office were neither hot nor cold toward her.
But on the surface, they could all get by.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t mind these things, but facing Sister Qiao’s protection, she still felt warm inside.
Not to mention that Sister Qiao now lowered her voice: “Let’s not go to the residents’ committee first; we’ll stay and watch the excitement.”
Thanks to the treasures for last month’s monthly pass support. The little friends on Qidian and Yunqi were very supportive. Thank you for the support. New month, continue~
