The couple was halfway through their dream, listening to the quiet background music, yet they felt sowhat out of place and restless.
Fang Huai didn’t let his parents order the dishes as the prices here, in their eyes, were undoubtedly exorbitant. Having them order would result in unnecessary back-and-forth and waste ti.
The uncle, however, seed more at ease, staying quiet throughout the journey. After witnessing Fang Huai’s performance over the past few months, he felt there was no need to interject.
"Han Shou red braised softshell turtle, Mushroom World, liver and loins stir-fry..." Fang Huai said, looking at his parents:
"Let’s add sothing to accompany the rice, stir-fried beef, and also... the nourishing beef trio."
After Fang Huai finished ordering, he closed the nu and handed it to the waiter.
Fang Kaiyang clearly took note of Fang Huai’s glance and seed a bit perturbed by the "nourishing beef trio" order. He twisted in his chair and, bracing his hand on the table, seed ready to lose his temper.
Isn’t the turtle nourishing enough? Why make it so obvious?!
Yet Fang Huai called out sowhat formally:
"Dad, Mom."
They looked over.
Fang Huai smacked his lips and continued:
"I asked you to settle here because I have a favor to ask, sothing I can’t do myself. I need you to help start a company."
Fang Kaiyang watched Fang Huai speaking earnestly and couldn’t help but turn to Zhang Zhongting, speaking seriously, "Old Two... does Fang Huai really have money? We can’t let him fool us!"
Zhang Zhongting, understanding his brother-in-law’s concerns, explained with a smile:
"Whether he has money or not, I’ll take you to the company he’s signing with tomorrow and you’ll see for yourselves.
I believe in Fang Huai. Talent doesn’t depend on age. The song he wrote has already been adopted by our whole corps and they’re even planning to award him third-class rit, as you heard just now.
His talent is indisputable.
And if he does have money, it’s legitimate copyright inco, so you don’t have to worry."
At this mont, both parents were truly anxious.
They could have taken the previous interaction as a farce, and even if Fang Huai now said he was deceiving them, they would be happy, but settling down required serious consideration.
The livelihood of a family cannot be left to the whims of a child.
Fang Huai offered a reassuring pill, "Then let say this first, Uncle will take you to see tomorrow. If you’re convinced I have money, then consider my proposal seriously, alright?"
Fang Kaiyang finally nodded, adopting a serious deanor:
"Alright, you speak."
Zhang i also nodded in agreent.
Fang Huai then continued, "You’re aware of the ’Household Appliances to the Countryside’ initiative, right? The governnt’s new policy issued last December."
Hearing this, Zhang Zhongting also adopted a serious deanor and added, "The household appliance subsidies for farrs, right?"
Fang Huai nodded:
"Yes, I think it’s a big money-making opportunity.
The state has returned 13% of import and export duties as subsidies to overseas consurs to our farrs, switching from stimulating foreign demand to dostic.
This move benefits both the nation and its people, and I think it will only grow.
I think we can set up a consignnt company to help so ho appliance production enterprises that are struggling with sales to first break into the rural markets of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.
We take the lead in grasping the policy, lay out rural sales outlets, and dominate sales channels. If we do this well, more and more major manufacturers might join our supply side for a trial run."
The ntion of "Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan" intimidated the couple, making them feel the scale was frighteningly large.
They had a small restaurant and couldn’t even cover a whole street; but three provinces?
Zhang Zhongting, however, was gradually becoming more excited:
"Young man, where did you learn all this?"
Fang Huai presented a mysterious smile, "Heaven’s will."
"Oh?" Zhang Zhongting crossed his arms, now considering the matter, "What do you plan for your parents to do?"
Fang Huai then tapped his fingers on the table and clarified, "Sichuan has the largest territory and the most towns. I want to start there, set up the company first, foster local relationships, find suppliers, and get so preliminary publicity going."
Zhang Zhongting, half-smiling, pressed, "How will you foster relationships? How will you advertise?"
Fang Huai was pleased with Zhang Zhongting’s responses and said with a smile:
"As for the governnt, we certainly can’t give money! We’re selling appliances after all, so let’s give away appliances, like electric heaters, fans...
But since we’re firen, we could also consider giving away so ergency broadcasting systems that operate on radio signals, those with backup battery powered transmitters, and the broadcasts co with backup power sources too.
These devices are very practical for townships. Hung up high, the township governnt can use them to announce policies and urgent notices, and in case of disaster, they can notify people to take shelter.
And they won’t even be affected by power outages!
We can also preload U-disks for the broadcast with ergency escape plans for fires and natural disasters.
If you know so comrades over there, they could also negotiate with the township governnts on our behalf.
Play the broadcasts occasionally after lunch breaks and dinner ti, and that’s also contributing to Fire Protection Publicity.
Firefighting, it’s all about prevention and control, right? The equipnt is ready, more publicity may even help reduce the pressure on the townships’ firefighting efforts."
This plan was the thoughtful culmination of Fang Huai’s deliberations.
The natural disaster had struck right during a lunch break, and regardless of how effective previous advertising had been, if these high-powered loudspeakers operated by radio controls could wake more people, it could lead to a better outco.
With such a broad scope, he could only afford to spend a little to accomplish a lot.
If anything was left afterwards, it could be useful for disseminating disaster information.
The most severely affected areas were often the townships, and "Household Appliances to the Countryside" was about delivering to these areas – just the perfect fit.
Zhang Zhongting, relieved to hear it wasn’t about money, relaxed and said:
"Well, that counts as a public welfare project. But a village-wide wireless loudspeaker set, even the cheapest would cost over two thousand yuan per set, right? The ones with complete backup power you want would be even more expensive! How many sets are you planning to give away?"
Fang Huai then grinned:
"Uncle, if you don’t offer sothing expensive and advanced, why would they replace their old wired crappy loudspeakers?
Do you have any connections to purchase them more cheaply?
They need to be large and loud.
I plan to put the company logo on them too, to help us with so advertising!
’Household Appliances to the Countryside’ needs to reach the common people and be credible. If governnt loudspeakers carry our ads, doesn’t that credibility increase? It’s mutually beneficial!
That’s publicity, isn’t it?"
It was then that Zhang Zhongting grasped Fang Huai’s intentions.
This kid was a sharp businessman.
This was just like the streetlight projects where businesses provide advertising billboards-cum-streetlights to the governnt for free, displaying their own ads, saving the governnt procurent costs, while the businesses count the devices as advertising expense.
"Alright... that’s quite clever. This initiative would indeed benefit Fire Protection Publicity!
I can help you source the goods and also reach out to comrades at the corps to inquire about the publicity.
Tell , how many sets do you need?"
Observing Zhang Zhongting’s admiring expression, Fang Huai couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
If you think it makes sense, then it must be reasonable.
"Within a month, I’ll have at least four million in my hands, so let’s start with a thousand or two thousand sets to get our na out there!
We’ll go for a presence before the person—let our reputation precede us!
With this publicity in place and a budding reputation, it will be easier to negotiate with the appliance suppliers later on!"
Only then did Zhang Zhongting respond with astonishnt:
"Director Fang... that’s a grand gesture!"
Fang Huai humbly smiled, "Comrade, serving the people."
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