I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 80 Unexpected

Kerosene lighters sold in supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores cost more than ten yuan each, but a lighter that lights up with a simple press, with a lightweight and stylish design, can be made to cost only about two yuan!

If these were mass-produced, wouldn't they sell like hotcakes?

"Comrade Zhang, are you kidding me? Two yuan in cost?"

Zhang Beichuan smiled as he looked at the man's gaping expression of surprise.

Do I look like I'm joking?

"Then...then isn't there hope for revitalizing the factory?" Liu Jianguo was overjoyed, muttering to himself, "There's hope...there's hope..."

"Director Liu, please don't get agitated. This is just a preliminary estimate; the exact cost will only be calculated after actual production begins. Moreover, there are still many issues to resolve before we can take on the contract."

Liu Jianguo calmed down a little and sat back down in his chair, but he still couldn't hide the excitement on his face.

"Yes, yes, let's speak frankly!"

"it is good."

Next, Zhang Beichuan mainly focused on two aspects: the management rights after the contract was signed and the contracting method, and asked Liu Jianguo about the current policies.

Liu Jianguo's answer was almost identical to the information Zhang Beichuan had found.

While it is permissible for individuals to contract out state-owned or collectively-owned units, the nature of the unit will not change after the contract is completed.

The contractor is not the owner of the unit; he is simply a professional manager who brings in capital from outside.

The contract period is generally 3-5 years. During the contract period, the contractor has autonomy over the factory employees and middle and lower-level managers, but cannot dismiss them.

The principles of contracting can be summarized as follows.

A fixed base amount is guaranteed, and taxes are to be paid in full. Any excess revenue will be retained, and any shortfall will be made up by the taxpayer.

In layman's terms, a fixed portion of the money is handed over to the treasury each year, and the remaining money, whether you make a profit or a loss, is freely allocated by the contractor or can be paid for by themselves, provided that the factory is operating normally.

"That's roughly the situation." After saying that, Liu Jianguo carefully looked around and continued, "Of course, the specific conditions will have to be discussed in detail after you meet with the leaders of the Second Light Industry Bureau. I'm just a mediator."

Zhang Beichuan nodded. "Understood."

"If the higher authorities agree to settle the workers' wages in installments, how much start-up capital do you have, Comrade Zhang?"

Considering that communication among the three parties involved in the contract takes time, and that the entire process will take at least a month, it is necessary to proceed.

"If everything goes smoothly, I can provide around ten thousand yuan in start-up capital. Some materials and key components are not included, as I have special channels for them."

The initial investment of 10,000 yuan, not including the materials and components that Zhang Beichuan procured himself, was undoubtedly a timely help for Dongfeng Factory at that time.

"Okay, give me a few days. I'll immediately convene a meeting with the employee representatives to reach a preliminary consensus, and then report to Section Chief Chen of the Second Light Industry Bureau. Then, we can have the representatives from all three parties sit down and discuss it together?"

Zhang Beichuan stood up and extended his hand.

"Alright, then I'll wait for Director Liu's good news. But I have to say something beforehand—if anyone tries to take advantage of me, they're out of luck."

A few months ago, Liu Jianguo might have had this idea, but now, at this critical juncture, he couldn't wait to get rid of this hot potato.

Every day that was delayed, he lived in constant fear and anxiety.

"No...no." Seeing Zhang Beichuan walk to the door, Liu Jianguo quickly called out to him, "Comrade Zhang, could I borrow your lighter for a few days? It would be convenient for me to report to my superiors."

Zhang Beichuan took out a lighter from his pocket and handed it over.

"It's yours."

Zhang Beichuan had mixed feelings as he left the Dongfeng factory.

On the one hand, he saw the possibility of truly taking root and developing in 1986, which could not only make money but also create jobs, which was the long-term plan.

On the other hand, he was also aware of the considerable challenges he faced. Getting a factory up and running in a completely unfamiliar industry was no easy task.

"If only there were someone familiar with lighter manufacturing who could offer some guidance."

Muttering something to himself, Zhang Beichuan turned around and glanced at Old Zhao, who was nodding and waving at him incessantly, and nodded with a smile.

With many things still to be done, Zhang Beichuan didn't return to Beichuan Department Store, but went straight back to Shihe Village.

When he arrived at Shihe Village, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. From afar, he could see that the area outside his courtyard gate was not as lively as usual.

"Brother Xiao Chuan, you're finally back!"

Two young men from the Lan family who came to Shihe Village to help transport eels pulled him aside and quickly told him about how Shi Jun was scrambling to buy eels in the village.

In the morning, Shi Jun rushed to buy eels at the entrance of the village committee for 0.22 yuan each.

The price was higher than what Zhang Beichuan offered, so naturally many people sold their eels to Shi Jun, especially villagers with the surname Shi.

The remaining people, whether out of consideration for face, gratitude to Zhang Beichuan for leading them to make money, or because they couldn't get along with the man surnamed Shi, sold themselves to their grandparents.

We were supposed to collect about 5,000 jin this morning, but we've only collected less than 2,000 jin so far.

"Brother Xiao Chuan, do you want me to go back to the county town to find someone? Shi Jun is so awful, he's obviously stealing my business!"

Hearing Lan Baohong's rant, Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan stopped what they were doing in the yard and immediately ran over.

"You two, get out of here! You're always coming up with terrible ideas!" Lan Xiuying scolded the two of them irritably, pulling Zhang Beichuan aside. "Xiaochuan, we can't listen to them. If we really do that, it might cause even bigger trouble."

She knew all too well the people in the Lan family compound; they were all hot-tempered.

If they really bring people here, and you're just an outsider causing trouble in the village, even if you're in the right, you'll have to back down. If a fight breaks out, you'll end up making a mess of things.

Even though she had fierce arguments with her older brother Zhang Dezhong and his family over the years, no matter how much the two families fought or quarreled, she never thought of going back to her parents' home to complain or move out, for fear that things would escalate further.

"Your sister-in-law is right. The Party Secretary has already said that he will definitely give us an explanation before tonight. We must not add fuel to the fire at this time," Zhang Dequan added from the side.

After figuring out the whole thing, Zhang Beichuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

This is the first time I've encountered such a good thing, with someone doing all the work for me.

"Hey, I thought something serious happened. You guys look so gloomy, is that all?"

Lan Baohong was dumbfounded. Shouldn't cutting off someone's money be tantamount to killing their parents? How could they tolerate this?

Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan were also a little taken aback. They had imagined all sorts of reactions from Zhang Beichuan after he found out about this, but they never expected him to be able to laugh.

"Xiao Chuan, you...you didn't understand? Shi Jun, along with a few young men surnamed Shi, are trying to steal our money." Zhang Dequan added.

"Got it? He likes to steal, so let him steal. The better, he should steal as much as possible."

Lan Xiuying: "?"

Lan Baohong: "?"

Lan Baode: "?"

Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, Zhang Beichuan laughed even harder.

Selling eels in the city is a non-existent business, so it would be truly unbelievable if Shi Jun could actually sell them!

He wanted to see how Shi Jun would end up crying and begging for help after buying so many eels, thinking he was being clever, but ultimately failing to sell them.