Chapter 222 – Concerns of Zhang Ruiqiang
The secretary told Zhang Ruiqiang that Feng Yu was here again and Zhang Ruiqiang was furious. He did not accept Feng Yu’s “trial products” previously but why were there government agencies buying the bladeless fans?
He instructed his men to find out the reasons, and he did not know whether to laugh or cry from the results. His subordinates said someone saw the bladeless fan boxes outside his office and thought that it was a hint for them to order the fans!
Since Zhang Ruiqiang was currently the Mayor’s favorite and Bing city’s number 2 man, and he had given such oblivious hint, they had to express their support.
Although the weather in Bing City was not hot yet, they can prepare for the future. At the same time, they can also show Zhang Ruiqiang their support. Anyway, they were not spending their own money. It’s the government money, and they would not feel the pinch!
There was all sort of reasons for the procurement of the bladeless fans. For instance, the Technology department used “studying the scientific principle” behind the bladeless fan. This was for the technology development of Bing City.
The Agriculture Department’s reason was more extreme. They claimed that they were researching on natural wind pollination and bladeless fan wind was the closest to natural wind. So, even if it was for experimental purposes, there was no need to get 10 units.
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau used “cooling animal cubs” as an excuse. Sooner or later, the cubs will be freeze to death!
……
Once again Zhang Ruiqiang found out that he was used by Feng Yu. Even he did not accept Feng Yu’s gifts, his men will still buy whatever products Feng Yu brought to his office!
If it were a 30 to 50 RMB electric fan, Zhang Ruiqiang would not mind approving these procurement applications.
But these bladeless fans were selling at 588 RMB a unit! This was only an electric fan, and it’s not made of gold!
He had asked Feng Yu to come to his office, and on the phone, he emphasized that Feng Yu must not and cannot bring anything with him. Not even a peanut!
Feng Yu was leisurely whistling on his way to Zhang Ruiqiang’s office. Since Bladeless fans can be sold in Bing City, a rural city near the borders, then it should not be a problem for other cities.
Chinese likes to imitate and compare. You have something new in your house, and our financial conditions are about the same, then I must get it too. You buy a new color TV? Then I must get one too. You have a new fridge? I must also get one. My fridge must be the same as or better than yours!
With Bing city as an example, other cities’ government agencies in the province will follow when they know about this. Many government officials will get the bladeless fans for their departments and their home.
The bladeless fans were expensive? But they just need to send in the request, and the government will pay for everything!
Zhang Ruiqiang was staring at Feng Yu furiously when he enters the office. Feng Yu said with an innocent expression: “Mayor Zhang, why are you staring at me?”
Zhang Ruiqiang points at Feng Yu and sighed: “Feng Yu, your company is not small, and in Bing City and even the Longjiang province, your company is the most successful private company. Just concentrate on your business and sell your products. Why are you advertising your products at my office?”
Feng Yu replied with a “distraught” tone: “Mayor Zhang, you are accusing me. Look, last year, the city had rejected many requests for air conditioners. This year, many agencies had reported that their work performance was affected during summer. There were even some older officials got heat stroke last year and requested for the city to grant them the budget to cool down their office.”
“You do the calculations. An air conditioner unit, including installations, will need at least 10,000 RMB. The electrical bills every month will not be a small amount too. Our Bing City have so many factories, and they are using lots of electricity. Even the provincial government is limiting the use of electricity, not to say other government departments. My bladeless fan is Tai Hua Trading’s flagship product. Safe, energy efficient, healthy, low noise, hi-tech, beautiful and cheap. I want to give you a sample to try it out, but you don’t now want. I had brought back the fans previously. How can you say that I am advertising my products at your office?”
Zhang Ruiqiang was speechless. A 600 RMB fan is considered cheap? This time, he could not blame Feng Yu. It was his men that misunderstood. But it was Feng Yu who caused this as he had brought every new product to his office previously.
“Fine, it is just an electrical fan. You are claiming that it is better than an air conditioner unit! I heard that you had set up a factory in Guangdong province to manufacture humidifiers and bladeless fans?”
“Yes. This way, it is easier for me to distribute my products overseas and the southern provinces.”
“What is the contract conditions? The taxes are going to Guangdong provincial government?” This was what Zhang Ruiqiang wanted to find out.
Tai Hua Trading’s ability to make money was proven, and it was Bing City’s most profitable private company. Zhang Ruiqiang would be pissed if the taxes went to the Guangdong province.
“Mayor Zhang, don’t worry. That side is only doing the production, and the sales will still be going through Tai Hua Trading’s account. Most of the taxes will still be going to Bing City Government. Our production increases and the sales will increase too. This year’s taxes will be more than previous years.”
Zhang Ruiqiang nodded and asked: “I heard that the Machinery Company will be setting the second motorcycle factory in Jinlin?”
Zhang Ruiqiang was worried, If Feng Yu kept setting up factories in other provinces, will he shift all his assets in Bing City to other regions? Bing City’s geographical location was not ideal. If Bing City were located in the center of China like Jinlin province, the economic growth would be faster.
“In future, we will set up more factories. The factory in Jinlin is only the start. We planned to increase the motorcycle production to 1 million units within 5 years and 2 million within 10 years. Bing City is only this big. It will be impossible to set up all the factories here.”
Zhang Ruiqiang had a headache. He should be happy when the Machinery Company was doing well, but the city government shares will be diluted if they didn’t invest more money when a new factory was set up.
Bing City was no longer the major shareholder of the Machinery Company, and they still need to invest more money into the company. The other state-owned companies will not be happy. He was not worried that Feng Yu would slowly take over all the Machinery Company and turn it into a fully privatized company!
People would blame him for giving the Machinery Company to the Feng family!
“Feng Yu, tell me honestly. Are you trying to privatize the Machinery Company?”
“How can it be? Even if I want to buy over the company, the City will not sell.”
Feng Yu had thought of this before. In future, Bing City Beer was bought over by a foreign company, and this had caused resentment among the Chinese.
Feng Yu does not need to fully privatize the company. He only wants the controlling shares. He does not mind letting the City have some of the company’s shares.
Anyway, with the controlling shares, the City Government could not hinder the Machinery Company’s operations, and Feng Yu could still have a good relationship with the government and Zhang Ruiqiang.
Zhang Ruiqiang got the answer from Feng Yu, and the both of them discussed some Machinery Company’s matters, and Feng Yu left.
Zhang Ruiqiang was standing at the window looking at Feng Yu leaving. He was thinking of many things. Can this Feng Yu change the whole city?
Feng Yu was preparing for his exams when Wu Zhigang paged him. Kameda was here again!