Ch. 44 - Dinner

Everyone was busy after dinner. Han Dong was in charge of employee training, and Datou was busy handling finance. Lu Feng headed to the office to draw illustrations; as for Gao Zhiwei, the general manager, he had nothing to do and wandered around the factory.

A good packaging design requires a professional team to polish it for a long time. If Lu Feng did it himself, it would take several years to reach the same level. He didn't have the heart to do it, so he copied and painted some classic packaging from his memories (of later generations, of course). Half a day was enough to get it done.

Lu Feng knew it was difficult to enter the market by himself. Others players could stifle the market in an instant as long as they could reduce their profits, and even the best products will not sell.

Now was not the age of the Internet, there exist comparisons and propaganda by media. The small shop owners say that the children will buy whatever is delicious, but even if the product is put forward on a shelf, the sales volume goes up.

Faced with this situation, Lu Feng decided to act simply: Survival is first priority. As long as the profit earned can pay wages to the employees, he will succeed. The simplest business competition is the price war, which also happens to be the cruelest: What is the price? What about the execution?

Everything had just been instigated.

Some people in the local business community paid attention to him: some were optimistic while some thought he was an immoral person; it became a topic for gossip.

"Hey, Lao Chen, do you know Lu Feng?" A refined man in his forties with parted hair, asked very casually on the phone.

"You worry a lot!" The voice at the other end of the phone laughed, "I don't know him, but I know Ren Qianbo."

"Are you still in contact with him?"

"His father-in-law used to be in the same unit as me, and then I was transferred to the Hong Leong Group; It's been very lively here recently. A lot of people are talking about the current occurrences." The person at the other end started gossiping.

There is a severe lack of entertainment activities in the era, and many interesting topics are floating everywhere. Some people took the liberty to make up baseless rumors and claimed that Lu Feng is eyeing Qianbo's wife!

"I haven't seen you in a while? How about calling this old horse for a drink?"

"No problem, there are a few new girls in my unit, I'll bring them as well!"

"No, it's boring, call that Lu Feng and Ren Qianbo."

"Ah?" The other voice froze for a moment, then complied smiling, "Okay, it's going to be a lively evening tonight."

At seven o'clock in the evening: Lu Feng handed over the manuscript to Datou and checked the time, wondering whether he should go to the canteen or the supply and marketing agency.

The phone rang suddenly, and Lu Feng hurried back to the office to answer the phone.

"Hey, who is it?"

"Are you Lu Feng?" The voice on the other end of the phone was arrogant, giving the listener a feeling of inferiority and discomfort.

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm Chen Mancang, the general manager of Hong Leong Group. I've been listening to you a lot these days. I’m having a meal tonight at the canteen of Yegang Group, you know?"

Lu Feng frowned, not being able to for a while.

"Hey, do you hear me?" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded uncomfortable.

"Yes!”

"I heard your reply, what's wrong?" After that, he hung up the phone.

When Lu Feng put down the phone, the first thing that came to his mind was that the current steel industry were all state-owned enterprises, and this CEO Chen is also a state-owned enterprise’s boss.

The other party's aggressive tone, coupled with the feeling as if inviting you to eat is to give you a face. Lu Feng felt if he went to this dinner tonight, he will become a joke.

He can handle Ren Qianbo, but he dares not fight with these state-owned enterprises. Although the reform of state-owned enterprises is in progress, there are already many semi-government joint ventures, but they are not thorough.

What is a state-owned enterprise but an iron rice bowl? It was not until the late 1990s that this iron rice bowl was smashed. (Editor: iron bowl here refers to a steady and good income that does not let one starve)

A company like the one owned by Ren Qianbo is already a private company.

The big, private enterprises are worth millions, and the ones within a city can be counted on one hand. The real nobles are these people, and you can tell so from their tones.

Those who go to Tianyue Hotel for dinner can only be said to be rich people, and all the commonplace people drink Maotai(1) in a small cafeteria.

Lu Feng went through everything that could happen in his mind and instructed Datou to take good care of the factory. He rode his motorcycle to Gao Zhiwei's side and said, "Hop on!"

"What are you doing?"

"Taking you for a delicious meal!" Lu Feng smiled at him, saying, "You don’t have to be afraid, get on the bike!"

Gao Zhiwei sat behind Lu Feng suspiciously, with an uneasy heart. The motorcycle dashed into the Metallurgical Group area in the suburbs. The five-mile radius here is full of steelmaking sites, including residential buildings, living quarters, and even a large supermarket, not much different from a city center.

They went straight into the factory, confirmed with the security guard, and went straight to the second cafeteria. Lu Feng stopped at the door finding that Ren Qianbo had just arrived; soon, he opened the door and locked eyes with Ren Qianbo.

Looking at each other, both of them understood that they are both a joke tonight, and they would be used for entertainment while drinking.

Lu Feng stepped into the cafeteria and perceived that it was not for ordinary employees. As expected, the people inside wore leather shoes, suits, white shirts, and premium jackets, all of which were customized.

All he heard around was section chief this, section chief that. Lu Feng engaged himself with something else as he walked because he disliked the atmosphere.

When he went up to the second floor, the decoration became luxurious instantly, giving them a sense of grandeur. Ren Qianbo's waist was upright, and he stood there like a pacesetter.

"Let's wait in the private room." A waiter came over and pointed to the largest private room.

"Didn't you say you would treat me to something delicious?" Gao Zhiwei whispered.

"Yes, don't worry, there will be something to eat!"

"I'm not suitable for this kind of condition. I'm a marketing specialist. I'm most afraid of this kind of waiting, and I don't dare to speak." Gao Zhiwei frowned and said, "It's uncomfortable to talk here, I'm going back."

"You will bring me back because I'm ‘not feeling well' , that's why I brought you here."

The two were chatting in whispers, planning their escape just after entering. There was a polite voice outside the door, and the chat became lively. The door opened, and Lu Feng saw five men, all dressed in similar clothes. There were three people in the middle, and two others stood beside them. With a typical smile, he bowed slightly, with eyes full of sincerity.

That state is obviously a manifestation of skill, and someone without practice can't do it.

"President Ren, when did you come?" Chen Mancang walked in and asked.

"Mr. Chen, I just came!"

"You're Lu Feng from Jiamei Foods, right?"

"Yes, I am"

"I was on the wine last time, really." Another man chimed in.

"I said it was fake wine. You still don't believe it. You still made a bet with me, did you lose?"

"I didn't say bet!"

"Forgive this man, he doesn't mean anything."

Lu Feng was a little embarrassed to stand there, but he was used to people like them. When they asked you a question, just after you answered, they will turn around and talk about other things.

"Sit, sit, sit!"

Lu Feng sat down, checked his heart rate, and didn't move, he ate before coming.

"Lu Feng, I am the one who invited you here, so let me introduce you." The man in the head position said, "This is the general manager of Hong Leong Group, Mr. Chen, this is the president of the local Agricultural Bank, Mr. Ma. As for me, I am the general manager of this steel smelting group, my surname is Huang."

Lu Feng showed his respects to each of them as Mr. Huang introduced them one by one. If state-owned enterprises are considered business circles, these three are definitely the top three in the local business circle.

Everyone chatted, and behaved very well, even Ren Qianbo said something out of courtesy, the atmosphere at the dinner table was not very active. Mr. Huang soon squinted at Lu Feng and said, "Lu Feng, what do you think about Mr. Ren? Is he your opponent?"

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1. Maotai (a Chinese liquor)

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