During this period of time, Yang Liufang has been reading books and learning management knowledge while working with his apprentices and workers. He learned from "The Practice of Management" that as the management of a furniture factory, he was fighting for his own furniture factory. The target group is the people, schools, institutions, shopping malls, and services in Xizhou. He wants to create furniture that the people of Xizhou need and innovatively meet the needs of furniture in schools, institutions, shopping malls, and other places. For example, Li Tongfu proposed that the folding furniture developed by his factory would meet the needs of people who live in old-fashioned homes without living rooms or with relatively small living rooms. It's just that as a manager, he hasn't been able to figure out whether his business model is "front store and back factory" or is it the two major businesses of factory and supply and marketing cooperative?
He only had preliminary ideas about the "value chain cycle" mentioned in the book and applied it unconsciously, but he just didn't understand it at the time. For example, the saplings he bought when he opened the factory are now thick as a bowl due to the careful care of the villagers. In two years, the big ones will be cut down and recycled, and small saplings will be planted in the original tree pits. Local people benefit, and so do we. I also made bookcases for teachers in Xizhou City. Now the teacher’s wife recommends management books to him. This is also an invisible value cycle chain.
Yang Liufang prioritized the furniture in the factory according to the wedding date of the customer's family. After finishing one set, he called Zhang Feng to send away a set. Yang Liufang's life during this period was full and prosperous. Especially since entering the twelfth lunar month, seven of the nine sets of furniture have been completed. The two apprentices have become familiar with the craft, so there are fewer and fewer pieces of furniture that he needs to make, so he spends all his time reading. One day the phone rang, and Yang Liufang, who was reading, reached out to pick it up.
"Hey, who's there?"
"Afang, it's me." Abba's voice came from the receiver.
"Hello, Dad. Why did you call? My master told you."
"Yes, he is right next to me. Let him tell you."
"Afang, how are you doing in the factory? Are you busy? Where is the supply and marketing cooperative?"
"Master, the factory is still busy. Because the Chinese New Year is approaching and there are many families getting married here, we have received nine sets of custom-made furniture for the whole house for weddings. Seven sets have been completed. Now your two disciples don't need me to take care of them. Yes, they can do it themselves. At the supply and marketing cooperative, Ah Fu is here, and it goes very smoothly. We just completed a 600-set counter production project for an underground shopping mall in the city some time ago."
"Oh, okay. If you develop well, we will feel at ease and happy. Your father called and asked if you and Ah Fu would come back for the Spring Festival? Don't prepare so many annual goods like last year. In the end, neither of you came back. In the end A lot of things, including meat and fish, were spoiled, and your parents couldn't bear to throw them away. Later, they were so bad that they couldn't bear it anymore and went to the town for an infusion."
"Ah, there is also this matter. My parents really didn't tell me anything when I went back."
"I'm afraid you'll be worried!"
"Master, we will definitely go back this year. We have already booked tickets for New Year's Eve. Please let my father answer the phone."
"Afang."
"Abba, why didn't you tell me that you and my grandma had bad stomachs? Oh, you can't eat something if it's broken. Fortunately, it was discovered early and the infusion was able to come. There was no one at home. What if no one found out?"
"Oh, it's all over. Are you sure you'll come back today?"
"Come back, Dad, I just told my master that Ah Fu has already booked the tickets for New Year's Eve, and we will go back together then."
"Oh, so late?"
"Well, yes, Dad, the factory has received several customized sets of wedding furniture, and we will be busy by then."
"Oh, my career is important. It would be nice to come back. I'll go back and prepare New Year's goods with your mother."
"We don't need so many dads. We probably have to go back to Xizhou until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. Because the sales department of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative will definitely open on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year."
"Well, okay, I understand. Do you have anything else to say to your master?"
"No more. Please tell him and his wife to take care, and I will go back to give them New Year greetings."
"Okay. Never forget your master, he is for you..."
"Oh, brother, stop talking, it's a waste of money..." The phone hung up with a "pop" sound, and a "beep" busy tone came from the receiver.
"It's inexplicable that these two brothers are still fighting for the phone." Yang Liufang put down the phone and said to himself.
In the evening, Yang Liufang called Li Tongfu and asked about booking tickets, and told them about his father's call in the morning to prepare new year goods for them. Ah Fu told him that he had received the tickets and asked about the progress of the furniture to make sure they could go home on time for the New Year. And told him that the 60,000 payment from the General Supply and Marketing Cooperative had arrived.
"Brother, let's see if we can take some of it with us when we go back. Let's pay your master's debt first."
"Well, bring them all up, and I will return 50,000 to my master. With the remaining 10,000, we can't go home without money this time."
"Okay. The gifts for mom and dad must be prepared in advance. It will be New Year's Eve when we arrive in Hangzhou."
"Hey, brother, I really forgot about this. Besides, I don't know what to prepare. Why don't we come together? I'm going to Xizhou in the next two days. You can take the time and let's go shopping in the mall to see what gifts we can bring. Going back."
"Okay. Is there anything else?"
"No, brother, just hang up."
"Okay, bye."
On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, Yang Liufang went to Xizhou City. As the New Year is approaching, except for Yanhua, who is in charge of buying lights and switches in the hardware area, the furniture and building materials area is deserted. There are not many customers coming all day. Qin Jiajun is helping his wife sell goods. Li Tongfu, Wang Shan and Zhang Feng are bored. Chatting in a corner of the furniture hall. Yang Liufang said he would go shopping with Li Tongfu to buy gifts for his parents. Wang Shan and Zhang Feng also wanted to go there. The four people piled into the truck driven by Zhang Feng and went to the underground comprehensive shopping mall in Xiguan Cross where they supplied building materials and counters.
People were coming and going on the street, and everyone was busy buying New Year's goods. The truck was driving slowly on the road. It was still some distance away from the shopping mall when it was stopped by uniformed security guards.
"Going to the underground shopping mall?"
"yes."
"The car can't drive in. Can we find a place to park here?"
"Why?"
"What should we do after we finish shopping?" Wang Shan and Zhang Feng asked the security guard.
"Move out. It shouldn't be difficult for you four men to move some things. It's almost the Chinese New Year, and there are too many people inside. They are all shopping in the mall like crazy."
"Ah, business is so good."
"Yes, the profits of those who open shopping malls have been ruined (Dafa)."
"Okay then, let's find a place to park and stroll over."
"Well, you guys wait for me here, I'll park the car." Zhang Feng said to the three of them.
Soon Zhang Feng parked his car nearby, and the four of them strolled toward the mall. Xiguan Cross is one of the earliest business districts in Xizhou. In ancient times, it was the west gate of Xizhou. After exiting the west gate, you will go to the Hexi Corridor and Yangguan to Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet. All merchants coming and going have to pass through here, so since ancient times, Since then, there have been many shops here. Now that the first modern shopping mall has been built, it has become more prosperous. For the convenience of customers, the bus terminal has also been moved to the vicinity of the shopping mall. It has become one of the areas with the largest flow of people and vehicles in Xizhou.
The closer we get to the mall, the bigger the flow of people becomes. As we approach the door, there's actually a long line of staff wearing coats with the mall's name on them. While giving shopping bags, printed shopping guides, and a piece of paper with the number on it to the customers in line. It is said that a lottery will be held every hour in the mall, and this number is used to enter the mall for the lottery.
"What's the prize?" Wang Shan asked.
"There are everything from refrigerators, color TVs, washing machines, and even cosmetics and jewelry for my mother-in-law."
"Do you have an aunt?" someone in front asked mischievously.
"Yes, I will pay the bill for whoever I like, and in turn, he may become the bill-payer (husband)." People in Xizhou are humorous, and the security guard replied wittily, and everyone burst into laughter.
Yang Liufang lamented that this large shopping mall is different. It really knows how to do marketing. It uses a lottery model to make people queue up here willingly, and they have to stay there for at least an hour just to catch a lottery. Since only so many people are allowed in every hour, there is no hope of waiting inside after the numbers are passed. Therefore, if customers want to participate in the second period lottery, they can only come out and queue up again to get their numbers. Besides, it’s impossible to stay there all the time in a shopping mall with so many people. People follow the crowd and casually strolling around will arouse the desire to consume. They will buy something at least, which will bring revenue to the shopping mall.
Yang Liufang and the others were not exempt from this. The four brothers moved forward slowly along with the long team in the cold wind. It was their turn to go in. When they entered the mall, Yang Liufang discovered that there was a wheeled shopping cart at the door. The handrails were just right for people to hold on to. The cart was designed to be very light. He pushed one easily like everyone else. The venue was crowded, with people pushing shopping carts lining up along the shopping aisles. Entering the shopping area, I found that the lights in the glass showcases on the counters I made were all on. The salespeople behind the counter were very beautiful. They were wearing white shirts, blue gauze scarves, red vests, and matching shorts with suits. Skirt, smart and fashionable. They use standard Mandarin to communicate with guests. Even if a guest deliberately makes things difficult, they smile and explain patiently.
Seeing this scene, Yang Liufang thought of "internationalization", thought of "cultivating personality" he had read in books, thought of "loving work and suppressing anger", and thought of "the meaning of labor is not only to pursue performance, but also to Improve your own mind." It turns out that the management knowledge in those books can be reflected in real business scenarios.
Walking here, Yang Liufang's thoughts wander. But he did not forget the purpose of his trip. He bought a Shanghai brand watch for his father, a woolen sweater for his mother, reading glasses for his master and a watch like his father's. He knew When the master escorted him back with a huge sum of money some time ago, he took him to work in the factory. When looking at small things, he always had to lift them far away with his hand to see them clearly. When asked, the master said that he was old and his eyesight was dazzled.
