Chapter 655 Change 10
Since Liu Ping'an was promoted to deputy factory director and concurrently head of the purchasing department, his pace of life has changed dramatically. The days that once kept him busy and anxious about various material procurement matters seemed to have been paused overnight and became a distant past.
Under his careful organization and adjustment, the factory's procurement process is now as smooth as flowing water, every link is closely connected, and every subordinate has a clear understanding of his or her responsibilities.
As a result, Liu Pingan has more free time of his own. After get off work every day, he no longer has to worry about work chores, but can sit leisurely in his own small courtyard, brew a pot of fragrant tea, savor the mellowness of the tea, bathe in the warm sunshine, and enjoy the rare tranquility and comfort.
Chatting with neighbors adds a bit of humanity and fun to his leisurely life. Such days are really enviable.
However, on this ordinary and leisurely day, Liu Ping'an was sitting in his own courtyard, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, intending to devote himself to this rare tranquility and enjoyment, when a sudden sound broke the tranquility.
Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangfu, the brothers, pushed and shoved each other and walked into the yard in a hesitant manner. Liu Pingan looked up and saw their slightly awkward and shy expressions, which made him laugh. He joked, "Hey, what's wrong with you two? Why are you hiding something like a grown-up girl? Are you too embarrassed to say it?"
When Liu Guangqi heard this, a blush appeared on his face. He scratched his head and hesitated for a long time before he finally squeezed out a sentence: "Brother Ping'an, we...we want to talk to you about joining the steel rolling mill." After saying that, he secretly glanced at Liu Guangfu, only to see Liu Guangfu nodding non-stop, his eyes full of anticipation and nervousness, as if he was waiting for an important decision.
When Liu Pingan heard this, he immediately put down his teacup and smiled as he asked them to sit down. He said, "It's a good thing to work in a steel mill. Why are you two still so shy? Just tell me what you think."
Liu Guangqi seemed to be encouraged. He took a deep breath and said, as if he had mustered up all his courage, "Brother Ping'an, we have tried other jobs before, but we always felt that something was not right. After thinking about it, we still think that the purchasing work of the steel rolling mill is the most suitable for us. We thought, you are the head of the purchasing department now, so you must be very familiar with this job, so we want to ask you, if we want to join the purchasing department, is it possible?"
Liu Pingan frowned slightly after hearing this and fell into a brief contemplation. He said, "Purchasing work is not as simple and easy as you think. There are many things to worry about. Why do you think you are suitable for this job?"
When Liu Guangfu heard this, he quickly responded: "Brother Ping'an, don't look at us like this. In fact, we have also followed others to deal with some procurement matters before. Although we were just helping out, even those brief contacts were quite interesting to us. Moreover, we think that we are smart, sensitive to numbers, and good at dealing with people. So we thought that maybe we could do something in procurement work." After saying this, his eyes were full of expectation and determination, as if he was waiting for Liu Ping'an's affirmation and reply.
After listening to the brothers' words, Liu Pingan smiled approvingly. He nodded gently and said, "Well, it's good that you can understand yourselves so clearly. Purchasing work does require a flexible mind, calculation, and the ability to deal with people. However, don't underestimate this job. It looks simple, but in fact, there is a lot of knowledge involved. If you want to do well, you have to work hard and endure hardships."
When Liu Guangqi heard this, he immediately patted his chest and promised solemnly: "Brother Ping'an, don't worry! We are not afraid of hardship. As long as we can get into the purchasing department, we will do anything. We will definitely study hard and work hard. We will never embarrass you. Just trust us this time!"
Liu Pingan looked at the brothers' determined and eager faces, and he couldn't help but be moved. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Haha, seeing your enthusiasm, I'm happy to help you. However, our factory has to follow the rules when recruiting people. We have to go through a series of processes, including review and interview. Although I am a section chief, I can't decide anything at will. Let me tell you about what procurement work is about, so that you can have a better idea. I will go and ask around to see if the factory has any plans to recruit people recently. If there is an opportunity, I will definitely help you get it. What do you think?"
The two brothers were overjoyed when they heard this, and Liu Guangfu was so excited that he almost jumped up. He said quickly: "Oh, Brother Ping An, thank you so much! With your words, we feel much more relieved. Please tell us quickly, we can't wait!"
Seeing this, Liu Pingan smiled slightly, thought for a moment, and then slowly began to talk: "At the beginning, you have to familiarize yourself with the materials commonly used in our factory, from raw materials to some office supplies, and you have to know their specifications and quality standards. Take the ores used in steelmaking in our factory, for example. Ores from different origins and of different qualities have a great impact on the effect of steelmaking. You have to learn to distinguish and ensure that the goods we import meet the production requirements of the factory. Otherwise, if there is a problem, the responsibility will be great, and none of us can bear it."
The two brothers listened very carefully, staring at Liu Pingan without blinking, afraid of missing any details. Liu Guangfu also wrote down the key points in his notebook from time to time, afraid that he would forget something. Seeing this, Liu Pingan nodded secretly in his heart, thinking that these two young men are really ambitious.
He went on to say, "Also, communication with suppliers is very important. You have to learn to find out their bottom line prices, and don't be fooled into buying at high prices just because they say a few nice words. When negotiating, you have to make the other party feel that it is profitable and willing to cooperate with us for a long time, while also ensuring that our factory's interests are maximized. You have to strike a good balance in between. Of course, this is not something you can learn overnight, you have to slowly explore and accumulate in practice."
Liu Guangqi frowned, a look of worry on his face. He said, "Brother Ping'an, we really have no experience in negotiations. I'm afraid that if we say something wrong, we will mess things up. That would be bad." After saying that, he rubbed his hands subconsciously, appearing a little nervous.
Liu Pingan couldn't help laughing when he saw how nervous they were. He consoled them, "Don't be afraid. No one has any experience at the beginning. No one is born with the ability. So, you can follow me to participate in a few procurement negotiations. Listen, watch, and learn more from me. See how I deal with the other party and negotiate. Slowly, you will get the hang of it and know what to do. Also, this matter requires knowing yourself and the enemy. When you have free time, you can learn more about the prices of similar materials in the market. When you have a good idea, you will naturally have more confidence during the negotiation and won't be so nervous."
After listening to Liu Ping'an's words, Liu Guangfu nodded thoughtfully and said, "Well, Brother Ping'an, we understand. Besides these, is there anything else we need to pay attention to? We must remember it well so that we can be prepared when we work in the future."
Liu Pingan thought for a moment and continued, "Also, we have to pay attention to the terms of the contract. We can't be careless about this. Every detail must be carefully considered. There can't be any loopholes. Otherwise, if there is a dispute, our factory will suffer. Key information such as delivery time, quality acceptance standards, and payment methods must be written clearly in black and white, without any ambiguity. Only in this way can we ensure that our interests are not harmed."
As they were talking, Liu Ping'an's wife Qin Huairu came out of the house, carrying a basket of freshly bought vegetables with a friendly smile on her face. She looked at Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangfu and said warmly, "It's a rare visit for you two, so why don't you have lunch here today? I just bought some delicious vegetables and am preparing to cook them. Don't be polite."
When the two brothers heard this, they quickly waved their hands to refuse. Liu Guangqi said, "Sister-in-law, it's really not necessary. We just came to ask Brother Ping'an for advice on work, and we've almost finished asking, so we won't bother you anymore. We have to go back and prepare."
However, Liu Ping'an grabbed them and said with a smile: "Oh, don't be polite, now that you're here, don't leave. We can eat and talk at the same time, and I'll tell you more about some things in the factory, so that you can work more smoothly in the future. Besides, it's a rare opportunity for you two to come here, and my wife has prepared the food. She will be so disappointed if you leave. Come on, don't be polite, stay for dinner." As he said that, he patted the two men's shoulders vigorously, motioning them to stay.
Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangqi looked at each other and smiled. Seeing Liu Ping'an so enthusiastic and happy to invite them to dinner, the hesitation and reluctance in their hearts instantly disappeared. They smiled, with a little gratitude and a little expectation, and accepted this kind invitation.
Before long, waves of tempting food aromas came from the kitchen. The aroma seemed to have magic power, quietly entering everyone's nose and arousing the gluttony in their stomachs. Liu Ping'an's wife was really a capable person. She was nimble and skillful, and soon she brought a plate of delicious dishes to the table. Look at the braised pork, which was bright red and shiny, and each piece was shining with an attractive luster; the stir-fried vegetables were green and tender, crisp and delicious, and it was obvious that they were made with care; and the pot of steaming tomato and egg soup, red and yellow, with egg flowers floating, and the aroma was so appetizing that people couldn't help but want to taste it immediately.
Several people sat around the spacious dining table, enjoying the delicious dinner while continuing the previous topic about the purchasing work of the steel mill. Liu Ping'an enthusiastically picked up dishes for the two brothers and said earnestly: "In our factory, doing your job well is the most basic, but doing your job well is not enough, you also have to maintain good relationships with other departments. Purchasing work is not isolated, it is inseparable from the close cooperation of various departments. Just like the production department, if there is any shortage of materials, they must feedback to us in time, and we must purchase them as soon as possible. If production is delayed, it will be a big deal. It will not only affect the benefits of the factory, but also the reputation of our factory."
Liu Guangfu stuffed a piece of braised pork in his mouth, chewing it until his mouth was full of fragrance. He said incoherently: "Yes, Brother Ping'an, we have remembered what you said. We will definitely cooperate well with other departments in the future, and nothing will go wrong. Don't worry, we know how heavy the responsibility on our shoulders is."
Liu Guangqi also quickly agreed, "Yes, Brother Ping'an, the more I hear about this procurement job, the more I feel that it is a heavy responsibility. But we will definitely work hard and try to get started as soon as possible, familiarize ourselves with the business, and not embarrass you. We know that this is not just a job, but also a trust and responsibility."
Liu Pingan listened to the brothers' words, feeling relieved and expectant. He smiled and said, "Haha, it's good to have this enthusiasm. I believe in your abilities. As long as you are willing to learn and work hard, you will definitely achieve success in procurement. When you officially start, if you encounter any problems that you can't solve, don't keep them to yourself. Just come and ask me at any time. I am always willing to help you answer your questions and support your work."
After lunch, Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangfu helped Liu Ping'an's wife clean up the dishes, then sat down and chatted with Liu Ping'an for a while, asking him about some things he had not yet figured out, and then left Liu Ping'an's yard with satisfaction.
Since then, Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangfu have officially joined the purchasing department of the steel mill and started their purchasing journey with Liu Pingan. Every day, they come to the factory early, first follow Liu Pingan to various warehouses to familiarize themselves with the materials, and then go to the market to understand the market conditions, accumulating experience bit by bit. In this busy and fulfilling process, they feel that their original choice is correct and are full of expectations for future work.