Chapter 713 Liu Ping'an 19
On the other hand, the annual outbound purchasing of the purchasing department where Liu Pingan works has officially kicked off, and the destination this time is still the Northeast.
In the 60s, when the material allocation and supply system was still dominated by the planned economy, corporate procurement was like a key thread to maintain production operations, and every outbound procurement carried the heavy responsibility of the company's development. The procurement department where Liu Ping'an worked was responsible for the arduous mission of purchasing all kinds of production and living materials for the factory. This annual outbound procurement was like a journey to keep an appointment on time, setting sail again in the long river of time, and this time the destination was still the vast and resource-rich land of Northeast China.
Under the black soil, there are inexhaustible mineral treasures; in the continuous mountains and forests, there grow high-quality wood; in the vast fields, there are abundant grains. For Liu Ping'an's purchasing department, the Northeast is like a huge treasure trove of resources. Every year, a large amount of coal, wood, grain and other materials are purchased from there to meet the production needs of the factory and the lives of employees.
Although Liu Pingan has been promoted to the head of the procurement department with his years of hard work and outstanding ability, he still needs to lead the team in person according to the tradition passed down by the department for many years. This tradition is not only to adhere to the rigorous attitude towards procurement work, but also to enable the head of the department to go deep into the front line, timely understand the various situations in the procurement process, and ensure the smooth completion of the procurement task. Every time he leads a team on a trip, Liu Pingan is fully aware of the heavy responsibility he shoulders. He not only has to coordinate the work of the team, but also has to deal with various emergencies to ensure the safety of colleagues and the smooth procurement of materials.
In the early morning of a winter day, before the sky is bright, the cold air is like a sharp knife, mercilessly cutting people's cheeks. The platform of Beijing Railway Station has long been filled with bustling crowds. Passengers wearing thick cotton-padded clothes, dragging large and small bags, hurriedly shuttled through the crowd. Some of them were filled with joy of returning home, while others were full of longing and expectation for the distant places. In this cold morning, they gathered into a lively and lively picture full of life.
The broadcast on the platform sounded from time to time, and the slightly noisy voice echoed in the air, announcing the departure time and precautions of each train. The breakfast vendors had already set up their stalls, and the steaming buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk exuded an enticing aroma, attracting passing passengers to stop and buy. The stall owners greeted the customers skillfully while packing the food with their hands and feet. The busy figures seemed to be the dancing notes on the platform in the early morning.
Liu Ping'an was wearing a Mao suit that was washed a little pale but clean and tidy. The straight lines showed his usual rigorous style. A button was neatly fastened at the collar of the Mao suit, as if telling of his self-discipline and calmness. He was wearing a dark blue cotton jacket on the outside. The cuffs and collar of the jacket were a little worn, but they were washed clean without a trace of stains. He was wearing a pair of black cloth shoes. Although there were some traces of time on the uppers, they were polished to a shine. He stood at the front of the team with his hands behind his back, his posture upright, his eyes firm and calm, like a towering mountain, bringing endless sense of security to his colleagues behind him.
Behind him, colleagues from the purchasing department stood in groups of two or three, forming a vibrant picture. Some colleagues were packing their luggage with their heads down, carefully checking each bulging package, fearing that they might have missed something important. Some colleagues were excitedly talking to each other, their faces filled with anticipation and curiosity about the upcoming trip to the Northeast. A young colleague, with a twinkle in his eyes, danced with joy and said, "I heard that the winter in the Northeast is very cold, with white everywhere, and you can skate on the ice. I'm so looking forward to it!"
Another slightly older colleague patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Xiao Li, there is more to the Northeast than just snow and ice. There are also many delicious foods there, such as pork stewed with vermicelli and goose stewed in an iron pot. Just thinking about it makes me drool." Everyone chatted at the same time, and laughter echoed on the platform, adding a touch of warmth to this cold morning.
The whistle sounded as if it came from the distant sky, long and deep, with a unique rhythm. It was like a horn of departure, and also like the echo of time, instantly breaking the hustle and bustle on the platform and focusing people's attention on the approaching train.
A green train, like a giant green dragon, slowly crawled on the rails and headed towards the platform. The mottled paint on the body of the train, like wrinkles left by the years, tells of the ups and downs it has experienced. In some places, the paint has fallen off, revealing the rusty iron sheet inside, which flickered dimly in the morning sun; in some places, various advertising stickers were pasted, and although they have faded a little, you can still see the former bustle and prosperity.
A thin layer of water vapor condensed on the car window, as if casting a mysterious veil over the car. Through the hazy water vapor, one could vaguely see the swaying figures in the car. Some passengers were leaning on the car window, curiously looking at the outside world; others were leaning on their seats, closing their eyes and resting, as if accumulating strength for the upcoming journey.
When the train is running, the rails and wheels make a clanging sound, and the sound echoes rhythmically in the air, as if the train is telling its own story. Every collision seems to be striking at people's heartstrings, making people feel the unknown and expectation of the journey.
When the train finally stopped steadily at the platform, the door slowly opened, and a mixture of rust and old leather smells hit me. For people who often take the train, that smell is so familiar, but it has a unique charm. The rust smell is the trace left by the years on the train, which witnesses the vicissitudes of the train; the old leather smell is the smell emitted by the seats, which carries the laughter and tears of countless passengers.
Liu Ping'an waved his hand, and the action was crisp and neat, as if he was an experienced general commanding his troops. He shouted at the top of his voice: "Everyone keep up, pay attention to safety, and don't leave anything behind!" The voice was loud and firm, echoing on the platform. As he said that, he was the first to step onto the train. His steps were steady and powerful, and every step was solid, as if he was conveying a kind of confidence and strength to his colleagues behind him. He knew that as a section chief, he must lead by example and lead everyone to successfully complete this procurement task.
When Liu Ping'an led his colleagues from the purchasing department into the train carriage, it was as if they had instantly crossed two completely different worlds. Outside the carriage, there was a biting cold wind, like a ferocious beast, howling and sweeping past, blowing people's faces painfully, and their hands and feet quickly became numb. Inside the carriage, a warmth was like a soft veil, slowly wrapping everyone. The warmth was continuously emitted from the heating pipes hanging from the top of the carriage, with a reassuring temperature, completely isolating the severe winter cold outside the door.
The carriage was filled with various smells, interweaving into a complex and unique "symphony of smells". The aroma of instant noodles was the first smell to enter people's nostrils. The rich aroma, with a sense of home warmth, seemed like the food carefully cooked by mothers in the kitchen, arousing people's deepest appetite. Passengers were holding steaming bowls of instant noodles, eating them in big mouthfuls, the noodles slurping in their mouths, and their faces were filled with satisfaction. The aroma of instant noodles was mixed with some spicy seasonings, making the aroma more rich and tempting.
However, in addition to the aroma of instant noodles, there is also the smell of sweat from the passengers. In a relatively closed space like a train, passengers come and go, and the smell of sweat from their bodies will inevitably accumulate. The sweat smell, with a human breath, although a bit pungent, is also a true portrayal of life. Perhaps because of the rush of the journey, or because the carriage is crowded, some passengers exude a faint smell of sweat, which becomes more obvious under the background of the heater.
There is also a faint smell of tobacco, which is also looming in the carriage. Several passengers who look like heavy smokers are hiding in the corner of the carriage, smoking secretly. The cigarettes in their hands flicker faintly in the darkness, like mysterious stars. The smoke produced by the burning tobacco slowly drifts in the carriage, with a bitter and stimulating taste. The smell is a bit choking for non-smokers, but it is a kind of enjoyment for those heavy smokers.
The seat was a hard wooden bench, the surface of which had become smooth and shiny after years of polishing. It was covered with a thin cushion, which looked a bit old and faded, but was still clean. The cushion was made of a rough cotton cloth, which was a bit prickly to the touch, but in the cold winter, it could also bring a little warmth to the buttocks.
Liu Ping'an and his colleagues shuttled through the crowded and complicated carriage with difficulty. Sometimes they turned sideways to avoid the oncoming passengers, and sometimes they had to carefully avoid the luggage on the ground. After a lot of effort, they finally found their seats. Everyone put down their luggage, some of which contained clothes for changing, some contained materials and documents needed for purchase, and some contained some simple daily necessities. They carefully placed the luggage on the empty space next to the seats and then sat down. Some colleagues sat down on the seats and breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had finally unloaded a heavy burden; some colleagues first tidied their clothes, and then slowly sat down, with elegant and calm movements.
With a clear whistle, the train slowly started. The "clang clang" sound was like the heartbeat of the train, beating rhythmically. This sound was like a unique march, with a courageous momentum, announcing the official start of this Northeastern purchasing trip.
The scenery outside the car window began to move slowly, like a constantly changing painting. First, there was the crowd on the platform who were seeing off their loved ones. They were like a group of busy ants, shuttling back and forth on the platform. Some elderly people were holding their loved ones' hands tightly, with tears in their eyes, and kept reminding them: "Be careful on the road, remember to write back when you get there." That voice was filled with deep concern and reluctance. Some young people waved their arms, with excitement and expectation on their faces, and shouted loudly: "Don't worry, I will take good care of myself, and you should take care of yourself at home!" That voice was full of longing and courage for the future. There were also some children, jumping and chasing on the platform, and their innocent smiles added a touch of warmth to this parting scene.
Then, the streets of Beijing passed by one by one. The ancient courtyards, like silent old men, stood quietly on both sides of the street. The blue-gray brick walls, with a sense of vicissitudes of time, seemed to be telling stories of the past. The gatehouses of the courtyards were carved with exquisite patterns, including flowers, birds, fish, insects, myths and legends. Each carving contained the wisdom and aesthetics of the ancients. The tall city walls, like a giant dragon, meandered around the periphery of the city. The bricks on the city wall have become a little mottled after years of baptism, but they are still strong. The arrow towers and gates on the city wall are like the eyes and mouth of a giant dragon, guarding this ancient city.
Some colleagues were lying on the car windows, like a group of curious little birds, staring at the outside world. Their faces were pressed tightly against the car windows, and their noses were deformed, but they still enjoyed it. They pointed at the buildings in the distance and shouted excitedly: "Look, that's Tiananmen Square, how magnificent!" Then they pointed at the street stalls and said: "The one selling candied haws looks so tempting, I must try it when I come back." Some colleagues have already started to look through the purchase list in their hands, which is densely filled with the names, specifications and quantities of various materials. As they read, they whispered about the next work arrangements. A colleague frowned and said: "The amount of coal to be purchased this time is relatively large, and transportation may be a big problem. We have to communicate with the local suppliers in advance." Another colleague nodded and echoed: "That's right, and the weather in the Northeast is cold, the quality of coal is also very important, we have to strictly control it."
Liu Pingan sat quietly by the window, his body straight, his hands naturally on his knees. He looked out the window, the constantly changing scenery outside the window seemed just a blurry background in his eyes. His thoughts had already drifted to the procurement task.
The Northeast region is rich in resources, like a huge treasure house. Under the vast black soil, there are a lot of coal resources. These coals are like black gold, providing a continuous source of power for industrial production. In the continuous mountains and forests, there grow straight and thick woods. These woods can be used to make furniture and build houses, and are an indispensable and important material for the construction industry. In addition, the fertile fields are rich in various grains, such as wheat, corn, soybeans, etc. These grains not only meet the living needs of local residents, but also make important contributions to the national food supply. Therefore, the Northeast region is one of the important procurement places for the Procurement Department every year.
However, this procurement mission also faces many challenges. The journey is long, like a long marathon, which requires a lot of time and energy. From Beijing to the Northeast, it takes several days and nights for the train to travel through countless mountains and rivers. During this long journey, various unexpected situations may occur, such as train delays and road interruptions, which will affect the progress of the procurement task. Inconvenient transportation is also a big problem. In some remote areas of the Northeast, the roads are rugged and the means of transportation are limited. The transportation and loading and unloading of materials will encounter great difficulties. Moreover, the local climate is cold, like a huge ice cellar, and the temperature often drops to dozens of degrees below zero. In such an environment, coal is easy to freeze, wood is easy to crack, and food is easy to get damp and deteriorate, which puts higher requirements on the quality of purchased materials.
Liu Pingan is well aware of the great responsibility he shoulders. He is like a captain, leading the procurement department to sail safely in the ocean of procurement. He not only has to ensure the smooth completion of procurement tasks so that the factory can obtain the required materials in a timely manner, but also to ensure the safety and health of his colleagues. He has to arrange warming measures for his colleagues in cold weather; remind his colleagues to pay attention to traffic safety under complex road conditions; and strive for the greatest benefits for his colleagues in negotiations with suppliers. Various possible problems and solutions keep emerging in his mind. He is like a rigorous chess player, planning every move in his mind.