Chapter 714 Liu Ping'an 20
The train was clanging along the rails, and before we knew it, we had entered a mountainous area. Outside the window, there were rolling mountains, which were like sleeping dragons, winding and circling on the earth. The outline of the mountains was particularly clear in the winter sun, and the undulating lines seemed like a masterpiece drawn by nature with a brush.
The trees on the mountain have long since shed their green clothes, like a group of dancers who have taken off their gorgeous dresses, leaving only bare branches shivering in the cold wind. Some of those branches are thick and straight, like strong soldiers who stick to their posts; others are slender and curved, like graceful dancers who show their postures in the cold wind. Occasionally, you can see some trees with remaining leaves hanging on them. The leaves have turned yellow and are swaying in the cold wind, as if they will fall down at any time.
In the gullies between the mountains, there is a thin layer of snow, which is like a white ribbon, winding between the mountains. Under the sunlight, the snow reflects a dazzling light, making the entire mountain area look particularly bright. Occasionally, you can see some streams, the stream water has frozen into ice, and the ice surface is shining with crystal light. Some small animals shuttle in the grass beside the stream, and their footprints are printed on the snow, like beautiful patterns.
Occasionally, you can see a few families, with curling smoke rising from the roofs, adding a touch of warmth to this cold winter day. The smoke, like white silk threads, slowly floats up to the sky, blending into the blue sky and white clouds. The walls of the house are made of stone and mud. They look a bit simple, but they are full of the breath of life. The roof is covered with a thick layer of thatch, which trembles slightly in the cold wind, as if shielding the people in the house from the wind and snow. In the yard, a few chickens are pacing leisurely, occasionally pecking at food on the ground; a dog is lying at the door, lazily basking in the sun. When he hears the sound of the train, he just raises his head, takes a look, and then continues to close his eyes to rest.
Just when Liu Pingan was immersed in his thoughts, a fierce quarrel suddenly broke out in the carriage. That sound, like a sharp bayonet, broke the original tranquility in the carriage. Liu Pingan frowned, and his brows were tightly locked together, forming a deep "chuan" character. His eyes revealed a hint of displeasure, thinking in his heart: "How can such a quarrel occur at this critical moment? It will affect everyone's mood and work."
He stood up quickly, his movements were neat and tidy, like a well-trained soldier. He took big steps and walked in the direction of the sound. There were many people in the carriage, so he had to turn sideways and shuttle through the crowd with difficulty. He stared at the front, trying to find the source of the quarrel as soon as possible.
Two young colleagues were arguing with red faces. One of the tall colleagues, like an angry bull, waved his arms and said loudly: "This procurement plan should obviously be mine. I have considered it most carefully! I have studied the local market conditions in Northeast China, understood the reputation and strength of the suppliers, and also considered the transportation costs and material quality. My plan is the most reasonable!" His voice echoed in the carriage with an unquestionable tone.
Another colleague who was slightly shorter was not to be outdone. He retorted like an enraged little lion: "You are just talking about it on paper. You have no understanding of the actual situation. My plan is more feasible! I have personally visited the Northeast and know the impact of the local climate and geographical environment on materials. My plan has fully taken these factors into consideration and can ensure the smooth completion of the procurement task." There were sparks of anger in his eyes and his hands were clenched into fists.
A circle of passengers gathered around them to watch the fun. Some of them had curious expressions on their faces and stretched their necks to see more clearly; some of them frowned, looked impatient, and muttered: "Why are you arguing? Can't we have a rest?" Liu Ping'an quickened his pace, walked up to them, and said loudly: "Stop arguing, talk it out if you have something to say!" That voice, like a thunderclap, rang in the carriage, and the two people who were arguing instantly quieted down.
The colleagues around were all resting or sorting out documents at their respective seats. Although the carriage was not noisy, it was filled with a quiet atmosphere before a busy day. However, the sudden quarrel was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the tranquility. Everyone was attracted by the intense noise and gathered around without any prior arrangement.
The crowd quickly gathered like a tide, surrounding the two colleagues who were arguing. Some colleagues, with expressions of concern on their faces, hurried forward to mediate. They stretched out their hands, trying to separate the two people who were arguing fiercely, and kept saying, "Stop arguing, stop arguing, we are all colleagues, talk it out nicely." One of the older colleagues, while blocking the two with his body, tried to persuade them earnestly, "Look, there are so many people on this train, it will have a bad influence, we are here to work, not to quarrel."
Other colleagues stood a little further away, talking quietly. They whispered to each other, their eyes full of curiosity and speculation. "These two people usually seem to have a good relationship, why did they suddenly quarrel?" "It's probably about the procurement plan. I heard that they have different plans and both think they are right." "Hey, the procurement task is already heavy, and there is such a thing. It's really a headache." These whispers, like a group of buzzing flies, spread all kinds of speculations and opinions among the crowd.
Liu Pingan walked forward with steady steps. His brows were knitted tightly, forming a deep "川" character, and his eyes revealed majesty and displeasure. He knew very well that at this critical moment, if the conflicts between colleagues were not resolved in time, it would likely affect the smooth progress of the entire procurement task.
He said in a deep voice, not loud but with an unquestionable force: "Stop arguing! We are all colleagues in the same department. We meet each other every day. Can't we talk it out?" The voice seemed to have a magical power, which instantly quieted the two colleagues who were still arguing fiercely. They were like two fighting cocks that had the pause button pressed, stopping waving their arms and their flushed faces slightly softened.
However, they still had unconvinced expressions on their faces, and their eyes still gleamed with stubbornness. The tall colleague raised his chin slightly, moved his lips, and seemed to want to say something, but when he saw the serious expression of the section chief, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. The shorter colleague folded his hands in front of his chest, turned his head away, and muttered quietly: "He was wrong in the first place."
Liu Pingan saw their dissatisfaction, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he patted their shoulders gently. That action was like an elder comforting two quarrelsome children, full of care and tolerance. He said gently: "We are here to complete the procurement task, not to quarrel. Everyone's ideas have merits. We can sit down and discuss calmly, combine the advantages of the two plans, and work out a more complete procurement plan."
As he spoke, he led his two colleagues to the carriage connection. It was relatively quiet here, with not so many people coming and going. Only the "clang clang" sound of the train echoed in his ears. He found a corner, motioned for the two to sit down, and then sat opposite them. He looked at the two with gentle eyes and encouraged them: "Come on, first explain your plan in detail, pour out all your ideas, and we will analyze them together."
Under Liu Ping'an's patient guidance, the two colleagues gradually calmed down. The tall colleague cleared his throat and spoke first: "My plan is mainly based on cost control. I contacted several local suppliers in Northeast China in advance, compared their prices, and selected the one with the best cost performance. I also took the transportation cost into consideration and negotiated a more favorable price with the logistics company. I think as long as the cost is reduced, our purchase will save the company a lot of expenses." He spoke clearly and his eyes were full of confidence.
After hearing this, the shorter colleague was not to be outdone and quickly said, "What you said about cost control is very important, but you have overlooked the actual local situation. The weather in the Northeast is cold and coal is easily frozen. If we follow your plan, many problems may arise during transportation. Not only will the cost not be reduced, but the procurement progress may also be delayed. My plan is to cooperate with some local warehouses in advance, store the purchased materials in the warehouses first, and then transport them when the weather is a little warmer. Although this will increase some storage costs, it can ensure the quality of the materials and the smooth transportation." As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, his expression very serious.
They talked back and forth, sometimes arguing, and their voices echoed in the connection between the carriages. When one party raised a point, the other party would immediately refute it and explain their reasons. But there was a sense of rationality in the argument, and it was no longer as emotional as before. Sometimes they nodded, and when the other party made a reasonable point, they would unconsciously nod to show their agreement. The atmosphere gradually became harmonious, just like the sky that was originally covered with dark clouds, and then the sun gradually appeared.
After a heated discussion, they finally worked out a brand new procurement plan. This plan is like a carefully pieced together puzzle, perfectly combining the advantages of the two plans. It takes into account both the cost and quality of procurement, reduces procurement costs by negotiating with suppliers and optimizing transportation routes, and ensures the quality of materials. It adopts the method of advance warehousing to avoid the impact of weather on material transportation, and is combined with local actual conditions, making it highly operational.
After resolving the conflict between his colleagues, Liu Pingan returned to his seat. He sat down slowly and took a long breath, which seemed to have relieved a big stone in his heart. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
He felt relieved when he saw his colleagues working in an orderly and busy manner in the carriage. Some colleagues were carefully sorting out the purchase list, checking the name, specification and quantity of each material clearly; some colleagues were communicating with suppliers on the phone to confirm the supply and price of materials; and some colleagues were discussing the next itinerary with enthusiasm and expectation for work on their faces.
He knows that the Purchasing Department is like a big family, and everyone is an indispensable member of this family. Just like a precision machine, each part has its unique function, and only when everyone is united and works closely together can the machine operate normally. Just like this procurement task, there will be various difficulties and challenges, but as long as everyone thinks in the same direction and works together, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome, and the task will be completed successfully.
As the train moved, the scenery outside the window was gradually shrouded in darkness, and night gradually fell. The lights in the carriage came on, and the dim light was like a layer of soft gauze, adding a warm atmosphere to the entire carriage. The light sprinkled on the faces of my colleagues, reflecting their tired but determined expressions.
Some colleagues have fallen asleep in their seats, their bodies swaying gently with the shaking of the train, with a look of relaxation on their faces. Others are still talking quietly, sharing each other's travel stories or opinions on procurement tasks. The low voices, like a gentle lullaby, echo in the carriage.
Liu Pingan took out a book from his bag. The cover of the book was a little worn, but he wiped it clean. He liked to read on the road. For him, it was not only a way to kill time, but also a way to swim in the ocean of knowledge and increase his knowledge. He gently turned the pages of the book, and the rustling sound of the paper rubbing against each other was particularly clear in the quiet carriage.
He was immersed in the world of books, his eyes focused and deep. Every word in the book was like a bright star, shining in his mind. Sometimes he frowned slightly, thinking about the difficult problems in the book; sometimes he raised his mouth corners, feeling happy about the wonderful plots in the book. The "clang clang" sound of the train, the slight snoring and conversation of his colleagues, all seemed to become the background music when he was reading, making him enjoy this quiet and fulfilling time even more.
After an unknown amount of time, the train stopped at a small station. The platform was brightly lit, and several vendors were hawking steaming food. Liu Pingan stood up, stretched, and said to his colleagues, "Everyone must be hungry. Let's go downstairs to buy some food and stretch our muscles."
When his colleagues heard this, they all became more energetic and followed Liu Ping'an off the train. The air on the platform was particularly fresh, with a hint of soil and grass. The hawkers' cries came one after another. Some sold roasted sweet potatoes, which were roasted golden and translucent, exuding an alluring aroma; some sold tea eggs, with cracks on the eggshells, revealing the dark brown egg whites inside; and some sold candied haws, with strings of red hawthorns wrapped in a layer of crystal clear sugar coating, sparkling under the light.
Liu Pingan and his colleagues bought some food and found an open space to eat. While eating, they chatted and shared their interesting stories and feelings. The laughter echoed on the platform, dispelling the fatigue and coldness of the journey.
After eating and drinking, everyone returned to the train. The train started again and continued to head towards the northeast. Liu Ping'an leaned back in his seat, listening to the rhythmic roar of the train, and gradually fell asleep. In his dream, he seemed to see the vast black soil in the northeast, the mountains of materials, and the joy of success on the faces of his colleagues.