State monopoly for purchase and marketing meant unified procurement and distribution.
The products made by the Food Factory couldn’t be sold to whoever they wanted—they had to be delivered to designated departments for sale.
Usually, these were grocery stores or Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
For their Hongqi Commune Food Factory, the designated sales location was the small Supply and Marketing Cooperative that Cheng Hui had just visited.
Guo Dajun had no other sales channels in mind.
Cheng Hui said, “Both production and sales are under my management. What I say goes. Do you still want your wages or not?”
Everyone immediately responded, “Yes!”
They began urging Guo Dajun one after another.
“Director, just stop interfering and listen to the Deputy Director.”
“That’s right, let’s trust the Deputy Director one more time.”
“She’s from Jingcheng—she’s seen the world! Maybe she really has a way?”
“Director, if I don’t pay the tuition soon, they won’t let my child attend school anymore!”
What could Guo Dajun say? Nothing at all!
If he opposed Cheng Hui any further, it would seem like he was going against everyone!
How did it come to this?
Just a few minutes ago, they were all on the same side!
“Everyone, start bagging them. Count carefully—it’s fine if there are extras, but don’t pack too few,” Cheng Hui began assigning tasks again.
Gao Zhi carefully helped fold the bags she had written on while asking, “Sis, is this Caozi Cake really selling for 1 yuan each?”
She didn’t even dare count how many she had eaten earlier!
“This is called Chiffon Cake. Everyone, remember—this is Chiffon Cake, not Caozi Cake. Don’t get it wrong,” Cheng Hui said.
“Also, from now on, address me as Deputy Director in the factory, not Sis. Business is business, personal is personal—we must keep them separate.”
As for the price, of course, it wasn’t 1 yuan, but there was no need to tell them that now. Their current mental state wasn’t suitable for hearing it either.
Sure enough, everyone forgot about the price issue and praised her for the excellent name.
Weifeng Cake—it sounded impressive just hearing it!
The texture was definitely the most impressive among all cakes! The price was also impressive…
Stop, better not think about the price. Just thinking about it made their hands tremble, and they couldn’t even count properly.
Cheng Hui lowered her head and focused on writing—every word was important!
The reputation of Weifeng Cake had to be established.
The production date had to be written as well; otherwise, after-sales would be troublesome. There would definitely be people who were reluctant to eat them and let them spoil, then come back to cause trouble.
As for the price, that was even more critical—it was the key to success or failure!
An hour later, all the bags were written on and filled.
In total, there were 4 batches—400 cakes—with 351 remaining.
300 were bagged, and 51 were left loose.
Everyone glanced at Cheng Hui and Gao Zhi. They had sampled a few earlier, but everyone had been restrained, only eating one or two.
For the later batches, ten people shared one or two cakes.
The remaining 20 or so had all been eaten by Cheng Hui and Gao Zhi…
Gao Zhi felt guilty.
Cheng Hui calmly picked up another one, eating as she said, “I’ll assign tomorrow’s tasks now. Tonight, I’m going back to the village to collect eggs. However many I collect, Gao Zhi will make that many tomorrow.”
“As for me, I’ll take a few people to the provincial capital tomorrow to sell the cakes. Who among you is capable and wants to go?”
Everyone was stunned. Their small Commune Food Factory was actually going to sell cakes in the provincial capital?
Although the provincial capital wasn’t far—just in the neighboring city, an hour away by commuter train—
Among the dozen or so people present, some had never even been to the provincial capital.
Even those who had been there had only gone once or twice for specific matters.
They didn’t even know which direction the provincial capital’s main gate faced!
Now, upon hearing they were going to sell cakes in the provincial capital, most people shrank back.
Only the two young employees, the accountant and the cashier, were somewhat hesitant.
Young people, after all, are bolder and more daring, willing to take risks.
Mainly, they wanted to hitch a ride on the train to stroll around the provincial capital…
“Will the factory cover the train ticket cost?” Accountant Wang Hui asked, scratching his head.
“Of course, and lunch and dinner are also covered,” Cheng Hui said.
Being the factory director sure had its perks—she could set the benefits herself!
“Then I’ll go,” Wang Hui immediately agreed.
Beside him, Cashier Li Yan hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll go too.”
Cheng Hui looked at the others, but they all shook their heads vigorously.
So Cheng Hui appointed people herself: “Tao Juan, you come along too. I think you’re quite articulate—you’d be great at sales.”
Besides, having a female colleague along would be more convenient for her.
With the roads slippery from snow, she needed someone to support her while walking~
Tao Juan was apprehensive, but the deputy director had praised her for being articulate! She’d go!
“Alright, it’s settled then. That’s all for today. I need to hurry back to collect eggs,” Cheng Hui said, standing up.
Gao Zhi, quick to notice, came over to support her.
Everyone escorted the two to the main gate.
As she walked, Cheng Hui instructed, “Make sure all the Chiffon Cakes are stored properly—keep them indoors, not outside where they’ll freeze. Otherwise, we won’t be able to sell them.”
“Someone needs to stay in the workshop tonight to tend the fire and keep watch.”
“I will!” Lao Hei immediately volunteered.
He loved his job—especially tending fires in winter!
“Then it’s settled. Wang Hui, note him down for a day’s overtime pay,” Cheng Hui said.
“Huh? Overtime pay?” Wang Hui looked confused. What was that?
Nowadays, wages followed a fixed system and hierarchy—each rank had a set pay.
Overtime pay was a type of subsidy only large enterprises offered, and Wang Hui had never encountered it before.
“Count it as an extra day’s wage for him,” Cheng Hui explained. “From now on, anyone in our factory who works overtime will get an extra half or full day’s pay. The same goes for anyone on a business trip.”
Wang Hui grinned widely and exclaimed, “Great!”
The others were also energized.
A thin, silent man in his fifties suddenly spoke up: “Lao Hei still has to tend the fire and work tomorrow—he needs to stay alert! How about I keep watch with him tonight?”
Cheng Hui glanced at his empty left sleeve and said, “That’s fine.”
According to Tao Juan, the old man was called Lao Xie, a veteran who had been discharged due to injury.
He used to guard the gate at the Xian Food Factory, but one day during patrol, he stumbled upon the deputy director and a female worker sneaking around together.
He was sharp enough to turn and leave immediately, but unfortunately, he was spotted.
The other party started targeting him after that.
Lao Xie eventually spread the story, but without evidence, the deputy director accused him of slandering leadership and had him transferred here.
Cheng Hui continued addressing the group: “We’re a food factory, so food safety is crucial. The Weifeng Cakes we produce will be highly valuable. Tonight, everyone should go home, take a bath, get a haircut, and trim your fingernails.”
“Tomorrow, those staying at the factory need to deal with the rats—no chemicals, to avoid contaminating the food. Use physical methods to catch them.”
“And about hygiene—the dust in the workshop is too thick…”
She listed out instructions one by one.
The group either agreed or nodded in response.
As Guo Dajun walked, he was gradually pushed to the back of the crowd.
He stared dumbfounded at the person being enthusiastically surrounded by others ahead.
Wasn’t he supposed to be in charge of managing people?
Suddenly, Cheng Hui turned back and said, “As for the specific arrangements, you should ask Director Guo.”
Director Guo immediately clasped his hands behind his back, straightened his posture, and nodded with restrained dignity.