Chapter 62: Courting Fame
Waking up the next morning.
The scoop Chen Yiyang received was still about acquiring fruits from a village.
Chen Yiyang suddenly realized that the reduction in production at Linghui Juice had a significant impact not only in Jin City but across the entire province.
As a local juice company, Linghui Juice needs to purchase large quantities of fruits from surrounding areas every quarter.
And fruits, being seasonal, if not sold during their ripe period, might lead to total losses.
Therefore, as soon as the news of Linghui’s reduced production spread, it immediately shook the entire market. Many fruit farmers, worried that their fruits might not sell and end up rotting in storage, were actively searching for buyers to sell at cheap prices.
Selling cheap now means just earning or losing a bit less.
But if they really wait until Linghui’s production decreases to find buyers, giving away their fruits might not even be worth the fuel costs.
Yet, hasn’t Linghui already reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Huang Yuqiu? Why isn’t the market stabilizing?
Chen Yiyang pondered while having breakfast.
He also needed to attend the opening ceremony of Zhang Jiuqian’s art exhibition soon and couldn’t waste much time.
"I heard the stir-fry shop across the street closed down."
"Their food was good; why did they suddenly shut down?"
"Heard the landlord was jealous of their good business, increased the rent to force them to close down, and then planned to open a stir-fry shop himself."
"Seriously, these landlords are too greedy."
The conversation from the next table kept drifting into Chen Yiyang’s ears.
Chen Yiyang quickly grasped the situation.
Before the cooperation agreement between Linghui and Huang Yuqiu is officially made public, the related news might be heavily suppressed.
As for why.
It’s simple: once Huang Yuqiu’s juice factory and other factories are established, the prices of fruits nearby will surely rise, and many fruit farmers will have to increase production.
For top-tier individuals, this trivial profit is beneath their notice. But for their relatives and subordinates, this is a perfect opportunity to earn money.
During the market turmoil, they pressure some fruit farmers into bankruptcy and seize the chance to contract these orchards and greenhouses.
Once the cooperation is formally concluded, selling fruits to the factory becomes a very stable profit channel.
And Chen Yiyang now has two choices.
One is to join this feast, following the crowd to suppress the news, dragging out the cooperation announcement at least until after the fruit maturity season.
As fruits rot unsold in the fields, many bankrupt fruit farmers will surely choose to sell their contract or seek funding cooperation.
Then it’s time to pick up money everywhere, purchasing many orchards and greenhouses at low prices before the cooperation is made public.
The other choice is for Chen Yiyang to gather funds to buy the fruit farmers’ fruits at low prices. This could at least prevent some fruit farmers from going bankrupt, allowing them to hold out until the next harvest season. But this approach has obvious drawbacks.
It means Chen Yiyang is taking all the benefits for himself, which will earn resentment from many.
After considering, Chen Yiyang decided on a third path.
To act before the situation escalates.
To act before the cooperation news of Linghui and Huang Yuqiu is communicated from the upper tiers.
Chen Yiyang obviously couldn’t spread the news about the cooperation between Linghui and Huang Yuqiu.
Since the contract hasn’t been officially signed, spreading such news would offend both parties.
Even if risking offending the two parties, spreading it will only result in both sides denying it, leaving Chen Yiyang in a lose-lose situation.
Luckily, there’s another method.
Chen Yiyang called Zhou Jianjun and Zhao Qiankun.
"Boss, what’s the matter? Just tell me, I’ll handle it smoothly for you. From female college students to local rich women, I can connect you to them all." Zhao Qiankun came in boisterously.
"Don’t joke. I’m calling you to help me with something."
Looking at Zhao Qiankun and Zhou Jianjun, Chen Yiyang said, "The news about Linghui’s reduced production has spread, and many fruit farmers are preparing to sell their fruits at low prices."
"That’s true." Zhao Qiankun nodded.
He knew about these things but didn’t have any ideas.
After all, he was a factory’s rich second generation; he wouldn’t stoop to becoming a middleman to earn money off farmers for small profits.
His reputation would suffer.
He held himself in high regard and wanted to create a remarkable career.
Yesterday’s matters brought him prestige within the whole family; several relatives praised him throughout the night in the family group chat, leaving him feeling proud even now.
"I’ve contacted a lawyer; you can go pick him up. Let him draft a purchase contract for you."
"A purchase contract?"
"Yes, a contract to purchase the fruits from the farmers, under the name of Luzon Dried Fruit and Vegetable Factory."
Chen Yiyang had previously been promised the position of a consultant manager at this factory by Huang Yuqiu.
The related onboarding procedures were underway; notifying Huang Yuqiu to use this name in advance wouldn’t be a problem.
As long as they hadn’t formally donated China Merchants Bank’s stock usage tickets together, they’d remain in a honeymoon period. Chen Yiyang’s reasonable requests would be agreed upon.
"Boss, what are you doing?" Zhao Qiankun couldn’t comprehend Chen Yiyang’s intentions.
Chen Yiyang would never say he intends to do a good deed.
In business, a good person should never let others know they are good, or they’ll be bullied by everyone.
So Chen Yiyang gave a pre-prepared explanation, "Isn’t everyone discussing supporting farmers lately? I’m planning to apply for the city’s Top Ten Outstanding Youth, and need an achievement to showcase."
"I understand, boss." Zhao Qiankun thought Chen Yiyang was aiming for fame.
With the current fruit market turbulence, if Chen Yiyang steps in to reassure fruit farmers, he can gain considerable notoriety. When applying for Top Ten Outstanding Youth, he can proudly add a title like Local Agricultural Ambassador.
"Right, so we must not let Linghui’s reduced production news impact the local market environment. I’ll give you two a batch of contacts; get in touch with these farmers one by one. Under the name of Luzon Dried Fruit and Vegetable Factory, sign a preliminary purchase agreement with them.
The purchase price should be determined according to past market prices. Also, besides the contract, leave about one thousand yuan as a deposit for each family."
Because the fruit market fluctuates greatly each year, even middlemen and fruit farmers usually only make verbal promises.
When it comes to purchasing fruits, if the prices are high, middlemen rush in. If the prices are low, everyone acts as if there’s no agreement and finds their own ways to sell.
But there’s a special situation.
That’s when, before the fruit harvest season, places abundant with fruits suffer natural disasters resulting in large-scale reduction in fruits.
Fruit prices inevitably soar. During this time, for competition, middlemen, besides verbal promises, also give fruit farmers a deposit of one to two thousand yuan as proof.