Chapter 382: Accepting a TV Interview

The handover work at Xingcheng Food Company went smoothly. Chen Yang finally bought all of the company's assets for twenty million yuan. At the same time, he formally renamed the company to Commonfolk Food Company.

Compared with the previous acquisition of the Red Star Food Processing Plant, this time there is no external debt to bear. Although the company's assets need to be transformed, the original production equipment is still usable.

Chen Yang sold the depreciated equipment of the sausage business to Commonfolk Meat Company. Then he had Zhao Songtao purchase new soy product production equipment.

As for the company's inventory of sausages and other foods, since they all had safety issues, Chen Yang sent them all for harmless disposal.

In order to let the public have confidence in the new company's products, Chen Yang specially invited Cai Jing, the popular reporter from Dongjiang TV, to film the entire disposal process.

After disposing of the problematic food, Chen Yang also accepted an interview from Cai Jing.

"Chairman Chen, you just took over the company and burned inventory worth tens of millions. Aren't you heartbroken?" Cai Jing, who had already interacted with Chen Yang a second time, asked in a relaxed tone, and her question was quite insightful.

Because the public watching TV wanted to know how the new company's boss would face food safety issues.

Chen Yang solemnly said to Cai Jing: "Reporter Cai, I need to correct your viewpoint first. This batch of burned products is harmful, low-quality goods. In my eyes, they are trash, worth not a penny. So there is no question of feeling heartbroken or not."

"On the contrary, I hope my peers in the food industry will take this as a warning and not lose their social responsibility as entrepreneurs for the sake of profit."

Cai Jing was satisfied with Chen Yang's answer. She then asked: "Director Chen, Xingcheng Food Company is now a pariah; why did you still take on this mess? Aren't you worried it will affect the brand image of Commonfolk Company?"

Chen Yang deliberately gave a bitter laugh and told Cai Jing: "Actually, I'm not very willing to take over this company. Not only because it would affect the brand image of Commonfolk Company, but also because their former executives, in order to seize the market, deliberately spread rumors to slander Commonfolk's sausage."

"If this company had no problems, we might be mortal enemies in the industry. Have you ever seen a company go to rescue its mortal enemy?"

Chen Jing had participated in the full-track report of Xingcheng Food Company's "dead pork" incident, and she well understood Chen Yang's feelings. She curiously asked: "Director Chen, since our two companies are mortal enemies, you have even less reason to take over Xingcheng Food Company! What reason made you make this acquisition decision?"

Chen Yang, in order to create a show effect, deliberately fabricated: "Reporter Cai, to be frank, it's actually the provincial leaders who talked to me. They said Xingcheng Food Company is a long-established old-brand enterprise, carrying the memories of many Xingcheng residents."

"Such a good enterprise cannot be allowed to collapse because of the moral failings of part of its management. He hopes I can pour the successful experience of Commonfolk Meat Company into it, so that this company can regain the trust of the broad public."

Cai Jing knew Chen Yang also had an identity as a member of the Provincial State-owned Enterprise Reform Team, so she quickly guessed the identity of that provincial leader mentioned in his words. But the topic of provincial leaders is somewhat sensitive; as a small TV station reporter she dared not ask further. So she shifted the topic back to Xingcheng Food Company.

"Director Chen, how do you plan to reform this company?"

Chen Yang frankly said: "The new company will no longer produce sausage products; it will undergo industrial transformation."

Cai Jing continued to ask: "Director Chen, may I dare to ask which direction the new company plans to transform toward?"

Chen Yang deliberately kept them in suspense: "I have already invited an authoritative food expert team from the Agricultural University to the company to develop new products. As for what exactly we are developing, I want to keep it secret for now. When the new products go into trial production, I will invite you to come and see."

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing felt a surge of delight. This meant she would again have a hot news story.

"Manager Chen, I still have a question. Xingcheng Food Company's reputation is very poor; aren't you worried that after the new product comes out, the public won't buy it?"

"What's there to worry about!" Chen Yang shook his head and said: "The poor reputation of Xingcheng Food Company has nothing to do with my Commonfolk Food Company. Go out and investigate: have any of the products sold by Commonfolk Company ever had quality problems?"

Chen Jing thought that also made sense; the products of Commonfolk Company are synonymous with quality and cost-effectiveness in Dongjiangsheng. However, she still had a bit of worry and said: "You are still using the original factory buildings and equipment of Xingcheng Food Company, and the workers involved in production are still those original employees. How do you guarantee they won't produce problematic products again?"

Chen Yang felt her question was quite insightful, which was exactly the information he wanted to spread to the outside world. He immediately replied: "Since we are developing new products, the old equipment will definitely be replaced entirely. As for the employees, there's no need to worry either. All employees under the Commonfolk banner undergo professional vocational training before taking up their posts; only those who pass strict assessment are qualified to work."

Cai Jing nodded slightly; Chen Yang's answers were basically solid facts, thoroughly addressing the issues the public cared about. So her interview this time could be considered a success.

Thus, she finally asked a question: "Director Chen, according to my understanding, many of the original Xingcheng Food Company employees worry that after you take over the company you will conduct large-scale layoffs. Will you do that?"

Chen Yang said: "As long as they can complete the vocational training provided by the company, the company will give each employee an opportunity to take up a position. At the same time, it will also adjust their wages and benefits according to their performance during the training stage."

Cai Jing curiously asked: "By how much will the wages and benefits increase?"

Chen Yang said: "For employees who perform outstandingly during the training period, the increase in wages and benefits will not be less than fifty percent of their original wages."

Cai Jing gave Chen Yang a thumbs up and couldn't help praising: "Director Chen, you really are a good boss!"

Chen Yang waved his hand and humbly said: "As long as they can create wealth for the company, that's what they deserve."

After receiving a satisfactory answer, Cai Jing smiled and concluded the interview. Chen Yang saw her off to her car and, as customary, slipped her a big red envelope containing one thousand yuan.

Cai Jing put her wallet into the Chanel handbag she carried with her, laughing as she said: "Director Chen, you're too polite. Next time, don't go to such trouble; just invite me for a meal will do."

Having learned from Liu Qingqing's past experience, Chen Yang now dared not be alone with a beautiful woman; he could only politely refuse her suggestion: "Reporter Cai, outstanding gentlemen who would like to dine with a beauty like you could probably line up a street. I'll just forget it; the lady at home keeps a tight rein!"

Cai Jing looked at Chen Yang's eyes, surprise mixed with a hint of disappointment; she hadn't expected that Chen Yang was already married at such a young age!