Chapter 498: Expand Cold Chain Logistics

At the end of March, Chen Yang followed Qingshui City's investment promotion team to Shencheng.

The investment promotion team was led by Deputy Mayor Xu Li as team leader, with the deputy team leader being Deputy Chair Zhang of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and most members were young cadres from various departments of Qingshui City's government and local entrepreneurs.

Chen Yang did not need to participate in the investment promotion; after recommending Zhu Zhu to Xu Li, he went his separate ways from the team.

His mission upon arrival, aside from breaking up with Liu Qingqing, was to expand the cold-chain logistics system of the Old Hundred Farmers' Products Trading Company in the south.

Meanwhile, Su Mingyue and Zhao Xiaoxiao had been traveling to many places during this period, looking for suitable land to build cold storage facilities, and were waiting for Chen Yang to come and give the final approval.

Chen Yang had Xiao Jian take him to the Shencheng branch of the Old Hundred Farmers' Products Trading Company.

After several months without his visit, the branch's staff had grown from a dozen to over a hundred. This does not even count the management and frontline employees working in the cold-chain logistics department and the various chain stores.

Upon seeing Chen Yang arrive, Zhao Xiaoxiao immediately summoned the branch's senior executives to the office for a meeting.

The meeting's agenda was to report on the first quarter's work situation and the second quarter's goals.

It must be said, Zhao Xiaoxiao, who switched from the market department to become the branch's general manager, has done a commendable job. From the end of the pandemic to now, in less than nine months, Shencheng has opened thirty stores.

What surprised him even more was that the performance of all thirty stores showed an upward trend.

This situation further strengthened Chen Yang's resolve to expand the cold-chain logistics.

After the work report ended, Chen Yang originally wanted everyone to leave first, leaving only Zhao Xiaoxiao to discuss the cold-chain logistics warehouse site selection with him. However, Zhao Xiaoxiao instead told everyone not to rush to leave, and then publicly asked Chen Yang a question.

"Boss, you said you would give all our employees a half-price home purchase quota. Everyone has been discussing this lately and wants to ask you directly whether you're joking."

Chen Yang nodded and said, "I'm not joking; anyone who meets the conditions will receive a quota." As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room burst into cheers.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoxiao added, "Boss, Xingcheng is too far; many of our employees are not from Dongjiangsheng. Can you arrange for our quotas to be placed in Shencheng instead?"

Seeing everyone looking at him with anticipation, Chen Yang smiled and said, "Property prices in Shencheng are higher than in Xingcheng, and the appreciation potential is also greater. If I did that, I'm afraid colleagues at headquarters would have objections."

Zhao Xiaoxiao immediately assured him, "Boss, rest assured! Once our branch's performance exceeds that of headquarters, they'll have nothing to say." After she spoke, other managers also made similar assurances.

After some thought, Chen Yang told everyone, "The base price of homes in Shencheng may be higher than in Xingcheng. If you want to settle here, you need to be mentally prepared for significant living expenses over a long period."

"Furthermore, to prevent speculative real-estate behavior, the home purchase quotas in Shencheng cannot be transferred. Within five years of purchase, employees must not resign voluntarily; otherwise, the company will recover the price difference of the discounted home at market value."

After Chen Yang finished speaking, the audience in the meeting room began to discuss heatedly.

"Boss, what if we can't afford a house after five years and the quota can't be transferred? Wouldn't that be all for nothing?"

"Boss, if a major family change occurs after buying a house, forcing us to resign and return home for a while, would we still have to repay the difference?"

"Boss, if I can't afford a house myself and have family members pay for it, with the property deed in their names, could we get a 50% discount instead?"

……

Chen Yang raised his hand to signal everyone to quiet down, then answered each question one by one.

"For those who cannot afford a house, as long as you are loyal to the company and work diligently and enthusiastically, the company will negotiate with banks to provide loan guarantees for you."

"After purchasing a home, if special circumstances require early resignation, you must compensate the price difference. Alternatively, the company can repurchase your house at half the market price at the time of resignation."

"As for transferring your quota to family members for their use, that is acceptable. However, after purchasing a home, you must also abide by the rule of not resigning voluntarily within five years; otherwise, the company will pursue related losses according to the contract agreement."

"That is my explanation. If you cannot accept it, I can give you the home purchase quota for Xingcheng instead. Those unwilling to buy a house in Xingcheng may transfer their quota. I guarantee you that quota will be worth at least 200,000."

After Chen Yang finished his final remark, the mood in the meeting room instantly rose.

"After working five years, you can receive at least a 200,000 welfare quota—such benefits are unmatched nationwide. The key is that the threshold for earning this quota is low. Even ordinary store clerks, cold-chain warehouse sorters, and delivery personnel can enjoy the same treatment."

After thanking Chen Yang, everyone left happily.

After everyone had left, Zhao Xiaoxiao sighed to Chen Yang, "Boss, from now on, when we hire, ordinary employees won't be bachelor's graduates, and management won't be from top-tier universities with master's degrees or higher—I'm starting to look down on them."

Chen Yang solemnly told Zhao Xiaoxiao, "Manager Zhao, work knows no nobility. You can hold management and technical talent to higher standards. For frontline staff, as long as they handle tasks efficiently, there's no need to be overly strict."

Zhao Xiaoxiao nodded and then asked Chen Yang, "Boss, with such a substantial welfare benefit you've rolled out this time, won't you feel the pinch?"

Chen Yang, now worth tens of billions, naturally doesn't mind this amount of money. Moreover, he has deeply felt the hardship of being a beast of burden, and from the bottom of his heart hopes his employees' lives will be a little better than in his previous life. He told Zhao Xiaoxiao, "As long as you can make the company bigger and stronger, this money will be well spent. I also hope you will someday take pride in the company."

Zhao Xiaoxiao laughed, "Boss, I don't know about others, but I certainly take pride in you. In this lifetime, aside from my father, I've never seen a man better than you."

Chen Yang felt pleased yet somewhat strange. He told Zhao Xiaoxiao, "As long as you can secure Shencheng's market for me, you'll be a great contributor to the company. When the company goes public, you'll also receive shares."

Zhao Xiaoxiao hadn't expected Chen Yang to also give her shares; her eyes welled up with emotion. "Boss, rest assured—I will devote myself completely, serving until death."

Chen Yang worried she might throw herself at him again, so he quickly waved his hands and said, "Manager Zhao, as long as you manage the Shencheng branch well, that's what you deserve. Moreover, it's not just you who gets shares—I won't shortchange any of the management who started the company with us."

Zhao Xiaoxiao wiped her eyes, smiling, and said, "Boss, you're truly the best boss in the world! Please give me your work instructions!"