Chapter 57: Online Sales Platform Creation Plan

Xu Li not only provided a list of procurement locations, but also promised to give "Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd" certain project subsidies and tax preferences.

Chen Yang didn't expect the government to give any subsidies; he immediately told Xu Li he would spare no effort to grow the company and make a contribution to Qingshui City's agricultural undertakings.

After returning home, Chen Yang called Liu Qingqing and asked her to help launch a love‑assist‑farmers campaign in the name of the station chief on the Qingwang Forum, focusing on promoting Qingshui County's unsold agricultural products.

Liu Qingqing expressed incomprehension at Chen Yang's actions: "Senior, Qingshui County is so far away—who would go all the way there to buy agricultural products? You should be running this activity in Qingshui, right?"

Chen Yang said: "We'll definitely do this on this side of Qingshui; over in Xingcheng we can just try our luck. My goal is to spread the word and let the market decide the fate of these farmers in Qingshui County."

Liu Qingqing wasn't very happy: "You're just helping the senior sister work, aren't you? I'm not doing it!"

Chen Yang asked her: "Qingqing, have you ever thought about, after the Qingwang Forum grows, establishing an online sales platform like eBay?"

Liu Qingqing had no experience with online shopping and curiously asked: "What is an online sales platform?"

Chen Yang said: "It's just selling things online. The website provides a trading platform where sellers and buyers can negotiate prices online. After the negotiation, if it's a nearby same‑city location, they can trade offline directly; otherwise, the buyer can pay via online banking and the seller ships the goods to the buyer's address through a logistics company."

Liu Qingqing said: "It sounds really complicated; I feel I can't do it."

Chen Yang immediately painted a pie for her: "Online sales in China are still in the early stages, so of course it's a bit complex. But as long as you work hard, you will surely succeed. If you pull it off, you won't just be the world's top female powerhouse—at least domestically you'll be a figure everyone looks up to."

Liu Qingqing's heart stirred: "Then am I stronger than the senior sister?"

"Of course it is!" Chen Yang verbally encouraged Liu Qingqing while making a pleading gesture toward the unfriendly‑looking Lin Wei.

Liu Qingqing was very satisfied: "Then what should I do?"

Chen Yang said: "Let's first use this poverty‑relief and farmer‑assistance activity as an experiment to see how netizens accept online shopping. If the response is good, we'll later run some more activities to guide their interest. When the time is ripe, we can formally consider building the platform."

Liu Qingqing said: "We can try it first. However, I don't know anything about agricultural products, so you'll have to provide the copy."

Chen Yang said "No problem", hung up, and then had Lin Wei prepare the copy.

Lin Wei was also very interested in Chen Yang's idea. If a truly online sales platform could be established, Qingshui City's agricultural products could be sold not only throughout Dongjiangsheng but also across the whole country. Even if it couldn't completely solve the backlog problem, it could largely alleviate it. She felt it necessary to report to Xu Li during work hours.

While Chen Yang waited for Lin Wei to finish the copy, he also called Du Yue'e. "You rent a few vehicles, mount loudspeakers on them, cover the bodies with ads for the grand opening discount of the 'Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Living Supermarket', and then promote them throughout the city."

Chen Yang originally only wanted to advertise in the southern district of Shuanglin City, but after talking with Xu Li he changed his mind. He wanted more people to join the activity.

The urban area of Qingshui City has at least several hundred thousand permanent residents; calculating at one jin of agricultural products per person per day, the total amount is also considerable.

With the opening promotion boosting sales, Chen Yang believed it would definitely increase more customers and volume. The original plan of two tons per day might rise to four tons or even more.

For this, he also prepared to rent a large cold storage facility dedicated to storing products that need freshness preservation.

All plans were settled. The next morning early, Chen Yang drove back to Panlong Town.

He didn't go back to Chen Family Village but went straight to the town government, where he found the Party Committee Secretary of Panlong Town, Zhou Zhengyang. He had heard from Lin Wei that this person was connected to the Ye family line. The matter of the ancestral home had also been settled by that side.

Zhou Zhengyang was just over forty, not tall, with somewhat dark skin, as if he often worked outdoors, and was a down‑to‑earth doer.

Hearing that Chen Yang was introduced by Deputy Mayor Xu, Zhou Zhengyang's attitude was very enthusiastic.

"Chen Yang, on behalf of all the people of Panlong Town, I welcome you back to invest!"

"Secretary Zhou, thanks to you for settling those family troubles of mine, I too must return to contribute my modest effort."

"Haha, Manager Chen, you're overpraising me. I'm just doing my job. You people of Chen Family Village are all of one lineage, yet they actually did such petty things to their own relatives—really too much."

"Ah, family shame shouldn't be aired. Let's not talk about those things and discuss business instead. Although Deputy Mayor Xu gave me a list, I still need to ask you about the actual situation."

"No problem! I'll take you to see all the production bases; as long as you like something, I'll guarantee the biggest discount."

"Forget the discounts; it's not easy for farmers to run a sideline either. As long as I can save a little on shipping costs, that's enough."

Zhou Zhengyang looked at Chen Yang a little surprised; he had dealt with many businessmen, who either wanted policies or discounts, and this was the first time he'd seen someone who didn't want to take advantage.

"Manager Chen, if you don't want discounts, the town government will cover the transportation fees. We also hope to reach a long‑term cooperation plan with a conscientious merchant like you."

"Shipping costs are already a major part of agricultural product sales; Zhou Zhengyang is willing to let the Panlong Town government foot the bill, and Chen Yang is naturally delighted."

"So, when placing the order, Chen Yang increased the original procurement plan of 60 tons to 180 tons."

"At the same time, he also signed a contract with the Panlong Town government led by Zhou Zhengyang. As long as the goods arrive in Qingshui City and are problem‑free, payment will be settled immediately."

"After paying the deposit, Chen Yang again thought of his own poverty‑relief and farmer‑assistance plan. He brought it up to Zhou Zhengyang and asked whether he was interested in cooperating."

"Upon hearing that Chen Yang also wanted to help them sell their products in Xingcheng, Zhou Zhengyang excitedly gripped Chen Yang's hand."

"Manager Chen, you really are a great benefactor of our Panlong Town!"

"Secretary Zhou, you don't need to be so polite—I'm just following Deputy Mayor Xu's commission." Chen Yang didn't want to draw too much attention, so he credited the achievement to Xu Li. Moreover, he didn't really understand Zhou Zhengyang and worried that he and the officials behind the Panlong Town government might say one thing and do another. Bringing Xu Li forward wouldn't affect the promotion plan of the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Living Supermarket.

After parting with Zhou Zhengyang, Chen Yang didn't go back to look at Chen Family Village. He knew Zhou Zhengyang would surely leak the news of his return, and then those people would naturally contact him.