Chapter 1741: A Way Out

Having decided to build a brand, Wang Yan established the Bola Mula Branch under the name of the Economic Development Company and subsequently registered a series of trademarks. He also communicated with comrades from the county Administration for Industry and Commerce, traveling to the city and then the province to register the brand.

When the county leaders learned of this matter, they offered no reaction; most viewed it merely as a spectacle, feeling much like they were watching monkeys perform tricks.

After all, this was a barren and backward place where many people did not even know what a "brand" was, making Wang Yan's actions stand out conspicuously.

However, neither Wang Yan, Duo Jie, nor the others cared, since this was an internal affair of the Economic Development Company; they could make their own decisions without needing anyone's approval.

While Duo Jie busied himself handling matters in the mountains, Wang Yan truly took charge of economic development.

Wang Yan led his team in conducting deeper investigations and statistics, detailing the county's products and the sales volumes of various goods since the arrival of tourists.

After compiling these comprehensive statistics, Wang Yan began contacting suppliers to order packaging machinery and placing orders for produce with local herders.

The price offered was certainly lower than selling directly to tourists at stalls within the county.

Yet similarly, not everyone in the county enjoyed effortless sales. Since the number of tourists was limited, buying from one vendor meant not buying from another; naturally, many learned to engage in price wars to become more competitive, resulting in prices dropping lower and lower for many.

Were it not for the previous selling prices serving as a bottom line, and everyone's unwillingness to lose money, prices might have continued to fall even further.

On another front, the plateau climate is highly variable, with wind, rain, and heavy snowstorms; the time suitable for tourism spans only a few months, while most of the year is unsuitable for visiting.

This meant that for most of the year, the produce of Mazhi County's people was difficult to sell. At those times, they would still have to rely on itinerant merchants buying bulk goods, still facing suppressed prices and possessing absolutely no bargaining power.

Therefore, when the people of Mazhi County currently set up stalls in the county to sell goods, they do not ask for high prices; even if an occasional slick talker tries to deceive people with high prices, they are despised and looked down upon by those around them and face criticism and education from the county authorities.

It is precisely because everyone's threshold is not high; as long as they earn slightly more than before, they are very willing.

Although the price Wang Yan now offers is not as high as stall sales, it is genuinely higher than selling to middlemen. If one considers both time and quantity of goods comprehensively, the price Wang Yan offers is actually the highest.

Thus, the people of Mazhi County are still willing to sell their produce to the Economic Development Company; after all, everyone is sensible enough to calculate this account clearly.

It had even reached the point where the Economic Development Company lacked sufficient funds to purchase everything...

"I hear you plan to make massive purchases, offering prices higher than those bulk-goods collectors; the entire county's people are waiting. If you fail to collect the goods, that will cause serious problems."

Having just emerged from the mountains and heard about the commotion Wang Yan had stirred up, Duo Jie hurried over immediately.

Wang Yan offered Duo Jie a cigarette and said, "What problems could there be? The people of our county aren't fools; I said I would make massive purchases, not that I would buy everything. Our county is so poor it jingles when shaken; even if I made them solemn promises, they wouldn't believe me.

Moreover, I plan to secure sales channels first before returning to purchase. Telling them this now is to give them preparation time, so they won't rush at the last moment and ruin things.

Besides, even if our company had that much money, I wouldn't do such a thing. The company now has over sixty employees, and we must cover the expenses for mountain patrols; all of this costs money."

Duo Jie shook his head repeatedly: "That's not what I mean; what I mean is that you've created such a huge commotion, and if you fail to accomplish anything, it will affect your future prospects."

"Duo Jie, you only think I have prospects because I wrote articles previously. But what if I hadn't written them? After coming here, all of you said I was foolish, that I shouldn't have come to this side. I'll say it again: if I were doing this for some future prospect, I wouldn't have come at all."

Wang Yan spoke with absolute certainty, "How can one attempt to do things without making mistakes? Surely we cannot avoid acting just to avoid errors. If we all just followed routine steps, how would our county develop? How would the people of our Mazhi County live better lives?

If I try and even make mistakes, at worst I'll be accused of making empty boasts, becoming a laughingstock, making superior leaders think I am impractical, full of hot air, and unfit for major responsibilities.

But in reality? I haven't caused any losses to the people of our county, and it's impossible for them to dismiss me from this company; I'll still be able to work, so what is there to worry about? I just need to do it."

"Then how do you plan to find sales channels?"

"I plan to take our county's products to the provincial capital first, then go to Jingcheng, to see if we can find a market. Actually, our products are quite good; it's just that transportation is currently difficult, and we lack fame. I'll go out and look around, trying my best to find opportunities."

Duo Jie remained pessimistic, saying, "In recent years, the county has expended tremendous effort to attract investment and bring in capital. Secretary Chen and County Head Lin went out countless times, accompanying people and drinking alcohol on numerous occasions, yet as you've seen, essentially no one came to our side."

"Objective conditions are insufficient; we are located on the plateau with poor climate and terrible transportation. Now that the county has gained some reputation, and since roads are being built all the way here, people are finally arriving. Not to mention others, didn't that Boss Feng invest here? Once the roads are fully completed and open to traffic, life in our county will be even better.

Precisely because we have encountered this tremendous opportunity, I believe we must seize it now. If we succeed by luck, it will lay the foundation for future rise; if we fail, we will have scouted the path in advance, treating it all as accumulating experience and lessons."

Wang Yan spoke with extremely practical reasoning, which Duo Jie understood clearly, yet he couldn't help but worry about Wang Yan's future prospects.

In fact, given the things Wang Yan had accomplished now, even if he did nothing further, he would certainly be able to advance one or two steps upward, at minimum securing a leisurely position in Tianduo City to enjoy life...

He greatly admired Wang Yan's spirit of firm belief and unshakable ideals, yet he couldn't help but sigh.

He asked, "Then when do you plan to leave?"

"In a few days," Wang Yan said. "Coincidentally, I've written several more articles; this time I'll submit them directly to the capital, which can also serve as promotion to help find buyers for our goods."

"What does your writing articles have to do with others buying our goods?" Duo Jie hadn't yet grasped the connection.

"Why have so many people come to our county for tourism? And those who can travel here are certainly a minority; more people want to come but cannot. At this time, if someone outside buys our products for distribution, how do you think others will react?

'Oh, so this is the yak beef jerky written about in Wang Yan's articles, this is the plateau cheese, this is the Zangbu...' Our relevant products have already been tested and approved by tourists who visited Mazhi County, so others will surely like them too."

Seeing Wang Yan's energetic demeanor, Duo Jie said nothing more, simply going along with Wang Yan's endeavors...

Subsequently, over a period of time, Wang Yan conducted additional statistical work and simultaneously organized personnel to perform calculations.

After all, to buy goods, one must first master inventory and costs; he needed to know the production volume of various materials throughout Mazhi County, the input costs, and the transportation costs to ship them out.

It was also during this process that news of Wang Yan's upcoming actions spread everywhere; even when Wang Yan walked on the streets, local ethnic minority people would ask him whether he would return after leaving and if he could succeed.

Secretary Chen and Lin Peisheng also summoned Wang Yan, asking in detail about his objectives and planned methods, affirming Wang Yan's ideas, and offering encouragement along with relevant support.

The most practical thing—money—was certainly unavailable, but the data Wang Yan requested was coordinated and produced through cooperation among various departments.

When someone is willing to work, especially someone like Wang Yan who, instead of asking the county for money, actively goes out to find ways to generate funds, the county is only too eager to support him.

On another front, it was also because Wang Yan possessed a certain uncanny quality; having attended a prestigious university, he might well have some connections outside, so perhaps he could truly succeed. If that happened, wouldn't it look bad if these two leaders knew nothing about it?

On this day, when the mountain patrol team returned, Wang Yan was making beef noodles at his home.

"Aiyo, college student, these noodles you made are truly delicious; every time it's time to head out of the mountains, I think of your noodles."

Tsho, whose health had recovered and who had begun accompanying the mountain patrols again, praised Wang Yan's culinary skills.

Since capturing the gold-panning gang last time, Wang Yan had rarely joined the mountain patrols, instead dedicating himself to managing the operations of the Economic Development Company. What hadn't changed was that every time the team returned, they still came to him to eat beef noodles.

Samba said, "I'm different; I think of Wang Yan's noodles as soon as I enter the mountains." He always contradicted Tsho; the two bickered whenever they had nothing else to do.

Shao Yunfei no longer resembled his former self upon arrival; having entered the mountains several times and lived here for a period, he had become consistent with the mountain patrol team.

Being someone who loved to make trouble, he said, "Well, if you put it that way, then I think of Wang Yan every single day."

However, before Wang Yan could speak, Bai Ju disgustedly remarked that it was truly nauseating.

The two of them were currently in an ambiguous stage; Bai Ju was both disgusted yet drew closer, while Shao Yunfei shamelessly forced his way nearer.

He Qingyuan asked, "It's been nearly half a month, hasn't it? When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Bai Ju pressed further: "Then how long will this trip of yours take?"

"Not necessarily," Wang Yan said with a smile. "Just leaving the province will take three to five days. Besides, this is my first publicly funded trip; shouldn't I seize the opportunity to learn everywhere? A tour of Tianduo City, a look at the provincial capital, and then a trip to the capital to seek opportunities—this whole circuit will take at least a month."

Shao Yunfei said, "Then we definitely must look around more. It's far too difficult to sell our local products outside. If this truly succeeds, our entire county's days will improve considerably, and our Mountain Patrol Team will be even better off."

Bai Ji, who had been greedily slurping from his bowl nearby, shuffled over, looking at Wang Yan with a ingratiating grin.

"Do you have business or not? Scram aside and laugh somewhere else!" Bai Ju expressed her disdain for her brother, no less than her disdain for Shao Yunfei.

"I certainly have business," Bai Ji said. "Brother Yan, I also want to follow you out to see the world and broaden my horizons."

"You are the famous wealthy man of the whole county. As the saying goes, with money one can travel anywhere under heaven. As the Mazhi County tycoon, can't you go wherever you wish?" Wang Yan teased.

"I have lived in Mazhi County all my life; I've never even been to Tianduo City. I know nothing, and I'm afraid to go out; even with money, I wouldn't know how to spend it, Brother Yan. Besides, what horizons could I broaden by setting out on my own? I can only learn things by following you, Brother Yan."

"Rest assured, Brother Yan, I definitely won't cause you any trouble. Moreover, although your trip is publicly funded, you certainly don't have much money, so your food and lodging won't be good. Brother Yan, since you called me a tycoon, I will definitely ensure you travel in comfort."

Bai Ji looked at Wang Yan with eager eyes, waiting for consent.

He had been selling boxed meals for a long time; thanks to the tree in the courtyard, business was excellent. Although the opening of more restaurants later greatly affected his trade, as mentioned before, he still earned no small amount, even recruiting friends to help with the work, so he could be said to have employees now.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "If you're willing to come, then come along; you can help me carry the luggage. I'm bringing quite a few samples on this trip, and I only brought one person to help. If you're willing to be the porter, I should thank you."

After everyone had joked about these matters for a while, Wangmu, who had come along with them, looked at He Qingyuan and then asked aloud, "College student, now that you have a house and have even made your own furniture, when do you plan to marry Xiao Yan?"

"I've been thinking about it for a long time; I'll get married as soon as I return from this trip."

"No matter what, we will definitely be married before winter," Xiao Yan nodded in agreement beside him. Then, under Wang Yan's prompting gaze, she immediately asked, "Wangmu, what about you and Old He? What are your plans?"

Xiao Yan also knew about the relationship between He Qingyuan and Wangmu; she was quite close to Wangmu, belonging to a solidarity of family members, so she was very clear on these matters. Thus, when Wang Yan merely glanced at He Qingyuan, she grasped his meaning.

After He Qingyuan and Wangmu got together, he later finally obtained a permanent position, yet he kept thinking about providing Wangmu with better conditions, constantly delaying again and again until Wangmu grew anxious.

With Xiao Yan's words, everyone shifted their attention to He Qingyuan, jointly urging him to marry Wangmu quickly and not to delay everyone's time any longer, and so on.

In short, amidst the lively bustle, the matter was settled: Shao Yunfei would take photos the next day, and the wedding would be held next month...

A few days later, Wang Yan, bringing a huge pile of goods along with Bai Ji and another company employee, first drove to Tianduo City, beginning their journey to seek distributors.

Every day, Wang Yan went everywhere to find people, seeking introductions from government departments while also making his own inquiries to visit doors personally.

Thus, the journey was fraught with many hardships and difficulties; after traveling through many places, by the time Wang Yan returned to the land of Tianduo City, more than a month had already passed...

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