Chapter 67: Road Toll

Just as Ning Wenkai was on her way to Pingyang, the Dongling High-Tech electronic industrial park also suddenly became busy.

Tao Zhiliang was previously a technical worker at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 and had now joined Dongling High-Tech. He knew how to use pressure machines, welding, etc., and could also perform simple machine repairs. Now he was appointed as a production line team leader. Additionally, the workshop supervisor also told Tao Zhiliang and the others that after the production line started, he could get over 100 yuan more in subsidies and bonuses every month than ordinary production line employees.

Back at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, when these production workshop team leaders were evaluated for model workers in state-owned factories, it had nothing to do with Tao Zhiliang and the others. Those were all relatives of the factory leaders, or the factory leaders themselves received the awards. Where would it be their turn?

Dongling High-Tech electronic industrial park didn't have those broken things now, and didn't have that style of state-owned enterprises. Now it depended on individual technical level, cultural level, learning ability, and individual performance. Many people like Tao Zhiliang, who were previously inconspicuous employees at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, were now promoted to team leaders, technicians, etc., in the electronic industrial park.

Tao Zhiliang was very satisfied with the Dongling High-Tech electronic industrial park. Although he was only receiving training fees now and hadn't officially received his salary, the training fees alone were not much lower than his salary at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1.

In the industrial park's restaurant, although Tao Zhiliang and the others had to spend their own money to buy meals, unlike before when Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 provided free meals, the price wasn't expensive, and the taste of the meals was much better than the cafeteria at Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1.

Previously, in the cafeteria of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, it was all relatives of the factory leaders who were cooking, and the taste of the food made was truly hard to describe. Yet, no matter how they complained, it was useless, and even those who complained would be found by the people in the cafeteria of the Wireless Factory and not allowed to enter the cafeteria to eat!

Now Tao Zhiliang was full of energy, and there were many employees like him who were originally from Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1. But from the time they joined until now, it had been almost a month, and they were basically just in training. The production line hadn't started, which made Tao Zhiliang inevitably worried.

Everyone knew that if the electronic industrial park couldn't start production for a long time, how long Tao Zhiliang and these employees' rice bowls could be kept was hard to say.

Thinking of this, Tao Zhiliang felt that the fat meat slices in his mouth weren't as fragrant. Every Wednesday, the restaurant in the electronic industrial park would improve the food. For the same price as usual, one could buy a bowl of stewed meat slices with a considerable portion. For people in this era, even state-owned enterprise employees couldn't eat meat every day, not to mention that in addition to a spoonful of seven or eight large pieces of fat meat, they also gave away a free chicken leg or sausage, and a bottle of local brand drink. Sometimes they would even give away some big-brand drinks like Jianlibao.

Many employees in the electronic industrial park basically packed this improved meal, as well as the chicken legs, sausages, and drinks, and took them home for the whole family to eat.

Tao Zhiliang was no exception. He only ate two pieces of fat meat to taste it, then packed up the remaining fat meat, the chicken leg he received, and the drink, preparing to take them back for his two children who were in junior high school and growing up.

Just for the large fat meat slices, sausages, and drinks, Tao Zhiliang didn't want the Dongling High-Tech electronic industrial park to close down. He needed this job to support his family. Every time he thought about the fact that the production line hadn't started yet, he couldn't eat, and he was even more worried than the executives of Dongling High-Tech.

"Everyone, hurry up today. The production line will be trial-produced today. If it goes smoothly, we will officially start production tomorrow!"

Just as Tao Zhiliang was letting his imagination run wild, he suddenly heard the voice of Song Gong, Song Yajun, from the production workshop, which instantly lifted his spirits.

Since Li Dongling called him "Song Gong" that time, hiring Song Yajun into the electronic industrial park, Old Song really had the posture of "a scholar dies for his confidant." He was basically the first to enter the workshop and the last to leave. Whenever he encountered production line or technical problems, he was the first to rush to the front. He was busy forgetting to eat and sleep to solve problems. He was now the deputy director of the production workshop!

Hearing Song Yajun's words, Tao Zhiliang mixed the rice into the vegetable soup, finished it in a few bites, and walked toward the simple workshop. Many people did the same.

Only after losing something do you know how to cherish it. Having experienced the decline of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, the suspension of wages, and the state of near bankruptcy now, Tao Zhiliang and the others increasingly understood the significance of the Dongling High-Tech electronic industrial park to them. It was truly related to the problem of feeding a family of several people!

The car drove into the urban area of Pingyang. Ning Wenkai got out of the car to rest and bought a few newspapers by the way. Looking at the news in the newspapers, Ning Wenkai had a better understanding of Dongling High-Tech.

When she was in Hong Kong, Ning Wenkai also saw the turmoil between the Sitong Group and Dongling High-Tech reported by the media, but the Hong Kong media didn't know much about this matter, basically just catching shadows and reporting whatever was eye-catching.

Ning Wenkai looked at the newspaper in her hand and basically understood this matter. The Sitong Group, after being refused by Dongling High-Tech, appeared somewhat angry and embarrassed. Ning Wenkai certainly understood what was going on.

Originally, Sitong wanted to raise its stock price by acquiring Dongling High-Tech. As a result, the stock price didn't rise, but they hit a nail, and the stock price fell instead!

The most critical thing was that this failed acquisition made people see the weak side of the Sitong Group. It looked like the Sitong Group was a giant company, and acquiring a company like Dongling High-Tech should have been a sure thing, but they failed. It was like an old empire that originally thought it would win a battle, but fought it into a mess.

Originally, the outside world, especially Hong Kong investors, had quite a few complaints about the Sitong Group's situation. This failed acquisition of Dongling High-Tech exposed these problems even more. Sitong couldn't count on its stock price in the future, and it wouldn't be easy to raise money from Hong Kong. It would be strange if the Sitong Group could be happy.

However, through these media reports, Ning Wenkai could also see that Dongling High-Tech was now somewhat passive. Many people thought that Li Dongling's refusal of Sitong's acquisition was a bad move, and coupled with Sitong's subtle targeting of Dongling High-Tech, Ning Wenkai felt that Dongling High-Tech's days now were probably not so easy.

However, for Ning's Trading Company, this could be considered good news. They could lower the agency fee and take a larger share of the revenue!

"President Ning, you've worked hard, welcome to Pingyang!"

Arriving in front of the Dongling High-Tech office building, Yao Luoying and Zhang Ao came out to welcome Ning Wenkai and several Ning's Trading executives.

"Ning Wenkai, Acting President of Ning's Trading Company!"

"Li Dongling!"

Arriving at the office on the second floor, Ning Wenkai and Li Dongling shook hands. After introducing each other, the two sides sat on each side in the conference room. Ning Wenkai looked at Li Dongling, and Li Dongling also looked at the person in front of him. Ning Wenkai had exquisite features, very fashionable clothing, and coupled with short hair and a capable style, she gave people the feeling of a strong woman.

Ning Wenkai was a bit surprised that Li Dongling looked even younger than the photo in the newspaper.

Li Dongling thought about the news about Ning's Trading Company he had inquired about. Now this company was managed by Ning Wenkai. Although there were constant storms now, as an old trading company in Hong Kong, its strength and channels were considered quite good.

A moment later, looking at Li Dongling sitting opposite her, Ning Wenkai spoke first, with a bit of dissatisfaction, "Chairman Li, wanting to cooperate with your Dongling High-Tech is really not easy!"

"Good things take time, and good deeds have many setbacks. Before climbing to the top of the mountain, you always have to suffer some hardships!" Looking at her dissatisfaction, Li Dongling didn't care.

Listening to Li Dongling's words, Ning Wenkai's gaze became sharp, "So, Chairman Li thinks that Dongling High-Tech's mouse will definitely sell well overseas?!"

Ning Wenkai's original plan for coming this time was just to represent the Silver Mink mouse and sell it in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. She hadn't heard that Dongling High-Tech had any other new brands.

"The Silver Mink mouse is currently the mouse with the highest technology in the world, and it will always be in the future!

Representing the Silver Mink mouse, not just this one, but the new generation of Silver Mink products in the future can also be sold. This will be the most popular mouse product in history!"

Listening to this, Ning Wenkai didn't quite believe it. When Ning's Trading Company represented other products, the bragging of those companies was even louder than Li Dongling's words. Without seeing the product, without truly selling it, and without statistics on sales, she held a skeptical attitude. These were all lessons learned in blood!

"I hope so!"

"5 million Hong Kong dollars. Ning's Trading Company hopes to get the five-year agency rights for the Silver Mink mouse in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Siam, and other Southeast Asian regions. Ning's Trading Company requires 30% of the mouse's profit!" Ning Wenkai said directly.

The conditions proposed by Ning Wenkai were not excessive among peers. Generally, representing international brands, the profit was basically around 20% to 30%. This 30% profit included transportation costs, warehouses, tariffs, and additionally, the use of Ning's Trading's sales channels.

Among them, there were also some invisible connections and relationships, etc. These wouldn't be stated explicitly, but they did exist. For example, when a brand encountered scandals or trouble, agents with connections could also quickly suppress the trouble and not let public opinion ferment.

Of course, these were not fixed and unchanging, but also depended on the mutual game between the brand company and the agent, and whether the brand company represented was strong or not.

For those well-known luxury goods, cars, and electronic products, the profit given to agents was generally very low, and some didn't even have rebates at all. But various agents still flocked to these brands, willing to spend a lot of money to buy agency rights. Because as long as they got the agency rights for products like Chanel, Mercedes-Benz, etc., even if the brand side didn't give rebates, agents could increase the price and sell them, earning even more!

But for the Silver Mink mouse, the profit was only about 50%, meaning a Silver Mink mouse sold for 150 yuan. After deducting costs, the profit was about 75 yuan. Giving the agent, Ning's Trading, 30% of the profit, as a sales channel, they also had to take at least 20% or even 30% of the profit. Any company that passed through the hands would earn a bit, otherwise, who would be willing to do it.

Calculating this way, the remaining profit in Dongling High-Tech's hands was only 40 or 50 yuan. From this, it could be seen how strong the channel merchants were now. They were basically lying down and collecting road tolls, yet wanting to sell products, they couldn't leave them.

Taking a look at Ning Wenkai sitting opposite, Li Dongling said, "Dongling High-Tech can give Ning's Trading 20% of the profit share..." ===== CHAPTER 68 =====