Chapter 693

Su Xinghui spent two days visiting all ten or so villages in the town. He also had a basic understanding of the situation in these villages.

On this day, the winery director Chen Xiangui brought the report he had written to report to Su Xinghui. Su Xinghui brewed him a cup of tea, let him sit down, and then picked up the report he had written to read.

The status of the winery Chen Xiangui wrote about was similar to what he heard when he went to the winery that day. The plans he wrote for revitalizing the winery could be considered to have some ideas. The methods he wrote about how to improve workers' labor productivity and save costs were still quite commendable. However, he didn't have many ideas on marketing, which was very normal; he was not a marketing expert to begin with.

After reading, Su Xinghui asked, "Director Chen, it seems there are some relatively important things in your report that weren't written down."

Chen Xiangui asked in confusion, "Mayor Su, which aspects are you referring to?"

Su Xinghui said, "I've looked at your financial statements from the past few years. Your financial statements have at least one or two hundred thousand in non-operating expenses every year. What is this about?"

When this was mentioned, Chen Xiangui hesitated a bit. These non-operating expenses were basically expenses reimbursed by the town government and some units in the town at their winery. For example, the expenses for the town to entertain higher-level leaders, if the finances weren't enough to cover it, they would find them to reimburse it.

The problem was that these things could only be done but not said. If said, it would offend many people. And what if he told Su Xinghui the truth? Although Su Xinghui was the town mayor, he couldn't conjure up money. If there were expenses in the town that couldn't be reimbursed later, wouldn't they still have to come to the winery? After all, the winery was also a town enterprise.

Su Xinghui laughed, "Director Chen, just say what you have to say. With such high non-operating expenses, how could there be any profit?"

Chen Xiangui remembered Chen Xianyi telling him that this Mayor Su was someone to be absolutely supported. So, he gritted his teeth and said, "Mayor Su, these non-operating expenses are expenses reimbursed by the town government and some units in the town at the factory."

Su Xinghui was not surprised at all. He knew about this kind of thing; now he was just letting Chen Xiangui confirm it himself. Su Xinghui said, "Then how much are the non-operating expenses this year?"

Chen Xiangui said, "Almost one hundred thousand or so."

Su Xinghui said, "Then let's do this. Counting from today, the previous non-operating expenses will be forgotten. From today on, such expenses are not allowed to occur again. If one more occurs, I will count it as embezzlement!"

Chen Xiangui couldn't help but be stunned. Count it as embezzlement? The town leaders asked him to reimburse expenses? Could he handle that? Wasn't this making him take the blame? Was this Mayor Su reliable? If so, he'd better not be the director anymore.

Seeing Chen Xiangui's expression, Su Xinghui smiled slightly, "Director Chen, let's do this. No matter who asks you to reimburse expenses, push it all onto me. Just say it's me who doesn't allow reimbursement. If they want to reimburse, let them come find me. Say it a bit more seriously; say that if you reimburse it, I will remove you from your position."

When Chen Xiangui heard this, it turned out to be like this. Su Xinghui was essentially taking all the responsibility. Chen Xiangui was naturally willing to do this. As the winery director, he naturally didn't want to reimburse some inexplicable expenses. He nodded, "I understand, Mayor."

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Director Chen, your methods for improving workers' labor productivity and reducing costs are still good. However, I see you don't have any good ideas on market marketing, mainly just lowering prices."

Chen Xiangui smiled embarrassedly, "I come from a production background; I don't have any ideas for the market. I just know that one cheap item is loved by three people."

Su Xinghui said, "Lowering prices is certainly one idea, but what if others follow suit? What if it drops below your cost, and you lose money on every bottle sold? What if it still doesn't sell by then?"

Chen Xiangui could only touch his head.

Su Xinghui said, "We must open up the market and also obtain normal profits. Otherwise, the enterprise cannot develop, or even survive. I looked at your liquor pricing; relative to the quality, the pricing of this liquor is actually already on the low side. The ex-factory price is only two yuan and something per bottle. I think your products can still raise prices."

"Raise prices?" Chen Xiangui said, "There aren't many people willing to buy it at the current price. If we raise prices again, will it sell?"

Su Xinghui said, "Director Chen, you've been at the winery for so many years. How is the quality of your Pengjiawan liquor? Is it worse than those famous liquors that sell for over ten yuan a bottle?"

Chen Xiangui shook his head, "Absolutely not worse than them. How can those wineries brew so much liquor? Tens of thousands of tons a year, many aren't bought from small wineries, then added with alcohol and essence to blend. That kind of blended liquor is absolutely not as good as the liquor we brew from grain. But they are famous, what can we do? Last year, a winery in Jiangcheng came to our factory wanting to buy the liquor in our liquor vats at a very low price, and it would become their liquor after packaging. I refused."

Su Xinghui nodded, "Director Chen, you refused well. If we did that, the Pengjiawan Winery would be completely finished. The liquor in those vats is a treasure of great value. Think about it, they can repackage it, why can't we repackage it ourselves?"

Chen Xiangui said, "We have also thought about the problem of repackaging, but the name Pengwan Daqu has been around for decades. The common people in Shangjun County and the surrounding areas all know this name. If we repackage it, I'm afraid they won't recognize it."

Su Xinghui said, "But you have always used the name Pengwan Daqu. Is the sales volume also constantly declining now? Actually, the name Pengwan Daqu is fine; it's just that your packaging is a bit too inconspicuous."