Chapter 32: Principles of Procurement

“No, no, I’d rather stay in the city. Living out here feels just like being back home—I might as well have never left,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

“It’s too late to get a room assigned at Nanluogu Lane today. You can take care of that yourself tomorrow. For now, let’s head back to the factory. I’ll introduce you to some colleagues and give you an orientation,” Shi Guanglin said.

“Alright, Lin,” Xiao Weiguo agreed, following Shi Guanglin back to the purchasing department’s office.

“There are three teams in the purchasing department. I’m the supervisor for Team Three. We’re seven people in total, and you make eight. Two are permanently stationed here at the factory.

“This is Sister Ling, and this young man is Xiao He. They handle most of the paperwork and administrative tasks. We focus on procurement, and they deal with the miscellaneous work, so we don’t have to worry about the details. They’re a huge help to the team.”

Shi Guanglin gestured toward a middle-aged woman and a young man in his early twenties.

The woman must be Sister Ling, and the young man, Xiao He.

Xiao Weiguo followed Shi Guanglin to a desk—Shi Guanglin’s, most likely.

“Since you’re a temporary worker, there’s no formal orientation. That’s only for permanent hires—the department chief would instruct you personally. But I see potential in you, so I’ll give you some training myself. Do a good job, and you’ll have a chance to become a regular employee soon,” Shi Guanglin continued, taking his seat.

“Don’t worry, Lin—I’ll work hard and do my best as a purchasing agent for our factory,” Xiao Weiguo replied promptly.

“Weiguo, what do you think is the most important quality for a purchasing agent?” Shi Guanglin asked.

“To fulfill the assigned quotas on time and in the right quantity—that must be the most important thing,” Xiao Weiguo answered after a moment’s thought.

“By the way, what’s your educational background, and how old are you? I didn’t catch that during onboarding,” Shi Guanglin changed the subject suddenly.

“I graduated from elementary school, but I’m always eager to learn. I’m sixteen this year,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

“Elementary school is sufficient for now, but you should keep studying. If there are night classes or training programs, you should take part and improve your knowledge. And you’re still so young—if you were a year younger, I couldn’t have hired you,” Shi Guanglin remarked, somewhat surprised by Xiao Weiguo’s maturity.

After all, in town, talking with him never felt like speaking to a sixteen-year-old boy, but rather to a peer.

Shi Guanglin went on, “Aside from meeting procurement targets, there’s something even more important: as a purchaser, you must hold fast to your principles! Keep a heart loyal as the sun and moon, and always serve the people! Never take bribes—remember, if you reach out your hand, it will be caught. Maintain the spirit of not fearing hardship or fatigue, and ensure the factory’s supplies are delivered on time and in proper amounts!”

Shi Guanglin’s words rang with conviction as he explained the code of conduct for a purchasing agent.

With a look of determination, Xiao Weiguo replied, “Rest assured, I will put the people first, hold to my principles, guarantee supplies, and forge a true heart on the job!”

“Good. I’ll give you two days off to get settled. For the first month, you won’t have any performance assessments, but starting from the second month, you’ll be evaluated strictly. Fail three times and you’re out—no second chances. Remember that,” Shi Guanglin said. “Of course, since you’re a temp, your targets will be lower than for permanent staff, so don’t stress too much.”

After hearing this, Xiao Weiguo had some doubts. “Lin, aren’t we just coordinating with factories and farms, making sure the assigned materials are delivered? What exactly are the goods we’re supposed to procure?”

“I forgot to mention—our department has three teams. The first two handle planned procurement, but our Team Three is responsible for unplanned purchases. We have to find our own sources and acquire materials outside the official plan.

“You know our factory is a giant—over ten thousand people. Black steel, white textiles, everyone in the capital knows these are our trademarks.

“Besides, we’re pushing hard to surpass Britain and America, so the workload is higher than ever. The factory has hired loads of temps, and supplies are stretched thin—barely enough to go around.

“That’s where Team Three comes in. We have to seek out whatever materials the factory needs that aren’t covered by the official plan. But right now, every factory is hiring like crazy and scrambling to find extra supplies. So, in short, our mission is to hunt down every last bit of food and materials for the factory!”

Suddenly it all clicked for Xiao Weiguo—so they were responsible for unplanned, or surplus, materials. In these times, production was divided between planned and unplanned quotas. A factory’s output could never match exactly what was assigned from above, so there were always overages—these were the unplanned materials, and the factory could use or sell them as it saw fit, as long as there was a market.

Back then, materials were king; anything produced would surely sell. In the eighties and nineties, when factories began to close en masse, it was because planned quotas were shrinking or disappearing, and surplus goods couldn’t be sold—that’s what led to so many closures. But that was an era when supplies were finally starting to become abundant.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the factory is well supplied,” Xiao Weiguo promised, gathering his thoughts.

“Tonight, just crash in the dorms with me. Tomorrow you can take care of your own business,” Shi Guanglin offered.

The two men returned to Shi Guanglin’s long-neglected dormitory—a single room, in a state of disarray.

Luckily, the weather was warm, so Xiao Weiguo didn’t mind making up a bed on the floor.

As for Shi Guanglin’s residence in Nanluogu Lane, it turned out that his family lived there already. When it came time to allocate housing, he simply took a single dorm room at the factory.

That night, Xiao Weiguo chatted with Shi Guanglin for a long while, growing more familiar with the factory, the purchasing department, and his new line of work.

The next morning, Shi Guanglin woke early, saying he needed to go to Pinggu to see if he could buy a batch of fresh peaches for the factory.

After washing up, Xiao Weiguo left the factory grounds, ready to catch a bus into the city—his destination: Nanluogu Lane!

As he reached the factory gate, waves of women in factory uniforms were streaming in, their faces full of youthful energy.

Many of them eyed Xiao Weiguo boldly, sizing him up with open curiosity—wondering about this young man who was walking against the current so early in the morning, and if perhaps they might get to know this handsome newcomer.

After all, in a textile factory, men were scarce and women plentiful. A good-looking single young man—he was prime meat.