The office in Zhonghai City was silent at this moment; they were stunned.
Zhang Ji Lobster's performance was too outstanding. No one had expected them to deliver such results, which were beyond their imagination.
"Zhang Ji Lobster played an indispensable role in the outcome of this international trade fair!"
"I really didn't expect this. Fortunately, Team Leader Chen, despite widespread opposition, gave Zhang Ji Lobster a prominent position!"
"Lobster is going to be a hit now, not just domestically, but also internationally!"
"Alright, I need to report the data to the leadership. The leader said this morning to send it over as soon as it arrives."
Li Shuji, the top leader of Zhonghai City, was in his office reviewing documents, his brow furrowed.
Times were developing, and society was progressing, but Zhonghai's development was not optimistic; time waited for no one.
For Zhonghai City to become China's financial center, significant actions would be necessary.
This international trade fair was a test to see how many Chinese products could go abroad.
Generating foreign exchange for the country was the hallmark of a strong and growing enterprise.
It was already predictable that the data from this international trade fair would not be very good; catching up required a process.
The secretary pushed the door open and placed the data from the international trade fair on the desk.
He immediately picked it up and looked. As he read, his brow furrowed. The numbers seemed a bit off; they were almost at a standstill.
In the past, it was always an outflow. They would sell raw materials and then import finished products from abroad.
Through this cycle, their resources would go abroad, be turned into finished products, and then return.
For every cent exported, ten cents were brought in; this situation was heartbreaking.
If this continued, China's money would all flow overseas.
In that case, how could China develop, progress, and keep pace with the world?
He called out, "Xiao Zhou, please ask Director He from the Department of Commerce to come over."
A moment later, Director He arrived at the office.
"Old He, tell me, how was the situation at this international trade fair?"
"It's like this. Originally, we expected the usual pattern because we still don't have any products to show off. Unexpectedly, in the last two days, Zhang Ji Lobster emerged and took a lot of orders. However, the amount of money is still small, as it's just an agricultural product."
"So, the bulk of our trade is still in resources and minerals?"
Director He nodded. He also felt powerless, wanting to do more but lacking the means. Industrial upgrading was not an overnight process.
Then he pointed to Zhang Ji Lobster and said, "Zhang Ji Lobster performed exceptionally well this time. They participated as a green agricultural product and signed contracts for dozens of tons. However, they have one request: they want us to help them communicate with customs for fast clearance of live lobsters. According to them, the longer the time from loading to unloading, the more it affects their survival rate."
Upon hearing this, the top leader smiled. "I've heard of this lobster. Both the People's Daily and Zhonghai Daily reported on it. Later, some experts raised various objections. However, since it's needed for export, you go and communicate with customs. If the municipal party committee needs to get involved, tell me directly."
Director He was very excited after hearing this. With the top leader's words,
"Yes, that's why the development of lobster has been unsatisfactory lately. I didn't expect them to use the international trade fair to break through."
"Please invite experts from the Ministry of Agriculture. If the lobsters are edible and meet food standards, then we will promote them vigorously. Zhonghai needs an enterprise to lead the way abroad. I don't want to be the leader responsible for selling minerals and resources. If they don't meet the standards, then we will proceed according to regulations."
Director He was very excited. At his level, he could see whether an industry could develop.
He had also paid attention to Zhang Ji Lobster in Yangcheng. The company had already passed food standards, meaning they met all the necessary requirements for food products. It seemed the top leader intended to make the rise of lobster a path to break the current deadlock.
However, how far the lobster industry could develop was uncertain. No one wanted to sell minerals, but without selling them, there was no money for the government, creating a deadlock.
Still, Director He was willing to do this because it could promote the development of domestic agricultural products. If more innovative agricultural products emerged, not just one lobster, but many lobsters could break the deadlock.
Regardless, the rise of a new industry gave him a glimpse of a way out. From a national perspective, heavy industry, light industry, the tertiary sector, and infrastructure were all crucial and indispensable.
But for local leaders, it was different.
Development had to be adapted to local conditions. The Zhonghai Municipal Party Committee welcomed another night of overtime.
...
Zhang Tianxing was completely unaware of all this. He was currently troubled by the numerous orders he had signed, realizing it would take him some time to fulfill them.
He could only hope it wouldn't take too long. Also, regarding the agreed shelf life, responsibilities must be clearly defined, and he couldn't take the blame for others. Such things were unacceptable.
Food safety was no small matter, especially for long-distance transportation.
Simple vacuum packaging wouldn't suffice. Fortunately, Zhang Tianxing had experience from his previous life and was well-versed in this.
However, there were cargo trains to Belarus, which would make customs clearance a bit troublesome.
The key issue was the supply of goods. Now, Zhang Tianxing wanted to shout, "No matter how many orders come in now, I'm not afraid. I'm only afraid that I can't get enough goods."
He could only hope that the quantity of wild lobsters would be sufficient. Next year, he would definitely establish artificial lobster farming.
Currently, he hadn't dared to sign many orders, precisely because he feared not being able to procure enough lobsters, watching money slip through his fingers.
Li Fang and Wen Qing looked at the orders from the past two days, almost disbelieving. Was making money from abroad so easy? It seemed too effortless.
Zhang Tianxing glared at them exasperatedly. "These are contracts. We only receive the full payment after complete delivery. What if we encounter a few who don't pay the balance? It's difficult to collect money from overseas, and international lawsuits are unaffordable."
Zhang Tianxing sighed. He was too young and had been tricked. He just wanted to see, but who knew that friends would take a liking to his lobsters.
Guests who came to the door were always welcomed. He couldn't refuse. But thinking about it now, going to collect wild lobsters, plus the shipping costs, although profitable, carried significant risks.
The biggest killer and enemy of lobsters was long-distance transportation. Moreover, lobsters were all about freshness. Even if frozen, could they taste the same as fresh ones?
However, this was also an opportunity, a chance to shatter the rumors about lobsters. An opportunity for Zhang Tianxing to enter the ranks of the wealthy.
You say lobsters are toxic and harmful? International friends have bought quite a lot, let everyone judge.
Explain this. Although the moon is just as round both domestically and internationally.
But there has always been a misconception among the public: monks from abroad can chant sutras better.
Domestic products are not appreciated in their own country, and some people prefer foreign goods, which is quite vexing.
If I want to open the domestic market, I have to go abroad, start a company, produce overseas, and then sell the products back to China, and they become premium products?
This logic is a bit flawed. This is my problem, and it's also people's problem. However, as someone who has been reborn, Zhang Tianxing understands one thing.
Time is the only fair thing. As long as your quality is good enough, time will eventually provide the answer.