Twenty years of cold chain

Chapter 13 I've Been to Tianheng

That day, Yan Baoming personally visited the equipment room. Seeing the brand-new rules and regulations, operating procedures, equipment operation diagrams on the wall, and the most prominent equipment operation logbook on the table, Yan Baoming paused for a moment. Clearly defined and orderly, this was the heart of the entire factory; having such a support system in place gave him a sense of security.

"Xiao Hu, these next few days you'll lead everyone in cleaning. The cleaning supplies will be delivered tomorrow from the purchasing department. Try to make sure there are no blind spots."

Hu Shutong simply nodded. Yan Baoming looked at Hu Shutong and said, "You've been doing very well lately."

"Mr. Yan, Tianheng has survived for so many years. It's such a pity to replace the equipment and refrigerated trucks at this time. The industry is improving, and we've survived the most difficult times. Why do we have to do this now?"

Hu Shutong had no chance to speak with Yan Baoming, but he took this opportunity to speak out. He knew he had no right to say anything, but if he didn't speak up this time, he might never have the chance again.

"How can you determine when the most difficult time will be before the light is out?"

This short sentence left Hu Shutong speechless.

"You haven't had lunch yet, have you?"

Yan Baoming led Hu Shutong to a noodle shop outside the factory and ordered two bowls of beef noodles, one meat and one vegetable dish. Looking at Yan Baoming in front of him, Hu Shutong felt gloomy, a stark contrast to the Yan Baoming he had seen in the office when he came to Tianheng.

"Xiao Hu, whatever you say to me now, I think it's all true. How could I not know that in the long run, Tianheng changing equipment is the least competitive thing to do? I also know that the industry is improving, but who can say for sure whether it will be in one year or three years? Right now, Tianheng is struggling every day, and it doesn't have time to wait for anything."

"Over the years, Tianheng didn't fail because of the market, but because of its competitors. When everyone in the industry is the same, and you're the only one with horns, you're bound to face suppression. From 95 to 97, I was raising my standards and building my image, telling clients that there were reasons for the higher prices. At that time, I did gain the recognition of some big clients. But later, my competitors told me that they could do the same thing for less money. They tore Tianheng apart. Thinking about it carefully, it's understandable. Their costs were lower, and clients just didn't want to spend more money."

When Yan Bao said these words, he clearly struggled. "Personally, I failed because I was too idealistic, and I can't blame anyone else. I'm not having this meal with you to ask you to be a prophet, nor do you need to tell me about regression or absurdity. I just have a few words to say to you."

Hearing this, Hu Shutong felt a mix of emotions. "President Yan, please tell me what's on your mind."

Yan Baoming seemed to have a lot to say, but just as he was about to speak, he suddenly gave a wry smile. Just then, the food was served, and he ate without saying a word.

Hu Shutong was uneasy, unsure of the meaning behind this, until Yan Baoming finally spoke after he had put down his chopsticks—

"Xiao Hu, once you've been to Tianheng, don't become a second Tianheng."

……

At the employee meeting three days later, Yan Baoming announced that Tianheng would use the half month before New Year's Day to replace refrigerated trucks and refrigeration equipment, and assigned the next work tasks to each department.

Compared to the last pay cut, this time the reaction was lukewarm. For drivers, it just meant driving a different car and not having to worry about the engine being cold, which made things much easier. For others, some were simply trying to delay when communicating with clients, while others were just doing loading and unloading work. If they did a good job this time, the extra few hundred yuan in holiday bonuses for Chinese New Year were better than anything else.

Hu Shutong watched as the equipment he had been working on for days was transported away. One side was sent off cleanly and neatly, while the other side was delivered covered in mud and oil. No matter how much he praised the advanced technology of foreign countries, in Hu Shutong's eyes it was all old and needed repair. Considering Tianheng's situation, putting such equipment into use immediately would definitely be risky.

However, time was of the essence. Tianheng had already suffered numerous complaints from customers during this period, and the equipment replacement could not be delayed. Hu Shutong and his colleagues in the equipment room worked through the night and finally completed the task before New Year's Day.

Tianheng resumed operations, but it was no longer the same Tianheng. The situation was far more complex than simply turning refrigerated trucks into used shipping containers. In order to adapt to the market, to establish competitiveness, and to catch up with its peers, Tianheng adopted a zoned refrigeration system for its cold storage facilities, simply copying the most cost-effective solution available at the time.

However, Hu Shutong soon discovered that this batch of equipment had compatibility issues with Tianheng's pipelines, and its age was beyond expectations. To mitigate the risks, a large-scale overhaul would be necessary. The operation of this batch of equipment was very different from before, and only highly specialized personnel could handle it; otherwise, operational problems were bound to occur.

This is a fundamental issue. Hu Shutong proposed training for employees, compatibility testing, and a revised process. However, despite multiple reports, no feedback was received because the current situation was too urgent, and people were only focused on business.

Once the equipment was stabilized, full-scale operation began. Tianheng's "fast track" couldn't wait, and Yan Baoming worked tirelessly to renew the contract with the client. Under the new circumstances, Tianheng began to operate at a rapid pace.

It will be New Year's Day 2001 soon.

The year is a summary. For Hu Shutong, this year was like a small boat in a stormy sea, unsure of where to go in the midst of fierce winds and torrential rains, yet full of confidence as he moved forward in the calm and sunny days. There were many times of struggle, and many times of turning point.

So many paths have led me astray; where am I now?

On New Year's Eve, Hu Shutong tried calling Luan Pingxin's dormitory and was surprised to hear Luan Pingxin's voice.

"How's it going on your end?"

"Not so good, how about you?"

"All the goods were returned; they didn't want our products. Now we're back to prepare for the next round. It's really nothing; we were just trying to catch up anyway. It's a technical issue; the gap is the gap. But you, why do you look so dejected?"

"In order to adapt to the market, the company where I interned replaced its advanced equipment with outdated equipment, which caused a huge mess that is hard to explain."

"Then we're in the same boat," Luan Pingxin said with a wry smile. Suddenly, she heard the loud fireworks going off from Hu Shutong's side.

"Shutong, my teacher once said that when we don't know where to go, we should look up."

Hu Shutong raised his head and looked at the colorful and vibrant scene in the distance, as well as the patterns that embodied countless aspirations.

Pingxin, Happy New Year.

……