After summer, the night market starts to come alive. Before it gets dark, vendors gather in the east side of the Drum Tower, circling their stalls and making their own living. Cold skin cold noodles cold noodles, grilled skewers fried skewers cooked skewers, beer and milk tea, oysters and nails, garlic and pepper spicy crayfish.
Hundreds of contention, with the soup taste fresh, fresh dishes, fans a giggle, plus chilled green bean soup cool, selling spicy hot small Zhao became a rising star. In his stall to eat more times, also familiar with him up, a chat only to know that this small stall owner, the original was a state-owned enterprise employees, and he lost his iron rice bowl, is because of a laughable “little thing”.
1
Zhao was originally employed in a state-owned enterprise in Shanghai, working in the most sensitive procurement department. This unit belongs to a large state-owned enterprise, the group chairman, party secretary and president of such positions, are appointed by the Central Organization Department, enjoy the full hall level or deputy ministerial level administrative treatment. The vice presidents and department managers, on the other hand, are mostly old employees of this company.
In 2016, Tang Yong, the Group’s new veteran president, routinely toured the branches. Accompanied by Gao Tianchen, the boss of the Zhejiang branch, he was invited to visit the local sister units. The new official took office, the upper and lower strangers to each other, the following people only know that Tang Yong had previously done the industry committee chairman, the most apprehensive they are the new boss is not an outsider, such a person to power, in all probability to have a big action.
Tang Yong returned from the branch did not immediately convene a management meeting, but first found the vice president Zeng Jian chat. Zeng Jian has been a vice president for 9 years, the president of that desk ambition has been almost worn out – according to the usual, the group vice president wants to transfer, will be sent to other units in advance of two years of experience, Zeng Jian has not been given the opportunity to exercise, knowing that no one in the dynasty, no hope of promotion, just worry about Tang Yong hollow themselves out.
Tang Yong also worried about Zeng Jian this old qualification to trip up their own, after talking about business, intended to contact with Zeng Jian feelings, talked about some of the things that did not, said he went to Zhejiang this time, in the brotherhood of units to drink good tea, “your hometown good ah, good mountains and good water out of good tea, also let the front-line staff to taste, anyway, tea are to buy.
Although Zeng Jian is Zhejiang, but from a young age, his family moved to Shanghai, he did not know what good tea in Zhejiang. Back in the office, Zeng Jian immediately gave the general manager of the procurement department Xu Jun made a phone call: “Old Xu, do not play elimination.” The whole company knows that Xu Jun has two fetishes: one is to eat mixed grain steamed buns, and the other is to play the game. When there is nothing to do at work, he sat inside the office with a tablet, can not move all morning, all afternoon.
Xu Jun answered the phone, Xiao Zhao they are in the office to talk about gossip, said Zeng Jian caught a late small employees in the morning, the people are trained to cry, “this right ah, with a day less yo”. Talking, Xiao Zhao glanced at Xu Jun from the office, and quickly got up and walked over to listen to the leader to give any instructions.
Xu Jun said the tea thing: “Zhao, the big boss asked, this thing to hurry up.”
Xiao Zhao said, “Okay, I’ll hang the announcement and invite bids. But who will mention this demand? Let the office, or the meeting?”
Xu Jun said, “This way, I’ll ask, you put together the information.”
The company’s procurement process is the same as other state-owned enterprises, first the commodity use department submits the “centralized procurement project application form”, the immediate management and the president’s office sign to agree, handed to the procurement department to review the application materials. In order to respond to the central policy, the company stipulates that: for projects below 200,000, the procurement department will procure on its own; for procurement projects over 200,000, it must entrust the bidding agency to conduct public bidding, bid opening, bid evaluation, and bid finalization, and then the procurement contract will be finalized by the law firm, and after the contract is finalized, in addition to the signature of the person in charge, the procurement department, the finance department, the office, and the president’s office will also be required to sign a small signature (contract terms and conditions amount negotiation) After the contract is finalized, the negotiators sign their initials on each page of the contract, which can be signed with only one surname in China).
Xiao Zhao in the procurement department is specifically responsible for bidding. He first contacted the company’s tea supplier at the time for a quote, and the supplier said he had this tea, but not from the same origin. Xiao Zhao saw that he quoted too high, and find out the tea tender when the other should be the phone number of the bidder, so that each sent a quotation.
But Xu Jun ran into a soft nail – the company’s tea “commodity use department” is mainly the office and the conference group, but the office director and conference manager, have politely refused Xu Jun let them submit a request for procurement project table, said let the procurement department to mention their own needs – this “cooperation” in the usual original is a small matter, but the new boss just came, who do not dare to take it lightly.
Xu Jun back to the office was angry enough: “How can we mention? Does it mean that I think the current tea is not good?”
Xiao Zhao knew, in fact, the office director and the meeting manager is this meaning – because Xu Jun is about to retire, “after the autumn not to settle accounts,” which is the unanimous compliance of state-owned enterprises up and down the unspoken rules of self-preservation.
But Xu Jun is also not willing to act against the wind, he still wants to be able to retire back to work. Xiao Zhao vaguely know Xu Jun’s mind, he is even more eager than Xu Jun himself. A valued their own leadership, for young people without roots, is the promotion and salary dependence.
So Zhao echoed: “Manager, we are the actual operation department how can mention the demand? This is not in line with the company’s rules.”
Xu Jun certainly know, but he can not run over to Tang Yong said: according to the rules and regulations, the boss you want to change the tea first write a demand application, we procurement department before the tender.
2
Friday, the tea suppliers faxes came one after another, and Tang Yong said the same origin with the same manufacturer of tea only one has, the price is three times more expensive than the company now with tea. Xiao Zhao put together a quotation and handed it to Xu Jun: “Manager, there is no way to tender this price.”
There is only one supplier, once the tender, the supplier quoted how much the price is how much, the procurement department can only choose to use or not. The company is not short of money, but who dares to break the law and discipline at the tip of the storm? Tea costs suddenly tripled, even if they signed the procurement department contract, the finance manager did not dare to give money.
Xu Jun dragged the quotation in his hand, it is difficult: “This tea, must buy. The smallest thing can not be done, the intention to give the new leader under the horse? Either this, first buy a few cans to other leaders to try. I will make a call to the Zhejiang branch, Xiao Zhao you go to contact, ask the brother company what price, we get this done as soon as possible.”
Before Xiao Zhao had time to contact the branch, his girlfriend’s phone call arrived first, asking him to come home for dinner tomorrow. Thinking that tomorrow is Saturday, Xiao Zhao agreed.
At this time, a phone call came in, Xiao Zhao hurried back to the other side of the phone, but I did not expect that it was the group’s Zhejiang branch boss Gao Tianchen.
It is reasonable to say that Xu Jun and the branch boss greeted, the branch boss will always arrange for the following people and Xiao Zhao contact. If the special face, then contact Xiao Zhao will be the branch vice president, under normal circumstances, is the relevant department manager, and then also the supervisor level, but the branch boss personally docking, really let Xiao Zhao flattered.
Xiao Zhao did not dare to daze, immediately said: “Mr. Gao, such a little thing but also to bother you, really sorry.”
Gao Tianchen said, “No, this is mainly our responsibility. The headquarters leader came down to inspect, we did not even do the most basic reception work, failure to blame, failure to blame ah!”
Later Xiao Zhao figured out Gao Tianchen’s calculations: after the retirement of Xu Jun, Gao Tianchen as the former deputy manager of the procurement department, the current Zhejiang branch boss, back to the group headquarters to replace Xu Jun’s position is not a matter of course? So the matter of tea, for Gao Tianchen, is the new boss is banging the drum.
Gao Tianchen after a few words of courtesy, gave Xiao Zhao a number, said he had greeted, let Xiao Zhao directly contact the head of the sister unit procurement department.
Zhao did not dare to delay, immediately phone over to ask for information. Sister unit purchase price is 450 yuan / pound, but they do not have staff pantry, only as a reception, the amount of tea is very little.
Zhao knew that this is not a good thing: the group headquarters alone a year, tea consumption can be more than a hundred or eighty pounds, 450 yuan a catty of tea is not expensive, but the number of more, the total amount is too high.
He immediately went to Xu Jun to discuss. Xu Jun a thought, let Xiao Zhao travel with him on weekends, the two went directly to the manufacturer to talk. Zhao was worried about violating the law, because according to the bidding law, before and after the party A can not find party B to negotiate the price.
Xu Jun said: “special circumstances, according to the regulations we can also not tender well. I ask you, this tea is not only this factory has?”
“Leader, I understand, ‘single-source procurement’.”
“Single-source procurement” is also known as direct procurement, refers to the limit standards and public bidding amount standards, but the purchase of goods from a single source channel, or a patent, the first manufacturing, contract additions, the original purchase of the subsequent expansion of the project and the occurrence of unforeseen emergencies can not be purchased from other suppliers.
Originally, after the company’s procurement of external bidding, at least three manufacturers that meet the requirements should be bid, in order to open the tender. But currently see this tea source channel single, even if the tender will be too few suppliers and aborted, but is in line with the conditions of single-source procurement.
3
The next day Saturday, Xiao Zhao girlfriend’s family meal is not eaten.
Group regulations, non-front-line employees did not work overtime, no overtime pay, allowances, compensatory time off, transfer. But the tea factory is very remote, in the mountains of southern Zhejiang Province, Xu Jun afraid of delaying work, early in the morning and Xiao Zhao set out.
Off the Changshen high-speed, from Long Li Wen high-speed to 228 provincial highway, along the Qingjingqing line and drove 30 kilometers, finally met the tea factory director to pick them up. Tea factory has not yet entered the Shanghai market, so especially willing to cooperate with well-known state-owned enterprises, not to mention the group procurement department boss personally over, full of sincerity.
After looking at the production plant, the tea factory Duan factory director personally to Xu Jun and Xiao Zhao brewed tea. Xiao Zhao tasted a bite, although it can not say where good, but drink into the mouth indeed than the company’s current tea fragrance.
3 cups of tea down, Duan factory director quoted the price: 480 yuan / kg.
Xu Jun smiling cup of tea.
Xiao Zhao immediately spoke: “Duan factory director, you see our general manager Xu specially run this trip, you know our sincerity ……”
Duan factory director said, “You can rest assured that the quality of our tea absolutely pass.”
Xiao Zhao said, “We did a market survey before coming. Can you see if this offer can be adjusted again?”
“This price is already the lowest.”
“The tea is for our company’s employees’ own use, and if they drink it well, people will buy it themselves, and they will definitely recommend it to their relatives and friends. By the way, ‘DBS’ is the tea purchased at your factory, right? It is our sister company. We know this tea because we have drunk it from them. Factory Director Duan might as well look farther ahead and think about the huge business opportunities here ……”
Repeatedly several rounds, Duan factory director by Xiao Zhao said dizzy: “450, can not be lower. This is the first picking buds before the Ming tea, and then cheap can only be used before the rain tea.”
Duan factory director took out the calculator, the cost of each lump sum to the two listen. Xu Jun is an old purchase, directly waved his hand, said not to gift boxes not cans, bring their own bags to fill.
Duan factory director put the computer aside: “I really do not understand you units, and not no money.”
Xu Jun said, “It’s not a question of money, we have rules and regulations.”
It was almost dark, and the price could not be negotiated. Xu Jun took Xiao Zhao to leave, Duan factory manager hastily stood up, “business can not be love in, eat a good meal to talk again. Duan plant manager said, Xu Jun just did not agree to stay for dinner, Zhao had to use his body to help the leader block the enthusiastic Duan plant manager, all the way to the courtyard tug.
Duan factory manager carrying 5 boxes of tea, standing in front of the factory to watch Xu Jun’s car far away.
The car drove out not far, Xu Jun thought here will not be this one tea factory, and let the driver drive around. Did not look much farther, his cell phone rang, is Gao Tianchen.
Phone call, Xu Jun opened his mouth is: “Xiao Gao ah, this time urgent, the next time I come to treat you to dinner.”
“I’ve been working under you for 10 years, how could I make such a mistake? I just want to ask you, are things going well?”
“The things arranged by the leader, if they don’t go well, they have to go well.”
“Yes, yes, yes, we need this kind of work spirit.” Gao Tianchen tentatively asked, “Or else, part of the account from our branch?”
“No, no, this mistake cannot be made.”
“Hey, it’s still the old superiors who are stable. This idea of mine is too wrong, mainly because I have not listened to your teaching over the years, impetuous.”
Xiao Zhao listened to the heart, but the driver is not the procurement department, some words are not convenient to say.
4
Xu Jun invited Xiao Zhao and the driver after dinner, the three went back to the hotel. Xiao Zhao and the driver a room, and so he finished checking the information, the driver has long snored.
Xiao Zhao see the time is not too late, call Xu Jun. Xu Jun told him to go to the room to talk.
Xiao Zhao handed the information found to Xu Jun: this year, the highest price of spring tea fresh leaves in Zhejiang 90 yuan / kg, the lowest price of 35 yuan / kg. They want bud tea, 80 to 90 yuan a catty. 4 to 5 pounds of fresh leaves to produce 1 catty of dry tea. So this tea, tea factory only the cost of fresh leaves, at least about 320 yuan, plus 30 to 40 yuan of processing fees, 13% VAT, the tea factory to have 10% profit, 450 yuan has indeed reached the bottom price.
Zhao asked: “Since the bottom price has been, and then talk about the estimated no results, why not directly ask the boss?”
“Confused, what is the situation now? You go to ask for instructions, is to throw the problem to the boss. The problem with this tea is not that it is expensive, but that it is more expensive than before! Employee benefits change just like that? People below are watching it! Buy, that word on the application form, you let the boss himself to sign?”
Previously in the private sector 5 years of experience in procurement, so Zhao has always had a fixed thinking: in the company, the boss is the emperor. As long as the boss nod, more expensive, so what?
Xu Jun said: “The big boss just took office, how many eyes on it! We do subordinates, is to share the worries of the leader.”
Xu Jun educated Xiao Zhao: state-owned enterprise group boss position, there will never be only one candidate. After Tang Yong took office, how will the people who lost this position be easily resigned? “Now the discipline inspection to investigate strictly, there are reports must be investigated.”
Xiao Zhao did not want to share the worries of the leadership, he recently had a big thing on his mind.
The company has a mandatory rule: every full two years, the position can be promoted. Two years to, as to rise or not, it is not certain, may not move for ten years.
By the end of this month, Zhao came to the company for two full years. Listen to old colleagues say, the new president just took office to buy hearts and minds, as long as the department head to help employees submitted a promotion report, the president’s office will not reject.
Zhao did not want to miss the opportunity – one Tang Yong just took office, the second Xu Jun will soon retire, and the company has been many years no one can retire and then be rehired.
Xiao Zhao tentatively asked, “Gao said the tea costs can go from the branch?”
Xu interrupted him: “Gao Tianchen can say, we can not mention.”
Xiao Zhao is not a rookie in the workplace, the meaning of Xu Jun’s words, he understood: this favor, to a lesser extent, is the use of public money, to a greater extent, is to break the law and discipline on your behalf. How can I pay back? Xiao Zhao certainly can not pay back.
Gao Tianchen figure is Xu Jun’s retirement, to help him mention a good word in Tang Yong.
Xu Jun cover the thermos: “Gao Tianchen side, we do not need to care, do your own thing. Tomorrow and then go to the tea factory, business is to talk out well, it really can not do it can only go back first.”
Xu Jun wants to avoid risks, safe landing, Zhao does not want to give up so easily. Opportunity for an old man to retire and a young man in the prime of life, the meaning is completely different.
As soon as he woke up on Sunday, Xiao Zhao carried a bag of mixed grain steamed buns, said hello to the driver and went to find Xu Jun. Xu Jun how did not expect that the young man in front of him actually came up with such an idea: “The year after next is the group’s opening centenary, when the media, political and business celebrities will certainly be widely invited to hold a thank-you reception. For the tea factory, this check cashing time is a bit far away, but for the Tea Board to enhance the regional trademark awareness, simply a once-in-a-lifetime good opportunity.”
Xu Jun tore the mixed grain steamed buns and said, “Good idea, too unauthorized, not to be, not to be.”
An old man and a young woman are weighing the value, Gao Tianchen’s phone call came in again. Xu Jun answered the phone and said, “Xiao Zhao ah, Mr. Gao said to find someone to say hello, the tea factory side is willing to adjust the price again, you go to follow up.”
Xiao Zhao was suddenly all relieved: although the credit did not fall into their arms, but not do good. Gao Tianchen took the credit over, also took the responsibility over, even if the tea factory changed its mind about the price increase there is still him this local snake pockets, do not need to own and Xu Jun to intervene, but also to avoid future blame.
“Or Gao always have a way.”
5
After the price is not a problem, the details will soon be negotiated. Xiao Zhao back to Shanghai Group headquarters to write a report, the tea factory will send over the contract. The manager Xiao Zhao review and sign, then take it to Xu Jun to look over and sign, then the chief financial officer to look over and sign, and finally sent to the president’s office.
Tang Yong picked up the contract and asked, “How to suddenly change the tea?”
Xiao Zhao was shocked, said: “President Tang, you said last time that this tea is good, so that the company staff to try.”
Tang Yong put down the pen: “You work quickly and efficiently.”
Xiao Zhao took the contract signed full of names, find the office director stamped the contract, came back to see Xu Jun is playing elimination, take the opportunity to ask: “Manager, the tea factory can not be backed up money, right?”
Xu Jun put down the tablet, the pen goes swimming dragon: “how to engage in the care of Gao Tianchen, all right, let the finance call it.”
Tea factory overnight overtime, the same day sent a batch of spot, said Thursday can all be shipped. In order to save some shipping costs, Gao Tianchen arranged a branch truck to send over. Friday afternoon, once the truck arrived, Xiao Zhao called on the procurement department colleagues to move the goods.
Humming and puffing to move almost, Xiao Zhao’s phone rang.
“Xiao Zhao, the discipline inspection called and asked us to send the recent procurement contract and related information.” At the other end of the phone, Xu Jun paused for a moment, “Someone reported in real names.”
The real name report, the name of the whistleblower will not be public, but the world is not impervious to the wall. Taken away by the discipline inspection to cooperate with the investigation, Xiao Zhao already knew who reported it – was late that day by Zeng Jian caught the little girl of the meeting.
The first batch of tea first to the meeting, the company could not hide the matter, and immediately spread the word is “vice president of the hometown of tea”.
Discipline inspection for half a month did not find economic problems.
“Single source? This tea is only this one has. The question is, other tea will not work? Why do we have to drink this tea?”
No one can answer the discipline inspection this question.
Tang Yong to open the Group Assembly, was named by the head of criticism; Zeng Jian bear the main responsibility, the position was demoted; office director of a chapter, cover off 300,000 year-end awards; financial director of the party disciplinary action, no hope of promotion; Xu Jun “initiative” to retire.
450 yuan a pound of tea is expensive? Not expensive, in 2016 before the Qingming to Suzhou Xishan, tea farmers in the hands of more than 800 yuan a pound.
But for Xiao Zhao, the tea, too expensive – the boss is still the boss, the vice president demoted is still the annual salary of a million leaders, 300,000 just two months salary of the office director, the director of finance has been the director, Xu general manager anyway, almost retired.
But Xiao Zhao was finally dismissed from the disciplinary committee to investigate the case. This stain, so he fought for seven years in the city can no longer be based. Lost his job, the wedding was blown, and everything was gone.
Epilogue
After 2:30 a.m., the customers dwindled. After telling me about his past, Xiao Zhao, all sweaty and hunched over on a plastic stool, stared at the gurgling soup and muttered, “It’s good now.”
“By the way, there is one more thing, I only heard later from the branch people told me.”
In Xu Jun and Xiao Zhao at a loss that Saturday night, Zhejiang branch of the personnel manager gave Gao Tianchen an idea: the branch of that year, the object of precise poverty alleviation for the tea factory is located in the township, the branch donated money to the local township government, the township government will be part of the funds as “microenterprise support funds”, allocated to the tea factory, the condition is that the tea factory low price supply to the group headquarters.
Originally in accordance with the provincial government that year “on supporting the development of micro enterprises” policy provisions, support objects must be engaged in scientific and technological innovation, creative design, software development, ethnic handicraft processing enterprises, the tea factory can not be included, but Gao Tianchen a meal, the township and the village leaders.
Gao Tianchen also directly overnight to get a school activities, help the object is the tea factory that village children, in fact, for the tea factory to pay wages, in addition to the village donated money to repair the road, part of the money as the tea factory to pay the village rent.
These things, the people do not raise, the officials do not investigate, although the group’s subsequent turmoil did not directly involve Gao Tianchen, but the road to promotion of Gao Tianchen, also ended here.
(All characters in the article are pseudonyms)
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