60: Chapter 61 Korean Farmers' Cooperatives

Inside the warehouse.

Qian Xu looked at the system notification on his phone.

[China Direct Procurement Plan Activated]

[First batch value: 5 billion KRW]

[Estimated arrival time: 72 hours later]

He smiled.

"Representative Kim, regarding the China direct procurement."

"Keep an eye on it."

"Understood."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"I have already contacted the suppliers in Yiwu."

"The first batch of goods has already been loaded."

"It will arrive at Busan Port in three days."

Ham Eun-jung stood nearby.

Watching Qian Xu.

"Qian Xu, can China direct procurement solve all the problems?"

"No."

Qian Xu shook his head.

"Some things."

"China direct procurement is not as good as the local South Korean products."

"For example?"

"Fresh produce."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Vegetables, fruits, and meat."

"These require cold chain transportation."

"China direct procurement has high costs."

"And South Korean consumers."

"Trust local South Korean agricultural products more."

Ham Eun-jung was thoughtful.

"Then what should we do?"

"Partner with South Korean farmers."

Qian Xu smiled.

"I'm going to Gyeonggi-do tomorrow."

"To visit the Farmers Association."

Early the next morning.

Gyeonggi-do, Anseong City.

Mr. Qian was driving.

Kim Min-jun was sitting in the passenger seat.

The navigation showed.

There were 20 minutes left until the destination.

"Qian Xu, how did you think of approaching the Farmers Association?"

Kim Min-jun asked.

"When I was at Yanbian University."

Qian Xu looked ahead.

"I did a research project."

"About South Korean agricultural cooperatives."

"I know their operational model."

"The Farmers Association."

"Is government-led."

"It covers 80% of farmers nationwide."

"They are responsible for unified procurement and unified sales."

"There are fewer intermediate links."

"The prices are 30% cheaper than supermarkets."

Kim Min-jun's eyes lit up.

"Then partnering directly with the Farmers Association."

"Compared to partnering with Lotte Mart."

"Would the cost be lower?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"And the Farmers Association."

"Is not controlled by Lotte Mart."

"They are independent."

At 9:00 AM.

Anseong City, Farmers Association headquarters.

A small three-story building.

A sign hung at the entrance:

"Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association Anseong Branch"

Qian Xu and Kim Min-jun walked in.

The receptionist was a middle-aged woman.

Wearing a green apron.

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

"I am Qian Xu from Yunmengze Life Plaza."

"I have an appointment with President Kim."

"Ah, Mr. Qian!"

The middle-aged woman smiled.

"President Kim is waiting for you on the second floor."

"Please follow me."

Second floor, President's office.

A man in his fifties stood up.

Wearing a white shirt.

Wearing glasses.

Looking very simple and honest.

"Mr. Qian, hello!"

He reached out his hand.

"I am Kim Seong-ho."

"President of the Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association Anseong Branch."

"President Kim, hello."

Qian Xu shook his hand.

"Thank you for taking the time to see me."

"Not at all."

Kim Seong-ho smiled.

"I heard you are going to build a Life Plaza."

"Our Farmers Association is very interested."

"Please sit."

The three of them sat down.

Kim Seong-ho poured a cup of tea for everyone.

"Mr. Qian, I have heard."

"Regarding Lotte Mart."

"They are suppressing you."

Mr. Qian smiled.

"President Kim, you are very well-informed."

"Of course."

Kim Seong-ho also smiled.

"Our Farmers Association."

"Has been cooperating with Lotte Mart for over a decade."

"But they suppress prices too severely."

"The farmers cannot make money."

"Young people are no longer willing to farm."

Qian Xu picked up the teacup.

"So I want to cooperate with the Association."

"Direct procurement."

"No middlemen."

"Farmers can earn more money."

"And we can reduce costs."

Kim Seong-ho nodded.

"This idea is very good."

"But how exactly will we cooperate?"

Qian Xu put down the teacup.

"It's very simple."

"Yunmengze Life Plaza."

"Needs a large amount of fresh produce every day."

"Vegetables, fruits, meat, and eggs."

"We will procure everything directly from the Association."

"We will pay 20% above the market price."

"Cash settlement."

"No arrears."

Kim Seong-ho was stunned.

"20% above?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"The price Lotte Mart gives to farmers."

"Is 80% of the market price."

"We will give 120%."

"The farmers will earn 40% more."

Kim Seong-ho opened his mouth.

"Qian Xu, you are not doing business."

"You are helping the farmers."

"Helping the farmers is helping myself."

Mr. Qian smiled.

"If the farmers earn money."

"They will farm well."

"And produce good products."

"Then I can sell them."

"This is a win-win."

Kim Seong-ho was silent for a few seconds.

Then he stood up.

"Qian Xu, please wait a moment."

He walked out of the office.

A few minutes later.

He brought three people in.

All of them were men in their forties or fifties.

Wearing work clothes.

With soil on their hands.

"Mr. Qian, these are the directors of the Association."

"They are all farmers."

Kim Seong-ho introduced.

"This is Lee Jeong-soo, who grows vegetables."

"This is Park Dae-geun, who grows fruits."

"This is Choi Young-ho, who raises pigs."

Qian Xu stood up.

"Hello, directors."

Lee Jeong-soo looked at him.

"Qian Xu, President Kim said."

"You want to buy at a 20% price increase?"

"Yes."

Mr. Qian nodded.

"It's not a 20% price increase."

"It's 20% higher than the market price."

Lee Jeong-soo frowned.

"Why?"

"What is your goal?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"I am aiming for stability."

"I am aiming for quality."

"I am aiming for trust."

He walked to the window.

Pointing at the farmland outside.

"South Korean farmers."

"Have farmed their whole lives."

"But they cannot make money."

"Because there are too many middlemen."

"Lotte Mart suppresses prices."

"Wholesalers take commissions."

"By the time it reaches the farmers."

"Only half is left."

He turned around.

"I come directly to you."

"No middlemen."

"You earn more money."

"I get good products."

"Consumers get cheap vegetables."

"All three parties win."

Park Dae-geun's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Cash settlement."

"No arrears."

"Long-term cooperation."

"Sign a three-year contract."

Choi Young-ho stood up.

"Mr. Qian, is what you said true?"

"I never lie."

Mr. Qian looked at him.

"The contract can be signed today."

"The first batch of goods."

"Is needed tomorrow."

The meeting room went quiet.

The four directors looked at each other.

Lee Jeong-soo spoke up.

"Mr. Qian, we believe you."

"But there is one condition."

"Speak."

"We want to see first."

"Your Life Plaza."

"Whether it is real."

"Fine."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Tomorrow morning at ten."

"Hongdae, Yunmengze Life Plaza."

"I will personally take you on a tour."

"Good!"

Lee Jeong-soo nodded.

"We will go tomorrow."

Kim Seong-ho smiled.

"Mr. Qian, regarding the contract."

"Shall we sign a letter of intent today?"

"That works."

Mr. Qian nodded.

"Sign the letter of intent first."

"Wait until after the tour tomorrow."

"Then sign the formal contract."

Kim Seong-ho took out a document.

"This is the letter of intent."

"Please take a look."

Qian Xu took it.

Scanned it quickly.

The terms were simple.

Cooperation period of three years.

Price 20% above market price.

Cash settlement.

Monthly settlement.

"No problem."

He picked up a pen.

Signed it.

Kim Seong-ho also signed it.

The two shook hands.

"Happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation."

Walked out of the Farmers Association.

The sun was bright.

The fields of Gyeonggi-do.

Were lush and green.

Kim Min-jun followed behind.

"Mr. Qian, you are truly amazing."

"You settled it in just a few words."

"It's not just a few words."

Mr. Qian smiled.

"It's sincerity."

"It's not easy for farmers to farm."

"What they want."

"Is just a fair price."

He opened the car door.

"Let's go."

"Back to the company."

"We have to host them tomorrow."

In the car.

The phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

[Event: Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association Cooperation Letter of Intent Signed]

[Response: Local South Korean Supply Chain Activated]

[Cultural Export Value: +0.3%]

[South Korean Favorability Towards China: 27.8%]

Qian Xu smiled.

Lotte Mart.

Thought that by cutting off suppliers.

They could kill him off.

But they didn't know.

He had two supply chains.

China direct procurement.

South Korean farmers direct supply.

Double insurance.

No one can stop him.