88: Chapter 89 South Korean Farmers Stand Together

Early the next morning.

Gyeonggi-do, Anseong City.

Qian Xu and Kim Min-jun sat in the Farmers Association meeting room.

Park Jung-ho sat opposite them.

Along with a dozen or so farmer representatives.

Tea was set out on the table.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

"Mr. Qian, I understand everything you said."

Park Jung-ho set down his teacup.

"Lotte Mart…"

"...also sent us a notice."

"Choose one or the other."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I know."

"That's why I came today."

"I wanted to hear your thoughts."

Park Jung-ho glanced at the other farmer representatives.

"We have discussed it."

"We have decided to support Yunmengze."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Chairman Park, are you sure?"

"I am sure."

Park Jung-ho smiled.

"Lotte Mart has suppressed us for ten years."

"The purchase prices keep getting lower."

"The payment cycles keep getting longer."

"We have had enough."

An old farmer nearby nodded.

"That's right."

"Last year, Lotte Mart…"

"...pushed the purchase price of cabbage below our cost."

"We lost money every season we planted."

"If this continues…"

"...the land will go to waste."

Qian Xu looked at them.

"But choosing Yunmengze…"

"...might offend Lotte."

"Aren't you afraid of retaliation?"

Park Jung-ho smiled.

"What is there to fear?"

"We are farmers."

"We rely on the land."

"Not on Lotte."

"As long as Yunmengze offers a reasonable price…"

"...we will cooperate with you."

Qian Xu stood up.

And extended his hand.

"Chairman Park, thank you."

"I promise."

"The price Yunmengze offers…"

"...will definitely be 10% higher than Lotte Mart."

"And we will pay in cash immediately."

"We will never delay payment."

Park Jung-ho shook his hand.

"Good."

"It's a deal."

The meeting room erupted in applause.

The farmer representatives were all smiling.

Kim Min-jun stood to the side, his eyes welling up.

"Mr. Qian, let's sign the contract."

"Okay."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Let's sign it today."

Two in the afternoon.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Qian Xu had just returned to his office.

His phone vibrated.

It was a call from Kim Min-jun.

"Mr. Qian, something has happened."

"What's wrong?"

"Lotte Mart…"

"...found out that the Farmers Association signed with us."

Kim Min-jun's voice sounded urgent.

"They have started applying pressure."

"How are they applying pressure?"

"The Lotte Mart procurement department…"

Kim Min-jun said.

"...contacted the Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association directly."

"They said they would cancel all cooperation."

"Including next year's spring planting orders."

Qian Xu frowned.

"And then?"

"As for the Farmers Association…"

Kim Min-jun paused.

"...there is internal division."

"A few farmer representatives…"

"...are starting to waver."

"They are afraid of Lotte Mart's retaliation."

"After all, Lotte Mart is the second-largest retailer in South Korea."

"The order volume is huge."

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair.

"Who is wavering?"

"Mainly those who grow fruit."

Kim Min-jun said.

"Fruit has high profit margins."

"Lotte Mart's prices are decent too."

"They are afraid of losing Lotte's orders."

Qian Xu was silent for a few seconds.

"Okay, I understand."

"I will go to Gyeonggi-do tomorrow."

"And talk to them in person."

"Okay."

Kim Min-jun hung up.

Qian Xu put down his phone.

Looking out the window.

The sky over Seoul.

Was somewhat gloomy.

He knew.

This battle.

Had only just begun.

Lotte Mart would not admit defeat easily.

But it didn't matter.

He had the Dual Supply Chain.

He had China Direct Sourcing.

He had the support of the Farmers Association.

No one could stop him.

Seven in the evening.

Cheongdam-dong, apartment.

Qian Xu returned home.

Changed his clothes.

And was getting ready to cook.

The doorbell rang.

He walked over to open the door.

And was stunned.

Jeon Bo-ram was standing at the door.

Wearing pink pajamas.

Her hair was messy.

She was holding a bowl of kimchi stew.

"Mr. Qian, have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

Qian Xu smiled.

"How about you?"

"I haven't eaten either."

Jeon Bo-ram handed him the kimchi stew.

"I made kimchi stew."

"I made too much."

"Do you want to try some?"

Qian Xu took the bowl.

Took a look.

The kimchi stew was red.

And steaming hot.

It looked pretty good.

"Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Jeon Bo-ram smiled.

"Then eat slowly."

"I'll head back now."

She turned around.

Took two steps.

And stopped again.

Looking back at him.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Today's matter."

"I heard about it."

"Lotte Mart…"

"...is stirring up trouble again."

Qian Xu was stunned for a moment.

"How did you know?"

"Eunjung Unnie told me."

Jeon Bo-ram looked at him.

"She said you were in Gyeonggi-do."

"Signing a contract with the Farmers Association."

"And that Lotte Mart is applying pressure."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Yeah."

"But it's fine."

"I can handle it."

Jeon Bo-ram looked at him.

Her eyes filled with concern.

"Mr. Qian."

"Don't overwork yourself."

"Your health is important."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"I know."

Jeon Bo-ram then turned around.

And went back to her own home.

Qian Xu carried the kimchi stew.

Walked into the kitchen.

Opened the lid.

Took a taste.

It tasted pretty good.

Jeon Bo-ram's cooking skills.

Had improved.

He smiled.

This girl.

Really knows how to care for people more and more.

Early the next morning.

Gyeonggi-do, Anseong City.

Qian Xu and Kim Min-jun arrived at the Farmers Association again.

This time.

There were only five people in the meeting room.

Park Jung-ho sat in the main seat.

His expression was not good.

"Mr. Qian, I'm sorry."

"A few representatives didn't come."

"They..."

"They are scared."

Qian Xu nodded.

"I understand."

"Chairman Park, can you help me contact them?"

"I want to talk to them in person."

Park Jung-ho hesitated for a moment.

"Okay."

"I'll try."

Ten in the morning.

Anseong City, a fruit plantation.

Qian Xu and Kim Min-jun stood in the greenhouse.

Opposite them stood a farmer in his fifties.

His surname was Li.

He had been growing strawberries for twenty years.

"Uncle Li, hello."

Qian Xu extended his hand.

Uncle Li hesitated for a moment.

But still shook it.

"Mr. Qian, I know why you are here."

"But I really have no choice."

"Lotte Mart…"

"...gave me an ultimatum."

"If I cooperate with Yunmengze…"

"...they will cancel next year's orders."

"I have grown strawberries for twenty years."

"My annual output is 50 tons."

"I sell it all to Lotte Mart."

"If I lose this order…"

"...my whole family will have nothing to eat."

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Uncle Li, what price does Lotte Mart give you?"

"8,000 won per kilogram."

Uncle Li said.

"The market price is 10,000 won."

"They suppressed it by 20%."

"But I have no choice."

"Except for Lotte Mart…"

"...no one can absorb my 50-ton output."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Uncle Li, what if I offer…"

"...11,000 won per kilogram?"

Uncle Li was stunned.

"11,000?"

"10% higher than the market price?"

"Yes."

Qian Xu nodded.

"And I promise."

"Starting next year."

"Yunmengze Life Plaza…"

"...will open chain stores."

"By then."

"Your strawberries…"

"...will all be sold exclusively by us."

Uncle Li looked at him.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Xu extended his hand.

"We can sign a contract."

"Three-year term."

"The price will increase by 5% every year."

Uncle Li took a deep breath.

Then shook his hand.

"Okay."

"I'll sign."

Two in the afternoon.

Apgujeong, Yunmengze Building.

Qian Xu had just returned to his office.

Kim Min-jun pushed the door open and entered.

With a smile on his face.

"Mr. Qian, it's done."

"Uncle Li signed."

"The other few wavering farmers…"

"...also signed."

"They saw Uncle Li sign…"

"...and followed suit."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Good."

"What about Lotte Mart?"

"They found out."

Kim Min-jun said.

"The procurement department…"

"...is furious."

"But they can't do anything about it."

"The farmers signed voluntarily."

"They have no say in it."

Qian Xu leaned back in his chair.

"That's good."

"Now."

"Lotte Mart's supplier alliance…"

"...has started to crack."

Kim Min-jun nodded.

"Yes."

"As long as the farmers are stabilized here…"

"...the other suppliers…"

"...will also start to waver."

"After all."

"Who doesn't want to make more money?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"That's right."

"That is human nature."

His phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

Qian Xu tapped it open.

[Gyeonggi-do Farmers Association cooperation completed]

[Contracted farmers: 12]

[Covered categories: cabbage, radish, strawberry, apple]

[Supply chain stability: S-rank]

He smiled.

Put away his phone.

"Representative Kim, let's celebrate tonight."

"Call T-ARA."

"Let's have a meal together."

"Okay."

Kim Min-jun smiled.

"I'll arrange it right away."