183: Chapter 183 First Day of Business

The staff member at the window didn't take Zhao Yang seriously at all.

To them, this person registering a business for local specialties was just a country bumpkin.

Hearing Zhao Yang mention work style, the female staff member raised an eyebrow.

"Well, look at the country boy, knows a thing or two. Go ahead and report me if you dare!"

This woman was truly arrogant.

Zhao Yang had thought a warning would make her do her job properly, but he hadn't expected her to be this brazen.

"You said it yourself," Zhao Yang replied coldly, picking up his phone to call Gu Bingzhong, Director of the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce.

"Director Gu, this is Zhao Yang."

When Gu Bingzhong received Zhao Yang's call, he felt a flicker of excitement.

"Secretary Zhao, it's rare that you still remember me, old brother."

His tone was full of eagerness.

Although Zhao Yang had already been transferred to the county, he was once the Governor's secretary—and his most favored one at that.

Being promoted to deputy division level and sent down for experience made it clear to anyone with eyes that he was being groomed for greater things.

"I'm no longer a secretary, just a country bumpkin from the county."

"Secretary Zhao, you're too modest. Just tell me what you need help with."

Gu Bingzhong knew very well that Zhao Yang wouldn't call him for no reason.

The sarcastic tone meant he must have run into trouble.

"Director Gu, I came to your bureau to register a business. I've heard before that government offices are hard to get into, have unfriendly faces, and make things difficult to handle. Today, I finally experienced it myself—what a load of nonsense. See, getting in the door was easy enough!"

Gu Bingzhong's expression changed.

This was a clear accusation that the Administration for Industry and Commerce had unfriendly faces and made things difficult.

Who on earth had provoked him?

Gu Bingzhong forced a dry laugh and quickly said,

"Secretary Zhao, wait right there. I'll be there immediately."

After hanging up, Zhao Yang ignored the window staff and stood to the side, waiting quietly.

Yun Shu had initially considered showing Cenjiang Industrial's credentials, which would surely make the window staff think twice about causing trouble.

Seeing Zhao Yang's reaction, she simply put the company's business license away.

"Mr. Zhao, actually, showing President Lin's credentials would probably speed things up."

Zhao Yang smiled. "Today, I don't just want speed. I want them to open a green channel for me."

The female staff member inside the window shot Zhao Yang a sidelong glance. "Anyone can talk big."

A few minutes later, Gu Bingzhong approached Zhao Yang, extending both hands from a distance to shake his.

"County Magistrate Zhao, what brings you here? Look at this mess. Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"

Zhao Yang replied with a smile, "Director Gu, you're swamped with important matters. How could I dare disturb you with trivial matters from our poor county? But as you can see, I had no choice."

Inside the window, the female staff member's face turned pale as she stared blankly at Zhao Yang.

If you know our director, why didn't you just go to him directly? Are you trying to ruin someone's day?

She quickly stood up and addressed Zhao Yang respectfully,

"Comrade, I'll process your paperwork right away."

She reached out, trying to take the application materials from Zhao Yang.

Zhao Yang ignored her, simply smiling at Gu Bingzhong.

Standing beside Zhao Yang, Yun Shu felt a surge of admiration: ignoring her completely, not even wasting any emotion on her.

This was the most ruthless, top-tier way to show off, bar none.

Seeing the displeasure in Zhao Yang's eyes, Gu Bingzhong understood the situation without needing further explanation.

He took the folder from Zhao Yang and tossed it to the window staff.

"Xiao He, finish all the procedures within half an hour and have your department head bring it to my office!"

Then, he turned to Zhao Yang and Yun Shu. "Please, both of you, come to my office for some tea."

Zhao Yang leaned close to Gu Bingzhong's ear and lowered his voice.

"Your office's work style is lacking. If the province sends an undercover inspection team, they'll catch you red-handed."

Gu Bingzhong quickly dropped his smile. "Thank you for the reminder, brother."

...

The next day, Zhao Yang went to Fenghua Creative, picked up the photographer, and returned to Cangyun County.

Upon arrival, he arranged for Liu Heng to take the photographer to various townships to capture images.

He himself went to find County Magistrate Zhou Jianwei.

When he learned that Zhao Yang wanted to return the poverty alleviation funds, Zhou Jianwei wore a hint of schadenfreude.

"What's wrong, County Magistrate Zhao? Don't worry too much. If this doesn't work, we can try other projects.

"You came from the provincial level and have many connections. You should think of more solutions."

In his view, Zhao Yang's trip to Jiangzhou must have ended in failure.

Opening an online store? Can't even meet people in person. How reliable is that?

What a ridiculous idea!

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yang's next words left him speechless.

"President Lin said that Cenjiang Industrial is setting up a logistics point here precisely because Cangyun County is rich in local specialties. So, she'll be the one opening the online store.

"She also promised that the purchase price for all specialties will be twice the current local market rate."

Zhou Jianwei's expression stiffened for a moment before he smiled.

"That's for the best. We won't have to bear any risks."

Inwardly, however, he sneered: What a beautiful dream. Let's see if you can actually sell anything!

Half a month later, Zhao Yang had completed personnel training and priced the local specialties according to different quantities.

That day, Shen Feiyu sent Zhao Yang a webpage link and product packaging designs via QQ.

It had to be said, she was a professional.

The product links on the online store were similar to those made in later years, with each specialty accompanied by images and text.

They detailed the history and background of each specialty.

At a glance, they made the specialties seem rich in heritage and of high quality.

Zhao Yang stared at the webpage design on the screen, reviewing it from start to finish three times.

The images were exquisite, the copy solid. Each product page was like a window, showcasing the treasures from the depths of Cangyun's mountains to the world.

He took a deep breath and replied to Shen Feiyu on QQ with two words:

"Approved."

Next came the tedious task of listing the products.

One by one, rock fungus, Yunling Mao Feng tea, walnuts, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and cured meat were entered, with inventory, pricing, and shipping templates set up.

The moment everything was listed, Zhao Yang leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

"Done."

Early the next morning, Zhao Yang called the six young people Liu Heng had recruited to his office.

Zhao Yang's gaze swept over their faces before settling on a dark-skinned, lean young man.

"Hu Kai, step forward."

Hu Kai took a step forward, looking somewhat nervous.

Zhao Yang had already reviewed his file. Cangyun Town, desperate to escape poverty, had sent their finest young man.

"Starting today, you're the store manager."

Zhao Yang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"You'll lead order processing, shipping, and customer service. The others will organize supplies from various townships. Everything collected must be strictly registered and sorted according to standards."

On the first day the online store went live, Hu Kai sat in the office of the County Agriculture Bureau's Specialty Industries Division, refreshing the page every so often.

At 10 a.m., it was quiet.

At 11 a.m., still quiet.

He stood up, paced a couple of steps in the office, and sat back down.

At 12:03 p.m., the computer speakers suddenly chimed with a "ding-dong."

Hu Kai lunged toward the screen—an order from Shanghai.

Two boxes of 125-gram Yunling Mao Feng tea, 400 yuan.

He couldn't help but feel astonished. County Magistrate Zhao had set the price at almost ten times the local vendors' purchase rate.

He really dared to ask for the sky.

Didn't these city folks find it expensive at all?

His hands trembled slightly, his heart filled with excitement.

Opening an online store really could work.

At 2 p.m., another "ding-dong." Provincial capital, one bag of 250-gram wild shiitake mushrooms, 100 yuan.

Ten minutes later, a third chime.

Guangzhou, one bag of 500-gram mountain wood ear mushrooms, 60 yuan.

Total sales for the day: 560 yuan.

Hu Kai excitedly picked up the phone and called Zhao Yang:

"We received three orders today. We can collect the goods tomorrow. County Magistrate Zhao, how should we ship them out?"

Zhao Yang was also a bit stumped. Three packages—surely they couldn't ask Wantong Logistics to send a truck just for that?