pjbooks Chapter 83 [Time to Assign Tasks]
Chapter 83 [Time to Assign Tasks]
Chapter 83 [Time to Assign Tasks]
At his desk, Liu Zhuohao was checking the purchase orders handed to him by Huang Weixiong and others when he received a phone call.
"Hello, is this Mr. Liu Zhuohao, the owner?"
The voice on the other end of the phone was slightly serious and businesslike: "Hello, this is the Market Supervision Bureau. Regarding the previous report filed by someone with their real name about your stall, our investigation has yielded results."
Liu Zhuohao perked up and sat up straight: "Hello, please go ahead."
Beside them, Huang Weixiong and the others also perked up, standing up and gathering their phones to listen.
"We've found the people who reported you, and there's more than one." The other person paused, seemingly choosing their words carefully. "Preliminary investigations indicate that they are likely—competitors trying to steal your business."
"During our investigation, we discovered that they were already contacting similar suppliers to you, and it seems they intend to copy your model and also sell street-side steaks."
Beside him, Huang Weixiong suddenly clapped his hands.
The others also had the same expression, as if they had known it all along.
"Our department takes this case quite seriously, and we strive for rigor in the investigation and evidence collection process, which has taken a bit longer than expected. We hope you understand," the other party explained, then got to the point, "By the way, would it be convenient for you to come to our department at nine o'clock tomorrow morning?"
"Okay." Liu Zhuohao immediately agreed, thinking that a meeting was about to be arranged. He wondered if he should contact the local lawyer his cousin had found for him.
"Okay, also, we've contacted a reporter from the TV station." The other person's tone seemed more relaxed, and their voice rose slightly. "The whistleblowers have also agreed to come forward. We can do a brief on-site mediation and interview together, as a way of giving a public explanation for this matter. What do you think?"
Exclusive interview? On-site mediation? Whistleblower consents to appear on camera?
Liu Zhuohao's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly as he gripped his phone.
Instead of feeling relieved, my heart sank.
As Liu Zhuohao sorted out his thoughts, he asked, "—What kind of interview is it exactly?"
What is the general process?
"Oh, I see." The other party seemed to have been prepared and explained, "After all, your matter has already made it into the local news, causing quite a stir, and it has attracted a lot of public attention."
"As the competent authority, we must give everyone a final and public explanation. This is also a good opportunity to regulate market order and explain the law through cases."
Very official.
He paused, his tone slightly more serious, as if emphasizing the gravity of the matter: "Moreover, their actions, in nature, are already showing signs of false accusation, framing, and provoking trouble."
"Of course, the situation is definitely not that serious yet."
"Therefore, we also contacted our colleagues in the public security department to participate in and jointly handle this matter."
Police intervention?
Liu Zhuohao's eyes narrowed slightly; this was somewhat unexpected, as the level seemed to have been raised.
Actually, what we're considering is—
The other party's tone softened slightly, taking on a more considerate tone, "If you plan to pursue civil litigation later, demanding compensation or a public apology, this mediation and interview can serve as an important step and piece of evidence."
"It seems that the police have already had preliminary communication with several of the parties involved, and they—presumably—have agreed to this approach."
Liu Zhuohao keenly caught the word, "It should mean he agreed."
This means that the so-called "consent to appear on camera" may not be entirely voluntary, but rather a choice made under some kind of pressure or trade-off.
"There's also the issue of compensation."
The other party then shifted the conversation to a more practical level, saying, "This is likely—the amount won't be too large."
"Boss Liu, I hope you can understand."
"Given your situation, it is indeed quite difficult to determine the duration of the impact on your stall's business and the specific losses, as there is a lack of very precise data to support this."
"Therefore, the specific method and amount of compensation will have to wait until the on-site mediation, when everyone sits down and talks calmly."
"We will have representatives from both the market supervision and public security departments present to help you clarify responsibilities and coordinate a solution acceptable to both parties."
The statement was very thorough and fair, taking all aspects into consideration, including public disclosure, joint law enforcement, civil groundwork, and on-site mediation.
But the unease in Liu Zhuohao's heart became clearer and clearer.
too fast.
That's perfect.
"However, after this interview, we're considering giving you a little publicity boost." The voice on the other end of the phone rose slightly, "or rather, a little recognition."
Liu Zhuohao held his phone, not answering, but just listening quietly.
"After all, you're in business, so you should know the situation in our city." The other person's tone carried a hint of candor. "It's really rare to see a business like yours, so young yet so law-abiding, with all the necessary permits and procedures."
"Not to mention you're just a street vendor, which falls into a difficult and key area for our supervision."
"In today's market environment, competition is fierce, and many people like to resort to underhanded tactics." The other party sighed, "There aren't many business owners who are willing to proactively abide by rules and regulations and keep compliance in mind."
"Many people take chances and only start looking for connections and solutions when problems arise, even trying to take shortcuts that are not allowed in the proper procedures."
"This actually adds a lot of unnecessary burdens and obstacles to our daily supervision work."
So—
His voice became serious again, "We want to take this opportunity of the successful resolution of this incident, using you as a positive example, and through the media, to give a proper warning to our business friends, whether you are a street vendor or a shop owner, that you must operate in compliance with regulations."
"Don't wait until something goes wrong, you're reported, or you're investigated before you think about taking remedial action. By then, it's often too late, and the cost is too high."
His words were spoken in a grand and reasonable manner.
Liu Zhuohao held his phone, listening to what seemed like a glorious event, but remained expressionless.
A controversy sparked by a malicious whistleblower was cleverly transformed into an opportunity for publicity, showcasing a positive example of compliant business practices.
And I, on the other hand, was naturally thrust into this "typical" position.
"Actually, this kind of typical example is unnecessary."
Liu Zhuohao tried to salvage the situation, saying, "After all, I'm not anyone—"
Before I could even finish speaking, a kind voice came through the phone.
"Boss Liu, since you chose to report this to the media and create such a buzz, attracting so much attention."
He said calmly, "Then we must bear the responsibility and obligation that comes with this attention and bring this matter to a perfect conclusion, isn't that right?"
Liu Zhuohao remained silent.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You're right, I didn't think it through. I'll go there tomorrow and I'll definitely cooperate."
The person on the phone was satisfied: "It's good that you understand."
The phone call lasted less than three minutes, but Liu Zhuohao felt a chill run down his spine and was covered in sweat.
"Boss! You're going to be on TV again?!" Huang Weixiong was the first to jump up, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. "From what they were saying earlier, it sounds like this is great news! They're even going to give you a commendation!"
"Yeah, yeah, this is the first time I've seen someone so responsible, it's great!" Li Zekai chimed in, with a touch of youthful longing for official recognition. "I took my mom to check her social security before, and we went to so many places before we finally figured out how much we needed to pay back. It was so frustrating, they passed the buck like crazy!"
Although Cheng Bing and Yang Boran didn't speak, their eyes gleamed, clearly indicating that they considered it an honor.
Compared to their simple excitement, Liu Zhuohao felt a heavy weight pressing on his heart.
Is this a good thing?
This is certainly a "good thing".
Official endorsement, positive role models, media attention—these are the hallmarks of a young entrepreneur just starting out.
In an environment where personal connections often play a role and procedures are often cumbersome, encountering such a responsible department that even proactively helps you plan and promote your work and establish role models sounds like winning the lottery.
But Liu Zhuohao knew in his heart that if he gained benefits, he would have to bear the corresponding pressure, which might even be a price far exceeding expectations.
At this stage, his "experience" and knowledge from his previous life, which were limited to small-time vendors, are becoming increasingly insufficient.
He had never even come close to something like "officially endorsed exemplary figures" in his previous life.
A top blogger who can directly communicate with the head of a certain self-media platform? That's something I wouldn't even dare to dream of!
In his past life, he didn't even have a regular operational contact channel on the platform; when he encountered problems, he could only go to cold, impersonal...
Customer service robots that only copy and paste are arguing.
Therefore, aside from his foresight, his greatest strength in getting to this point is perhaps his ability to remain calm and composed in the face of such an unexpectedly complex situation, without being swayed by emotions.
A typical example of food hygiene and safety.
This title, taken alone, is an honor and a halo.
On the other hand, it is also a shackle, a magnifying glass, and an invisible tight band.
Liu Zhuohao leaned back in his chair, his eyes tightly closed, his fingers pressing on his throbbing temples.
This matter was completely outside his original plan.
Or rather, it appeared too early!
Once he's labeled as a "typical" figure, the obstacles he'll face when trying to expand and open new stores will not only come from competition with his peers.
Greater pressure will come from customers' almost demanding expectations and from regulatory authorities' more frequent and stricter scrutiny.
after all-
You've been made a prime example of food hygiene and safety!
You absolutely cannot afford to make any mistakes!
To avoid making mistakes, we need more rigorous checks!
At least the inspections by regulatory authorities have clear and explicit legal provisions and qualification standards.
As long as the hardware, processes, and qualifications all meet the standards, you can pass the test.
However, the acceptable standard in the customer's mind is flexible and subjective.
Today they might think your kitchen is spotless and spotless, but tomorrow they might see a fly fly in and think that it's nothing special and that something's fishy going on.
In terms of environment, especially in the southern coastal areas, it is quite difficult to run a catering business where you can't find a single insect.
When it comes to food, like spicy strips, everyone knows they may not be very healthy or hygienic, but that doesn't stop many people from enjoying them.
However, if a similar controversy occurs in a store that is considered a "model of food hygiene," public opinion can turn against it in an instant.
What weighed even heavier on his mind was another event that was about to happen.
A new regulation concerning food safety is about to be introduced and will be strictly enforced!
Liu Zhuohao suddenly opened his eyes and quickly started searching on the computer.
Sure enough, there have been related discussions and rumors online, and some other cities have even begun pilot programs to address the issue.
But in their small town, where the pace of life is always a step behind, things are currently calm and nothing is happening.
The street vendors here can be described as "outlaws" in some ways.
It doesn't mean they broke the law, but rather that it's a customary, crude, but effective rule.
This is true now, and it will remain true for a long time to come.
Rather than having to run away as soon as the city management officers arrive, the vendors nowadays are probably more used to smiling and offering a cigarette, exchanging greetings, and understanding each other without saying a word.
But next year, everything will change.
Stricter standards, more frequent inspections, and more standardized procedures—in this small city, many food streets and roadside stalls will be shut down.
The rules of the entire industry will be reshaped.
At that time —
I, who was forcibly labeled a model of food hygiene and safety, am like someone being roasted on a hot stove!
Liu Zhuohao could almost foresee what kind of comments would follow: "Could it be because of Boss Liu's matter that the investigation is so strict now?"
"Sigh, it's fine if he's clean and follows the rules, but why does he have to drag us down with him? Is it easy for us to earn a living? Now they come to inspect us every other day, and we can't do business at all!"
"If we pass the inspection, that's fine, but I'm worried about failing! This is something we've eaten since we were kids, a family recipe passed down through generations, how could it not be compliant?"
Most people won't delve into the fact that this is due to the full implementation of new national regulations, nor will they understand the changes in the broader environment.
They will only directly experience the inconvenience and loss.
In searching for the "reason," he found himself to be a particularly conspicuous example, having been prominently highlighted by the authorities not long ago.
Then you'll become the target of everyone's complaints and venting of dissatisfaction!
After all, the timing is just too coincidental.
but----
This is the standard that should be followed in the catering industry.
Liu Zhuohao only felt pressure, not resistance.
Retracing my steps, I realized that it took me far less time than I had expected to go from an unknown junior student making hand-pulled pancakes to the current Boss Liu.
In just half a year, he had already covered a distance that might have taken him several years to traverse in his previous life.
Although, at present, the assets are just a roadside stall, a few employees, and more than 200,000 yuan in cash.
However, its fame is far greater than it once was.
And with fame—
We need to get our shops up and running as soon as possible before the new regulations officially take effect here.
Liu Zhuohao opened a document containing information about suppliers, locations, renovation companies, and other miscellaneous matters that had been confirmed over the past few days.
"Ah Wei, you guys come in."
He called out towards the outside, "It's time to get things done."
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