The latter seemed unconcerned and light.
The spice packs were indeed key to their cooked food, and her spice pack contained not only spices but also several traditional Chinese herbs, all mixed in precise proportions.
She had processed all the raw materials into powder, so even if she presented the spice pack openly for everyone to study, with the current technology, it was estimated that no one could decipher the formula’s proportions.
However, if it were merely an employee’s mistake, it might be okay, but if there was an insider in the food factory who stole their spice packs, this issue needed to be seriously addressed.
“Old Su, I’m leaving this matter to you.”
The food factory was now Su Wensong’s turf; a minor issue like this didn’t require Lin Chuxia’s intervention; she just needed to wait for the results.
But before she even heard any news from Su Wensong, there was a disturbance at the bun shop.
That day, when she arrived at the bun shop, she saw Qin Han and Zhang Guilan sitting around a table, eating a plate of cooked food.
“What is this?”
Though it was all cooked food, Lin Chuxia could tell at a glance that the plate on the table was different from what Qin’s sold.
“You’ve come at just the right time, sister-in-law,” Qin Han pushed the plate of cooked food towards Lin Chuxia, “This is the cooked food from the sales department of the Old Food Factory across the street, try it and see how it tastes.”
Lin Chuxia, puzzled, knew they had previously eaten the Old Food Factory’s cooked food, but she still picked up her chopsticks and gave it a try.
“This flavor is indeed somewhat similar to our cooked food.”
Lin Chuxia put down her chopsticks and spoke indifferently.
“I heard that the Old Food Factory has recently revised their formula. To promote their new product, they’ve even reduced the price by ten percent, taking away quite a few of our customers.”
Qin Han spoke indignantly, not pleased about the situation.
“What do you mean by revised? No matter how much they improve their processing, can the taste be better than our Qin’s cooked food? I think it’s just the same old trick; they want to wage a price war to attract customers. Haven’t they learned their lesson?”
Concern was evident on Zhang Guilan’s face, “Are they trying to figure out the formula for our cooked food?”
“Not just trying, but there’s something I haven’t mentioned yet. A while ago, two spice packs went missing from Xiyang Food Factory; judging by this situation, it seems likely that the Old Food Factory got them and is trying to decipher our food formula.”
As Lin Chuxia finished speaking, Qin Han frowned and looked over, “What happened? Weren’t the spice packs always carefully managed? How could they go missing?”
“I don’t know, Su Wensong has been dealing with this matter these past few days, and there are no results yet.”
“It must be someone who stole the spice packs and gave them to the Old Food Factory; it’s utterly detestable. Doesn’t she think about it? If the Old Food Factory takes our business, it will ultimately be us employees who suffer.”
These words came from Chen Chunhua, and Zhang Guilan greatly agreed with her.
“The factory can only give everyone bonuses and benefits if its business is doing well. If we really lose business, not to mention bonuses, it would be good to even keep our jobs. I heard that during the New Year period, the food factory suffered losses, and many employees faced layoffs.”
“I think we need to investigate thoroughly and find out who the heartless person is.”
Chen Chunhua looked aggrieved; Lin Chuxia glanced at her and said, “Since Xiyang Food Factory was established, Ma Yingzi has been in charge of the spice packs. I’ve already asked Su Wensong to suspend her from duty while the investigation is carried out.”
“Suspended?” Zhang Guilan frowned slightly, “Yingzi and Yongli, her husband, have always been doing well. It shouldn’t be Yingzi’s doing.”
Ma Yingzi and Pang Yongli could be said to be some of their earliest employees. Back when they had just returned to the city and had no jobs, they didn’t even have stable meals.
Ever since they came to work at the bun shop, they have been diligent and always took the lead, never complaining about hardship or dirtiness.
When Zhang Guilan and Qin Han first started working at the bun shop, they had interacted with Ma Yingzi for a period and understood her character. They couldn’t believe that betraying the company and Lin Chuxia would be something she would do.
“Even if she didn’t do it, she was in charge of the seasoning packets, and it’s her responsibility that they are missing now.”
Zhang Guilan also understood this principle. Without rules, there can be no squares or circles, and for such a big company, there must be regulations.
She just hoped that the investigation would be conducted quickly, and also there was their cooked food business…
“Sister-in-law, is there anything you need your big brother and me to do?”
Qin Han looked over as well.
Now that something has happened in the factory, as the elder brother and sister-in-law, they should lend a hand.
Zhou Hongmei also said, “Otherwise, shall we call the police? The police will surely have a way.”
“Call the police? Just for two seasoning packets, will the police care about this?” Chen Chunhua said.
Lin Chuxia shook her head, “Calling the police won’t be very helpful, firstly because seasoning packets aren’t really valuable, the police might not even open a case, and there’s no proof that the packets were lost; they might have just been misplaced or overstocked by the staff.”
“It’s impossible, the new formula at the Old Food Factory is very similar to ours, they must have stolen our seasoning packets,” Qin Han firmly believed it was no coincidence.
But as much as he said, he knew that the police prioritize evidence, so this matter had to be set aside for now.
Lin Chuxia had them adjust the prices of the cooked foods and also offered a ten percent discount.
Qin Han and Zhang Guilan were both tinged with worry.
Was this going to be another price war?
The issue around the Spring Festival was still fresh in their minds, although they had opened other markets for their cooked foods, it definitely impacted the bun shop’s business.
“Sister-in-law, there’s something else I want to discuss with you,” Zhang Guilan stopped Lin Chuxia.
“What is it, Sister-in-law?”
“Here’s the thing, we’re still getting vegetables from the market station, and you know, Qin Family Village are mostly vegetable farmers, every household grows vegetables, and if we buy directly from the village, it should be much cheaper than from the market station and the night market.”
They also use quite a lot of vegetables every day.
Originally, Li Jian was at the market station, Zhang Guilan knew Lin Chuxia got vegetables from there also because of Li Jian’s influence.
Now that Li Jian had been transferred, it seemed rather pointless to continue getting vegetables from the market station.
In the past, buying vegetables through Li Jian at the market station was one cent more expensive per catty compared to the market price, but 2~3 cents cheaper than the night market.
Getting them directly from villagers would be even cheaper.
Lin Chuxia shook her head, “Sister-in-law, I know it’s cheaper to get vegetables directly from the villagers, but it’s not very convenient to operate. Besides, putting the price aside, the quality of the vegetables is not guaranteed.”
Vegetables from the market station are carefully selected, and any issues can be directly addressed. If it’s from villagers in the village, not only will they feel you are being too picky, but it could also hurt goodwill.
With this reminder from Lin Chuxia, Zhang Guilan immediately thought of this aspect.
“You see, I was just thinking about the issues with our cooked food and was trying to save some costs for our bun shop on the vegetables, let’s still get them from the market station then.”
“I know Sister-in-law means well.”
Lin Chuxia smiled, and glanced in Chen Chunhua’s direction, while she was talking with Zhang Guilan, she always felt a gaze from that direction.
Indeed, as soon as she met eyes with Chen Chunhua, the latter hurriedly looked away.