Episode 6 recap: Zhao Kai Cancels Franchise Termination Plan
In Episode 6, Zhao Kai shares his new plan with Fang Fang: he intends to convert the current franchise stores into company-owned stores. This move means that the siblings who used to work for Fang Fang in the delivery business will officially become employees of Shidai Logistics, with salary and benefits that will be at least as good as before.
Zhao Kai's main goal is to make management easier and to resolve the various issues that have been causing problems. He wants everyone to follow the same guidelines.
When Fang Fang hears that Zhao Kai came to discuss this personally, she feels a bit confused, especially since they are not just business partners but also friends. Initially, she is pleased with Zhao Kai's idea, but by evening, she changes her mind and decides she doesn't want to terminate the franchise or convert to company-owned stores.
In fact, the board of directors is also against Zhao Kai's decision. Why? Because terminating the franchise would incur significant costs, which would have to be covered by the board's sponsors. For them, saving money and maximizing profits is the priority. To garner more votes, board members approach Xu Dao Ming, offering him a promotion if he votes against Zhao Kai. They assure him that the new position won’t be much lower than Zhao Kai's.
Xu Dao Ming is quite ambitious and recognizes Zhao Kai’s capabilities, but he believes in making decisions based on data. He thinks that data-driven decisions are the most reliable.
Then there's Xing Wen Hao, who has recently invested all his savings into oil futures, only to see oil prices plummet. His company is struggling financially, and the bank is pressing for financial statements. In a bid to secure more loans, Xing Wen Hao resorts to creating a fake financial report for the bank. His son, Vincent, is terrified once he discovers this, knowing that falsifying documents is illegal.
Vincent feels he has no choice but to seek Xu Dao Ming's help with the fake report. Xu Dao Ming advises him to keep quiet and act as if he knows nothing, while discreetly taking the fake report away.
After some reflection, Zhao Kai realizes that his initial approach was a bit hasty; converting everything to company-owned stores might not be the best solution. While some franchises do have issues, many are performing well. Therefore, he announces at the board meeting that he will improve the cooperation system with franchisees, warning that anyone who misbehaves will face legal action.
After the meeting, Zhao Kai takes a moment to chat with Xu Dao Ming. He acknowledges that Xu's decision to vote against him is based on his considerations for the company's future, unlike the board members who only focus on money. Xu Dao Ming has risen from analyst to his current position through his own hard work.
Additionally, Zhao Kai is in a panic when a shipment of medical supplies he is transporting gets into an accident. The supplies have strict temperature requirements, and he frantically works to reroute the shipment while ensuring the items remain intact. Remembering that Fang Fang is nearby, he quickly calls her for assistance.
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