Chapter 121 - Agricultural and Business Mechanics

June 21, 2012 – Thursday 1 pm – Queens New York – Pink Apron Headquarters

"So, because you've been pumping your profits back into the company, we managed to expand our New Jersey facility and just last April, we opened another warehouse and shipping facility in California." The CEO reported.

Tayaw is back in New York. 

"Hmm.. Cool.. Cool." Tayaw nodded almost losing interest.

Since he bought 51% of Pink Apron last October, he never cared about the company like a shareowner should. Aside from his future knowledge about how the company would go, he also earned and still earning a lot from 'The Halfling' so did not bother going back to check in to Pink Apron.

"Cool? That's it? Tayaw? This is a huge deal! Look, you're my boss, but I have to ask, why do look like you don't care?" The CEO asked.

"Look, Phil. I've been reading your reports. I have to say, it was very exciting at first but it wore off. That facility in California? Okay. That was a pleasant surprise, and I know how big of a deal that is. We're expanding to the west coast after all." Tayaw said. 

"Ugh. I'm just bothered by your attitude that's all… Sorry about that. I'm just not used yet in working without someone breathing down the back of my neck." Phil said.

"It's been 7? 8 months? Calm down, you're doing fine." Tayaw said.

"Doing fine. It's all the work of the developers and founders. I have to say, it's a good choice letting them do the real work, and us handling the money. But I find it too easy that it makes me uncomfortable." Phil chuckled. 

"Heh. At least you have a heart unlike those assholes from Wall Street." Tayaw was amused.

"By the way, I know you're not here for reports. What's up?" Phil finally addressed Tayaw's real intention.

"I want to ask something. While we talk about that, I want to visit the site in New Jersey." Tayaw admitted.

"Alright. Let me call them up."

=======

"Our facility is regulated by the FDA.  Some local and state agents come by here once in a while to check like we're some children. We have designed some meticulous food safety program here and in California. They think they can do food safety better than us?" The facility manager complained while explaining. 

"Hmm. I could see that." Tayaw said.

He noticed how hygienic the sorting area is and he likes it. The room looks pristine and neat like a vacant surgical room, and the workers are wearing more protective equipment than surgeons. 

"Moving on…  We're moving …. This place! Here, we carefully pack the boxes with insulated thermal liners and refrigerants to maintain appropriate temperatures during transit from here to other cities. They will even stay cool until these boxes arrive at our subscribers' doorsteps." The facility manager explained. 

"So that is what these shiny foamy things are called." Tayaw said.

"Yeah. So, that's all we have. You can look at the trucks if you want.  If there's anything you need, just call me, I'll be in the warehouse." The facility manager said as he ended the tour. 

"This place is great, huh? We have a thing in the office. 'Your table is dirtier than the facility floors'." Phil said.

"Hmm. I'm quite obsessive about cleanliness myself. Thank goodness I don't have to visit the offices." Tayaw said.

"So, earlier, you said you want to talk about something." Phil said.

"Yeah. How many subscribers do we have at the moment?" Tayaw asked.

"Around… 95,000 customers." Phil said.

"How many of our subscribers are recent? Like in the past two months?" Tayaw asked.

Phil is starting to get nervous at the question because he knows where it leads to.

"15,000." Phil simply replied.

"Come on. How many really?" Tayaw asked. "Ughhhhh. 40,000." Phil admitted.

"Hah. I knew it. Our numbers grow but we are also losing a lot of subscribers, huh." Tayaw chuckled. 

"Wait. You're fine with it?" Phil asked.

"Yeah. I know how it is. I'm guessing that our subscribership will be like this in a long while." Tayaw said.

"Hmm. Just like what the founders said." Phil said.

"So, don't press them." Tayaw said, which Phil accepted.

"Anyway. I want to use our services for something else." Tayaw said.

"Will it help? In keeping our subscribers?" Phil asked.

"It may, or it may not. Wanna hear it?" Tayaw said.

"Sure." 

"I want to use our services to promote my movie." Tayaw revealed.

"What? You have a movie? Wait, not that. Do you know how bad that would look?" Phil said.

"It won't. Listen. Our boxes go with flyers that has the recipe and procedure on how to cook the ingredients yes?" Tayaw said.

"So, you want to print a promotion on the flyer for your movie." Phil said, getting Tayaw's purpose. 

"Exactly. Not only that. Our subscribers can have some discount on the movie tickets by giving them a promo code on the flyer." Tayaw said.

"How does that work?" Phil said, getting more interested.

"You do know you can order movie tickets online now, right? We will also print out a web link on the flyer on how to order a ticket online and how to enter the promo code for the discount." Tayaw explained. 

"Look. I like how it sounds but how do we even do that? How does that help our company?" Phil said.

"Leave the ticket discounts to me, I'll just leave you the printing. I will also promote the company through the movie posters. Hell, I even made a cut of the film that specifically shows our brand and product." Tayaw said. 

"Oh… That sound great and all, but is your movie even going to be a hit?" Phil asked.

"Well, I can't assure it will be a hit, but a lot of people are going to see it. It won awards in an international film festival after all. It beat the films made here in murica. AND, some singers will be talking about it.

"Anyway, I will put on excerpts of movie reviews, label it with the awards it won, and it will be attractive." Tayaw explained.

"Alright. I'll talk to the other folks." Phil said. While still skeptical, he hopes Tayaw's suggestion would work.

"You're not coming?" Phil was about to leave when he noticed that Tayaw is still standing, scrutinizing the sorting room.

"No. You go back. I'm going to watch the folks. Maybe even get in one of those suits and join the line to see how it feels." Tayaw said. 

"Okay. Have a great time." Phil said. 

=================

Okuba – 8pm

[Liboo. These… We don't need this much tractors! How'd you even get the money to buy these?] Liboo's father, Nungen, said from the other end of the line.

"Dad. The business is doing great. It's okay. You're not getting any younger and if it saves your back for a few years, I'd be happy to help." Liboo lied. The tractors are from Tayaw. 

[Then two should have been enough. One that replaces ours, one for Kilat's family. The horsepower of these tractors are incredible.] Nungen said.

"Well, doesn't Keayo need one for his farm?" Liboo asked.

[This is why you should come home often. Your brother got a new tractor last year.] Nungen said.

"Alright. Then give one to Kilat's brother." Liboo suggested. 

[Lammay's farm is in the mountain side!] Nungen said.

"Dad… Kilat told me that he's building a road. It's not like I sent a huge one. The terraces can handle the weight." Liboo said.

[Alright. I'm just overwhelmed. I feel guilty that it would feel a lot easier, that's all.] Nungen said.

"That's exactly what we want from you. Spend a more time with your grandkids." Liboo said. 

[That's true. By the way, your nephew is in the running for valedictorian! I guess it's not only Payew now, huh?] Nungen said.

"Well, we're sorry we can't come home for the graduation. We'll send him a gift.  Where is he going to college?" Liboo asked.

[I heard he's going NPU to study fisheries sciences. He's going to take over some of his mother's side's fish ponds in the future.]

"I see. Well, I guess Payew and Loyan will be school mates in the future. Payew is planning on studying Agriculture in NPU too." Liboo said.

[Hmm. That's good. That's good…] Nungen said, his tone however, changed.

"Something wrong, dad?" Liboo asked.

[Nothing. I thought your kids would not be interested in farm work just like you are, so I lent what would have been your share of the land to your brother.] Nungen said.

"Oh. That's fine. Look, Keayo's son would be handling his mother's fish ponds, and then Payew can lend a hand to Keayo in the future." Liboo said.

{Oh. That's a good idea. Talking about our kids, how come you haven't talked about Tayaw recently?] Nungen asked. 'Uh oh' Liboo said to himself. 

While Liboo and Kilat are proud about Tayaw's achievements, they do not want their relatives finding out yet. As much as Liboo and Kilat hated to admit it, half of their first and second cousins are drunkards and gamblers, earning just enough for the next bottle of gin and a round of poker.

As much as Kilat and Liboo do not want to imagine their cousins to flock to their wealthy son, they know that there is a huge chance of them exactly doing that. Liboo when he made his first buck driving his van, his cousins went to him to borrow money for various reasons. 

Until this day, they have not paid him back yet. Their smug attitudes of 'I can't pay, what are you gonna do about it?' attitude also bothered Liboo very much that Kilat proposed for them to move away from their villages and that is why they settled in Okuba.

"Well. He's good. He's actually a bar musician right now and he's earning enough to pay for his tuition fees." Liboo said.

[Really? Ahh. If he's good enough to play at a bar, then he must at least be better than us.] Nungen chuckled.

"Oh, he is. Give the kid enough time; he might even become a famous singer." Liboo said. 

[Mmm, doesn't that sound nice? Oh. Your mom's here. She just got back from the neighbor-]

[Hello son! Is that you? The tractors!] Liboo's mom yelled.

"Yes. Mom. Don't worry about it." Liboo sighed.