Chapter 229: Looks Easy, Fails On The First Try
So the incident location was absolutely not Jiangcheng.
There was also a museum in some place, which should have been transported away in batches at that time.
The curator was naturally the last to leave.
Unexpectedly, the museum caught fire that very night, but fortunately Zhen Xi’s maternal grandfather had already transferred the treasures and sent loyal subordinates to guard them.
This transfer must have been from Beidu.
It was very chaotic at the time, and the airplanes at the airport were all transporting high-ranking officials and benefactors, of course, these were treasures, and the leaders at the time definitely wanted to take them all away.
When the tide had turned, those people forced the people to hand over all the gold in their hands, saying it was to exchange for money, but they gave worthless paper bills.
Actually, what we took over was truly a devastated land, with countless treasures taken away, and we didn’t even know how much.
That said, the last batch of treasures transferred from Beidu, did they go to the South or the North?
If to the South, they definitely had to be transported by airplane.
If to the North, there were likely spies back then, and they wanted to transport the things through Jiangcheng to Japan.
Of course, all of this presupposes that the batch of things in the reed marsh was the one protected by Zhen Xi’s grandfather.
All these thoughts faded away when he saw Zhen Xi get out of the car.
Lu Qiaoge smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Zhen Xi.
They were already very familiar, and Zhen Xi’s attitude had become much friendlier.
Lu Qiaoge saw the gauze wrapped around his wrist and naturally asked: “Mr. Zhen, this is…?”
Zhen Xi frowned slightly, then said lightly: “It’s nothing, just accidentally nicked by the razor.”
Lu Qiaoge looked at his expression.
His mental state seemed pretty good, just with bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn’t rested well last night.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t feel good pressing further.
Instead, Zhen Xi said to her as they walked: “I’m planning to go to Beidu tomorrow with General Manager Ming to talk about setting up a Gangcheng clothing counter.”
General Manager Ming was the biggest clothing merchant in Gangcheng, with his own factory, storefronts, and sales channels.
Actually, most of his business was export business.
That guy was very capable and bold, and he was also close to us here; when Zhen Xi went to him, he immediately agreed.
The other two clothing merchants were also introduced by him.
They all proved to be very reliable.
But this time there were only two counter qualifications.
So they could only give them to Zhen Xi and General Manager Ming.
Lu Qiaoge nodded: “I wish you success in the negotiations.”
Zhen Xi touched his wrist; he had a strange illness since childhood that would flare up suddenly without any cause or warning.
He had seen many doctors, but none could figure it out.
It could only be said to be a hereditary disease from his mother’s side of the family.
Yesterday it flared up inexplicably, and he picked up a fruit knife and cut himself.
Now it was back to normal.
Zhen Xi said to Lu Qiaoge: “I might go directly back to Gangcheng from Beidu, so I came to talk to you about the follow-up on the sunflower seed basket orders and the instant noodle production line.”
While talking, Director Zhou, who had come out to greet them, enthusiastically led them to the meeting room.
The sunflower seed basket order was for ten thousand, and now three thousand had been delivered.
At the current state, with more to come, it wasn’t suitable to add more orders.
Lu Qiaoge was of the same opinion.
They made high-quality products; although Jinjin grass was wild grass, after processing it turned golden yellow, similar to bamboo weaving in color, with good flexibility and durability. Brigade Leader Lin said that Old Du from the village made items with Jinjin grass that hadn’t changed color much after five years.
But actually, a sunflower seed basket worth a few cents, in Lu Qiaoge’s view, could last two years, which was fine.
However, Zhen Xi said: “Merchants from Nanyang took a liking to the sunflower seed baskets and want to buy from me. Do you have masters? Can you expand the scale?”
Lu Qiaoge’s heart stirred.
She really hadn’t considered merchants from Nanyang.
But that was also a big market for earning foreign exchange.
What she could tinker with now was grass weaving.
But the difficulty now was the lack of highly skilled worker masters.
Chang An had once trained a group of people, the grannies and elder sisters from the neighborhood committee, about dozens of people, but most could understand at a glance but mess up when trying.
Very few truly learned it, but even learning wasn’t enough; it had to be high-quality products because these were for export.
Lu Qiaoge had seen the Jinjin grass fan woven by Chang An.
It was very beautiful and practical.
Although she hadn’t seen Chang An weaving in person, it must be very laborious.
It had to be skilled workers like Chang An and Fan Xiaoyu.
The problem was that this was all pure handmade, and even if those two were amazing, their output was limited.
If only she had a hundred such head chefs.
Lu Qiaoge said gravely: “Expanding the scale isn’t hard, but finding masters is, and since it’s pure handmade, really woven strand by strand; actually, the sunflower seed basket craftsmanship is very complex, but what we’re giving your company now is the price of consumables, not artwork, which means if we hire a lot of workers, we’ll face a situation where expenses exceed income.”
Consumables and handicrafts were fundamentally not the same price.
Zhen Xi didn’t speak, just looked at Lu Qiaoge with deep eyes.
Her meaning was that her sunflower seed baskets were artwork, and she was selling them cheap to him?
Secretary You glanced at Zhen Xi, then smiled and said: “This is exactly what we were preparing to discuss with Director Lu. We’re planning to customize a batch of grass woven fans; make a sample, and if it’s what we want, we can continue talking.”
But if they didn’t have the capability now, then forget it.
Director Zhou was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.
Lu Qiaoge, what are you hesitating for? Just agree right away; our comrades can overcome any difficulty, and the wisdom of the masses is infinite.
As long as the other side makes a request, we can figure it out even if it kills us.
If we really break into the Nanyang area, the foreign trade share would be impressive.
Grass weaving, grass weaving—not to mention that Jinjin grass is a Jiangcheng local specialty and available everywhere, just expanding the scale would employ so many workers and solve so many employment problems.
This is something that benefits the present and future generations.
Lu Qiaoge glanced at Director Zhou and said: “Chang An has a grass woven fan in hand…”
Before Lu Qiaoge could finish, Director Zhou stood up immediately: “I’ll call your factory; have them drive over with the fan.”
Lu Qiaoge thought for a moment, then said: “Have Director Hu bring Chang An. Tell Director Hu that we might sign an order.”
The call went to the military factory duty room, then reported to Director Hao, who instructed to immediately send someone to pick up Chang An and Director Hu.
Since Director Hao instructed directly, it was the same as before—no irrelevant people involved.
Twenty minutes later, Lu Qiaoge and Zhen Xi had finished discussing the instant noodle production line, and the military factory’s jeep sped in.
Old Hu on the car had a very complicated expression, really wanting to say: Qiao Ge, can we handle this?
You just got here, and now you’re flying off again!
But seeing Director Zhou’s eyes shining brighter than an electric lamp, he naturally held back the words.
We can do it; as long as we can earn foreign exchange, nothing is a problem.
Chang An was very uneasy, but everyone was focused on the lotus flower fan he wove.
Secretary You picked it up, not inspecting but appreciating.
It had to be said that Chang An’s dexterity was innate.
Chang An was a bit anxious, full of words but not knowing where to start.
Lu Qiaoge gave him a fountain pen and paper.
Chang An wrote: It can be nine plum blossoms, or a circle of wheat ears, or even other patterns; this sample is a bit rough, he can make it more exquisite.
Lu Qiaoge explained to Zhen Xi and Secretary You.
Zhen Xi looked at the fan; although very ordinary, it seemed like his father had one just like it.
The handle hung with top-grade jade; although not often used, it was said to be handmade by his great-grandfather.
Thanks to the rewards from one-track-minded Dostoevsky, caroletu, and other treasures, thanks for the strong support from the treasures, thanks a million!
Also explaining Lu Qiaoge’s education level: I wrote in Chapter 165: Lu Qiaoge said sincerely and openly: “Director Hu, I left school after first year of junior high; I admit, I had selfishness…
The setting is she didn’t finish first year of junior high, then that chaos happened; I didn’t explain clearly at the time, worried about being locked in the little black room, so Lu Qiaoge is not junior high graduation; also Qiao Ge was born in 1956, started school at seven, so first year of junior high would be 1968, right when college entrance exams were canceled two years prior, switched to recommendations; education level not important, alternate era, won’t say more ha.
Today writing about grass weaving handicrafts, suddenly remembered I think I entered an intangible cultural heritage essay contest, so I found two pictures online, they really are very exquisite and elegant, worthy of intangible cultural heritage, hope it can be passed down forever; if the pictures aren’t allowed, I’ll delete them right away, anyway just take a look, love you all~
