Chapter 230: It Flared Up
The Zhen Family actually isn’t a big family.
Generations farmed, and later during a drought, their great-grandfather and family fled the famine and came to Jiangcheng.
After their great-grandfather got the opportunity to buy his own shop, their grandfather even married a concubine’s daughter from a big family.
In this way, they completed the class transformation.
After accumulations over several generations, in the era of war and chaos, they became an existence like a hegemon in the North.
Especially this generation with Zhen Zihao, after going to Hong Kong, he thrived even more.
Zhen Xi put down the fan, didn’t express an opinion, glanced at the note written by the man named Chang An, it seemed that on it there weren’t only words, but also patterns, and the words were crooked and twisted, he barely recognized any.
At this time, Old Zhou and Old Hu both looked toward Lu Qiaoge.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t want to invest too much energy in the handicrafts area, but now it seemed that it was probably the most stable development industry at present.
She said: “Technician Chang just said it, I won’t repeat it here. Now what I want to say is that straw weaving isn’t just sunflower seed baskets and fans, there are other types too. We can strive for excellence, but the current problem is we can’t rashly expand the scale. Nowadays personnel and funds are big issues. I’ll use this fan as an example. General Manager Zhen, do you think it can reach the standard of Nanyang Merchants?”
Zhen Xi felt that Lu Qiaoge was different from many people here.
She didn’t have an urgent desire to secure this order.
She clearly knew that this fan was actually quite good, yet she still had to ask like this.
Zhen Xi said: “How about this, I’ve decided to postpone going to Beidu by one day, so can you make new samples by this time tomorrow?”
Chang An excitedly stared wide-eyed, really wanting to nod right away.
But he still held back.
He only nodded when Lu Qiaoge looked at him.
Lu Qiaoge said: “We can, but the standard will be according to ours.”
Zhen Xi nodded: “Good!”
Lu Qiaoge added: “Actually, the raw material for straw weaving, Jinjin Grass, is also a medicinal material that can refresh the mind and is very beneficial to the body.”
Not just fans, they could also do something with fan pendants.
Various rope knots and pendants could all be considered.
Although there was no order, they still signed a temporary agreement.
It was for sunflower seed baskets.
Zhen Xi didn’t hide it, saying this order was goods for Nanyang Merchants.
This time they planned to order five thousand, at a unit price of three yuan and eighty cents.
If the samples passed, they would formally sign the contract.
When he heard the price, even Old Hu felt his breathing hitch.
Goodness, the same thing, suddenly flipped to nearly seven times more.
Wasn’t it a bit too high? In their eyes, two yuan was already sky-high.
But they knew the rules, at this time they couldn’t express any opinion.
Besides, no one was stupid, wouldn’t higher be better for this stuff?
Zhen Xi turned his head and discussed briefly with Secretary You.
The order for the first batch of sunflower seed baskets would naturally still be executed as originally.
Whatever the price was, it stayed that price.
As for how much Zhen Xi sold it for, it had no relation to their side.
What Zhen Xi said was that the sunflower seed baskets for the second order were somewhat different from the ones they had.
Thus, Lu Qiaoge agreed, and tomorrow they would bring samples for another sunflower seed basket as well.
As long as they were qualified, they would place the order.
Although they hadn’t formally signed the contract, everyone knew that with the handicraft group’s level, there was absolutely no problem.
Chang An excitedly clenched his fists. Initially coming out from the rural area, he never imagined he could have this day.
There was nothing more to say here for the time being.
Regarding instant noodles, they had already discussed it pretty much just now. This production line was quite advanced, from production to packaging and sealing in one dragon, just that the packaging bag’s color was a bit plain, no problem with that. Lu Qiaoge planned to invite Qin Hengzhi after the machines arrived, to have him help see how to improve it to better fit the current situation.
As for raw materials, Director Hu had talked with the factory building leaders. Director Hao said as long as it could earn foreign exchange and increase income for the military factory, the factory would definitely support it strongly.
Zhen Xi was also very curious how Lu Qiaoge would make instant noodles tastier than all current brands.
Just as he was about to stand up, Zhen Xi, who had been in a good mood, suddenly felt a nameless fire rise in his heart. He only felt that the people and things around him all became hideous and terrifying, loathsome.
Clearly everyone was looking at him with the kindest and most amiable smiles, but in his eyes, they felt dazzlingly harsh.
And this meeting room, the more he looked, the angrier he got, wishing he could set it ablaze.
His hand gripped the chair back.
He clearly knew he was having another episode, but he couldn’t control his emotions. At this moment, he seemed split into two people.
One wanted to destroy himself and the world, the other desperately trying to hold back the one who wanted to destroy himself and the world.
Secretary You’s face changed.
General Manager Zhen basically didn’t have episodes during the day, what to do now?
They couldn’t let people here see General Manager Zhen’s hideous state.
But seeing Zhen Xi’s expression, his heart sank instantly.
He hurriedly went to support Zhen Xi’s arm, immediately taking out a medicine bottle from the briefcase.
But Zhen Xi swung Secretary You away.
Lu Qiaoge reacted extremely quickly. When she saw the veins bulging on the back of Zhen Xi’s hand gripping the chair back and his eyes turning bloodshot, she knew Zhen Xi was having an episode.
But actually no one here knew that Zhen Xi had such a condition.
Zhen Xi, including Zhen Zihao, didn’t allow others to consider it a disease.
No one had ever talked about it.
There was an accompanying doctor, but he hadn’t come today.
Fortunately, Zhen Xi’s condition had never hurt anyone; he mostly hurt himself.
It was a state of internal struggle between heaven and man.
At this moment, Lu Qiaoge calmly supported Secretary You who was nearly falling, and quickly took the pill from Secretary You’s hand, crushed it, and put it in the water cup.
At this time, Lu Qiaoge didn’t avoid suspicion, directly picked up the cup, handed it to Zhen Xi, and said: “Mr. Zhen, are you thirsty or suffering from heatstroke? Sit down and drink some water.”
Zhen Xi’s mind was in chaos, but before he could react, his whole body involuntarily sat down.
It was Lu Qiaoge who stood by his side and quickly pressed down on his shoulder.
Lu Qiaoge gave Secretary You a look.
Secretary You came back to his senses and put the water cup to Zhen Xi’s lips.
Lu Qiaoge glanced at the people around; it wasn’t convenient to act, most people were watching their side.
She couldn’t force the medicine into Zhen Xi, could she?
But if it really came to it, she would force it in.
She could just find any excuse.
Zhen Xi gritted his teeth tightly, about to knock over the water cup at his mouth.
Lu Qiaoge was quick-eyed and handy; when no one else had reacted, she pressed down on Zhen Xi’s shoulder, snatched the cup, and poured all the medicine into Zhen Xi’s mouth.
Her hand didn’t leave this time. Since her energy was useful for soothing emotions, this was perfect for Zhen Xi’s condition.
Then she said in a voice everyone around could hear: “Mr. Zhen has heatstroke, quickly open the window.”
She also said to the shocked Director Hu and Director Zhou: “You all take people out first; too many people make the air turbid, which affects him too.”
Everyone was startled, some opened the windows, some cleared the room.
Old Hu took people out; Director Zhou said anxiously: “I’ll call the city hospital doctor to come quickly.”
