Chapter 233: A Big Order
Lu Qiaoge went to the Archives Bureau.
Old Hu saw the note and then felt a bit uneasy.
He said to Huang Juan, “If the Archives Bureau wants to transfer Qiao Ge over, do you think Qiao Ge will agree?”
Huang Juan said firmly, “No, you can rest assured.” She paused, then continued, “Besides, can the Archives Bureau be short-staffed? They’re probably overstaffed.”
Old Hu thought about it and agreed. Besides, Qiao Ge had so many things to do.
Not to mention that instant noodles, just the grass weaving handicrafts right in front of them would keep her busy for a while.
But it had to be said that this girl really dared to let go, and she trusted Chang An and the others too much.
Old Hu said to Wang Juan, “You go to the factory department for the meeting, and I’ll go to the food factory to keep an eye on things.”
When Old Hu arrived at the food factory, he first went to the guard room. The guard said Chang An had come to work just as it was getting light.
Then Fan Xiaoyu, that girl, had arrived earlier than usual.
The other team members had all come to work early too.
Old Hu strolled around slowly with his hands behind his back.
Everyone was tense at first, but with so much work on hand, they soon got busy and ignored him.
Old Hu was very satisfied. That’s the kind of spirit they should have.
After expanding the scale, he would apply to the authorities to convert them all into formal workers.
He also saw the nearly completed fans, and had to admit they were woven beautifully.
Chang An’s hands were too skillful.
If he really was Old Lin’s youngest son, would Old Lin be happy or sad to know his son had such high grass weaving skills?
Old Hu sighed silently.
—
Lu Qiaoge was in the basement of the Archives Bureau, starting to organize information with the other seconded comrades.
It had to be said that there was really a lot of messy information here. It was said they had been organizing it for a while, then stopped. The Archives Bureau’s leaders sealed this place off, not allowing anyone in.
Fortunately, much of the information here had been preserved.
Now that the old director was back, he had always wanted to clear this place out.
But relying on the work unit’s staff made it much slower.
After all, they had their own jobs to do.
Secondment was the best method.
Dong Xiangqin hadn’t expected Lu Qiaoge to work so efficiently.
She checked information quickly, recorded quickly, and categorized even faster.
She really was a capable young woman.
No wonder Foreign Trade Section’s Director Zhou wanted to transfer Lu Qiaoge to his unit.
Even Deputy Director Li standing next to Dong Xiangqin had the same idea.
The morning passed quickly.
Lu Qiaoge had several events in mind, but none related to Hongxing Lake.
There was one record, though, about the old Daoist that the old turtle had followed.
His Daoist name was Ling Xuzi.
But he was a legendary figure, and the information here just mentioned him briefly.
In his early years, he had a Daoist temple outside the city.
It was said to have thriving incense.
Since ancient times, Daoists knew medical skills, so Ling Xuzi’s medical skills were very good.
He often treated the surrounding people.
Later one year, the Daoist temple caught fire. After the nearby people extinguished it, they found Ling Xuzi missing, along with a little Daoist boy who followed him and an old turtle.
There were many legends. Some said that fire was actually the fire through which Ling Xuzi achieved the Dao and became an immortal.
Others said Ling Xuzi had gone to protect the country.
Anyway, all sorts of things were said.
The Daoist temple was never rebuilt, and later the nearby people demolished it completely.
Lu Qiaoge thought about the location; it seemed to be in a corn field in Manshan Commune.
So, Ling Xuzi was the old turtle’s former master.
There were some other scattered bits, which Lu Qiaoge all noted in her mind, in case they might come in handy someday.
In the afternoon, Director Hu brought Chang An with the official seal to the Archives Bureau to pick up Lu Qiaoge.
The samples were done.
There were two kinds of fans: one with a blooming lotus flower pattern, one with a plum blossom pattern.
The fan handle used red silk thread woven into a rope knot, with tassels below.
This was what Lu Qiaoge had bought from the department store yesterday.
The sunflower seed baskets had also been improved.
The round ones were changed to hexagonal. But there was still a round one, with some improvements to the lid.
They had also made a set of tea coasters.
Although all grass woven, they were undeniably exquisite handicrafts.
This gave Lu Qiaoge some new ideas.
Raw materials for handicrafts were not lacking now. As long as craftsmen went looking, there should be many. What was lacking now was sales channels.
So, the line with Mr. Zhen was very important and needed to be maintained well.
As expected, Mr. Zhen and Secretary You were satisfied with the samples.
Mr. Zhen’s fountain pen signed the final stroke on the contract, his Hong Kong accent carrying satisfaction: “Director Lu, I really like this batch of grass weaving handicrafts. I hope delivery can be on time two months from now.”
“Mr. Zhen, rest assured, we will definitely complete it on schedule.”
Lu Qiaoge smiled and nodded, looking at the numbers on the contract—five thousand each of the two kinds of sunflower seed baskets, three thousand each of the two fan patterns.
The tea coasters were an unexpected bonus.
They had ordered five thousand sets.
The fans were priced the same as the sunflower seed baskets, using rope knots for the fan pendants, no changes needed.
Buyers wanting to swap for gold and silver or jade would find it convenient too.
The tea coaster set was three yuan and sixty cents.
Lu Qiaoge’s fingertips tapped lightly on the table.
This order was really not small.
Nearly one hundred thousand yuan.
Even without the next one, it would be enough for a year.
She looked back.
For this afternoon’s meeting, it wasn’t just the Foreign Trade Section; even the Foreign Trade Bureau and Vice Mayor Xu had come.
They didn’t sit at the table but on chairs by the meeting room wall.
Yesterday’s agreement had not only shocked the Foreign Trade Bureau but also Vice Mayor Xu, and with Old Bai’s instruction to fully assist Lu Qiaoge in completing the task.
It had to be known that in handicrafts, Jiangcheng had been dead last in the country last year.
This year with the sunflower seed baskets, it had only climbed from dead last to second-to-last fifth.
As factory director, Lu Qiaoge, and as Neighborhood Committee director, Director Hu, participated in signing the order.
Mr. Zhen didn’t stay long. He said, “I won’t wait. But after the machines arrive, if there are any doubts or difficulties, you can call me.”
Vice Mayor Xu, as the highest leader here, expressed gratitude to Mr. Zhen.
After some pleasantries, the security office sent Mr. Zhen and his group to the Swan Hotel.
Vice Mayor Xu looked at the contract beaming with joy: “Little Lu, this is Jiangcheng’s first big foreign trade order this year. It must be done well!”
Lu Qiaoge smiled and said, “Please rest assured, leaders. We guarantee completing the task.”
Vice Mayor Xu laughed heartily.
He had the Foreign Trade Bureau people stay, while he went back to report the situation.
Lu Qiaoge quietly said to Director Hu, “We definitely can’t handle this many orders ourselves. Not to mention we still have a batch of sunflower seed baskets on hand.”
Director Hu proactively delegated authority: “Qiao Ge, you go talk to them. Any cooperation is fine. At this time, we need to be on the same frontline. The main goal is to complete the task and earn foreign exchange for the country.”
He really didn’t understand trade, so it was best not to meddle.
Lu Qiaoge nodded, smiling, “Then I know what to do.”
After that, she took the initiative to go find Director Zhou and Elder Sister Su.
Those with monthly passes, give it a vote, thanks a million thanks!
