Chapter 118: Hand over your formula

The shadow of the first store opening application being rejected was like a layer of gray cloth hanging over the Songtaogou Family Factory.

In the family compound, the eager eyes that had once been filled with anticipation dimmed, and occasionally a few hushed comments could be heard: "I told you, it's not that easy..."

"You're still too young, you just act on impulse..."

Even the air seemed to be a little heavier.

Shen Lingning locked himself in the office, with the notice that read "Not approved, need to improve political awareness" spread out on the table.

Her fingertips were cold, not because of fear, but because she felt suffocated by an invisible barrier.

Zhou Weiguo silently handed over a cup of hot water and said in a steady voice, "Don't worry, there is always a way. Policies are static, but people are alive."

"Mom, read the newspaper... the red words... diligence and thrift... setting up a factory..."

Fubao was sitting on the ground playing with building blocks, mumbling incoherently, and his little finger accidentally ran across an old newspaper on the ground.

The daughter's childish voice was like a ray of light, cutting through the fog in Shen Lingning's mind.

She stood up suddenly, grabbed the recent issues of People's Daily, Red Flag magazine and the study documents issued by the base, and began to read through them almost greedily.

Under the light, her eyes were focused and sharp, and her fingertips ran across "Learn from Daqing in Industry" and "Self-reliance and Hard Work".

"Expand exports to earn foreign exchange and support national construction."

"Reduce the people's burden and improve people's lives" and other lines of lead type.

Zhou Weiguo added: "The army also often emphasizes thrift and frugality, making full use of resources and improving self-sufficiency."

Fragmented information collided and reorganized rapidly in Shen Lingning's mind.

Suddenly, her eyes were fixed on a report about the "57 Factory" serving the society, and a brilliant idea suddenly became clear like the dawn sunshine!

She spread out new manuscript paper, dipped her pen into ink, and carefully considered each word:

Report on the application for the establishment of the "Songtaogou Military and Civilian Production Service Department"

Mission: To respond to the call of "running the factory frugally", solve the costs of packaging, transportation equipment maintenance, etc. in the factory, and reduce the logistical burden of the base; serve the internal military and civilians, and provide high-quality products at cost price.

Improve life; create a "foreign trade product display window" to facilitate foreign businessmen to view samples and place orders, actively strive for export and earn foreign exchange, and support national construction.

Nature: Non-profit service unit, mainly for internal use, with external exposure as appropriate.

Location: Utilize the idle bungalow in the base’s family quarters.

The report does not mention "making money by opening a store" at all. It sticks to policy hotspots and positions itself as a model pilot project of "serving logistics and supporting foreign trade."

After the report was submitted, the base party committee convened again.

Amidst the smoke, the debate was heated.

"Nonsense! Same idea in a new bottle! You still want to run a business!"

The deputy political commissar, who initially rejected the idea, banged on the table.

"Deputy Political Commissar Li, you can't say that."

Another leader retorted, "Comrade Shen Lingning's idea is excellent! It's completely in line with the current spirit! Frugality, serving the military and civilians, and securing foreign exchange—which one isn't politically correct?"

Are we going to block the opportunity to earn foreign exchange through exports?"

"Exactly! Are we going to watch low-quality counterfeit goods ruin the reputation of our military factory? Having our own window is a great way to let people outside see what the genuine products are!"

"I think we can give it a try! If we keep it within a small scope and don't go too far, it might even become a highlight of our base!"

"Yes, telling Chinese stories and promoting Chinese culture is very positive!"

…

The voices of support clearly prevailed.

Finally, the meeting decided: in principle, it was approved to pilot the "Songtaogou Military and Civilian Production Service Department", which would be limited to idle bungalows, mainly for internal use, and not be publicly advertised for the time being. It could receive a small number of visitors with foreign trade intentions.

When the news came, Shen Lingning breathed a sigh of relief, his palms were sweaty.

The family compound was in an uproar in an instant. Aunt Sun, Liu Jinfeng and others cried with joy, and were happier than during the Chinese New Year.

The service department quietly opened in the county.

Although it could not be opened to the public on a large scale, the family members inside were very enthusiastic about using coupons to purchase goods. The simple bungalow was filled with the fragrance of soap and tea all day long, and became the most popular place in the base.

Everyone was discussing: "Isn't this the same osmanthus soap as Chang'an? I didn't expect that we in Zixing can also buy it."

Shen Lingning took the opportunity to expand the scale of the tea plantation, introduced osmanthus and chrysanthemum, and developed refreshing mint soap and moisturizing honey milk soap, gradually enriching his product line.

It’s just that a big tree attracts the wind.

A middle-aged man wearing a cadre uniform with four pockets and a slicked-back hair found Shen Lingning and claimed to be the section chief of the county's daily chemical factory. His surname was Jia.

"Comrade Xiao Shen, you are young and promising!"

Section Chief Jia spoke in an official tone, but his eyes were shrewd: "You are doing a good job with this tea seed soap. However, it is difficult for a personal handicraft industry to become a major industry.

So, our daily chemical factory will pay a high price to acquire your formula and the name 'Tea Seed Soap', and we will mass-produce it in our state-owned factory. This will also contribute to socialist construction!"

Shen Lingning sneered in his heart, but his face was calm: "Chief Jia, thank you for your kindness. But this is a collective sideline approved by the base, not for selling formulas.

If your company is interested, we can discuss product distribution cooperation."

Section Chief Jia's face darkened, and his tone became threatening: "Comrade Xiao Shen, don't refuse a toast and then drink a forfeit. Your workshop-style production has simple equipment. Does it meet the hygiene standards?

Do you have a production license?

Does it meet national standards? Don’t let any quality problems arise and you’ll be in big trouble!

"Our production process is strictly hygienic, and our products are sold in state-owned supermarkets, and their quality has been inspected."

Shen Lingning did not flinch: “The license that Section Chief Jia mentioned, there seems to be no mandatory regulations for collective sideline businesses of our scale at present. If you have specific document requirements, I can learn.”

Section Chief Jia hit a snag and left in a huff, leaving behind a single sentence: "Hmph, we'll see!"

A few days later, trouble really came.

Two business managers wearing red armbands suddenly came to the door with serious expressions.

"Who's responsible? We're from the County Administration for Industry and Commerce. We've received a report from the public that you're producing and selling counterfeit goods without a license! Stop production immediately and accept inspection!"

They walked around the soap shop, pointing at the clay stove, the soap drying racks, the unlabeled packaging, and complaining, "The hygiene conditions are terrible!"

"Where are the production records? Where are the raw material purchase receipts?"

“Is there a product quality inspection report?”

"I heard you guys were accepting money privately? Are you engaging in profiteering?"

He is accusing others of something in every sentence and is obviously looking for trouble.

Liu Jinfeng, the manager of the county service station, was so angry that she wanted to argue, but was stopped by Shen Lingning.

She knew the hard top was useless.

Just as Shen Lingning was arguing with reason and the other party was making unreasonable demands, Shen Yuchuan hurried over. He was notified by Zhou Weiguo.

He pulled Shen Lingning aside and whispered, "Sister, something's wrong. It seems someone is behind this. If we continue to do this, we'll be the ones who'll suffer. Coincidentally, I have an opportunity..."

He told Shen Lingning that his department needed a batch of special cleaning and care products with extremely high requirements: natural and harmless, strong detergency without damaging the surface of precision equipment, and light odor.

The samples sent by several large state-owned factories were all unqualified.

"If you can secure this supply mission, not only the Industry and Commerce Bureau, but even the people behind Section Chief Jia won't dare to touch you again. This is a true 'talisman'."

The pressure is like a mountain.