That evening, when Zhan Chunlan returned to the guesthouse, Xiao Qiulin warmly approached her: "Xiao Zhan, you were amazing today! I saw that the foreign businessmen's expressions changed after you went over; they were much more enthusiastic than before."

Zhan Chunlan was somewhat unable to accept such praise and did not know how to respond without appearing arrogant or showing off, so she could only give an awkward smile.

Xiao Qiulin didn't notice. She was a very easygoing person, and her praise was genuine. She was a little envious, but she had also glanced at the packaging a few times. She couldn't possibly come up with any of those beautiful packages herself. They were so gorgeous!

"Xiao Zhan, what's wrong with your brain? How did you come up with such beautiful packaging? Did you know something in advance that allowed you to produce the design so quickly?"

This is what puzzled Xiao Qiulin the most. She had been with Zhan Chunlan these past few days, and the two of them were always together. She hadn't seen her come into contact with anyone else.

"Actually, I designed these for our pastry factory. After writing my learning notes every day, I was a bit bored, so I drew these design drafts, thinking that maybe one day our pastry factory's pastries could be exported and earn foreign exchange. So I designed a lot of gift box packaging and a lot of product packaging. However, the packaging of White Rabbit Milk Candy itself is also very distinctive, so I didn't mention it today."

This is true. Although the excessive packaging of later generations is not advisable, it still gave Zhan Chunlan a lot of ideas. Currently, the packaging of many domestic products is very simple, which is very suitable for the current national conditions. However, if you want to export and earn foreign exchange, or make a certain reputation in the international arena, then good packaging is essential. So she has been consciously drawing packaging design drawings, thinking about when she can give her opinions to the leaders. Unexpectedly, before it was even used in her own factory, it was given to other factories first.

These words made Xiao Qiulin sigh again: "No wonder the leader sent you on this business trip. You don't know, after you left with Director Wang and the others today, the receptionist who replaced Deputy Director Li to receive us was much more polite. They answered all our questions in detail, and even took us to visit each production line up close. Many things that we didn't understand before, we now have a general understanding of. Deputy Director Zhou said that this business trip was the most rewarding."

Zhan Chunlan smiled faintly and said in a calm tone, "That's good. As long as there is a reward in the end, all the hardships in the process will be worthwhile."

Xiao Qiulin leaned forward, his eyes filled with curiosity: "Do you know the specific order amount for today? Since you followed me into the conference room, you should have heard the whole thing, right?"

Zhan Chunlan shook her head, her expression frank: "After all, I'm just a designer in name only, and I'm from another factory here to learn, so it's not convenient for me to get too close to ask about many details. However... I did hear some of the general figures." She paused, a hint of barely perceptible excitement in her voice, "According to Director Wang, this order alone is equivalent to the total export volume of last year, directly generating more than 12 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country."

"So many?!" Xiao Qiulin's eyes widened in surprise. "Just White Rabbit milk candy?"

Zhan Chunlan nodded and explained in detail: "The main reason is that the packaging I designed this time, apart from the first bamboo woven one which is relatively conventional, the latter two are much more complex in terms of craftsmanship and design. We will need to ask a professional art teacher to further optimize them and match them with suitable materials. In the end, the cost of one package is almost as high as the price of a pound of sugar, so the overall unit price is naturally much higher."

She paused, then added, "Moreover, this time the export wasn't just of milk candy, but also included local specialties like honey, which foreign buyers quite liked, although the quantity wasn't as large as that of milk candy."

“In addition, I also suggested that the factory develop new coffee and chocolate flavors,” Zhan Chunlan said seriously. “Those foreign businessmen were quite interested, but they haven’t had any samples for them to taste yet. If the new flavors are developed and really suit their tastes, they will renew their orders.”

Xiao Qiulin was surprised, but also a little doubtful: "It sounds impressive... but even if they say it well now, will they really be able to admit it later?"

Zhan Chunlan smiled calmly, her tone resolute: "We're worried they won't honor their commitment? They're even afraid that once we develop a new flavor, we'll prioritize supplying it to other countries. This time, they all took the initiative to sign a letter of intent with us, clearly stating in black and white that we must give them priority when launching the new product—these terms are all formally written into the contract."

"This can be included in a contract? I've really learned something new!" Xiao Qiulin's eyes lit up, his tone full of curiosity.

“For foreign businesses, no matter how sweet a verbal promise sounds, it can't carry the weight of a written contract.” Zhan Chunlan nodded, then added with a hint of understanding, “Of course, they are also very good at finding loopholes in contract terms.”

Xiao Qiulin leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask the question that concerned him most: "Then... will Haicheng Food Factory give you a separate bonus? Or will they simply keep you on as a employee?"

Zhan Chunlan smiled slightly, her eyes clear: "There should be a bonus. As for whether I'll stay..."

Hearing that such a possibility even existed, her heart skipped a beat, and an intense desire surged within her. To stay—the very thought was incredibly tempting. Leaving aside the future development of Haicheng, just the thought of being able to get away from that family was enough to drive her wildly excited.

But this was still nothing to be seen, and she knew that spreading rumors before things were settled could change people's minds, even if they had original ideas. She suppressed her turbulent emotions and deliberately kept her tone calm: "I would like to, but Haicheng Food Factory is one of the top factories in the country. Who am I? I just happened to be lucky enough to offer a few suggestions. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"

After listening, Xiao Qiulin calmed down and analyzed along with her words: "That's true. Besides, even if both parties are willing, transferring across provinces is too difficult."

"Alright, stop thinking about these unfounded things and go to sleep." Zhan Chunlan's tone became lighter, filled with obvious anticipation. "Isn't it free time tomorrow? I want to go out and explore. I've been here for so long, spending every day in the food factory, and I've never seen anything outside."

After the conversation ended, Xiao Qiulin really went to rest, but Zhan Chunlan couldn't sleep. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at the packaging design drawings in her notebook.

This time, she'd finally made her name known to the top leaders of the Haicheng Food Factory. Although she couldn't get a promotion based on just one achievement, at least there was hope, wasn't there? In Jiangcheng, she dared not do anything; she even had to think twice before buying a new dress. If she could really come to Haicheng, live alone, have a stable job, and work hard to save money, she could buy her own house when the housing market opened up. That kind of life would be the life of a winner!

She continued doodling in her notebook, turning rice candy into exquisite souvenirs, designing new packaging for peach slice cakes, and developing low-sugar pastries suitable for young people's tastes...

She also designs packaging, including spring, summer, autumn and winter, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums, the twelve zodiac animals, the twenty-four solar terms, ethnic customs, and so on. She wants to design all kinds of Chinese culture that she can think of, since she can't sleep anyway, and who knows when it might come in handy?