Chapter 181 The Small Temple, the Big Demon

Jiang Haitang walked out of the wool sweater workshop. The willow trees in the distance had already sprouted new, goose-yellow buds, indicating that spring was about to arrive.

But her heart still felt heavy.

The seemingly minor flaw in the sweater was actually a dangerous signal in her eyes.

"Engineer Jiang!" a hurried voice came from behind.

Jiang Haitang turned around and saw the quality inspector who had just argued with the female workers in the workshop.

"Is there something wrong?" Jiang Haitang stopped.

"My name is Zhang Ming, and I'm a quality inspector. Engineer Jiang, I have something I want to report to you."

Jiang Haitang was worried about the people around, so she lowered her voice and said, "Come to my office before you get off work. It's not advisable to stay here for long."

Zhang Ming nodded, turned and left.

Jiang Haitang quickly returned to the office, thinking about what happened today.

Not long after, Zhang Ming came over as expected. As soon as he entered the door, he handed Jiang Haitang a quality report.

"Mr. Jiang, I think this is a serious matter. The problem with this batch of sweaters is not accidental. I've checked the products over the past three days, and the proportion of uneven neckline seams is increasing."

Jiang Haitang frowned. "You mean... someone deliberately relaxed the craftsmanship standards?"

"I'm not sure, but it's possible." Zhang Ming shook his head. "There's been a rumor circulating in the workshop lately that standards can be 'appropriately' lowered in order to fulfill the department store's order. I suspect someone is fanning the flames behind this."

Jiang Haitang's eyes grew sharper. Jincheng Textile Factory was at a critical juncture. Their wool sweaters were attracting widespread attention, and they were about to participate in the Canton Fair. If anyone compromised the quality of their products at this time...

"You've done a great job. Keep up the good work." Jiang Haitang patted Zhang Ming on the shoulder. "I'll report this to the leaders and ask for a thorough investigation."

After Zhang Ming left, Jiang Haitang carefully compared the data in the quality report. The data in this one-week quality report showed that the defective rate of the wool sweater workshop was indeed slowly increasing, especially the stitching problems in the collar and cuffs were the most prominent.

"Li Jingcheng, come here!" Jiang Haitang shouted at the office door.

"Mr. Jiang, are you looking for me?" Li Jingcheng immediately appeared in the corridor.

"Comrade Xiao Li, could you please help me check if there have been any recent changes to the process parameters in the sweater workshop? Especially the settings of the overlock machines. But let's not talk about parameters, just see if there's any room for improvement in the current sweater weaving technology."

Li Jingcheng agreed immediately: "I'll go there tonight."

After returning home from get off work, Jiang Haitang told Lu Liangchen what happened today while eating.

Lu Liangchen also frowned and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

His intuition told him that this matter might not be as simple as it seemed.

"I asked Zhao Kai to arrange for someone to investigate."

Because of this, Lu Liangchen went to find Zhao Kai after dinner.

The next morning, Jiang Haitang was designing fabric patterns in the office when Zhang Qiaohong rushed in with an ugly look on her face.

"Engineer Jiang, something's wrong! Several female workers in the workshop are making a fuss, saying Zhang Ming is deliberately making things difficult for them and is now refusing to rework the defective batch of products!"

Jiang Haitang frowned and immediately stood up: "Let's go and take a look."

The atmosphere in the wool sweater workshop was tense.

Seven or eight female workers gathered together, with Zhang Ming standing in the middle, sweating profusely and almost unable to hold on.

Dozens of wool sweaters were scattered on the ground, which were the products that needed to be reworked.

"Why should we rework the clothes we worked so hard to make?" a young female worker with two sleek braids shouted. "The department store is pushing us so hard, how can we have time to rework them?"

"That's right!" another female worker echoed. "What's a slightly uneven neckline? It's not noticeable on the body! You people sitting in the office have no idea how hard we textile workers work."

Although Zhang Ming was surrounded, his voice remained firm: "Quality standards are standards. We cannot lower the standards just to meet deadlines. If these products were to reach the market, it would damage our factory's reputation!"

"Wow, Comrade Zhang is really conscious!" A sarcastic voice came from the back of the crowd.

Wang Qiang, the director of the sales department, appeared in the workshop at some point. Jiang Haitang happened to arrive and heard what Wang Qiang said. She subconsciously felt that something was wrong.

This is the production workshop. What is a sales department leader doing here?

"Your quality inspection department is just nitpicking. The factory needs to focus on actual results. If the department store's order is delayed, who will bear the losses?"

Jiang Haitang strode forward and said with a smile, "Director Wang, quality is a matter of principle. Our factory must not allow substandard products to flow into the market. This batch of sweaters does not meet the standards and must be reworked."

Wang Qiang had a formal smile on his face. "Who was that? It turns out to be our future factory director's wife. You're so impressive. Do you think the factory belongs to you?"

Jiang Haitang didn't expect that the other party was so eloquent, but she was not afraid. Instead, she stared at Wang Qiang.

"Director Wang, what's the point of that? Of course I feel like the factory is my home. From the day I arrived, I've considered it my home. Could it be that Director Wang doesn't have the awareness that the factory is my home?"

Jiang Haitang switched the concept and turned the tables.

Wang Qiang didn't expect Jiang Haitang to be so good at sophistry. He sneered and said, "I don't argue with women. However, you are from the R&D department and have no right to interfere in the production workshop!"

"I'm from the R&D department and I don't have any control over the production workshop. Do you think you, a sales person, can interfere in the affairs of the production workshop?" Jiang Haitang retorted.

"Of course, the market waits for no one! This batch of orders is related to the factory's profitability. As the head of the sales department, I can't let anyone undermine the factory's profitability. What do you think? Shouldn't we prioritize completing production targets?"

Several female workers immediately agreed.

Jiang Haitang paid close attention to the female workers who responded. It seemed that these people also needed to be investigated.

"Director Wang," Jiang Haitang said calmly, "If we sacrifice quality to meet deadlines, the entire factory will suffer. The Canton Fair is just around the corner. Are we going to exhibit with defective products?"

Wang Qiang's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "Mr. Jiang, you're too kind. A wool sweater isn't a precision instrument, so it's normal to have some minor flaws. Consumers value affordability more..."

"Our Jincheng Textile Factory's products must never be labeled as having 'some minor flaws'!" Jiang Haitang interrupted him, her voice clear and powerful. "Quality is our lifeline. If we lower the standards a little today, and a little more tomorrow, it won't be long before 'Made in Jincheng' becomes synonymous with inferior products! I believe that every worker who loves our factory will not allow this to happen."

The workshop suddenly fell silent. Jiang Haitang's words were like a bucket of cold water, pouring over everyone's heads.

Zhang Qiaohong also stood up at this time: "Mr. Jiang is right. It is wrong to focus on production and ignore quality. From now on, all unqualified products will be reworked, and I will personally supervise it."

Wang Qiang's expression turned grim, but he quickly covered it up: "Since you two are so insistent, I can't say anything more. However, Engineer Jiang..."

He gave Jiang Haitang a meaningful look and said, "I hope you can take responsibility for today's decision. If the order is delayed or there are problems with the Canton Fair..."

"I take full responsibility." Jiang Haitang said without hesitation.

Wang Qiang snorted coldly and turned away.

Seeing that Wang Qiang had left and their support was gone, the female workers had no choice but to return to their respective posts and start working again.

Jiang Haitang said to Zhang Qiaohong, who was escorting him out, "These people under you might have ulterior motives. You have to be more careful. We can't use those with problems."

Zhang Qiaohong nodded quickly: "I understand, Mr. Jiang, I will pay attention to their every move."

She finally became the workshop manager, but she hasn't been promoted yet. If something goes wrong, she might not be able to get promoted.

That night, Jiang Haitang returned home and worked overtime to organize the exhibition plan for the Canton Fair.

Zhao Kai suddenly came.

"Our people discovered today that Director Wang was with Section Chief Zhao from the department store's purchasing department."

Jiang Haitang's heart sank: "Did you hear what they said?"

"Director Wang said...that the standard of our factory's wool sweaters is too high, and we will produce some defective products. Only defective products are profitable." Zhao Kai was extremely angry.

After Zhao Kai said this, what else did Jiang Haitang not understand?

They deliberately make defective products, and when they are sent to department stores, they return them due to quality issues, or even ask the textile factories to sell them at a lower price. The difference in price will be divided among the relevant people.

This is still the best possibility. If things go wrong, it may be a premeditated act of sabotage aimed at damaging the reputation of Jincheng Textile Factory and disrupting its ability to earn foreign exchange at the Canton Fair.

As the two were talking, Lu Liangchen came back.

"Zhao Kai, have you investigated clearly?" Lu Liangchen asked as he took off his coat.

Zhao Kai reiterated what he had discovered.

Lu Liangchen looked at Jiang Haitang, and Jiang Haitang expressed her concerns.

After hearing this, Lu Liangchen frowned and said, "This place, Jincheng Textile Factory, is really a place where evil spirits are rampant and where there are many turtles in shallow water!"

Since he arrived at Jincheng Textile Factory, he has not had much peace. It seems that some people and things will inevitably affect future development if they are not eradicated.

"The problem is concentrated in the collar and cuffs. I suspect someone may have deliberately adjusted the parameters of the overlock machine. Li Jingcheng is investigating this these two days." Jiang Haitang added.

Lu Liangchen pondered for a moment. "Haitang, I'll leave the parameters to you. Zhao Kai, you need to keep an eye on Wang Qiang, especially investigating whether he has any connection with Li Shengli and his group. As for the defective products in the factory, I will arrange for them to be completely reworked. Not a single defective product can leave the factory."

No matter how strong the evil wind is, no matter how many turtles there are, he will take it on. He wants to see who is stronger, him or the evil wind.

"Yes!" Zhao Kai immediately nodded in response and left in a hurry.