Chapter 198 The Peach Pickers Are Here

Zhao Kai pointed at Lu Liangchen with one hand and covered his chest with his other hand exaggeratedly: "You are killing people and destroying their hearts! Killing people and destroying their hearts!!"

He clearly knew that the Kang family were opportunists, yet he still used this matter to poke at his soft spot. Isn't this bullying an honest man?

I've followed you for so many years in vain!

Lu Liangchen leaned back with a faint smile on his lips.

The two of them were talking back and forth like fighting roosters, but it made both of them relax.

It wasn't until the old-fashioned wall clock chimed dully that Lu Liangchen calmed down and said, "Let's get down to business. What's the situation with Li Shengli's family now?"

Zhao Kai put aside his joke and pulled out a few sheets of paper from a manila folder. The wet ink on the handwriting shone blue. "We've screened them three times and conducted a thorough investigation. We found no enemy espionage activities. But according to regulations..."

He paused, "The problem now is that Wu Xiuyun is paralyzed in bed, and Li Qiulan is only sixteen years old. Sending her to a farm might be..."

"Keeping them here will always be a hidden danger. Neither Wu Xiuyun nor Li Qiulan are good people." Lu Liangchen frowned, drumming his knuckles on the desk. "Send them to a labor camp in a remote mountainous area. The farther, the better."

"Yes! Don't worry about leaving it to me, I will definitely see to it." Zhao Kai immediately assured.

"Thank you for your hard work." Lu Liangchen said.

"It's not hard, it's all trivial. I went to the machinery factory this morning, and they said the hosiery machines have been put into mass production, and they asked what our plans are."

"We can expand one more workshop at most, so we can have about 70 machines."

While the two were talking, the office door creaked open.

Jiang Haitang came in with a stack of drawings, and the cuffs of his blue and white striped work clothes were stained with ink.

When she heard the discussion about the stocking knitting machine, her eyes lit up: "I have an idea..."

"What are your ideas? Tell me about it." Lu Liangchen asked with great interest.

Haitang always comes up with very fresh ideas, which makes him look forward to it very much.

"We can adopt a collaborative approach to expand production."

This is also the idea that Jiang Haitang has been considering during this period.

At present, the textile factory really has no way to set up more workshops, but if it can form a cooperative relationship with reliable people and contract out the sock manufacturing, it will greatly promote the development of the factory.

"Cooperation?" Lu Liangchen asked.

"It's like Wan Guangcai provided us with the original machinery. Now that his sock machine has been repaired, we provide him with raw materials and also purchase his socks. This is roughly the operating model."

Lu Liangchen stroked his chin and fell into deep thought.

"The process is too complicated and the risks are difficult to control." He finally shook his head in denial.

"We don't need to worry too much. Just find a reliable person to take charge, such as Wang Liangcai. We provide the raw materials and technology, and he is responsible for production. We share the risks." Jiang Haitang continued.

The fact that Wang Liangcai was able to become the socks king in his previous life proves that this person is talented in business. As long as this person is used well, there will definitely be unexpected surprises.

Zhao Kai slapped his thigh and gave Jiang Haitang a thumbs up.

"Sister-in-law, this is a brilliant idea! It's like adding double insurance to a stocking machine!"

"If you all think it's feasible, you can give it a try. If it's too troublesome, you can find a small factory in the county below to take it over. In any case, the quality must be guaranteed."

Zhao Kai nodded immediately: "I will study this matter carefully and come up with a feasible plan."

"Well, this matter needs to be done, but what is more important is this year's Canton Fair. Whether our factory will make money or drink soup in the future has a lot to do with this Canton Fair." Lu Liangchen said again.

This is the first Canton Fair since he took office, and with the impressive results of last autumn's Canton Fair, if he does anything wrong, he will probably be discredited as the factory director.

"There is enough time. Let's plan carefully and strive to achieve better results this year." Jiang Haitang comforted Lu Liangchen softly.

Lu Liangchen nodded: "I believe it, but, Haitang, I don't want you to work so hard. You've been working non-stop during this period..."

Jiang Haitang stopped Lu Liangchen from saying anything else and said with a smile, "That's nothing. I have enough to eat and wear, and the work isn't too tiring. Besides, I've already had a good rest."

"Given the current situation at the factory, I probably won't be able to go to the Canton Fair. I'd like Zhao Kai to lead the team. What do you think?"

This idea is just Lu Liangchen's initial thought.

In the past few months, there have been too many personnel changes in the factory, and the situation is not very stable, so Lu Liangchen really doesn't dare to leave easily.

The enamel pot in Zhao Kai's hand almost fell to the ground, and the boiling hot tea splashed out, leaving dark marks on the cement floor.

"This..." His face flushed, "I'm afraid..."

Zhao Kai didn't expect that Lu Liangchen would place such an important burden on him.

"Are you scared?" Lu Liangchen asked with a smile, "You shouldn't be so timid!"

"I've done this before, but I'm afraid I can't do it right. If I mess it up, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life for betraying your trust."

"Don't worry, Haitang will go with you. Besides, we can also cooperate with the machinery factory, so it won't be a problem."

"Don't forget that you have been in the army. Can this little situation suffocate you?" Seeing that Zhao Kai was still hesitant, Lu Liangchen said again.

After the matter was settled, everyone went home.

After returning home, Jiang Haitang asked, "Apart from our factory, are there any other reasons why you didn't go to the Canton Fair this time?"

Lu Liangchen did not answer immediately.

He walked to the window and looked out, but Jiang Haitang felt that he was not looking at the small courtyard outside the window, but a wider place.

"Haitang, do you know why the superiors are so anxious to get this fireproof and moisture-proof fabric? The situation on the southwest border is tense again. Our soldiers are in damp cat-ear caves, and many of them have developed serious skin diseases..." His voice was unusually calm.

But Jiang Haitang could tell that he was extremely uneasy inside.

"Give us a few more months and it will be produced."

"The situation over there is deteriorating, and we must be prepared at all times. This time, I am not going to the Canton Fair, and it is also the decision of the higher-ups."

Jiang Haitang understood the meaning of Lu Liangchen's words.

"Haven't you retired?" she asked nervously.

"I'm retired, but if a large-scale war breaks out, I can't rule out the possibility of being recalled."

Jiang Haitang was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "No matter what you want to do, I will support you and provide logistical support for you."

"I believe that whether it's industrial production or something else, we can succeed!"

Lu Liangchen turned to look at her, the light outlining the stubborn lines of her profile.

He gently pulled her into his arms and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I know you will," he whispered, "because you are Jiang Haitang, the indomitable girl."

The laboratory was exceptionally quiet the next day, with only the slight hum of running instruments.

Jiang Haitang was concentrating on recording the data, while the others were busy doing their own jobs in an orderly manner.

Suddenly, the wooden door of the laboratory was pushed open.

A middle-aged man in a neat Zhongshan suit stood at the door, followed by several people who looked like technicians wearing glasses.

It looked a little unfamiliar, Jiang Haitang frowned.

"This is Director Ma from the Technical Department of our Provincial Light Industry Bureau. Who is in charge here?" The voice of the accompanying staff broke the silence.

Jiang Haitang looked up and met Director Ma's critical gaze behind his glasses.

The man's straight Zhongshan suit was starched too stiffly, and half of an imported fountain pen was exposed from his breast pocket, shining coldly under the fluorescent light.

Jiang Haitang immediately began to wonder who Director Ma was.

I seem to have heard someone mention before that there is a notorious pro-Western person in the Provincial Light Industry Bureau, and his surname seems to be Ma. Could it be that this person is in front of me?

"Director Ma, we didn't prepare in advance, so it's a bit messy and may not be convenient for you to visit."

Jiang Haitang suppressed her displeasure and stepped forward to shake hands, but she did not prepare to invite Director Ma in.

As she spoke, she had already given Li Jingcheng a wink, which meant that Li Jingcheng should take the opportunity to call for help.

Director Ma had no intention of reaching out, but just scanned the laboratory with a critical look.

"You're the person in charge here, and you're a lesbian. It's not that I look down on women, but this kind of high-tech project should be handed over to a professional team." He pointed at the people behind him, "These are all experts who returned from studying in the Soviet Union. Why don't we..."

Jiang Haitang instantly understood what these people meant. They were here to pick peaches.

She showed no displeasure on her face and continued to smile gently.

"Director Ma, according to regulations, outsiders visiting projects need a certificate from the military region." Her tone was steady, but revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Director Ma was very displeased: "Let our comrades come in and lead your project, not just come to visit."

"Excuse me, Director Ma, does your comrade have an official letter or a transfer order to our textile factory?"

Official letter? Transfer order?

Director Ma and the few people he brought with him were stunned.

"Why do you need an official letter or transfer order? Don't forget, your textile factory is under the management of our Light Industry Bureau." Director Ma's face turned purple, and the buttons of his Zhongshan suit were almost burst open by his heaving chest.

"I'm so sorry, Director Ma. Our textile factory is indeed under the jurisdiction of your Light Industry Bureau, but all participants in this project have documents. If your experts want to participate, they must have documents from the military region."

What this means is that what the Light Industry Bureau says doesn’t count!

"You are disobeying your superiors!"

The "experts" behind him were whispering to each other, and some had already taken out notebooks to take notes.

"We strictly adhere to confidentiality regulations." Jiang Haitang pulled out a stack of red-headed documents from the filing cabinet. As he flipped through the pages, the military seal flashed bright red. "If Director Ma has relevant documents, we will naturally fully cooperate."

Jiang Haitang spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, not afraid of offending anyone at all.

"How outrageous!"

"Director Ma, please don't wrongly accuse us. We don't mean to be presumptuous. We are just discussing the matter and asking you and other experts to produce the official letter."

Jiang Haitang refused to give in at all, but she still had a polite smile on her face, which made Director Ma extremely angry.

"You are unorganized and undisciplined. I will report you to the leadership. A comrade like you is not suitable to stay in the textile factory." Director Ma said angrily.