"Speak, what is it?"

"To be honest with you, I've been the one running around with Manager Chen when he contacts the garment factory. Yesterday, Director Cui from the garment factory came to see me, and now they're panicking. Because Manager Chen has a good reputation, he always places orders without paying a deposit, holding back payments. Now he still owes the garment factory money, and the factory is in dire straits."

"What do you mean by telling me all this?"

"Director Cui wants to see you, do you agree?" Li Jiajia cautiously observed Qin Xiaoyu's expression.

"I'll think about it, thank you."

Qin Xiaoyu has already considered building a factory locally, but it can't be implemented yet. Now, with an urgent need to source goods, Riyue Garments is under considerable pressure; hiring people for delivery is also costly. These are all problems that need to be solved.

However, she didn't want to relinquish control and wait to hear what Li Jiajia was doing.

On the third day, Director Cui could no longer hold back and came directly to the door. He was a man with gray hair, who looked to be in his forties, and wore a pair of thick, double-lensed glasses for nearsightedness.

"Director Qin, I've come to apologize." Director Cui's attitude was very proper and extremely low-key.

"You flatter me!" Qin Xiaoyu greeted her warmly. However, the counter was so busy and crowded that she was constantly being called over by customers, making it impossible for her to have a proper conversation.

Factory Director Cui stood to one side, his expression complex. He had probably made comparisons in his mind. Putting aside the brand, they were both garment factories, but the other was thriving, while he had to come to their door to make a living, and he felt deeply ashamed.

"Director Cui, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long," Qin Xiaoyu said apologetically as she squeezed through the crowd.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you," Director Cui said in a low voice.

“We can’t talk here, let’s go outside.” Qin Xiaoyu led Factory Director Cui out of the mall and into a nearby coffee shop.

"I had Li Jiajia pass on a message that I'd like to talk to Factory Director Qin about the possibility of cooperation," Factory Director Cui said, getting straight to the point.

"To be frank, I have some doubts about your factory's technology." Qin Xiaoyu didn't mince words; people from Northeast China are known for their straightforwardness.

"Well, our factory has been around for decades, it shouldn't be that much worse, right?" Director Cui's face flushed red instantly.

"That's because when I look at high-quality replicas, I always feel like something's missing. If your factory's technology is up to par, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference," Qin Xiaoyu said slowly, sipping her coffee.

"That's because Riyue Apparel's products have many fashionable elements, which our technical department can't grasp well. We can only imitate them blindly, so I'm not satisfied with the products that come out. It's only because Manager Chen kept giving us assurances that we started mass production." Factory Director Cui was also very frustrated.

"We have a professional design team, which is why we have been able to monopolize the market. If everyone can copy it, how can we sell it?" Qin Xiaoyu said this with pride.

"Director Qin, I've heard about how you brought the 'Little Sun' factory back to life. To tell you the truth, our factory was on the verge of closing down. It was Manager Chen's few orders that gave us a chance to survive. If this path is blocked again, I'm afraid we won't even make it through the new year, and we'll have to close down." Director Cui said, wiping away tears.

"It's gotten to this point?"

"Moreover, Manager Chen's processing fees are extremely low, and the profit margin is already incredibly thin," Factory Director Cui sighed.

Qin Xiaoyu never expected that what she thought was a well-run clothing factory, where Manager Chen placed the order, turned out to be Manager Chen taking advantage of her misfortune.

"May I visit your factory?" Qin Xiaoyu put down her cup, and upon hearing this, Factory Manager Cui immediately led the way.

This is practically a carbon copy of Little Sun. Someone leaked the news that Qin Xiaoyu is the owner of Riyue Clothing, and that she's the one who ruined the clothing factory's livelihood. The workers are blocking the office door, preventing them from leaving.

"Get out of here! Go back to work! I'm talking to Factory Director Qin about a collaboration, what are you all doing!" Factory Director Cui was sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Let me go and explain the situation to everyone."

Qin Xiaoyu realized that Director Cui lacked execution ability and couldn't rely on him anymore. These women were the pillars of their families, each one capable and strong, having weathered many storms in life. They were like tough, unyielding copper beans, thick-skinned and rough-around-the-edges, impervious to bullets. They would be the representatives of future Chinese aunties, the most difficult to deal with.

"They're out! Look!"

"So young?"

"It's quite beautiful!"

"Does she have powerful connections? She's so beautiful, she must have slept with the boss."

"Hahaha!" The female workers started making vulgar jokes.

"Excuse me, ma'am, could you please speak to me in private?" Qin Xiaoyu beckoned to the woman who had just mocked her.

"Call me, what's up?" The woman was tall and slender. Although she was wearing work clothes, her face showed that she must have been a beauty when she was young.

What kind of work do you do?

"I'm a graphic designer." The woman tilted her head to the side, looking like she was about to cause trouble.

"The graphic design job is good. You don't have to operate the machines, it's peaceful, and there's not much work. It's a good department." Qin Xiaoyu knew all about these procedures and what she said was correct.

"That's right." The woman became smug. The murmurs among the crowd subsided; they were all wondering what Qin Xiaoyu was up to. Was flattery going to work?

"How did such a good job end up in your hands, sister? How many leaders did you sleep with?" Qin Xiaoyu's words were like a bomb, and the laughter from everyone almost lifted the tent off its roof.

"How dare you speak like that?" the woman snapped, pushing through the crowd to get physical. Factory Director Cui stepped forward and pulled her back.

"Have you laughed enough? I'm asking you, do you have any money for the New Year? Did you buy grain? Oil? How many strings of firecrackers? How many boxes of snacks? You didn't buy any? What are you laughing at!" Qin Xiaoyu's words were more ruthless than arrows piercing the heart. These words were like knives.

"We can't buy it, and it's all because of you!"

Someone called out.

"You're wrong! It's not because of me, it's because you're poor! You don't even know why you're poor, that's why you're in this situation!" Qin Xiaoyu was determined to fight them to the death today. These stubborn fools wouldn't listen to reason. There was no point in trying to appease them now.

"Why do you want to know? Don't leave this room until you explain yourself!" A fat woman blocked the stairwell and shouted.

"Take a look at this. This is a copy of my Sun Moon Garment Factory's January payroll report. See for yourselves how much it is!" Qin Xiaoyu pulled out a dozen or so sheets of paper and scattered them around. Everyone scrambled to get a closer look.

"Oh my god, how many zeros are there?"

"How much does it cost to retire?"

"Is this a bonus? It's more than my salary!"

"What is this subsidy? I've never seen it before."

"You have to pay extra to eat in the cafeteria? That can't be right!"

"Quiet down!" Qin Xiaoyu waved her hand, and everyone quieted down.