Chapter 234 Life Continues

"Ms. Zhou, is there any significance to this pattern? And does the red color represent something special?"

Zhou Lijuan immediately translated his words accurately.

A hint of a smile appeared in Zhou Shufen's eyes.

She raised her hand and gently pointed to the lotus pattern outlined in silver thread around her neckline.

"This is called 'Lotus vine,' a traditional pattern passed down from the older generation. It means good fortune, hope, and the continuous flow of life."

"Red is the color we use most often for festivals and weddings. It represents joy and symbolizes hope and reunion. My husband and I just got our marriage certificate yesterday, and I specially wore this red dress today to bring good luck and good fortune."

"marry?"

Deren's eyes suddenly lit up.

He spoke in his newly learned Chinese.

"Congratulations, Ms. Zhou! This dress is perfect for your occasion. You look so beautiful in red, like the first rays of dawn."

This time, Zhou Shufen didn't dodge.

She gently raised her hand and firmly grasped the outstretched palm of Dren.

"Thank you, Mr. Deren. You are welcome to visit our factory and learn about our design philosophy."

When Dren released her hand, his gaze fell once again on her well-tailored red down jacket.

He turned to Qi Changyu.

"Please tell Ms. Zhou that she looks really good in this dress. She is both gentle and firm, just like the clothes she makes—they have warmth and soul, making them unforgettable at first glance."

Qi Changyu translated the sentence word by word.

Zhou Shufen's smile deepened after hearing this.

She walked over and her gaze fell on the design drafts on the table.

“Mr. Deren, if you don’t mind, may I tell you about the inspiration behind these drawings? There’s a story behind every line.”

Dren nodded immediately.

He quickly moved a chair and sat down.

“I couldn’t ask for more, Ms. Zhou. Please tell me, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Guo Yanlong stood aside, finally feeling relieved.

He had been worried that Zhou Shufen would be nervous in front of foreign clients, but what he saw was completely unexpected.

With her here, this conversation with Dren is a sure thing.

The two chatted more and more enthusiastically, and the topic expanded from design to fabrics and craftsmanship.

Zhou Shufen occasionally uttered a few words of English; her pronunciation wasn't perfect, but it was clear and fluent.

Dren was taking notes intently when he suddenly heard her speak in English, and he was startled.

"Ms. Zhou...you speak English?"

Zhou Shufen's finger paused lightly on the drawing.

"I only know a little bit. I learn it in my spare time as a hobby."

She lightly tapped her fingertips on the pattern of the suit.

"I referenced the cheongsam cutting technique in China for the waistline of this coat. It's just the right fit, showing off your figure without feeling cramped when walking. I also made a slight adjustment to the curvature of the cuffs to make them fit the natural curve of your arms better, making it more comfortable."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on her.

Guo Yanlong stood there, stunned.

Zhou Shufen can actually speak English!

He had known Zhou Shufen for so long, yet he had no idea she could speak English!

She is usually very low-key in her speech and actions, so who would have thought that she had such a hidden skill?

Deputy Factory Director Pan was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

He subconsciously reached out and secretly tugged at Lao Yang's sleeve.

"How many more cards does our boss Zhou have up her sleeve? When...when did she learn to speak English?"

Old Yang was also dumbfounded, standing there stunned, staring blankly at Zhou Shufen.

He nodded subconsciously in response to Deputy Factory Director Pan.

“Yes… I was worried that she and Deren wouldn’t be able to communicate well because of the language barrier… but now it seems we were overthinking it.”

He gave a wry smile, thinking to himself.

They don't need a translator at all; they can chat effortlessly on their own.

Qi Changyu was also stunned, then turned to look at Zhou Lijuan.

"Is this your mother? Did you know beforehand?"

Zhou Lijuan gently shook her head.

She really didn't know when her mother had learned English, let alone that she would speak it so fluently.

Zhou Yujie stood beside her, watching her quietly.

Our family is truly extraordinary!

Deren was stunned for a long time.

He gently placed the pen in his hand on the table.

Then, he involuntarily leaned forward, getting closer to Zhou Shufen.

"Your English is fantastic!"

"They're even more authentic than my company's local employees!"

He paused, his gaze falling on the design drawings.

"What's even more impressive is the design itself, which perfectly blends traditional Eastern elements with Western tailoring techniques. It's so ingenious! I've never seen such creativity before!"

Zhou Shufen smiled.

She nodded and then continued in English.

Thank you for your recognition.

"Actually, I've always felt that every culture has its unique strengths. If we can combine these strengths, the new designs we create will naturally be more popular and have more vitality."

She pointed to another open sketch.

"Take this wool coat for example. We used a traditional Chinese stand-up collar design for the collar. This collar style is not only beautiful, but more importantly, it is warmer than the common turn-down collar."

She paused, then looked up at Deren.

"Especially in the biting cold of winter in Country D, this design is particularly practical. It retains the charm of the East while also taking into account the actual needs of wearing it."

Delun listened intently, his eyes fixed on the blueprints and Zhou Shufen's face.

The pen in his hand flew across the notebook, recording every detail.

Whenever he encountered technical terms or something he didn't understand, he would stop and politely ask questions.

Zhou Shufen always answered with a smile.

And so, one sentence after another, the two of them talked more and more deeply.

Zhou Lijuan and Qi Changyu stood aside, wanting to chime in with a few words, but they couldn't get a word in edgewise.

The two exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.

No one expected that the mother would single-handedly handle the entire situation, saving the need for a translator.

Guo Yanlong watched from the side, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Back when the garment factory was just starting out.

At that time, the factory was dilapidated, funds were scarce, and the factory was dirt poor.

The workers couldn't even be paid their wages, and their competitors outside were mocking them, saying that their idea of ​​doing foreign trade was a pipe dream.

But what about now?

A big deal has been signed; the partner is a well-known fashion company in country D, and the first order is worth six figures.

Their designers can not only create stunning designs, but also converse fluently with foreign experts in English.

Guo Yanlong looked down at his hands, then looked up at Zhou Shufen's back.

He suddenly realized how insignificant his past self-righteous persistence and efforts seemed.

Half an hour later, Zhou Shufen finally finished explaining all her design ideas and product concepts.

Deren closed his notebook and slowly stood up.

“Ms. Zhou, you are not only a remarkable designer, but also an outstanding woman with broad knowledge, quick thinking, and great wisdom. It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to work with you.”