Chapter 169 Focusing on Key Areas: A Mismatched Approach – Can This Work? ...

"I just wanted to take this opportunity to wear some silk clothes, but they brought me a few troublemakers. This Factory Director Chen is really a handful," Qin Xiangxiang complained to Li Jianzhi in a low voice while lying on the bed.

"I heard that one is a top student who graduated from the textile academy and is a master apprentice of the chief engineer, while the other is a craftsman inheritor from the Suzhou Weaving Bureau with unique family skills... These two must be very capable."

Qin Xiangxiang's initial goal was to obtain a small share of mulberry silk so she could wear silk clothes. Of course, making imitation silk wouldn't do their textile factory any harm, since cotton quotas were destined to decrease.

With the increasing supply of synthetic fibers and the decreasing proportion of cotton, it is unlikely that they will be able to obtain so much high-quality cotton to make poplin this year.

Developing imitation silk products is considered a high-end product, while ordinary products are cotton-polyester blends.

Li Jianzhi hugged her and said, "You got the machines from Factory Director Chen."

"Would you like to try on some silk pajamas?" Qin Xiang touched the fabric of his clothes and suddenly felt a surge of ambition. Silk pajamas were very tempting; she imagined the softness and luster of silk against her skin, how wonderful it would be.

Li Jianzhi rested his chin on his hand, quite realistically stating, "Pure silk isn't suitable for lazy people."

Qin Xiangxiang: "???"

Li Jianzhi, the young master, has worn many silk clothes, and many styles of silk have been developed since then. However, for modern people, pure silk fabric is not a very good clothing choice.

First, it wrinkles easily; second, it shrinks; and third, it tears easily. You might wear a pure silk garment, and in no time, it will be covered in tiny wrinkles. It is also very easy to wear and tear; it's so thin that it feels like it could be torn apart very easily.

Silk clothes are prone to shrinkage and will turn yellow and old after two washes, so they need to be handled carefully. It's already quite remarkable that silk clothes can be washed with water. After washing and drying, they look like dried pickled vegetables. They need to be carefully ironed to look presentable. The most exquisite way is to send them to a dry cleaner for professional ironing.

A more extravagant approach would be to wear it once or twice and then throw it away, refusing to put up with any maintenance.

For modern fast-paced life, pure silk is not a good choice. It is not crisp and wrinkles easily. Even as loungewear, it is better to choose pure cotton after wearing it for a long time. It is soft and durable.

Li Jianzhi: "You have to iron it again after each wash. You can't wring it out too hard, or it will drip and turn into pickled vegetables. If you iron it right away, it will wrinkle again after wearing it for a while."

Qin Xiangxiang: "...You're right, it's not suitable for lazy people."

"What insights do you, my quack strategist, have?"

Li Jianzhi: "For me, the requirements are comfort, durability, and machine washability."

Qin Xiangxiang: "Machine washing?"

"Why don't you just take inspiration from the military's formula? Anyway, your textile factory is most familiar with this. This year, the entire army is undergoing a major material replacement, and they're all using three-in-one materials. Many people have said that it's good... Why don't you just replace the cotton with silk and try it?"

Qin Xiangxiang: "???!!"

Speaking of military uniform materials, that's true. Their textile factories also produce some military fabric, so of course they know the military formula. In order to save on cotton usage, the entire army's uniforms have been completely transformed into a three-in-one material, which has been promoted nationwide.

The "three-in-one" blend is a blend of polyester, nylon, and cotton, with 50% polyester, 17% nylon, and 33% cotton. This "blending ratio" was determined after extensive testing and feedback from military personnel.

It has also undergone military-grade tests for flame resistance, toxicity prevention, heat resistance, infrared protection, and more.

Based on this formula, it can be modified to a formula of 45% polyester, 25% nylon, and 30% silk.

This is softer than the military-grade material; it's a slightly softer material and has added the natural luster of silk.

The three-in-one formula offers three complementary advantages: polyester for crispness and wrinkle resistance, nylon for durability, and silk for softness and natural luster.

It can be made to look like silk, increasing its stiffness, wrinkle resistance, and durability, while significantly reducing costs compared to silk clothing.

Suitable for making mid-to-high-end suits, dress shirts, etc.

Qin Xiangxiang: "You strategist, your idea sounds great."

She kissed him and praised him generously: "Just one compliment saves me a lot of trouble and I don't need to make too many changes."

Li Jianzhi continued to offer suggestions: "Since we have real silk now... why don't you try secretly mixing real silk with hemp?"

Qin Xiangxiang's eyes widened suddenly: "???" She thought to herself, "You really dare to mess around."

The soft silk blended with the rough linen is like forcibly pairing a delicate young lady with a rough and uncouth man.

What is this stuff? Is it silk or hemp?

Sisal is a type of hemp material used for making hemp rope!

They're not from the same social class, how can this work?

"Don't give me that nonsense." Qin Xiangxiang glared at him and pinched his waist, thinking to herself, "I'll prick your butt with this numbing cream."

Li Jianzhi: "Your factory could try processing the hemp into fine fibers, with hemp accounting for less than 70%, which should maintain the softness of the silk."

"And these are all made of 'natural materials'."

Qin Xiangxiang: "..."

Li Jianzhi, who came fifty years later, actually felt that natural materials were better. People in the future would pursue natural materials. Silk and linen were blended together. Silk added softness and luster to linen, while linen provided toughness and wear resistance to silk. It was a complementary combination of advantages.

Unlike synthetic fibers like polyester, silk and linen are made of natural ingredients, making them comfortable and durable.

Then came the trend of "Beijing Buddhists," who were known for their aloof demeanor and adorable beaded bracelets. Since they had converted to Buddhism, they naturally favored a simple cotton and linen style. However, pure cotton and linen didn't seem luxurious enough, so they mixed silk with linen, creating a natural style that was both "luxurious" and "simple."

This is very typical of the Buddhist circle in Beijing.

Qin Xiangxiang: "Are you serious? You're not kidding me, are you? If I really did this, wouldn't other people think I'm crazy...?"

Li Jianzhi: "No, just say you want to try making machine-washable silk, so you're adding linen."

Qin Xiangxiang: "..." How could this be so shameless? This is even more bizarre than mixing real silk with imitation silk.

"Li Jianzhi, what do you mean by this? You're making me marry a delicate young lady to the bandit king of Jianma Mountain."

"Forced marriages between people of unequal social standing will not end well."

"No, no." Li Jianzhi suppressed a laugh: "Let me tell you, this is called the 'Buddhist Style' of the Beijing Circle."

Qin Xiangxiang: "?"

"Linen represents the simplicity of monks; silk represents the elegance of the aristocracy in Beijing. When combined, they create the style of Buddhist monks in Beijing."

Qin Xiangxiang: "...Now that you put it that way, I can understand it a little better."

Li Jianzhi: "This is also suitable for us ordinary lazy people to wear. We can experience the feel of silk, and it is durable and wear-resistant."

"I'll give it a try." With the courage of a warrior cutting off his own arm, Qin Xiangxiang decided to try making a blend of silk and linen. Fortunately, she wasn't the factory manager of the silk weaving factory.

If one can succeed in mixing it with linen, it would indeed be a good thing, as it aligns with the current value standards. Pure silk is too delicate and luxurious, so mixing it with linen would make one appear "simple and frugal."

Moreover, this method of mixing significantly reduces costs.

"Li Jianzhi, you lousy strategist, stop giving me bad advice."

Li Jianzhi: "All my ideas are good. You can also try imitation silk wave yarn. It's made by combining synthetic and real silk to create the structure of wave yarn. It's also more breathable and heat-dissipating than other synthetic materials, and it has the feel of real silk."

Qin Xiangxiang said, "...The idea is great, but whether it can be made depends on the workers at Feiyan Textile Factory."

Li Jianzhi: "You can put more effort into sun protection and breathability."

After 1973, oil prices soared, and the purchasing power of oil-producing countries in the Middle East rose rapidly. Middle Eastern royal families and the emerging middle class needed to buy a large number of daily necessities, while Middle Eastern customers' spending in European luxury stores grew rapidly.

If you want to place orders at the Canton Fair, you can consider Middle Eastern clients. Since 1973, the number of Middle Eastern clients at the Canton Fair has surged, and they are mostly oil merchants and big spenders.

For the past two or three decades, oil prices have remained low, but this year they have risen sharply, causing many oil-producing countries, such as Dubai and Desert Star, to make a fortune and develop rapidly.

They're rich, being from the Middle East.

Selling anything is the same as selling.

Qin Xiangxiang noted down the scoundrel's "cunning idea." She thought it was too "cunning." If she weren't his wife, she would have slapped him a few times.

Silk mixed with linen, how could he even think of that?

Sun Qingyuan and three other people from the silk weaving factory came to the factory director's office to see Qin Xiangxiang. Sun Qingyuan, wearing glasses and dressed neatly, looked very refined and scholarly. Yang Qian, standing next to him, wore a silk dress and had a serious face, like an old-fashioned nun, and her temper didn't seem very good. The older female worker, Su Huihong, was all smiles and had a round face that made her seem approachable. Xue Xiaochuan, on the other hand, was a stubborn young man who looked like a mule and was very inexperienced.

Without the four of them introducing themselves, Qin Xiangxiang immediately recognized their identities.

"Hello comrades, welcome to Feiyan Textile Factory. Let's work together well."

The four people, including Sun Qingyuan, did not look too good. After arriving, they realized that the conditions at Feiyan Textile Factory were truly "harsh".

Sun Qingyuan: "Your machines are too crude!"

Yang Qian: "Imitation silk is not feasible; it can never replicate the appearance of real silk."

Su Huihong: "I can cooperate with anything."

Xue Xiaochuan: "I don't know anything... No, no, I don't know anything yet, but I can learn everything!"

"Technician Sun, you've come at the right time. You can go with our Master Liao and Master Rong to debug the machine. Our factory is in dire need of someone like you." Qin Xiangxiang politely suggested that Sun Qingyuan be assigned to debug the machine.

Sun Qingyuan: "? I have very high requirements for the machine."

Qin Xiangxiang said, "I'll have Master Rong accompany you."

I heard that this technician Sun is nitpicky about the data, but it doesn't matter. Their factory has a quality inspector named Rong, who had already tormented all the workers before this.

With Master Rong by his side, the workers probably found this Technician Sun quite agreeable.

"This Master Yang..."

Yang Qian said coldly, "I only make pure silk. I will not participate in any imitation silk or silk blends. Even if Chen Shulan comes, it will be useless."

Qin Xiangxiang suppressed the upward curve of her lips and thought to herself, "Perfect, I also want to wear some genuine silk clothes."

"Then, Master Yang Qian, please demonstrate your silk-making skills to our workers and let us see the true quality of silk."

Yang Qian: "???"

In Qin Xiangxiang's eyes, Yang Qian was a treasure. All she needed to do was produce pure silk as a model for them, and she didn't need to get involved in anything else.

After all, she still wants to try blending silk with sisal.

It's best to avoid people working at all the silk factories.

"Comrade Su Huihong, please guide everyone in the process."

"And this Comrade Xue Xiaochuan, you can take notes from the side. I hope you can have a harmonious and friendly exchange at Feiyan Textile Factory."

"We can learn something from each other."

Qin Xiangxiang's goal was clear: to learn silk crafting techniques from the three technicians; nothing else mattered.

What? Yang Qian doesn't accept imitation silk and real silk blends? What does that have to do with Feiyan Textile Factory? Going to lecture her is a waste of breath. It's enough to learn real silk techniques from her.

On the contrary, they should support her and coax Yang Qian into becoming an embryo, so that they can learn skills from her.

As for how much these technicians can learn at Feiyan Textile Factory, that's up to their own abilities and has nothing to do with Qin Xiangxiang.

Qin Xiangxiang, a lazy person, is very good at grasping the key points.