Chapter 271 An Accidental Success: Could Factory Director Qin Have a Backup Plan? ...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strict requirements for orders. For the first order, Qin Xiangxiang personally inspected all the clothes one by one. Any clothes with defects or problems were sent back for modification to ensure that everything was perfect.

When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inspected it, they were amazed for the first time.

In the past, when inspecting goods, I could find many flaws that needed to be modified, but these clothes in front of me are surprisingly difficult to find any defects.

"Oh dear, my eyes are dazzled, and I can't find any problems at all."

"Director Qin, the people in your factory are truly amazing! This is the best quality factory I've ever seen. Your Feiyan Textile Factory has a bright future!"

Upon hearing such praise, the people at Feiyan No. 2 Factory unconsciously straightened their chests, feeling even more honored.

Qin Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief. She was strict because she hated back-and-forth arguments.

Revision after revision is very frustrating. It's better to set higher standards for yourself and get it right the first time.

The first batch of orders was successfully completed, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was very satisfied. Now we are waiting for the second batch of orders, because the first order was completed well, and the quantity of the second batch has been increased.

Meanwhile, the people at Feiyan No. 2 Factory are becoming more and more experienced.

Meanwhile, Assistant He called Qin Xiangxiang to tell her the good news: "Factory Manager, the method of packaging pickles with lace is brilliant! It's selling very well, especially at the Canton Fair! Just adding a little bit of lace has made them more expensive than other agricultural products and pickles..."

"Of course, that's on the premise that the pickles from our factory are good!"

Qin Xiangxiang: "This news is fantastic!"

Qin Xiangxiang wrote it down in her notebook: if she were to run a food factory in the future, she must pay attention to "packaging".

Work went smoothly, and summer vacation arrived quickly. In July of 1978, there was another college entrance examination. Qin Xiangxiang did not pay attention to the college entrance examination, but instead focused on building a house with Li Jianzhi.

The couple planned to add two more floors to their house and also wanted to renovate it, deciding what kind of flooring to lay and what kind of wall paint to use.

Li Jianzhi: "We're not in a hurry to move into the top floor. We'll renovate it next year or the year after. We'll renovate the two-bedroom apartment on the third floor first."

"Yes, it's hot to live on the top floor in the summer, so we need to make sure it's shaded and waterproofed, and it can't leak when it rains."

"How about we plant something on this east-facing balcony at the very top?"

Li Jianzhi raised an eyebrow: "What should we plant?"

"Plant some flowers, roses, sunflowers? Plant some chives... Let Little Fatty take his sister to plant them, and I'll supervise and check."

Li Jianzhi: "How about we raise a few more fish? Let Xiaopang take care of his sister while I guide the work, and you supervise and inspect."

"Then how about we raise another chicken? Let Little Fatty take care of his sister and raise it—" Comrade Li Qingfeng put his hands on his hips, very dissatisfied with the remarks of the bad parents. If you want to grow vegetables and raise fish, then do it yourselves. What's the point of making him do the work?

"Little Fatty, you've already answered correctly, but raising chickens isn't allowed in this old apartment building, so you'll be disappointed."

Li Xiaopang: "What if it were allowed? Would you still make Xiaopang raise pigs and cows with his sister?"

Li Jianzhi: "If you're willing, Dad has no objection."

"Mom doesn't have any objections either," Qin Xiangxiang yawned.

"snort!"

Comrade Li Xiaopang felt that being a big brother was really not easy. His younger sisters all clung to him, insisting that he play with them. Poor guy like him couldn't go out and show off his prowess; he had to stay home and play games with his sisters.

Sui Sui became obsessed with playing house as a little nurse, always making him play the role of a wounded, lame soldier who had just returned from the battlefield, and having to bandage him and give him medicine.

And what about the two younger sisters?

They then played the roles of the wounded soldier's "parents," one of whom was already "senile," and the other unable to speak.

"Think about it, come here." Zhou Aodong called his daughter to his side and looked her over. This daughter, whose features resembled his own, was exceptionally bright and elegant... He used to think she was disappointing, but now that she was so promising, he was quite awe-inspiring.

The other person has grown into a powerful eagle on their own, and I no longer know how to communicate with them.

However, Zhou Aodong cautioned her, "You need to be careful lately. You've done an outstanding job since you took over Feiyan No. 2 Factory."

"Over the years, you've come to understand this yourself, haven't you? When you do things well, there's always someone reaping the benefits. If you do a good job, they're number one, and you're number two."

When it comes to picking peaches, Qin Xiangxiang is speechless. She got to where she is today because Yang Zhixia's uncle failed to pick peaches back then.

Judging from what her mother said, someone else is going to come and steal the credit again?

Zhou Aodong looked at her expectantly: "You have a way, right?"

Qin Xiangxiang: "???"

"What can I do? If I have to pick the peaches, then I'll pick them."

Qin Xiangxiang said that it's already 1978, and next year it will be 1979. Her relatives in Hong Kong will be able to come back, so whether she stays at the state-owned textile factory or not won't be a big problem.

With Qin Xiangxiang's current experience, whether it's reopening a textile factory or a food processing plant, it would be a piece of cake.

Sigh... Time is truly a cruel butcher.

Thinking of the dream she had eight years ago, in which she was cheated out of purchasing imported machinery—two lines of tears fell from Qin Xiangxiang's eyes at this moment.

Before she knew it, she had become an expert in all kinds of textile machines, all thanks to her skill of "small openings".

Trying to fool Qin Xiangxiang on the machine? That's impossible!!!

If she wanted to open her own textile factory, she would have people and machines... Thinking about it this way, Qin Xiangxiang felt that she didn't care.

What if someone were parachuted in to pick peaches?

Will the other party really be able to take the peach this time?

And Qin Xiangxiang, having been sidelined, will once again enjoy the comfortable life of a white-collar worker with a meager salary? Currently, state-owned factories haven't undergone reforms, and for her, the factory director, whether the factory makes money or not is only a matter of honor, not any other monetary benefit.

When the factory director responsibility system is reformed in the future, and the factory's operating efficiency improves, she, as the factory director, will benefit. At the same time, the textile factory will be responsible for its own profits and losses.

Whether she earns a lot or a little, it doesn't really matter. Even if she wanted to work hard to make money, she would have to wait until the 1980s. Right now, as long as she can keep her position, no matter what, she will still be the factory director, receiving a salary and commissions for free.

Qin Xiangxiang hoped that one day she could really become a lazy factory manager who could collect wages and bonuses without lifting a finger.

Doing nothing, just lying down and making money, how awesome!

If you treat those who parachute in to pick the peaches as "parachute-dropped cattle and horses," you'll immediately feel like you've hit the jackpot.

Feiyan No. 2 Factory gained fame in Shanghai due to an order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, becoming a flagship of the reform of Shanghai's light industry system in 1978. On this day, just as its mother, Zhou Aodong, had predicted, the leaders of the Light Industry Bureau personally accompanied an official to the factory.

This new cadre is named Yu Guoliang. He is in his forties and has a neatly parted hairstyle. When he arrived at the factory, he had an incredibly kind and friendly smile, smiling at every worker.

He has many connections and is best at "taking the final push" when his unit achieves results, thus reaping the rewards of his efforts.

"In view of the outstanding performance of Feiyan No. 2 Factory, in order to strengthen the leadership, Comrade Yu Guoliang is hereby appointed as the factory's Party Secretary, in charge of all work. Comrade Qin Xiangxiang, from now on you will be mainly responsible for production and technology."

Qin Xiangxiang's administrative rank was promoted one level, but this was a demotion in disguise. The real command power in the factory was transferred to Yu Guoliang, and Qin Xiangxiang had to cooperate with this new cadre to preside over the factory's work.

Yu Guoliang smiled broadly and said to Qin Xiangxiang with great politeness, "Director Qin, your abilities are evident to all. In the future, when the two of us work together, we will need your guidance!"

His tone seemed sincere, but it carried an undeniable air of superiority.

Qin Xiangxiang stared at the "parachuted-in laborer" in front of her and said in the same sincere tone, "Comrade Yu, the factory will be counting on you from now on."

She'll happily slack off for a while, to see if this parachuted-in boss has the ability to take charge and allow her to collect a salary and bonuses for free in the future.

Yu Guoliang stared at Qin Xiangxiang's face and was startled to find that the young man in front of him showed no anger or resentment.

His intention to seize power was obvious, but the young female factory director in front of him remained unmoved. This composure and mentality were something Yu Guoliang had not expected.

Could it be that Factory Director Qin has a backup plan?

Or is this Factory Director Qin just too stupid? She didn't even realize that I was going to seize power—no, no, no, how could a woman who has achieved such success not realize that I was going to seize power?

She must be very cunning! She has a tough battle ahead of her.

Yu Guoliang smiled inwardly, thinking that no matter how young and capable you are, "old ginger is spicier."

He wanted to thank Qin Xiangxiang for getting rid of Sun Youdao and Liu Manfu... However, what good were Qin Xiangxiang's methods?

Sun Youdao and Liu Manfu were both veterans of the factory, yet Qin Xiangxiang treated them without any regard for their feelings. This must have caused resentment among many of the factory's veterans, who felt that Qin Xiangxiang had no regard for their feelings.

He himself would incite the discontent of these veteran workers, making them oppose the new factory director, thereby gaining control of the entire Feiyan United Factory. He would then be the greatest contributor to the successful reform of Shangpu Textile Factory.

Yu Guoliang was well-versed in the art of usurping power. Moreover, he first used courtesy before resorting to force. When it was his turn to take charge, he immediately launched his "three fires upon assuming office" campaign, targeting Qin Xiangxiang's "lifeline"—the lifeline he had meticulously analyzed over three days and three nights.

First, Yu Guoliang convened a factory-wide meeting. At the meeting, he praised Qin Xiangxiang to the skies, saying she was the best he had ever heard of. Finally, he changed the subject: "Now, Feiyan Textile Factory has entered a brand new era. We must move from the past 'wild growth' to a new stage of 'modernized and standardized management'!"

"We must turn Director Qin's 'accidental success' into an inevitable success on the road ahead!"

The gist of his meeting was to portray Qin Xiangxiang's achievements as "accidental," and to assert that the factory would only achieve inevitable success under his leadership.

After the meeting, Yu Guoliang arranged for his nephew to work in the supply and marketing department. The people he brought with him took over several key departments, including finance and publicity, and spoke with Secretary Li, asking him to cooperate with the work.

The above are the two initiatives Yu Guoliang initiated: confirming Qin Xiangxiang's "accidental success" and regaining control of personnel; the last initiative was public relations.

Yu Guoliang had a good pen, which was his secret to success. He personally wrote a report on the successful reform of Shangpu Textile Factory, emphasizing various achievements throughout, and then putting his own name at the top, burying Qin Xiangxiang's name among a bunch of positions in the factory.

In the future, he plans to take this report with him on various occasions, earning immense fame and recognition.