Once the production line started running, the roar of the machines never stopped, and even the light bulbs in the workshop stayed on all night.
The first batch of wool blend sweaters and dresses were packaged into cardboard boxes printed with the words "First Garment Factory" and transported by truck to Huacheng Garment Wholesale Market.
Within two days, these boxes seemed to have grown wings, and they were scattered to supply and marketing cooperatives and department store counters all over the country, following trucks and green trains traveling north and south.
Like a drop of water falling into boiling oil, it instantly exploded.
Back then, girls wore very simple clothes, and they didn't show off their figures much.
The detachable sleeves offered a variety of styles, which was quite innovative at the time.
In addition, the First Garment Factory adhered to its old traditions, using high-quality materials with stitches so dense you could count them, and tailoring the waistline just right—neither loose nor constricting—making the girls' curves look both elegant and beautiful.
The exposed skin on her wrists and neck, with its subtle sexiness, is just the right amount to tickle the heartstrings, making everyone who sees it feel comfortable.
Fashionable young wives and stylish female factory workers alike were captivated by this sweater dress.
The First Garment Factory had figured out their intentions perfectly.
The letter sent back from Huacheng left everyone in the factory speechless with astonishment.
When accountant Xiao Li answered the phone, her hands were shaking, and the words she spoke could deafen anyone.
"Only two days! Just two days! All those five thousand sweater dresses from the first batch are gone!"
What's even more bizarre is the price.
At first, I wholesaled it to people for twelve yuan, but it rose to thirteen yuan in less than a day, and then jumped to fifteen yuan the next morning.
Once it reaches the retail counter, the price skyrocketed to twenty-five yuan!
Back then, a young worker's monthly salary was only a little over thirty yuan, or twenty-five yuan. That was enough for an ordinary family to buy half a bag of flour, two jin of meat, and a piece of cloth to make a new outfit for their child. They could barely make ends meet for half a month.
Even so, there were still plenty of girls holding money and queuing up in long lines, the counter was almost crushed by the crowd.
This "sweater dress craze" has swept across the country at an astonishing speed.
Wholesalers and department store buyers from all over the country, like sharks smelling blood, moved at the first sign of trouble.
The telephone in the sales department of the First Garment Factory, which used to be very quiet, suddenly became a hotline, ringing non-stop from morning till night.
Telegrams arrived like snowflakes, all with identical messages: Need the goods! Urgent! The more the better!
Zhang Guoqiang's office was also practically worn out by the constant stream of visitors.
Those purchasing managers who used to ignore the First Garment Factory were now beaming with unprecedented enthusiasm, offering cigarettes and saying nice things to them.
There's only one goal—to get that wildly popular sweater dress, and preferably immediately!
Looking at the fawning and eager faces in front of him, Zhang Guoqiang was filled with mixed feelings, but more than anything, he felt a sense of triumph and satisfaction!
He tried his best to maintain the composure of a factory manager, but the smile in his eyes and the slight upturn of his chin betrayed his true feelings.
That afternoon, a slightly overweight figure squeezed into Zhang Guoqiang's office, with an extremely unnatural smile on his face, and carrying two boxes of pastries that looked expensive.
"Director Zhang... Director Zhang! He's busy!"
The visitor was Wang Dahai, the second largest wholesaler in Huacheng.
Zhang Guoqiang looked up and his eyes instantly turned cold.
This person was all too "familiar" to him.
Six months ago, when the First Garment Factory was on the verge of collapse, it couldn't even pay wages and was only kept afloat by a few previously signed purchase contracts.
At that time, the policy of independent operation had just been introduced, and the factory signed contracts at low prices in order to attract business.
Wang Dahai was one of the biggest buyers, and his price was also the lowest.
But just when the factory was going through its toughest time, Wang Dahai suddenly changed his mind, saying he didn't want the goods anymore and didn't give any compensation, almost driving the factory to the brink of collapse.
He had connections in Huacheng, and Zhang Guoqiang didn't even have time to argue with him at that time; he could only watch helplessly as the contract became worthless.
Some time ago, when the inventory was being renovated, Zhang Guoqiang also visited Wang Dahai.
What did Wang Dahai do at that time?
He didn't even bother to look closely at the clothes Zhang Guoqiang brought before crossing his legs, looking down at the sky, and speaking in an extremely contemptuous tone.
"Old Zhang, it's not that I don't want to help you, but these clothes from your factory are so cheap I'd give them to me as rags! Who wears these anymore? Take them back quickly, don't take up my space!"
Even more outrageous, he publicly took out the previously signed letter of intent for supply and tore it to shreds in front of Zhang Guoqiang, scattering the scraps of paper all over the ground.
He was still holding a broom, sweeping away scraps of paper along with Zhang Guoqiang.
Zhang Guoqiang still vividly remembers that humiliation.
"Oh, Mr. Wang? What a rare guest!"
Zhang Guoqiang put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and spoke in a flat tone, revealing no emotion.
"What brings you to our little, run-down factory?"
Wang Dahai's smile froze even more, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He rubbed his hands together, placed the pastries on the table, and said, "Director Zhang, what are you saying..."
"I heard your new sweater dress is selling like hotcakes! As one of the top wholesalers in Huacheng, how can I not have such a sought-after item? Could you... give us a priority order? The price is negotiable!"
"priority?"
Zhang Guoqiang tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
“Boss Wang, have you forgotten? What did you say half a year ago, and a little over a month ago? You said our factory’s clothes were worthless, and you even tore up the contract, saying we were even.”
As he spoke, he looked sharply at Wang Dahai and smiled.
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