Every day after the cultural troupe finished work, Lei Yuhua would lead several quick-handed girls straight to the No. 1 Garment Factory.
The girls' hushed rehearsal commands echoed in the empty auditorium.
Lei Yuhua commanded with composure, making full use of her stage experience, while Wang Chunyan followed like a little tail, running errands with extra diligence and effort.
The third route, and also the one under the most pressure, is Zhang Guoqiang's side.
Carrying those exquisite invitations with ink-wash patterns, he spun around like a top, visiting wholesalers and department store purchasing managers who had signed orders but almost turned against him.
He was often greeted not with smiles, but with complaints and doubts fueled by pent-up anger.
Some impatient people slammed their fists on the table on the spot.
"Director Zhang! You were the one who guaranteed the 'Guanghua' series would be delivered on time! And now where's the goods? You're showing me this little scrap of cloth? Who are you trying to fool?"
Some people crossed their arms, their faces full of disdain.
"Press conference? What's that all about? Never even heard of it! Is your factory about to go bankrupt, and you're just clearing out your stock?"
In their traditional and simple view, it's enough to just make the clothes and send a sample for people to choose from; holding a press conference is just pointless and unnecessary.
Some people even scoffed, thinking that Zhang Guoqiang and Zhou Qiqi were grasping at straws in desperation.
"Exactly! All this fuss over nothing, they should be focusing on getting Australia's 'Guanghua' project done right! All this fancy stuff is utterly useless!"
Zhang Guoqiang smiled apologetically and patiently explained, his throat becoming dry from talking so much.
He felt aggrieved, but thinking of Zhou Qiqi's bloodshot eyes and the new clothes in the warehouse that were gradually taking shape, he could only emphasize again and again:
"If you're going to take time out of your busy schedule, please take a look. It won't take you long. Our Master Zhou's new product is absolutely different! You can make your decision after you see it!"
He emphasized the words "absolutely different" and shoved the piece of clothing with its unique gradient effect into the other person's hand.
The wholesalers and purchasing managers were reluctant, but they felt it was troublesome and unpredictable.
But considering the previous success of the sweater dress and the amazing quality of the "Guanghua" sample garment, I finally reluctantly agreed.
In business, both vision and reputation are important; what if you really miss out on a good deal?
Besides, Zhang Guoqiang is such an honest man, so it's not good to offend him too much.
However, everyone tacitly chose to keep it a secret and did not spread it around.
Qiu Fengxian, blinded by his get-rich-quick dreams, was completely unaware of these developments.
He remained nestled in his leather chair in his office, leisurely sipping Longjing tea, flipping through the newly arrived car brochure, and smugly waiting for Zhou Qiqi to come begging for mercy.
On Sunday morning, Qiu Fengxian's cousin, whom he had sent out to keep watch, rushed in, panting heavily.
"Brother! Brother! Something terrible has happened! There are huge crowds at the First Garment Factory!"
Qiu Fengxian was stunned for a moment, not understanding at all. "What?! Really?"
My cousin nodded repeatedly, talking incessantly.
"Really! So many cars! So many out-of-town license plates! Big wholesalers from all over the country, and Li Ping from the biggest stall in our S City wholesale market, they're all here! And...and the director of the wool mill, and several section chiefs from the Light Industry Bureau, I recognized them all! The scariest thing is, Vice Mayor Zhai's driver brought in an old man who looked like an elder of the Zhai family!"
Qiu Fengxian sneered, not too surprised, and leisurely picked up the teapot to pour tea.
"What do you mean? You all went to cause trouble for Zhou Qiqi?"
Seeing that his older cousin still didn't care, the younger cousin became so anxious that he was sweating profusely and shaking his head like a rattle drum.
"No! They weren't looking for trouble! They just threw some kind of 'new product launch,' and it was a huge affair! The police even sent people to maintain order!"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Fengxian smashed the purple clay teapot in his hand to the ground with a loud crash, shattering it into pieces.
He couldn't care less anymore; his mind went blank, his face turned deathly pale, and he abruptly stood up, slamming his hands on the table as he demanded:
"New products? What new products? Where did they get new products from?! Didn't you go in and find out?!"
"I...I don't know! I want to go in and take a look, but there are police and security guards at the gate, and they say you need an invitation to get in! I...I can't sneak in!"
My cousin looked miserable.
"An invitation? Where do you get an invitation?"
Qiu Fengxian was pacing around anxiously like an ant on a hot pan when there was a knock on his office door.
It was Zhang Guoqiang who arrived!
He looked travel-worn, but a smug smirk played on his face as he slammed an elegant invitation onto Qiu Fengxian's desk.
"Director Qiu, how have you been? Our factory is launching a new product conference for the 'Guanghua' series today, and I came especially to give you a ticket. Without you, these new products wouldn't exist. You're a very important guest; this is a major project for our factory, so you absolutely have to come and support us!"
Qiu Fengxian snatched the invitation, staring at the words "Ink Splendor - New Product Launch" on it, both shocked and furious, his voice trembling:
"Zhang Guoqiang! You guys really have a new product? What the hell are you up to?! Explain yourself!"
"what the hell?"
Zhang Guoqiang, who was standing ramrod straight, scoffed.
"The press conference is about to start. If you go, you'll know everything, right?"
After saying that, she stopped looking at him and turned away arrogantly.
That figure exuded a toughness that Gu Qiufengxian had never seen before.
Qiu Fengxian was furious, his face ashen. He stared at the elegant ink-wash invitation in his hand, both surprised and suspicious, muttering under his breath:
"Playing hard to get!"
"They're desperate and still resorting to trickery!"
He crumpled the invitation into a ball and raised his hand high as if to tear it to shreds.
But he held the crumpled paper in his hand and ultimately didn't tear it.
His mind was in turmoil, and he had a vague sense that something terrible was about to happen. He gritted his teeth and roared outside:
"Get the car ready! I want to see what Zhou Qiqi is really up to!"
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