Chapter 345 Pretending to be a Returning Businessman in a Historical Novel (18)
Zhou Jue glanced at those bloodshot eyes and stepped aside to avoid the grand gesture.
"Director Li, you flatter me."
"That's how it should be."
She reached out and gently pressed down on Director Li's stiff arm.
"The blueprints and equipment are for the country," Zhou Jue said softly. "I hope our country can have its own high-precision equipment as soon as possible."
Director Li's eyes welled up with tears, his lips moved slightly, but in the end he simply nodded heavily.
A thousand words were stuck in my throat.
"Director Wang." Zhou Jue turned his head and looked at Deputy Director Wang, who was standing to the side and was also speechless with shock.
"Hey! Director Zhou, what are your orders?" Deputy Director Wang jumped up and immediately stood up straight.
"From today onwards, the factory's daily production, personnel allocation, and technical training will all be handed over to you."
Zhou Jue took out several documents that he had prepared in advance from the drawer: "This is the production plan forecast for the next three months, and there are also some drafts of employee incentive plans. Please take a look and improve them."
"Don't worry!" Deputy Factory Director Wang took the documents, straightened his back, and said firmly, "I guarantee I'll take good care of your home!"
He understood that the young factory manager trusted his abilities, and he could not betray that trust.
After seeing off the still excited Director Li and Section Chief Zhang, the office finally quieted down.
Zhou Jue closed the door, lay comfortably on the sofa, and closed his eyes.
[Host, that internet addict is online again.]
"Okay, same as always, remember to record the screen."
Zhou Jue's consciousness sank into the space, the light screen unfolded, and the familiar StarNet interface appeared.
The "lucky one" chosen by the system seemed uninterested in current events today; he clicked on a section called "Interstellar Gossip Center".
A headline in bold red immediately caught my eye.
Breaking News! The Third Prince of the Empire is suspected of having a fiancée! Insiders reveal her identity is...
Zhou Jue's eyelid twitched.
The user's finger swiped rapidly, skipping the lengthy analysis and scrolling directly to the comments section.
[First floor: Is this for real? Isn't the Third Prince always fighting on the front lines? How could he have time for romance?]
[Second Floor: Is this a new guy upstairs? I bet a packet of premium nutritional supplements that this news is true. My sister-in-law's cousin's classmate works at the Central Star Army, and he said that His Highness the Third Prince's mood has been very stable lately, and he hasn't overturned the training room again.]
[Third floor replying to second floor: Holy crap! Really? If the Third Prince doesn't wreck the training room, is he still the Third Prince? He's a notorious tyrant!]
[Fourth Floor: What's wrong with Tyrannosaurus Rex? Can't Tyrannosaurus Rex have love? I only care about who that fiancé is! Please dig deeper!]
The screen continues to scroll down.
[Floor 138: Stop guessing, I have inside information. I heard the other party isn't any noble lady from any family within our Star Network's coverage area, but rather... a 'native' from an unknown primitive planet.]
This comment immediately caused an uproar.
[Indigenous? What kind of interstellar joke is this! The Third Prince's genetic compatibility requirements are incredibly high; how could an indigenous person from a primitive planet possibly be a match?]
I don't believe it! Has the royal family gone mad?
Is it possible that this was a political marriage? What special resources did that primitive planet possess?
Zhou Jue raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing this.
Interestingly, the user in front of the screen paused for a long time after seeing this comment.
Then, he opened an encrypted private chat window and started typing rapidly.
[Boss, rumors are starting to circulate online; we can't suppress them anymore.]
The other party replied quickly.
Let them be.
But... what if someone really finds out where my sister-in-law is...?
They don't have that ability.
After the conversation ended, the user closed the chat window and logged out of StarNet.
The screen went dark.
[Host, he has logged off.]
Zhou Jue opened his eyes and looked thoughtfully at the simple chandelier on the ceiling of the guesthouse.
......
One afternoon two weeks later, Deputy Factory Director Wang, who was checking worker files in his office, received a long-distance phone call.
The call was from Zhou Jue.
"Director Wang, I have good news." Zhou Jue's voice was filled with laughter.
"Director Zhou! Are you doing well over there?" Deputy Director Wang quickly put down his pen.
“I’m fine. Make a note of this: I’ve secured a spot for our factory to participate in Paris Fashion Week.”
“Paris…what week?” Deputy Factory Director Wang was taken aback; this term was beyond his comprehension.
“It’s one of the world’s top fashion exhibitions,” Zhou Jue explained. “The world’s best designers and top brands all go there to showcase their latest creations.”
Deputy Factory Director Wang's breath caught in his throat for a moment.
Although he had never heard of the name before, he understood the words "best in the world" and "top-tier".
"Director Zhou... Director Zhou, do you mean that our clothes can... can be sold alongside the best in the world?" His voice began to tremble.
“It’s not about selling, it’s about showcasing,” Zhou Jue corrected. “This is an opportunity for the whole world to get to know us.”
"You know us...the silk factory?" Deputy Factory Director Wang felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
"right."
After hanging up the phone, Deputy Factory Director Wang sat in his office for a full five minutes.
Then, he suddenly grabbed the metal microphone on the table and connected to the factory's broadcasting room.
"Hello! Is this Xiao Li? Connect me to the factory-wide announcement! Yes! Now! Immediately! Right now!"
Five minutes later, a message was broadcast over the loudspeaker and spread to every corner of the factory.
The entire Huaxin Silk Factory was in an uproar.
"Paris! I'm going to Paris!"
Where is Paris? Is it far away?
"Oh my god! Our clothes are going abroad!"
Am I dreaming?
"Is this the start of earning foreign exchange?"
The workers were so excited that their faces turned red, and they hugged each other with great joy. Some of the young female workers even cried tears of happiness.
The design department was in a state of near-frenzy.
"Listen up, everyone!" The chief designer, a master craftsman from Shanghai surnamed Chen, slammed his fist on the table excitedly: "The factory manager has given us a tremendous opportunity! We absolutely cannot mess this up!"
"From now on, not only will you have to show your true skills, but we will also hold a 'Huaxin Silk Products Design Competition' in the factory!"
"The theme is 'Chinese Flower Style'!"
"We need to design ten sets of silk clothing that not only have our own ethnic characteristics, but also catch the eye of foreigners!"
"Everyone can participate! Once selected, there will be a generous reward! And you'll be directly admitted to the core design team!"
All the designers and apprentices' eyes turned red. They picked up paper and pens, their minds instantly filled with countless inspirations.
However, the frenzied atmosphere only lasted for three days.
A new problem has been presented to Deputy Factory Director Wang.
According to the requirements of Fashion Week, brands need to find their own models.
Deputy Factory Director Wang was initially full of confidence. Going abroad to walk the runway was such an honor! With so many young and beautiful girls and boys in the factory, they would definitely be eager to sign up.
He set up a registration table in the most conspicuous spot at the entrance of the cafeteria.
On the first day, the table was deserted; people watched but no one approached.
The next day, there were fewer onlookers.
On the third day, only Deputy Factory Director Wang remained at the table, looking at an empty registration form with worry.
He couldn't understand it.
When it came to designing clothes, everyone was scrambling to get their hands on them.
Why do they all back down when it comes to actually doing the action?
He stopped a female worker who was passing by.
"Xiao Zhang, why hasn't anyone signed up? Going to Paris is such a great opportunity!"
The female worker blushed and waved her hands repeatedly.
"Director Wang, I can't do it. I... I'm not good-looking, and my legs are thick."
"Nonsense! What a lovely girl!" Deputy Factory Director Wang grabbed another male worker.
"Young man, why don't you go? You're so fit and energetic!"
The male worker scratched his head, looking embarrassed: "Factory manager, I... I don't know that 'gossip,' wouldn't it be embarrassing to go abroad?"
"Who gave you permission to speak! You were just going to walk around a couple of times and showcase the clothes!"
“That won’t do either… I’m afraid I won’t walk properly and will embarrass the factory.”
Deputy Factory Director Wang asked more than a dozen people, and the answers he received were all pretty much the same.
They either say they're ugly or uncultured, and they're afraid of losing face.
These are all outstanding young men and women in their hometowns, but when it comes to "going abroad" or "the international stage," they deflate like punctured balloons, filled with inferiority and timidity.
Deputy Factory Director Wang finally understood that this was not simply stage fright.
This is a kind of insecurity that is deeply rooted in one's bones.
He sighed and dialed Zhou Jue's number.
On the other end of the phone, Zhou Jue listened quietly without interrupting him.
"...Director Zhou, that's the situation." Deputy Director Wang's tone was full of helplessness: "It's not that they're unwilling, it's that they...afraid. They all feel they're not worthy to stand in that place."
"Okay, I understand."
"How about... we spend money to hire professionals from abroad?" Deputy Factory Director Wang asked tentatively.
“No need.” Zhou Jue rejected the suggestion: “Our first show at Huaxin must be run by our own people.”
"But they..."
Zhou Jue pondered for a moment.
"Alright, Director Wang, you don't need to worry about this for now."
"I'll figure out a way to get the models."
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