Chapter 29: When it rains, it pours
Su Hexi quickly threw herself into preparations for her next, more important show. She announced loudly that the next show would take place on the Winter Solstice, three months and eight days from now.
This news has piqued everyone's interest and raised expectations to the highest level.
She worked tirelessly to draw the designs, inspiration pouring out of her pen, and designs that were bolder, more creative, and more luxurious than her debut collection came to life on paper. She seemed to have already seen the dazzling brilliance of these gorgeous clothes blooming on the stage on the winter solstice.
When the design drawings were completed, she was excitedly preparing to look for matching top-quality fabrics, but she encountered a major setback!
She searched the entire city and even asked people in other cities to inquire, only to discover that almost all the high-quality, high-end fabrics had been pre-ordered or even sold out by the Red Star Garment Factory, citing "large orders for the Canton Fair." The supply was completely blocked, with not even a scrap left. Pre-orders were already set back to next spring.
The dilemma of the fabric being completely stuck was like a basin of cold water that extinguished Su Hexi's enthusiasm ignited by the success of her first show.
"Tang Yuelin..." Su Hexi clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms, shaking with anger. He was so insidious, he was strangling her lifeline!
She was even more angry at herself. Why had she been so focused on designing without planning ahead and signing a stable fabric supply contract? She had underestimated Tang Yuelin's ruthlessness and efficiency!
Without fabric, even the most amazing design is just a piece of paper!
Since she couldn't buy the fabric, she decided to learn and understand it herself!
She wanted to join a textile factory as a worker, close to the production line! Once she learned the skills, she could weave the fabrics she needed. If her business grew, she could even open her own factory and produce the fabrics, becoming self-sufficient!
But the threshold for entering a state-owned textile factory was not so easy, especially for a self-employed person like her with no background.
She looked at Zhou Lin, who was silently sorting the cloth beside her, and her voice was filled with dependence and urgency that she herself hadn't noticed: "Zhou Lin, do you have any way... to get me into the textile factory as a temporary worker for a month or two?"
Zhou Lin paused, raised his head, and frowned: "Work in a factory? That place is very hard..." When he thought of the environment and workload in the factory, he was unwilling to let her suffer.
"No matter how hard it is, we have to go! This is the only way now!" Su Hexi said firmly, "Without fabric, I can't do anything!"
Zhou Lin saw the undeniable determination in her eyes and knew he couldn't persuade her. He was silent for a long time, then sighed heavily: "...I'll think of a way."
He went to find out the address of Hu Luyang's home at the textile factory.
The next day, Zhou Lin dug out the new clothes Su Hexi had made for him, went to the cooperative, and bought two packs of good cigarettes and a bottle of good liquor. He also wrapped a wad of money in old newspaper. That night, under cover of darkness, he bravely went to Hu Luyang's house.
Zhou Lin stood in front of the door, hesitant. He had never done such a thing as asking for gifts in his life, and his face was burning. But thinking of Su Hexi's anxious eyes, he finally took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
It was Hu Luyang himself who opened the door. Seeing Zhou Lin and the obvious gift in his hand, he was stunned for a moment, his expression a little cold: "Who are you looking for? What's the matter?"
Zhou Lin's palms were sweating with nervousness. He clumsily handed over the things, his voice dry and hoarse: "Director, hello, I... I'm Zhou Lin, and I want to ask you for a favor. My... my wife wants to work as a temporary worker in the factory, learn some skills, and do all the dirty and tiring work! Please give her a chance..."
Hu Luyang glanced at the cigarettes and alcohol, and his attitude softened a bit, but he was still embarrassed. "Temporary workers? The factory is overstaffed now, so they don't hire many temporary workers. What's more..." He looked Zhou Lin up and down, "Your wife? What's her background?"
"She...she's just an ordinary person who runs a small tailor shop. She's very skillful and must be a quick learner!" Zhou Lin hastily assured, almost begging, "Director, please, give her a chance! I'll definitely remember this favor!"
Hu Luyang pondered, weighing the wad of money in his hand. In the end, perhaps because of the not-so-small gift and Zhou Lin's sincere and anxious attitude, he reluctantly relented: "Okay, you seem to be honest. But we've got it. This is the hardest and most tiring apprentice temporary job, with low wages, no security, and you can be fired at any time if you don't do your job well! Also, once you enter the workshop, you have to abide by the rules and don't cause any trouble!"
"Hey! Thank you, Director! Thank you, Director! I will definitely abide by the rules! I will never cause trouble!" Zhou Lin thanked him repeatedly and left with almost thousands of thanks.
Su Hexi took the temporary worker certificate Zhou Lin had exchanged for and praised excitedly: "Zhou Lin, you are awesome!"
Zhou Lin looked at the smile on her face and suddenly felt that everything he had done was worth it, so he smiled too.
Su Hexi walked into the noisy workshop of the textile factory with a temporary work permit.
The roar of the huge machines was deafening, and the air was filled with the smell of cotton wool and engine oil. She was assigned to the same group as Cai Jinglin.
Sure enough, as soon as she appeared, she immediately attracted everyone's attention, and all kinds of whispers and undisguised stares followed.
"Look, it's really her!"
"Tsk tsk, why isn't she at home being her boss's wife and coming here to suffer?"
"I heard he got in through connections. I wonder how much money he paid..."
"Sister Jinglin, you have a companion now?" Someone winked at Cai Jinglin with ill intention.
Cai Jinglin was wearing a washed-out work suit with sleeves. There was no expression on her face. She just glanced at Su Hexi lightly, with a hint of coldness and sarcasm hidden deep in her eyes.
She didn't say much, simply pointing to the oldest and most prone to malfunctioning machine and telling Su Hexi: "You will be in charge of this machine. Learn from Master Li. Look more, ask more questions, and don't touch anything else."
Master Li was a middle-aged female worker who was indifferent to Su Hexi. She deliberately sped up the demonstration and explained things vaguely. When Su Hexi asked questions, she waved her hand impatiently: "You don't even know something so simple? Figure it out yourself!"
Su Hexi gritted her teeth and endured it. Relying on the little knowledge and unyielding spirit from her previous life, as well as the imminent pressure, she worked hard and explored step by step.
But the trouble goes far beyond that.
Just as she had gotten her operations right, the worker next to her would accidentally throw a wad of yarn into her machine, jamming the spool. When she went to collect materials, the warehouse manager would always give her the worst, most difficult-to-handle scraps. At lunch, the water cup she had placed on the workbench would accidentally get knocked over.
Su Hexi gritted her teeth and endured, working tirelessly every day amid the deafening hum of machinery, returning home exhausted. But she still had to muster up energy to guide the model team's training at night.
But when it rains, it pours. Seeing the success of the "Xi" brand's debut, the models began to lose their balance, thinking that Su Hexi had made a fortune while they had only received a small commission and bonus.
After training tonight, several leading models stopped her. Their tone was no longer respectful, but rather filled with dissatisfaction and calculation: "Coach Su, you're so famous now, and you make so much money from each show. We still have to train so late at night, which is really tiring. Since the next show is more important, don't you think... you should give us a little more money? Otherwise, we may not be able to train as hard as we should."
Su Hexi couldn't believe her ears! Who had taught them step by step when they knew nothing? Who had given them jobs and high bonuses? She had even paid a fortune to learn modeling! Now, they were collectively raising her price!
Fatigue, grievance, and anger instantly overwhelmed her rationality. She looked at the faces that had become greedy and unfamiliar, and her heart was chilled to the extreme.
"More money?" She sneered, her voice trembling slightly with anger. "Can't you see how difficult it is right now? Even so, have I ever delayed your wages for a single day? Well, since you think it's not worth it, then there's no need to practice! Everyone, leave now! My show has no shortage of people!"
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