In the days following the contract signing, Lin Yue and the women worked tirelessly, throwing themselves into production. As the first batch of goods were shipped to various Jinxiuhang branches, feedback began to pour in.
That day, Lin Yue was inspecting the quality of a new batch of handicrafts with the girls when a young clerk rushed in, looking panicked. "Miss Lin, bad news! The Jinxiuhang branch in Beijing has sent word that some customers have reported itchy rashes after using a batch of handkerchiefs we sent. It's causing quite a stir, and the branch is demanding an immediate explanation."
Lin Yue's heart sank. How could this happen? She forced herself to remain calm and said, "Don't panic. Tell me the details." The clerk took a breath and continued, "It's said that a lady from the south who was visiting the capital developed skin problems after using one of our mint-embroidered handkerchiefs. She's now demanding an explanation from Jinxiuhang and is threatening to file a complaint with the authorities."
Lin Yue frowned. Mint is a commonly used mild herb, and she and the girls had tried it many times before without any problems. She immediately ordered, "Bring me the production records for that batch of handkerchiefs immediately. Also, notify all the girls involved in the production of those handkerchiefs to gather in the front hall."
Soon, all the girls arrived, their faces tense and whispering to each other. Lin Yue looked at them and said gently, "Girls, we've got a big problem. Some customers have reported skin problems after using our handkerchiefs. I believe we put a lot of effort into making them, but something must have gone wrong somewhere. Think carefully, is there anything different about the production of those handkerchiefs?"
A girl named Cui'er raised her hand hesitantly and whispered, "Miss Lin, I remember the thread used in that batch of handkerchiefs seemed a little different, a slightly darker color. I even asked Ah Xiang, who was in charge of receiving the materials, and she said the original thread in the warehouse had run out. This is a new batch that has arrived, and they say it's of better quality and the color will last longer."
Lin Yue turned to look at Ah Xiang, who quickly said, "Miss Lin, I received the materials according to the rules. The warehouse manager said this batch of thread was from a new supplier, the price is cheaper, and the quality is guaranteed. I thought it would save some costs, so I received it."
Lin Yue nodded slightly, not immediately blaming Ah Xiang. Instead, she said, "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Find the samples of that batch of thread and I'll take a closer look." Soon, the thread samples were brought over. Lin Yue examined them carefully, sniffing them closely. She detected a faint, unusual odor. She suspected that the thread might have been dyed with inferior dyes, which reacted adversely with the herbs. Or perhaps there was a traitor who had secretly replaced the dyes.
At that moment, a messenger from Jinxiuhang arrived hurriedly, bearing a message from the shopkeeper: "Ms. Lin, this incident has a significant impact. If it's not properly resolved, it will not only damage Jinxiuhang's reputation, but also our cooperation. The shopkeeper hopes you can travel to the capital as soon as possible to discuss a solution."
Lin Yue was fully aware of the seriousness of the situation, so she immediately arranged the affairs of the store, took the samples of the thread and related production records, and went to the capital with the messenger.
Arriving at the Jinxiuhang headquarters, Lin Yue was taken directly to the owner's study. The owner's face was grim. Seeing Lin Yue enter, he said, "Miss Lin, this is a very difficult matter. That lady is being relentless, insisting that there's a quality issue with our handicrafts. The Jinxiuhang brand, which has been around for so many years, can't be tarnished by this incident. Do you have any ideas?"
Lin Yue told the shopkeeper everything she had learned in the shop, including her suspicions about the thread. The shopkeeper paused, then said, "If it were a problem with the thread, that would be easier to resolve. But the key now is to appease that lady and eliminate the negative impact. What do you think we should do?"
Lin Yue pondered for a moment and said, "Shopkeeper, I'd like to meet that lady first, apologize to her in person, and learn about her specific symptoms. I'll also bring some mild herbal ointments to see if they can alleviate her discomfort. Also, we can promise her that we'll immediately recall the batch of handkerchiefs in question, exchange them for a replacement, and provide her with some compensation."
The shopkeeper nodded slightly and said, "That's one solution. However, you must remember that the reputation of Jinxiuhang is of paramount importance, so we must handle this matter with extreme caution. If we can use this opportunity to demonstrate our sincerity and ability to resolve the issue, we might be able to salvage the situation."
Lin Yue said firmly, "Don't worry, boss. I will do my best."
Led by a staff member from Jinxiuxing, Lin Yue arrived at the inn where the lady was staying. The lady was sitting in her room, a furious expression on her face. Upon seeing Lin Yue enter, she snorted, "Are you the maker of that handicraft? How did you do it? I used your handkerchief, and my skin is like this. You need to give me an explanation!"
Lin Yue hurried forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Madam, I'm really sorry to cause you so much trouble. I have found out that there may be a problem with the thread used to make the handkerchief, which has produced an adverse reaction with the herbs. I brought some homemade herbal ointment, which is very effective in relieving skin itching. You may want to try it." As he spoke, Lin Yue took out the ointment from the package he was carrying and handed it to the lady.
The lady looked at the ointment suspiciously and said, "Will this work? There won't be any problems, right?" Lin Yue patiently explained, "Don't worry, ma'am. The herbs in this ointment are mild and non-irritating. I use it often myself. If you are not sure, you can try it on your hand first." As she spoke, Lin Yue squeezed out a little ointment and applied it on the back of her hand.
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