Ji Xiangjun turned to look at Captain Chang, who nodded: "No problem, do you want me to come with you?"
"No need for that. We're all from the same place. Do I look like someone who would be afraid?"
After Ji Xiangjun said that, Captain Chang did not insist. He arranged for them to have a sumptuous dinner at the brigade headquarters and then took them to the abandoned courtyard.
It was already dark when they got to the courtyard. Chen Jing held a flashlight and scanned the surroundings: "Brother Xiangjun, why are there rumors of this place being haunted?"
"First, it's possible that there's some strange noise somewhere, and the rumor spreads, making others think it's haunted; second, it's possible that someone is faking it."
The two walked around the yard twice but found nothing unusual. They then lit a stove in the house and discussed how to renovate and remodel the warehouse and workshop while boiling water.
Other places are fine, but the warehouse location must be moisture-proof, well-ventilated, and easy to move in and out.
However, this place is located on the edge of the brigade, and the main road into the city is just a few hundred meters away. As long as a road is built to get out, the transportation will be relatively convenient.
Since it was land belonging to the brigade, it was easier to obtain permits by operating the workshop under the brigade's name, making it safer than the illegal workshops in their hometown.
Ji Xiangjun had been transporting goods in this area for a long time, and he had connections with sales outlets in various cities. He was also good at making friends.
If we set up a workshop here, it would be relatively easy to establish sales channels. We could then ship directly from here, reducing long-distance transportation costs.
There are also many textile factories in southern Jiangsu and southern Anhui, where the cost of purchasing fabric is lower than in inland areas. Overall, for them, building workshops here is more beneficial than harmful.
The two spent half the night discussing how to renovate and what parts should be demolished and rebuilt.
Looking at his watch, it was almost ten o'clock. Chen Jing put away his notebook. Just then, a strange and sharp sound suddenly rang out from outside.
"What is that?"
Chen Jing and Ji Xiangjun rushed out with flashlights, but after circling around outside, they couldn't see a single person.
The strange sound was sometimes low, sometimes high-pitched, and occasionally it would disappear completely, leaving people completely baffled.
Ji Xiangjun listened quietly for a while, then waved to him and led him along the dark stream behind the house.
After walking several hundred meters, they heard that strange sound again, like a cold wind sweeping through the canyon and whistling through the rocks. This time, the sound was clearer and more distinct.
Chen Jing glanced at Ji Xiangjun subconsciously, only to see Ji Xiangjun choose a direction and stride towards it.
As we reached a bend in the stream, the sound grew louder; the howling of the wind seemed to come from the underworld, or perhaps it was some kind of weeping.
Even someone as daring as Chen Jing felt a chill run down his spine, as if something was lingering nearby.
Ji Xiangjun carefully scanned the area with his flashlight, examining every piece of land and rock along the stream before finally fixing his gaze on a few large boulders in the middle of the stream that he could use as stepping stones.
"Brother, what's wrong? Is there something in the stream?"
"There are some rocks over there, do you see them?"
Chen Jing shone his flashlight and asked suspiciously, "There are a few big rocks, is there a problem?"
Ji Xiangjun took a few steps forward with a flashlight in hand, stepped into the shallow water that only reached his instep, and slowly walked to a rock in the middle.
He picked up a stone the size of a millstone, held it to his ear and listened quietly for a while, then carried it away and placed it in a sheltered spot.
Chen Jing looked left and right but couldn't see what was wrong. However, once he moved the stone, the strange sound disappeared.
He looked at Ji Xiangjun in surprise: "Second Brother, there's something wrong with that stone."
"Hmm, have you ever heard of a stone called an echo stone? This kind of stone has countless tiny holes inside. When it is placed in a windy spot, the stone will make a strange whistling sound when the wind blows."
Chen Jing suddenly realized: "So, the strange noise just now was caused by the stone?"
Ji Xiangjun nodded, and Chen Jing looked back at the few stepping stones placed in the stream.
"There are still a few stones there, how do you know this one is problematic?"
Ji Xiangjun gestured towards the stream with his lip: "Look at those rocks in the stream, see if we can cross them?"
"Yes." He looked at it for a while and nodded seriously.
"So, that rock was a bit redundant; it looks like someone deliberately put it there."
Chen Jing stared at him in surprise: "Who would deliberately put it there?"
Ji Xiangjun smiled faintly: "We'll have to ask if anyone wants people to stay away from that courtyard."
Chen Jing was about to ask more questions, but Ji Xiangjun took the stones and went back. No matter how much Chen Jing pressed him, Ji Xiangjun refused to say anything.
The next day, Chang Zhengnan and the village party secretary came over to find out what was going on. Ji Xiangjun waved his hand, indicating that he hadn't noticed anything unusual all night.
No problems were found with the house, and the group reached a preliminary agreement on the cooperation and successfully signed the contract.
After signing the contract, Ji Xiangjun contacted his old comrade-in-arms and quickly brought a renovation team of forty to fifty people, consisting of masons, carpenters, and other craftsmen.
Aside from some minor reinforcements to the houses and replacement of leaky roof tiles, 60% of the houses and yards were demolished and rebuilt. Two workshops capable of accommodating at least fifty sewing machines and two higher-lying, waterproof and moisture-proof warehouses were constructed.
The workshop and warehouse were the focus, with the highest requirements. Then, some employee dormitories, offices, and employee canteens were prepared. The perimeter wall was extended to the outer perimeter, and several acres of rented land outside the yard were also enclosed in the yard.
In this way, although the initial collective workshops were relatively small, the space they prepared was large enough to accommodate at least several hundred people.
Chen Jing was in charge of renovating and building the factory buildings and dormitories, while Ji Xiangjun and Chang Zhengnan handled the formalities. A week later, they obtained the official business license for the collective joint venture garment factory, and Sansheng Garment Factory became a garment factory jointly operated by Potou Brigade and Ji Xiangjun.
Half a month later, the first factory building and warehouse of Sansheng Garment Factory were ready for use. Ji Xiangjun used the collective's name to purchase brand new sewing machines, overlock machines, offices, workbenches and other necessary items.
Sun Xiuyu was in charge of recruiting employees, and after a week, she finally selected 65 employees for various positions.
Two weeks later, Sun Xiuyu and her team assembled dozens of sewing machines and began preparing to start production with dozens of employees.
At this moment, Ji Xiangjun suddenly arrived at Chen Jing's place with a dark-skinned, thin young man.
Chen Jing was tidying up the samples he had just finished when he saw Ji Xiangjun and quickly said, "Second Brother, all twenty design drawings we brought are ready. Do you think we should contact your friends tomorrow?"
Actually, it's been almost a month since they arrived, and in ten days it will be the Chinese New Year.
If you place an order now, it will basically be delivered after the New Year.
Ji Xiangnan waved his hand: "No rush, we're planning for next year anyway. Come, let me introduce you. This is Feng Ziyu, my friend's younger brother. When you're running orders, take him with you and mentor him!"
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