Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Li Bangde called out "Sister" and asked Qin...
Li Bangde's call of "sister" left Qin Fang confused, but Lin Wan understood.
With a smile on her face, Lin Wan squeezed Qin Fang's hand and asked her to go back to the factory office first: "I'll talk to you later."
After that, he went back to the office with Li Bangde to hear the latest good news.
The people in the pilot project department were unaware of the situation in the room, and they didn't care when Li Bangde came back. The report data he brought back on Monday was nothing but adding insult to injury, and it hurt their ears to hear it.
"Comrade Xiao Li, please don't say anything. It's annoying."
"If you don't tell me, I can pretend I don't know. Otherwise, the enthusiasm of the second batch of pilot clothing we have worked so hard to rebuild will be completely destroyed, affecting the subsequent work."
Li Bangde straightened his back and kept everyone in suspense: "Hey, everyone's saying that is wrong. However, no matter how the first batch of clothes sells, it won't affect the subsequent work. We must not be arrogant in victory and not be discouraged in defeat!"
Seeing Li Bangde's smug look with a smile on his face, Lin Wan didn't expose him. She slowly went to the corner, picked up the thermos, poured half a cup of hot water into her enamel cup, mixed it with the original warm water, blew it cool, and took a small sip.
Sitting in front of the desk, Lin Wan held the enamel cup and listened to Li Bangde's final announcement of the good news after he had kept her in suspense.
"Comrades! Great news!" Li Bangde shouted excitedly, "Our first batch of clothes is selling!"
The other eight people in the office didn't even raise their heads, continuing to work on their own business. Still not quite believing it, they casually asked, "Don't talk nonsense."
"What nonsense am I talking about!" Li Bangde stamped his foot, feeling wronged. "Really? Yesterday alone, the city's twelve department stores and shopping malls sold over 200 pieces of clothing. That's more than the previous six or seven days combined!"
After hearing these words, everyone finally put down what they were doing and looked at Li Bangde.
"Is this true?"
"how so?"
“Why did it suddenly become popular?”
Li Bangde scratched his head. "I don't know. Those people didn't buy anything for the past six or seven days, so why did they suddenly go on a buying spree yesterday? I went out to check on them this morning, and I found that there were still a lot of people buying. They all went straight for our clothes without even looking at anything else."
Lin Wan put down the enamel cup and said leisurely, "For the past six or seven days, word has spread everywhere in Jiangcheng that our clothes are expensive. Everyone knows it, and it's almost spread throughout the city. This is a good thing."
Li Bangde was curious: "How can this be a good thing?"
"We've gotten free advertising and publicity. Advertising in newspapers and on TV would have cost a fortune, but we rely on word of mouth. It's definitely a good thing that everyone knows about our clothes," Lin Wan's eyes softened, thinking of what she saw at the department store yesterday. "Everyone criticizes our clothes for being expensive, but they only find that to be a point. They can't find fault with the quality, style, or details. Instead, many people think our clothes are high-quality and classy, and they'll look presentable and impressive when they wear them out."
After six or seven days of fermentation, it eventually attracted many people to go straight to the target and buy high-end clothing.
Li Bangde slapped his thigh and said, "Hey, Comrade Lin Wan, that makes sense!"
Zhou Chuanfang laughed at him: "Xiao Li, didn't you say you were sister? Why did you call me Comrade Lin Wan?"
Li Bangde chuckled twice: "Forgot, forgot! From now on, I will be the youngest in our office, and Sister Lin Wan will be promoted to a higher level!"
This made everyone laugh.
The office, which had been gloomy for days, was filled with laughter and joy. Everyone felt relieved only after seeing the summary data brought back by Li Bangde.
This first batch of clothes really became a success after just seven days on the market! They sold like hotcakes!
In the following days, good news came in frequently, and the business became more prosperous day by day. In just three days, all the high-end garment factories of the pilot project department of garment factories in Jiangcheng City were sold out.
Deputy Director Wang insisted on the principle of striking while the iron is hot and quickly arranged for the second batch of clothing to be put on the market. At the same time, he participated in the factory leadership team meeting with exciting data.
Deputy Director Wang, who had been ridiculed a few days ago, suddenly turned the tables. He calmly asked Lin Wan to hand the documents to the leaders for review. His clear voice echoed in the room, and his words were filled with joy and excitement.
During the work report, Lin Wan secretly observed Director You from the corner of her eye. She saw that Director You had a half-smile on his face, Secretary He had a sullen expression, and Deputy Director Sun was calm and gentle...
After the meeting, Lin Wan was surrounded by her office colleagues asking about the situation.
Zhou Chuanfang was excited. "How's Xiaolin? Last time, Deputy Director Wang knew he'd be ridiculed and attacked at the meeting, so he went alone. This time, he brought you along to show off. Did you feel really relieved?"
Lin Wan naturally knew about this, and thought to herself that Deputy Director Wang was a really good leader. He would only take his subordinates with him when he really turned things around.
She couldn't hide her joy: "Keep your voice down, the leaders don't look too good."
"Hahahahahaha, that's really satisfying!"
"Before, the whole factory was waiting to see us laugh, now hum~"
Deputy Factory Director Wang casually walked into the office and saw a group of people puffing themselves up, each one boasting to the extreme. He immediately said in a deep voice, "Look at what you're doing! You've only just taken the first step in this long journey, and you're already floating into the sky?"
Everyone calmed down a bit, but couldn't hide the excitement in their eyes: "Deputy Director Wang, isn't this what makes everyone happy?"
Deputy Factory Director Wang's eyes wrinkled, but he couldn't hide his smile. "Alright, everyone, hurry up and get back to work. Let's have a dinner tonight to celebrate, and everything will be back to normal tomorrow. I'll also apply for bonuses for everyone."
Finally, cheers broke out in the office.
The pilot project department became lively, with laughter and joy heard from time to time, but the employees passing by felt disappointed when they heard it.
The project was beyond everyone's expectations from the very beginning. Some people were skeptical and some were on the sidelines. But when there was no improvement in the first six or seven days, everyone realized that it was all a mess and a waste of the garment factory's manpower, material and financial resources.
Unexpectedly, the situation changed. In just three or four days, the pilot project department made a comeback. The sales of this batch of clothes surpassed the sales of other clothes in the garment factory. Not only was the unit price high, but the quantity was also not low, which was really shocking.
The workers in the workshop were grumbling, confused: "How can such expensive clothes still sell so well?"
"Even if they were made better, wouldn't a piece of clothing that costs 120 yuan sell for double the price of one that costs 60 or 70 yuan?"
"Did they really get the project off the ground?"
In the workshop, Chen Guofu listened to his colleagues muttering, his heart in turmoil. Thinking about what he had talked about with Lin Wan a few days ago, he regretted it for a moment. Could it be that the pilot project department could really be done? He really shouldn't have ruined his relationship with Lin Wan!
After get off work, Chen Guofu found his wife Chen Qiuhong, and they decided to find a way to save the relationship.
......
In the evening, eleven people from the pilot project department went to a nearby small restaurant for dinner. They put two wooden tables together and had a lively meal for more than two hours, during which time beer, white wine and drinks were constantly flowing.
Everyone came from various positions in the factory. They worked hard on the pilot project in an unfamiliar location and endured more than a month of pressure. Now they can finally release some of it.
Lin Wan also drank some wine. She has always had a good alcohol tolerance. After drinking two bottles, her face only turned slightly red, which made the male colleagues present exclaim that she was amazing. She especially looked clear-headed, as if nothing had happened.
When the party ended late at night and everyone left, Lin Wan wanted to take a taxi home, but she saw a black Santana parked on the side of the road with a familiar license plate.
"Why are you here?" Lin Wan walked over and knocked on the car window. The window slowly fell, revealing the handsome face of a man.
Before leaving get off work, Lin Wan used the factory phone to call the Fu family villa and mentioned that she would not be going back for dinner tonight.
"I heard it from Aunt Wang." Fu Xiuhuai glanced and motioned Lin Wan to get in the car.
Just in time to save a taxi fare, Lin Wan readily took the passenger seat, feeling a sense of security after a satisfying meal and a good drink. "You came from home? What did Doudou have for dinner?"
Fu Xiuhuai turned the steering wheel with one hand and said calmly, "It was vegetable porridge. Aunt Wang cooked it well. One bowl is enough. I have a good appetite."
Hearing that her daughter could eat, Lin Wan felt comforted.
Drinking can relax the mind. Lin Wan looked at the neon-lit night scene of Jiangcheng left far behind, and took the initiative to tell Fu Xiuhuai about the good news today.
"Guess why we're having dinner together today?"
The man glanced at Lin Wan and said, "The clothes are selling well. Let's celebrate."
"You're not cooperating at all." Lin Wan pouted in dissatisfaction. "Shouldn't I be the one to announce the answer?"
I originally wanted to keep the answer a secret, but someone else answered it first. It really didn't feel good.
Hearing the woman beside him mumbling in a low voice, especially criticizing him with some dissatisfaction, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks after drinking. This was the first time Fu Xiuhuai saw Lin Wan drunk.
It seems a little different.
Lin Wan was not drunk, but she was just much more relaxed after drinking. She spoke and acted without the usual restraints and was more like a carefree child.
Fu Xiuhuai curled his lips: "Then I take back what I just said."
"Okay." Lin Wan's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had gathered all the stars of the night and shone them into her eyes one by one. "Then let's do it again. Do you know why we're having dinner together today?"
Fu Xiuhuai raised his thin lips slightly, and said in line with the somewhat childish topic: "I don't know."
"Our clothes have been sold, and they're selling very well. We're having a dinner to celebrate!" Lin Wan mentioned it to her parents with sparkling eyes, just like when she was a child and received praise from her teacher.
However, when she was a child, Lin Wan did not receive any response. Not to mention any rewards, she only received some irritable and cold reactions, which was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.
At this moment, she saw the man driving the car parked on the side of the road. In the pitch-black night, only the whistling wind could be heard, drowning out her puzzled question: "What's wrong?"
"So amazing..." Fu Xiuhuai leaned closer, his deep voice even more hoarse in the small compartment, "Of course I have to praise you, well done."
A kiss gently landed on Lin Wan's forehead.
Very light, but scorching hot.
The car quickly restarted and returned to the Cuihu Villa area without any obstruction.
......
After a good night's sleep after drinking, spots of sunlight were scattered all over the ground. Lin Wan smelled the scent of morning light and was gently brushed by the broken gold. When she opened her eyes, her first reaction was to raise her hand and touch her forehead.
There was nothing abnormal on the forehead, but it seemed as if the mark of a gentle touch still remained.
Lin Wan woke up early and had time to have a leisurely breakfast at home today. After washing up, she simply held Doudou who had just woken up and played with him.
Fu Xiuhuai had left home earlier and was already sitting at the dining table. "Will you teach me how to drive after get off work today?"
Lin Wan rubbed her daughter's chubby little hand. She was stunned when she heard the words, but then she reacted in an instant: "Okay."
I have long wanted to learn how to drive, and it’s time to put it on the agenda.
I work six days a week, and I only have time to learn driving after get off work and on Sundays.
The work of the pilot project department of the garment factory was carried out in an orderly manner. The success of the first batch of garments gave everyone a shot in the arm. The original worries, anxieties and self-doubts disappeared, and everyone threw themselves into the busy work.
Lin Wan was highly regarded, especially after the success of the first batch of clothing. Everyone in the office was even more convinced of her. The ten people worked together and gradually developed a tacit understanding.
After get off work every day, Lin Wan has a task to do, which is to go with Fu Xiuhuai to learn how to drive.
She can only ride a bicycle now, but she learned it after going to college. When she was a child, the Lin family could not afford a 28-bar bicycle at all, so naturally she had no basic knowledge of riding a bicycle.
Now looking at the huge monster in front of her, Lin Wan felt nervous.
After all, this is a big thing that costs 180,000 yuan. If it gets bumped or scratched... Lin Wan's first reaction is that she can't afford to pay for it.
Lin Wan unconsciously said what was in her heart. She heard the man beside her chuckle: "I can afford it."
Fu Xiuhuai was vague about what he was saying, but Lin Wan understood and did not continue the topic.
Fu Xiuhuai had previously taught his men how to drive on the construction site in a very simple and rough manner, almost by sprinting. But now, facing Lin Wan, he was unusually patient, explaining every part of the car one by one, and then clarifying various precautions, and personally demonstrated to Lin Wan how to start the car, shift gears, brake, and accelerator...
Lin Wan studied carefully, listened attentively, and memorized every word. Whenever Fu Xiuhuai occasionally checked on a question, Lin Wan could answer it correctly.
"Such a good memory, worthy of being from Jiangcheng University." Fu Xiuhuai raised his eyebrows.
Lin Wan didn't have time to be happy about the compliment. When she heard Fu Xiuhuai asking her to sit in the driver's seat and try it out, her palms were sweating.
"If I do something wrong, you must correct me immediately." Lin Wan couldn't help being nervous. Driving a car is completely different from riding a bicycle.
Fu Xiuhuai nodded, and said seriously: "Don't worry, I'm here with you, you don't have to be too nervous."
After swallowing hard a few times, Lin Wan put her slender fingers on the steering wheel, stepped on the accelerator pedal with her right foot, and took a deep breath.
"This is what it's like to drive for the first time." Fu Xiuhuai seemed calm and composed. His deep voice was like a shot of adrenaline, slowly injecting it into Lin Wan's body. "Just drive more and you'll be fine."
"Aren't you worried at all sitting next to me?" Lin Wan asked curiously before the car started.
You know, if something goes wrong, Fu Xiuhuai will also have personal safety issues.
"What am I afraid of?" Fu Xiuhuai raised his hand and touched the top of her head. His movements were gentle, even softer than his voice at the moment. "You can open it easily with your aptitude. Don't panic if you encounter any situation. I'm here."
Perhaps the last four words worked, Lin Wan gradually calmed down, went over the key points that Fu Xiuhuai had talked about in the past few days in her mind several times, and then stepped on the accelerator to start the car.
The car started and drove on the deserted straight road. Lin Wan was fully focused and controlled the speed slowly. When she saw that there was silence all around, not to mention other vehicles, there was not even a single person in sight, she gradually relaxed and slowly and steadily accelerated.
Fu Xiuhuai had found a good spot for Lin Wan's driving lessons—a vacant lot on the outskirts of Jiangcheng. Ten years earlier, this area had been slated for a factory development. After the site had been cleared, the project fell through, and the area had been left desolate, with only a straight road stretching out, leading nowhere.
After running a lap, Lin Wan stepped on the brakes. When her hands left the steering wheel, her palms were slightly warm and wet, but her face was full of joy, and even the corners of her eyes and eyebrows were smiling.
"It's even more stressful than the college entrance exam!" Lin Wan smiled sweetly, stretching out her hands to show the man in the passenger seat, "Look at my hands."
The tender palm was flushed red and filled with heat, silently telling of the owner's nervousness and excitement.
Fu Xiuhuai took out a tissue, held Lin Wan's palm and wiped it for her: "He is indeed talented, much better than the group of people I taught before."
"Is it true?" Lin Wan listened to Fu Xiuhuai's theoretical knowledge for three days before she mustered up the courage to drive.
Fu Xiuhuai said seriously: "Really."
Seeing that he was serious, Lin Wan believed him immediately, but she didn't expect to find out on Sunday that this man could lie!
After four days of learning to drive, Lin Wan was able to nervously drive on a straight road for a while, and then slowly and nervously practiced turning and parking...
Lin Wan was so excited about studying that she didn't sleep in on Sunday. She woke up at eight in the morning, fed Doudou breakfast, and urged Fu Xiuhuai, "Go early today."
Fu Xiuhuai laughed. This was the first time she saw Lin Wan looking at her so eagerly and inviting her.
——The result was to practice driving.
"Take a day off today and don't go to practice driving." The man changed the subject, leaving Lin Wan with regret.
"Okay." Lin Wan thought about it. This big boss was most likely going to discuss business, so she should not delay him. "You go ahead and do your thing."
"I'm not busy with my own business." Fu Xiuhuai raised his eyebrows slightly, "We are busy with our own business."
After playing with Doudou for a while at home, watching the child crawling around and then sitting and waving, Lin Wan had lunch, coaxed the child to sleep, and was then taken out by Fu Xiuhuai.
The man was so mysterious that Lin Wan didn't ask until they got in the car, sat down, and fastened their seatbelts before she could find out the answer: "What exactly are we going to do?"
"Date." Fu Xiuhuai started the car.
Lin Wan: “…”
***
In the past, Lin Wan had been in a relationship with Fu Mingjun for half a year, but she had only been on a handful of dates.
The two of them really didn't have much common topics. Fu Mingjun was keen on eating, drinking and having fun, while Lin Wan focused on studying and making money through part-time jobs.
Fu Mingjun expressed his dissatisfaction many times, and Lin Wan would occasionally go along with him and go on a date with him.
The dating activities are also simple, basically the common interests of contemporary young couples, such as shopping, watching movies, and hiking.
But that was with Fu Mingjun, and Lin Wanshang felt it was justified. Plus, Fu Mingjun was eloquent, so she had a good feeling during the date.
If she really wanted to date Fu Xiuhuai... Lin Wan couldn't associate these two words with this busy businessman.
Watching Fu Xiuhuai park his car next to the cinema and join the crowded crowd to buy tickets at the window, Lin Wan stared at the back of the man in a suit and tie, still feeling it was unreal.
The movie ticket window was full of youthful people. It was midsummer and the girls were wearing cool suspenders, short sleeves and shorts or pretty dresses. The boys were mostly eighteen or nineteen or in their early twenties, and were equally fashionable. Many of them had dyed their hair. Only Fu Xiuhuai was standing in line among them. He had a stern aura and outstanding temperament, and was completely out of place.
Fu Xiuhuai stood expressionless in the long queue. He was bumped several times by the crowded men and women behind him, and his brows slowly furrowed.
When the flirting couple behind him bumped into him for the third time, Fu Xiuhuai frowned and turned around.
The girl was holding a bucket of popcorn, her face slightly hot. "Sorry, I bumped into you. I told you to behave yourself, but you bumped into someone."
The second half of the sentence was said to her boyfriend, a yellow-haired man with messy hair.
The yellow-haired man didn't care at all. He raised his chin, rolled his eyes and glared forward: "Why, you still have an opinion? You——"
The arrogant yellow-haired man looked at the man in front of him and stopped talking halfway through.
A small gangster is best at observing people's words and expressions, especially at gauging the other person's strength. The man in front of him is wearing an exquisite suit and is tall, but he is definitely not a weak pretty boy. The outline faintly visible under the white shirt is definitely not simple, and the arm exposed outside the cuffs can even reveal thin muscles. The man has a blank expression on his face and doesn't even say a curse, but his momentum has burst out, which makes people feel scared.
Huangmao had seen many gangsters hanging around in Jiangcheng, and this man was even more powerful and definitely not an ordinary person.
"Hey, big brother!" The yellow-haired man quickly stopped talking, and his originally nonchalant expression immediately turned into a fawning one. "I'm sorry, I just bumped into you. We really deserve a fight!"
The girl had never seen her boyfriend so cowardly before, and her eyes immediately widened.
"Stand properly." Fu Xiuhuai frowned deeply and glanced at the two of them indifferently, "Don't get in the way of others."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Huang Mao was well-versed in current affairs and was relieved to see that his elder brother had no intention of pursuing the matter.
The girl whispered curiously, "Why do you look at people like a mouse looks at a cat?"
The yellow-haired man lowered his voice and said, "Shh. This guy looks unusual, don't provoke him."
He hangs out in all kinds of nightclubs and knows how to judge people. Otherwise, he would have offended the wrong people and gotten into trouble long ago.
The girl grabbed two popcorns from the popcorn bucket in her arms and stuffed them into her mouth, mumbling, "But this guy is so handsome! I think he's even more handsome than the leading actor on today's movie poster!"
Huang Mao was furious: "Your man is here, and you're still praising other men for being handsome? How can he be half as handsome as me?"
The girl rolled her eyes and ate a few more popcorns, crunching them. "Look in the mirror! There are people who are much more handsome than you!"
Yellow Hair: "...You—you're absolutely right! Big Brother is much more handsome than me!"
Huang Mao saw the man in front of him turn around again and suddenly change the subject. He was angry just now, but immediately smiled politely: "Right, big brother?"
Fu Xiuhuai ignored the man and just stared at his yellow-haired girlfriend.
The yellow-haired man felt more and more that something was wrong. He clenched his fists and hung them at his sides, wondering if this guy had fallen for his girlfriend.
He was a coward and didn't dare to provoke an important person, but if this man wanted to take his girlfriend away by force, he would definitely fight him to the death.
In a flash, the yellow-haired man bit his cheek and said fiercely: "Brother, what do you mean by this? Could it be that you are..."
"Is this popcorn delicious?" Fu Xiuhuai asked in a deep voice.
Girl & Yellow Hair: "...Huh?"
Fu Xiuhuai walked into a movie theater for the first time in his life. He glanced at the couples watching the movie and saw that most of them were holding buckets of popcorn. He asked, "Do you always eat popcorn on dates?"
The girl nodded: "Yes, I have to eat when watching a movie!"
Huang Mao wanted to show off and started talking. "Of course, eating popcorn while watching a movie is the best experience. My girlfriend always feeds me popcorn. It's so sweet and delicious, much better than eating it myself."
After saying that, he threw a coquettish glance.
Unfortunately, he threw a coquettish glance at the "blind man". Fu Xiuhuai said "hmm", turned around, bought movie tickets, bought a bucket of popcorn, and walked towards Lin Wan who was sitting on a nearby bench to rest.
In the dark cinema, only the images on the screen were flickering. Lin Wan didn't expect that Fu Xiuhuai still remembered to buy popcorn. She leaned back in her chair and relaxed, eating popcorn while watching the movie.
The most popular action-packed movie in Hong Kong was very eye-catching. Lin Wan was so absorbed in watching it that her hands kept moving and she would grab a few pieces of popcorn and put them into her mouth from time to time.
The popcorn is sweet, with a milky and caramel flavor that leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth.
Lin Wan ate with relish, but the man next to her had never eaten once. Lin Wan felt uneasy and put the popcorn between the two of them, but after a long time, Fu Xiuhuai still didn't show any intention of moving.
Forget it. Lin Wanlue thought about it and realized that at Fu Xiuhuai's age and with his work-obsessed identity, he definitely doesn't like snacks like popcorn.
She immediately brought the popcorn bucket towards her, put it on her lap and devoured it.
But not long after, a burning gaze came over. Lin Wan glanced sideways and caught the man's deep eyes in the darkness with occasional flashes of light.
"What's wrong?" Lin Wan was a little surprised to see Fu Xiuhuai staring at her motionlessly.
Fu Xiuhuai's gaze fell on his own face, then moved down little by little to his hands, and finally stopped at the popcorn bucket.
"Here." Lin Wan understood what he meant. This person actually wanted to eat popcorn.
Just tell me if you want to eat.
But the popcorn bucket he gave out didn't seem to stir up any emotion in Fu Xiuhuai. His hands seemed to be broken, resting on his suit pants without any movement.
Lin Wan had no idea what Fu Xiuhuai was thinking. Did he want to eat it or not?
Just when Lin Wan was confused, Fu Xiuhuai suddenly looked forward, where a faint sound came from.
Lin Wan followed his gaze and saw a yellow-haired guy in the row in front of her flirting with a girl. The girl fed the yellow-haired guy popcorn with her own hands, and the yellow-haired guy tilted his head and kissed her affectionately.
Lin Wan: “…?”
After thinking for a moment, Lin Wan leaned over and whispered to Fu Xiuhuai, "It's too immoral to flirt in the cinema."
Fu Xiuhuai: QAQ
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