In the second half of 1984, Liu Meiyun successfully took over the garment factory. From then on, Boss Liu was given the title of "Factory Director Liu".
The former factory director Hao also became deputy factory director Hao.
"Meiyun... Director Liu, I'm afraid it's a bit difficult to implement the rules and regulations you issued, as well as the employee manual, right?"
Deputy Factory Director Hao saw that Liu Meiyun was planning to make a big reform within the factory right after she took office. Many office clerical staff were transferred to the sales department. Workers on the production line had to sign attendance sheets every day when they came to and from get off work. Their wages were calculated based on a base salary plus piecework commission. Wages would be deducted for being late or leaving early, taking leave, and producing more than a certain number of defective products...
This has never happened in their state-owned factory before. If the booklets were distributed, wouldn't the employees be in a riot?
Liu Meiyun sat in the factory director's office and followed Deputy Factory Director Hao's example by getting herself a teacup. She blew two mouthfuls of the steaming tea and said with a smile, "Factory Director Hao, don't you have me here? You have worked in the factory for so many years, you must know how to soothe the workers. Although I am the factory director, I am not as familiar with the factory as you are. As for the workers, your opinions will definitely be more effective than mine, and this is all for the good of our factory."
The corner of Deputy Factory Director Hao's mouth twitched, it seemed that Liu Meiyu was trying to pass the offending job to him.
"If we don't reform and still follow the old ways, where we play cards and knit sweaters in the workshop during working hours, and we become accustomed to being late and leaving early, then what's the point of me contracting this factory? I want to make money with you all, not to be a sucker. Director Hao, you have worked in this factory for so many years, and now, to put it bluntly, it's a fight to the death. If I can't make the factory a little better, there will be no money to pay wages, and everyone will not be able to get anything good."
Deputy Director Hao: “…”
Liu Meiyu stood up and added hot water to Deputy Director Hao's teacup, and then continued earnestly: "And this booklet contains not only punishments, but also rewards, such as perfect attendance awards, outstanding employee awards, sales elites, and the best labor model in the workshop. After the end-of-month and year-end assessments, all of these will be directly distributed in the form of benefits and cash. And didn't it also say at the end that wages are linked to the factory's performance? If we can turn a loss into a profit next year, wages will be directly increased in proportion. This is a good thing for everyone. As long as Director Hao takes the time to explain it to them, I believe most people will understand."
Liu Meiyu didn't force this offensive job on Director Hao, but she thought that it would be more effective for him, an old director who worked hard for the factory, to handle this matter than for herself, an individual factory director who suddenly took over the contract.
Moreover, although Director Hao is a smooth-talking person, he has principles and bottom lines, and he is really good to the factory employees. Although he has not accomplished many major things in his years as a factory director and has been worried about the factory's inability to pay wages every year, at least he is really worried that his employees will not have enough food to eat.
What's more, when it comes to having an affair with an employee with whom she has feelings, Liu Meiyu can't think of anyone in the factory who is more suitable than the old-timer Director Hao.
If she were an employee or a manager, she would rush to the front line and find many ways to solve the problem. But now she is more inclined to know how to use people well and train the people around her so that she can have some ease. Otherwise, with such a large business, she would be too busy to take care of her family.
In her new life, she doesn't want to repeat her last life, spending all her time and even her life on work. Otherwise, like in her last life, she would lose her life before she could enjoy the money for a few days. How unfortunate she would be.
Factory Director Hao was fooled by Liu Meiyu's words, so he implemented reforms in the factory at the risk of offending others.
When the employee manuals were distributed, not surprisingly, many people started to make a fuss and even gathered at the door of his office to protest. But for the good of the factory, Director Hao had no choice but to follow Liu Meiyu's advice and did not waver.
After about a month had passed, those who had complied with the employee manual were rewarded and compensated, while those who had their wages halved because they had not completed their tasks were no longer able to make trouble, but gradually lost confidence.
Although Liu Meiyu became the factory director, she did not go to the factory every day. She only started to plan the next step after Director Hao had calmed down the employees and the rules and regulations were implemented smoothly.
"My aunt, you are here at last."
Director Hao has been busy with factory reforms lately. He can neither eat nor sleep well every day. However, Director Liu Meiyu is enjoying her job and has not been seen for several days.
"Hey, Director Hao has such heavy dark circles under his eyes. Have you not had enough rest recently?" Liu Meiyu led the people to the office and said with a smile, "I just brought you some tea. Drink it to refresh yourself."
Liu Meiyu looked relieved, but Director Hao was anxious and angry.
"Meiyun, the factory has implemented everything you requested, and everyone's work enthusiasm has increased significantly, but the order is still not settled?"
It's almost the end of the year again, there are no orders, no incoming payments, and wages still cannot be paid.
"The sales department is out on business, don't worry, they will definitely get the orders when they come back."
In addition to the workshop and office, the factory reformed the sales department, which had commissions increasing in a step-by-step manner according to the volume of business, and a year-end business bonus. Once the reform system was implemented, the sales department was virtually non-existent, with only a few people sitting in the office waiting for calls. Now it has expanded to more than a dozen people, and most of them have gone to other provinces to get orders, competing with each other.
"Then we can't just put our hopes on those few people. What if something goes wrong? Don't you think so?"
Factory Director Hao was really worried at this moment. Although Liu Meiyu's operations since she became the factory director had improved the enthusiasm of the employees, what was the use of being enthusiastic without orders?
"Yes, Director Hao, you are right." Liu Meiyu put down the teacup and stopped teasing him. She signaled to Song Qi next to her to take the things out of the bag.
Factory Director Hao looked puzzled. Liu Meiyu brought a girl with her today, and he thought she was a relative or something, so he was going to send her to the factory to find a job. However, after waiting for a long time, no one said anything and just handed him a sweater from her bag.
Liu Meiyun: "Director Hao, we will focus on producing this kind of wool sweaters on the production line from now on, in different colors and with different collars. You just need to pay close attention to the quality."
Factory Manager Hao took the sweater and said in surprise: "Did you get the order?"
Liu Meiyun shook her head: "Not yet."
"Then why do you produce this? You don't need so much in your clothing store, right?" Director Hao's smile froze on his face, his mood fluctuating.
"We have to prepare weapons in advance to fight a comeback, right?"
"That's all?"
"Yes," Liu Meiyu nodded affirmatively: "That's it."
In the 1980s and 1990s, wool sweaters accounted for half of the clothing exports. Liu Meiyu contracted a state-owned factory not only to fill domestic orders, she was more optimistic about the crab meat of trade export.
If she were to go it alone, she would probably have to wait a few years for the foreign trade policy to be fully liberalized before she could engage in foreign trade. But now, with the status of a state-owned factory, as long as she has the approval documents, she can put a fancy brand on this kind of sweater and sell it abroad.
Director Hao, who knew what Liu Meiyu was thinking, was shocked. He thought that Liu Meiyu was just going to do it and give him such a big scare with just one move.
Factory Director Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "With such a small factory like ours, can we sell clothes overseas?"
"Isn't there a Canton Fair next month? We'll know if we go and try."
"Are you planning to sell at the Canton Fair?" Director Hao was shocked again.
They were just a small factory with only a few thousand employees. He had heard of places like the Canton Fair, but had never thought about it.
Liu Meiyun nodded confidently: "Yes, let's go to the Canton Fair."
She is no stranger to foreign trade business, and the country is now encouraging export-driven growth. If they can stand out at the Canton Fair, it will be a win-win situation for both the Huamei clothing brand and the factory itself.
Liu Meiyun: "Director Hao, this is my secretary, Song Qi. I'll let her stay in the factory to help you with the registration and import and export qualification review at the Canton Fair. We'll try to get the documents done as soon as possible, and then keep the production line in check. If we can reach an agreement at the Canton Fair, we'll have the goods in hand to guarantee the fastest delivery date, which will also put us ahead of others."
"Are you sure?"
They started mass production before orders came in. If a big factory did this, it would be because they have the capital. However, their small factory was already in recession, and every penny had to be spent wisely. Although all the money was invested by Liu Meiyu, it would be a waste if it didn't make a splash.
"Don't worry, Director Hao!" Liu Meiyu patted him on the shoulder. "When have you ever seen me do a business at a loss?"
“…”
Song Qi, who had been watching for a long time, couldn't help but twitch his lips.
No matter who she's facing, Liu Meiyu's confident aura makes her never lose.
After giving instructions to Director Hao, Liu Meiyu came out of the factory and had just stepped on her bicycle when she was suddenly pulled from behind and stumbled.
Song Qi grabbed the back seat of Liu Meiyun's bicycle and asked loudly: "Liu Meiyun, in the future, will you pay me my salary, or will the factory pay me?"
Liu Meiyun turned to look at her and raised her little finger to indicate: "Miss, I am your boss after all. Can you be a little gentler in your attitude and tone when talking to me?"
Song Qi snorted, with a proud expression: "Liu Meiyun, I came to work for you because we are classmates. We can only be regarded as equal employers and employees. You can't boss me around, that's the style of a capitalist! Besides, how is my attitude bad?"
“…”
Liu Meiyu suddenly regretted hiring such a bad secretary. Although he graduated from a prestigious university, he was not very smart and had a bad temper. After graduation, he was assigned to a grassroots unit and he quit the job.
"I've issued it to you, do you have any other questions? Miss Song!"
Liu Meiyun got on her bike and was about to go home, but Song Qi didn't let go and asked again, "Also, that... the house my grandma gave me is going to be demolished, and the staff counted it and asked me if I wanted the house or compensation. They said the compensation was in five figures. I want to ask you something."
"You want compensation?" Liu Meiyu asked back.
Song Qi nodded and analyzed seriously: "The land they repaired is very remote. I went to check it out. There is nothing around it. It is in the middle of nowhere. It is not convenient at all. I can't live there even if I build a house. It will take until next year for cars to be allowed there."
“…”
Sure enough, Miss Song's judgment has never disappointed anyone.
Cyndi Lau: "You've already thought about it, why are you asking me?"
Song Qi: "Then I feel uneasy, so I want to ask you!"
Liu Meiyun: "It's me anyway, I want the house."
"Then I want a house too!" Song Qi changed his mind decisively.
"You change so fast."
Liu Meiyu was so surprised that she thought Miss Song would argue with her for a while and insist on her own ideas.
Then she said, "You are so cunning, and you exude the shrewdness of a capitalist. You will definitely not let yourself suffer a loss. Anyway, I want what you want!"
“…”
Liu Meiyu thought to herself, thank you so much for your trust.
Although Miss Song's job as secretary was a bit irritating sometimes, it had to be said that it did reduce her workload to a certain extent.
She can speak English, and although her brain is half filled with water, the other half is still usable.
Before going to the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, Song Qi followed Liu Meiyu's instructions and compiled the Chinese and English posters, brochures, and even the processed and polished brand culture of their samples for the Canton Fair, and he did a pretty good job.
As for accommodation in Guangzhou, people just packed their bags and booked the best hotel in Guangzhou.
Director Hao and several salesmen who came with them to broaden their horizons were so shocked that even an ordinary state-owned factory could not afford such accommodation standards for a business trip.
Liu Meiyu herself was not used to living in a small guesthouse without even a fan, so she didn't say anything to her. She also agreed with what Song Qi said.
There are many foreign businessmen staying in hotels in Yangcheng. If they are lucky, they may get unexpected surprises while staying here. Business can be concluded not only at the Canton Fair.
Liu Meiyun attended the Canton Fair for the first time in 1984. Although the scale and venue could not be compared with those in later years, it was more lively than she had imagined.
Various handicrafts from all over the country, ceramics, silk printed satin, carpets with exquisite patterns, and Hunan embroidery paintings were the most popular among foreign businessmen at the time. Foreign businessmen in the venue admired the exhibits at various stalls with curiosity, and some even signed orders on the spot.
While other stalls were bustling with activity, Liu Meiyun and her colleagues’ stalls were located in a remote corner, as foreign merchants rarely had the patience to walk so far to see the sweaters that were already available at the main entrance.
It was only after Factory Director Hao arrived that he realized that there was still a good market for wool sweaters at the Canton Fair, but all the orders were taken by the big factories at the entrance. They had many samples and styles, and their exhibition booths were well located. In contrast, they were directly submerged in the innermost part, and it was so deserted that few people came to visit.
The only two foreign businessmen who came to ask about the situation said directly that they had already placed orders before.
Of course, Director Hao couldn't understand foreign languages, so he could only help out here. It was all up to Liu Meiyu and Song Qi to communicate.
In addition, there are two foreign language major college students found by Song Qi who can help them with sales and do translation.
Before Liu Meiyu arrived, she had never imagined that the stall they were assigned would be so remote, almost invisible. There was a large porcelain factory stall in front of them, which directly blocked half of their view.
However, these problems can be overcome. If others don't come, she will invite them.
"Song Qi, divide into groups, take the brochures and clothing samples, and go directly to the main entrance to recruit people."
At the critical moment, Song Qi did not hesitate. He nodded and took the salesperson directly to the gate.
The other two salesmen, thinking about the factory's performance and commission, also took the risk and each of them brought a college student to translate, picked up the samples and brochures and went out.
More than an hour later, Song Qi lived up to expectations and brought the first business to their stall, 200 sweaters.
Then, one after another, the two translators in charge of sales also brought in some small orders sporadically.
On the first day, they sold almost 2,000 items in total.
Director Hao was very satisfied with the result. Wool sweaters were not cheap, and 2,000 pieces were ordered in one day, with several days left to go!
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