The next day was Sunday, and Ning Yuan discovered that Rong Zhaonan was no longer in bed.
The quilt was folded into a neat square, and the sheets were wrinkle-free. The bed was clean, austere, and ascetic, just like its owner.
After the two of them stopped sleeping together, his bed became more and more like a military-style bed, lacking any human warmth.
He's been nowhere to be found lately.
Ning Yuan shook her head, then quickly got up, washed up, and made her bed.
Then I put on a hat and mask and went out to ride my bike toward the county guesthouse—today was the day to pick up the goods!
"Brother Zhang, can we pick up those bamboo cups that were originally intended for export but are now being sold domestically this morning?" Ning Yuan asked with a sweet smile as soon as she entered the county guesthouse, as Zhang Er was directing people to pack up the ingredients.
As soon as Zhang Er saw the young girl arrive, he waved his hand and said, "I'll go with you to pick up the goods. We can get them this morning!"
Ning Yuan was overjoyed: "Great! Our second brother really knows how to get things done!"
Zhang Er took the tricycle keys, shook his head and laughed, "What kind of connections are these? There are only about four hundred of those bamboo cups, all defective products left over from the county craft factory's exports. They were originally going to be burned, but you bought them!"
Last time, this little girl was at the county guesthouse, helping Manhua count the mountain produce that came from the village.
I overheard the director of the county arts and crafts factory drinking in the guesthouse canteen while complaining to leaders from other units.
The county seat is located in the east, west, south, and north, and is rich in bamboo. So, at the end of last year, with the issuance of a reform and opening-up document, the county's arts and crafts factory received an export order from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Orders for bamboo tube carving cups with a Chinese style for export.
This is simple; it's made by cutting sections of bamboo, polishing them smooth inside and out, and then drying them.
Then, with beautiful traditional Chinese patterns carved on the outer wall, it becomes a beautiful craft cup, which can be sold for 1.5 yuan each on the export market.
This was originally a great opportunity to earn foreign exchange!
As a result, of the first batch of 2,000 units shipped, more than 400 were returned as defective products!
These foreigners are really demanding. To put it bluntly, even handmade items can't have completely identical carvings.
Now we didn't make any foreign exchange; we're lucky if we don't lose money on the whole batch of goods.
The factory director was severely criticized by the county leaders, and this year the factory was no longer recognized as an advanced unit or individual!
The factory manager had no choice but to try to salvage the losses by reselling the defective products instead of exporting them domestically.
The most sought-after items for the domestic market after being originally intended for export are practical items like wool sweaters and wool fabrics.
These defective bamboo cups were only 35 cents each, and no one wanted them even when they were displayed in state-run stores!
Wouldn't it be more practical for ordinary people to have this extra money to buy enamel mugs and bowls?
After being shelved for several months, the state-run stores found the bamboo cups too bulky and returned them to the craft factory in batches.
The factory manager was in a bind; this stuff was going to rot in his hands.
He drank and cursed the foreigners for being a rip-off, while angrily planning to take those bamboo cups to the cafeteria to use as firewood...
Ning Yuan listened intently to the whole story, then ran over and enthusiastically asked about the size and shape of the bamboo cup.
She suddenly declared that she wanted to buy all four hundred bamboo cups, as long as the price was right!
The factory manager was dumbfounded.
Ah, where did this stupid girl come from, wanting to take over this garbage?
He thought for a moment and said that it would be a round number of 120 yuan, and Ning Yuan would call a car to take away this batch of bamboo cups herself.
Ning Yuan bargained relentlessly, bringing the price down to 80 yuan, refusing to budge, or she would have the factory manager burn it!
The factory manager gritted his teeth and agreed.
Anyway, it's all garbage that's going to be burned as firewood. If I can get 80 yuan for it, that's better than burning it as firewood.
80 yuan can also help with the food expenses at the factory canteen!
And so it was settled, and everyone felt they had gotten a good deal—everyone had a bright future!
This weekend, Ning Yuan came to find Zhang Er to go to the craft factory to pick up that batch of cups.
“If even state-run stores can’t sell these cups, how can you possibly sell them yourself? These days, it’s better to spend two cents on an egg on the black market than on this junk.”
Zhang Er got on the tricycle, still trying to persuade Ning Yuan not to buy these things.
He didn't think Ning Yuan had a bright future after buying this thing!
These defective handicrafts, unlike mountain goods or antiques, would never sell on the black market.
Ning Yuan smiled and said with her big, round eyes, "I never said I was going to sell cups, Brother Zhang, let's go!"
Zhang Er was taken aback, but Ning Yuan didn't intend to continue. He shook his head, thinking that this girl was too opinionated and different from girls these days.
He had never seen a young girl so eager to make money.
But she's also a reliable girl.
Ning Yuan was in a good mood and went out with Zhang Er.
Defective products are good, they're cheap!
When she arrived at the county craft factory's product warehouse, she saw that Director Zhou had already instructed the cashier and workers to carry out sacks of bamboo cups.
Ning Yuan picked it up and looked at it, finding that the bamboo cup was even more exquisite than she had imagined, and she was very satisfied.
So she counted the quantity, settled the account with Factory Director Zhou, and gave the money to the cashier.
Factory Director Zhou realized that Zhang Er's tricycle probably wouldn't be able to carry all four hundred bamboo cups at once.
He was in a good mood and even had the factory's tricycle help transport the goods to Ning Yuan's small courtyard.
Zhang Er helped unload the goods, and more than four hundred bamboo cups were put into an empty room.
Ning Yuan gave Zhang Er two baskets of large meat buns made by Grandma Xia and a bottle of Fenhe liquor, which is only available in the provincial capital.
Human relationships require reciprocity and mutual effort to maintain.
When it's time to thank someone for their help, you should express your gratitude. If you take it for granted that you have a good relationship and refuse to give them anything, you'll eventually lose them as friends.
Zhang Er happily took the steamed buns back with him, knowing that Grandma Xia's steamed bun-making skills were better than those of the county guesthouse's canteen.
It just so happens that Sunday is also Mr. Tang's birthday, so dinner included steamed buns.
Ning Yuan and Grandma Xia cooked several dishes together, and she gave the Parker gold pen to Old Tang.
Old Tang was overjoyed, holding the exquisite pen with great delight, but he was also a little worried: "This kind of thing is hard to buy. It's not even sold in the provincial capital. Where did you get it!"
Rong Zhaonan also looked at the pen, and a strange look flashed in Ruifeng's eyes: "Did the Ou family boy give it to you?"
That kid gave her something so valuable?
Ning Yuan nodded and explained where the pen came from: "Grandpa's test paper is your intellectual property... uh... anyway, your test paper is really worth this pen!"
Every now and then, she would unconsciously utter a word she had never heard before.
Rong Zhaonan was already used to it; he simply glanced at her.
Mr. Tang felt relieved that his knowledge and skills had been recognized, and said with a smile, "Don't ask your classmates for things next time. Let's learn and make progress together."
Ning Yuan smiled but didn't say anything.
During the college entrance examination, everyone is in competition, so she's not going to be so kind as to help strangers for free.
Kong Er had no grudge against her, yet he framed her on his second day there.
There are many stories of gratitude for a small favor but resentment for a large one; if someone doesn't do well on the exam, they'll blame her for giving them the test paper.
Rong Zhaonan said calmly, "If you like this kind of pen, I'll have someone bring some from Shanghai or Beijing in the future."
Ning Yuan quickly shook her head while eating: "My handwriting is like a dog's scratch, come on."
Having a ballpoint pen is already a good thing.
Seeing that Ning Yuan didn't seem to care at all about the Parker pen Ou Minglang had given her, Rong Zhaonan was in a good mood: "Hmm."
But Grandma Xia kicked him under the table.
Rong Zhaonan raised an eyebrow and looked at MISS Xia—what's wrong now?
Grandma Xia kept winking at him, and then subtly pointed to the pen.
That's so stupid! The girl said she didn't want a gift, so you should have pressed your advantage and asked her what she liked and what she wanted to give her!
Isn't this a good time to ease tensions?
Rong Zhaonan looked at the old woman thoughtfully: "Grandma, which pen do you like?"
MISS Xia rolled her eyes, wanting to smear her food all over his face: "No, I like it when you look like an idiot, and I like it when your wife gets stolen away!!!"
Rong Zhaonan: "..."
Ning Yuan: "...Hahaha!"
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