Chapter 162 Shoemaker, think about it, do you still want to collect scraps?
As Qin Xiangxiang looked at the increasing number of items in the factory hospital, she couldn't help but nod, thinking that it was becoming more and more presentable. Medical care couldn't be neglected. They had managed to get an old-fashioned X-ray machine from the steel mill, which was a good deal, at least they had a medium-sized piece of equipment.
Back home, Qin Xiang wanted to brag to Li Jianzhi: "In the future, our factory hospital will be equipped with imported B-ultrasound machines and electrocardiographs... that will make it look like a proper hospital."
Brand new imported ultrasound machines are not cheap; one costs two or three hundred thousand yuan, and even a regular one costs tens of thousands of yuan. In this day and age, an ultrasound machine is a "major purchase for hospitals."
Li Jianzhi: "Keep it up, honey! You're so energetic!"
"Hmph." Qin Xiangxiang glanced at Li Jianzhi. Although she was unhappy that he said she was motivated, her deadbeat husband had one good point: he never called her a "daydreamer."
Who among ordinary people would dare to dream of an imported ultrasound machine?
“I have no motivation to produce anything, I just want good stuff… Li Jianzhi, even Director Chen says I’m a scavenger, your wife is so miserable! You cook today, I want to eat stuffed bitter melon.”
"Your wife is feeling really bitter right now." Qin Xiangxiang would whimper a few times now and then. Complaining and whining were the essence of her life, and also an excuse to reward herself. She wanted to eat stuffed bitter melon, but she thought it was too much trouble.
Let the men do this kind of strenuous work.
Qin Xiangxiang took off her sandals and poked the man's buttocks under his military trousers with her toes.
Li Jianzhi grabbed her ankle, thinking to himself that this little vixen was always good at flirting. Why bother eating stuffed bitter melon? Let's get another long melon instead.
"You want to eat bitter melon? What are you implying?"
Qin Xiangxiang: "..."
Absolutely not!
But she did not object.
After sweating profusely and feeling sticky, taking a shower and lying on a cool mat to prepare for eating stuffed bitter melon is a kind of enjoyment.
Qin Xiangxiang lay lazily on the bamboo mat, enjoying the breeze from the electric fan, not wanting to move. Not only did she not want to move, but Li Jianzhi also didn't want to move. Holding her in his arms, Qin Xiangxiang raised her hand to trace his handsome eyebrows and eyes, looking quite puzzled.
Isn't this frigidity in a dream? This guy.
Unless there is only one possibility, which is that in his dream, in 1971, "that place" was injured and became useless.
That's not impossible, because soldiers are more prone to problems in that area, like being roasted in the groin, while this one is being kept in the groin.
Could it be that she arrived on the island earlier in this life, thus sparing this man the ordeal of damaging his "little brother"?
After thinking about it this way, everything made sense. Qin Xiangxiang looked at Li Jianzhi with great pity, thinking to herself that she almost became the next "Lu Baizhou".
No wonder Li Jianzhi in my dream was so awkward. Just like in those martial arts novels, after a man castrates himself, his heart will naturally undergo inexplicable changes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Li Jianzhi was enjoying the afterglow of the moment, quietly embracing his beloved wife. This feeling of happiness was priceless.
Qin Xiangxiang said arrogantly, "You should thank me for saving your little brother."
Li Jianzhi: "..."
His expression was somewhat strange, but he genuinely agreed, "My wife, your appearance has truly saved me..." This young man who had been alone for many years.
Qin Xiangxiang: "Wow!...It's really like that?"
"What's with all this talk? Think about it, do you still want to collect trash?"
Qin Xiang thought to herself, "I'll strangle you! Don't you dare say I'm a ragpicker! I'm allowing officials to set fires but forbidding commoners to light lamps." You're the one who's a ragpicker, your whole family is a ragpicker, of course, that doesn't include her.
"The navy has a batch of old, discarded tire inner tubes containing natural rubber. Honey, let's use your creativity and make some comfortable sandals."
"Don't you have that wave yarn in your factory? Use this breathable wave yarn to make the shoe uppers, make the soles with rubber sponge, and add the wave yarn uppers. Give me two pairs of sandals and slippers. I want family benefits."
Seersucker is also known as bubble wrap. Sandals and slippers made with seersucker uppers were much more comfortable than sandals today. Sandals in the 1970s and 80s were mostly plastic sandals, made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The manufacturing process was relatively rough, and there was no foaming technology, so they were very hard!
Both the slippers and sandals are very stiff and ugly.
Many people wear sandals and stockings together to prevent their feet from getting chafed, but the effect is minimal, and they often end up with chafing marks on the bony prominence of their ankles.
However, even these hard, painful sandals are a "fashion hit" in this era and are highly sought-after items worldwide. Millions of pairs of these plastic sandals can be sold at the Canton Fair.
Because he went to the Canton Fair, Li Jianzhi also noticed a lot of news about it. In 1973, the newspapers mentioned that a shoe factory in Tianjin sold a million pairs of plastic sandals at the Canton Fair. The predecessor of this shoe factory was a textile factory, which had only switched to making plastic sandals in recent years.
"Family benefits? You're asking me for family benefits?" Qin Xiangxiang was truly impressed by his shamelessness; this man wanted both.
Li Jianzhi smiled and kissed her on the cheek: "I'm a family member of Feiyan Textile Factory, isn't it normal for me to ask for some family benefits?"
"I want breathable and soft sandals, with rubber soles and sponge, and your wave yarn on top... For sandals, flip-flops would also be fine."
Li Jianzhi imagined the scene, and with some colorful shirts and shorts, it would look like a beach vacation.
But he had to restrain himself; he couldn't dress like that, as it would damage his image, after all, he was supposed to be a "cool and aloof guy."
Although he lives off his wife at home, he's a cool and aloof guy when he's out.
Qin Xiangxiang: "You're such a sentimental big man, but this idea seems pretty good."
Qin Xiangxiang also disliked the sandals at this time, saying they were too stiff, uncomfortable to wear, and would rub against her feet, making a clanging sound when she walked, like hard stones hitting the ground.
Moreover, although these sandals look sturdy and heavy, they are also very easy to break.
Using rubber insoles, plus sponge, and even wave yarn... this idea for making sandals seems really good.
At least the upper is soft, so it won't scratch and bleed.
"If you think it's a good idea, then find someone to haul away these used tires."
Qin Xiangxiang: "Are you sure you're not dumping your garbage on me?"
Li Jianzhi said expressionlessly, "That's not true."
"Li Jianzhi, you damned man, do you really think I'm a garbage collector?"
"No, absolutely not."
Qin Xiang thought to herself, "I really believed your nonsense. This man seems 'quiet and reserved,' but he's actually full of bad ideas, with one wicked scheme after another. Now he's suggesting I make rubber-soled wave-patterned sandals..."
Ironically, his idea, like his cooking concept, was very appealing, but the result was questionable.
Qin Xiangxiang, preoccupied, went to have someone haul the discarded tires back to the factory. She felt she shouldn't have too high expectations. She had originally wanted to find "Dream Dare" Master Meng to try making sandals, but then she thought, "This is a trade that can't be mastered by one person."
"Master Meng likes to play with patterns in textile craftsmanship, but when making these rubber-woven sandals, comfort is paramount. The appearance absolutely cannot be too shabby; if it's too ugly, only Little Fatty can wear it..."
Qin thought about how she was a very fussy person; no matter how comfortable the sandals were, she would "reject them if they were ugly."
This kind of eyesore can't appear on her, nor on her man. It's barely acceptable for her to pick up trash for Little Fatty.
"It has to be comfortable, and more importantly, it has to look good!" A brilliant idea flashed in Qin Xiangxiang's mind. When it comes to being meticulous, no one can compare to Rong Zhijian, the quality inspector.
"Master Rong! Quality Inspector Rong, I want you to make something nice."
Master Rong ate watermelon, listening silently to Qin Xiangxiang's requirements and ideas. Her brows were furrowed. "The soles need to be soft, and the shoes need to look good. Using wavy yarn for the uppers looks nice, but it's not suitable for sandals. It's not durable and breaks easily. It's more suitable for fully enclosed cloth shoes."
"Using wave yarn to make cloth shoes makes them breathable and lightweight."
"Wait... we can add a canvas lining to the bottom of this wave yarn, so it will be more durable and less likely to break."
Qin thought for a moment: "How about adding some coconut fiber in the middle for better ventilation?"
Qin Xiangxiang said smugly, "My idea is great!"
"Let's find someone to give it a try." The quality inspector's eyes lit up. She couldn't stand the sandals being too hard, which had scraped her grandson's feet raw. If this method worked, she could make some shoes for her own family.
Qin thought for a moment: "Let's ask Master Liao to give it a try."
Liao Yumei is quick, efficient, and precise in her work, making her ideal for experimentation. Under the supervision of the quality control department, she quickly produced several pairs of rubber-sponge-soled wave-patterned sandals.
The quality inspector tried them on and her eyes lit up. She praised them, saying, "Lightweight, soft, and breathable."
"These shoes are comfortable."
"I don't want to take them off once I put them on. I'll wear them for a few more days to try them out."
"The soles of my feet are very soft and comfortable."
"These shoes don't make your feet feel stuffy."
Qin Xiangxiang frowned because she thought they were a bit ugly. These shoes were made from scraps of yarn and the patterns weren't very attractive.
Factory Director Qin then made herself a pair of shoes, choosing a beautiful wave-like gauze pattern, using the cloud pattern from Mawangdui, and adding some embroidery herself, with exquisite craftsmanship... Qin Xiangxiang made herself a pair of beautiful wave-like gauze sandals.
"Factory manager, your shoes are so beautiful!"
Holy crap, she's even developed a talent for shoemaking?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
