Chapter 282 Sunbathing: You definitely won't get any photos of vintage items from the Republic of China era in the workshop...
In the factory manager's office of the Shanghai No. 10 Textile Factory, the radio was on, and the voice of announcer Gu Zhihuai could be heard:
"...The radio station has received many letters from listeners. Thank you all for enjoying the 'Factory Director Qin' series. The most popular story, 'Factory Director Qin Outwits Liu Manfu,' will be broadcast again at 9:30 PM tonight..."
"Click—"
The sound of the Shanghai radio station was cut off. The man had a cigarette in his hand, lit it, and blue-gray smoke spread through the office, filling the air with the smell of tobacco.
"Hmph, what Director Qin? A woman? She only did this little thing. If it were me, I could have done better."
Sun Xianjin, the director of the Shanghai No. 10 Textile Factory, was a well-known "technological reform fanatic" within the textile system. He took the lead in introducing several imported production lines to the factory, and the machines in the workshop were brand new and gleaming. Before Qin Xiangxiang entered Shanghai, he was the brightest star in Shanghai's reform circles.
He himself also considered himself a "pioneer of domestic textile modernization".
When Sun Xianjin heard about "Factory Director Qin's" deeds on the radio, and everyone in Shanghai knew about Factory Director Qin's reform story, Sun Xianjin's "mentality" collapsed.
He had worked diligently and conscientiously in the reform of the Shanghai textile factory for many years, considering himself a pioneer of reform. However, there were few people in the entire city who could name him. Qin Xiangxiang, on the other hand, was different.
She's only been in Shanghai for a year! She's only been implementing reforms for a year! And yet, Director Qin's name is already famous throughout Shanghai!
Sun Xianjin was about to vomit.
He was even complacent about his past achievements, but the story of "Director Qin" completely crushed his former pride.
Sun Xianjin felt resentful. "This Qin Xiangxiang, a woman? Women only know how to be opportunistic. She deliberately found someone to write articles about her and praise her. She did nothing, but she made herself out to be the best in the world."
"They even outsmarted Liu Manfu, it's hilarious!"
...
Sun Xianjin's complaints couldn't hide the jealousy deep in his heart. He was jealous of Director Qin's widespread fame and of Qin Xiangxiang's effortless rise to fame in Shanghai.
“It is my responsibility to let all the people of Shanghai see the true face of this woman, instead of being blinded by false stories.”
"Feiyan No. 2 Factory, Shangpu Textile Factory? A bunch of old antiques and machines from the Republic of China era have actually become the banner of reform. It's utterly ridiculous."
“Using those outdated machines is an insult to the word ‘modernization’.”
Sun Xianjin: "Qin Xiangxiang only reformed a stale and outdated textile factory full of old-fashioned machines, while I transformed the Tenth Textile Factory into a modern textile factory that is on par with international standards."
"Just like my name suggests, my management style is the most advanced and scientific."
"If Qin Xiang were to visit our factory, I guarantee she would feel ashamed of herself."
...
At this very moment, a delegation of textile experts from Europe and America and international journalists visited Shanghai to investigate "the reform path of China's light industry textile sector".
The Light Industry Bureau called Sun Xianjin: "Your Tenth Textile Factory is on the inspection tour route. You and your factory staff should prepare to receive them in advance."
Sun Xianjin did not answer, but asked instead: "Isn't Shangpu Textile Factory - Feiyan No. 2 Factory on this inspection route?"
"Flying Swallow Factory No. 2, there are no arrangements for that at the moment."
Sun Xianjin said, "Now everyone in the city knows about Director Qin's reform efforts. People from Europe and America who come to Shanghai can also hear Director Qin's name on the radio. Why not arrange a visit and a meeting?"
"This—" The Light Industry Bureau was speechless. Although Feiyan No. 2 Factory was portrayed as a banner of reform, it used to be full of old-fashioned machines. Even though many have been updated and replaced, it is still not up to standard.
Feiyan No. 2 Factory had already achieved remarkable success by turning a loss into a profit, considering it was originally a bottom-ranking factory.
Sun Xianjin said, "From both a moral and logical standpoint, I believe that Feiyan No. 2 Factory should be included in the inspection tour's itinerary."
"Okay, Director Sun, I will pass on your suggestion to the leadership."
After learning of Sun Xianjin's suggestion, the leaders of the Light Industry Bureau agreed: "Feiyan No. 2 Factory should be included in the tour itinerary so that the European and American inspection teams can go in and observe it."
"But the machines at Shangpu Textile Factory were really outdated! Wouldn't that be embarrassing in front of foreigners?"
Light Industry Bureau Leader: "Shame will inspire courage!"
"We should also give this young factory director, Qin, more training to improve her mental resilience. She achieved some success in last year's reforms, but she cannot be complacent."
“At times like this, it’s good for her to suffer some setbacks. It helps her realize the gap between herself and developed countries, face reality, accept reality, and then work hard to catch up with foreign countries!”
"...But leader, the city radio station is now broadcasting the reform story of 'Factory Director Qin,' and everyone regards this female factory director as an extraordinary figure, thinking she is capable and a role model!"
"But if foreign inspection teams learn about the internal situation of Feiyan No. 2 Factory, and if all the citizens also learn about Feiyan No. 2 Factory through the newspapers, and know that the Feiyan No. 2 Factory, which is being reformed under the leadership of Director Qin, is still using old, outdated, zombie-like machines from the Republic of China era... This... This... This..."
The young staff member could barely utter a complete sentence.
This is dampening the enthusiasm of the city's citizens, pouring cold water on them, and at the same time, it's a severe blow to Qin Xiangxiang, the young female factory director.
At the beginning of the year, everyone regarded her as a model of reform on the radio. However, when the overseas inspection team came, they found that the situation in their factory was terrible and backward, which was a devastating blow.
The criticism in the newspapers and the backlash from public opinion were too cruel for a young female factory director.
Does hiding it really help?
"Now that Director Qin's reforms are well-known throughout Shanghai, and with the overseas inspection team coming, won't they inquire about it? They'll say even harsher things then."
"If there are problems in the workshop or in production, it's a good thing to discover them early on."
"Qin Xiangxiang is still young. This experience can be seen as a test of her willpower. Only by enduring setbacks can she go further."
"Director Qin, we've received a notification from above that a delegation of textile industry experts and journalists from Europe and America will be visiting the production workshop of our Feiyan No. 2 Factory... Our factory is also on the delegation's itinerary!"
Secretary Li covered his face, "The thing I least wanted to happen has happened."
"When a foreign inspection team comes, our factory will definitely be in the newspaper!"
Qin Xiangxiang remained extremely calm: "Didn't we move all the old machines from our workshop? When they come to visit the workshop, they definitely won't be able to take any pictures of those old machines from the Republic of China era."
Secretary Li was utterly despondent. Yes, the workshop was no longer filled with the old antiques from the Republic of China era; the machines had been moved to the entrance for people to "visit and take photos."
Isn't this just burying your head in the sand?
"Factory manager, you need to be able to handle the blow yourself."
"It's also Gu Zhihuai's fault. He told your story so well that everyone now sees you as an amazing female factory director. If it were broadcast now and our factory's machinery were outdated..."
Qin Xiangxiang tried hard to suppress the upturned corners of her mouth, thinking: This is a good opportunity to put an end to this corrupt and evil atmosphere of "Factory Director Qin".
She never wanted to hear Director Qin's story on the radio again in her life.
Especially "Director Qin's Clever Battle Against Liu Manfu".
"We've set up so many 'cultural relics' at the entrance, why don't we also arrange a few photographers to take 'professional photos' of foreign tourists? We'll charge two yuan per photo and give them a 'Top Scholar' doll as a gift, so they can share in the good fortune of the top scholar."
“Use the leftover scraps from producing the top scholar coats, cut them into miniature coats the size of a finger, stuff them in whatever you like, and turn them into little top scholar dolls as souvenirs.”
"When this European and American inspection team came, we also arranged for them to have their photos taken so that they could promote it when they returned home."
Qin Xiangxiang has a thick skin. She doesn't really care about her reputation. She just hopes that "Factory Director Qin" will be taken off the air. She doesn't care what others say. She doesn't want to hear her picking her toes on the radio anymore.
This is perfect, we can also take advantage of the inspection team's benefits.
Foreign tourists have so many foreign exchange certificates, and they're all very curious, so let's just take photos and charge them! Two yuan! You can take a photo with "Republic of China artifacts"! They even give you a top scholar doll as a gift. You won't lose out!
"In addition to giving away a 'top scholar doll', we also give away a coffee and cake voucher worth five cents to those who have their photos taken by us."
Qin Xiangxiang has devised a series of schemes with great cunning. She gives you a "five-cent" voucher so you can buy coffee and cake worth more than two yuan... You just have to decide whether you want to buy it or not.
It would be a waste not to buy it, but buying it would mean spending even more money.
Secretary Li: "Ah, this—"
Secretary Li was both amused and exasperated. "Director Qin, we're about to be in deep trouble. Fine, these old, antique machines in the factory are not only not ashamed, but proud of them, and they're even charging money to take photos of them as 'Republic of China artifacts'."
That's true. Our Feiyan Textile Factory is "too poor." Every little bit of money we earn is a blessing. With money, we can replace our machines as soon as possible and shed our "backward" label.
When Sun Xianjin learned that Feiyan No. 2 Factory had joined the expert delegation's tour to Europe and America, he was overjoyed. Now, both their Tenth Textile Factory and Feiyan No. 2 Factory would be in the "international newspapers"!
Foreign journalists are ruthless in their words; the old, outdated machines at Feiyan No. 2 Factory have nowhere to hide, and others can also see the true backwardness of Feiyan No. 2 Factory.
How capable could this factory manager, Qin, be of managing such a backward factory?
Will citizens still enjoy listening to the story of "Director Qin"?
“Zhou Aodong, your daughter’s factory is also on this visit itinerary. Is she mentally prepared? I’m a little nervous myself.”
Zhou Aodong: "Your Tenth Textile Factory has good conditions, why are you nervous? I heard you've introduced another batch of new machines. Old Sun, you're a capable man."
"Not at all, I'm nervous, of course I'm nervous..." Sun Xianjin said proudly, "I wouldn't dare boast about other things, but I have a lot of experience with machines."
"If your daughter's factory needs to replace machines, she can come to me. I can teach her a lot of experience. We can also sell our outdated machines to her factory..."
...
Zhou Aodong hung up the phone and sighed softly, "Thinking about it, it really wasn't easy!"
Having seen countless people, she naturally sensed the sarcasm in Sun Xianjin's tone; his aim was to see her daughter, Qin Xiangxiang, embarrass herself.
"Think about how many years this business has been operating? How many years has this guy surnamed Sun been in business?"
"Bullying the younger generation!"
Zhou Aodong couldn't help but worry about Qin Xiangxiang. The situation at Feiyan No. 2 Factory was naturally not as good as that at No. 10 Textile Factory. There was definitely a gap between them.
After returning home, she called her daughter Xiangxiang out and told her to prepare herself mentally: "It's not a big deal to accept that the factory is not as good as other factories right now. Don't take it too seriously if people laugh at you. We will work hard to catch up in the future."
Qin Xiangxiang: "Mom, I think so too."
Zhou Aodong: "?"
Just how carefree are you?
Zhou Aodong sighed, just waiting for Qin Xiangxiang to be exposed and criticized by a bunch of domestic and foreign newspapers. The factory's production was backward, and the machines were old relics from the Republic of China era... The story of Factory Director Qin was dug up, and everyone would laugh at her.
She will comfort her daughter properly then.
"Have someone clean all those old machines from the Republic of China era in your factory properly. Don't make it too embarrassing when it gets featured in the newspapers."
Qin Xiangxiang said, "I already arranged to clean it up and even took it out to sunbathe."
Zhou Aodong: "???"
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