Chapter 371 Giving Gifts
Liu Wei was right; Xiao Feng and Yang Xiu'e did enter the visitor reception room of the cotton mill.
However, after the staff looked at their letters of introduction and inquired about their purpose, the two women were told by the staff that the factory did not have enough goods to sell and that they did not accept outside customers to buy goods. They were told not to waste their time and to leave immediately.
The staff member left, leaving only two people in the visitor room for the time being.
Xiao Feng was incredulous; the man had dismissed them with just a few words.
Xiao Feng didn't want Song Lubai to look down on him, so he caught up with the staff member and said, "Comrade, we've ordered a lot of goods. Could you tell your supply and marketing department leader about this first? Comrade, we've come all this way, it's really not easy for us."
Seeing his earnest words, the staff member's attitude softened considerably compared to before.
"Comrades, you should have known before you came that the department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives don't have enough fabric to sell. We have to import fabric from other countries. The fabric produced in the factories all have their own destinations. There's not enough to go around. To be frank, you've come here for nothing."
Xiao Feng: "..."
Yang Xiu'e's brows furrowed instantly.
If they can't get the goods, their shoemaking team will have to shut down.
After leaving the factory, Xiao Feng said, "Even if we treat them to a meal, the cotton mill won't give us any goods, right?"
For a moment, he was a little afraid that Song Lubai would actually get things done, but he was even more afraid that she wouldn't, and that their trip would have been a waste of money.
Yang Xiu'e glared at him. "If entertaining people can get us the goods, then we'll definitely have to spend the money and the receipts. Comrade Xiao, you should be hoping that entertaining people will get things done."
The two returned with solemn expressions, only to find Liu Wei at the guesthouse.
Liu Wei said that Song Lubai had gone out to borrow tickets, so the three of them could only sit in the guesthouse and wait.
Song Lubai first went to the supply and marketing cooperative where Feng Ying worked.
Feng Ying was incredulous when she saw her.
After working for more than half an hour, the two finally managed to speak.
After catching up, Song Lubai explained the purpose of her business trip.
Feng Ying said, "It's not enough to just treat people to meals; you also have to give them some cigarettes."
Presumably finding Song Lubai's receipts unsuitable, Feng Ying said, "Come with me to the cafeteria for lunch, and then come back to the dorm with me. I have cigarette coupons that I was planning to exchange for someone else. We have some good Xue Lian cigarettes, which are quite nice. If you're treating someone, having them on the table will make you look good."
Compared to before, Feng Ying is now much more adept at navigating social situations.
Song Lu offered money, but Feng Ying refused to accept it.
"We rarely meet, so consider this cigarette coupon a gift from me."
After Song Lubai finished eating and drinking, she told Feng Ying that she would leave before going to work in the afternoon.
When she left, Song Lubai had four packs of Xuelian cigarettes in her pocket and a box of high-end packaged biscuits in her hand.
The cookie box was printed with brightly colored patterns, and this box cost Song Lubai 1.48 yuan.
This was something she intended to give to Lu Xingye, as a gift for future learning opportunities.
Back at the guesthouse, Song Lubai saw the three of them sitting quietly in the open room. From Xiao Feng's expression, she knew they hadn't accomplished their task.
Yang Xiue said worriedly, "Xiao Song, we can't even see the factory leaders. They say the factory doesn't have enough goods to sell. What are we going to do? What's the point of treating them to a meal?"
Song Lubai wasn't entirely confident either. She said, "I'll meet with Secretary Pei first to sound him out. If it's possible, I'll have to use him to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the supply and marketing department."
Song Lubai turned her gaze to Xiao Feng's face and asked calmly, "Comrade Xiao, I'm not sure if we can get this done. If you're worried about wasting time, let's head back now, what do you say?"
Xiao Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Since we're already here, let's give it a try."
Yang Xiue clapped her hands and said, "If we can get it done, it will be like opening a path for the future. If we can't, it will just be a waste of money, which our shoemaking team can afford."
Xiao Feng frowned and remained silent, but he also did not voice any objection.
Song Lubai said, "Then I'll go contact the person."
She went to the supply and marketing department first.
The staff at the supply and marketing department hadn't changed much. Song Lubai greeted the old man on duty, registered, and entered the building smoothly, then knocked on Lu Xingye's office door.
Lu Xingye's job has always been quite leisurely, and at this moment he is sitting at his desk reading a book.
Looking up and seeing Song Lubai, he asked in surprise, "What brings you here?"
Seeing the cookie box in Song Lubai's hand, he frowned slightly and asked, "Do you need something from me?"
There were other people in the office. Song Lubai laughed heartily: "I have some official business to attend to in Shicheng this time, but I don't have any tickets on hand. I was thinking of exchanging some with you."
Lu Xingye: "Just exchange the tickets, no need for such a big gift."
Song Lubai said, "I originally wanted to deliver it directly to Sun Hong, but I couldn't get away. It's just a box of cookies. When I was working here before, you two helped me a lot, and I didn't have a chance to thank you."
She learned from the old man on duty that Lu Xingye and Sun Hong got married and that Sun Hong is now pregnant.
Song Lubai placed the cookie box on the table and said, "I used to share a dorm with Sun Hong. Now that she's pregnant, take this back for her. She needs to nourish herself properly right now."
Lu Xingye nodded. "You just said you wanted to exchange your tickets. What kind of tickets do you need, and what do you need to buy?"
As we were talking, another colleague in the office took a teapot and left, leaving the door open without closing it.
Song Lubai said, "Meat coupons, grain coupons, I want to buy you with money..."
She gave a brief account of the errand she had come for.
Lu Xingye was a little reluctant to exchange her ticket. Sun Hong was pregnant and needed nutrition, but she had come with gifts, and he felt a little guilty for not exchanging any of them.
"I need to save the tickets I have for Sun Hong. You wait, I'll see if I can lend you some."
Song Lubai took out a few coins from her pocket and handed them to him.
In fact, grain coupons are more suitable as a form of currency than money, but Song Lubai doesn't have many national grain coupons.
Because of the financial and invoice losses incurred by the shoemaking team, Song Lubai would later report them to Yang Xiue and have the shoemaking team reimburse her.
Lu Xingye returned more than ten minutes later, having exchanged a total of three jin and six liang of grain coupons for her.
"That should be enough, right?"
Song Lubai also felt that it was about time.
After thanking her, she asked about the training.
Lu Xingye had just mailed the letter when he unexpectedly saw her today. "I'll write to you when it starts, and I'll let you know in advance what conditions are required."
A few more people came into the office. Song Lubai stood up and said, "Then when I'm done with my work, I'll go to your house to talk to Sun Hong."
Lu Xingye nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
Just as they stepped out of the office, Song Lubai and Lou Yuchun walked past each other.
The moment she saw Lou Yuchun, a ridiculous thought flashed through her mind.
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