Chapter 299
This year was destined to be a turbulent one. Meng Huaiqing spent the Spring Festival in the hospital. On the fifth day after the New Year, Uncle Ge's condition stabilized and he went home to rest.
However, the old man refused to live with Ge Lijuan anymore. Finally, Qin Xiang asked Grandpa Ge to move to her house in the suburbs and be neighbors with her father.
Ge Lijuan was quite sad about the old man's decision, but no one was too lazy to explain it to her, and she knew it clearly herself.
Before school started, Qin Xiang and Meng Huaiqing planned a trip to Pengcheng to check on the progress of the factory there. Renovations had been completed before the New Year. After the New Year, all they needed to do was recruit workers, purchase machinery, and then assemble the factory leadership team so they could begin operations.
When it comes to recruiting, it is easy to recruit ordinary workers. After all, some people will go south to work after the New Year, but most of them are inexperienced. Qin Xiang plans to ask Tan Xiu to help mobilize some people from the Third Garment Factory to go south to take apprentices.
In addition, during the Chinese New Year, Fei Qing and others also used the treatment they received to successfully persuade several classmates who were already interested. Qin Xiang's company now has four more designers, all of whom are from the south. Qin Xiang has already spoken to them on the phone, and when she arrives in Shenzhen, they will go to talk to her and discuss future development.
As for the various machines, they are all imported. We started purchasing them before the New Year. They are now at the port and will be able to be unloaded and brought into the factory after the customs starts working.
The first batch of clothes the factory produced were summer clothes because spring was too short and there was almost no spring in the south.
After arranging everything here and finalizing the task with Tan Xiu, Qin Xiang and Meng Huaiqing flew to Pengcheng.
Qin Xiang closed her eyes on the plane and said, "I'm going to be busy again."
Meng Huaiqing laughed, "Do you feel tired?"
Qin Xiang rolled her eyes at him and said, "Of course."
"Then why don't you take a break and slow down?"
"That won't work." Qin Xiang laughed and looked at the scenery outside the window. "Look, China is so beautiful now. Everywhere is booming. I feel like it's a waste of time if I delay development by even a day. My goal is to make the most money during the best time. When the clothing industry reaches saturation, I will only keep one high-end clothing line and then start living my retirement life."
Meng Huaiqing was a little surprised when he heard this. "I thought you would fight until old age."
Qin Xiang shook her head. "No, although people are born to struggle, they should also learn to enjoy life. If you just keep wasting yourself, you're living too long. I still want to travel around the country."
"Then I'll accompany you." Meng Huaiqing said, "Before that, let's work hard together."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay."
The two didn't speak anymore, but their minds were particularly connected. Qin Xiang thought that she would be with this man for the rest of her life, and no other man could understand her as well as he did.
When we arrived in Pengcheng and took a look at the factory, we were relieved to find that it was just as Mi Hongjun had said.
I went to take a look at the land where the hotel was planned to be built. It was still deserted. Construction would begin in a few days once the workers arrived.
Qin Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. After finishing her work here, she would head to Sucheng. Liu Xiaocao was very motivated, so perhaps she could give it a try.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Qin Xiang invited several senior designers to come together.
Qin Xiang took them directly to the factory without saying anything and introduced it inside and out.
The designer's office is naturally in the office building. The office building has four floors. The top floor is the factory director's office and the large conference room. The third floor is the designers' office. The layout is similar to that in the capital, but the area is larger.
Several people were immediately excited when they saw such an office.
They actually visited the Aimei Garment Factory last year. They were attracted by the job at that time, but they hesitated and struggled at that time. After being persuaded by their parents, they finally chose the stable job.
But is the "iron rice bowl" really still an iron rice bowl? Over the past six months or so, workers have been laid off one after another. The design department they work in is practically non-existent, and their leaders treat them like ignorant children, with no chance of advancement.
So when their old classmates contacted them during the Chinese New Year, they were really interested. They didn't hesitate anymore and came directly to see about the admission and job application.
Moreover, Shenzhen is a city that has been vigorously developed by the country in recent years, and it has developed rapidly in all aspects. It is not bad for them to come here.
"That's the situation," Qin Xiang explained. "Construction will begin soon after the machinery and personnel are in place. If you want to join us, I hope you can do so early so that we can design new models as soon as possible. Of course, I can't guarantee that all the new designs will be used. Your designs will be screened together with Fei Qing and the others."
Several people nodded hurriedly, "We understand this."
A short boy asked Qin Xiang shyly, "Director, I heard that designers have opportunities to study abroad. Do we have the same opportunities?"
"Yes, of course." Qin Xiang laughed. "The learning opportunities they're talking about are probably the chance to go to Hong Kong to study. After you join the company, I'll have someone take you there in batches when I have free time. But don't count on going to Hong Kong to learn. There are many domestic clothing brands that we can learn from. Look around and observe more. Not to mention other places, there are so many clothing factories and styles in Pengcheng now. Are you afraid that you can't learn? But I also want to remind you that we are creating original works, not high-quality imitations. Learning is about learning popular trends, not just slightly changing others' works and claiming them as your own. Do you understand?"
Several people nodded hurriedly, "We understand. We all graduated from universities in the capital, and we dare not bring shame to the school."
Qin Xiang laughed, "That's true. It's because of my trust in our school that I asked someone to lobby you."
After talking with a few people, they all went back. They had to go through the resignation procedures and then report back.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Mi Hongjun also came from the capital to take over as the temporary director of the factory and to form the leadership team. Not only that, Qin Xiang from Sucheng also had to go there.
I can only say goodbye to Meng Huaiqing.
Meng Huaiqing sighed, "I found that we have never been able to stay together for a month."
Qin Xiang was happy and opened his pocket. "How about you come in and I'll carry it wherever I go?"
Meng Huaiqing reached out and flicked her head, "You're so talkative."
He couldn't bear to leave her, so he hugged her and said, "Wait for me in the capital."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay."
This time she did not bring Zhao Ping with her. After all, Zhao Ping had to go back to his hometown to see his parents and get married, so she did not want to call him at this time. So Meng Huaiqing arranged for someone to accompany her to Hangzhou.
When we arrived in Hangzhou, Liu Xiaocao and He Liping both came.
Qin Xiang took them to meet with the leaders of several silk factories in Suzhou to discuss the acquisition.
I had discussed this with them before the New Year. Several factories were now at the end of their rope and could no longer hold on. But before the New Year, they still wanted to hold on a little longer and also wanted to manipulate Qin Xiang to raise the price so as not to cause more complaints from their superiors.
But during the Chinese New Year, workers in several factories had a riot, and several factory managers did not have a good New Year at all.
So now that Qin Xiang has arrived, they are like seeing a savior and want Qin Xiang to buy their factory.
They were anxious, but Qin Xiang was not. He took two assistants and bodyguards to visit each factory and also went to the production workshop to observe. Finally, he chose Sucheng No. 5 Silk Factory.
This silk factory wasn't large, with just over seventy workers and fewer than a hundred including management. Despite its small size, it had the most veteran workers of the four and was also the least disruptive.
After Qin Xiang made the decision, he consciously communicated with Director Hai about the future cooperation matters.
Director Hai also asked, "I wonder if it's possible to have a public-private partnership?"
Qin Xiang's face turned cold when she heard this. "Director Hai probably understands that if your company doesn't work out, there are other options. It's not that I have to choose from you. I value your factory mainly because of the experienced workers. But no matter how good the experienced workers are, I won't do a public-private partnership. If there's a problem, will it be considered public property or mine? What if the factory kicks me out if there's a dispute over etiquette? In short, I won't do anything that's thankless."
Upon hearing this, Director Hai knew there was no other way. "So, can all the people in the factory stay?"
Qin Xiang smiled. "Why do you think the factory has developed to this point? Is it because the workers' skills are not good enough?"
Factory Director Hai shook his head. "No, they are all experienced masters. Some of the workers' families have been making silk for generations."
"That's right, there's a problem with the leadership team," Qin Xiang said bluntly. "Of course, we can't deny that there are hardworking people in the current leadership team, so I will give everyone an equal job opportunity after the acquisition. Those who pass the assessment will stay and wait for new positions. Those who fail will be fired directly. Don't think that this job is a permanent one. That's when you're working for the government. When it becomes a private factory, it's a matter of mutual consent. If you don't do a good job, I won't support you."
Director Hai nodded hesitantly. "I understand, but I'm also worried the workers might cause trouble."
Qin Xiang smiled, "Then I'd like to ask Director Hai to issue a notice to the city in advance. It's up to them whether to go or stay. I'm not in a hurry anyway. At worst, I can slowly find other workers. In Suzhou and Hangzhou, silk craftsmen are the most abundant, right?"
After saying that, Qin Xiang followed Director Hai to the factory again. As a result, they were stopped by a group of workers.
The leader, wearing a Zhongshan suit and with his hair combed like a dog, blocked Qin Xiang's way with his men. "Director Hai, are you really going to sell the factory to this woman?"
Director Hai frowned, "Zhao Haibo, what are you doing? Don't lead people to cause trouble."
Zhao Haibo snorted, "You're going to sell everyone's house, so why don't you let us make trouble? Right?"
He raised his arm and called out, and the people who followed him responded one after another.
Qin Xiang looked at him calmly. She looked at Director Hai and asked, "Excuse me, Director Hai, who is this comrade..."
"This Zhao Haibo is the head of our publicity department." Director Hai spoke with great impatience and anger. "The factory can't continue to develop, and it's the city's opinion to transfer it away..."
"We won't listen to this. These people are only concerned about their own well-being and don't care about the lives of us workers. We won't accept this."
"If you're not satisfied, you can leave." Qin Xiang looked at Zhao Haibo and smiled. "Once the factory procedures are completed, the factory will be my private factory. If you're not satisfied, you can go to the city and ask why the city sold the factory. At the same time, I'm also notifying you in advance that my factory won't want someone like you. As for the rest of you..."
Qin Xiang looked at the workers behind him. Some of them should be workers in the workshop, and some should be cadre positions. The difference can be seen from their clothes.
She glanced around and said slowly, "You all know how your factory has developed. Although it is a private factory after I bought it, I also make a promise to everyone: those who truly love this job and work hard are welcome in my factory at any time. Salaries are paid monthly and there will be no delays. You can also ask relatives in the capital, or go to Xianglian Clothing Store in Suzhou to ask how I, Qin Xiang, pay them their wages and benefits. My standard has always been to give money instead of goods. You can buy whatever you want yourself."
Aside from Zhao Haibo, who was about to jump up and start a fight, the other workers listened quietly. They hadn't been paid in months, and several had already left the factory to work in private companies.
They are actually confused and worried, always feeling that private factories are unreliable and not as safe as public factories. But now that public factories can't pay wages and there is no work, these craftsmen are very panicked.
One worker asked cautiously, "Will you pay us our previous wages?"
Qin Xiang glanced at Director Hai, who explained, "After all, the factory is still publicly owned. After the factory is transferred, we will use the transfer fee to make up for your wages first."
Director Hai has been the director of the factory for many years. He also bears a great responsibility for the development of the factory to its current state, but times are changing and he cannot keep up with the times. The city has clearly stated that it wants to sell the factory or form a public-private partnership, so he can only do so.
"There are so many private factories now. You can go out and ask around to see if they're better than they are now." Director Hai bowed. "It's my fault that the factory is in this state. I feel so ashamed of you."
Seeing that everyone seemed to accept this possibility, Zhao Haibo panicked, "No, we don't agree."
A voice said, "What's the point of disagreeing? The country has already decided. As long as we get paid, who cares whether it's public or private?"
"That's right, that's right. My family is still waiting for food to be cooked. If we keep struggling, we won't even have food to eat. What else can I say?"
"Let's go, let's go, just wait for the salary to be paid."
The workers scattered, and Zhao Haibo became anxious, "Don't leave, don't leave."
Qin Xiang smiled and said to Director Hai, "Director Hai, we will go to handle the formalities tomorrow."
Glancing at Zhao Haibo, Qin Xiang said gently, "Comrade, you don't have to come to work after tomorrow. Go find a job in a factory you respect."
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