Chapter 131
As soon as the food arrived, Aunt Cuiyun took her first bite and said, "I have to tell their chef that there's no salt in this dish."
Li Jingdang smiled and said, "The food here is light. It's okay. I have pickles with me." He opened his shoulder bag and took out a lunch box. When he opened it, there were several pieces of chopped pickles inside. He gave one piece to each of them.
Liu Cuiyun took it and took a bite. This was the familiar feeling.
While eating, Li Jingdang briefly recounted the purpose of his meeting. Finally, he said, "The same product has different prices in different countries, and there's a standard range for price fluctuations. I've handwritten a copy, and Section Chief Zhou will take it back to review it later. There are also relevant foreign affairs disciplinary regulations, and Aunt Cuiyun needs to study them as well."
"If the order is really signed, contact the sales representative on site to draft the contract..."
Zhou Jiani and the others listened attentively.
After dinner and the meeting, Li Jingdang introduced them to nearby attractions and said, "Let's go shopping today. Tomorrow we'll complete the registration process and then take you to see our booth."
Zhou Jiani asked, "Is there anyone near the venue who can take photos? Remember to take a group photo as a souvenir. This is a microcosm of the development of our knitting factory. Records like this should be preserved."
Li Jingdang nodded: "Yes, I'll take two pictures when I go there tomorrow."
After dinner, I made two phone calls, one to the village and the other to the Second Spinning Mill.
Back in the village, Qiu Zeming answered the phone and briefly asked about the road conditions and accommodations. Before he could chat for a moment, Uncle Sheng eagerly approached. He took a breath and asked, "Is Aunt Cuiyun with you? Uncle Sheng is thinking about her."
"Yes, I'll let my aunt answer the phone."
Uncle Sheng's face flushed, and he took the microphone and shouted, "Cuiyun, cooperate with everyone's work, and don't worry about the family..."
Liu Cuiyun said angrily, "What are you yelling about? Don't talk, let me say a few words. I'm telling you... don't just let Tingting and her brother play after school. Make sure they do their homework first, and let them wash their own clothes. While you're cooking..."
After giving a lot of instructions, Bai Haoyang took over and said a few words to Qiu Zeming.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Jiani made another call to the Second Spinning Factory.
Liu Qin answered the phone at the Second Spinning Mill and said with a smile, "Nini, your mom told me you went to the Canton Fair? Oh my, how can you be so capable?"
When I received the first call from Huifang's daughter, who could have thought that this child would achieve such great success? She has been helping the villagers sell vegetables and baskets step by step, and has led the village to develop to this day. She was even featured in the newspaper just after the Chinese New Year. Two days ago, I heard from Huifang that Nini's article was featured in the newspaper again. This daughter of Huifang's family has brought her such honor.
Zhou Jiani smiled sheepishly and said, "It's mainly because the craftsmen in our village are skilled and their weaving is easy to sell." She smiled again and said, "Aunt Liu, please tell my mother that we have settled down and everything is going well, so that my mother doesn't have to worry."
Liu Qin's laughter came through the microphone, and her hearty voice said, "I know, I know. Please be careful outside. Next time you have time, tell us what the Canton Fair is like."
"Okay, Aunt Liu."
After hanging up the phone, a few of them took a car to the local zoo for a tour.
Zhou Jiani took note of the surrounding topographic map along the way.
The rules have been set and must be followed. You cannot act alone. My plan to visit the black market here has failed, so I will just use the tickets I have and go shopping in the mall here.
On the way back, I discussed with Aunt Cuiyun that we would go shopping for clothes after visiting the venue tomorrow.
Liu Cuiyun said, "Okay, since I'm out for a while, I have to buy some things for your Uncle Sheng and the two debt collectors at home." She also bought some cheap little things for her nieces and nephews from her husband's family and her own family.
Bai Haoyang said: "Add me, I'll go too..."
Li Jingdang smiled and said, "Don't go. Let's stay at the guesthouse and wait for news. We have to go set up the booth when we get the notice."
Bai Haoyang scratched his head: "Okay then."
After a short stroll, they returned to the dormitory. When they were almost at the door, Zhou Jiani heard Aunt Cuiyun mutter "Ouch!" and couldn't help but laugh, "Just get over it. We'll leave when we're done."
Liu Cuiyun smiled embarrassedly. She felt suffocated when she thought about going back to the house.
The remaining few people came back and everyone got to know each other and exchanged greetings.
Gu Ying from Hai City Bicycle Factory; Sun Feifei and Xu Mingzhu from Gan Province Porcelain Factory and Meng Yan from Zhejiang Province Silk Factory.
Zhou Jiani and her team were surprised to learn that their business was a village-run enterprise.
Meng Yan borrowed Zhou Jiani's handbag, slinging it over her shoulder as she stared into a round mirror. "It's beautiful," she said. "Why are you only carrying samples and not the actual product?"
Wu Min from the yarn and hosiery factory also said: "I said this morning that if they bring their products here, they will definitely sell out. I think many of the exhibitors will like them."
Lin Xia also took it and hung it over her shoulder to take a picture. She said, "It's really beautiful. I also like that suitcase. It's beautiful and sturdy."
Zhou Jiani took out a notebook and pen and said with a smile, "It's fate that we can meet here. I'll leave you my address and phone number. If you want anything, you can write to me. Even if you don't want the goods, you are welcome to write to me. Just consider it as making friends."
Meng Yan responded enthusiastically, "Then I'll leave one too. Everyone is welcome to write to me."
Lin Xia raised her hand and said, "I want to stay too, I want to stay too..."
Except for Liu Cuiyun who is an aunt, the age difference between the others is not big. The oldest is five years older than Zhou Jiani. They are at the age of blooming flowers. They find new friends fresh and interesting, and they leave their addresses and phone numbers with each other.
Zhou Jiani still had a few unsold hair ties in her hands. She used her suitcase as a cover, took out a few hair ties and gave each person a small gift.
It's a good opportunity to borrow Aunt Cuiyun's eyes to see what she said before in the village about using money to build relationships when going out.
Aunt Cuiyun was truly touched. Seeing Zhou Jiani give away nine hair ties, her heart ached. These hair ties were of novel styles, the kind she couldn't learn to make. According to previous market conditions, when Jiani promoted these hair ties, they were sold at a few cents more than the regular styles. She just gave them away like that.
Liu Cuiyun was only casually involved in making hair bands, but later the matter was ruined by a few gossipers. She also felt sorry for Comrade Xiao Zhou and cursed those gossipers behind his back.
Now I see Comrade Xiao Zhou giving away so many hair bands, and I think I must tell other people about it when I get back to the village.
Everyone thinks Xiao Zhou is just helping to sell the product, but they don't see that he built it himself. Regardless of who he got the product from, he's still paying for it, so he should definitely pay them, right? It's possible that Xiao Zhou paid for it himself.
Qu Aihong took off the rubber band on her head and replaced it with a hair tie. She looked in the mirror and said, "Emma, this hair is so beautiful. Thank you, Comrade Zhou."
Lin Xia had short hair and couldn't wear it, but she loved it very much and said, "Thank you, Comrade Zhou. I'll give it to my sister when I get home."
Others also thanked me, tried them on, and loved them very much.
The room was suddenly extremely noisy.
Gu Ying also asked, "Comrade Zhou, is this also made by your local factory?"
She really liked this flower. She also looked at the one Zhou Jiani wore on her head. It was simpler than the one she gave herself, but also very beautiful.
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "There is no factory that makes hair bands. We locals make them ourselves."
"You local folks are really skilled."
Everyone also gave gifts in return, most of which were snacks. Lin Xia gave Zhou Jiani a new notebook.
Liu Cuiyun also benefited from it. She sat there eating fried peanuts. She opened her mouth several times, wanting to say that Jiani took out the hairband to help her fellow villager sell it, but Zhou Jiani shook her head slightly at her.
Giving each other gifts is a way to build relationships, just in case you need them someday.
I was worried that if Aunt Cuiyun said something, people would decide whether to accept it or not, and whether to pay or not. It would be bad if it became a forced sale.
Just then, when Zhou Jiani went out to the restroom, Meng Yan followed her out and secretly slipped her a small silk handkerchief, whispering, "Comrade Zhou, thank you for the hair ornament. I really like it. I'll give you a small handkerchief produced in our factory. I won't give any to anyone else..."
They came out with samples, but they couldn't give them to everyone - the exhibition hadn't even started yet.
Zhou Jiani also winked at her, stuffed the money into her pocket, and whispered, "Thank you. I won't be polite with you. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
With their little secret, the relationship between the two instantly became close. Meng Yan took her arm and said, "You speak Mandarin very well. I can't. My accent is quite serious."
Moreover, Comrade Zhou is very beautiful and speaks and acts in a graceful manner, so she likes her very much.
The only thing Liu Cuiyun could find in common with her roommates was knitting sweaters.
Surprisingly, she was not the only one who brought wool to kill time. After dinner, at least three girls in the room sat on the lower bunk, took out their unfinished scarves, sweaters, etc., and started a new conversation.
The girls around were chattering, and Liu Cuiyun had no time to think about home. She joined the chat group while knitting.
Zhou Jiani wanted to deepen her impression and completely integrate into the circle of friends, so she chatted with Meng Yan in a low voice to learn about the current development of silk fabrics and embroidery products.
She said, "I've seen many products from the Hangzhou Silk Factory at the Qiyang Friendship Store before. They're really beautiful, but unfortunately I don't have foreign exchange coupons, so I can't buy them."
Xu Mingzhu subconsciously asked, "Then how did you get into the Friendship Store?" Then she raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, "Your products are also sold in the Friendship Store?"
Others also looked over curiously.
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Our factory also produces a series of storage stools. This product sells very well in the Friendship Store. I went in to see it when we first discussed cooperation and later when it was delivered. I could only feast my eyes on it."
The girls present didn't even get to enjoy this visual feast. They were busy with their work while asking curious questions. Zhou Jiani also talked as much as possible, and everyone was still reluctant to leave until bedtime.
The next day, everyone in the dormitory took the same route to register, visit the venue and booths.
But once we entered the door, everyone went their separate ways and went about their business.
Li Jingdang took them to complete the registration, get the certificate to enter the venue, and go to see their booth.
Walking into the venue, Liu Cuiyun couldn't help but exclaimed, "Oh my god, this is so big!"
Li Jingdang led them around a few corners, and Liu Cuiyun couldn't tell east from west. Bai Haoyang warned her alone, "Aunt, you must remember this. Don't wander off on your own. If you get separated from us, stay where you are. We will definitely come back to find you."
Liu Cuiyun nodded repeatedly.
Li Jingdang was talking to Zhou Jiani, "Thanks to the light from the other handicraft booths, our location isn't too far off the beaten path. But since we're only exhibiting and not selling, the space allocated to us isn't very large. So, we can't put all our samples in. I'm thinking of pulling a rope from above and hanging some of them..."
Zhou Jiani nodded, she had already seen their booth.
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