Chapter 77
Director Zhai had never seen the Qianjin Brigade's new product. Little Li had mentioned it briefly the other day, but since he'd never seen it in person, he hadn't paid much attention. But now, upon hearing that it was going to be available as samples at the Friendship Store, he stood up, microphone in hand, and said with a hint of excitement, "Comrade Zhou, has this been confirmed?"
"I'm absolutely sure. I just finished talking to Director Zou from the Friendship Store and took a photo with him. The photos will be developed in a few days. Even if I don't go back in person, I will send them back first."
Director Zhai took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I'll have Xiao Zhao notify them right away!"
After hanging up, he called his secretary, Zhao Hongchang, and said, "Put down your work immediately and go to the Qianjin Brigade to invite Captain Zhang, Deputy Director Li, and..." Director Zhai was stunned and turned to look at the hung phone. "Who is the Fourth Uncle?"
Who in the commune knows who the Fourth Uncle is?
Zhai Xiangqiang smiled and shook his head, and asked Zhao Hongchang to convey the message verbatim that the people in the Qianjin Brigade must know who the Fourth Uncle was.
As soon as Zhao Hongchang left, Zhai Xiangqiang picked up the phone and made a call, personally urging the installation of telephones for the Qianjin Brigade.
After receiving the notice, Zhang Baosheng did not dare to delay at all. He hurried to the processing workshop and called Zhang Laosi and went to the commune. He also brought a brand new sample. Director Zhai wanted to see what the so-called storage stool looked like.
Deputy Director Li is out looking for materials and is not with the team, and this decision can be made without him.
After arriving at the commune, I called back according to the message Zhou Jiani left.
Zhang Baosheng asked cautiously, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, were you talking to the director about the Friendship Store?"
When he heard what Secretary Zhao said, he was worried that the people in the commune might have misheard, or that Zhou Jiani had a strange accent, causing the person who answered the phone to misunderstand.
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Yes, we'll produce samples and provide them to the Friendship Store for free. We'll also make one or two sets of samples and store them in the First Department Store warehouse. If customers at the Friendship Store are interested in purchasing, they can pick them up directly from the First Department Store."
Zhang Baosheng clutched his chest, his tone unable to conceal his excitement as he confirmed again: "Is it the Friendship Store that only accepts foreigners?"
He was worried what if it was a homophonic name of a supply and marketing cooperative with the same name?
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Yes, yes, it's the Friendship Store that specializes in catering to foreigners. However, the styles need to be more diverse, and some colorful decorations should be added. I'll draw up the design and let Fourth Master and the others study it..."
Zhang Baosheng even forgot to breathe. He was even more excited than when he first heard that their basket entered the department store!
That’s the Friendship Store!
"Okay, okay, okay, Comrade Xiao Zhou, you are the great benefactor of our Qianjin Brigade." Zhang Baosheng's eyes turned red with excitement. He raised his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes, his voice slightly choked.
Zhang Laosi, who was standing next to him, listened closely and his eyes became red.
It has been sold to the Friendship Stores. Does that mean that the things he made may be sold abroad in the future?
Oh my god, he may not be able to go abroad in his lifetime, but the things he compiled now have the opportunity to go abroad.
There is smoke coming out of the grave of Zhang family’s ancestor!
After hanging up the phone, Director Zhai was still looking at the storage stool. He sat on it to try it out, pointed at the lid, and said, "It would be best if you could add a cushion."
Zhang Baosheng was so excited that he wiped his eyes and sniffed before saying, "Yes, the two samples that Comrade Xiao Zhou brought to the provincial capital had seat covers added. We asked a female comrade from our village to make them, and they look pretty good."
Zhai Xiangqiang walked over and patted Zhang Baosheng on the shoulder, saying with emotion, "The educated youth comrades have paved the way for you. This opportunity is not easy to come by. You must work hard and don't let their hard work go to waste, and don't let down the organization's trust in you."
Zhang Baosheng nodded. "Don't worry, Director. I won't let you down!" He added, "Comrade Xiao Zhou said that the First Department Store wants to sign a formal contract with us, and we need a certificate from the commune."
Zhai Xiangqiang glared and said unhappily, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, why didn't you tell me just now that I should have had some fun earlier?"
Zhang Baosheng and the other person were happy. Comrade Xiao Zhou was still more inclined towards the people in their forward brigade. If he hadn't been afraid that the commune would not take the notice seriously, he probably wouldn't have been the first to share the good news with Director Zhai.
The two of them came out carrying the stool and sealed it tightly on the back seat of the bicycle. They rode back in silence. Their hearts felt swollen and heavy, and they felt that the burden on their shoulders had suddenly become a lot heavier, but they were happy to accept it.
Especially Zhang Baosheng, he read the newspapers that Zhou Jiani gave him that day. After reading the newspapers, he realized that those things woven with twigs and branches could also generate foreign exchange for the country.
At that time, he sighed and thought to himself that he wondered if he would be able to see the things of their Forward Brigade being selected for import and export before he closed his eyes in this life. Unexpectedly, Comrade Xiao Zhou walked into the Friendship Store with a storage stool.
Even if no foreigners buy it, it's still an honor. In the future, we can go out and tell people that the things they made with the Qianjin Brigade are now sold in the Friendship Store!
To outsiders, the two men's excited and silent expressions looked like...sadness.
When a few members saw this, they felt a little worried, but they didn't dare to come forward to ask. After watching the two people pass by, they began to speculate and murmur.
"Why do the Captain and the Fourth Master look like that? What happened?"
"Could it be... that the factory in our village went bankrupt?"
"That's impossible? We just had a great time a few days ago, and now it's not possible anymore?"
"Don't think that way. What if the cooperation with the department store fails?"
The more unique speculation made everyone around shut up and look over. Several people opened their mouths to curse but didn't know how to start.
I wondered if the provincial orders were gone, would the factory still be able to operate? Wouldn't it be the same as the factory going bankrupt?
Someone whose family hadn't been able to get into the processing plant, or get any of the benefits from the vegetable business, curled their lips and said, "How could those city people be so ignorant and interested in our village baskets? They must have been unable to sell them and no longer wanted our goods. I tell you I shouldn't have been so cocky that day, but now you've gone too far, haven't you? Look at the factory director and the director back then, and now they're playing ball. Expect the other team to laugh at you."
"Yue Qiulian, stop talking nonsense! The team hasn't even notified you yet, why are you making wild guesses?" Zhao Xiulan from the village said unhappily, then went on to say to the others, "Everyone, stop speculating here. Wait for the village to notify you if anything happens."
"Isn't it obvious?" Yue Qiulian said with a vicious look on her face, "I tell you it's all that female educated youth's fault. If those baskets can't be sold, it's all her fault."
Now several aunts and sisters were unhappy and pointed at her and scolded her, causing Yue Qiulian to flee in panic.
Zhao Xiulan said unhappily, "She's jealous because she saw her sister-in-law working as a quality inspector in a processing workshop."
An old lady spat and said, "She's just a person who can't get enough of taking advantage of others. As soon as Kaishan was diagnosed with an illness, she instigated her mother-in-law and her husband to separate from her brother-in-law's family. She also bullied Zhang Kaishan because he was in poor health and had no sons, and drove him back to the old house. She is really a piece of shit."
"She can't stand seeing her sister-in-law doing well!"
Spitting at Yue Qiulian didn't make anyone feel better. Everyone looked worried. Although they stopped guessing, they were still worried about problems with the village's side businesses.
However, the village cadres did not call a meeting, so they didn't dare to ask. They sighed and went back to work.
But the news spread like wildfire in the village.
But within an hour or two, even words like "that female educated youth was kicked out of the department store along with her basket" were heard.
He also described it as: "You haven't seen the expressions of Zhang Baosheng and Zhang Laosi, they are almost like the faces of dead people."
Everyone in the processing workshop was busy in full swing. As soon as the "dead-faced" Zhang Laosi came in, he quickly summoned several main forces with their bags full of grain to come into the house for a meeting.
The inner room is Li Jingdang's dormitory, and the hall is where everyone drinks water or discusses issues.
Zhang Laosi closed the door and solemnly announced the matter in a voice that was slightly choked with sobs, saying, "Brothers, if this is done well, we will be proud to face our ancestors in the future."
Several craftsmen were also stunned. After filling their bowls with grain, they asked uncertainly, "Is this true?"
"It's accurate, how could it not be?" Shengmanliang stroked the stem of his pipe, sniffing to satisfy his craving. "Comrade Xiao Zhou called me personally and said she's drawn up new blueprints for the Friendship Store, saying she's going to make four different styles, and they need to be colored. We'll have a meeting to discuss the details when Comrade Xiao Zhou gets back. I'm thinking that before Comrade Xiao Zhou comes back, we can all make the materials for these storage stools ourselves and get the preparatory work done. Then, when we get the blueprints, we'll work together to come up with a new style, striving to make it beautiful and bring honor to our Forward Brigade!"
The few people who were filling their bags with grain became excited, slapped their thighs, and said repeatedly: "If the things we sell can really be sold in the Friendship Store, I will burn more paper for my ancestors during the New Year."
Liu Zhaoye chuckled and said, "Don't even mention a few cuts, even a dozen cuts will do."
"Don't make a fuss about it yet. Wait until Comrade Xiao Zhou comes back and settle this matter thoroughly." Zhang Laosi supported himself on his knees, stood up, and smiled. "Let's put aside the other work on hand for today and finish weaving the samples of the baskets Comrade Xiao Zhou requested. We'll try to send them out tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
Elsewhere, Zhang Baosheng found Qiu Zeming at the experimental field. He lit his pipe and took a few puffs before calming himself down and telling him about Comrade Xiao Zhou's heroic feat. Looking at Qiu Zeming's handsome young face, he grinned and said, "It must be the spirit of our ancestors who arranged for you and Comrade Xiao Zhou to join our team."
Qiu Zeming: ...There's no need to say it so coolly!
However, Comrade Xiao Zhou has achieved results again, so he should also work harder.
Zhang Baosheng came over mainly to ask him to help contact the transport team and ask if there were any vehicles going to the province the next day or the day after tomorrow, and to help bring a few stools over.
This was the order Comrade Xiao Zhou placed before going to the provincial capital. He said he would send it to her once it was finished.
Qiu Zeming took the bicycle from Zhang Baosheng and rode to the town to make a phone call.
How quickly did the rumor spread? Everyone working on the mountain getting materials heard about it.
Liu Ailing listened to a fellow villager speaking with great confidence and certainty, and she felt a subtle sense of relief in her heart.
She said that all the credit cannot be attributed to her, Zhou Jiani. She has been so popular recently, and it is time for God to curb her arrogance.
It's just that things were so busy a while ago, even cadres were appointed, and the villagers wanted to worship her. Now she has been put in this situation, and I don't know how Zhou Jiani is going to resolve it.
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