Chapter 34 p2
The following days were busy and fulfilling.
Lu Ze had tentatively set a fifteen-day plan to produce the first batch of clothing. The employees worked in three shifts, working overtime. And Lu Ze and the other leaders were busy with the distribution channels for these goods.
The people in the factory had originally thought that this time, it would be the same as before, and they would sell directly in the county, and at most, the neighboring counties would also be involved. But Lu Ze’s idea was that this batch of goods would be sold to the provincial capital first.
Everyone was shocked by his idea, but after thinking about it carefully, it was not without reason.
Lu Ze did not plan to make a low-end brand. If he wanted to do it and make money, he naturally had to make mid- to high-end products.
In this era, most people did not have much money, but there were definitely not a few rich people.
And when it came to the place with the most rich people, what place could compare to the provincial capital?
If a fashion trend was set off in the provincial capital, would they be afraid that it would not be popular in the cities and counties below?
As for how to open up the market in the provincial capital, their styles and quality were there, and they would naturally attract people’s attention. This was one thing. The second was their marketing methods.
As early as when the factory was rushing to work, Lu Ze had sent a few eloquent people with a small batch of products to the provincial capital to contact the many individual fashion stores there, and had released a limited number of new fashions. When the customers were full of surprise and were about to pay, they were told that the products were limited and had been sold out. If they wanted to buy them, they would have to wait for a while.
In other words, their products had not yet been shipped, but they had already caused a stir in the provincial capital.
When the people from the provincial capital came back, their batch of goods was almost ready. Before that group of people could rest for two days, they ran back again.
This time, it was with a full truck of clothes.
Some people saw the situation and steeled themselves to order a large batch at once. But some people were still worried about the sales and thought of testing the waters first.
The people in the factory were originally a little worried, but in the next few days, orders came in one after another. Looking at the boss who was sitting on top and had everything under control, they were amazed at his skillful methods and mentality.
The first battle after the factory changed its owner was fought very beautifully. Xu Qingyan and Accountant Li were keeping the accounts, and they were also shocked by the astronomical figures.
During this period, Lu Ze was busy with his own things, and Xu Qingyan was busy with his own.
Xu Qingyan was good at math, but although accounting was related to math, its scope was far wider than just math. Accountant Li was willing to teach, and Xu Qingyan naturally learned with great thirst. In just half a month, he had exhausted Accountant Li’s theoretical knowledge, and what he lacked now was just practical experience.
During this period, Lu Ze was basically at the factory every day, so the two of them could naturally meet. Sometimes it was at the factory, and sometimes it was in the cafeteria. But no matter where it was, as long as there were outsiders, Xu Qingyan had never taken the initiative to approach him, but just greeted him from a distance in the crowd. Except for the time when Lu Ze went back to the village once and brought some things for Xu Qingyan, the two of them had not seen each other much in private, and they were both busy with their own things.
Even except for Accountant Li, no one else knew that this seemingly inconspicuous little accountant had been introduced by the factory director.
Life was busy and fulfilling. His roommate was also easy to get along with. He wouldn’t say anything even if he studied until late at night, and he would still snore like thunder.
Xu Qingyan felt that during this period, his heart had slowly calmed down. Perhaps he had realized that time was precious, and his learning efficiency was also slowly improving. In addition, with the analogy of accounting-related knowledge, his perspective on problems had also unconsciously broadened, and the benefits to his studies were also obvious.
Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, it was the end of December, the day the factory paid its wages.
Xu Qingyan had come in the middle of the month and had worked for more than half a month, so he naturally had a share of the wages.
Seventeen yuan and thirty cents.
Regardless of whether it was a lot or a little, it was his first salary, and its meaning was extraordinary.
It just so happened that it was the weekend. Accountant Li told him that young people should go out more. He was such a handsome young man, but he was cooped up in his room all day and didn’t even know how to tidy himself up. He shouldn’t let his studies make his brain stupid.
These days, Xu Qingyan also knew that this Accountant Li was a good person, but sometimes he was a bit sharp-tongued. Hearing this, he didn’t mind and just thought about his words in his heart and touched his hair.
His hair had been a bit long for a while, but it was not convenient to get a haircut in the village, and he had been busy in the city during this period, so he hadn’t had time.
But it was indeed a bit long and affected his vision. He always had to be careful with it when he was working or studying. Now that he had gotten his salary, he could go out for a haircut and buy some things for his family by the way.
And Lu Ze…
Even if Xu Qingyan was usually frugal, he always wanted to spend some of his first salary.
Spend it on something meaningful.
.
He found the cheapest mobile stall for a haircut, which was fifty cents per person, much cheaper than in a barbershop. Xu Qingyan didn’t ask for a crew cut, but just asked the master to trim it and cut the hair that was originally over his ears short, revealing his ears and eyes, which made him look much neater and cleaner.
“Young man, you’re quite good-looking!”
The old master exclaimed in admiration. Xu Qingyan was a little embarrassed. He paid the money and continued to walk inside.
This was the most central street in the city, where the state-run department store and the state-run restaurant were located. On both sides of the road, you could also see the recently emerging private shops, including restaurants, bookstores, and clothing stores, as well as some fresh gadgets from the south, with a clear glass window through which you could clearly see the sparkling and exquisite little things inside.
Many girls couldn’t walk away after seeing them outside and pushed each other to go in.
Xu Qingyan was naturally not interested in these things. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he saw a girl in a white cotton dress coming out of the shop with a middle-aged woman. She was surprised when she saw him. “Classmate Xu Qingyan?”
The girl quickly came forward, a smile on her pretty face. “It really is you. I thought I had seen wrong.”
Xu Qingyan nodded at her politely. “I was just passing by. I didn’t expect to run into you, Classmate Chen.”
“Mengmeng, who is this?” The middle-aged woman behind her slowly came over, looked Xu Qingyan up and down, and asked.
Chen Meng held her mother’s arm. “Mom, this is the classmate I told you about before, Xu Qingyan, who was always first in our grade in junior high school.”
“Oh, it’s that classmate!” Chen’s mother was a little surprised, and her gaze on Xu Qingyan instantly carried a hint of pity. “His grades were so good. Why did he suddenly stop going to school?”
Hearing this, Xu Qingyan paused and didn’t say anything, just smiled at her politely.
Chen Meng was a little embarrassed and pulled her mother’s arm. “Mom, what are you talking about?”
She looked at Xu Qingyan and asked enthusiastically, “By the way, we haven’t seen each other for so many years. How have you been recently?”
Xu Qingyan said, “I’m doing well.”
Chen Meng said, “The classmates haven’t heard from you at all, and they don’t know what you’ve been up to recently.”
Xu Qingyan didn’t want to talk to them anymore and just said casually, “I’m not doing much. I just found a job and am taking care of my family.”
“What kind of job?” Chen Meng seemed very curious.
Xu Qingyan paused and said casually, “A clothing factory. There’s nothing much to say.”
Chen Meng thought he was talking about a clothing factory worker, but Chen’s mother’s eyes lit up when she heard this. “Is it the newly opened Rongze Clothing Factory?”
Xu Qingyan hesitated and didn’t nod.
Chen’s mother’s attitude instantly became warm. “Aiya, you’re from that factory. Your factory’s clothes have been selling like hotcakes recently. They’ve even been sold to the provincial capital! I can’t even buy them.”
“If you work at that factory, is there any internal channel to help me buy a piece of clothing? I’ll give you the money!”
Xu Qingyan didn’t expect their factory to be so popular now, and he didn’t expect that in just a few words, this Aunt Chen would have her eyes on him.
His brows furrowed imperceptibly. He was about to say that he was not from Rongze to avoid any further trouble. But before he could open his mouth, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder from behind. Before Xu Qingyan could react, a steady and familiar voice sounded in his ear:
“You two ladies may not know, but the source and destination of our factory’s clothes must be registered in detail. Even the employees of the factory cannot take them out casually.” Lu Ze smiled slightly, and his tone changed. “Thank you for your love for our products, but in two days, our products should be on sale in the city. If you are interested, you can pay attention.”
Chen’s mother was a little unhappy at first, but her expression softened a little after hearing Lu Ze’s words. She asked, “Are you the owner of the factory? Is what you said true?”
Lu Ze said, “I am indeed the owner. When the products are on the market, please support us.”
Chen’s mother was at a loss for words. Chen Meng was already embarrassed by her mother’s presumptuous behavior, and at this moment, she couldn’t help but pull her hand and, after a few more forced pleasantries with Xu Qingyan, she left.
It wasn’t until the figures of the mother and daughter had disappeared that Lu Ze looked down at Xu Qingyan.
He had been eating with people from the textile factory in the restaurant next door and had happened to see Xu Qingyan talking to a young girl. He didn’t know what he was thinking, but he had just walked over.
The street was bustling with people, and the atmosphere between the two was a bit strange. Xu Qingyan thought that Lu Ze was unhappy and called out to him in a low and apprehensive voice, “Lu-ge.”
Lu Ze let out a casual “hmm” and just looked at him. Only then did he realize that he was different from before.
The young man’s hair was a little shorter, and he looked a little neater and more energetic than usual. His soft and appropriate features were also more clearly revealed, and his eyes were clear and clean. He did look like he would be popular with the young girls.
Lu Ze slowly asked, “Did you get a haircut?”
Hearing this, Xu Qingyan subconsciously touched his head and said, “My hair was too long before and was always in the way. I took the opportunity to get it cut today since I had time.”
Lu Ze slowly nodded. He met the young man’s black and bright eyes, and his emotions were unclear for a moment.
He raised his hand to rub his temples, but his gaze suddenly paused when it swept past a certain place.
Lu Ze blinked his somewhat sore eyes. After seeing that place clearly, he was completely stunned.
On the young man’s round earlobe, that small black mole looked particularly obvious, and particularly familiar.
