Chapter 8: I'm Saving Fabric for the Country!
****
The Jindu Restaurant wasn't far from the residential complex.
Tang Ye and Gu Wenqin walked side by side.
After a few steps, a fine, misty rain began to fall.
Her dress, as thin as light gauze, clung to her skin, but Gu Wenqin seemed unaware.
The cool, damp air brushed against his face, slightly sobering Tang Ye up.
Gu Wenqin suddenly asked, "Town Chief Tang, did you draw the product design sketches in the proposal yourself?"
Tang Ye answered truthfully, "I copied the styles from new products in VOGUE magazine and made quite a few changes! Is there something wrong with them?"
Gu Wenqin shook her head and smiled charmingly, with a hint of contemplation.
"Not for now! I just didn't expect you to understand women better than a woman does."
Tang Ye slowed his pace and said self-deprecatingly, "You don't think I'm a pervert, do you?"
Gu Wenqin covered her mouth with her slender, onion-like fingers and let out a light laugh.
"Town Chief Tang, don't think of me as so shallow! I've looked it over several times. You've put a lot of hard work into it. Of course... the ideas, well, they are indeed a bit bold."
After the millennium, female consumer power had been gradually increasing.
Products like cosmetics and women's clothing were blossoming everywhere.
However, because women's underwear involved privacy and was constrained by the national culture, it had not received widespread attention.
Tang Ye explained patiently, "I was mainly considering production costs and profits. Women's underwear uses less fabric. As long as the design is beautiful and the quality is reliable, the profit margin is very large."
A flush appeared on Gu Wenqin's face.
Discussing this topic with a young man in the middle of the night, under a curtain of rain, the scene before her and the atmosphere around them took on a warmer, reddish hue.
"Will it be difficult to promote?"
Tang Ye smiled freely.
"The fact that there are difficulties and barriers is precisely Qinge's opportunity! It won't be easily imitated. We can make a few products first to test the waters. Once we have experience and have identified the market direction, we can then fully transition..."
"Why did you choose Qinge? Boman has a better foundation."
"Because Boman can survive just fine without transforming, but Qinge is different."
"So it's because you were afraid I would go bankrupt!" Gu Wenqin said self-deprecatingly.
"It's because I hope you all will have a better life," Tang Ye said with extreme seriousness.
"I'd like to find some time to visit Qinge's factory and see it for myself."
"We welcome the leader's guidance! Shall we set a time?"
"How about after work tomorrow!"
Tang Ye stopped walking and said goodbye to Gu Wenqin under the dim yellow streetlight.
From the second floor, Gu Wenqin watched Tang Ye's tall figure gradually disappear, her heart pounding.
After her husband passed away, the garment factory's profits had plummeted, and she had been propping it up all by herself, struggling to keep it running.
Now, someone was finally willing to step forward and discuss with her what could be done in the future and what she should do.
Although she couldn't see the direction clearly, at least someone was willing to help her share the burden.
Tang Ye's "earnest and well-meaning advice" seemed to still be ringing in her ears—
"People's mindsets are changing, the social climate is changing, and most of the money is controlled by women. Women's purchasing power is particularly strong."
"Especially the women's underwear market, it's a very promising track. It's a necessity for half the population, so the market will always be there."
"For other clothes, customers will complain if the cost-cutting means skimping on materials, but for this product, the less material used, the more popular it might be. Customers are all crying out to be liberated from constraints, to free themselves, to pursue lightness and portability. Isn't there a saying, 'I'm flat-chested and I'm proud, I'm saving fabric for the country!'"
"Plus, with a little bit of technological wizardry, like push-up, shaping, and 'fun' elements, the profit could reach three hundred percent!"
***
After returning home, Tang Ye opened his laptop and pulled up a document titled "The Underwear Capital of the World."
His vision was not as simple as just creating one underwear company.
The proposal he gave to Gu Wenqin was only a small piece of it.
Only by first creating a template and a benchmark could he drive the entire industry sector.
Just as he was about to shut down the computer, his QQ icon started flashing incessantly.
Cheng Lin had sent a message.
"How are you adapting to your new post?"
Tang Ye hadn't expected Cheng Lin to take the initiative to message him so late at night.
He quickly tapped on the keyboard.
"Physically, I've adapted, but mentally, it's hard to accept. I really miss my old colleagues and those old leaders. Every time I miss you all, I take out the group photo from our trip to Yancheng and look at it for a long time."
A group photo appeared in the chat window.
Cheng Lin had just finished her shower, her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing black-framed glasses, a soft smile on her lips.
She found herself in the first row on the right.
Tang Ye was standing in the third row, confident, sunny, and imposing.
"A bunch of heads squeezed into a matchbox, can you even see clearly?"
"Hey, it's like a starving man cracking sunflower seeds—it's just to satisfy a craving! Or, maybe you could send me a high-definition photo of just you, Sister?"
"Pah! In your dreams!"
Humor is a man's best cosmetic.
Every time she chatted with Tang Ye, her mood would relax.
"Since you were transferred, many of the old comrades are having a hard time adapting."
Tang Ye chuckled, pondering for a long moment before replying, "The Bureau for Retired Cadres isn't lacking for people to run errands. There are plenty of people more capable than me. Of course, if you need anything, call me anytime. I'm always reliable!"
Cheng Lin replied quickly, "What the old comrades lack is emotional companionship. There really aren't many who are as good at talking and coaxing people as you are."
Tang Ye was stunned for a moment, then promised, "I didn't realize I was so important. When I get back to the city, I'll definitely visit them. And by the way, I'll introduce you to that old Chinese medicine doctor to treat the acne on your face!"
Cheng Lin couldn't help but smile.
"You still remember that? It's gotten much better recently, no need to trouble you."
Tang Ye didn't insist.
"Much better just means it's not completely gone. How can we use the word 'trouble' between us? That's too formal!"
"Alright then, we'll talk when you get back to the city."
They each sent an emoji and said good night.
Staring at the now-grayed offline avatar, Cheng Lin was lost in a daze.
Tang Ye had changed a lot, especially after he risked his life to save Hong Ruilin.
It was as if he had become a different person.
When he spoke and chatted with her, it wasn't with the same reverence and respect as before.
Sometimes he would joke, sometimes he would be distant, and sometimes he would vanish off the face of the earth!
Although she knew it was related to the change in Tang Ye's post, she still couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
The "little brother" who used to always be by her side, asking if she was warm or cold, had now become distant, and she felt a sense of listlessness.
Could it be that his past attentiveness towards her was only because she was his superior?
Although she had always treated him as a colleague, there were occasional times when she also saw him as someone she could confide in.
Habits are truly a terrible thing.
They're like a smoking addiction; withdrawal is especially difficult.
In his new environment, he would have new colleagues and would probably meet young girls too.
The patter of rain tapped against the clear glass, making a crisp, rhythmic sound.
She was suddenly startled to realize that she was being overly sentimental.
***
The next day, Tang Ye went to the county government to attend a meeting.
In the spacious conference room, twenty to thirty people sat around a large round table.
The theme of today's meeting was the "Quarterly Economic Situation Analysis Meeting."
Tang Ye had done his homework thoroughly.
He summarized and reported on Pinghu Town's economic situation for the first quarter and made an assessment for the second quarter.
His speech was appropriate, and he made no mistakes.
It was just that Pinghu Town was at the bottom of the list, with an extremely low presence.
This dealt a "critical blow" to Tang Ye's self-esteem!
The day slipped by just like that.
By the time he returned to Pinghu Town, it was already nine o'clock at night.
Tang Ye hurried to Qinge Garment Factory.
Although it was late, there were still people working overtime at the factory.
The gatekeeper was an old man with graying hair.
He stopped Tang Ye and only let him in after Gu Wenqin came to the gate.
Tang Ye hadn't walked more than a few steps before he turned and glanced at the guardhouse.
"The factory isn't big, but the management is very strict. You can tell just from the quality of the gatekeeper!"
Gu Wenqin explained seriously, "Don't be fooled by Elder Lin's bad leg. If it came to a fight, two of you might not be his match."
"You're underestimating me. The young have the advantage in a fight. I'm no pushover either," Tang Ye said, rolling up his sleeve and patting his bicep.
Gu Wenqin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't take it so seriously."
Tang Ye realized it was inappropriate to be competitive with the old man, laughed heartily, and said self-deprecatingly, "Look at this damn competitive streak of mine!"
Tang Ye had checked Qinge's records.
The factory employed several disabled people, one of whom was surnamed Lin.
He had had a brief exchange with him just now and had a faint feeling that Elder Lin was indeed not an ordinary person.
The factory's grounds were not small, with three rows of two-story buildings and a lot of greenery planted.
Upon entering the workshop, he saw an island-style layout.
At more than a dozen workstations, female workers wearing white hats were concentrating on their sewing machines, which made a rhythmic da-da-da sound.
The sewn clothes were already semi-finished products, piled up in a corner like a small mountain.
Next, the clothes would be sent to the ironing workshop, where steam and high heat would be used to process the uneven parts of the garments.
It was the night shift, so there weren't many workers in the factory.
"My father founded this factory. Our employees are quite stable; many have worked here their whole lives. When I first took over, I felt it was a burden and wanted to wash my hands of it. But people have feelings. If I quit and handed the factory over to someone else, the equipment might be left behind, but some of the people would be laid off."
"Only when the boss is loyal and righteous will the employees stay and never leave," Tang Ye said with a slight smile.
"Don't give up. The factory will get better and better under your leadership."
"I don't have great ambitions."
"There's no need for us to be so secretive. I don't believe you don't want to be a rich lady!"
Gu Wenqin secretly glanced at Tang Ye and couldn't be bothered to argue.
"Alright, alright, I really want to be a rich lady, okay?"
The two of them left the garment workshop.
The dim yellow light stretched their shadows long and slanted.
Meow! A piercing cat's cry attracted their attention.
They followed the sound.
A dark figure was straddling the top of the wall.
Two people below were handing up an oversized bag.
The person on the wall was transferring the bag to the other side of the wall.
"Who are you!"
"We've been discovered!"
"Run!"
"Damn it, give me a hand!"
Gu Wenqin's heart leaped in alarm.
That was the warehouse over there.
If the goods were lost, how would she explain it?
Before she could react, Tang Ye shot out like an arrow...
The thief on the wall felt a cold draft on his rear end.
"Ah... my pants..."
****
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