Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 96: Heading to the Provincial Capital
Shen Que returned to the hospital.
After returning to the hospital, he unexpectedly requested Director Lian to give him a check-up.
Shen Que’s words immediately startled Director Lian, turning his face pale!
"What’s wrong? Heart discomfort?"
"It can’t be, right? I remember all the shrapnel was removed. Did I miss something?"
Amidst Director Lian’s self-doubt, Shen Que was pushed to undergo a series of examinations.
*
On the other side, Jiang Cheng returned to the hotel, but the group of foreigners hadn’t gotten up yet.
However, Director Leng and others were up, and Jiang Cheng asked Director Leng for leave, saying she needed to go out to make a call.
Director Leng said, "There’s a phone right here."
Jiang Cheng, of course, knew there was a phone here, she just didn’t want others to hear what she had to say.
"That won’t do, how can I take advantage of the state! I’ll go to the post office to make a call and pay whatever it costs."
Jiang Cheng spoke with righteous indignation, but Director Leng believed her only to a limited extent.
Still, he did not stop her, but only asked Jiang Cheng to wait for a moment as he had something to say.
"The railway will require at least three days to be repaired. Although the roadways are an option, many roads heading north are also destroyed, making it difficult and dangerous to travel. The best approach is to stay here for a few days."
"See if you can calm the foreigners down and prevent them from causing trouble."
Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and asked, "Can I take them out for a stroll?"
"You can, as long as you report it."
Jiang Cheng agreed understandingly and turned to head to the post office.
Jiang Cheng quickly located the post office and handed a box of cigarettes to the old man guarding the phone there.
"Sir, would you like to take a break and have a cigarette?"
The old man instantly understood and lit a cigarette, moving a little away, able to see the phone but unable to overhear the conversation.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng promptly dialed the S City Textile Factory’s number.
"Hello, this is the First Textile Factory of S City."
"Secretary Feng, it’s Jiang Cheng."
Secretary Feng was momentarily surprised before inquiring what business Jiang Cheng had.
"Secretary Feng, I happened to meet Director Leng from foreign trade in the provincial capital. During our conversation, some textile matters came up, and I mentioned Factory Director Fang. Now I’m feeling uneasy and would like to consult Factory Director Fang on some issues."
Though Secretary Feng was not as shrewd as Jiang Cheng, he certainly wasn’t a fool.
Foreign trade, Director Leng.
"Mr. Jiang, please hold on, I’ll ask Factory Director Fang."
"Okay, thank you very much, Secretary Feng."
Under a minute later, Factory Director Fang himself came to the phone.
"Jiang Cheng, you met people from foreign trade? What’s going on?"
Jiang Cheng didn’t waste time.
"Factory Director Fang, I happened to be serving as a translator for a group of foreigners brought by Director Leng. One of the female foreign guests is very interested in our factory’s fabrics."
On the other side, Factory Director Fang stood up abruptly, loudly asking, "What? A foreign guest is interested in our fabrics?"
How come that sounds so implausible?
"Yes, I pieced together a wallet with scraps of fabric, and a pattern on one small scrap attracted the foreign guest. She liked it a lot, and I mentioned that we have a lot more like it."
"It’s just a pity..."
At this point, Jiang Cheng stopped speaking, which made Factory Director Fang anxious.
"Do tell! What’s the pity?"
On the other end, Jiang Cheng displayed a cunning smile, saying, "It’s a pity that they can’t see the real material. I think if they could see it, they would probably purchase a batch, and our textile factory could earn foreign exchange."
"Oh, I’m just thinking out loud."
As soon as Jiang Cheng finished speaking, Factory Director Fang immediately interrupted, "How can you just think about it! If Mr. Jiang can’t find a way, make one. Foreign exchange is so important, do I need to explain it to you?"
At this point, Factory Director Fang finally understood.
Jiang Cheng was doing it on purpose.
"Jiang Cheng, just say it directly. As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, our textile factory will fully cooperate!"
Upon hearing Factory Director Fang’s assurance, Jiang Cheng also adopted a more serious tone, asking, "Not afraid of a wasted trip?"
"What’s a wasted trip! As long as it earns foreign exchange for the country, we’ll do it!"
"That’s exactly the assurance I needed. Here’s what we’ll do... and then..."
After Jiang Cheng finished speaking, Factory Director Fang immediately agreed.
The two hung up and went about their respective tasks.
Factory Director Fang personally went to the warehouse, found the fabrics Jiang Cheng mentioned, took several bolts with him, along with a bunch of fabric scraps, and gathered some of the best female workers from the factory, bringing along the necessary tools.
Let’s go!
To the provincial capital!
No trains? Drive!
Whatever it takes, head to the provincial capital to earn foreign exchange!
On the other side, Jiang Cheng, having hung up the phone, also called the furniture factory and bamboo weaving factory.
With similar rhetoric, the furniture factory’s director decisively made the same decision as Factory Director Fang, bringing along carpenters, materials, tools, and driving a large truck straight to the provincial capital.
As for the bamboo weaving factory’s director, he didn’t even pick up the phone, completely ignoring Jiang Cheng.
Since that’s the case, Jiang Cheng saw no need to ingratiate herself further.
Besides, once people learn from this experience, they’ll get it.
If the furniture and textile factories succeed this time, next time Jiang Cheng suggests something, she won’t have to navigate roundabout ways; these factories would believe her automatically.
Reputation and credibility are built through repeated successes.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Cheng returned to the hotel again.
By this time, the foreigners had gotten up and were sitting together in the dining hall, drinking coffee.
Nearby were a few waitstaff and accompanying personnel.
Jiang Cheng casually walked over and joined the group of foreigners, casually engaging in their small talk.
"Jiang, will we have to stay here for a few days?"
"About three days. The railway is under emergency repairs, but if staying here isn’t preferable, you can choose to take a truck like yesterday’s."
Upon hearing about yesterday’s truck, the foreigners waved their hands in refusal, saying, "No, no, no! I’d rather rest here."
"Indeed, resting here isn’t so bad."
"Except I don’t really like the food here."
"It’s truly boring! There’s no bar here either."
Listening to the complaints, Jiang Cheng first looked at Zack, who mentioned the food being unpleasant.
"Zack, what kind of food do you enjoy? I can help you look around. Hua Xia has a wide variety of foods, I’m sure we can find something that suits your taste."
Zack looked at Jiang Cheng, skeptically asking, "Really?"
Jiang Cheng, confident in her culinary heritage, assured, "Of course!"
"Let me tell you, we have a dish called tomato and scrambled eggs; it’s sweet and sour, with tender and delicious eggs. I think you’ll really love it."
"Another dish is Kung Pao chicken, with juicy and tender chicken, refreshing and not dry, paired with fresh vegetable pieces for a rich flavor..."
"Another little dish is crispy pork. We choose the finest tenderloin, marinate it with secret spices until it absorbs the flavors, coat it in a special batter, and deep fry it in hot oil, releasing those aromatic spices..."
Jiang Cheng began narrating the recipes.
Listening to it made Zack eat the pumpkin pastry he didn’t like in front of him.
He had to eat; the descriptions were making him hungry!
