Yu Chunhe laughed and patted Xie Changyi’s shoulder. "Even if you’re envious, there’s nothing you can do about it. HAHAHAHA."

Xie Changyi shook his head.

"You’d better worry about the export issues with the other products."

In this round of foreign trade, apart from Xie Changning’s printers and Wang Lisheng’s high-quality screws, the other products were still losing money.

At the mention of this, the joyful look on Yu Chunhe’s face vanished.

"The others really should learn a thing or two from Xie Changning. We’re supposed to be earning foreign exchange to make a profit. Losing money like this..." ’It’s the nation’s money we’re losing!’

Xie Changyi also shook his head.

’Even if he didn’t like it, there was nothing to be done. That was just the state of things. To earn foreign currency, everyone just kept dropping their prices again and again...’

-

After selling the printers, Xie Changning had someone go attend to Director Liu, making sure his people became familiar with the printer’s operating procedures.

She didn’t help out herself, but instead wandered around.

The products at the trade fair were a dazzling sight. Each item was exquisitely and intricately crafted.

But even so, they still couldn’t fetch a high price.

Xie Changning frowned.

Xie Changning scanned her surroundings, and after figuring out where the problem lay, she sighed and prepared to turn and leave.

’I have no intention of being a busybody. Even if I said something, they probably wouldn’t listen. Better to keep my mouth shut than risk getting chewed out for it.’

"Sister Xie!"

Just as Xie Changning was about to turn and leave, she heard someone call her name. She turned to look and saw Director Li’s wife waving at her.

Seeing her, a faint smile appeared on Xie Changning’s face.

"Sister, I didn’t expect to run into you here." Xie Changning had met Director Li’s wife a few times, but they weren’t well-acquainted.

But at such a large trade fair, running into an acquaintance was still a happy occasion.

So, Xie Changning walked over to her and started talking.

Her booth was in a poor location, and the few products on her table were much like those at other stalls, with no novel designs. A few foreigners stopped by, but they all left after a quick glance.

They didn’t even ask for the price.

Watching the foreigners walk away, Director Li’s wife, Wang Shumei, sighed. She turned to Xie Changning and said, "That’s the eighth person today. They all take one look and leave. If we can’t generate any foreign exchange, our factory will lose its spot at the Spring Trade Fair next year!"

Wang Shumei was getting anxious.

She was the deputy director of production at her factory, and the director had entrusted her with a great responsibility for this trip.

If—

The thought of going back empty-handed was incredibly vexing. Just as Wang Shumei was stewing in her worries, she spotted Xie Changning, whom she hadn’t seen in months.

She had also heard the story about Xie Changning earning a hundred million US Dollars.

’Xie Changning is so capable,’ she thought. ’With a little guidance from her, maybe I won’t have to go back with nothing?’

That was why Wang Shumei had called out to Xie Changning.

"Sister, I’m not going to beat around the bush. I... I’m really out of options. I don’t want to go home empty-handed, so I was hoping you could help me... help me sell this merchandise."

Wang Shumei gestured to the items at her booth, pleading with Xie Changning.

Xie Changning’s brow furrowed slightly. She said to Wang Shumei, "Sister, it’s not that I won’t help you. It’s just that I’m afraid you might not be able to handle my methods."

Wang Shumei’s factory produced porcelain.

Wang Shumei’s display stand was filled with all kinds of porcelain. There was no shortage of daily-use items like kitchenware and tableware, as well as wine sets, tea sets, and the like.

However, every single product she had on display was crafted with distinctly Chinese characteristics, using techniques like on-glaze decals and underglaze blue-and-white painting.

Such products held little appeal for foreigners. Foreign aesthetics were vastly different from contemporary Chinese tastes, so displaying these items naturally meant no sales.

’However, for me to give advice, it would all depend on whether Wang Shumei would cooperate.’

"Sister, you know we didn’t make our first sale until the afternoon of the third day. If you follow my advice, the same thing might happen to you. You might even end up with nothing."

Xie Changning didn’t promise it would definitely work.

’She was willing to help, but she wasn’t willing to take the blame if it didn’t work out.’

Wang Shumei sighed and confessed to Xie Changning, "The way things are going, I’m going to end up with zero anyway." Asking Xie Changning for help was a desperate gamble—like treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.

If it didn’t work, she wouldn’t blame Xie Changning.

"Alright."

Xie Changning peered behind their display stand. All she could see were stacks of brightly colored, decorated plates. She asked Wang Shumei, "Are all the products you brought like these?"

Wang Shumei shook her head. "Not all of them. It’s just... the others are ones we haven’t applied the decoration to yet. They’re products with no patterns at all."

As she spoke, Wang Shumei had someone open an unopened crate and take out a few items to show Xie Changning.

"The workers loading the truck mistakenly brought these undecorated porcelain pieces."

Wang Shumei was filled with regret as she spoke of it.

’If I’d known, I would have reminded the factory workers. Now look. Porcelain is so fragile; I’m afraid a lot of it will break on the trip back from Shencheng City!’

She also regretted listening to others and insisting on producing these things in the first place.

At the time, she’d heard that foreigners liked products without patterns, so she discussed it with the director and the deputy director of technology and they decided to give it a try.

However, the result of their "try" was several crates of what they considered rejects!

After these things were made, the three of them unanimously regretted it. If even they didn’t find such products appealing, how could they possibly sell?

Because she was so dissatisfied with these crates of porcelain, Wang Shumei couldn’t even be bothered to put them on display, despite having brought them.

"It’s fine. Have your people take all the colorful porcelain off the display stand and put up some of the undecorated pieces instead."

’Compared to the heavily patterned porcelain, this minimalist-style porcelain was far more likely to be favored by the foreigners.’

Wang Shumei was stunned. "This..."

She was about to say something, but then she recalled what Xie Changning had said earlier. She turned and called her staff over to pack up the porcelain on the display stand.

Because Wang Shumei’s booth was in a corner, her actions didn’t draw much attention.

Only the few neighboring booths took notice.

Especially when they saw her putting out the undecorated items, they all thought Wang Shumei had given up.

Unable to bear watching her fail to make a single sale, the female director from the neighboring booth said to Wang Shumei, "Sister, why don’t you put some of your items at our booth? We can try to help you sell them."

They were all sister factories from China, and they naturally didn’t want to see one of their own struggling so much.

Wang Shumei shook her head. "You don’t get much foot traffic as it is. How could I impose and take up space at your booth?" The other director wasn’t doing very well herself, so Wang Shumei felt she couldn’t accept the offer.

The other woman knew Wang Shumei meant well.

Just as Wang Shumei had said, their own factory’s sales weren’t great. If they put Wang Shumei’s goods on display, it would indeed cut into their own sales.