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The initial establishment in Milan, and Malena's stunning appearance at the ball, did indeed bring a certain level of brand awareness to the "SU" brand.

But what truly allowed Suning to gain a foothold in Milan and even Italy was the substantial and massive amount of commercial orders.

All of this is inseparable from Major Carlo Ferrante, who was far away in Sicily but "repaid the kindness".

Although Major Ferrant's position is not top-tier, he has been in the military supply system for many years and has a deep-rooted network of connections, especially in the field of logistics and supply, where he wields considerable influence.

Especially those who can work in logistics for the Italian military are all very well-connected; this major has a lieutenant general or general standing behind him.

Suning's "generous" and "reliable" performance during his time in Syracuse left a very deep impression on him and the bigwigs behind him.

When Ferrante learned that Suning had shifted its business focus north to Milan and intended to expand its military business on a larger scale, the shrewd Italian officer immediately realized that this was a good opportunity to consolidate his position and gain greater benefits.

At a military logistics coordination meeting that "happened" to be held in Rome, Major Ferrante "casually" mentioned to several key figures the "SU" garment factory he had discovered in Sicily.

"Gentlemen," Ferrante said casually to several generals and civilian officials in charge of military uniform procurement during a coffee break in the meeting, "I know that several established factories in the north have been complaining about the heavy order pressure and the difficulty in guaranteeing quality. But I must say, I've discovered a gem of a factory in Sicily—'SU'. The owner is an Asian, and he's extremely meticulous and efficient. Did you know that the last batch of emergency uniforms and supplies shipped to North Africa was completed by them working overtime? The quality was even higher than the required standards, and the on-time delivery was astonishing!"

He subtly emphasized Suning's "reliability" and "efficiency," implying that it possesses unique raw material channels and advanced equipment.

This is thanks to the small number of samples that are occasionally taken out of Suning's storage space for emergencies, which are of far superior quality to those of modern products, ensuring a stable supply during times of scarcity.

"An Easterner? Is he reliable?" A gray-haired general asked with slight doubt.

“General, in wartime, efficiency and quality are the only true principles,” Ferrante said in a low voice. “Moreover, Mr. Su is very ‘sensible’ and understands the importance of cooperating with us. His newly built factory in Milan is equipped with the highest-standard equipment and facilities. I think that instead of distributing orders to those inefficient, always-bargaining old factories, we should concentrate some on dynamic and efficient partners like ‘SU’. This might solve our current predicament of untimely clothing replacement for our frontline troops.”

Ferrante's lobbying, coupled with the credibility he had previously built within the system, played a crucial role.

Several high-ranking officials decided to give this "Eastern efficiency" a chance and sent people to the "SU" garment factory in Milan for an on-site inspection.

Having received the news, Suning had already made thorough preparations.

He not only managed the new factory in an orderly manner, with a reasonable production line design and well-trained workers, but more importantly, he produced several sets of military uniforms and quilts samples made using concepts that were ahead of their time.

These samples demonstrate meticulous attention to detail: the uniforms use more durable reinforced fabric at the joints, and the stitching is more robust; the quilts are filled evenly and fully, with a tightly woven outer fabric that provides warmth far exceeding that of similar products; and even the inner lining of the uniforms features several hidden pockets for soldiers to store personal belongings.

These thoughtful designs impressed the visiting officers.

At the reception banquet, Suning took the concept of "being sensible" to the extreme.

He not only arranged an extremely luxurious banquet, but also "inadvertently" allowed several key figures to "appreciate" his collection of "precious works of art" from the East.

The fate of these artworks is self-evident.

After the inspection, a report highly praising the "SU" garment factory's production capacity, management level, and product innovation was placed on the desk of the Rome military's top brass.

Thanks to Major Ferrante's continued flattery and Suning's behind-the-scenes maneuvering, a staggeringly large order was finally finalized...

SU Garment Factory has officially become one of the core suppliers of clothing and supplies (including uniforms, overcoats, shirts, quilts, tents, etc.) for the Italian Army, responsible for supplying a huge order that accounts for nearly one-third of the total demand of the entire army, including domestic and some overseas legions!
When the news reached Milan, the entire "SU" garment factory was in an uproar!
This means a steady stream of funds, immeasurable brand influence, and an invaluable "talisman" during wartime!
Suning stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window in his office, looking at the bustling factory area outside and the distant skyline of Milan, a calm smile of complete control on his face.

He successfully leveraged Ferrante's connections, demonstrated his own strength, and, with the necessary "lubricant," secured a "national-level" strategic order in this era.

This not only brought huge profits, but more importantly, this deep-rooted relationship with the Italian military would place him in a relatively detached and safe position during the turmoil of the upcoming war.

No matter how the political situation changes, the military will always need to wear clothes and be covered with blankets.

And he, Su Ning, will be the one to provide warmth to them.

He turned to his assistant, who stood respectfully behind him, and instructed, "Immediately expand recruitment, implement three shifts, and ensure the production line is running at full speed. At the same time, further expand raw material procurement channels; prices can be appropriately increased, but quality and supply must be absolutely guaranteed!"

"Yes! Mr. Su!"

The shadow of war still looms, but in Milan, the machines of "SU" will roar at an unprecedented speed, supplying military provisions to the front lines and weaving a sturdy armor for Suning's ambitions in this chaotic world.

And the starting point for all of this may simply be Syracuse's well-timed "investment" and "respect" in a disillusioned quartermaster.

……

Securing nearly a third of the Italian Army's clothing orders was like a powerful adrenaline shot for the "SU" garment factory.

The once tranquil industrial area on the outskirts of Milan was instantly transformed into a vast, tireless hive by the presence of "SU," expanding at an unprecedented speed and scale.

The day after the order was confirmed, a huge recruitment notice was posted outside the gate of the "SU" garment factory.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Milan and even the Lombardy region.

During times when unemployment is soaring due to war, a stable and well-paid job is incredibly attractive.

As dawn broke, a long, winding queue formed outside the factory area.

Men, women, young people, and even some skilled workers who had switched jobs from other factories were all eagerly waiting for interview opportunities.

The HR manager, his voice hoarse from being on the go, shouted from behind the makeshift interview table: "Sewing worker! Preference given to those who can do it! Assembly line worker! Porter! Warehouse manager! Those who can read and do math will be given preference!"

In the workshop, experienced workers were temporarily reassigned to quickly train new employees.

"Watch closely! This overlocking technique needs to be both fast and secure! This is military equipment; if the seam comes undone, it will be a major incident!" A veteran craftsman emphasized loudly to the dozens of newcomers watching as he demonstrated.

The newlyweds watched intently, afraid of missing a single detail.

In just one week, the number of workers in the factory quadrupled and continues to increase.

The once spacious canteen became overcrowded, with workers taking turns to eat, while the machines almost never stopped.

Inside the factory, the scene was even more spectacular. Newly purchased sewing machines, cutting machines, and overlock machines were being delivered continuously, and installation workers were working day and night to ensure that the new equipment could be put into production as soon as possible.

In the huge workshop, fluorescent lights are on 24 hours a day, replacing the natural day and night.

"Da da da da da—" The dense sound of the sewing machine was like thousands of machine guns firing in unison, deafening, yet carrying a heart-pounding rhythm of creating wealth and war materials.

On the huge cutting table, workers skillfully operated electric cutters according to the layout drawings, and layers of dark green fabric were quickly cut into neat parts.

The factory operates on a strict three-shift system.

Day shift, night shift, night shift—the workers work seamlessly like precise gears, ensuring the production line never stops.

During shift change, the workshop was bustling with people and extremely noisy.

The foreman, holding a tin megaphone, shouted hoarsely through the deafening noise, coordinating the various work processes: "Line A! Is the fabric ready?!"

"B-line buttons are in short supply! Warehouse! Restock to position 3 immediately!"

"Quality inspection! Speed ​​things up! This batch of coats must be loaded onto the truck tomorrow!"

The air was filled with the smell of new fabric, machine oil, and the sweat of the workers.

Despite the exhaustion, most workers gritted their teeth and persevered, seeing the substantial pay on their pay slips and the meals provided by the factory that far exceeded the standards of the same period, even with a sense of mission to contribute to the war effort.

Such a massive production capacity requires an enormous amount of raw materials.

Suning's procurement team was almost entirely mobilized, rushing like hunting dogs to the still stable raw material producing areas throughout Europe.

They not only had to compete with their Italian rivals for goods, but also had to deal with the increasingly tense war blockade and transportation difficulties.

"Boss, the Turkish cotton supplier has raised prices on the spot! It's 15 percent higher than last week!" The purchasing manager rushed into Suning's office to report.

“Agree to his terms!” Suning said without looking up, as he was reviewing the new factory layout plan. “But he must guarantee the supply and delivery time. If there is a delay of even one day, the fine will double! At the same time, we must expedite the opening of channels to Portugal and Spain. We absolutely cannot rely on just one supplier.”

"Yes!"

"Also, how's the situation with the transport convoy? I heard the railway line leading to the south has been bombed again?"

"Yes, boss. But we've contacted a Swiss freight company that can bypass the route through neutral countries. It's more expensive, but they can guarantee delivery time."

“Use them! Money is not a problem, timely delivery is the key!” Suning said decisively.

"clear."

The warehouse area was bustling with activity.

Trucks carrying cotton, wool, and coarse canvas lined up to unload, while on the other side, bundles of brand-new military uniforms and quilts were being loaded onto military trucks and train cars, like ants carrying food, by workers waiting to be sent to the front lines.

This place seems to have become a huge port for the flow of goods, operating day and night.

……

Smoke filled the soundproof conference room in the heart of the factory.

Suning convened all department heads for a daily progress coordination meeting.

Everyone looked tired, but their eyes shone with excitement.

The production supervisor pointed to the huge production schedule on the wall, which was densely covered with various data and arrows: "Boss, according to the current progress, the first batch of orders can be completed three days before the deadline. However, the newly recruited workers are not skilled enough, and the defect rate is 0.5 percentage points higher than expected."

"Strengthen quality control and training! Not a single defective product can leave the factory!" Su Ning banged on the table. "Quality is our lifeline, especially for the military."

The finance director then reported: "The cash flow pressure is enormous. Prepayments for raw materials, new equipment, soaring labor costs... the military's initial prepayment has already been used up by nearly 80%."

“I will find another way to raise the funds,” Suning said calmly. “Tell our ‘friends’ that the subsequent ‘thank you’ messages will be delivered on time with each batch of goods. We must maintain our credit and relationship.”

The logistics manager complained about the difficulties in transportation and energy: "The fuel quota is insufficient, and the power supply is unstable. There were two power outages last night, which delayed production by half an hour."

"Go to the black market! Use dollars and gold to buy fuel! Get our own backup generators!" Su Ning's tone left no room for argument. "I don't want to hear any more reports of production stoppages due to energy issues!"

"clear."

"All of us here have bright futures, and I hope you will cherish this hard-won opportunity."

"Yes, Boss! We will definitely do our best."

"In addition, we should not give up on operating the luxury brand. The company is considering acquiring a few garment factories soon, which will greatly reduce our pressure."

The meeting proceeded in a tense and efficient atmosphere.

Suning was like a master conductor, coordinating every part of this vast and complex industrial orchestra, driving this war machine to operate at unprecedented efficiency.

Through the conference room window, one can see the brightly lit and noisy factory area outside.

Every person and every machine here is providing the most basic support for the soldiers on the front lines, while also weaving an incredibly strong armor of money, connections, and hard power for the "SU" brand.

The frenzied expansion brought enormous pressure and challenges, but it also propelled Suning and his business empire to unprecedented heights.

In this crucible of war, "SU" is being forged into a force that cannot be ignored.

...(End of chapter)