The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 227 Fourth Brother, You're Back!

The machine can be provided by the online store.

The raw materials needed for garment production are not just machines.

You'll need everything: large pieces of fabric, small pieces of needle and thread, as well as scissors, chalk, a cutting table, a measuring tape, and so on.

Building a factory from scratch is not an easy task.

Qian Jin had no other choice.

He had to handle this himself.

Fortunately, Wang Dong was able to help.

Qian Jin discovered that his ancestors always spoke the truth, and the saying "misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise" was indeed true.

Originally, Wang Dong's affair with a woman was a disaster, but he managed to turn it into a good thing after successfully handling it.

After being manipulated by Qiao Li, Wang Dong became obedient and now devotes his energy to both the factory and the streets.

Moreover, his temper is no longer so irritable and domineering; he has become much more low-key and down-to-earth, and he can help Qian Jin with some things.

For example, getting cloth from the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill.

Qian Jin originally thought he would have to step in himself, but Wang Dong patted his chest and said he could get the cloth from the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill.

Since Wang Dong guaranteed that the matter would be successful, Qian Jin did not bother with any more work and instead arranged for Wang Dong to be in charge of sourcing the fabric materials.

He has too many things to do.

The sewing machines are all set up now, more than enough. Even if we need to hire more people later, Qian Jin can simply buy new ones from the mall.

However, sewing machines are only basic equipment. Taking advantage of welcoming Zhang Hongmei and six other master craftsmen, Qian Jin convened a pre-opening meeting with Wei Xiangmi, Xu Weidong, Zhu Tao, Su Changshun, Mi Gang, Shi Zhentao and others.

A factory construction report was discussed in connection with this meeting.

To build a factory, you first need to submit information to the relevant authorities and obtain national approval.

This one is simple.

Wei Xiangmi had already made the arrangements in advance.

The name of the Taishan Road People's Clothing Factory is rather grand, but Wei Xiangmi applied for the license as a small collective enterprise. In other words, it was a small workshop set up to solve the employment problems of educated youth returning to the city.

This complies with the policy and responds to the central government's call for all levels of units to actively address the issues related to educated youth, so the application process went smoothly.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory was a small workshop.

Qian Jin didn't understand the Sixth State-owned Cotton Mill and the current garment factories. The country's economic development was indeed slow, and industrialization and automation in various industries related to people's livelihoods were underdeveloped.

However, the automation of production lines in large state-owned factories like the Sixth State-Owned Cotton Mill has exceeded his expectations.

For example, in the application of sewing machines.

Qian Jin prepared a foot-operated sewing machine, which is a standard tool for small workshops. The garment production workshop of the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill has already started using electric industrial sewing machines.

Domestic electric industrial sewing machines, such as those from the Hudu and Butterfly brands, have been developing since the 1950s and can now meet the needs of large state-owned enterprises.

It's just that this kind of tool hasn't reached the general public, so Qian Jin doesn't have access to it.

However, after investigating with experienced workers, he learned that the electric industrial sewing machines available today are different from those he saw in the mall.

The electric industrial sewing machines in the mall are very powerful, with a full range of functions such as automatic thread cutting, automatic needle rewinding, and presser foot lifting. They mainly feature a "one person, multiple machines" operation mode.

Some electric industrial sewing machines even have a rotation speed of over 5,000 revolutions per minute, and can complete the hemming work on dozens of meters of fabric in just a few minutes.

Current electric sewing machines are still limited in function, generally used for flat sewing and overlocking. They still require manual thread cutting and tension adjustment, and are not very intelligent. They are mainly characterized by high labor intensity and high work efficiency.

Qian Jin wrote it down.

This is a development direction for the People's Garment Factory.

However, sewing machines will have to wait until next year or even the year after, when we enter the 1980s, for them to be upgraded.

According to the experienced workers, major factories have already started using electrified and automated equipment for cutting, and automatic cutting shears and electric cutting beds have been around for a long time.

Then there are overlock machines and ironing machines. These two machines are used for overlocking and shaping fabrics. The No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill was equipped with large-scale equipment in the 1960s, and it is still trying to install automatic ironing equipment.

Aside from tools, starting a factory also requires solving the problem of supplying core raw materials.

Currently, the fabrics on the market are mainly cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics, and the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill is a major supplier.

Wang Dong claimed he could solve the cloth supply problem, and Qian Jin could only wait for his good news.

In terms of accessories, buttons, zippers, sewing thread, etc. are also needed, and Zhang Hongmei introduced the supply channels to Qian Jin.

The other party is also a small collective enterprise, belonging to Yongjia County in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. The person in charge is named Wang Suinai, who is a March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter in the local city.

Zhang Hongmei had met and become acquainted with Wang Suinai when she attended a commendation ceremony for model workers in the textile industry. She told Qian Jin that if the garment factory needed buttons and zippers, they should just contact Wang Suinai.
"That small collective enterprise is really impressive. They can sell several hundred yuan worth of buttons a day, which is more than many workers earn in a year!"

Zhu Tao laughed when he heard this.

A daily income of several hundred yuan?
Are there many?
Our mobile canteens for the people have long since broken through the economic constraint of earning 1,000 yuan per day!
Qian Jin had never heard of Wang Suinai's famous name in the 21st century, nor had he heard of Yongjia County. However, he had no connection with the clothing industry at that time. Perhaps she was very famous, but he was simply ignorant of her.

Now Zhang Hongmei has provided him with a good channel.

He checked and found that Haibin City is over a thousand kilometers away from Yongjia County, making cargo transportation quite inconvenient these days.

This gave him room to maneuver!
Small items like buttons and zippers are better quality and styled when purchased from online stores.

But it's hard to explain where it came from.

If there are suppliers thousands of kilometers away, then the explanation is quite simple.

The main advantage is that he can give vague answers at the time, and given the long distance, no one can investigate the origin of the small parts he uses.

In the market, details often determine success or failure.

Don't underestimate small buttons and zippers; if used well, they can make you stand out from other garments of the same quality and style.

Hardware accessories are necessary to open a factory.

There's no need to rely on online stores to purchase these items.

Supply and marketing cooperatives have specialized supply channels for hardware tools.

When Qian Jin was at work, he inquired and found out the contact information of the person in charge of the hardware supply store in Haibin City.

He also found out that the person in charge had a good friend at the head office. He sent a message, and the friend made a phone call for him. The two of them arranged to meet after get off work that day.

Qian Jin left work early.

Becoming a leader always comes with certain advantages, one of which is the freedom to manage one's time.

The hardware store was also in the southern part of the city, and Qian Jin rode his motorcycle there in just a few minutes.

The person in charge was named Fu Cheng, a chubby middle-aged man.

Qian Jin introduced himself at the door, and the lazy salesman quickly perked up and led Qian Jin to the office on the second floor.

Fu Cheng is also a director, but his rank and power are incomparable to Qian Jin's.

So when Qian Jin arrived, he quickly stood up and stretched out his hands: "Director Qian, hello, hello! I've heard so much about you, it's great to finally meet you. I heard from Lao Zhao that you need some hardware tools?"

"To be honest, you don't need to make the trip yourself. Just give me a call, and I'll arrange for someone to deliver it to you."

"Come, please sit down. Comrade A Si, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and make a cup of tea for Chief Qian?"

The waiter bowed and scraped as he quickly left.

Qian Jin smiled and said, "Brother Fu, don't be so polite, don't bother. I won't stand on ceremony either, let's get straight to the point."

"No need to be so polite," Fu Cheng said, his chubby face beaming with a wide smile upon hearing him address him as "Brother Fu." "I'd be happy if you didn't stand on ceremony. Let's get straight to the point and see how I can help."

Qian Jin explained, "Our labor commando team on Taishan Road is preparing to open a new garment factory and needs to purchase a batch of hardware tools, such as scissors, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. Do you have any in stock?"

Fu Cheng replied without hesitation: "Scissors and pliers are common tools. We have plenty in our warehouse. I can give you as many as you need."

"There are many types of screwdrivers. What model do you need? But it shouldn't be a problem. I have a full range of hardware tools here. If I don't have them in stock, you'll probably have to go to the provincial capital to find them."

With just a few words, the hardware supply issue was resolved.

As Fu Cheng said, Qian Jin doesn't need to come to his door; he can simply make a phone call, and Fu Cheng will naturally be willing to help.

As the saying goes, it's never wrong to be overly polite. Qian Jin's personal visit made Fu Cheng feel honored, and one could feel his sincerity.

Another step is for the two people to meet, have a cup of tea together, chat, and exchange home phone numbers; that's how they establish a relationship.

Fu Cheng still wanted to save money for dinner.

But today is already the 16th, and tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival.

These days, residents take festivals very seriously. The day before the festival is considered the start of the celebration. Qian Jin guessed that Wei Qinghuan had already prepared the meal, so he politely declined Fu Cheng's invitation to stay.

Qian Jin shook hands with him and parted ways, leaving the mooncakes in his bag behind as he left.

Fu Cheng wanted to be polite, but Qian Jin waved his hand and walked out: "These are mooncakes that a friend brought back from outside. Brother Fu, you can try them. The flavor is quite unique. See if you like them."

"If you like it, just let me know, and I'll definitely get it for you."

The mooncake packaging was unremarkable.

Once opened, it appears exquisite, with a glossy and smooth finish.

These days, mooncakes are a rare treat, and during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they can even be used as a standard to measure the welfare benefits of a company.

A good company is one that provides mooncakes as employee benefits. Most companies or neighborhood committees only give employees and residents a pound of mooncake vouchers.

Want to eat mooncakes?
Yes, you can, but you'll need to buy it with a ticket at a food store, pastry shop, candy shop, or farmers' market.

However, they are not easy to buy.

Due to a shortage of resources, the supply of sugar and oil was limited, resulting in a limited production of mooncakes.

Things have been a bit better in recent years. In the first half of the 1970s, every household had to arrange for their children to line up at the sales point before dawn for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and even then, they might not be able to buy anything.

Qian Jin knew the tricks of gift-giving these days.

They don't care about packaging; they focus on large quantities and good value.

So he sent the regular mooncakes from the mall, four of each of the following fillings: five-nut, black sesame, peanut brittle, and red date, for a total of sixteen and four jin (2 catties).

This is a generous gift.

Fu Cheng's smile widened when he saw so many mooncakes: "Well, no wonder Qian Jin became the head of the department at such a young age, and no wonder he was promoted so quickly in less than a year after joining the head office."

"This kid really knows how to get along with people and how to handle things; he's really willing to give gifts!"

Ah Si looked at the heavy bag of mooncakes with longing: "Director Fu, I didn't eat lunch today. I was too busy before the festival. I'm hungry now. Can you share one with me to fill my stomach?"

It's inappropriate to eat all sixteen mooncakes at once when someone gives them as a gift.

Fu Cheng gritted his teeth, took out four tools and handed them to A Si: "If their garment factory needs any tools in the future, you can deliver them to me."

Ah Si was overjoyed: "Of course, Director Fu, don't worry, I will definitely deliver it as soon as possible."

He was even happier when he received the mooncakes wrapped in oil paper: "Director Fu, look, these mooncakes are really good, they're so shiny with oil, how much oil must have been used?"

The scarcity of resources led to flour, oil, and sugar being in high demand.

The mooncakes in Haibin City are all produced by Haibin Food Factory. The quality is very ordinary. They are reluctant to use much oil, resulting in a very dry texture and a hard bite.

You really can't buy such retro mooncakes in the mall.

In the future, the supply of goods will be so abundant that even dogs won't eat those mooncakes. So Qian Jin will pick and choose, even buying from shops with low ratings, and the mooncakes he buys will still be oily, sugary, soft, and delicious.

Fu Cheng smelled the aroma and said, "This is definitely not produced by our food factory. Even if it is, it's a high-quality product specially made for export."

"Yes, it's peanut oil. You can tell just by the aroma."

"Why does it say 'red dates' on it? There are red dates in this mooncake?" A-Si asked curiously, sniffing the mooncake.

Fu Cheng didn't know either, so he simply said, "Aren't you hungry? Why don't you try it and you'll know?"

Ah Si originally wanted to ask for one to eat on the spot, but Fu Cheng gave him four, which made up a pound.

He wanted to hold back and bring the mooncakes home to surprise his parents, wife, and children, but he was really hungry. The oily aroma of the mooncakes kept wafting into his nose, whetting his appetite.

After much internal struggle, he finally broke open a mooncake and muttered to himself, "I... I'll just eat half."

Break the soft mooncake open.

Inside was a filling he'd never seen before: "Hey, not the five-nut filling? What kind of filling is this? It's bright red, is it a red bean paste mooncake from the South?"

"Wait a minute, Director Fu, look, there are dates in here. And...the red dates written on it are the filling name, right?"

Fu Cheng was taken aback and quickly looked at the mooncake in his hand: "Five kernels, it's still five kernels, and what's underneath, is it black sesame? And what about 'fragrant filling'? What kind of filling is 'fragrant filling'?"

A Si took a bite of the red date mooncake and happened to bite off a piece of jujube flesh.

The sweet taste earned negative reviews from 21st-century customers, but it delighted Ah Si: "Delicious, Director Fu, this mooncake is really delicious! The dates inside are really good, not red dates, but candied dates!"

Fu Cheng asked him for the remaining half.

Ah Si pretended not to see his outstretched hand, stuffed the remaining mooncakes into the oil paper, and turned to leave.

Fu Cheng yelled at him, "Your four are all filled with jujubes, aren't you curious about the other fillings I have? Come here, let's switch them..."

"No need, Director Fu, hehe, I just love eating candied dates." A Si ran downstairs.

He clearly heard that the remaining three fillings were five-nut filling, black sesame filling, and something called "mouthful of fragrance".

Needless to say, what family doesn't have five-nut mooncakes?
He wasn't tempted by the black sesame and "fragrant" mooncakes, because just from their names, he knew they wouldn't be sweet.

Fu Cheng had also thought of this, and he roared, "Fine, you can run now. Let me tell you, you don't need to deliver tools to them on Taishan Road anymore, I'll deliver them myself!"

This generous gift made him realize the benefits he could gain by paying Qian Jin.

Qian Jin works at the head office and is specifically in charge of overseas work. In the future, he will probably be the easiest person in the entire coastal city to get foreign goods.

Therefore, Fu Cheng decided to spend more time with him, as this connection would definitely come in handy in the future!

Qian Jin still had four pounds of mooncakes in his handbag.

This time it's not some fancy mixed nuts and black sesame seeds, but rather lotus seed paste, egg yolk, chocolate, and other delicacies.

He planned to bring it back to Wei Qinghuan tonight to satisfy her craving.

The motorcycles traveled along the road, and the streets and alleys were gradually becoming lively as people from various workplaces were leaving.

The afterglow of the setting sun, like a golden veil, gently spilled over every corner of this seaside city, bathing the ancient walls and narrow streets in a warm and mellow orange-red glow.

By the time the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives, the lingering summer heat has subsided, and the evening sea breeze gently blows from the distant horizon, bringing with it a touch of coolness rather than the oppressive heat of summer.

The motorcycle roared past, and the cool autumn wind blew in my face.

Motorcycles can't go fast right now; it's rush hour, and bicycle bells are ringing all over the city's streets and alleys.

Workers in blue overalls were everywhere, their wheels rolling. Familiar workers chatted as they rode, their laughter louder than the bicycle bells.

Long queues formed early in the morning outside food stores and pastry shops.

Sometimes Qian Jin has to put his motorcycle in neutral and push it through the crowd of people buying mooncakes!

Mooncakes are not cheap this year; they cost four yuan per pound!
A pound of meat costs only a few cents, so the fact that mooncakes are sold at such high prices shows how rare they are.

Even if they're expensive, every household will still buy them.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival after the Spring Festival. It is a time for family reunions, and mooncakes can be enjoyed during this time of year.

Chinese people believe in the saying "since we're already here," so since it's already the Mid-Autumn Festival, they don't care about the price. Even if they have to borrow money, they still have to buy mooncakes!
Every now and then, Qianjin would see adults dragging their children back home, the kids crying and fussing, "Mommy, I don't want to go home! I want to eat mooncakes! I didn't eat any last year, I want to eat mooncakes this year..."

The adults could only coax the child: "There are pebbles in the mooncakes now, they'll hurt your teeth. Mom will buy you meat, we'll eat meat this year, braised pork, fried pork, Mom will make you a big bowl!"

This scene always made Qian Jin feel heartbroken, and he could only shift gears and hurry home.

no way.

That's just how things are these days.

It's better in the city; families who can't afford mooncakes can still buy a couple of pounds of meat to satisfy their cravings.

He had lived in the countryside, where many people considered steaming a pot of white flour buns enough to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Some families couldn't even afford to steam white flour buns; there was no other way, their standard of living was just too poor.

Otherwise, Comrade Xi Xian would not have uttered that deafening cry of "Poverty is not socialism".

Qian Jin parked his motorcycle in the shed and locked it.

This is a necessary step.

These days, thieves are extremely rampant. They don't care who the motorcycle owner is; they'll strike whenever they feel like it, and they steal with complete impunity.

Qian Jin went upstairs to get his keys and vaguely heard noisy laughter coming from inside the house.

This made him a little strange.

Wei Xiongtu probably hasn't come back yet. Wei Qinghuan is quiet by nature. She might chat with acquaintances on the street after work, but she basically doesn't bring anyone into her home.

Qian Jin thought about it.

broken!

They've come to deliver gifts!

Many people know that he lives in a duplex, but few know which building he lives in or which room he lives in.

So this year, many people wanted to give him gifts, but couldn't find the right door, and most of them ended up in the tenement buildings.

Qian Jin was initially quite happy.

He didn't want to accept gifts; after all, he had just become a leader and needed to be mindful of his image.

So now someone has found out his home address?
Qian Jin quickly took out his keys and opened the door.

The moment he pushed open the door, the sight before him stunned him.

Several strangers were sitting in the living room, and several children were running around and playing. The laughter and chatter from earlier were adults teasing the children.

There were four adults in total, all dressed rather plainly. Qian Jin scratched his head.

I do not know.

He stood at the doorway, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

"Fourth brother, you're back!" One of the four men stood up, grinned at him, and said.

Then a tired-looking woman smiled and nodded at him: "Young man, it's been so many years!"

(End of this chapter)