The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 239 Keep up the good work, Trench Coat takes over

Sunday evening.

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of her shift on a holiday, Cheng Bujiao, a female electrician at the power bureau, rushed out, hopped on her bicycle, and headed straight for Taishan Road.

Just as she had learned, the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory was surrounded by enthusiastic young people.

She stopped her bike and anxiously asked a young man, "Do you still have bell-bottoms? Do you still sell bell-bottoms here?"

Just as the young man was about to speak impatiently, the roar of an engine suddenly came from the end of the road without warning.

The voice was deep and powerful, like rolling thunder, pressing in from afar...

This is a sound unlike any other car.

With undeniable force and domineering presence, it instantly drowned out the noise in front of the garment factory upon approaching it.

A panicked scream rang out from the crowded throng:

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

"It's a truck! The truck is coming!"

The crowd queuing on the road parted like a tidal wave being split open.

A Liberation brand military truck, entirely dark green and covered with a thick canvas canopy, continued speeding along without slowing down in the slightest.

Like a silent and tyrannical steel behemoth, it rolled over fallen leaves crushed into pieces by the crowd with an indomitable momentum, and finally came to an abrupt stop, leaving a dark skid mark as it gradually slowed down.

This scene silenced the noisy crowd.

This is a military vehicle!

Why are military vehicles coming to the People's Garment Factory on Taishan Road?

Does this mean the People's Liberation Army will also have to wear bell-bottoms?
This idea caused great anxiety among many people, who discussed it amongst themselves as if they had lost a parent or child:

If the army selects bell-bottoms from the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory as military supplies, how will they be able to buy them?

With millions of soldiers in the country, one pair of bell-bottoms for each person would be enough to keep this small clothing factory running for ten years!
The tires screeched against the asphalt, making short, sharp screechs, and eventually, as expected, came to a stop in front of the garment factory.

The thick canvas tarpaulin was printed with white serial numbers and conspicuous military insignia, cold and hard.

The air outside the garment factory seemed to freeze instantly.

The machines seemed to have quieted down a bit, and some people in the factory stopped what they were doing and looked out the window blankly.

The commotion inside and outside the gate abruptly ceased, leaving only the whistling of the cold wind whistling through the low factory buildings.

Shi Zhentao, who was in charge of maintaining order, stood stiffly at the warehouse entrance.

He stared at the enormous, dark green beast that had descended from the sky, his mouth slightly agape, unable to utter a sound.

At this moment, he had the same thought as the people in line: Could it be that the bell-bottoms he produced had alarmed the military supply department?

Qian Jin, who arrived upon hearing the news, was filled with helplessness.

what happened?

Why are there military vehicles arriving?

It's been a week since the bell-bottoms buying frenzy that almost turned into a robbery.

This is the second Sunday since the release of "Manhunt".

However, because the garment factory had no stock, the bell-bottoms produced that day could only be sold on the same day.

So it's fine during working hours, but when it's time to leave work or on holidays like Sundays, there are long queues in front of the People's Garment Factory on Taishan Road!
Qian Jin knew that bell-bottoms were all the rage in the early 1980s.

But I never expected it to become so popular!

It wasn't just the young people in the coastal city who were obsessed with these bell-bottoms; young people from other places even took the train to buy them.

And the drivers.

Whether it's a car traveling from Haibin City to other provinces or cities, or a car coming to Haibin City from other provinces or cities, the drivers all have a mission: to give bell-bottoms a ride...

So even though the movie "The Chase" had been out for more than half a month, the sales targets for the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory were still very heavy.

This Sunday, the labor task force didn't have to work; everyone was mobilized to maintain order.

So things were pretty orderly today, and Qian Jin finally breathed a sigh of relief and went home to rest.

Just as it was time for dinner, another phone call came in, saying that a military vehicle had arrived at the garment factory.

Qian Jin rushed over. A man in military uniform, of medium build, with a serious expression, jumped out of the truck cab. His movements were clean and efficient.

The man walked up to Qian Jin in a few steps, raised his hand and gave a standard military salute, but his eyes showed little courtesy or pleasantries, like two cold rulers.

"Director Qian Jin?" The soldier's voice was deep and hard, like metal clashing together.

"Yes." Qian Jin felt the wind blowing into his open coat, and he felt very cold.

Could it be that my own little factory has done something wrong?

The soldier handed him a list: "This is the cotton cloth supplied by the Sixth State-owned Cotton Mill for this batch. Director Wang asked me to deliver it to you. Quickly check the quantity and batch number. If there are no problems, unload the goods!"

Qian Jin listened.

That's what happened.

This military vehicle is here to deliver goods to itself.

Good guy!
My own garment factory has really made something of itself; they're even getting military vehicles to deliver supplies.

However, he quickly realized the reason.

It was Wang Dong who helped.

The production boom at the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory has spread throughout the city, and the Haibin Daily has reported on it twice.

As the person in charge of the supplier, Wang Dong naturally knew about this.

He arranged for military vehicles to deliver goods, which could help deter the restless youths and prevent them from acting recklessly.

The other one is probably just trying to bolster their own position.

The present is different from the future.

The faster Wang Dong pedaled the sewing machine at the People's Garment Factory on Taishan Road, the greater the pressure he felt.

Because the cotton fabric he supplied to the garment factory was not included in the production plan, it should have gotten him into trouble if someone investigated the matter thoroughly.

Fortunately, Wang Dong had taken this into account and meant well, so he introduced Qian Jin to a new fabric that their No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill had just developed this year.

This new fabric was not included in the production plan, so it's easy to explain whether more or less was produced.

Wang Dong is now just making up an excuse, saying that he's producing samples and releasing them to garment factories to see how well the public accepts them.

As for why so many samples were produced?
Nobody asked that anymore.

The reason why the country immediately carried out economic system reform is that the planned economy and market economy are now really restricting the development of productivity.

Many factories are openly or secretly trying to generate profits for themselves outside of the planned budget.

Once he understood this, Qian Jin immediately perked up.

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, turned around and roared at Shi Zhentao, who was frozen to the side, "Captain Shi, what are you standing there for! Take the delivery order, check the goods! Then get the men to unload the truck!"

"Hurry up and don't delay the PLA comrades' official duties!"

He invited the soldiers to have tea and smoke.

The soldier only accepted the cigarette but did not go in for tea or anything else.

After unloading, he threw away his fifth cigarette butt, got into the truck, and started it.

The thick exhaust pipe spewed out plumes of choking black smoke, mixed with the acrid smell of unburned diesel, which heavily permeated the streets, as if marking the location of the garment factory.

With a roar, the truck drove away.

The young people queuing up this time were much more well-behaved.

The noise has disappeared.

The crowd stood in a line, silently watching the truck's retreating figure.

Only after the truck disappeared from sight did they begin to whisper among themselves:

"Why are military vehicles delivering cloth?"

"Does Qian Jin have connections with the military?"

"Is the People's Garment Factory on Taishan Road going to produce military supplies?"

Amidst whispers, everyone craned their necks to look into the factory.

Their eyes still held a stubborn expectation, now tinged with a sense of awe born from the presence of military vehicles.

Qian Jin did not watch the truck leave.

He turned around and went back to the factory early in the morning.

The People's Garment Factory is becoming more and more like a proper business.

Now there are forty more sewing machines inside, and with the addition of electric sewing machines, there are now over a hundred machines in operation.

Even with this production method, the bell-bottoms produced are not enough to meet demand.

Zhang Hongmei changed her working hours from 8 am to 5 pm to 8 am to 8 pm, and she no longer rests on Sundays.

In this way, the female workers in the garment factory began to enjoy a blessed life of 887 (a Chinese internet slang term for a specific type of health or condition) at a very young age.

Times have changed.

The female workers didn't complain!
Just keep your head down and get to work!
Because of the spirit of dedication that is being promoted today, because workers are indeed hardworking and resilient, and because there is hope and something to look forward to.

Qian Jin issued a notice early in the morning, stipulating an eight-hour workday, with all other hours being overtime, and double pay and double benefits!
He also asked four female work team leaders to pass on the message privately.

After the production task was completed in November, everyone received a watch as a prize.

The team leaders had seen the kind of women's watches that Qian Jin was showing off.

Small and exquisite.

Stylish and chic!

They passed the news on to the female workers, and everyone was full of energy, looking forward to December.

In addition, Wei Xiangmi is also actively mediating for them, hoping that they can work hard in November and December to increase production, and help them win a collective award for the city's March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter Award next year.

The labor commando teams have expanded rapidly this month.

The number of female team members increased by over a hundred.

Qian Jin was quite troubled.

We need to provide them with induction training.

This means doing mundane tasks like sweeping streets, unclogging sewers, and cleaning toilets.

It cannot be that male team members have to undergo basic induction training while female team members do not.

Treat everyone equally!
Unfortunately, the garment factory's production tasks were too urgent, and the female workers were already working 12 hours a day and 7 days a week, so they really didn't have time to go to basic positions to receive training.

This arrangement can only delay things further.

At this point, the female workers were already under a lot of physical stress.

Several windows in the factory building, which were originally closed and had their curtains drawn, are now all open for ventilation.

There was no other way; the factory was already overcrowded, with cotton threads and needles flying everywhere, sewing machine lubricant evaporating, and the air was so stuffy it was choking.

The fifty newly recruited female workers crowded around the old tables that had been temporarily added, nervously watching the experienced workers give simple demonstrations.

The foot-operated motor made a loud, clattering sound.

The smell of sawdust from the new sewing machine hadn't dissipated yet, and the heavy thumping of the foot pedal mingled with the slightly clumsy rhythm of the new female worker.

In the corner, there was a pile of newly arrived fabric, gleaming with a fresh sheen.

"...You need to have strength in your feet! Otherwise, you won't be able to move the wheels! Yes, like that, push steadily! Hey! Watch out for the needle and your hands!"

Master Zhang Hongmei's voice had already cracked.

She's been extremely tired lately.

I do a lot of the work myself, and I also have to put in a lot of effort to lead the team.

At this moment, she was busy sewing pants with her hands while occasionally turning around to check on the female workers who were learning to work.

Qian Jin felt sorry for the old master, so he quickly took the enamel cup, poured in hot water, and added the throat-soothing tea he bought from the mall.

This hot water isn't ordinary water; it's an electrolyte drink with added glucose.

In any case, people generally don't consume enough sugar these days, so there's no need to worry about developing diabetes.

Zhang Hongmei nodded to him, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

Don’t say anything else.

The throat-soothing tea was refreshing, slightly sweet, and very delicious; the experienced worker was quite pleased with it. Many new female workers were dressed in various work uniforms.

These clothes were passed down from their older siblings and parents. All the female workers here were educated youth who returned to the city. They did not enter formal factories and therefore did not have their own work clothes.

Ill-fitting work clothes are a hindrance to work; some cuffs hang down and easily get caught in the machine head, so you have to tie the sleeves up with rubber bands or ropes.

Qian Jin couldn't help but shake his head as he watched the female workers having to roll up their sleeves every now and then.

If the production tasks are not too demanding, he plans to have Zhang Hongmei design a uniform for the garment factory, so that each person can have one.

With production tasks too heavy right now, he decided to go back to the mall and buy a set of work clothes.

I can just give a random explanation when the time comes, so no one will ask about my background.

Qian Jin was deeply moved by the work attitude of the new female workers.

They bit their lips, held their breath, and stared intently at the swaying needle and the feed teeth struggling to move forward under the weight of the fabric, their foreheads covered in sweat.

The older workers nearby were much more nimble, but their faces also showed undeniable fatigue.

Their main responsibilities included cutting, sewing the waistbands, and attaching the belt loops—these were the key processes.

At the back of the workshop, in a corner near the newly turned-on power supply, stood a formation of more than ten brand-new electric sewing machines.

The entire piece is deep black with a yellow workbench, and its clumsy lines are full of power.

The motor's sound was sharp, steady, and powerful, carrying an unstoppable rhythm of the industrial age.

More than a dozen skilled and quick-learning older female workers, selected by the team, are sitting here operating the equipment.

Yu Lijuan is now in charge of leading a team of female workers making electric sewing machines.

Qian Jin went over and gave a special reminder: "Xiao Yu, be careful, electric sewing machines are dangerous."

Logically speaking, these female workers shouldn't be using electric sewing machines now.

no way.

The production tasks are heavy, and we're being forced into it.

Yu Lijuan readily agreed, "Don't worry, Chief Qian, we can handle it."

Compared to the clumsy new female workers, they were much faster.

The veteran worker's hands moved like clockwork, almost without stopping, the fabric swirling and flowing as the needle flew, and the shape of the finished trousers quickly took shape.

The continuous hum of the motor combined with the dense "prick-prick" sound of needles piercing the fabric created a unique and heart-pounding production rhythm.

The sewing thread was consumed at an alarming rate; the spool spun and shrank rapidly, becoming almost invisible under the light, leaving only a spinning shadow.

Soon someone shouted that the cable was gone, and the female worker who worked on the pipeline dragged a whole sack of spools of cable back and forth, like a supply soldier resupplying ammunition on a battlefield.

On the terrazzo floor of the workshop, loose threads and fabric scraps had accumulated like a layer of snow, making it soft and spongy to walk on.

In the corner, several stacks of bundled semi-finished products and freshly produced finished products were piled higher and higher.

The female worker in charge of inspection checked the finished pants over and over again and found no problems. Then she called out and was led out.

A batch of bell-bottoms went out.

It was immediately engulfed by the crowd.

The crowd dispersed.

Bell-bottoms disappeared.

Instead, heavy money boxes and ticket boxes were installed.

Both long-time and new employees would be invigorated upon noticing this scene.

Their expressions were similar, their brows furrowed—from exhaustion—yet their lips held a tense, excited curve—from the high wages at the factory.

Qian Jin felt that this wouldn't work.

The female workers are under too much pressure.

He went to Zhang Hongmei and said, "Tomorrow is Monday, there will be fewer customers buying bell-bottoms, so let the workers rest for half a day."

Zhang Hongmei kept working, head down, and said, "Why rest? We'll have plenty of time to rest after this busy season."

"It's going to get colder later, so it won't be suitable to wear bell-bottoms anymore. The legs are too wide and they let in too much wind."

"So let's work overtime and do more work now. When bell-bottoms don't sell well anymore, I'll let them take turns resting, so they can take two days off each week!"

The female worker in front turned around and laughed, "That won't do. I don't want to rest. I want to work overtime and earn overtime pay."

Zhang Hongmei glared at her: "Don't get distracted. Look at how capable you are. Be careful not to smash a sewing needle into your hand!"

Qian Jin thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll tell the braised meat shop that they won't be selling braised meat for the next two days. They can give it to our workers to take home as a snack!"

The female workers have high incomes and good benefits, and their status at home has been greatly elevated. They basically don't need to cook or wash dishes.

However, if they can bring various braised meats home, their status at home will definitely be higher, and they will have more time to rest.

Qian Jin had to find a way to ensure the female workers had enough rest time.

Excessive fatigue can lead to production accidents!

He wandered around the area twice, and hundreds of new bell-bottoms bearing the mark of the Taishan Road People's Garment Factory, still scalding hot from the machines and with loose threads left to fall off, were quickly stuffed into new wicker baskets.

The fabric is fine, the trousers have huge legs, and the style is slim.

The rushed production time did not compromise their quality; the stitches on the trousers were meticulous and fine, not rushed at all.

The inspection team will pick out any pants that do not meet the standards.

Each pair of pants comes with a number tag before it is sold, which is directly linked to the production team.

The output and yield rate of each production team will be included in the reward and penalty assessment.

Another batch of bell-bottoms has passed inspection.

Qian Jin helped the female worker carry the willow baskets out.

The suppressed restlessness of countless young people and their impulse to imitate the distant figure projected from Tokyo were all released into these bell-bottoms.

It got dark.

Under the incandescent light, this batch of bell-bottoms sold out again.

Looking at the time, Qian Jin slammed himself heavily into the rattan chair by the door.

Immediately, the vines let out a groan of unbearable strain.

This is a simple office area.

There are desks, bookshelves, and filing cabinets. On the back wall are the garment factory's labor regulations and reward and punishment standards.

The factory is now operating normally.

He took out the equipment and personnel reports and looked at a few indicators that were hastily circled with a red pencil.

There are currently 80 foot-operated sewing machines.

Electric sewing machines: 16 units.

Current number of employees: 108.

……

The water in the enamel mug on the corner of the table had gone completely cold.

The weather is getting colder.

It will soon be late November.

The first snow of this winter fell with a chill in the air.

Qian Jin thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Just as Zhang Hongmei had predicted, bell-bottoms were not suitable for wearing in snowy weather.

Sales will inevitably plummet once it snows.

result……

Every day at the end of the workday, the new bell-bottoms, once they come off the factory, are like a pebble thrown into a lake, always creating ripples.

Admittedly, now it's a small pebble, creating fewer ripples.

However, customers who come to buy bell-bottoms still have to queue.

Fortunately, the team became more disciplined, showing some of the sense of order that comes with a state-owned enterprise system.

The workers still have to work overtime to rush the production.

Qian Jin sighed.

No wonder the financial market says that information is the greatest wealth.

He only knew that bell-bottoms would be a huge hit, and ended up making a fortune from a small workshop.

Qian Jin couldn't even imagine how much his company would expand after the reform and opening up!

It snowed twice in the following days.

Sales of bell-bottoms have finally been driven down.

The female workers were able to rest.

Qian Jin wanted them to get some rest, but after get off work, he stopped by the factory to check on the overall situation of the garment factory.

Zhang Hongmei came to him as soon as he sat down, her expression serious: "Alas, the weather is not cooperating. If only we had started producing bell-bottoms a few months earlier."

These words left Qian Jin speechless.

He gestured for a moment, then said helplessly, "Chief Engineer Zhang, have you forgotten that we produced bell-bottoms in October and hardly anyone bought them?"

Zhang Hongmei said matter-of-factly, "Didn't you come up with the idea of ​​giving our bell-bottoms a well-known brand? With the Han Tang brand, how could these bell-bottoms not sell well?"

Qian Jin was stunned.

The old master craftsman thought that bell-bottoms were selling well because they were branded.

However, their brand is Han Tang, not LV or Adidas, so the boost to sales is negligible.

Zhang Hongmei said worriedly, "The bell-bottoms are piling up again, what are we going to do?"

Qian Jin said, "Don't worry, it will definitely sell well next spring!"

At that time, we will not only sell to Haibin City, but also to major surrounding cities and even to markets in the north and south.

Because there is less than a month left.

It's all about reform and opening up!
This is something that doesn't require memories of past lives. While the general public isn't fully aware of it, senior leaders in all major organizations have been exposed to the relevant information.

For example, the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives is constantly reforming itself and making early contact with companies and businesses in Europe, America, Japan and South Korea.

At that time, China and the United States had not even established diplomatic relations.

Zhang Hongmei lacked both foresight and access to information; she was only concerned about the immediate production work.
"Chief Qian, we can't pin our hopes on a vague future. Who knows how many people will still be buying bell-bottoms next year?"

Qian Jin poured her some tea, a health-preserving tea: "Chief Engineer Zhang, don't worry, there will definitely be plenty of people buying it. You can just focus on leading the team to do production."

Zhang Hongmei was very stubborn. She shook her head and said, "Don't think too highly of yourself. Just like you said, young people started wearing bell-bottoms because the movie 'Manhunt' was shown in theaters."

"This movie can't be shown for a whole year, can it? What if it's not shown next year?"

“It’s not just me who’s worried, Chief Qian. If you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself in the factory. Our female comrades are even more worried!”

Although the work was tiring in the past few days, the high income and good benefits had spoiled the female workers.

As sales of bell-bottoms plummeted, they began to worry.

They are worried about a sharp drop in income and benefits.

Qian Jin realized that if that was the case, they would have to find another explosive production point.

simple!
He downed his tea in one gulp and asked, "Chief Engineer Zhang, aren't you tired?"

Zhang Hongmei readily waved her hand and said, "Hey, do we working people complain about being tired? As long as I can produce the clothes that the people need, I'll be happy even if I'm exhausted!"

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go back and get a piece of clothing for you to see." Qian Jin left the factory and pushed open the door.

"Be prepared, the garment I'm going back to get will be a hot seller in winter, but it will be much more complicated to produce."

The weather is bad.

The leaden sky pressed heavily on the factory roof, and a row of icicles hung from the eaves like the tips of inverted spears.

The wind whipped up snowflakes, swirling them in the empty streets and making a sharp whistling sound.

The dusty streetlights on both sides of the road had already lit up dimly. Qian Jin walked home in the white, cotton-like shimmering light, and then walked back home in the same cotton-like shimmering light, his feet crunching under his feet.

When Zhang Hongmei saw him return, she stood up. Qian Jin pulled a large coat out of the bag tucked under his arm.

A beige trench coat!
(End of this chapter)