The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 241 The Launch of a Flagship Product: The Reform and Opening Up Begins

The wheels of time rolled past November and into December.

There's a popular saying on the internet in the 21st century: "One cannot simultaneously possess youth and the understanding of youth."

There's a similar situation: many people cannot simultaneously be part of history and have an understanding of historical events.

In December, only a few high-level leaders and truly visionary intellectuals knew how important the events of this month were to the new China.

On March 15, China and the United States signed the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.

The following day, a communiqué was published, in which the United States recognized the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China.

At the same time, both sides agreed that the "Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China" would officially take effect on January 1, 1979, and that China and the United States would formally establish diplomatic relations!

The plenary session was held on the 18th, and this session brought about a great historical turning point for China.

On the 24th, the People's Daily published the announcement of this plenary session, featuring it on the front page with extensive coverage.

Qian Jin paid for a stack of newspapers out of his own pocket and distributed them to the department staff and members of the labor commando team.

As a result, almost no one gleaned any important information from the newspaper.

In fact, the newspapers on the 24th had already made everything clear.

The meeting highly praised the discussion on the idea that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth and re-established the ideological line of "emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts".

then!

The meeting made the decision to shift the focus of the Party's work to socialist modernization and to implement reform and opening up!

Unlike the resumption of the college entrance examination, the reform and opening up began quietly in society.

There was no gonging or drumming, and no place where firecrackers were set off.

Almost no one on Taishan Road took the time to carefully read the newspaper. Only Qian Jin gave all the team members a day off, telling them to read today's daily newspaper carefully and look for the highlights.

The People's Garment Factory was an exception; they did not get a holiday.

And today is very important. After more than half a month of research, the double-breasted trench coat has been thoroughly studied by Zhang Hongmei and other master craftsmen.

On the very 24th, Zhang Hongmei decided to instruct the female workers of the first brigade to begin learning how to sew double-breasted trench coats.

For the female members of the labor commando team, this was the most important thing today.

The training started early in the morning, and Zhang Hongmei specially called Qian Jin over to witness this historic moment for the garment factory.

The trench coat is made of dark blue polyester-cotton twill fabric. This fabric is thick and dense, and can block wind and rain, making it quite suitable for sewing trench coats.

The experienced craftswoman hung a sample fabric on the wall, and as she ran her finger along the edge of the fabric, she began to explain with a firm and resonant voice:

"When laying out and cutting fabric, it is important to follow the grain direction. When the fabric is laid on the cutting table, the grain direction must be consistent and cannot be crooked."

"Comrades, my fellow young comrades, when you are laying out the fabric, you must keep your eyes wide open to avoid fabric defects, and you must also mark the edges of the cut pieces with cutting marks, otherwise how will the colleagues on the assembly line know which piece to assemble with which piece among dozens of pieces of fabric?"

"If it's cut badly or pieced together poorly, a piece of material is ruined!"

Trench coat production must adopt an assembly line model, but the entire process must be learned so that one can be confident and have a clear plan when working.

The garment factory doesn't have that many cutting tables, nor does it need one cutting table per person.

So, in front of each of the dozen or so cutting tables, there were three or four female workers.

Following Zhang Hongmei's instructions and imitating Jin Chunhua, they carefully laid out the cloth, and the tension was palpable.

“Sewing is the main part.” Zhang Hongmei sat back in her chair, her tone carrying the solemnity of a craftswoman. “We all know this, remember this, the process is interconnected, and we can’t mess it up.”

"First, we need to 'set the lining.' We now have high-temperature irons, these are treasures." The old craftsman made an ironing gesture.

"The collar, placket, and pocket openings are key areas where the cut woven interlining is applied. Then, a high-temperature iron is pressed on, and with a sizzling sound, the temperature, pressure, and time must be precisely controlled."

After studying trench coats for more than 20 days, Zhang Hongmei and others certainly did more than just observe without taking action.

Many semi-finished products have already been processed from the accessories, such as collars and pocket openings, which have been cut out and are just waiting to be used.

The main body of the trench coat is cut first, and then the accessories are added.

The female workers hurriedly lined up to use the high-temperature irons.

Out of their appreciation for the fabric, they were determined to succeed on the first try.

This time, Zhang Hongmei not only watched but also provided guidance, and that's how the outlines of the trench coats took shape.

She was very satisfied and held up her finger to continue giving instructions: "The epaulettes must have a 0.1 cm wide visible stitch, and the stitches must be even, as if measured with a ruler—this is very important, we can't ruin the reputation of Han and Tang clothing."

"Sleeve loops are usually made of three layers of fabric, so remember that you must sew three reinforcing lines, and the stitch density must be guaranteed, no less than twelve stitches every three centimeters; the most difficult part is the slanted pockets..."

She personally picked up a half-finished trench coat to show it off:

"Look carefully, examine the angle of the bag opening, the size of the bag fabric, and the position of the stitching. If it's even slightly off, it will be crooked and not neat. This is the most error-prone part, and it needs to be repeatedly adjusted. Even experienced craftsmen have to be extremely careful."

Qian Jin stood at the door with his arms crossed, watching.

It's snowing today, and the wind is strong outside the window, whipping up snowflakes that pelt against the glass and making a soft, rustling sound.

The fire in the stove was blazing.

The temperature inside the factory was quite high, and the female workers were somewhat nervous, with many of them sweating profusely.

"The main stitching is the skeleton," Zhang Hongmei instructed loudly. "When joining the front and back pieces to attach the sleeves, the key is the armhole..."

She pointed to the connection between the shoulder and sleeve on the drawing, then picked up the sleeve and gestured it on the main body of the trench coat:

"The joint between the large sleeve piece and the small sleeve piece must be perfectly aligned with the cut edges."

"Pay attention, this is where problems can easily occur. If the stitching is crooked, or the gusset isn't properly made, you won't be able to raise your arm, or you'll get a bulge under your armpit. That will either affect the garment's appearance or its overall look."

Upon arriving here, Jin Chunhua reminded everyone, "Study hard, this is the crucial point."

"Chief Engineer Zhang has been working very hard these days to adjust the armhole curve. She has been taking it apart and modifying it repeatedly, often doing it fifteen or sixteen times a day!"

The back features a zippered placket and double-breasted buttons.

This job is the simplest; all that's needed is accurate positioning.

The trick is that double-breasted buttons, because they are subject to greater stress, require extra reinforcement at the back.

A large group of female workers began sewing, and zippers and buttons started appearing on the clothes.

Zhang Hongmei had a chance to catch her breath, so she quickly picked up the enamel mug with a red star on it and drank some water.

Qian Jin helped her by adding a packet of throat-soothing tea to her drink.

Zhang Hongmei moistened her slightly dry throat and continued the demonstration:

"Finally, there's the 'lining assembly.' The side seams of the lining should have a full two centimeters of seam allowance, and the sleeve caps should have a two-centimeter ease allowance, so that it will fit smoothly and won't bunch up."

"Sew the lining and outer fabric together inside out, then turn the whole thing inside out... This step requires a steady hand and a careful mind. Both the lining and the outer fabric must fit together perfectly without any twisting."

Qian Jin nodded in agreement.

The female workers had a very good learning attitude; each of them wore a thimble and focused intently on operating the sewing machine.

The needle clicked and clacked, the stitches as fine as ants crawling.

Zhang Hongmei circled around the female workers like an exam proctor, able to spot any problems immediately and demanding that the stitches be removed and the garments re-sewn.

She has completely mastered this trench coat.

In her mind, the trench coat was no longer just a simple garment, but a complex machine with countless precise gears meshing and operating.

She methodically taught the female workers to sew in sequence, and one trench coat after another became more and more presentable.

But that's not enough.

The most attractive feature of a trench coat is its shape, and ironing and shaping it like this is how you present it.

The lapel needs to be ironed with sharp creases, and the shoulders need to be rounded and full; all of this depends on the skill of the steam iron.

The temperature needs to be adjusted according to the fabric. If the temperature is too high for wool, it will burn; if the temperature is too low for synthetic fibers, it will not hold its shape.

You also have to be careful of 'aurora' – if the iron stays in one place for too long, the fabric will reflect light and become shiny, and then it will become a defective product.

Qian Jin followed along and learned how to complete the process.

The female workers were overjoyed. They wiped the sweat from their foreheads and excitedly picked up the blue trench coats in front of them.

Wang Lijuan waved to Qian Jin: "Chief Qian, come and try this on. What do you think of my trench coat?"

This is a men's trench coat.

Qian Jin was the only man present, so he naturally became the model.

This was also the main reason why Zhang Hongmei called him over.

Qian Jin was tall and muscular, a perfect clothes hanger for a trench coat.

Wang Lijuan helped him put on his trench coat.

The female workers, who had gathered around with their arms around each other, exclaimed in admiration.

There are dressing mirrors in the factory.

Qian went up and took a look.

Very handsome.

He's even more handsome than Du Qiu!
Seeing this, Zhang Hongmei's wrinkled face broke into a relieved smile.

She looked at Qian Jin with admiration, subconsciously nodding and her eyes reddening.

Hard work pays off.

The garment factory has finally produced its flagship product!

In her eyes, bell-bottoms were not a product that could carry the reputation of a clothing brand. These pants were easy to produce, and some skillful girls could even modify them themselves.

But double-breasted trench coats are different.

These are definitely not clothes that a small workshop could produce.

Taishan Road People's Garment Factory has finally established itself in the industry!

The wind and snow outside the window seemed to be getting fiercer, howling and crashing against the tin roof of the factory building, making a dull rumble.

The coal briquettes in the stove cracked open with a soft "pop," and the flames became even more intense.

Qian Jin tried on the trench coat again and again, just like playing a dress-up game.

They come in various sizes and models.

He put it on mainly to get a general idea of ​​the situation and see if there were any parts that needed to be altered; it didn't need to fit perfectly.

We need to see how the trench coat fits when it's properly fitted; someone comes to try it on.

The day the trench coats were produced, the male members of the labor commando team came running upon hearing the news...

They had all seen the movie "Manhunt," and each of them harbored a dream of becoming Du Qiu.

Du Qiu already had his toad-shaped sunglasses.

Now, Du Qiu already has bell-bottoms, and now he's wearing a trench coat.

The team members rushed to make internal purchases.

The trench coat is priced at fifty yuan.

This wasn't a price set internally by Qian Jin and the garment factory; they provided a suggested price, which was then submitted to the price bureau for approval of the ex-factory price, ultimately resulting in such a high price.

And yet it was still snapped up!

The team members are not short of money now.

Even those who are short of money can't resist the sight of a Duqiu trench coat, and will borrow money to buy one!
December and January are very cold in the coastal city, and it has already snowed several times.

It's time to wear padded jackets and trousers now, and the large number of cyclists commuting to and from get off work in the morning and evening are now dressed in green military overcoats.

In this increasingly bloated world, the appearance of blue trench coats and bell-bottoms has become a unique sight. The young, flamboyant staff at the mobile canteens all wear this attire, and during the day they cover their faces with aviator sunglasses.

They feel like the coolest kids wherever they go.

Of course, their attire certainly attracts attention wherever they go.

Young men and women exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this outfit, calling it the "Du Qiu outfit."

Middle-aged people are very interested in trench coats.

When the old men and women saw this outfit, they rubbed their old, cold, and rheumatic legs and laughed at their successor.

Anyway.

The appearance of the blue trench coat, coupled with the still-screening movie "Manhunt," immediately garnered considerable attention.

Actually, the members of the People's Mobile Canteen team aren't that cold.

In winter, when barbecues stop, it's the season for soup and spicy hot pot, and both of these rely entirely on stoves to keep their businesses afloat.

They do business around the stove; when there are many customers, they are busy but not cold, and when there are few customers, they warm themselves by the fire.

This made them even more flamboyant.

In this way, the advertisement was successfully created.

Before anyone knew it, a group of young people had gathered again in front of the People's Garment Factory on Taishan Road...

At this moment, a group of people also gathered in the conference room of the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

From the central government to the communes, every level of the supply and marketing cooperative had to hold a mobilization meeting for leading cadres on reform and opening up!

In the largest conference room on the second floor of the Haibin City Supply and Marketing Cooperative, hot water circulated in the cast iron heating pipes and radiators attached to the wall, but the chill still seeped in through the cracks in the window, which was half painted green.

The weather was bad today, gloomy, so the lights were turned on in the meeting room.

Several fluorescent tubes emitted a bright white light, illuminating the faces surrounding the long, dark chestnut-colored conference table.

The table is quite old, with many scratches on the paint and dark wood showing through the edges. It has been polished and patted countless times by people.

On the wall behind the chairman's seat, next to it, hangs a large portrait of the leader and a handwritten slogan that reads "Serve the People".

The air was murky, and the grayish-white smoke from dozens of pipes swirled and lingered.

Qian Jin silently looked around.

Niang Xipi!
Everyone there was a heavy smoker; only I and Zhou Jiqing, the head of the security department, didn't smoke!

This discovery surprised him.

Zhou Jiqing doesn't smoke?!
The strong aroma of tobacco mixed with the misty steam rising from the teacup, all of it seeping into one's nose and throat.

Zhou Jiqing couldn't help but cough softly, and said with dissatisfaction, "Smoke less. People who know us will know we're in a meeting, but people who don't will think we're burning charcoal in there."

Vice President Jiang Mao scoffed, "Old Zhou, are you sure you can keep up this? You're usually the number one smoker in our unit."

"Do you know how much your colleagues complain about you? Look where the chimney is! You smoke one cigarette after another, like smoke billowing from a chimney. Now that you have bronchitis and are coughing, you're telling us to smoke less?"

"You can't just tell others to smoke less when you don't smoke!"

Zhou Jiqing said innocently, "How can you slander me, leader? I'm perfectly fine at home, when have I ever had bronchitis?"

"I caught a cold this time—oh, I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said it's a viral infection!"

He then boasted to those around him, "Do you know what a viral infection is? You don't need medicine for a viral infection. The doctor said I'm strong and have a good immune system, so I recovered on my own in a week."

Qian Jin's expression suddenly changed.

Niang Xipi!
Are you infected with a virus?

He looked in horror at the sealed doors and windows, then at Zhou Jiqing who was coughing incessantly, and quickly lit a cigarette for himself.

Smoke can disinfect and sterilize to some extent.

He doesn't want to get infected!
The door opened, and Wei Bin brought in his secretary, carrying a teacup.

The expanded meeting of all leading cadres began in earnest.

Everyone stubbed out their cigarettes, opened their notebooks, and began to get serious.

There were three people at the head table: President Wei Bin, Vice President Yi Xuebing, and Vice President Jiang Mao.

Wei Bin sat in the center, wearing a faded Zhongshan suit with four pockets, the collar buttoned up tightly.

He made a point of grooming himself today, combing his hair back meticulously and glancing at the corner every now and then.

The photographer from the unit's publicity department set up a camera there.

He swept his dignified gaze across the room, but did not speak immediately. Instead, he picked up the thick white teacup in front of him, gently blew away the foam, and took a sip.

The murmurs that filled the room fell silent instantly, with only the rustling of papers, the light tapping of teacup lids, and the mournful sound of the cold wind lashing against the windows outside.

Yi Xuebing stood up and said, "Wei She, everyone is here. We can start the meeting now."

Wei Bin put down his teacup, nodded, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:
"Comrades, we have gathered you all here today for one purpose: to convey, study, and understand the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across every face in the room like a searchlight.

"This is an epoch-making conference! A conference that will determine the future of our country..."

You could hear a pin drop in the room.

Many people subconsciously straightened their slightly hunched backs and gripped their knees or the edge of the notebook in front of them.

Qian Jin nodded repeatedly with a serious expression.

This is not just empty talk.

He knew that Wei Bin was absolutely right about the significance of this conference.

“…Alright, Comrade Jiang Mao will now read the document.” Wei Bin closed his notebook and nodded to Vice President Jiang Mao.

Jiang Mao began reading the document.

His voice was a little hoarse, but his tone was high-pitched, carrying an undeniable sense of authority.
"...We must resolutely end the policy of 'taking class struggle as the key link' and shift the focus of the Party's work and the attention of the people of the whole country to socialist modernization!"

"...In order to ensure the stable and orderly progress of the people's socialist cause and to narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas, the future focus of development will shift to developing township and village collective enterprises and small urban street collective enterprises!"

Qian Jin was writing furiously in his notebook.

This is a major policy, and it is closely related to the various enterprises under his command's labor commando teams.

With this banner...

Several small collective enterprises on Taishan Road are about to take off!
After the meeting documents and the document conveying the spirit of the meeting issued by the Central News Agency were read aloud, Wei Bin put down his teacup and began to speak again:
"Comrades, the document reading is finished. Let's begin an internal discussion and start making specific work arrangements."

"First of all, let me say that in the days to come, our supply and marketing cooperative will have more important responsibilities and more arduous tasks."

“In the past, we would collect grain, cotton, and peanut oil according to plan, and distribute soap and matches to the citizens.”

"What about the future? We need to support the economic work of small collective enterprises and rural collective enterprises, because this will affect the work arrangements for educated youth in both urban and rural areas!"

“They want to set up small factories and small businesses, raise chickens and ducks, grow fruit trees, and open sales outlets. Our supply and marketing cooperative is the fulcrum!”

"We need to find a way to meet the needs of our agricultural supply stores, including fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery!"

"Our purchasing stations can't just sit there waiting for the state to allocate the goods they produce; we have to go and buy them, and help them find markets for their small collective enterprises' products. We have to change too..."

Everyone frantically took notes and nodded in agreement.

Wei Bin's gaze swept over everyone: "Comrades, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Jiqing stood up abruptly.

He suppressed a cough and said in a loud voice, "Distinguished leaders and comrades, I would like to say a few words of my thoughts."

"As the saying goes, 'No destruction, no construction,' this is a massive destruction and construction! Our thoughts and actions must keep up with this 'shift in focus'..."

Unable to suppress his cough any longer, he began to talk animatedly while coughing:
We must implement the spirit conveyed by the Central Committee.

You need to lead the security team members in this and that.

We must carry forward this spirit and that style in this new era...

Wei Bin frowned as he listened: "Alright, alright, Lao Zhou, you're coughing like that, sit down first."

He pressed his hands down on Zhou Jiqing while looking at Qian Jin: "Director Qian, what are your thoughts?"

Why should I comment on the work of the security department at Qianjin Secret Passage? What kind of nonsense is this?

However, since the leader specifically mentioned him, he definitely has to perform well.

So he tried to organize his thoughts and said, "Section Chief Zhou's speech was very good. I'd like to add a few words."

"In my view, the responsibilities of the security department must also change in the new economic era. In the past, it was about preventing thieves from inside the house and petty theft."

"From now on, the focus of our efforts should be on ensuring the smooth progress of reforms! Supply and marketing outlets, transportation lines, and warehouses are the lifeblood of economic development. We must ensure they are not disrupted and safeguard the new situation..."

Zhou Jiqing was stunned.

Is it even possible to speak like that?!
Yup!

I should have said that!

The way Yi Xuebing and other leaders looked at Qian Jin was somewhat different.

This kid is way smarter than those roughnecks in the office; you can see the difference just from his simple remarks.

Wei Bin laughed: "I asked you to talk about how our work should proceed in the new economic era, and how your work should proceed!"

"Look, we can't keep having big vats of soy sauce and coarse cloth shirts on our store shelves all the time, right?"

"As people's lives improve, their needs will become more and more diverse. Relying solely on 'self-reliance' with household necessities like needles, thread, pots, and pans is no longer enough; we must look to the world!"

"Since our unit needs to have a global perspective, shouldn't your Foreign Investment Office take on some of the responsibilities?"

Qian Jin suddenly understood.

I misunderstood!

However, this is a simple matter, and he has already considered it.

He immediately said, "What the leader said hits the nail on the head. Now, let me offer my humble opinion."

"The Central News Agency says that the focus of work has shifted to economic development, and the floodgates have been opened. Where will this water be drawn from?"

"We must open our doors, develop foreign trade, introduce technology, and import goods!"

“We are part of the supply and marketing system, but the spirit conveyed by the central leaders today also includes a plan for the reform of the entire economic system.”

“Our coastal city has a port, and the Foreign Investment Office cannot just focus on the small task of the traditional export earnings quota every year.”

"Be open-minded, be bold! Look outward, and try new paths!"

"Besides finding ways to sell our traditional advantageous products, it is even more important to learn how to bring in good things from outside that are useful to people's lives and beneficial to production and development!"

Wei Bin nodded in satisfaction, Yi Xuebing clapped at the right moment, and the others followed suit.

Finally, Wei Bin patted the table and said, "Director Qian Jin's words are very well said. That's all."

"We want to sell our own products and also buy products from abroad."

"This is one of the tasks of the Foreign Trade Office. After the reform and opening up, the Foreign Trade Office should play its role as a leader in foreign trade communication, and other relevant departments should closely cooperate with it in carrying out its work."

These words stirred up a lot of emotions.

Qian Jin was the one whose emotions were most turbulent.

What this means is...

What does it mean to lay the foundation for foreign-invested enterprises to become the main force in the tide of reform and opening up?
His workload has indeed increased!

(End of this chapter)