Chapter 180: Her Legend Lingers On
Factory Director Tian was feeling quite stifled inside. Normally, as a leader, asking a subordinate like Su He about something would be completely natural.
But now, she was practically the Goddess of Fortune — not someone he could afford to offend.
So, he had to watch his words carefully, making sure she couldn’t find fault with anything he said.
Su He pulled Director Tian aside and said, “Director Tian, we need to improve the instant noodles if we want to expand sales. I’m planning to add a dehydrated vegetable packet to them. We’ll promote it as convenient, tasty, and nutritionally balanced — that’ll definitely open up the market.”
Director Tian laughed after hearing this.
“Su, I’m going to have to throw some cold water on that idea!
It’s a good suggestion, sure, but as far as I know, the dehydrated vegetable factories in the capital don’t sell to outside buyers. So your proposal sounds good in theory, but in practice, it’s not workable.”
He was suddenly in a great mood again — finally got a win! That felt great.
Su He also smiled.
“You’re right, Director Tian. I actually went to the Jin Qiao Vegetable Processing Plant a couple of days ago, and they don’t sell to outsiders either.
So I racked my brains and helped them solve their surplus product problem…
And only then did Director Lu agree to allocate us 5 tons of dehydrated vegetables.
It’s not a lot, but it should be enough for our initial production.”
Director Tian: “…Su, I knew you’d find a way! I was right about you!”
He felt a little defeated.
This young woman didn’t rely on power or connections — she used her brain!
Who wouldn’t give her a thumbs up after hearing that?
Still, he consoled himself: he had more life experience. After all, he’d eaten more salt than she’d walked bridges. He was the steady hand of the An County Food Factory…
Yes, exactly. A household with an elder is like having a treasure — he was the anchor of the factory!
With his quick emotional rebound, he perked up again.
“Su, even though Director Lu promised us a quota verbally, that doesn’t really count until it’s in writing.
Let’s just order 1 ton first. Even if he changes his mind later, we’ll have enough to get by for a while.”
Su He smiled.
“Mm, I thought the same. That’s why I came to ask if we should go sign the contract this afternoon.”
Director Tian deflated like a pricked pufferfish.
He might be the anchor, but up against a clever little fox like Su He, he had no counter!
Yu Guodong and Principal Chen, who had stayed silent the whole time, exchanged glances — both saw the shared gleam of gossip-loving bystanders in each other’s eyes.
Better not to get involved. Just sit back and enjoy the show.
After mooching lunch at the Capital Food Factory, the four of them headed to Jin Qiao Vegetable Processing Plant that afternoon.
The gatekeeper recognized Su He and smiled brightly.
“Director Lu already told us. You can go right in to see him.”
Su He said a few polite words and led the others into the plant.
Director Lu was very courteous. After the contract was signed, he even offered to treat them to a meal.
Su He rubbed her hands together.
“Director Lu, no need to go through all that trouble. But, if it’s convenient, could you spare us some samples of the dehydrated vegetables?”
Director Lu didn’t think much of it — dehydrated vegetables are light. At most she’d ask for a pound or two.
So he agreed.
Then Su He walked away with forty pounds of samples.
Director Lu had every reason to believe that if it weren’t too heavy to carry, she’d have asked for a hundred.
Su He had no choice — dehydrated vegetables were in high demand, and the supply cycle was one month. She needed them for testing!
A skilled housewife can’t cook without rice. How could she run trials without samples?
Director Tian fully approved of her actions!
Face? That’s worthless. Tangible gains are what matter.
Outside the plant gate, Director Tian said:
“Su, the Capital Food Factory still has some production tasks left. Once those are done, we can move the production line back to our factory. So Yu and I plan to return to An County the day after tomorrow. Will you come with us or stay a few more days?”
“I’ve pretty much wrapped up my tasks here. I’ll head back with you.”
Director Tian’s eyes glinted.
“Alright, then I’ll be busy at the factory with Yu — you handle the ticket booking.”
Su He nodded. “Sure!”
Director Tian thought smugly,
This girl’s still young.
Getting a sleeper train ticket from the capital to An County? That’s near impossible.
She won’t be able to get them.
When that happens, he wouldn’t scold her — instead, he’d comfort her and let her feel the warmth of a caring leader.
Back when he was at the office of a major leader in An County, he’d overheard Director Feng of the Textile Factory say Su He had taken some hair accessory samples back with her.
But he’d assumed she just shipped them — he had no idea Su He had a connection like Yue Zhongcheng.
Su He hailed two tricycles. She and Principal Chen took one, while Director Tian and Yu Guodong took the other.
As soon as they got on, Yu Guodong went silent like a quail.
Because he remembered how Director Tian had bragged earlier about knowing tricycles existed in the capital and was going to teach Su He a thing or two — and now? Look at him now!
Director Tian, on the other hand, had completely forgotten about that and told Yu:
“Ask someone at the food factory for two packs of instant noodles. Let’s try them with the dehydrated vegetables.”
Yu Guodong: “…”
No wonder people say if Zhuge Liang exists, why does Zhou Yu even bother — in terms of shamelessness, Director Tian and Deputy Director Su really are a perfect match!
Su He didn’t know Yu Guodong was mentally roasting her. She and Principal Chen headed to a department store.
Su He bought some hair clips as samples for the Machinery Factory, then picked up five Hero-brand fountain pens.
One each for Su Xiaoman, Su Jinbao, Tiezhu, and Gou Dan, with the last one meant for Principal Chen.
When she handed it to him, he was a little embarrassed to take it.
Su He laughed.
“Come on, you and I — we’re like family! Not only is the pen for you, there’s a whole outfit for you among the clothes I bought earlier! You think I’d let you go back empty-handed after tagging along on this trip? If you don’t accept it, I won’t take you on any more business trips!”
Principal Chen quickly slipped the pen into his breast pocket.
Everything else was negotiable — but future business trips? He had to go!
No matter where Su went, he was tagging along.
Then Su He went to the bookstore to buy some design-related books for her second aunt, Cao Hongmei.
Although she had lots of resources in the system, it was still better to do things aboveboard when she could.
The bookstore in the capital was huge — Su He even saw some foreign-language books.
Though they were carefully screened titles, it still showed that the capital was relatively open — probably because of the number of export-oriented businesses in the area.
Su He not only bought design books for Cao Hongmei but also picked up more than a dozen comic books for the kids like Su Xiaoman.
Principal Chen bought quite a few books too, but they were for the night school teachers.
The old man might be frugal with himself, but when it came to education, he was very generous.
The next morning, Su He went to the train station to buy tickets.
Afterward, she called a tricycle and headed to the No. 1 Textile Factory in the capital.
Principal Chen asked, “Going to say goodbye to Director Gao from An County’s Textile Factory?”
“Mm, that’s one reason. But more importantly, I need to maintain the relationship — keep the tea warm while people are still around.”
Principal Chen: “…”
When Su He arrived at the factory, her first stop was to greet the gatekeepers and chat with them warmly — she even brought them pastries from Jinxiang Hotel.
And so, even after Su He had returned to An County, among the gatekeepers of the No. 1 Textile Factory in the capital…
Her legend lived on.
