Chapter 122: “I Don’t Believe a Word You Say”
Although Director Gao had his doubts, he kept them to himself.
He knew that even if he voiced them, Factory Director Feng wouldn’t believe him anyway. After all, in most people’s eyes, Su He was the picture of a well-behaved and sensible girl.
Only he, having dealt with her personally, knew what she was really like.
Seeing Su He busy running around, he didn’t bring it up with her. It could wait—there was no rush to deal with it today when tomorrow would do just fine.
Su He was busy. Although the performance showcase had ended, there were still plenty of loose ends she had to tie up.
It wasn’t until most of the crowd had dispersed that she finally headed home with Uncle Su Yongshi and his wife.
She had wanted to talk to Principal Chen about Fu Peng, but Director Lu had called him away, so it would have to wait until tomorrow.
On the way, Cao Hongmei hissed through clenched teeth, “That Zhu Yanli must’ve been put up to it by Fu Peng. You were right—he is one of Shen Ruyi’s people! Good thing you were sharp, or this would’ve gotten completely out of hand!”
Su Yongshi added angrily, “Little He, if you hadn’t warned me not to stir up trouble, I swear I’d have given that Fu Peng a beating just to vent! Damn it, how come that swarm of hornets didn’t sting him to death?!”
Su He, however, remained calm. “Uncle, Auntie, take it easy. This kind of thing might happen again—possibly even more often and more subtly. But don’t worry. When the soldiers come, we’ll block them with generals; when the floods come, we’ll stop them with earth. You see, our days are only getting better, aren’t they?”
After this incident, Shen Ruyi would surely grow more cautious, and her methods would only become more refined.
Truthfully, the reason things had gone so smoothly before was because Shen Ruyi—and whoever was behind her—had underestimated Su He, thinking she was harmless.
Which is why she now needed to solidify her network in An County—and a trip to the big city, S City, was absolutely necessary.
*
The next day, Su He went to the textile factory to find Director Gao.
His eyes lit up when he saw her. “Little Su! I was just about to come looking for you. Didn’t expect you to show up on your own!”
Su He grinned, “I figured you needed me for something, so I rushed right over!”
Director Gao laughed at that.
“Two things,” he said. “One, we’ve got an additional order for the fabric flowers. Two, the factory has approved your request to work part-time. Director Feng even said to tell you that if you do well, you can take on any role in the factory.”
Su He blinked innocently. “Then can I be the Factory Director?”
Director Gao: …Didn’t I just say…?!
Su He flashed a mischievous grin. “Just kidding! I don’t have such wild ambitions. I’m happy just being a salesperson.”
Director Gao: I don’t believe a word you say!
After a few more jokes, Su He got serious. “Director Gao, I actually came to talk about the fabric flowers. Also, I’d like to discuss something with you.”
“What’s up?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Director Tian from the food factory is sending me on a business trip to S City—”
She didn’t even finish before Director Gao interrupted, stunned. “Wait, what? Director Tian from the food factory is sending you on a business trip?!”
What he really wanted to say was: When did you get chummy with the food factory?!
Su He nodded casually. “Yeah, I gave him an invitation to the performance the other day, and he decided I was talented. Tried to talk me into a part-time job at the food factory, too.
“But since I’ve already got my hands full, I declined nicely. Still, Director Tian insisted. Said he’d reimburse my expenses so I could take a break in S City…”
Director Gao: …
Oh, come on—save some bragging for the rest of us!
Still, he had to admit: just delivering an invitation and she’d already roped in the food factory? And now she was getting sent to S City for a business trip?
These days, business trips were coveted—especially to places like the capital or S City. Even just for the experience, it was worth it.
After a long pause, Director Gao said, “So what, you’re telling me all this just to make me jealous?”
Su He rubbed her hands together. “Director Gao, I’m part of the textile factory, of course I’m thinking about the factory’s benefit! Hasn’t anyone thought of expanding our business into S City?”
Director Gao smiled wryly. “I’ve thought about it, sure—but there are several big textile mills around S City. Their products and technology are way ahead of ours. Plus, add in shipping costs? No one’s going to buy from us.”
Su He blinked. “Our fabrics may not be competitive, but what if we took another path—like fabric flowers?”
He shook his head. “You mean those ones made from fabric scraps? They might be novel here, but people in S City? They’re fashionable. Their standards are much higher.”
“You’re right,” Su He agreed. “Scrap fabric flowers won’t cut it. But what if we use high-quality materials instead? How about you approve some premium fabric and embellishments for me? I’ll have my aunt make some samples.”
Director Gao considered it. “Still, fabric-making is our core business. Making flowers was just a side thing to deal with leftover material. Isn’t this kind of blurring the lines?”
Su He laughed.
“Making fabric flowers doesn’t interfere with textile production—we can outsource it! Isn’t that what we’re doing already?
“Besides, labor’s cheap right now. Many big factories have side businesses too. That steel plant in the provincial capital? They’ve got an affiliated food factory—that has nothing to do with steel! Compared to that, fabric flowers and textiles are practically cousins!”
Director Gao, being in sales, had a fairly open mind. After thinking it through, he had to admit she made sense.
“All right. Have your aunt make the samples first. Let’s see how they turn out.”
“Great!”
*
Su He immediately went to the warehouse to pick up materials and, while she was there, had a friendly chat with her “old auntie.”
Back at the house, she opened the trading exchange platform and began searching for hair ornament designs to sketch.
As the saying goes: window shopping is great when you don’t have to pay!
Exchange platform: #%&*%@^@%#
Old Madam Su leaned over to watch her draw, praising her nonstop. “My eldest granddaughter is amazing! Even the Weaving Maid from the heavens isn’t as clever!”
Heaven help her—Su He had only drawn the outline of a hairpin. She hadn’t even sketched the flower part yet!
Hearing Old Madam Su’s praise, an idea struck her. She had originally intended to ask Cao Hongmei to make the hairpieces, but… weren’t there two ready-made workers right here?
Then again, she quickly dismissed the thought.
It wasn’t that she was being petty—it was just that she didn’t know Old Madam Zhao very well. What if she leaked the designs?
You should never test human nature.
With that in mind, Su He stopped sketching and left to visit Teacher Yuan.
Teacher Yuan greeted her warmly. “Little Su, here you are! How did the performance go yesterday?”
“It went well! I just need to borrow your place to sketch a few designs.”
Teacher Yuan: …
You’re getting way too comfortable around here.
If I weren’t still trying to adopt you as a granddaughter just to spite that old fox Zhuge, I’d have kicked you out already!
