The increase in orders also meant an increase in workload. Everyone had to draft and revise contracts overnight, then submit them to clients the next day. If confirmed, they needed to find exhibition staff to type them out.
Without computers, near-ocean contracts had to be handwritten on copy paper, with multiple copies. After writing for a long time, everyone's fingers became sore and stiff, as if cramping.
However, no one complained about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially with the province securing so many orders.
In the guesthouse at night, everyone was engrossed in their work. The most common sound was the rustling of pens on paper.
The factories Chen Guoping brought this time had all undergone strict inspections, and their strength was not to be underestimated. The electricity meter factory's cameras were second to none in the country, and the bearing factory was among the top three.
In just five days, the steam turbine factory signed five contracts, the electricity meter factory signed eight, and the bearing factory had the largest transaction volume, reaching nearly 300,000 yuan.
The transaction volume of this single exhibition exceeded the entire factory's output value for a quarter.
During the exhibition's dismantling period, the organizers thoughtfully arranged performances, including Peking Opera and songs.
For the three days in total, Chen Guoping and the other factory leaders had to oversee and direct. Chen Lishu and Zou Liang, however, could enjoy two days of rest.
After breakfast the next day, most people went to the exhibition, with only a few remaining at the guesthouse. Chen Lishu took this rare opportunity to take a good bath in the women's bathhouse.
Normally, bathing took a long time, and there were more people queuing, making it impossible to have a proper bath. She could only get hot water and mix it with cold water to quickly wash herself.
After a quiet bath, Chen Lishu tidied herself up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and left the guesthouse.
Having come to Yangcheng, she wanted to experience it properly.
In 1979, Yangcheng was one of the first cities to be influenced by the reform and opening up. Small individual vendors selling their own agricultural products could already be seen on the streets. In response to the national call, agricultural and sideline products and aquatic products in Yangcheng could be priced freely.
Looking at the numerous shops lining the streets, the prevalence of bicycles, and the bustling crowds, Chen Lishu deeply felt the approaching spring breeze of reform, occasionally seeing stalls selling vegetables from four-wheeled carts.
"Comrade, do you want wide-leg pants?"
As Chen Lishu was about to ask someone for directions to the department store, she was suddenly called out. She turned to see a man in his mid-twenties, wearing a striped half-sleeve naval shirt and loose blue pants. He was thin, and the pants seemed to be hanging on him.
Seeing her looking, he smiled and repeated his question, even gesturing with the bag in his hand, "Comrade, do you want wide-leg pants?"
Chen Lishu's eyes lit up at the mention of wide-leg pants.
Noticing her reaction, the man glanced around cautiously and then motioned for Chen Lishu to step further into the street. Concealing their figures, he reached into his bag and took out a pair of pants, unfolding them in front of Chen Lishu.
"These are the most popular this year, people from Xiangjiang are wearing them. Eighteen yuan each, definitely cheap."
Chen Lishu's gaze fell on the pants in his hand, and she reached out to feel the quality. The fabric was not the stretchy denim popular in the eighties, but the workmanship was good. However, eighteen yuan each was definitely not worth it.
The man had been closely watching Chen Lishu's reaction. He had assumed she was from out of town and would buy a pair without hesitation if he mentioned Xiangjiang. To his surprise, after feeling the fabric, she shook her head.
"Sorry, I don't think these pants suit me."
Seeing her refusal, the man thought for a moment and said, "How about a little cheaper, then? Sixteen."
Chen Lishu still shook her head.
The man became a little anxious, "These are Xiangjiang goods, the most popular this year!"
Chen Lishu knew that wide-leg pants would be very popular in the coming years. However, as she walked, she saw very few people wearing them, indicating that the trend had not yet caught on.
However, with the introduction of Japanese films like "A Message from Space" and "The Chase" becoming hugely popular last year, the costumes of the protagonists were bound to be sought after, and wide-leg pants would inevitably become fashionable.
"Comrade, how many wide-leg pants like these do you have?"
Li Yuanchao looked at Chen Lishu with suspicion and wariness, not answering immediately. Although local policies were more relaxed, selling clothes privately was still considered speculation and profiteering.
Chen Lishu guessed his thoughts and smiled, "Don't worry, I have no other intentions. I'm genuinely interested in the wide-leg pants you have, so I'm asking how many you have. If the price is right, I'll buy them all."
Buy them all? He thought this deal was going to fall through again, but who knew things would turn around so quickly!
"Two hundred pairs. If you take them all, I'll sell them to you for fifteen each, but you have to pay a deposit first."
Li Yuanchao originally intended to say a hundred pairs, but his words doubled by the time they were spoken. However, he didn't have that much money on hand. Once the deposit was paid, he would go directly to the factory to pick up the goods. This way, he could make a large profit just by reselling them.
After answering, Li Yuanchao kept staring at Chen Lishu.
"That's too few."
Chen Lishu pondered for a moment and met his gaze. "It's not convenient to talk here. When I came over, I saw a park over there. There aren't many people. Why don't we go there to talk?"
Two hundred pairs were still too few? Then how many did she want to buy? Following Chen Lishu to the park, Li Yuanchao finally came to his senses as they sat down on a long bench.
"May I know your name?" Chen Lishu spoke first.
"Li Yuanchao."
"Chen Lishu."
Chen Lishu stated her name and then got straight to the point.
"Two hundred pairs are really too few, and the price you quoted is too high. How about this: you tell me your sourcing channels, and I'll pay you a separate referral fee. What do you think?"
Upon hearing only about a referral fee, Li Yuanchao was displeased. "How much of a referral fee can you give?"
He bought a pair of pants for ten yuan. Even if the final transaction price wasn't fifteen, he would earn several hundred yuan if this deal went through.
"Depending on how many sources you can introduce me to, I can give you a 3% referral fee based on the transaction amount."
Chen Lishu had thought it through. She was unfamiliar with the place and the people. If she approached them rashly, they might not tell her the truth. Instead of that, it was better to find someone who knew the ropes. Although she would pay more, it would save time and effort.
Only 3%? Seeing a young girl like her, how much could the transaction volume be? Even if she was highly regarded, ten thousand yuan would be the absolute maximum, and he would only get three hundred yuan.
He must have been kicked by a donkey to get so excited when he heard she wanted a lot of goods and followed her.
The more he thought about it, the more regret he felt. At the same time, he was a little angry. Li Yuanchao stood up and said to Chen Lishu with some disdain, "Given your age, let alone ten thousand, even five thousand would be a stretch, right? You should go do whatever you were doing. Let's not waste each other's time."