Manager Zhou of the Second National Cotton Mill felt Director Guo of the Garment Factory had made a very good point and agreed, "Yes, although it's a bit out of place to say this, it's really too much for individual businesses to participate in a trade fair."
Ever since he heard Chen Lishu was an individual business owner upon entering, he had felt uncomfortable. As a leader of a major provincial factory, when did individual business owners get to be on equal footing with them?
Even though it was their backlog inventory, it indirectly indicated the factory's production capacity. They were all reputable large enterprises, and if this got out, it would be too much of a self-degradation.
Factory Director Xu of the Glove Factory opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words, but the trade fair was organized by Chen Lishu. It would be rather ungracious to cross the bridge and then tear it down.
Chen Lishu observed the reactions of those present and finally turned her gaze to Director Guo of the Garment Factory.
They had never interacted before, and Chen Lishu could guess why she was targeting her so pointedly. Besides looking down on individual businesses, another possibility was the matter of Fu Hongxin.
She had donated all her cultural shirts, directly causing the garment factory's two hundred thousand pieces of cultural shirts to be unsalable. Not only did they not make money, but they also incurred significant losses.
"Speaking of stock preparation, we really should thank the Provincial Garment Factory for their strong support this time. A full two hundred thousand short-sleeved shirts, to be honest, I'm a bit worried if we can sell them all in five days."
Chen Lishu's words almost made Director Guo choke. He was filled with both anger and hatred, his face flushing and paling, a truly spectacular sight.
Except for Feng Wenyou, everyone else present was bewildered but still astonished by the two hundred thousand short-sleeved shirts Chen Lishu mentioned.
Two hundred thousand pieces, the strength of this individual business owner should not be underestimated!
Director Guo gritted his teeth, "Our factory is also a victim. However, if I recall correctly, Comrade Chen personally said that the designed cultural shirts were to be donated free of charge and not for profit. Now you are doing this, aren't you afraid people will talk about you?"
If it weren't for Chen Lishu's decisive move in front of all the reporters, they wouldn't have dared to move at all. After all, for a factory of over a thousand people, if their image were affected by plagiarism, it would be a loss that outweighed the gain.
However, being outmaneuvered by a mere individual business owner was something no one could swallow. Especially after learning that Chen Lishu had bought back those two hundred thousand shirts at such a low price, she wanted to see what Chen Lishu would do. If she really intended to sell those clothes for profit, then the factory could ruin Chen Lishu's reputation.
"That's none of Director Guo's concern." There was no need to explain her actions to her.
After speaking, Chen Lishu turned to the others present:
"As the economy continues to develop, dispersed operations will eventually transform into collective industrialization. Due to systemic reasons, you have always operated on a production-based sales model, neglecting the reality of market competition, which easily leads to a disconnect between production and demand, resulting in some products and capital being overstocked while other products are in short supply. This model cannot avoid the problem of supply and demand imbalance. I think there's no need for me to elaborate on this further, otherwise, you wouldn't all be sitting here."
Chen Lishu paused and continued, "With the participation of individual businesses, a more orderly competition emerges, and customer choices increase. I ask you, if it were you, wouldn't you also want to compare prices? With more choices, it naturally inspires consumers to spend more."
After hearing her words, the leaders present fell into deep thought.
In the past, they all considered themselves big enterprises and looked down upon small individual businesses. Anyway, no matter how much they produced, downstream units would receive it. But now times had changed, and it was no longer their say. Thinking about the nearly mountainous backlog of inventory in their warehouses, the factories' capital turnover was becoming increasingly difficult. If they didn't find a way to change, they might not be able to continue.
Factory Director Xu of the Glove Factory sighed, "I never expected young Chen to have such insight at such a young age."
Feng Wenyou chuckled and said, "There's no doubt that Xiao Chen has the ability. To put it aside, I heard from Section Chief Li earlier that he originally intended to charge an entrance fee, but Xiao Chen persuaded him otherwise. Otherwise, whether I could be sitting here is really uncertain."
His words were pointed, and everyone present, being shrewd individuals, understood his meaning.
Without Chen Lishu, it was questionable whether these companies could be here. Now they were making things difficult for her, was that meaningful?
Upon hearing Feng Wenyou's words, Director Guo of the Garment Factory and Manager Zhou of the Second National Cotton Mill, even if they had wanted to say something more, could only give up.
In the evening, Gu Xingdong leaned against the headboard of the bed. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he withdrew his gaze from the book in his hands and looked up, asking, "Have the children slept?"
Chen Lishu nodded, lifted her arms, and swayed them, feeling a soreness in her shoulder.
Ever since the two children were weaned, they had become particularly attached to her. When they slept, if she didn't hold them, they wouldn't close their eyes.
Seeing this, Gu Xingdong placed the book on the bedside table and beckoned her over. "Come here, let me massage you."
Chen Lishu sat down as requested, "Fortunately, I have Mom and Sister Xiao Yue, otherwise I really wouldn't have to do anything."
"Are the dates for the trade fair set?"
Chen Lishu nodded, "Saturday, which is the weekend, so there will be more people."
While Gu Xingdong massaged her shoulders with just the right amount of pressure, he chuckled and said, "Feel free to assign me any strenuous tasks, I'll guarantee one person will do the work of two."
"Everything that needs to be prepared is almost ready. We have Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xingwang and the others." Chen Lishu let out a comfortable sigh and added, "However, since you've offered, wouldn't it be disrespectful not to give you some tasks?"
Gu Xingdong paused, "You don't need to give me face."
Chen Lishu turned and glared at him, "You dare refuse when I offer you face?"
Gu Xingdong immediately became compliant, "It's my greatest honor, please command me."
Chen Lishu then nodded with satisfaction, "The household logistics are entrusted to you, especially the two little ones. They were just weaned a couple of days ago and are in their temperamental phase. Can you complete the task?"
Gu Xingdong: "Guaranteed to complete the task!"
...
Time flew by, and it was the day of the trade fair.
Chen Lishu specifically woke up early. After breakfast, when she went to the store, Wang Aixiang and Tian Lin were stocking goods. Zhao Xingwang, Wang Dazhu, and Li Qiang were not there. After asking, she learned that the three had gone to set up the venue earlier.
"They said they'd go early to prepare everything, so that when people arrive, we won't be flustered and forget anything."
Chen Lishu nodded and said to Wang Aixiang, "Sister Aixiang, when we're selling, to make it convenient for display, please find all the short-sleeved shirts that fit everyone's sizes and let's wear them uniformly later."
The cultural shirts were originally designed to be unisex, and even after reprocessing, there was no difference.
Wang Aixiang went to find the clothes that fit everyone's sizes as requested.