Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 297: Unexpected Gains

"Xiao Su, come over quickly, have a seat."

Director Liu saw her and greeted her warmly.

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know anyone there, but Zhao Weimin recognized them all.

She politely greeted each one.

"Manager Chen, Manager Zhao, Manager Wang..."

Calling them one by one, it turned out they were all managers, and she was the only layperson in the room.

None of the leaders had sat down yet, so she felt awkward about sitting. She courteously said, "Director Liu, I sat on the train all the way here, standing is fine."

"How come you’re being so polite, young comrade? Xiao Zhao, hurry and get Xiao Su a chair."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Weimin immediately fetched a chair and warmly invited Su Xiaoxiao to sit.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, she quietly moved the chair to a corner to reduce her presence, then cautiously sat down.

"Xiao Su, take a short rest first. I have a matter to handle, I’ll be done soon."

Director Liu smiled at her affectionately. Su Xiaoxiao nodded, and just as she finished nodding, a loud bang frightened her so much she nearly jumped off her chair.

Zhao Weimin, undisturbed by the noise, comforted Su Xiaoxiao, "Comrade Su, no worries, the director isn’t angry at you."

Su Xiaoxiao secretly looked over. Wow, Director Liu seemed to be performing a face-changing act like in Sichuan opera?

Just moments ago, he had a cheerful face; now his face was long and stern, scanning the managers in front of him with serious eyes.

"Let’s talk about this quarter’s turnover, what happened? Why have they decreased so much?"

With that, he slapped the table with authority, "If you don’t want to work, then get out!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The managers from various department stores stood with lowered heads, not daring to breathe loudly.

They couldn’t achieve the performance targets, but what could they do with the poor market conditions?

"Speak up! Why are you all acting like mute gourds? If you don’t give me a proper explanation, you’ll all be working as service staff!"

Director Liu’s temple veins bulged; not one of them made things easy for him.

The managers exchanged glances, awkwardly gazing at the floor, none wanting to be the first to speak up.

Fearing Director Liu’s impatience, he pointed at Zhao Fumin, "You start."

Haining City’s First Department Store’s general manager, Zhao Fumin, visibly nervous, had no choice but to speak up: "Director Liu, there’s nothing we can do. The number of private enterprises is increasing, and their prices are lower than ours. We can’t even find channels for popular goods. We can’t get hold of hot products, and our prices aren’t competitive. So... sigh..."

Director Liu furrowed his brows and looked at the others: "What about you guys?"

They quickly agreed, "Manager Zhao is right."

Director Liu rubbed his brow: "If the prices are too high, then lower them. If you can’t get stock, let the procurement manager handle it. Are they just taking free meals?"

The managers exchanged glances of understanding; it wasn’t for lack of effort. The procurement managers had been running around tirelessly.

Zhao Fumin, as First Department Store’s general manager, had the most insight into the situation.

"Director Liu, we’ve heard there’s a popular mini electric sewing machine lately. Our First Department Store’s procurement staff have been searching far and wide but found no channels. Although we’ve heard Binhe City’s Second Department Store seems to have connections, we’re planning a trip there soon."

Binhe City’s Second Department Store? Isn’t that where Su Xiaoxiao works?

Upon hearing this, Director Liu immediately focused on Su Xiaoxiao: "Comrade Xiao Su, does your department store have channels for this mini electric sewing machine?"

Suddenly called out, Su Xiaoxiao thought to herself, of course they do; she was the one who provided the channel.

She promptly stood up from her chair, "Director Liu, indeed our department store has a procurement channel..."

Before she could finish, Manager Zhao interrupted, "Comrade Su, do you know which factory it’s sourced from?"

Su Xiaoxiao opened her mouth to respond, but a voice cut in from the side, "Old Zhao, how could a young girl know that? How could a front-line salesgirl know such confidential things about procurement channels?"

He cast a glance at Su Xiaoxiao, his face full of superiority.

Admittedly, within this circle of big shots, Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit out of her league, but when it came to the procurement channel, she had to say something.

Zhao Fumin realized that he might have been too hasty, thinking to himself that Su Xiaoxiao was just an ordinary salesgirl, unlikely to know such confidential information.

Just as he was about to speak, Su Xiaoxiao spoke first, "Manager Zhao, the sewing machine, called the electric mini sewing machine, is made at the factory where my distant relative works, and it was me who asked this relative for connections."

Zhao Fumin swallowed his words. Wow, this seemingly quiet young girl had such powerful connections! The one who interrupted, Wang Liguo, still looked incredulous: "Could a mere salesgirl have this kind of procurement channel?"

After trying to find these channels without success, he couldn’t believe a young girl could know them.

Could she be making it up for attention in front of Director Liu?

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her nose, "Just a coincidence, I have a relative in that place."

Clearly disbelieving, Wang Liguo said, "Young girl, at your age, don’t just think about seeking attention. Be realistic."

"Leader, I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, I can directly help us connect with my relative."

Wang Liguo was a bit shaken, questioning whether the girl might actually be truthful.

Upon hearing Su Xiaoxiao willing to help with the connection, Zhao Fumin immediately shoved Wang Liguo aside, "Comrade Su, don’t listen to him. If you could help, we’d like to purchase fifty mini electric sewing machines for the First Department Store, could you help ask your relative?"

"No problem, I’ll call my relative tonight and let you know tomorrow."

"That’s fantastic!"

Zhao Fumin was so excited he nearly jumped. The sewing machine channels he’d searched for had appeared right before him, wonderful!

The other managers, hearing that Zhao Fumin had ordered the merchandise, quickly reacted.

"Comrade Su, we at the Third Department Store also want fifty units."

"Comrade Su, the Fourth Department Store wants thirty units."

...

Such an opportunity, why not seize it?

Initially hesitating, Wang Liguo saw everyone ordering merchandise, and immediately joined the bandwagon.

With so many requests, Su Xiaoxiao quickly pulled out a notepad and pen to keep track, glad to have her habit of carrying these tools.

After she finished recording, she counted up, and wow, she had ordered three hundred sixty sewing machines, what a windfall.

Unexpectedly, she gained while on this business trip.

Several managers, elated with securing orders, turned to face Director Liu and immediately toned down their smiles.