I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home-Chapter 86: Win-Win

"Have you asked Chief Grant about this?" Grace Winslow asked after a moment of thought.

Oscar Osborne shook his head. "His department handles commerce, but he can’t help us with buying equipment."

"He could put in a good word for us, but..."

Oscar Osborne shook his head and sighed.

Grace Winslow understood.

’Someone with Ethan Grant’s status would only attract trouble if he were to step forward recklessly.’

"Let’s focus all our efforts on producing the summer collection for now. As for the machinery, we could discuss a partnership with the garment factory," Grace Winslow suggested after some thought.

Oscar Osborne was a little confused. "You mean we should partner with the garment factory?"

"Exactly." Grace Winslow nodded.

"Director Osborne, here in Prospera Town, the textile factory and the garment factory have always been complementary industries. The garment factory used to buy most of our fabric, with the rest going to the various supply and marketing co-ops."

"The garment factory’s business probably hasn’t been great these last couple of years, but they have the machinery and we have the orders. If we can work together, it’s a win-win situation."

"For one, it solves our machinery problem. And for another, we’d be doing the garment factory a favor."

"They get orders, they have work to do, they earn money, and their business improves. It’s a happy outcome for everyone, isn’t it?"

Oscar Osborne frowned. "Do you think they’ll agree?"

"After all, the orders are ours. Even if we partner up, what’s in it for them?"

"The benefit is that in the future, we can outsource any orders we can’t handle to them. We’ll pay them the standard rate, and we could even give them a little extra."

"Everyone knows that purchasing power in Prospera Town is limited, and not everyone can afford ready-made clothes. The styles their garment factory produces are outdated, so they don’t sell many clothes all year."

"But we’re different. We now have long-term partners, so we won’t be short on orders anytime soon."

"If we can work together, it’s beneficial for both us and them."

"And Director Osborne, we don’t need to worry about them stealing our ideas or copying our designs. Even if they produced these styles themselves, they wouldn’t necessarily sell well."

Grace Winslow’s face was full of confidence.

’Things are different in this era; people are still relatively conservative in how they dress.’

’It’ll be different in another couple of years, though.’

’The styles she designs are better suited for overseas markets and places like Portara; they might do okay in Wesport, too.’

’But in Prospera Town? Absolutely not.’

’An article of clothing selling for eighty, ninety, or even a hundred yuan? Given the average income of residents in Prospera Town, one outfit would cost more than two months’ salary. No one would be willing to part with that kind of money.’

’The consumer mindset dictates a city’s spending power.’

"Alright, I’ll go talk to them this afternoon." Oscar Osborne mulled over Grace Winslow’s words and decided she had a point.

The nearby workshop foreman couldn’t help but chime in, "Comrade Grace is truly impressive. She’s got such a sharp mind."

"Comrade Grace, have you really not considered becoming a production director? I think you’re more than capable."

"No, thank you. I’m a bit lazy and don’t like to take on too much responsibility," Grace Winslow said, refusing with a wave of her hand.

Oscar Osborne smiled at her. "There’s one other thing I wanted to see you about."

"Here, take this."

He handed her a thick manila envelope. When Grace Winslow opened it, her face filled with utter shock.

It was stuffed with ten-yuan notes, likely at least two thousand yuan in total. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Director Osborne, what is this...?"

"It’s your bonus from the Bureau of Commerce. Has nothing to do with me," Oscar Osborne said, chuckling as he looked at Grace Winslow.

’He could tell that both Ethan Grant and that Dylan Lockwood seemed to be interested in Grace.’

’Grace is divorced, but her good fortune is just getting started.’