Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 73: Matchbox Scheme

Factory Director Fang glanced over, unsure if it was a coincidence or not.

Someone who becomes a director never lacks vision.

Making bags isn’t hard, but it’s not worth opening another workshop for.

So... forget it.

"Principal Wang, your performance was very educational, you can continue developing it."

The senior leader spoke up.

Principal Wang nodded immediately, recalling Ms. Jiang Cheng’s words and said, "We will practice well without affecting academics."

"Stay true to your original intentions, and forge ahead."

Having expressed his determination, Principal Wang scratched his head awkwardly.

"We also want to promote this at the provincial level, or even in Beijing, but going out requires transportation and accommodation expenses. Of course, our night school doesn’t want to burden the city, so we plan to make patchwork bags in our spare time and sell them under the night school’s name to cover travel expenses..."

Factory Director Fang: Bag?

After pondering for a few seconds, the senior leader said, "Submit a report."

"Oh! Got it! I’ll write it as soon as I get back."

Principal Wang knew the matter was settled.

Factory Director Fang, hearing about increased promotion, had an idea and said directly, "Senior leader, our textile factory is willing to cover the night school’s travel expenses for performances."

Director Lu, unwilling to be outdone, said, "Our food factory is also willing to support the night school."

"Our ceramics factory is also willing to contribute a bit!"

"Our paper factory..."

Several factories scrambled to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the night school.

The senior leader listened, beaming with satisfaction.

Such awareness!

The senior leader praised several factory directors and then left first.

After seeing off the senior leader, Factory Director Fang stopped Jiang Cheng and quietly asked, "What’s the deal with your bags?"

Jiang Cheng had a flash of insight—the fish was hooked.

"Oh, you’re talking about these... they’re just made by patching together scraps of fabric."

"Am I making you confused by saying this...."

Jiang Cheng opened her backpack and pulled out a notebook, turning to the first page.

"Here, these are some of them, and there are also these...."

Factory Director Fang saw two strikingly different designs.

Each design was very eye-catching.

"Hey? Don’t close it, the ones below...."

Jiang Cheng chuckled and said, "Factory Director Fang, we use these ourselves; how much are these patchwork bags really worth?"

"Besides, this kind of thing is too small, just like covering a matchbox; I think you wouldn’t care for it."

Matchbox?

Factory Director Fang suddenly caught the key point.

That’s right!

He doesn’t necessarily need to open a workshop.

There are plenty of unemployed women in households who know how to sew, and patchwork really doesn’t require technical skills.

If he distributes this work to the local streets, the textile factory could not only gain a money-making project but also solve its fabric scrap problem.

In this way, he would also achieve something by increasing employment and boosting resident incomes.

Factory Director Fang felt excited, but Jiang Cheng walked away.

She went on stage to organize a lottery event.

A large cardboard box, Jiang Cheng drew a number from it.

Soon, a winning resident went up, happily retrieving two pounds of millet with a smile that showed their teeth but not their eyes.

For the rest of the time, Jiang Cheng was very busy, and Factory Director Fang tried several times to find her but couldn’t.

Although he couldn’t find her, Factory Director Fang saw the bags everywhere.

The night school’s students tidying the venue, almost every girl had one.

The patterns were different, the styles varied, dazzling.

"Hey, student, where did you get that bag from?"

The stopped student was Jian Yueer, who happened to know Factory Director Fang.

She smiled gently and politely.

"Hello, Factory Director Fang, I’m Jian Yueer. This was a gift from Jiang Cheng; she designed many patterns, all incredibly beautiful!"

"Jian Yueer? Your dad is Jian Chunsheng?"

Jian Yueer nodded repeatedly, chatted with Factory Director Fang for a few sentences, then left to work with her classmates.

Meanwhile, the senior leader had already left, and Jiang Cheng was talking with Director Sun of the machinery factory.

It’s unclear what they were discussing; they seemed very familiar.

Finally, several factory directors left one after another, and Factory Director Fang temporarily suppressed his thoughts as he knew how to contact Jiang Cheng anyway.

Outside the night school, Director Lu from the food factory curiously approached Director Sun.

"Old Sun, how come you’re here?"

Director Sun replied, "Jiang Cheng invited me, so I came."

Director Lu: That says nothing.

He thought Old Sun might have been deceived into coming too.

Director Sun laughed and continued, "Ms. Jiang Cheng is a rare talent; I appreciate and even admire her."

"Old Lu, I also think Ms. Jiang Cheng is an outstanding talent, you shouldn’t undermine her."

Factory Director Fang chimed in, angering Director Lu to kick him.

The two men in their forties or fifties—a kick and a dash—made for quite a humorous sight.

"Mind your image! You don’t care about that old locust tree face, but I do!"

Factory Director Fang hurriedly dodged, got in the car, and left.

Director Lu chuckled in exasperation.

"You rascal, Old Fang, just wait..."

Director Lu couldn’t think of how exactly to make Factory Director Fang wait since their food factory couldn’t defeat the textile factory in anything!

"Darn it! I’m so pissed off!"

"Director Lu..."

Jiang Cheng happened to be running over.

Director Lu turned back, looking at Jiang Cheng with a stern face, not saying a word.

Jiang Cheng observed—was he upset?

Then she saw Factory Director Fang’s car exhaust....

Heaven help me!

What a perfect moment!

"Director Lu, when I was at the food factory earlier, I heard you were looking for someone who can play ping pong."

"You’re not saying you can play, are you?"

Jiang Cheng quickly shook her head.

"Of course not!"

"Since the food factory supported us so much, I don’t have any major skills, but I happen to know someone who can play ping pong. If you still need someone, I can have them try out at the food factory."

Director Lu indeed had the need.

It’s one thing not to match the textile factory in terms of benefits, but losing to them in ping pong every year is truly a disgrace!

"Tomorrow... no, let the person come over this afternoon, whether they can do it or not, I’ll see."

"It’s definitely up to you, I’ll bring the person over in the afternoon."

Director Lu nodded, got into the car, and left.

After sending off the various factory directors, Jiang Cheng spoke briefly to Principal Wang, then rode her bicycle back to the communal yard.

She raced into Uncle Sun’s home.

Granny Sun, who was cooking, slightly turned her head, looking at Jiang Cheng without moving and said flatly, "He’s at work."

"I’m not looking for Uncle Sun! Is Sun Aiguo home?"

Granny Sun nodded woodenly and pointed to a door, "Sleeping."

Jiang Cheng replied, "Please wake him up, I need to talk to him."

Granny Sun didn’t move, asking matter-of-factly, "Is it urgent?"

"Very urgent! I found a job opportunity for him; if he misses this, there’ll be no other chance."

Granny Sun showed no surprise, gently setting down the pan shovel, picking up a ladle, scooping three ladles of water, and pouring it into a basin.

"I’ll call him."

Granny Sun gently pushed open the door, holding the basin of water, raised her hand, and splashed!