Seventies Sweetheart: From Breakup to Billionaire-Chapter 254: Elastic Band

Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Elastic Band
Getting straight to work, Chunya didn’t want to wait a second and dragged Lin Xiang to her room, proactively bringing out paper and pen.
Under the dim light, Lin Xiang sketched some hair accessory designs. To ensure Chunya understood, she drew the places for elastic bands in more detail.
"Hand-stitched, unavoidable seams can look unsightly. Pay attention to the details when you make them—the more perfect, the higher the selling price, and the more buyers we’ll attract."
Chunya’s sewing skills were indeed good. After examining the drawings twice, she knew how to proceed.
She even specifically found needle and thread, making a hair accessory in front of Lin Xiang and Ge Yuanyi.
"It looks quite nice, I must say."
Chunya placed the hair accessory on Ge Yuanyi’s head, "Just like a flower. Yuanyi, you’re amazing, always with such clever ideas."
Lin Xiang ignored Chunya’s praise, rubbing her smooth chin, "The crucial thing is the elastic band. If it breaks, we’ll have to take it apart, which is troublesome. Once I return from the cotton spinning factory tomorrow, let’s visit the supply store together and try to buy some good elastic bands."
"Yes, yes!" Chunya nodded continuously, her clear eyes full of ambition to make money, "Then you should rest early, you have to go to the cotton spinning factory tomorrow."
The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Xiang took the pastries she brought back from Beijing and went to the cotton spinning factory to visit Director Chen.
Seeing Lin Xiang again, Director Chen felt as if he was reunited with a long-lost relative, chattering about the changes at the cotton spinning factory during her absence.
"...Thanks to you, we retained Mr. John and Mr. Wilson—two super clients. Though they no longer come to Mianyang Town, they regularly call us. This month, they renewed orders—not huge, but still a hefty amount. I’m very satisfied."
Director Chen didn’t find tens of thousands in foreign currency orders to be insignificant.
Initially, he thought millions in foreign currency orders were a one-time deal, over once the contract ended.
Unexpectedly, the factory’s fabrics were so popular abroad, leading to sustainable monthly orders.
Though tens of thousands pale in comparison to millions, across Ji City and Ji Province, which other factory besides Cotton Textile Factory can secure tens of thousands in foreign currency orders monthly?
Once a middling factory in Ji City, now Director Chen has influence in Ji Province’s state-owned factories.
All thanks to Lin Xiang.
"Director Chen, please don’t praise me; I merely did my job. The foreign partners want to continue signing contracts because our fabrics are excellent. I’d suggest we make some changes—be it patterns, colors, or fabric materials."
"Only by enriching our fabric types will foreign currency orders continuously renew."
"I’m equally concerned about this issue. Rest assured, I won’t let existing foreign currency orders falter due to stagnation."
Mianyang Town’s Cotton Textile Factory aims to be the best state-owned factory in Ji City, and it must compete strongly in Ji Province!
After chatting with Director Chen for a while, Lin Xiang proposed her request, "Director Chen, I’d like some fabric scraps."
"I’ll take you to the warehouse to choose. Once selected, I’ll use connections to transport them by train directly to Beijing, avoiding you carrying too much fabric."
Lin Xiang couldn’t help but laugh, "I have clothes, and plenty of fabric left from what you gave me last time. I’m looking for scraps this time."
Lin Xiang explained her plan to make hair accessories to Director Chen, "Creating one doesn’t require much fabric, so using whole pieces would be wasteful. If the factory has scraps, please spare some—preferably in a range of colors and patterns."
"That’s no problem." Director Chen waved his hand and called Secretary Hu in, "Xiao Hu, take Lin to pick some fabric scraps."
Secretary Hu muttered under his breath; hearing Director Chen, he paused and asked dully, "Isn’t there still plenty of fabric in the warehouse? Why give Comrade Lin scraps?"
Secretary Hu glanced at Director Chen as if looking at a miser.
Lin Xiang explained, "I want the scraps for making hair accessories. Using intact fabric is wasteful, but scraps are perfect. Secretary Hu, if it’s inconvenient now, I can choose myself."
"Convenient, I’m free now anyway. Comrade Lin, come with me."
Secretary Hu led Lin Xiang to the workshop.
On the way, he asked Lin Xiang, "Comrade Lin, has everything been smooth in Beijing?"
"Quite smooth."
"When will you return to Beijing?"
"Tomorrow, next visit likely during the winter break."
While there’s a holiday on October 1st, traveling back and forth wastes three to four days, leaving little time at home before needing to head back to Beijing.
The travel is exhausting; thus, Lin Xiang plans to use the holiday to start her small shop.
The shop opening plan has taken shape, waiting for her return to Beijing to begin preparations.
At the workshop, Secretary Hu escorted Lin Xiang around. Upon leaving, both carried sacks filled with various colors and patterns of fabric.
"Oh, Secretary Hu, do you know where elastic bands are sold?"
Lin originally planned to buy from the supply store, but they sell old-fashioned yellow bands.
"Our cotton spinning factory produces elastic bands, both thick and thin, varying in elasticity. If you need, I can show you now?"
"That would be wonderful!"
Secretary Hu had Lin Xiang place the sacks by the workshop door, then showed her the elastic bands.
Lin Xiang chose the thinnest, moderately elastic bands, each roll measuring about ten meters.
One hair accessory uses up to 0.3 meters, allowing a roll to make thirty-three to thirty-four pieces.
Lin Xiang ordered fifty rolls at once.
Lin Xiang insisted on paying, Secretary Hu refused to accept payments.
"Elastic bands are an auxiliary business, not meant for profit, especially given the negligible cost. With only fifty rolls requested, charging you would draw severe reprimands from Director Chen."
"Indeed, Comrade Lin, compared to the foreign currency orders you brought for our factory, these bands are nothing. Insisting on paying would embarrass the factory greatly."