Chapter 152: Even the Demonic Sorceress's Arts Have Fluctuation in State

Rang Weidong still needed to confirm various details with the Light Industry Bureau and the bank.

For the past couple of years, everyone had been deeply troubled by this predicament.

Now that they had finally found a scapegoat to take over the burden, and the current policy happened to allow experimenting with the contracting system, everything aligned.

The total cost back then for importing the production line on credit and constructing this new workshop and factory area had originally included the acquisition of this neighborhood lane's street-level factory.

The plot was twenty-five meters by fifty-eight meters, totaling less than sixteen hundred square meters.

A row of workshop buildings covered over seven hundred square meters, with a matching one-story office building of about four hundred square meters.

If production capacity needed to be expanded, they could only operate within this confined space, and rebuilding was strictly limited to a maximum of three floors.

The Light Industry Bureau promised to assist the new takeover party as much as possible in sorting out all the paperwork for this factory.

However, they left with a look of pity, gazing at these country bumpkins.

A debt of one million two hundred thousand yuan, paired with this pile of foreign equipment that had failed to turn a profit after two years of operation.

Let's see how you tinker with this mess.

In 1984, when establishing a factory of this scale typically cost only tens of thousands or a couple of hundred thousand yuan, no one realized that the most valuable asset was actually the land beneath their feet.

The bank only cared about whether loan repayments could begin next month, and they departed with a collective sigh of relief.

That left Rang Weidong, Shen Laosan, six college students, and... two bewildered Japanese technicians who had just been rushed over from the nearby diplomatic apartment district, standing there in a daze.

At this moment, not to mention Rang Weidong, even the six college students had to cover their mouths to keep from laughing out loud.

Because the loan had been granted to a state-owned paper mill, the nearly zero-interest monthly repayment was only... a few thousand yuan.

Their commissions from selling cameras alone far exceeded this amount.

Shen Cuiyue only cared about gathering up the discarded dust-proof garments and disinfection masks.

These were all their property now; she kept a very tight grip on everything belonging to the Jiangzhou Sanitary Napkin Factory.

Any female worker who dared to waste or damage anything would be fired immediately. Manager Shen, who never cared about technology and never participated in production management, was solely responsible for decisive execution.

Rang Weidong peered through the factory workshop's glass window at the production line. Previously, it had been barely hanging on, operating for just a tiny fraction of the day while desperately conserving expensive consumables they were too afraid to use.

Losing money with every single item produced, how could it not be a miserable state?

However, once their side took over, it would be entirely different.

He immediately turned around and began giving instructions: "Before Lingyun and Sister Yuemei head north and south respectively, they will first help the Beijing team sort this out. You all can learn a great deal through this process. Manager Shen has already led a workshop through a factory relocation and growth phase, so she will teach you. But ultimately, Xiaoxiao, Ge Zhihong, Liang Yeilin, and Meng Hongfei—the four of you—will be responsible for managing this. It might be handed over to someone else later, or this might be the very first stepping stone for whichever of you starts here."

The prospects were so vast that the feeling of the sky being wide enough for birds to fly freely inspired the college students to readily accept their orders.

Meng Hongfei from the medical school said he would immediately contact the Japanese language students at the Foreign Studies University to come over for communication.

He could only gesture for the Japanese technicians to wait a moment.

Shen Cuiyue stood nearby, quickly drawing up a list: "First, transfer a group of experienced workers to come along with the equipment, just like our Mala Tang branches..."

At this mention, their eyes met, and both burst into laughter. "That's right, why don't we open a Mala Tang shop right here?"

For a factory capable of producing one hundred and fifty thousand sanitary napkins per day, and "coincidentally" featuring the easily replicable characteristics of a semi-manual operation, this matter was exceedingly simple.

And by the way, if they opened a Mala Tang snack bar here as well, the profits might just be enough to pay off the loan entirely.

It was all due to the dual-track economic system.

State-owned factories, lending banks, and the Light Industry Bureau were all measuring things by the old model.

Here, the sales commissions of the college students alone amounted to one or two thousand yuan, compared to the current standard monthly wage of forty or fifty yuan.

Naturally, it was an absolute crushing defeat.

Rang Weidong even told Shen Cuiyue to select skilled workers who were eager to travel to Beijing as a reward.

Whether production went well here didn't matter at all; they could treat it as a Beijing liaison office, serving as a welfare benefit for everyone.

The Jianghu girl's interpretation was: "Oh oh oh, for this kind of setup, we can pay slightly lower wages, and they will still willingly volunteer to come. Excellent!"

It was truly a pity she wasn't a capitalist.

She was also exceptionally well-suited to being a household manager.

They decided not to leave for the evening.

Because He Yuemei and the others had already rolled up their sleeves to tidy up the messy one-story office building, and there were also on-duty dormitories available.

Since there was more than enough room for the dozen or so people, there was no need to stay at a guesthouse.

Because the factory workshop hadn't been operating when they arrived, it was neat, clean, and maintained in a state that made Rang Weidong suspect it was kept ready for leadership inspections at any moment.

It seemed that the hygiene environment, banner slogans, and blackboard bulletin boards in this courtyard were all model projects perfectly tailored for leaders to pose for photographs.

The only thing it wasn't suitable for was actual production.

Ge Zhihong and Zhang Lingyun, who understood a bit about machinery and equipment, changed into disinfected dust-proof suits and entered the workshop first to familiarize themselves with the environment.

Rang Weidong drove back to the Steel Institute to pick up his two younger brothers, bringing along the translator and Shen Cuiyue to make a long-distance call at the Telegraph and Telephone Building on Chang'an Avenue.

In this era, office telephones could generally handle local calls without issue, but long-distance calls still required a trip to the post office.

The capital city was just like that.

Only when the two of them drove out alone did they feel the covert thrill of having pulled wool over everyone's eyes: "It's doable, totally doable. He Yuemei says paying back a few thousand a month means this factory in Beijing is ours."

Her perspective was rooted in the simple real estate theory that had existed since the Republic of China era: "Our elders risked their lives to secure a courtyard by the dockside. Even if it was confiscated in previous years, at least we'd have a place to live. When properties were returned a few years ago, people thought the world had turned upside down, which made everyone restless... That's why one must always have a family home of their own."

As soon as they passed the intersection, Rang Weidong pointed out the window: "Look how close this is. Taking a left at this road leads to the automobile manufacturing plant we visited yesterday. This entire street is now selling cars, and the auto industry is bound to boom. This place might well become a car sales market, and even if it isn't, it will definitely be bustling and valuable. Holy cow!"

In fact, Beijing had just established its Third Ring Road at this time, functioning as a fast expressway encircling the central district.

Rang Weidong deliberately avoided the previous route, wanting to go for a joyride to release the thrill of buying real estate in Beijing with zero down payment and a loan.

As a result, the moment they drove onto the wide ring road, they clearly noticed the major cross-street connecting to Chang'an Avenue.

Turning the corner, they were immediately greeted by model architecture on both sides: the imposing Jianguo Hotel, the diplomatic apartments, the Friendship Store, the International Building, and the Beijing Hotel.

Rang Weidong couldn't help but chuckle; that factory area wasn't all that far from places like this.

It would definitely appreciate in value in the future.

Even if demolition and relocation happened, they would make a fortune. Yet in Beijing, this waiting-for-demolition model didn't seem entirely secure, as a single policy change could result in repossession by the state.

He even felt that the plot was a bit too large.

Shen Cuiyue noticed his smile and chuckled softly as well: "You're still the smartest. I noticed that factory director's tone wasn't very forceful, and I figured they probably had something they needed from us and wanted to take advantage of us. But you turned the tables and reaped a massive benefit."

Chang'an Avenue at this hour was already experiencing dense traffic, and the intersection they had just turned onto caused a brief traffic jam: "Because they had no way to make this workshop profitable, couldn't pay back the loans, couldn't produce results, and couldn't even sell to ordinary consumers, that director certainly couldn't hold onto his position for long. Just to protect himself, he would pay any price possible. And only we can guarantee profitability, ensuring the entire supply and marketing system sells... what brand was it again?"

Shen Laosan hurriedly flipped through his notebook: "Flying Swallow brand!"

Rang Weidong had to scratch his head again: "I've already figured out how Panda should run this advertisement. Panda saying Flying Swallow is a bit weird—is this ad actually selling the Flying Swallow brand, or is it selling X?"

Shen Cuiyue suggested without hesitation: "Flying Swallow. Didn't he say this brand was inscribed by a leader? I just saw it hanging on the office wall. That can definitely be used to make a striking ad. Well, maybe we can even use that calligraphy inscription directly in the advertisement."

Rang Weidong admitted that this was indeed a possibility: "But what I had in mind was that once X sanitary napkins sold well, X cameras could hold a photography exhibition, X tape recorders could ride the wave of popularity without advertising, and X snacks would follow even more naturally."

The scam-artist girl thought for a moment: "Why don't we advertise and sell X sanitary napkins next time, making people think these are two competing brands locked in a fierce rivalry? That way, a third competitor won't be able to break in easily. Second Brother used to talk about this trick: the two of us open restaurants right next to each other, everyday making a fuss by bickering and competing in our business and publicity, attracting all the diners so that no one else gets any business. But in reality, both restaurants belong to the same two brothers."

Rang Weidong thought about it—damn it, wasn't this just shadowboxing and mutual hype? The ancestors had played this game ages ago.

However, having already enjoyed two rounds of fine grain, this wild boar could now casually crack jokes as well: "If it were me, I'd open a small storefront right between them with a signboard reading 'Dining Entrance This Way,' and everyone would assume I was the only entrance."

Shen Cuiyue immediately covered her mouth with the back of her hand and giggled. Just as they were passing the gate of the city tower on the right, Rang Weidong glanced sideways: "This is Tian..." His heart skipped a beat.

How enchanting!

He had experienced all sorts of body types by now, and he could truly see that her graceful figure in a white shirt and skirt happened to be right there in the middle.

Realizing he was actually appraising her, he hurriedly turned his head back, feeling an inexplicable thrill akin to infidelity.

Hearing him stop abruptly, Shen Cuiyue glanced sideways at him, instead putting away her smile and leaning back against her seat: "Since I was little, I've practiced these captivating tricks. I won't use them on you, and certainly not on outsiders now. If you want to look, I'll let you look whenever you want. I'm yours at any time."

She said it very calmly.

Rang Weidong could finally feel the weight behind those words, though the straight-arrow guy decided to tease her first: "You're kidding me, why didn't you manage to captivate me the very first time we met?"

Shen Laosan awkwardly chimed in immediately: "I was taking a nap at the time, and they said Mao'er and Shitou were caught... um, captured. They ran out in a hurry without even getting their clothes on properly. There was still some distance from our courtyard to there, and I hadn't even caught my breath yet. Do you want to try it now? It's quite fun..."

Just five words, starting from "try it," suddenly became full of lingering charm, and she leaned in even closer.

After heading over to the university campus, she had cut her hair into a short bob ending at her earlobes, making her look much like any other college female student at a glance. Yet now, her shifting gaze laced with a nasal tone quickly raised the temperature inside the delicate, compact car cabin.

Rang Weidong pushed her away with his elbow: "Stop joking around and focus on business."

Shen Cuiyue pulled back: "Alright, the reason I wear a mask is precisely because I'm afraid I might unconsciously reveal alluring expressions sometimes. I can't let other people see that. I've felt very at ease these past few months. No matter who you choose to make your wife in the future, I will accompany you regardless... That's the telephone building right there, right? I'll walk back by myself in a moment; I've memorized the office phone number."

Rang Weidong dropped her off by the building, and even after driving quite far away, her presence still lingered in his mind.

He could only mutter internally: So this is the sorcery of a seductive enchantress; I must be on guard.

Yet it genuinely made him feel quite pleased.

Damn it, this test was far more emotionally engaging than the dazzling array of distractions at the Xishan Factory.

Anyway, after returning to the Steel Institute to pick up his two younger brothers and waiting a few kilometers away at the Foreign Studies University intersection for the fake Japanese guy Meng Hongfei had mentioned, the fellow immediately started waving his arms frantically and running toward them the moment he saw the car.

Amidst the bustling intersection surrounded by several neighboring universities, this small off-road vehicle naturally had the eye-catching appeal of a supercar.

Many college students on the roadside looked on with curiosity, involuntarily drawing closer to take a closer look.

To be fair, the girls here were noticeably much more fashionable in their dressing, while the boys especially loved wearing sunglasses.

Before Rang Weidong knew it, his attention shifted to Sun Zetao, who triumphantly opened the car door, greeted them with an exaggerated "Hi-i-i, hi-i-i," and hopped inside, only to immediately start probing for gossip: "Are there many international students at your school now?"

Sun Zetao spread his hands with a foreign accent: "Of course there are..."

It was a standard Northeast-style foreign-language accent.