Chapter Six: The Breakthrough

  It was still very hot in September, Lu Zhengdong wiped the sweat and looked at a middle-aged man wearing a white shirt and being quite sturdy in front of a large tile house, who was busy working, raised his head to see him, stopped his hands and greeted him:

  "Oh dear, Director Lu, it's been a long time! Please come in and sit down, it's too hot outside..."

  Luojinming looked up and saw him, hurriedly beckoning him over, warmly welcoming him into the house.

  After sitting down, Luo Jinming smiled and asked:

  "Director Lu, have you come to the village on business?"

  Lu Zhengdong smiled and shook his head:

  "I'm here specifically to talk to you, Director Luo, about the handicraft factory."

  Lu Zhengdong also went to the handicraft factory, but it was a disappointment. The handicraft factory, from the director to the workers, were all farmers from the countryside, and except for one person who was guarding the factory, everyone else had returned home to work on their farms. So he simply came to Luo Jinming's house instead.

  "If there's something urgent, I'd ask someone to deliver a message. That's why I came to the township government office. And on such a hot day, you had to run all the way here..."

  Luojinming sighed while inviting him to drink tea and said:

  "Lu Xiangchang, don't mention the craft factory again. The village asked me to go back and be the director, it's like putting me on fire to roast. Those workers couldn't get their wages, they almost cursed me to death."

  Lu Zhengdong smiled slightly.

  He was in charge of finance and trade, and had quite a lot of contact with Luo Jinming. Luo Jinming was also a relatively bold and capable person in the village, and when he served as a village cadre, he also had some prestige.

  So when the craft factory was first built, he was made the factory director. Lu Jinming worked hard to get the factory started, and just as it was about to take off, Yang Luding, a deputy factory director sent by the township government, forced Lu Jinming out of his position. Lu Jinming had no choice but to leave in frustration. He couldn't compete with Yang Luding, who was Wang Liben's nephew.

  Yang Luding took over the handicraft factory just in time for the sanctions of 1989, and Yang Luding was not suitable for it anyway. The handicraft factory collapsed immediately, and as soon as the factory collapsed, Yang Luding slipped away to return to the rural enterprise office.

  The village had no choice but to ask Luo Jinming to come out of retirement again.

  The craft factory was built by Luo Jinming with his own hands, and he still had a lot of feelings for it. In fact, Luo Jinming was not reconciled to Yang Ludi taking over as the factory director. He wanted to revive the craft factory, but he was powerless to change the situation. Over the past two years, not only had he failed to pay the contracted fees to the village, but he also owed a significant amount of wages to his workers.

  Owing wages is almost as serious as digging up an ancestor's grave for these poor rural people, and he must have a very bad reputation. As the factory head, he can only walk in the countryside with his head tucked between his legs.

  Good things don't happen to him, bad things are all borne by him, no wonder Luo Jinming gets a little angry when talking about the craft factory.

  However, although the two had a lot of contact, they were also just acquaintances. Wang Liben was very powerful in his hometown, and Luo Jinming would often complain to him, but never mentioned Wang Liben. Nevertheless, Lu Zhengdong knew that Luo Jinming was quite dissatisfied with Wang Liben in his heart.

  At this point, both people are consistent.

  Lu Zhengdong had long thought that if the craft factory was revitalized, it would definitely be a good thing for him and bring many benefits in his future endeavors.

  Then smiled and said:

  "Director Luo, since you're being grilled over the fire, you should think of a way to get down from the grill. I came today to discuss some matters with you."

  Luojinming was taken aback for a moment:

  "Oh?"

  "Director Luo, what do you think is the main reason for the current state of our craft products?"

  Luojinming let out a sigh:

  "Can't export anymore, no sales channel..."

  Lu Zhengdong nodded:

  "What Manager Luo said is both right and wrong. In fact, the craft factory does have a sales channel, nor is there a problem with the product that can't be exported, it can still be sold domestically. The key is that there is no one to sell."

  The main products of the craft factory are high-end wooden crafts, which cost hundreds or thousands of yuan. Only rich people can afford them, and they are not very marketable. Although some small decorative items made from leftover materials, such as Buddhist beads and hand chains, are cheaper, they have a strong religious flavor and are not popular in inland areas. It's hard for rural farmers to go all the way to find sales channels, and even if they had the courage to go to big cities in the south, they wouldn't know where to start. So once their original channel was cut off, they could only sit idle. Luo Jinming's eyes lit up as soon as he heard this:

  "That's right, Director Lu is right, it's just that no one can sell this road... Does Director Lu have someone in mind for this?"

  Lu Zhengdong smiled:

  "Distant as the horizon, near at hand."

  Luojinming was overjoyed:

  "Isn't Director Lu going to personally go and run sales routes for the craft factory?"

  Lu Zhengdong nodded:

  "I have a classmate working in the special zone, with some connections. I'd like to make a trip and first help the factory solve its inventory problem. At the same time, see if we can find some stable sales channels."

  Lu Zhengdong's so-called having classmates over there was just an excuse. As for how to open up the craft factory, he had already figured it out long ago.

  Lu Zhengdong first considered making Buddhist pendants from leftover materials, his eyes were on the south.

  Hong Kong people believe in these, Hong Kong people build houses, choose locations, and must look at Feng Shui; naming, choosing careers must worship gods and spirits while business owners almost all offer their own beliefs in various god plaques, some are obvious, some are unique. Large and small, the smallest is only the size of a book, but incense and offerings are just as many, all "five organs intact".

  He once saw a report that Hong Kong has more than 600 temples of all sizes, with one temple per 10,000 people and an average of one temple per square kilometer, which can be imagined the prosperity of related products.

  But in many places separated from Hong Kong and mainland China, the impact is also significant. In this regard, the southern coastal areas are ahead of the inland areas, and the south is mainly an outward-oriented economy, with more foreign trade than the mainland, whether it's for domestic sales or exports, there are naturally more opportunities.

  Lu Zhengdong also had an idea to "enlighten" these products, he knew too much about such things, originally ordinary items, after so-called "enlightenment", their value would instantly increase several times.

  This "opening light" originated in the south and has not yet become popular, which is even better. The rarer it is, the better it sells, and the higher the price can be sold for.

  Luojinming was also delighted when he heard it:

  "Oh, Village Head Lu has connections over there, that's a great thing. No problem, I'll take care of the expenses for going out..."

  Lu Zhengdong smiled and said:

  "Don't worry about the expenses, my classmate over there has made some money and will cover all the costs of food, accommodation and travel. I was thinking that if things go well, Director Luo can choose someone to accompany me on another trip later, so as not to waste money..."

  Actually, Lu Zhengdong had already planned for the cost. He would repackage these products and naturally raise their prices. Not only did he want to make back the cost, but also take this opportunity to earn his first pot of gold in this life. There were many places where money was needed, especially his mother's illness, which needed to be treated as soon as possible. Therefore, he didn't want the people from the craft factory to follow him, that would be too restrictive.

  Luojinming chuckled and rubbed his hands together, saying:

  "This won't do, how can we let Director Lu exert himself and spend his own money?"

  Lu Zhengdong smiled to himself, the craft factory probably didn't have a single cent, Luo Jinming paid out of his own pocket, definitely using his own money to handle official business, and in Luo Jinming's eyes this money might not even be reimbursed, it was definitely a painful loss. Lu Zhengdong also waved his hand:

  "This is also my duty, to say that we are all on the same rope, if the craft factory can't get going, you'll have a hard time, and as deputy head of the village, I'll have a hard time too. We're in this together..."

  Luojinming nodded, the young deputy township head in front of him was not favored by Wang Liben, and it was difficult to implement unified planning and collection, life was indeed not easy, it seemed that he also wanted to make some achievements in this aspect.

  Lu Zhengdong nodded at Luo Jinming and said after a moment of contemplation:

  "But I have to bring some goods over myself. You also know that I have a lot of things to take care of and can't stay there for too long... Don't bring too much, it's hard to carry on the long-distance bus, just bring 30,000-40,000 yuan worth of goods, if you find a good sales route, then have the long-distance bus bring more over..."

  Luojinming couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart. This was probably the real purpose of Lu Zhengdong's visit.

  Lu Zhengdong couldn't help but have some doubts whether he could really find a way. Three or four hundred thousand yuan was no small amount, yet the young deputy township head spoke of it lightly.

  Lu Zhengdong naturally saw Luo Jinming's thoughts and smiled, saying:

  "Director Luo, don't worry too much, I still have 70-80% confidence in this. After all the difficulties I've been through with Yang Yaqing's case, I won't take any more risks..."

  "Director Lu, saying this is too much, you've been so supportive of the craft factory and my work, don't I even have this bit of courage? Director Lu can take as many as he wants, no problem, if Director Lu really finds a sales channel for the factory, then I, Old Luo, won't say another word..."

  Luojinming was actually thinking in his heart, he didn't quite believe that Lu Zhengdong could really open up the sales channel, but the stockpiled things in the warehouse were worthless, just a pile of firewood, and even if they were used to make fire, they would be hard to ignite. After all, Lu Zhengdong was the deputy head of the village, as long as he handled the procedures properly, even if something went wrong with Lu Zhengdong, he wouldn't have any responsibility.

  If Lu Zhengdong happens to find a way out for the factory, then it will be revived. It's worth trying even if it seems hopeless.

  Lu Zhengdong also knew that Luo Jinming still doubted his ability, but Lu Zhengdong didn't say much. A distant horse is known for its strength, and a person's ability is revealed over time...