Chapter 59: Trial Work at the Garment Factory, Receiving Allowance

“Comrade, you need non-woven fabric, right? I’ll get it for you,” said a woman with long braids, her face kind and friendly.

Xu Jiaojiao immediately nodded in thanks, and the two of them walked to the adjacent room where all the fabrics were stored, while other materials were kept elsewhere.

“You’re the new designer, right?”

“Not yet. I still need to pass the trial,” Xu Jiaojiao replied honestly.

“I think you’ll make it. If you have any questions, just come to me. My surname is Zhu,” Zhu Lin said warmly.

The girl was good-looking and had a likable presence. Xu Jiaojiao, quick to catch on, reached into her bag and grabbed a handful of candies, smiling sweetly as she stuffed them into Zhu Lin’s hands. “Then I won’t be polite, Sister Zhu.”

Zhu Lin glanced down at the colorful candies—clearly high-end treats from the department store. Her salary was low, only thirty yuan a month, and she could only afford simple sweets from the grocery stall.

Thinking of how happy her kids would be if she brought these candies home, she felt an even better impression of this pretty and thoughtful girl.

After glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she smiled and tucked the candies into her pocket. “From now on, you’re my little sister. Just call me Sister.”

Xu Jiaojiao eagerly nodded. She then picked up some non-woven fabric and a bit of white and black spunbond fabric, planning to create a contrast design within the limited materials for maximum effect.

After gathering the necessary materials, Sister Zhu handed her a large plastic box filled with scissors, rulers, chalk, and other tools. She reassuringly patted Xu Jiaojiao’s shoulder. “I’ll be heading back. Your workstation is over there. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Xu Jiaojiao replied cheerfully.

She spread the fabric out on the measuring board, carefully drawing out the specific shapes with chalk, leaving space for seam allowances. Digging through the plastic box, she found the necessary pins to secure the fabric.

She had plenty of experience making clothes, having practiced many times before. However, the industrial sewing machine was loud, and every time she stepped on the pedal, she had to mentally prepare herself.

Back in the modern era, Xu Jiaojiao used to step on the pedal hesitantly, causing her stitches to be uneven. Before getting used to the process, she would always feel nervous.

When engrossed in work, time always seemed to fly by. By the time she glanced up at the wall clock again, it was already 11:30 AM. Fortunately, she had finished cutting all the fabric. Stretching lazily, she sighed in relief—working was no easy task, but she enjoyed the creation process.

She then cut out some small fabric strips to practice using the sewing machine. Choosing a random one, she checked the bobbin—it had a bottom thread. She threaded the needle, making sure everything was set up correctly.

Sunlight poured through the windows, but the factory was still stiflingly hot. Only the overhead fans swayed back and forth, occasionally blowing warm air around.

It had been a long time since Xu Jiaojiao used a sewing machine. As she stepped on the pedal, an indescribable feeling surged in her heart. Who would have thought that in this unfamiliar era, she would rely on her modern-era passion to make a living?

Pressing the start button, the machine roared to life. She stepped on the pedal, and two pieces of fabric were quickly sewn together.

The more she used it, the more she felt that this sewing machine was actually better than the ones in the modern era. It didn’t jam as often. After testing a few stitches, she quickly moved on to sewing the actual garment.

When the lunch bell rang, she wasn’t even tired yet—she was getting more and more into it.

Zhu Lin saw her still working and called out, “Sister, save some for the afternoon. You’re almost done. Come on, let’s go eat.”

Xu Jiaojiao smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

“How’s it going?” Director Xu came by to check.

Seeing the well-cut fabric pieces and the neatly sewn sections, she commented, “Your craftsmanship is pretty good.”

“How long can you work here? When does your referral letter expire? We don’t usually hire temporary workers.”

Xu Jiaojiao had already prepared an answer. “Director Xu, I’d like to apply for remote work. You don’t have to give me an immediate answer—I only have ten days available here. I believe designers mainly need to submit drafts and create prototypes. I don’t need a base salary, just commissions.”

“You really can’t come to the factory full-time? I can’t make that decision alone; I have to ask the factory director. There’s never been a precedent for this,” she said hesitantly. The girl’s designs were excellent, and her skills were good. Plus, she was willing to forgo a base salary.

Xu Jiaojiao quickly followed up, “Director Xu, I can submit the entire month’s design drafts on the first of each month. You can pay me based on the sales percentage.”

Zhu Lin, seeing her hesitation, jumped in to help. “Director Xu, I think it’s a good idea! You should really talk to the factory director. We’d even save a machine, and we’ve got a big order coming up.”

“But designers need to communicate. Without discussions, how can designs come to life?”

Xu Jiaojiao knew she was asking for a big favor. After all, whether an outfit sold well or not also depended on luck. She smiled bitterly. “How about this? We finalize one specific design first. If it sells well, we can consider further collaboration.”

Director Xu sighed. “Finish the sample this afternoon, and I’ll ask. Maybe it’ll work.”

“Thank you, Director! Have you eaten yet? Let me treat you both. There’s a dumpling shop outside.”

“Alright, this girl is really generous,” Zhu Lin chuckled.

The three of them happily walked out together. The dumpling shop outside used real meat fillings, making it one of the best eateries nearby.

Meanwhile, Xie Zhi finished handling a report and sat idly in his chair, his thoughts drifting to Jiaojiao. The scorching sun blazed outside, but the laboratory was eerily cold. The equipment was expensive, imported from the Soviet Union, and had to be kept at a specific temperature to avoid damage.

“Xie Zhi, thank goodness you’re here. I wouldn’t have been able to finish this alone,” said Professor Guan, his face beaming with satisfaction. Even after organizing reports all morning, he was still in a great mood.

“Teacher, this is my duty. You’ve helped me so much,” Xie Zhi replied respectfully.

Professor Guan studied the young man in front of him. His expression was cool and composed, completely different from the gentle man he had seen the other night. He sighed—how could one support a family without money?

He pulled out a thick stack of bills and placed them on the table. “An experimental technician’s salary is eighty yuan a month. You do the hardest and most tedious work, so I applied for a raise. You’ll now get three hundred yuan a month. Don’t think it’s too little.”

“In fact, all these years, you’ve never accepted your wages, so I’ve been saving them for you. Three years and six months, plus some personal bonuses I added, total twenty thousand yuan. It’s not much, but I can give you more later.”

Xie Zhi immediately pushed the thick wad of money back, his expression serious. “Teacher, I can’t accept this. You’ve already done so much for me.”

Professor Guan’s face darkened. “Take it. Now that you have a fiancée, you need to support her well. I heard you even take translation jobs for extra money. That pays well, doesn’t it?”

“If you don’t accept this, I won’t let you work here anymore, and you won’t get access to my books,” he half-threatened, half-coaxed.

Xie Zhi chuckled softly, his eyes curving with warmth. “Then I’ll have to thank you, Teacher.”