☆ 19. Love at First Sight

“I’ll say this: I, Meng Ling, have never admired anyone in my life. If you can really clear out this pile of…”

Meng Ling wanted to say “junk,” but since she had gone through so much trouble to bring it back from Yangcheng, she changed her words at the last moment:

“If you can clear out this pile of clothes, I’ll be impressed by you!”

“I’ll follow you from now on!”

^[1]“she had been hitting her head against a wall alone” is an idiomatic expression that means she had been struggling or trying very hard to solve a problem without success, feeling … Continue readingShe had been hitting her head against a wall alone, but with someone capable, she could at least benefit a little.

Meng Ling clenched her fingers, and looked at Ji Meng, who was as striking as beautiful scenery and somewhat out of place in this market. She sighed softly.

Ji Meng didn’t know what Meng Ling was thinking, but the words about following her really touched her.

So, Ji Meng’s smile became even brighter and more radiant: “Alright, it’s settled then.”

“How do you plan to do it?” Meng Ling was genuinely curious. So many of her methods had failed, what could Ji Meng do to revive the situation and attract young girls to this place?

Since someone said they would work with her, Ji Meng didn’t keep her plans a secret and shared her ideas.

“I originally planned to use some gimmicks like a mini market’s six-month anniversary celebration to attract people, and then use buy-one-get-one-free or buy-one-get-two offers to entice purchases. But you mentioned earlier that the young girls in the textile factory prefer shopping at department stores because they think this mini market is dirty and disorganized, right?”

“Those gimmicks can’t be used like that. We need to find a way to attract young girls here first before enticing them to spend.”

“What kind of method?”

When Ji Meng started talking about gimmicks and those fresh phrases like buy-one-get-one-free, Meng Ling realized that Ji Meng was indeed a person with ideas.

If she had used such methods during those earlier events and combined them with Ji Meng’s style, she might have sold quite a bit of merchandise and wouldn’t have accumulated so much inventory. Meng Ling couldn’t hide her excitement and hurriedly asked.

“Shall we invite the art troupe’s sisters to help organize a performance? Or show a movie?”

Meng Ling instinctively guessed but then shook her head: “No, last time we could invite people from the city’s art troupe because it happened to be a festival, and the leaders from the youth office wanted to support this mini market to help address the living difficulties of returning educated youth. They specially applied for it.”

“Showing a movie isn’t very likely either…” Meng Ling said, feeling guilty as she looked down and fiddled with her fingers. She still owed her movie partner money and didn’t dare to approach him.

“Then we won’t need the art troupe people or show a movie.”

Ji Meng replied and paused for a moment before asking Meng Ling, “First, tell me if you can make a profit at this price for the clothes.”

“If there’s no profit, then there’s no need to go through all that trouble. We can just throw out some gimmicks, accumulate slowly, and clear things out gradually. If it takes time, then so be it.”

“Just know that doing a big event will consume a lot of resources, you won’t be able to handle it.”

Hearing this, Meng Ling hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “I can make a profit.”

“The reason I dare to sell this batch of goods so cheaply is because…”

Meng Ling explained the origin of this batch of clothes.

Ji Meng’s eyes lit up after listening, realizing she had found the perfect gimmick.

Adding that to her idea of promoting the “most stylish Hong Kong celebrity outfits,” they wouldn’t have to worry about sales at all.

She didn’t expect there to already be shady bosses running away at this time. She thought that it only started happening in the late ’80s or early ’90s.

“Alright, since you can make a profit, let’s give it a try and aim to sell this batch of clothes quickly.”

“Keep in mind, storing clothes is important too. Hauling them around every day can cause wear and tear if you’re not careful.”

Having made up her mind, Ji Meng didn’t hesitate. She looked at Meng Ling and asked, “Is your sister-in-law a staff member at the textile factory? How’s your relationship with her?”

“Why are you asking about that?”

“Today is March 6th, and Women’s Day is coming up. Are the textile and clothing factories organizing any activities?”

Instead of answering Meng Ling, Ji Meng threw out another question.

“Women’s Day…”

“Is it coming up so soon? I don’t know, I haven’t been paying attention.”

Meng Ling had been so busy lately that she barely had time to eat, let alone think about Women’s Day.

“Should I go ask? But why do you need to know?”

“If they’re organizing activities, we could coordinate with them and move the event to the small square here. That would save us a lot of money.”

Ji Meng didn’t hold back and explained her reasoning.

“I’ll go ask then!”

Meng Ling responded immediately after hearing this, then grabbed her bag and prepared to leave. Just then, Zheng Wu spoke up again, “There aren’t any.”

“Neither the clothing nor textile factories are holding Women’s Day events this year. The collective is in a mess, and the leaders are overwhelmed. They’re just giving everyone the day off and handing out some noodles to the female workers.”

“You know all this?”

Ji Meng looked up, surprised by how much Zheng Wu knew.

“Oh, I forgot! Zheng Wu works at the textile factory. He’s a mechanic, but he’s been helping me out because of a hand injury.”

Meng Ling slapped her forehead. “I’m so ^[2]“Scatterbrained” refers to a person who is forgetful, disorganized, or unable to concentrate, often leading to confusion or mistakes.scatterbrained.”

“What should we do now? Neither the textile nor clothing factories are planning any events.”

Meng Ling was getting anxious. She glanced at Ji Meng and whispered, “I don’t have much money left, just what we made today…”

“It’s possible that we won’t need any money.”

Ji Meng paused for a moment, then turned to Zheng Wu. “You mentioned earlier that there were problems at the collective. What exactly happened?”

“And if there’s no event or big bonuses for Women’s Day, are the workers okay with that?”

From what she knew, Women’s Day during this time was a big deal, with a day off, organized activities, and plenty of gifts.

“The collective lost another order of clothes that was supposed to be shipped to Haishi. It’s a big financial loss, and the factory is out of money.”

The role of a textile factory mechanic is quite valued, with high pay and authority almost on par with a workshop leader. Zheng Wu, being familiar with the factory’s situation, chimed in.

“Another batch scrapped? At this rate, the collective will probably be dissolve,”

Before Ji Meng could say anything, Meng Ling couldn’t help but exclaim. After a moment, she couldn’t help but sneer:

“These people think that scrapping products will get them reassigned to a different role or increase their pay, but they don’t realize they’re about to lose everything they currently have.”

“You mean the scrapped products were intentional?” Ji Meng asked, looking at Meng Ling.

“It’s highly possible. When I visited the collective last month, I overheard people discussing whether making mistakes would let them switch roles.”

“And if you think about it, it really is suspicious. The collective has been around for a year now. Even if no one knew anything at first, after a year they should have learned something. So how can there still be large quantities of scrapped products?”

“But these people aren’t considering that the full-time positions are already taken. Switching roles isn’t that simple…”

Ji Meng pondered this for a moment, then smiled.

Her original plan was just to sell this batch of clothes quickly, make some money to pay off the original body’s debt, and then discuss working with Meng Ling on something else.

But now she realized she’d stumbled upon a great opportunity.

“Meng Ling, this is a good chance. Do you want to give it a try?”

“Huh? What chance?” Meng Ling was confused.

“Go to the textile factory and find out what the issue is with this batch of products.”

“Then, go to the factory leader—No, it’s better to go directly to the factory director who can make decisions—and tell them you’re willing to take over the collective, but on one condition: the textile and clothing factories must help us organize a Women’s Day fashion model contest.”

“Take over the collective?”

Meng Ling was dumbfounded. She didn’t understand what Ji Meng was suggesting.

“A Women’s Day… fashion contest? A beauty pageant?”

“No, what are you thinking? The collective is a disaster! Haven’t you seen how much the factory is losing because of it?”

“That’s because they haven’t met the workers’ needs.”

“^[3]“If you want a donkey to work, you have to feed it” means that in order to motivate or get someone (or something) to perform a task, you must provide them with the necessary support, … Continue readingIf you want a donkey to work, you have to feed it. Earning just ten or so yuan a month isn’t enough to live on. No wonder people are discontent. They’re not useless people, they just need proper guidance.”

Ji Meng casually straightened a garment that hadn’t been hung properly, as if it were no big deal.

She wasn’t particularly concerned about the collective. She had seen some documentaries and knew a bit about its situation. It was salvageable, but no one had taken the time to properly manage and organize it.

After all, no one really considered the collective to be a permanent institution.

In their minds, once a better opportunity came along, the collective would no longer be necessary.

“If you’re not willing to take it over, I will. But I’ll need you to make an appearance. We’ll split the profits. I promise there’s a way to make money from this.”

Meng Ling hesitated, then asked, “Can you explain more about this Women’s Day event?”

Meng Ling wasn’t too keen. Right now, she just wanted to pay off her debts and didn’t want to expand her operations.

“A fashion model beauty contest.”

“This contest will showcase your clothes, with real people modeling them, complete with makeup, and walking on stage. One hundred judges from the public will rate them to select the most beautiful outfit.”

“The scoring will be based on how the models walk, how well they carry the outfits… Basically, it’s about who looks the best, and then we’ll choose a winner.”

“Think about it, where do we have the most young women and housewives around here? The garment and textile factories. If we host this event at the small square, are you really worried no one will show up?”

“The key is that your clothes will be displayed. Once people see how beautiful they are, they’ll come to buy them without needing you to promote them.”

“Does that make sense?”

Ji Meng could only give a rough outline for now, as it wasn’t something that could be fully explained in a few sentences. They would definitely need to write down a detailed plan later.

Meng Ling understood the basic idea—it was a good one. But she was still hesitant. “I’ve never heard of a beauty contest before. Would anyone even want to participate?”

Ji Meng knew what Meng Ling was worried about. Even though some modern trends from Hong Kong, like ^[4]“Teresa Teng” was a famous Taiwanese singer known for her romantic ballads and soothing voice. Born on January 29, 1953, she gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s across Asia, … Continue readingTeresa Teng’s music was starting to spread among the younger crowd, most people were still conservative.

Getting them on stage might be a stretch, though watching would definitely attract attention.

But as the saying goes, ‘^[5] “Great rewards bring out brave people” means that when the potential for significant rewards or benefits is present, it encourages individuals to take risks or act courageously.Great rewards bring out brave people.’ There would always be a few daring ones.

Ji Meng responded, “I only need thirty participants. Between the garment and textile factories, there are thousands of workers. We’re bound to find a few willing participants.”

“Plus, it’s not like they’re participating for nothing. The winner will receive the outfit they modeled that day, plus a cash prize of 100 yuan. Everyone who participates will also get an outfit.”

“Since it’s a joint event for the factory, we can ask the factory to contribute the 100 yuan prize, and we’ll provide the clothes.”

“If you think this is doable, we can proceed. If not, I’ll stick with my original plan and create a marketing gimmick. But it’s already March, and the provincial capital will be switching to summer wear by April, so I’m not sure your stock will clear out in time.”

“And even if you do clear it out, what’s your plan for the future?”

“It’s not every day that you come across an opportunity like this with a fleeing boss. You won’t always have damaged goods to sell, and by the way, I suggest avoiding defective soap and shampoo. With chemical products, a bad batch could be due to serious ingredient issues.”

Ji Meng checked her watch. It was already 11 o’clock, and her work shift was over.

“Think it over. I’ll be back at two.”

As she turned to leave, Meng Ling hurriedly grabbed her.

“Wait, tell me more about this whole idea of taking over the collective. What would we even do with it?”

“Those workers aren’t very skilled, they can’t make clothes.”

Ji Meng stopped, a faint smile appearing on her lips. After a brief pause, she turned back.

“It’s simple. You can tell the factory director that, as someone who used to be a member of the collective, you can’t bear to see it closed down because of losses and you want to save it.”

“We’ll take over the collective, assuming full responsibility for its profits and losses. We’ll also handle the workers’ wages and demands.”

“Of course, the factory will need to provide some initial support, like allowing us to defer payments on some raw materials—specifically fabrics—to get us started with production and operation.”

Ji Meng paused for a moment and said, “I estimate the factory might not easily agree to this part, so you’ll need to find a way. Or, you could offer the factory a share, where they provide material support on credit, and we give them 5% of the annual profits as dividends—no more than 5%, anything beyond that, we won’t consider.”

“Anyway, that’s the gist of it. You’ve managed to establish this whole street, and you convinced the leaders of the neighborhood and the youth office to host two performances. Your persuasive skills and adaptability are definitely strong, so just go with your instincts.”

“You don’t have to worry about the factory rejecting your offer to take over. Right now, both the garment and textile factories see the collective as a money pit. They’ll be eager to offload it. Even if you put forward some conditions, they’ll likely agree.”

“The reason I want you to do it is because your brother and sister-in-law both work at the factory, so they trust you more.”

Ji Meng was willing to share all of this with Meng Ling because she recognized that Meng Ling was resourceful and well-connected.

She had just returned to the city, and achieving this level of influence herself would be difficult.

Thinking this through, Ji Meng felt more patient.

“You don’t need to worry about losing money after taking over. When the time comes, we can discuss whether to collaborate or if I’ll hire you to help me.”

“If you’ve made up your mind, act quickly. Time doesn’t wait for anyone. Today is the 6th, and the 8th of March is just around the corner.”

“If you miss this opportunity, your stock won’t sell, and your debts won’t be paid off, making everything else pointless.”

“If you don’t want to take over the collective, or if you can’t manage to, but still want to use the event to draw in customers, you can tell the factory leaders that you heard they’re not organizing anything this year and that you’d like to sponsor an event. You could ask them to provide people to cooperate with us, but in that case, we’d have to cover a lot of the costs ourselves.”

“At the very least, we’d need to pay for setting up the stage and the makeup for the models.”

“I’ll come by in the afternoon. If you haven’t gotten things in order by then, I’ll just keep selling the clothes as usual.”

Ji Meng felt she had said all she needed to and didn’t want to delay any further. With a wave, she quickly left.

She had promised Ji Qinghe to meet him for lunch, and if she was late, he would worry.

“This woman… always running off so quickly, never staying a minute longer than necessary.”

“Honestly, who’s the boss here?”

Watching Ji Meng walk away, Meng Ling pouted and grumbled in frustration. She ruffled her hair and turned to ask Zheng Wu:

“Xiao Wu, what do you think of her suggestion?”

“She sure knows how to talk, and she comes up with all these ideas. A beauty contest? I’ve never even heard of that, but it seems like her plan is really fresh. It might actually work.”

“Also, what about her idea to take over the collective? Does she really have a way to not lose money?”

Meng Ling mumbled, then added, “She really doesn’t seem like she just came back from the countryside.”

Next to her, Zheng Wu remained silent. He watched Ji Meng’s figure as she disappeared down the street, his dark brown eyes clouded, as if he was suppressing something.

After a long while, when that bright figure had vanished at the corner, he lowered his gaze and said,

“With the way things are for you right now, if you keep selling slowly, it won’t be long before the creditors start showing up at your door to demand payment.”

“If you follow her suggestion and take a gamble, you might just turn things around. And if it doesn’t work, you really don’t lose much—just a few outfits at most. Like she said, she’ll take over the collective herself, so you don’t have to get involved.”

“I’ll go to the textile factory now and find my sister-in-law, then go see her father.”

Meng Ling slapped her forehead, grabbed down an empty tricycle, and rushed off.

“Xiao Wu, please hang in there a little longer and watch the stall for me. I’ll try to be back before that woman’s shift ends!”

—

Ji Meng left the market and went straight to the medical clinic to find Ji Qinghe.

She was quite happy. Today’s work shift, aside from a small hiccup, had gone well overall, and she was satisfied.

She had figured out the direction she wanted to develop in the future.

She had decided that if Meng Ling didn’t take on the collective, she would come up with some funds herself and proactively go offer to take over.

But she had a feeling Meng Ling would follow her advice.

After all, she had nearly spelled it out for her: there was really nothing to lose.