9: Return to the factory to announce good news

The exhibition ended successfully the next afternoon. Liu Xiaolin returned to the factory with Xiao Zhou and Xiao Li. The factory leaders and employees ran out to greet them like heroes.

"I heard you signed quite a few contracts?"

"Yes, now our factory is saved!"

"Exactly! The several months of back pay should be issued, maybe even some bonuses."

Everyone waved enthusiastically and discussed excitedly.

"Thank you all, we did indeed gain quite a bit from this exhibition," Liu Xiaolin said happily. "Now I need to have a quick meeting with the management, and then I will announce the next work assignments to everyone. Of course, everyone might have to work hard for a while."

"We're not afraid of hard work, we're just afraid of not having work!"

"That's right, if there's no work, there's no salary. How can we support our families without a salary! We're not afraid of hardship or exhaustion!"

Everyone said happily.

"Everyone, disperse now, go back to the workshops and maintain your tools and equipment. Those are our weapons for winning battles," said Deputy Factory Director Wang Shengjun.

"Got it, we'll go back to the workshops now and maintain all the tools and equipment to be as good as new!" Assembly worker He Jiang said quickly, patting his chest.

"Don't be funny, the equipment in our new workshop is already brand new, how can you maintain it to be as good as new? Haha, are you crazy with happiness?" Machinist Lu Guangyue laughed.

"Anyway, Factory Director Liu said to do a good job of maintaining the tools and equipment, so it can't be wrong to follow that!" He Jiang wasn't annoyed and still said with a smile.

"Alright, alright, you're right! 'Sharpening the knife doesn't delay cutting wood,' let's go 'sharpen our knives' quickly!" Although Lu Guangyue was teasing He Jiang, he was also happy in his heart.

So, the workers all went back to their respective workshops to 'sharpen their knives'.

Seeing that the employees had dispersed, Wang Shengjun took a few quick steps to Liu Xiaolin, shook his hand, and said, "General Manager Liu, you've worked hard, worked hard. Everyone is overjoyed hearing that this exhibition achieved significant gains."

"We are also very happy! During the two-day exhibition, especially General Manager Zhang Zhehan of Chunfeng Changan Group, was very interested in our engines. If we can cooperate with them and become their long-term special supplier, the future prospects of our Jiangnan Machinery Factory will be limitless!" Liu Xiaolin said excitedly, holding Wang Shengjun's hand.

"This news is even more exciting than signing a contract!" Wang Shengjun became even more excited.

"General Manager Zhang said he would go back and communicate with the group's senior management, set a date to come to our factory for an on-site inspection, and then make a decision," Liu Xiaolin continued.

"On-site inspection? We're not afraid! With our factory's new workshop and new equipment, we're just afraid they won't come to see it," Wang Shengjun said with a proud look, exactly the same attitude as Xiao Zhou at the exhibition.

"Haha, your proud look is exactly the same as Xiao Zhou's!" Liu Xiaolin immediately laughed.

"Of course, who wouldn't be proud when talking about our factory's new workshop and new equipment!" Wang Shengjun said with a smile.

"Don't be proud yet, let's go to the meeting room for a quick meeting. I'll report on the specific situation of the exhibition to everyone. Then we'll arrange the key points and matters for the next step of work," Liu Xiaolin said.

"Alright, alright, let's go quickly." Wang Shengjun turned back and said to Minister of Comprehensive Department Zhao Rui, "Minister Zhao, please notify all cadres above the middle level in the factory to gather in the meeting room within ten minutes for a meeting."

Zhao Rui nodded repeatedly and said, "Got it, I'll go notify them now."

Ten minutes later, all cadres above the middle level in the factory were seated in the meeting room.

Liu Xiaolin sat at the main seat facing the door in the meeting room, while others sat on both sides of the meeting table.

These personnel included Deputy Factory Director Wang Shengjun, Director of Finance Department Jiao Chaoyang, Minister of Comprehensive Department Zhao Rui, Minister of Technology Department Minister Tan Qilin, Minister of Quality Inspection Department Li Wei, Minister of Sales Department Chang Zaichun, Minister of Purchasing Department Yang Xiaoxia, Minister of Production Department Qi Qingan, and so on.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Liu Xiaolin was the first to speak: "Everyone, I have some good news to announce. First of all, our factory achieved great gains at the exhibition in the past two days."

"First, we signed orders for fourteen thousand engines. These orders are enough for our factory to work for two months."

"Second, General Manager Zhang Zhehan of Chunfeng Changan Group is very interested in our engines and will organize personnel to come for an on-site inspection soon."

"Next is the issue of production. Please feel free to speak your minds about any ideas you have," Liu Xiaolin said after a brief speech, allowing everyone to share their thoughts.

"Also, Minister Zhao, please make a record of this meeting," Liu Xiaolin reminded.

Zhao Rui quickly nodded in agreement.

"These two pieces of news are indeed inspiring. But I must pour a bucket of cold water. As the old saying goes, 'soldiers and horses have not moved, food and fodder go first.' Having orders is a good thing, but where are the raw materials? As the old saying goes, 'even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice.' How can we produce without raw materials? Some people say to hurry and buy raw materials, but the old saying also says, 'a penny can stump a hero.' Our factory currently doesn't have much working capital in its account. Otherwise, we wouldn't have owed employees several months of wages," Director of Finance Department Jiao Chaoyang said with a worried look.

The thing the Finance Department cares about most is one word: money! Without money, no work can proceed smoothly.