Chapter 96 Second Watch

Chapter 96 Second Watch

Liu Yingshuang also came over: "They are promoting their handkerchiefs to David, offering a price one dollar cheaper than ours."

She only understood a little of the foreign language, but she could understand what Ying Jun and the others were saying. She wasn't afraid of losing face or their disdainful looks, so she simply stood next to them to listen. And what she heard was shocking—these people have no shame!

They are from the same factory, how could they do this? Do they have no shame?

The translator also looked troubled. He hesitated for a moment and advised Ying Jun and the others to reconsider. Since they are from the same factory, it's normal to offer a slightly lower price for different embroidery patterns, but reducing it by a whole dollar? That clearly implies the previous deal was overpriced.

But Ying Jun and the others insisted that the Embroidery Factory's headquarters had never sold handkerchiefs for more than three dollars, and they had actually raised the price considering the higher pricing of the Ninth Workshop.

The translator was speechless. Without waiting for the translator's response, Ying Jun extended three fingers and gestured the price to David.

The translator looked at David with a worried expression. The five-hundred-thousand-dollar order from earlier was the first deal of this year's Autumn Trade Exhibition, a symbolic and auspicious start. If Ying Jun and the others messed things up and caused issues with the previous deal, everyone involved would likely face severe criticism.

To his surprise, David showed no change in expression after seeing Ying Jun's gesture. He casually looked at the handkerchief Ying Jun gave him, then looked at the other embroidered items nearby, shrugged, and said to the translator:

"Hey, buddy, tell them that although their products are cheap, the patterns are just too ugly. No one in our country would like this. Neither beautiful ladies nor elegant gentlemen would appreciate it. Not even for three dollars, let alone one dollar. After all, no one pays for ugly things."

Here we go again, the usual arrogant and sarcastic comments.

The translator felt that the tone was finally right.

After all, in recent years, most of the foreign buyers from the United States he had dealt with had this attitude—self-important, nitpicky, and often belittling China's products.

Although such a way of speaking was infuriating, the fact was that their country's productivity was indeed lagging. They needed to earn more foreign exchange to acquire the technology and equipment they urgently needed from other countries. Therefore, even though foreign buyers often acted condescendingly, they had no choice but to serve them carefully.

He had thought that this foreign buyer named David was particularly mild-mannered, but it turned out he was only gentle when dealing with Deputy Director Shen and her colleagues.

The translator, of course, didn't convey David's message directly. He rephrased it more tactfully, explaining to Ying Jun that David didn't like the Embroidery Factory's products, and the price wasn't the issue—he simply didn't find them appealing.

Ying Jun and his team from the Embroidery Factory's headquarters exchanged confused glances. They couldn't believe that this foreigner, who had paid four and twelve dollars for the Ninth Workshop's embroidery, wouldn't even buy their handkerchiefs at a one-dollar discount.

Moreover, David didn't seem to hold any grudge against Shen Moer for their lower price.

Ying Jun wanted to try again, but before he could speak, David had already turned and walked away.

What nearly made Ying Jun spit blood was that David completely ignored him but nodded and smiled at Shen Moer before leaving.

"Oh my, that foreigner said their stuff was ugly," Liu Yingshuang finally understood one sentence and burst into laughter, especially when she saw David leave without even acknowledging Ying Jun, and Ying Jun's almost spitting-blood expression. She laughed so hard she slapped her knees.

The people from the Embroidery Factory's headquarters were furious at her laughter. Ying Jun's face turned pale. Weng Huijun couldn't help but put her hands on her hips and scold: "Hick, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you even understand? You say he called our stuff ugly, but he already bought over a million dollars' worth. Isn't it normal if he doesn't want to buy more? Why are you spreading rumors here? You're like a dung beetle pretending to be a peacock!"

Weng Huijun was clearly sharp-tongued, but she didn't know that Liu Yingshuang was no pushover either. She was a woman renowned throughout the entire Liuqiao Village.

With her hands on her hips, Liu Yingshuang's voice was loud enough to drown out the noise from nearby exhibition areas: "Damn it, haven't you heard that the one who starts the fight is the fool? I haven't even scolded you yet, and you have the nerve to curse at me. What, jealous that we landed a multi-million-dollar order? Trying to start a price war, huh? Thinking that just because we sell for four dollars and you sell for three, they'll come running to you? Thinking that just because your price is cheaper, they'll come to us for an explanation? What a bunch of petty, sneaky people. Too bad, the foreign buyers have eyes. They take one look and go, 'Oh my, this thing is so ugly, who would buy it? Not even for three dollars, let alone three cents!'"

"Didn't you see how they ran away, afraid you'd try to swindle them? They were so disgusted by your stuff, they had to leave to find a place to wash their eyes! And you still have no self-awareness? What, can't sell your stuff and now you want to blame us? Spreading rumors? He said it clearly, what, you don't speak English, so you think I don't? You can't even understand 'How are you? Fine, thank you, and you?' and you dare say I'm pretending to be some big-tailed bird?! You've seen more shit than the city's latrines!"

Liu Yingshuang ranted for several minutes, during which Weng Huijun tried several times to interject but was completely overpowered by Liu Yingshuang's momentum and volume, leaving her with no chance to fight back.

The others from the Embroidery Factory's headquarters were utterly stunned. The Embroidery Factory had many female workers, and where there are people, there are conflicts. Arguments and hair-pulling fights were not uncommon, but they had never seen anyone as skilled at cursing as this woman.

Her energy and speed were unparalleled, not just in the Embroidery Factory, but probably in the entire southern province.

And she really could speak English. Although they couldn't understand it, since she dared to speak it in public, it must be true, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing if exposed?

A crowd had already gathered around their booth, everyone was amazed by Liu Yingshuang.

This woman really knows how to curse.

Ah, you’ve seen more crap than any outhouse. What a disgusting yet novel way of insulting someone!

With so many people watching, Liu Yingshuang didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed; on the contrary, she was proud. She held her head high.

She hadn’t said a single word wrong.

They started it, so they had it coming.

Weng Huijun, who was arguing with her, couldn’t take it anymore. In her twenty-some years, this was the first time she had been humiliated in front of so many people.

Weng Huijun’s face turned bright red, and she ran off in tears, hiding her face.

Liu Yingshuang sneered coldly, “Hah, loser.”

Not long after, Zeng Huiru and Chen Jiahua returned.

Zeng Huiru had been in touch with the provincial commerce department to understand the situation, while Chen Jiahua had been checking out the venue to learn about the products and production of similar enterprises and to see if there were any suitable equipment and raw materials.

The South Province Embroidery Factory had participated in the Canton Fair every year since its inception, so everyone was familiar with the fair’s procedures. Zeng Huiru and Chen Jiahua naturally didn’t need to stay at the booth all the time.

As a result, they were quickly called back by the venue staff.

With everyone watching, Zeng Huiru couldn’t say much, only frowning and saying, “You were sent here to make the factory proud, not embarrass it.”

After a moment of thought, she added, “The price of the headquarters’ handkerchiefs should be unified with the Ninth Workshop. Since we are one factory, we shouldn’t undercut each other.”

Ying Jun pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with Zeng Huiru’s decision, but in the end, he kept his mouth shut.

After the incident with the Ninth Workshop last time, Zeng Huiru already had a bad impression of him. He didn’t want to cross her over such a small matter.

The headquarters staff were all upset. An older employee, using his seniority, couldn’t help but say, “Deputy Director Zeng, this price is really too high. In previous years, we were happy to get three dollars a piece. Four dollars, let alone twelve, is just too much!”

Zeng Huiru replied, “But we’ve already sold over five million, which shows that foreign buyers can accept this price.”

Shen Moer had been silent all along. She had planned to bring it up with Zeng Huiru later, but seeing where the conversation was going, she decided to jump in. “Deputy Director Zeng, even though they are all handkerchiefs, because the patterns are different and the target customer groups are different, the pricing should indeed vary.”

Zeng Huiru was surprised by her comment, “Oh? Then what do you think the headquarters’ handkerchiefs should be priced at?”

Shen Moer explained, “Our Ninth Workshop’s target customers are wealthy people from developed countries, so our embroidery is more simple and elegant. We’ve got two types of packaging to make it look more upscale.”

“The headquarters’ handkerchiefs are more basic, and the target customers should be ordinary people from various countries. If the price is too high, foreign buyers might balk at it. Moreover, similar handkerchiefs are likely produced by other enterprises, so we should set a price similar to theirs. This way, they won’t think all our stuff is overpriced, which could affect the sales of our other products.”

Zeng Huiru’s expression shifted slightly. This was indeed a valid concern. Charging too much for small items like handkerchiefs could easily give the impression that all their products were more expensive than those of other companies.

She asked Shen Moer, “Aren’t you afraid that if they lower their prices, foreign buyers will think your prices are too high?”

Shen Moer smiled, “Mr. David has already proven that, even though they are all handkerchiefs, the price in his eyes is different.”

Wasn’t this implying that the headquarters’ handkerchiefs were inferior to the Ninth Workshop’s in Mr. David’s eyes?

Chen Jiahua was standing right beside them.

This girl really spoke her mind.

Zeng Huiru gave Shen Moer a deep look and finally nodded, “Alright, then Ying Jun, you proceed as originally planned.”

Ying Jun reluctantly nodded.

On the surface, it seemed like the Ninth Workshop had conceded, but in reality, the headquarters’ products seemed to have been inadvertently overshadowed by the Ninth Workshop.

It was so frustrating.

Chen Jiahua, however, didn’t feel offended at all. After hearing how Shen Moer had sold the handkerchiefs, she even praised Shen Moer for her keen observation and flexible thinking, saying she wanted to learn from Shen Moer’s sales approach and apply it in other ways.

Then she watched as Shen Moer closed yet another deal.