"I was just lucky to have met many kind people like you, Manager, along the way." Song Nianchu's reply was tactful and flawless.
"Haha, talented people always say they're just lucky." The factory manager could tell Song Nianchu didn’t want to elaborate, so he didn’t press further.
But he grew increasingly convinced that his earlier assumption was correct—Song Nianchu truly was a blessing for their factory.
Four hundred jars in a single day! Even if the quantity didn’t increase further, maintaining this number alone would be enough to revitalize their factory.
After all, both the glass bottles and the jarring process were handled in-house—a single order meant double the profit.
"……"
The jarred products took up much more space than before, and Song Nianchu’s small cart could no longer hold them all. The factory manager, generous as ever, arranged for an employee to help her with the delivery.
"Thank you so much, Manager. I really appreciate it." Song Nianchu expressed her gratitude repeatedly.
"No trouble at all! You’ve brought us such a big opportunity—helping with delivery is the least we can do." The manager then turned to the veteran employee beside him. "Be careful not to drop Ms. Song’s goods."
"Don’t worry, Manager. After all these years working under you, you know how reliable I am." The older employee grinned.
"That’s exactly why I chose you to assist Ms. Song."
"Then we’ll be on our way, Manager." The employee’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
"Alright, take care on the road."
"……"
Song Nianchu walked side by side with the factory’s veteran employee.
The man stole several glances at her along the way.
"Did you have something you wanted to say to me?" Song Nianchu finally asked.
"Well… I don’t mean anything by it, but I was wondering—where did you get this cart? I tried pushing it earlier, and it’s so much better than the ones we use at the factory." The employee had been hesitant to ask, but since Song Nianchu brought it up, he went ahead.
"Oh, this? My husband made it for me," Song Nianchu replied with a smile.
"Your husband? Is he a carpenter?" The employee looked surprised.
"In a way, yes." Song Nianchu nodded after a brief thought.
Though Mu Shi'an’s main job wasn’t carpentry, he had been working with wood a lot lately.
"Then… could you ask him to make one for me too? My family could really use a cart like this." The man’s eyes lit up with hope.
"Really? But he’s got other projects right now—I’m not sure if he’ll take on more work." Song Nianchu didn’t make any promises on Mu Shi'an’s behalf.
"Then could you ask him for me? Let me know tomorrow. I’ll pay the market rate, or you can name a price." The employee was genuinely taken with the cart.
It was sturdy, smooth, and effortless to push—perfect for heavy labor.
"Alright, I’ll ask him tonight and let you know." Song Nianchu could tell he was sincere.
"Wonderful!" The man’s smile widened.
Chatting as they walked, they soon arrived at the state-run restaurant.
The employee didn’t go upstairs with Song Nianchu, instead bidding her farewell at the back entrance before returning to the factory.
After all, she wouldn’t be heading back with him.
"……"
Manager Li’s office.
After counting the goods Song Nianchu had delivered, Manager Li nodded in satisfaction.
"I thought you’d only bring the usual amount this morning, but this is much more than expected."
"I worked late last night to prepare these, just to make sure I didn’t delay your plans. The rest should all be delivered by this afternoon." Song Nianchu had a way with words.
"Haha, I knew you were someone who seizes opportunities. I won’t keep it from you—I’ve connected with the city’s supply and marketing cooperative. If they’re satisfied with this batch, you won’t have to worry about future orders!" In his excitement, Manager Li revealed a bit more than usual.
"Manager Li, you’re truly impressive—even the city officials know you!" Song Nianchu quickly flattered him.
"Now, now, let’s keep it modest. I’m not one to boast." Manager Li waved a hand dismissively.
Though his grin stretched nearly ear to ear, making his humility a little hard to believe.
"So, Manager Li, should I prepare the same quantity for tomorrow?" Song Nianchu seized the moment to confirm.
"Yes, the same amount!"
"Great! I’ll get started right away." Song Nianchu couldn’t hide her delight.
"Go ahead."
"……"
After leaving Manager Li’s office, Song Nianchu headed straight for the marketplace.
First, she found the manager who had lent her the cart and explained why she hadn’t returned it yet, assuring him it would be back by the afternoon.
With so many deliveries still pending, she couldn’t manage alone.
"So you’re saying this cart of yours works better than mine?" The marketplace manager eyed her cart curiously.
"If you’d like, you can test it yourself." Song Nianchu handed it over willingly.
The manager didn’t hesitate, giving it a spin. The difference was undeniable.
He even loaded it with goods for another test—it was noticeably smoother and required far less effort.
"Ms. Song, where did you get this cart? Could you share the address?" The manager’s eyes gleamed with interest.
The marketplace handled countless shipments daily. If they could switch to these efficient, easy-to-use carts, productivity would skyrocket.
Song Nianchu hadn’t expected Mu Shi'an’s handmade cart to be so well-received. Her eyes flickered thoughtfully.
"Manager, where do you usually source your carts, and what’s the price?" She decided to probe first rather than reveal details outright.
"We order them from the supply and marketing cooperative. Twelve yuan per cart." The manager answered frankly.
Twelve yuan?
Song Nianchu’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. That wasn’t cheap at all.
Still, carts were durable goods—a long-term investment.
"How many would you need, Manager?" she asked.
"Let’s start with three. If they perform well, we’ll order more." The manager considered briefly.
"Alright, I’ll check for you and give you a definite answer tomorrow. Is that alright?" She gave the same response as she had to the factory employee.
"Sure, just let me know tomorrow." The manager nodded amiably.
"Great. I’ll go get my ingredients now."
"Of course."
"……"
After purchasing her supplies, Song Nianchu hurried back to Qinghe Fishing Village.
But with more deliveries scheduled for the afternoon, she didn’t have time to go home—instead, she pushed the cart straight to the village office.
