In Daliao City, a long queue had recently formed every day in front of the hair care counter at the department store.
Salesclerk Li Zhen had just placed a row of bamboo bottles labeled "Heimei Tea Seed Shampoo" on the shelf when they were snatched up in an instant.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead and looking at the sales record in her hand, she clicked her tongue in astonishment.
The shampoo was gone almost as soon as it was put out, and the stock had only arrived this morning!
The speed at which it was selling was simply incredible!
"Comrade, do you have any more of that Heimei Shampoo?"
A female worker in a blue uniform squeezed her way to the counter,
"All the sisters in our workshop say this shampoo is excellent for removing grease. Your hair stays fresh all day after washing, and cotton fluff doesn't even stick to it!"
"Just sold out, but there's more in the storeroom. I'll go get some for you!"
Li Zhen responded warmly, but inwardly she marveled at that military wife named Shen Nanchu—truly impressive, to turn a rustic local thing into such a popular product.
Last time, Li Zhen had been the salesclerk standing next to Hong Xiaoling, watching how Shen Nanchu confidently persuaded Qiu Yaohua.
This "Heimei craze" was entirely driven by word-of-mouth among the textile mill's female workers.
Ever since Luo Hongyuan distributed the Heimei Shampoo as a welfare benefit to the workshops, every woman who used it praised it. Not only was it remarkably effective against grease, but hair washed with it became smooth, shiny, and even shed less.
The news spread from ten to a hundred people. Soon, not only were female workers from the textile mill buying it, but workers from surrounding factories and even school teachers came to the department store specifically to purchase it.
Looking at the sales report, Qiu Yaohua, the department store's business manager, was beaming with joy.
Spinning a pen in his hand and watching the soaring numbers in the "Heimei Tea Seed Shampoo" column, he decisively picked up the phone.
"Connect me to the Wang Family Village committee, I need to speak with Comrade Wang Jianguo!"
On the other end of the line, Wang Jianguo was checking the shipping list for rabbit fur with Zheng Tongwei. Hearing the phone ring, he hurried over to answer.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Hello, this is Qiu Yaohua from Daliao City Department Store!"
Qiu Yaohua's voice was filled with hearty laughter.
"Your Heimei Shampoo is selling like hotcakes! The shelves have been emptied several times! I want to place an additional order this time—two hundred bottles! Ship them to me as soon as possible!"
Wang Jianguo nearly dropped the receiver in his hand. His voice trembled with excitement.
"T-two hundred bottles? Manager Qiu, you're not joking, are you?"
"Of course I'm not joking!"
Qiu Yaohua said with a laugh.
"A good product with excellent quality and effects, recognized by the masses—of course we want to stock more! Hurry up and prepare the goods. I'll send someone to pick them up tomorrow!"
After hanging up, Wang Jianguo was so excited he spun around three times in the room, grabbing Zheng Tongwei's arm.
"Two hundred bottles! Manager Qiu wants two hundred bottles! Our shampoo is a complete hit!"
A smile also appeared on Zheng Tongwei's face.
"Fortunately, our supply source is still sufficient, otherwise we wouldn't be able to deliver tomorrow."
"That's right! No, we need to rush production immediately. Otherwise, we'll have nothing to ship."
Wang Jianguo hurried off to arrange the production tasks.
Zheng Tongwei then went to the Pei family to relay the good news to Shen Nanchu.
Hearing the news, Shen Nanchu didn't show much excitement on her face, only offering a faint smile.
"As expected. Good products naturally find those who appreciate them."
"Tell the villagers to be meticulous in their work. Quality must be strictly controlled. We can't cut corners just because orders have increased."
Zheng Tongwei nodded repeatedly.
"Don't worry! I've already asked your auntie to keep an eye on things. She personally checks every single bottle to guarantee no problems!"
For the next few days, Wang Family Village was as lively as during the New Year.
The processing workshop was brightly lit day and night. Villagers took turns boiling the tea seed cake, filtering it, and bottling it, smiles on everyone's faces.
The bottle label, designed by Shen Nanchu, was painted by Grandma Pei, Pei's Mother, and the village women. It depicted a beautiful dark-haired girl standing among tea seed trees, accompanied by the seven characters for "Heimei Tea Seed Shampoo." It was simple, eye-catching, and exuded a natural feel.
The bamboo containers for the shampoo were also special. The village's old carpenter led the young men in carving simple patterns onto the bamboo tubes, making them both slip-resistant and aesthetically pleasing.
Grandpa Pei went up the mountain every day with a group of old men to pick tea seeds and, along the way, gather sturdy bamboo. He called it "making use of waste," but in truth, he wanted to contribute more to the village.
Watching cartloads of shampoo being hauled away and exchanged for stacks of crisp new banknotes, the entire Wang Family Village was immersed in the joy of a bountiful harvest.
Shen Nanchu watched the busy villagers, a gratified smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
She gently touched her slightly rounded abdomen, thinking to herself that once this batch of goods was shipped and the accounts settled, it would be time to pack up and go to the army base to find Pei Zhengnian.
The industries in Wang Family Village were now on track. With a technical backbone like Zheng Tongwei overseeing things, a conscientious village head like Wang Jianguo keeping watch, and a group of hardworking villagers, she could leave for a while with peace of mind.
...
That evening, Shen Nanchu invited Zheng Tongwei and Wang Jianguo to her home and presented a detailed plan.
"I plan to leave for the army base next week."
"Here are the standardized rabbit hutch management procedures and shampoo production workflow I've compiled, along with some points for attention. Please take a look."
Wang Jianguo took the plan, his eyes full of reluctance.
"Nanchu, are you really leaving? The village's affairs have just gotten on track..."
"Don't worry, with you here, I have full confidence."
Shen Nanchu said with a smile.
"Comrade Zheng understands the technology, you have the experience, and there are so many diligent and willing villagers. You will definitely manage Wang Family Village's industries well."
"If you encounter problems you can't solve, just call me."
Zheng Tongwei said earnestly.
"You can go with peace of mind. We will certainly live up to your trust."
Shen Nanchu nodded.
"The quality of the rabbit fur must be strictly monitored. Don't lower standards just because orders increase."
"The shampoo formula must not be altered. It must remain purely natural—that's our foundation."
"Also, remember to distribute dividends to the villagers. Let everyone taste the rewards, that will motivate them even more."
Wang Jianguo and Zheng Tongwei nodded in unison, committing Shen Nanchu's words firmly to memory.
After Wang Jianguo left, Zheng Tongwei found an excuse to stay behind.
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow, looking at him.
"Is there something else?"
"You already have a sure plan for leaving Wang Family Village and returning to the capital, don't you?"
Zheng Tongwei didn't believe someone as meticulous as Shen Nanchu would make such a bet with him for no reason.
Unless she was already completely certain.
A flicker of amusement passed through Shen Nanchu's eyes.
"Why would you think that?"
"Being able to sell the rabbit fur and shampoo so effortlessly, I don't believe you don't have a backup plan."
Zheng Tongwei's intuition was usually accurate, and this time, he wasn't relying solely on instinct.
"Congratulations, you guessed correctly. Unfortunately, there's no prize."
Shen Nanchu smiled like a cunning fox.
Zheng Tongwei: ...
He knew it.
This cunning woman, tricking him into doing the hard labor.
