CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: THIS IS A TRADE SECRET

"Lin, you should first change the packaging and gift boxes for the milk candy. I need to verify the final product. If it turns out to be as splendid as I imagine, I will order in bulk."

"Same here! I also need to see the final product before making a decision."

The requests from Wilson and Mr. John were reasonable, and Lin Xiang naturally agreed with pleasure.

"Lin, I’m hungry," John unabashedly voiced his request, "I want stir-fried tomatoes with eggs and some spicy noodles."

John managed to articulate stir-fried tomatoes with eggs so clearly using awkward and tongue-twisting Mandarin.

Lin Xiang made a gesture, "Of course, no problem! Let’s go to the state-run restaurant now, and I’ll personally cook for you."

Wilson was bewildered, "John, what are you talking about?"

John didn’t respond to Wilson but whispered to Lin Xiang, "I’m very interested in your previous proposal about spicy noodles. For now, don’t tell Wilson about it. Once you let me see the finished product, there’s a good chance I will cooperate with your food factory."

The finished product, again the finished product.

Lin Xiang knew well that for businessmen like John, large-scale cooperation cannot just rely on verbal promises. Without a finished product, of course, he wouldn’t rely solely on his newly established relationship with Lin Xiang to discuss cooperation.

"Okay, I promise you."

After sending Wilson and John off in their car, Lin Xiang went to find Director Zhao and handed a piece of paper with designs drawn on it to Director Zhao.

"Director Zhao, I’ve negotiated with the two foreign businessmen. As long as the final product meets the standard, they will sign a cooperation agreement with us. So don’t underestimate this packaging; it’s the key to whether we can secure the deal. We must not be perfunctory."

Director Zhao was incredulous, "Are you saying that Mr. Wilson and Mr. John will both sign contracts with us?"

This was tremendously good news, but Director Zhao was also worried that with their food factory’s productivity, they might not be able to meet the demands of the two foreign businessmen.

So it might be necessary to involve county and even city food factories in the production.

But if that happens, it would be hard to say whether the export orders still belonged to their food factory.

At the state-run restaurant, apart from spicy noodles and bone broth sweet potato noodles, Lin Xiang also prepared tomato-flavored and garlic-flavored mixed noodles.

The ingredients needed for the other flavors were relatively complex and were not readily available at the state-run restaurant, so they had to be postponed.

Besides the noodles, Lin Xiang specially stir-fried a large portion of tomato scrambled eggs and served them on several plates.

When the food was served, Wilson noticed that there wasn’t a single Western dish, yet each bowl or plate emitted an enticing aroma.

He couldn’t use chopsticks, but John and the others had already picked up their bowls. Although their chopstick movements weren’t proficient, they still managed to feed the noodles into their mouths.

John went for the spicy noodles, felt the heat, took a sip of water, and then ate a big mouthful of rice mixed with the tomato scrambled eggs sauce.

Wilson imitated John’s way and took a bite of the spicy noodles, instantly tearing up from the heat.

Lin Xiang quickly pushed a bowl of rice in front of him and handed him a glass of water, "Mr. Wilson, you might not be used to the spiciness. Have some water to tone it down, and eat some rice first."

After suppressing the spiciness in his mouth, Wilson ate a mouthful of rice, nodding continuously, "The taste is very good. I didn’t expect Hua Country’s food to be so delicious."

Lin Xiang smiled but remained silent.

She thought to herself, this is just the beginning; she hasn’t showcased her real specialty dishes yet!

After finishing the spicy noodles, John tried the new tomato and garlic flavors. He found the garlic flavor hard to accept but was very pleased with the tomato flavor, drinking up even the sauce.

Once full, John used a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth, "Lin, I’m very interested in this. Just like we discussed earlier, you have to let me see the final product first, then I can decide whether to cooperate."

Upon hearing about cooperation, Wilson put down the spoon he was holding, "What are you planning to cooperate on?"

John didn’t even glance at him, "Sorry, it’s a commercial secret."

Wilson turned to Lin Xiang, who spread her hands, "Sorry Mr. Wilson, I’ve already discussed it with Mr. John first. So from a standpoint of integrity, without his consent, I’m unable to tell you for now."

Wilson was filled with frustration.

Though he still didn’t see much of value in Hua Country even now, if his competitor John discovered a business opportunity first, it would be bad news for the Wilson Family.

But Lin Xiang was justifying it with integrity and couldn’t be coerced.

After the foreigners finished their meal, it was almost four o’clock. Lin Xiang accompanied them back to the guesthouse and then went with Secretary Wang to the town government.

In the office, Lin Xiang reported today’s happenings to the Township Party Secretary without omission.

The Township Party Secretary looked at Lin Xiang for quite a while, not saying a word.

Clearly, securing foreign exchange orders is a difficult yet essential task for most places, but with Lin Xiang, it seemed so effortless.

In big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, there are many good things, and information is relatively quickly received, making it easier to acquire foreign exchange orders.

Yet Lin Xiang had already secured more than five million in foreign exchange orders for the cotton spinning factory, not to mention the quantity Wilson requires. Once the contract is finalized, it will be another multi-million order.

And there’s already a verbal agreement on the milk candy.

As long as the workshop of a higher-level food factory delivers, and produces the convenience food Lin Xiang mentioned, it would be another big order.

"You..." The Township Party Secretary hesitated before speaking, "Have you ever thought about working for the town government?"

Such talent should not go to waste!

The Township Party Secretary had a great plan, giving Lin Xiang an official employment position, enjoying the treatment of a formal employee.

But Lin Xiang declined.

"Leader, I’m just lucky, with basically no real ability. I want to get into a good university and further my studies, so I can better serve the country in the future."

Since Lin Xiang put it that way, the leader would not persist. It was agreed that tomorrow after leaving the cotton spinning factory, they would go together to the city’s food factory.

The original plan was for today, but Wilson’s sudden visit made the Township Party Secretary personally phone and delay the schedule by a day.

"By the way, I heard you were falsely accused, what happened?"

Lin Xiang quickly replied, "It was a misunderstanding with a young intellectual from our Li Hua Team. We had some disagreements before, leading him to hold grudges against me. Yesterday afternoon when I was returning home, I overheard someone having a secret meeting in the sorghum field. I got startled and made some noise, and he probably feared I would spill the beans, so he preemptively reported to the Youth Office."

"But a comrade from the Youth Office has already cleared my name."