Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 165 Trade Fairs: Opportunities for Foreign Trade

The successful resolution of the counterfeit crisis made Chenqing Hardware Factory's reputation spread throughout Zhangcheng and the surrounding area. Within just half a month, orders from various counties in the region poured in like snowflakes. The furnaces in the workshop burned fiercely from morning till night, and the technicians, working in shifts, were still incredibly busy. Just as Lin Chen finished debugging the newly ordered third semi-automatic casting machine, he received an invitation from the regional supply and marketing cooperative—the annual agricultural materials exhibition would be held in mid-month in Nanzhou City, the seat of the regional administrative office, and Chenqing Hardware was invited to participate as a premium supplier.

"This is a great opportunity." Su Qing examined the invitation repeatedly, her fingertips tracing the words "Key Regional Promotion." "Nanzhou is the center of our region. The heads of agricultural machinery stations and supply and marketing cooperatives from the seven surrounding counties will be there. If we can stand out at the exhibition, our market will be completely opened up." She paused, then looked at Lin Chen with some concern, "But we just finished dealing with counterfeit goods. Won't we be short-handed? We can't leave the workshop unattended, and we'll need at least two people to look after the exhibition."

Lin Chen was sketching out a display stand design in his notebook when he heard this. He looked up and smiled, "The manpower issue is easy to solve. The Liu brothers wrote last week saying they've already set off south and should arrive in the next couple of days. With them helping to keep an eye on the workshop, it'll be perfect for the two of us to go to Nanzhou." He pushed the design in front of Su Qing, "What do you think of this display stand plan? It's two-tiered. The upper tier can hold samples and test reports, and the lower tier can be a small wear-resistance testing platform. A live demonstration would be more convincing."

The display stand on the drawing was simple and elegant, marked with the words "Chenqing Precision" and its exclusive stamp. Su Qing looked at the detailed dimensions on the drawing and couldn't help but nod: "You've thought of everything. I've compiled all the product testing data into a booklet these past two days, and I'll also make a few bilingual (Chinese and English) instruction manuals—Director Zhang mentioned last time that some foreign trade companies might come to exhibit, so it's always good to be prepared in advance."

Over the next few days, the factory was bustling with activity yet operating in an orderly fashion. Su Qing worked through the night organizing data, meticulously recording the raw material composition, hardness data, and abrasion test results for each component. She even asked a friend at the local foreign trade bureau to help translate the English instructions. Lin Chen, meanwhile, led the technicians in building display stands and testing platforms. To make the demonstration more intuitive, he specifically integrated a small motor and counter into the system, creating a portable abrasion resistance testing machine that could display the number of friction cycles in real time.

The day before their departure for Nanzhou, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu finally arrived in Zhangcheng. The two brothers, dressed in faded work clothes and carrying heavy luggage on their shoulders, rushed forward excitedly upon seeing Lin Chen and tightly grasped his hand: "Brother Lin, we've finally found you!" Two years had passed since they last met, and Liu Guangtian had shed his youthful naiveté, his eyes now showing more composure. Liu Guangfu had also grown quite a bit taller, though he still seemed a little shy around strangers.

Lin Chen patted the two brothers on the shoulder and gave a brief introduction to the factory, entrusting Liu Guangtian with the important task of workshop management: "I have written the operating procedures of the casting machine in the manual. The key parameters cannot be changed, and the daily inspection records must be carefully checked." Liu Guangtian nodded solemnly and took out a yellowed notebook from his pocket, which was filled with forging techniques that Lin Chen had taught him years ago: "Don't worry, Brother Lin, I will definitely manage the workshop well and will never let you down."

The next morning, Lin Chen and Su Qing, carrying carefully prepared samples and materials, boarded a long-distance bus to Nanzhou. The bus traveled for more than three hours on a bumpy road before finally arriving at the Nanzhou City Exhibition Hall. The area outside the exhibition hall was already bustling with activity; exhibitors from various counties and cities were busy setting up their booths, with banners and displays prominently displaying slogans such as "High-Quality Agricultural Materials" and "Technological Innovation."

Chenqing Hardware's booth was prominently located on the east side of the exhibition hall, right next to the booth of a regional agricultural supplies company. Lin Chen and Su Qing had just finished assembling their display when several agricultural machinery station chiefs from neighboring counties gathered around—they had long heard about Chenqing Hardware's wear-resistant parts and had come specifically to see them in person. "Is this the legendary plowshare that lasts three times longer than ordinary parts?" one of the station chiefs, wearing glasses, picked up a sample and examined it closely, scratching the surface with his fingernail. "It certainly looks thicker than others."

"Not only is it thick, but its hardness and wear resistance are also crucial." Lin Chen smiled as he opened the testing machine and secured the sample. "You see, this machine can simulate the friction scenario during farming. Let's test it on the spot." As the motor started, the testing machine began to run, and the numbers on the counter kept jumping. People gradually gathered around. When the number jumped to five hundred times, the sample was still intact, while the ordinary parts at the next booth had already shown obvious wear after two hundred times.

"Great stuff!" the bespectacled station manager exclaimed, immediately signing an order for fifty sets. Other station managers followed suit, and within a morning, a long queue had formed in front of Chenqing Hardware's booth. Su Qing was busy registering orders and introducing products, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, but a smile remained on her face. Lin Chen, on the other hand, demonstrated and tested the products, answering technical questions. The two worked together seamlessly, busy but not chaotic.

During the lunch break, Director Zhang from the regional supply and marketing cooperative came over to offer his greetings: "Xiao Lin, Xiao Su, your booth is the highlight of our entire trade fair! The regional leaders came to inspect it just now and even asked about your products." He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I have some good news for you. Several foreign trade merchants from Hong Kong are here this time, specifically to purchase agricultural supplies and accessories for export to Southeast Asia. I've already mentioned your products to them, and I expect they'll come over to take a look this afternoon."

Lin Chen and Su Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Southeast Asia's hot and humid climate causes agricultural tool parts to wear out much faster than in China, demanding extremely high wear resistance – precisely where Chenqing Hardware excels. Without even taking a break, the two quickly reorganized the samples and materials, placing the English instruction manual in a prominent position. They even prepared three cups of tea, awaiting the arrival of the foreign trade merchant.

Around 2 PM, the number of people in the exhibition hall gradually increased. A slightly stiff Mandarin voice came from inside: "Director Zhang, where are the high-quality components you mentioned?" Lin Chen looked up and saw Director Zhang walking over with three middle-aged men in suits. The man in the lead wore gold-rimmed glasses, had a refined demeanor, and was holding a notebook. He was none other than Mr. Chen, a Hong Kong foreign trade businessman.

"Boss Chen, this is Factory Manager Lin and Accountant Su from Chenqing Hardware," Director Zhang introduced enthusiastically. "Their parts have an excellent reputation in our area, and their wear resistance is unparalleled." Boss Chen politely extended his hand to shake hands with Lin Chen and Su Qing, but his gaze remained fixed on the samples on the display stand. He picked up a plowshare part, weighed it repeatedly, and then flipped through the Chinese and English instruction manuals, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Director Lin, forgive my bluntness," said Boss Chen, whose Mandarin had a distinct Cantonese accent, "the Southeast Asian market has very strict requirements for parts. They not only need to be wear-resistant, but also meet international shipping packaging standards and quality certifications. We previously purchased parts from mainland China, and many of them suffered significant losses due to unstable quality and inadequate packaging, resulting in rust and deformation upon arrival at the port."

An assistant added, "Our boss means that your products look good, but they lack international market testing. We need to see more authoritative quality certifications and confirm whether your production capacity can meet the needs of bulk orders." He paused, a hint of doubt in his tone, "As far as we know, your factory is just a small private enterprise, and it may be difficult for you to meet the requirements of foreign trade orders."

Hearing the conversation, the surrounding exhibitors gathered around to watch the spectacle. Some began to whisper among themselves: "This small factory wants to do foreign trade? They're overestimating themselves." "Hong Kong businessmen have very high standards; they definitely wouldn't be interested in their products." Su Qing's face paled slightly upon hearing the comments. She subconsciously looked at Lin Chen, only to find him calm and composed, without the slightest hint of panic.

Lin Chen smiled slightly, took out a stack of documents from the file bag, and handed them to Boss Chen: "Boss Chen, we have already considered your concerns about quality and production capacity. This is an inspection report issued by the regional quality supervision bureau, which contains detailed material analysis and performance test data. All indicators have met international standards. This is our factory's production report. Currently, we have three semi-automatic casting machines with a monthly production capacity of 5,000 sets, which can fully meet the needs of bulk orders. As for packaging, we have designed three layers of moisture-proof packaging: an inner layer of rust-proof paper, a middle layer of sealed plastic bags, and an outer layer of corrugated cardboard boxes. We will also add wooden pallets to ensure that there will be no damage during transportation."

Boss Chen took the documents and began to carefully review them, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses gradually becoming serious. When he saw the hardness data and abrasion resistance test results on the inspection report, his brows relaxed; when he saw the detailed production records and equipment list on the production report, he couldn't help but look up at Lin Chen, his eyes showing more approval. His assistant also came over to check the documents, occasionally taking notes in his notebook.

"These documents are very detailed," Mr. Chen put down the documents, his tone softening considerably. "But data on paper is ultimately just theory. I need to see your production process in person and test the wear resistance and rust prevention of the products on-site. If they do meet the requirements, we can sign a small-batch trial order, but there's one condition—all products must be delivered within one month and pass inspection by our designated third-party testing agency."

"No problem!" Lin Chen readily agreed. "Our factory is in Zhangcheng, only a three-hour drive from Nanzhou. If it's convenient for you, we can go back to Zhangcheng together tomorrow for an inspection. On-site testing is no problem either. The testing machine we brought can simulate various working conditions, and the rust-preventing effect can be demonstrated on the spot." As he spoke, he took out a sample of the prepared rust-preventing oil. "Our parts undergo phosphating before leaving the factory, and then we apply this special rust-preventing oil. They won't rust even after being placed in a humid and hot environment for three months."

A hint of surprise flashed in Boss Chen's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected this small private enterprise to be so thorough. He pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, my assistant and I will go to Zhangcheng for an inspection tomorrow. If the inspection is successful, we'll sign a trial order contract for 3,000 sets, with the unit price calculated at twice the domestic sales price, but the quality must be guaranteed."

This price far exceeded Lin Chen and Su Qing's expectations. Suppressing their excitement, they solemnly shook hands with Boss Chen, saying, "Please rest assured, Boss Chen, we will definitely not let you down!" The surrounding exhibitors, hearing the conversation, all showed expressions of shock. Those who had been whispering earlier fell silent, their gazes towards Chen Qing's hardware booth filled with admiration. Director Zhang beamed, patting Lin Chen on the shoulder and saying, "Little Lin, well done! You've brought honor to our region!"

That afternoon, Lin Chen and Su Qing's booth became even more popular. Many exhibitors, seeing the foreign trade merchants' recognition of Chenqing Hardware, increased their orders. While registering orders, Su Qing would occasionally exchange glances with Lin Chen, both seeing the confidence in each other's eyes. As the sun set and the trade fair ended, the two tallied their orders and discovered they had ordered 1,200 sets of accessories in one day—equivalent to half a month's sales under normal circumstances.

Back at the guesthouse, Su Qing finally had time to calm her excitement. Looking at the order in her hand, she exclaimed, "I never expected we'd receive an export order! This is a huge opportunity for our factory's development!" Lin Chen, who was revising the packaging design, looked up and said, "This is just the beginning. The Southeast Asian market is huge. If this trial order is successful, we can open up the international market. Then our factory will expand and introduce more advanced equipment."

"But Boss Chen requires delivery within a month and third-party testing. Isn't the timeframe too tight?" Su Qing said with some concern. "Our current orders are already booked until the middle of next month. With this additional 3,000 export orders, won't the workshop be overwhelmed?"

Lin Chen put down his pen, sat down next to Su Qing, and pointed to the production process on the design drawings, saying, "I've already calculated it. After Liu Guangtian and his brother arrive, we can add a night shift and increase the monthly production capacity to six thousand sets. Export orders have the highest priority, so we'll focus on producing export orders first to ensure on-time delivery. As for third-party testing, our product quality is excellent, and we'll definitely pass it. Tomorrow during the inspection, we need to properly demonstrate our production process to completely reassure Boss Chen."

That night, Lin Chen and Su Qing barely slept. Lin Chen refined the production plan and inspection route, arranging every step meticulously; Su Qing, on the other hand, compiled a detailed cost accounting sheet, calculated the profit margin for the export order, and prepared the factory's qualification certificates and employee technical training records. The two knew that tomorrow's inspection was crucial, not only determining the success or failure of the 3,000-set order, but also the future development direction of Chenqing Hardware.

The next morning, Boss Chen arrived at the guesthouse on time with two assistants. Lin Chen and Su Qing were already waiting there, holding carefully prepared inspection guides. The car drove away from Nanzhou city and headed towards Zhangcheng. Along the way, Lin Chen introduced Boss Chen to Zhangcheng's industrial base and the development history of Chenqing Hardware, from the initial hand forging to today's semi-automated production, describing every detail vividly. Boss Chen listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, which Lin Chen answered in detail.

Upon arriving at Chenqing Hardware Factory, Liu Guangtian and his technicians were already prepared. A banner at the factory entrance read "Welcome Boss Chen for Inspection and Guidance," and the workshop was spotless, with every piece of equipment gleaming. Boss Chen walked into the raw material area and, seeing the neatly stacked scrap gears and detailed purchase orders, couldn't help but nod. In the smelting workshop, watching the roaring furnace and the technicians' standardized operating procedures, he took out a thermometer and personally measured the temperature of the molten iron. When he saw that the temperature was exactly 1,500 degrees Celsius, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

In the testing workshop, Lin Chen demonstrated the wear resistance test and rust prevention test on site. When Chen Qing's parts remained intact after a thousand rubs, while the ordinary parts in the control group had already cracked, Boss Chen's assistant couldn't help but exclaim in admiration; when he saw that the parts coated with rust-preventing oil did not rust after being soaked in a water tank simulating a humid and hot environment for two hours, Boss Chen finally smiled.

"Director Lin, Accountant Su," Boss Chen said sincerely as he sat in his office after the inspection, "Your factory's production processes, product quality, and management level have exceeded my expectations. In particular, your attention to detail is even stricter than many large state-owned factories." He took out a contract from his briefcase. "This is a trial order contract for three thousand sets of parts. I've already signed it. The unit price will be as agreed upon, the delivery period is one month, and I will arrange for the third-party testing agency to come over as soon as possible."

Lin Chen and Su Qing took the contract and read it carefully. The contract terms were clear and concise, with a reasonable division of rights and responsibilities, and no unreasonable demands. Lin Chen picked up a pen and solemnly signed his name on the contract, while Su Qing signed in the financial manager's section. The moment the two exchanged contracts with Boss Chen, enthusiastic applause rang out in the office, and Liu Guangtian and the technicians rushed in, their faces beaming with excitement.

After seeing Boss Chen off, the factory erupted in cheers. The technicians surrounded Lin Chen and Su Qing, excitedly discussing the foreign trade orders. Old Chen exclaimed, "Our little factory can do foreign trade now! Nobody would believe it!" Little Zhou jumped up and down, saying, "Factory Manager Lin, Accountant Su, are we going to earn foreign exchange? Will we be able to import more advanced equipment in the future?"

Lin Chen smiled and nodded, then picked up the microphone and said to everyone, "Brothers, this 3,000-set export order is just the beginning! As long as we control the quality and deliver on time, even bigger orders await us in the future. Starting today, we'll work in two shifts, going all out to produce for the export orders. I promise that once this batch of orders is completed, all of our employees will go on a trip to Nanzhou, and our bonuses will be doubled!"

"Good!" Everyone cheered in unison, and the furnace in the workshop roared back to life, the sound even louder than before. Lin Chen stood at the workshop entrance, watching the busy figures of the technicians, and then looking at Su Qing's smiling face beside him, his heart filled with pride. He knew that with the signing of this foreign trade order, Chenqing Hardware had taken its first step into the international market, and a wider world awaited them ahead.

That evening, Lin Chen hosted a celebration banquet in the factory canteen. Although there were no delicacies on the table, every dish was filled with the warmth of everyday life. Everyone raised their glasses in celebration, chatting and laughing, their conversation ranging from foreign trade orders to future development, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. Su Qing, holding a teacup, walked up to Lin Chen and whispered, "Lin Chen, we did it."

Lin Chen raised his glass, gently clinking it against Su Qing's teacup. "We did it together. Su Qing, thank you for always being there for me and supporting me." Moonlight streamed through the cafeteria windows, illuminating the unspoken understanding and warmth in their eyes. In the distant workshop, the roar of machines continued, the prelude to Chenqing Hardware's rise to glory, and also the symphony of struggle jointly composed by Lin Chen and Su Qing.

As night deepened and the celebration banquet gradually dispersed, Lin Chen went to the workshop alone. Liu Guangtian was directing the technicians to adjust the equipment, preparing for the night shift. Seeing Lin Chen enter, Liu Guangtian walked over and said, "Brother Lin, don't worry, we guarantee to complete the order on time and will not let you and Boss Chen down." Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder, looking at the running machines and busy technicians, feeling incredibly reassured. He knew that as long as he adhered to the principles of relying on technology and operating with integrity, Chenqing Hardware's future would be even brighter.