Chapter 182: Press the advantage, expand the scale!

As a reborn person.

Li Jiaci knew how great the changes would be in future Pingzhou.

It will usher in such a bloody storm.

And the first to suffer is the black force that Wang Zhen belongs to.

Li Jiaci, as someone who has been there, has repeatedly urged Wang Zhen to retire from his wrongdoings and walk the righteous path as he did.

I simply don't want him to repeat the fate of his previous life.

But Wang Zhen each time gave a vague agreement, and behind the scenes there was not the slightest change.

On the contrary, his force kept growing larger.

Li Jiaci can't control him, but he has to manage his own brothers.

Before this storm arrives, if the two sides interact too closely—even the black force becomes tainted—then when the higher authorities launch a thunderous crackdown, they will indiscriminately suppress everyone.

Li Jiaci spoke solemnly, his tone grave.

Fortunately, the brothers also heeded his words, all nodding in agreement.

The next day.

Li Jiaci went to each workshop to check the furniture production progress.

The veteran craftsman Hong Jiafu took on the heavy task of leading apprentices himself, and the workshops ran nonstop, with him personally teaching the apprentices how to use the saws.

The workshop rang with the piercing sound of the saws.

Wood shavings filled the air.

Li Jiaci came before Hong Jiafu and asked, "Uncle, how are these people doing? If anyone disobeys, just kick them out directly!"

Hearing this, Hong Jiafu took off his gloves stained with wood oil, smiling and shaking his head.

"Boss, rest assured, these young people pick things up quickly—faster than I did back then, and they learn well!"

"Operating these tools isn't difficult; the only thing is to be careful not to hurt your hands!"

"I'm just helping by lifting the saws from the side; the important work is all done by them themselves!"

Hong Jiafu mentioned these apprentices.

That's ten thousand likes.

You can't even find a lazy one among them!

Li Jiaci smiled but said nothing.

He paid these workers wages that exceeded the market by a full 30%, hoping to make it hard for them to be disobedient.

Not only are the wages high.

Working here also includes food and lodging.

Even with a lantern you can't find such a good job.

The two came to the carving machine workshop.

Here the wood shavings don't fill the air; instead they all pile up at the feet.

Hong Jiafu said: "Boss, the furniture design drawings you gave are something I've never seen before; the style is too avant-garde, I can only try to make it by feeling my way like a blind man feeling an elephant!"

The furniture design drawings Li Jiaci gave will not be officially released for another ten years.

If he didn't do this, how could he possibly win over those old stores that have been rooted in the furniture industry for decades?

Li Jiaci stood with his hands behind his back, watching the carving machine etch pattern after pattern onto the wood.

One carving machine requires two workers to operate it in coordination.

Jin Ailing sent a total of twenty carving machines; if they operate nonstop 24 hours a day, they can carve at least hundreds of wood pieces each day.

Moreover, Hong Jiafu also imparted the skill of hand carving to the workers.

He led Li Jiaci forward to the hand-carving workshop.

Here there are a total of thirty workers learning hand-carving work.

"Hand carving is time-consuming and laborious; if they want to make a name for themselves, it will still take a long time!"

"But once they succeed, their hand skills will surely be far superior to those cold machines!"

"Back then I relied on these two hands to support a family!"

Hong Jiafu said this.

Li Jiaci nodded: "Uncle, let them practice slowly; I have the time and energy, I can wait for them to succeed!"

"That's great!"

Hong Jiafu smiled reassuredly.

The two then went to inspect the painting workshop and the leather processing workshop.

Because it's not labor-intensive work, they used only female workers.

The first batch of furniture produced were a few European-style sofas; Li Jiaci personally sat on them to try them out.

Whether it's the craftsmanship or the details, they are almost perfect and flawless.

Only the leather's smell is somewhat pungent.

Li Jiaci sat for a while and then felt his head dizzy and uncomfortable.

He got up and asked Hong Jiafu: "Uncle, how long will it take for this smell to dissipate?"

"At least half a month!"

"Making furniture, it's inevitable that the smell will be a bit strong!"

"Just air it out more and it'll be fine!"

Hong Jiafu's words had just fallen.

Then Li Jiaci frowned tightly, spoke in a deep voice: "No, the formaldehyde in the leather severely exceeds the standard; we can't use this quality, it will harm people!"

Harming people?

Boss, what you're saying is too serious!

We've been in the furniture business for so many years, and we've never heard of this thing harming anyone!

Hong Jiafu stared blankly.

Li Jiaci thought to himself, you haven't heard of it because the current internet environment is not developed.

This will only be possible in ten or even twenty years later, when you can stay at home and learn about national or even global social news through a phone.

By then he will see nationwide reports about the dangers of formaldehyde.

Li Jiaci couldn't be bothered to explain.

He spoke bluntly: "This batch of furniture will be kept as display items; as for this leather, I'll have Huzi take it back to return, and then select another batch of better-quality leather to send over!"

There's really no need for that....

Hong Jiafu still wanted to insist.

Because in his understanding, so-called formaldehyde is just an unpleasant smell; once it dissipates, it's fine.

Just listen to me on this, it won't do us any harm!

Li Jiaci waved his hand.

Thus, Hong Jiafu had no choice but to compromise, saying: "I'll have my nephew notify all the workshops to gather the leather as soon as possible, so Huzi can pick it up!"

Okay!

After inspecting the workshops.

Li Jiaci hurried back to the lumber mill.

And he summoned Hong Bo, Li Yihu, and Zhao Chen.

Li Yihu's task was more urgent, so Li Jiaci first gave him instructions.

"Huzi, take the fleet now to each workshop to recover the leather; return it to where it came from!"

"This batch of leather has severely excessive formaldehyde; using it to make furniture is harming people!"

"If the boss won't take it back, we can accept a small loss and give him some benefit!"

"If he still won't take it back, you can directly go to the market supervision bureau to report him for excessive formaldehyde in the leather!"

Upon hearing that.

Li Yihu hurriedly said: "Got it, bro; I'll go get the fleet from Qiangzi right now!"

After he left.

Li Jiaci then summoned Hong Bo to come before him.

"I've just inspected a few workshops and feel this round should be safe!"

"The leather issue is just a small matter; it won't affect the big picture!"

"I plan to keep expanding and engage in foreign trade!"

"Go find me a few decent factories, preferably ones with buildings!"

"From now on, this will be our office building!"

Hong Bo scratched the back of his head.

He asked with a worried face: "Boss, won't doing this be too risky?"

The furniture factory hasn't started making a profit yet.

Li Jiaci has already invested a lot of money into it.

Now we also have to buy a factory to turn into an office building.

That's really too extravagant.

Li Jiaci lit a cigarette, smiling, and said: "I'm confident; just do as I say!"

"But we really have no use for that office building!"

Hong Bo spread his hands.

"This is the issue I need to discuss with Zhao Chen next!"

"Older Brother Hong, go help me check out the factories first!"

"... Alright!"