Chapter 1685: The Exhibition

After sending his son off, Ye Yaodong began to busy himself with the exhibition. He was running around outside from morning until night, and could only be seen after dark.

Lin Xiuqing and the others went shopping on their own; they had been here a few times already, so it wasn't that unfamiliar. If they didn't know how to take the bus, they would ask people, or just take a human-powered tricycle, which was also convenient.

The old lady wasn't a burden either; after shopping for a while, she would have Ye Fu take her back. The three women could then shop to their hearts' content, heading out happily every day and returning exhausted but fully loaded.

They were usually frugal, but at a time like this, they weren't at all. Whatever they saw, they wanted to bring back, and they even brought a little something for their relatives and friends.

After finishing with some of the shopping malls, they thought about going to the more famous scenic spots. With several days of time, they could go and visit anywhere.

However, Lin Xiuqing stopped shopping with them after September 5th. Instead, she hung a badge around her neck and followed Ye Yaodong to the exhibition to broaden her horizons.

The exhibition center in the Magic City was bustling with people. This magnificent building, constructed during the Sino-Soviet friendship period, had high, expansive domes and solemn, dignified colonnades, looking heavy and imposing.

The five-pointed star spire gleamed with golden light under the autumn sun, and beneath the rows of arched corridors, it was packed with booths from all over the country.

The central hall had a ceiling height of over twenty meters, with old-fashioned chandeliers hanging from the dome, yet beneath it was a scene of bustling market activity.

Hundreds of booths were lined up along the marble corridors, partitioned into squares using wire frames and wooden boards.

The air was filled with the salty, fresh scent of various seafood products, mixed with the fragrance of roasted food, printing ink, and sweat. Every booth was crowded with purchasing agents carrying leather bags.

Ye Yaodong's booth was squeezed into a corner of the west hall. On the red velvet cloth were piles of shredded squid, roasted fish fillets, squid slices, dried shrimp, and other ready-to-eat seafood products, packed in transparent plastic bags with handwritten labels.

Surrounding them were others selling various seafood products, units sent by Zhoushan to participate in the exhibition. A bit further away were seafood products from Xiangshan, and even further were stalls selling Lin'an walnuts, West Lake lotus root starch, West Lake Longjing tea, and so on.

Divided by area and product category, there was everything one could expect at the exhibition.

Lin Xiuqing had been truly eye-opened when she followed along this morning, but she only had time to look around when the hall first opened. After that, let alone looking around, she didn't even have time to lift her head.

In the tiny booth, six or seven people were so busy they couldn't keep up—arranging tastings, unpacking, explaining, writing orders, and counting money. Their mouths were dry from talking, their hands were sore from writing, they couldn't stop at all, and their faces were stiff from smiling.

Apart from eating breakfast, they couldn't even find time to eat lunch, so they could only drink water to fill their stomachs.

When the hall closed, the group collapsed onto the floor, disregarding their image, but their faces were filled with joyful smiles.

Manager Qi swung his arms excitedly, "Oh my god, there are just too many people! The three of us writing orders can barely keep up, and the queue is already super long."

"Hahaha, we've given out a pile of business cards and received a huge pile ourselves. Look, a thick stack!"

Lin Xiuqing excitedly took the business cards she had received out of her pocket, and the others also hurriedly took the business cards out of their own pockets and placed them on the table, filling it up completely.

Ye Yaodong said with a smile, "These are all potential customers!"

"I'm worried we won't be able to produce enough. Look at these orders; it's only the first day and there's already a thick stack. It's a good thing we increased production capacity this year and prepared the goods in advance."

"We even sold 200 tons of the fish meal we just brought along casually, but it seems we only had about 200 tons in the warehouse. I don't know if there will be too many orders in the next two days, and we won't be able to keep up?" Manager Qi said with some worry.

Ye Yaodong sat up from the floor and said, "Let me see the orders. When are the delivery dates?"

"They are all as you said. The delivery dates are scheduled for at least a month out. For items with more stock, it's half a month; for those with less, it's a month; and for those with even smaller quantities, it's a month and a half. This stack of orders has at least thirty or forty, let's organize them after we go back, okay?"

"Forget about them. Anyway, the money has been received, let them wait for the goods."

Ye Yaodong had truly witnessed the scene of people holding large amounts of cash, queuing up to place orders and grab goods.

It wasn't just his booth; almost all the booths nearby had queues of people grabbing goods.

When they were setting up yesterday, looking at so many booths, he was worried that the competition would be too fierce. He didn't expect that before the hall opened this morning, there would already be a huge wave of people waiting at the door, waiting to get in.

Even they themselves hadn't been able to properly tour the venue.

At this moment, everyone was also calculating the orders received today, while tidying up the samples, preparing to seal the boxes and set them aside, and then withdraw, to continue tomorrow.

The exhibition lasted for three days.

Ye Yaodong suddenly felt that the time was a bit long, and he was worried that his production capacity would be insufficient. No wonder those who could participate in the exhibition were basically state-owned units or large foreign-funded factories; there weren't many private factories.

Just the production capacity alone might not be able to support so many orders from the exhibition.

"A batch of machines should be ready to be shipped back. After the exhibition ends, I'll go to the machinery factory to take a look. It would be best if they can be shipped back together, which would be just right to increase production capacity."

"Anyway, forget it. If the money is handed over, just take it and issue the order. Just schedule the delivery dates for a month and a half later. If we can't finish in time, let them wait. We'll just try our best to work overtime to catch up."

"After getting through this batch of orders, everyone will get a big red envelope, and we'll give everyone a raise next year."

"Manager Qi, work hard. Once the new land is approved, we'll build a family dormitory. I'll reward you with an apartment then; you won't even need to subscribe for it, I'll just give it to you!"

"For everyone who came along to help with the exhibition, after the exhibition ends in two days, everyone will get a red envelope as a subsidy for the business trip."

Ye Yaodong said a lot, but everyone only heard the key points at the end and cheered happily.

"The boss is generous!"

"The boss is mighty!"

The booths nearby that were tidying up to leave all looked over at them curiously, and those close by also greeted them.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone hurriedly tidied up their things, and many people had already left.

Most of these were old hands who had probably already participated several times. Their curiosity had long since faded, and they all went about tidying up and leaving on their own.

Lin Xiuqing said, "Whatever you have to say, say it when we get back to the hotel. Many people have already left, let's hurry up and tidy up too, it's getting dark."

Ye Yaodong agreed, "Hmm, let's go eat together later. We've been hungry all day, and everyone is exhausted. Let's buy a bit more for breakfast tomorrow morning, so when we're hungry at noon, we can..."

"The main thing is there's no time to eat. There are so many people, there's no time even to drink a sip of water."

"That's true."

"I originally thought about coming to see the excitement today and having a look around. It looks like I'll have to come and help tomorrow."

Lin Xiuqing had only planned to come and see the excitement today, and she had thought about shopping with the two sisters-in-law afterwards. Now it seemed she would have to come and help every day until it ended.

"Yes, you have to come and help tomorrow, even if it's just to help pass things, otherwise we won't be able to keep up."

Today's exhibition could be said to be a huge success, harvesting a large batch of orders and a large bag of money. These were all real cash brought for transactions.

Everyone was in high spirits and particularly excited during dinner. They had started preparing since last year, and they finally managed to participate this year and achieved success.

Everyone was already happily imagining that the orders could double in the next two days, and the factory would be booming, with no worries for the next few years.

Ye Yaodong was carrying a large bag of money and orders on his back, so he didn't dare to run around, and he didn't dare to drink alcohol. As soon as the dinner ended, he hurriedly took a taxi back with Lin Xiuqing.

He didn't even dare to ride a bicycle, fearing being robbed of the bike and money on the way, so he just had Manager Qi push it to the hotel.

The two of them didn't dare to talk much in the taxi on the way, but they were beaming with joy and feeling incredibly excited inside.

After arriving at the door of their house, they had no more scruples. As soon as the iron gate was closed, Ye Yaodong burst into laughter.

Lin Xiuqing was also extremely happy, "I was stifled on the way here. Earlier at the exhibition hall, there were so many employees and people, we couldn't be too carried away."

"Today alone, I estimate there was over a million, and there are still two days to go."

Her eyes were bright, "Participating in one exhibition means at least 3 million in orders..."

"Wrong, at least ten million, because there will be continuous re-orders in the future, and there are many people who are interested but just handed over business cards without placing orders yet. Didn't some agree? After the exhibition ends, they will go to our factory to have a look, inspect the environment, and then talk about cooperation."

Lin Xiuqing just nodded, "Yes, yes, at least calculate it by three times. There are many potential customers. Today they might have just seen that there were many people and didn't place orders. When they come back to look tomorrow, they will still place orders, or they might place orders in the future."

"Hmm, we've made a fortune. One exhibition is equivalent to half a year's orders for the factory now, and there might be continuous re-orders."

"If only we could participate every year."

"Try our best. Anyway, we'll apply to try every year. If we get in, we make money; if not, we don't lose anything."

It is estimated that the competition will become greater and greater in the future. When there are more private enterprises, they will definitely all be scrambling to apply.

However, as time goes by, the cake will basically be divided up, leaving only more monks than porridge.

The sound of the couple laughing at the door was heard inside the house. Ye Fu opened the door and saw them standing by the iron gate, talking happily.

"What are you two doing? Just standing there and not coming in? You were laughing so loudly just now, what's the big good news? Did you pick up money?"

Ye Yaodong covered the large bag of money and walked into the house first.

"It's so dark, why are you only back now? Does the exhibition have to be so busy until so late?" The old lady also walked to the door, "Have you eaten? Do you want me to cook some noodles for you?"

"We ate outside before coming back, no need to go through the trouble."

Ye Fu asked again, "Did it go smoothly today?"

"Smoothly, incredibly smoothly. A flying start, red from morning until dusk!" Ye Yaodong was full of joy, but his footsteps didn't stop. After changing his shoes, he went straight upstairs.

Lin Xiuqing followed closely behind.

Ye Fu asked puzzledly again, "Did they place orders on the spot? Then did you receive a lot of orders today?"

Ye Yaodong was already on the second floor, threw down a sentence saying "about the same," and then went up to the room on the third floor.

As soon as Lin Xiuqing entered the room, she closed the door, hugged him, and kissed him hard.

"At least a million in income in one day, it feels so good!"

Lin Xiuqing also excitedly hugged him, "Pour it out and let's count it quickly."

"Okay."

The two of them sat directly on the floor and poured out the money. It was all hundred-yuan bills, all in stacks. So much money was more shocking than the numbers.

"Is this just the deposit, and it's already this much?"

"The big money is still to come. Today, everyone paid the deposit first. There's several hundred thousand here, and it's fast to count hundred-yuan bills."

"Go to the bank to deposit it early tomorrow morning, otherwise I won't be at ease leaving it at home. There's no one at home during the day when they go out to play. When we return to Zhoushan in two days, I'll be even more uneasy carrying so much money on the road."

"Hmm."

Ye Yaodong dipped his finger in some saliva and had already started counting.

Lin Xiuqing also hurriedly helped count the money first.

"4... over 400,000..."

It was all a 30% deposit, and the balance would be paid before shipping. There was a full 400,000 here, and there were over a million in orders just in one day today.

Ye Yaodong was full of smiles, "Today's orders really exceeded 1 million. I don't know if there will be more tomorrow."

"Too profitable! Before going to the exhibition tomorrow, deposit the money first, and then we'll go to the exhibition together. It'll be fine if we go a bit later; there won't be that many people at the beginning anyway."

He nodded and started looking through the orders again.

Lin Xiuqing also put the money back and organized it.

"We have to call back early tomorrow morning to notify the factory to work overtime and rush the production."

He nodded.

Lin Xiuqing waited, and only after he finished reading the orders did she say again, "Your son has been in school for a few days. He feels that getting up too early in the morning and the road to school is too far, it's too much of a hassle. He asked if he could live in the small courtyard in Pudong."

"I originally wanted to tell you when I had time at the exhibition today, but I was too busy and didn't have a chance to talk. You've also been leaving early and returning late these past few days, there wasn't even a gap to talk, and we even stayed at the hotel yesterday."

Ye Yaodong said, "Let him live wherever he wants. Wherever he feels is convenient, let him live there. It's also good to save some time on the road."

"Okay, when we leave, I'll have Dad go over and live with him."

PS: My period is giving me a stomachache and my eyes are sore, so I'll write a little less, that's it. (It's time to start wrapping up, it's expected to be under 1 million words, it'll be finished soon.)