60s: I have a store

Chapter 428: Veteran Craftsman
After seeing that everyone had left, Director Li brought Zhou Yimin to the office.

But on the way, she was a little surprised. She didn't expect Zhou Yimin to be so capable that he could get a motorcycle.

But now is not the time to talk about this, let’s get to the point!
Zhou Yimin sat down directly: "Aunt Li, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Director Li got straight to the point: "Yimin, I want you to do me a favor?"

Seeing such seriousness, Zhou Yimin also sat up straight: "Aunt Li, tell me, as long as I can help, I will never refuse."

After all, it is still very useful to have a good relationship with the street office. Moreover, the street offices nowadays are not like those in later generations, which have no power and are full of trivial matters.

The power of the street offices nowadays is quite large.

Director Li said, "I have secured a spot at the Canton Fair, but the processing factory can't produce any decent products."

"I was thinking, Yimin, you are so good at invention, can you help the processing factory invent a product?"

If the processing factory shines at the Canton Fair, then its reputation will rise, and it may even be promoted even higher because of this achievement.

After all, a leader who doesn’t get promoted is not a good leader.

Zhou Yimin was overwhelmed when he heard this: "Aunt Li, you want to attend the Canton Fair too!"

Director Li heard this and said, "Yimin, do you mean that the steel mill will also participate?"

Zhou Yimin replied honestly: "The steel plant is indeed going to participate, and has already produced the samples for participation."

Director Li was a little curious: "Yimin, did you invent the steel plant's sample?"

She felt that since Zhou Yimin knew so much, he must have been involved, otherwise he would not know so much.

Zhou Yimin nodded: "Yes, I invented a suitcase."

Director Li's eyes lit up: "Yimin, since you can help the steel plant with inventions, you can't favor one over the other. The processing plant can't be run without your help."

There is no other way. I can only play the emotional card now and hope that Zhou Yimin can help.

Zhou Yimin had no choice but to nod and agree: "Aunt Li, let me think about it."

After saying this, he fell into deep thought. What kinds of things are suitable for processing plants?

After all, no matter from which aspect, a processing plant cannot be compared with a steel plant and can only invent some simple things.

Moreover, the materials cannot be expensive, otherwise even if it is invented, there will be no raw materials to make it.

"Got it!" Zhou Yimin slapped the table and stood up.

“Why don’t we use local resources, such as bamboo, rattan and wicker, which are cheap and easy to process, to make distinctive handicrafts and household items?

Don’t foreigners like our traditional Chinese things? Apply some simple mechanical principles to add new functions to old objects. The cost is not high and it is practical and novel.”

Director Li immediately became happy. He was right. If he had any difficulties, he could find Yimin and there would be absolutely no worries.

Zhou Yimin said at this time: "Aunt Li, can you give me some paper and pen?"

Director Li did not dare to delay and immediately took out paper and pen from the drawer and handed them to Zhou Yimin.

After Zhou Yimin took the pen and paper, he quickly sketched on a yellowed straw paper: "We can make bamboo household items, such as delicate fruit plates, practical storage baskets, and rattan handicrafts, from small ornaments to large screens, with traditional flowers, birds, fish, insects, and auspicious patterns. Foreigners will like our Chinese style, which is both decorative and practical, and the cost is low. The raw materials are everywhere, so there is no worry about supply."

Director Li's eyes lit up and he took over the conversation: "Yes, that's a good idea! I've seen old bamboo craftsmen weaving things in the countryside before, and their craftsmanship is amazing.

If we invite these old craftsmen to come here and teach the young workers how to do it, and then slightly improve the style, it will definitely work. Besides, bamboo and rattan weaving is not very picky about the location.

After hearing this, Zhou Yimin, as a leader, understood it immediately and was able to draw inferences about other situations.

"Aunt Li, it won't be difficult if you follow these instructions."

“And it’s not difficult to obtain the raw materials.”

Director Li nodded with satisfaction: "Yimin, you are amazing! You solved a problem that our subdistrict office has been unable to solve for several days in one go."

Otherwise, she wouldn't be so anxious today to go to the courtyard to look for Zhou Yimin.

Zhou Yimin said at this time: "Aunt Li, since there is nothing else, I will leave first and not disturb you."

Aunt Li originally wanted to try to keep him, but Zhou Yimin had already helped so much, and the next things were not difficult, so there was no need to make more trouble.

"Yimin, next time you come to Aunt Li's house, I'll treat you to a good meal and reward you well!"

Zhou Yimin smiled and said, "Aunt Li, remember what you said!"

After chatting for a while, Zhou Yimin left the street office.

After seeing Zhou Yimin leave, Director Li called in a few young staff members and said, "Now I have a task for you. Go to the countryside to find old weaving craftsmen and respectfully invite them to the processing factory to teach them."

The few of them knew the importance of the matter, so they didn't say much and agreed directly.

Carrying simple bags, they walked along the dusty paths and went deep into the countryside surrounding the old city.

Whenever he arrived at a village, he would ask around and not miss any possible clues.

They asked the old man basking in the sun at the entrance of the village, went to the village supply and marketing cooperative to inquire, and also went to the brigade headquarters to find out the situation.

Finally, in a quiet mountain village, I found out about a well-known weaving master, Uncle Wang.

Uncle Wang is nearly sixty years old and has spent most of his life working with bamboo strips. The objects he weaves are exquisite and practical, and he is well-known in the surrounding area.

The staff of the street office happily found Grandpa Wang's home. It was a quaint courtyard filled with various bamboos and semi-finished products.

There are so many woven products inside, and each one is so exquisitely crafted that it is impossible to take your eyes off them.

After the clerk from the subdistrict office explained their purpose, a hint of surprise and hesitation flashed in Uncle Wang's eyes.

He was happy that his craft was valued, but also worried about leaving his familiar home. The only lucky thing was that he was just moving to the city, and when he was no longer needed, he could return to this familiar home.

But after sincere persuasion from the staff of the subdistrict office and thinking about the hope of passing on the craft, Grandpa Wang finally agreed.

No craftsman would want to see his or her craft lost. It is a rare opportunity. If you miss it, you don’t know if you will live to see it next time!
Afterwards, the staff of the street office found several old craftsmen with unique skills in other villages, including an auntie who was good at straw weaving and a master who was proficient in rattan weaving.

Together, they followed the street office staff to the processing plant in the city.

(End of this chapter)