The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 429 Instigation
In Zhao Xiaochui's memory, the Huaxia Cotton incident should have occurred in March 2021.

After Zhou Min's explanation, he vaguely realized that the reason this matter broke out four months earlier was probably related to him.

The easy-going, slow-moving linen products have entered the high-end markets of Europe and America, without using the Egyptian cotton or American cotton that they admire, nor the automated harvesting and baling machines that they are so proud of.

Zhao Xiaochui glanced at Zhou Min, sensing a clear sense of encouragement in her words.

"Mr. Zhou, as far as I know, there is still some objective difference in quality between our field cotton and top-grade Egyptian cotton, isn't there?" he asked cautiously.

Zhou Min smiled gently and said frankly, "I was referring to laboratory data, the performance of the best varieties cultivated under ideal conditions."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaochui subtly rolled her eyes. Indeed, there's a gap between ideals and reality.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Min laughed instead.

She composed herself, her tone softening slightly, and explained calmly, "Technician Zhao, I'm not saying this to sell anything. It's just that you've helped me a great deal, and I don't know how to repay you. As an agricultural expert, I just want to offer you a potentially feasible suggestion."

“I did know beforehand about the live streaming of your ‘Slow Weaving Life’ overseas, and it was very successful.”

She continued, "That's why I thought that if you could cooperate with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and try the 'company + Corps company + farmer' model, and include the planting, harvesting and sorting there in the live broadcast, to show it to global consumers in the most intuitive way, this might be the best way to dispel the rumors in the West about Chinese cotton."

As Zhao Xiaochui listened, he suddenly asked, "President Zhou, you... are you a second-generation member of the military?"

Zhou Min was taken aback by the sudden question, then nodded frankly: "Yes, my parents are both veterans of the Production and Construction Corps."

After receiving confirmation, Zhao Xiaochui muttered to himself: Well, this woman probably came with a mission, right? She doesn't seem like a simple, kind person at all.

Zhou Min keenly caught the hint of doubt in his eyes, and shrugged helplessly, saying, "I've given you my suggestion; whether you listen to it or not is up to you."

The suggestion was good. Zhao Xiaochui had wanted to spend money anyway, and through the woman's explanation, he was more clear-headed than the netizens who were indignant online. He appreciated the suggestion.

"Mr. Zhou, thank you very much for your suggestion. Your health has basically recovered, but you still need to pay attention to daily care. If you are too busy to return to Beijing, you can consider our Sichuan-Chongqing branch, which will open on New Year's Day."

Due to the special reaction of the heat flow in Zhou Min's body, her membership status has been automatically upgraded, and she will enjoy the same privilege of unrestricted appointments as a special-grade teacher, Yu Xiaoning, and a few others.

After Zhou Min left, the studio finally returned to silence. Zhao Xiaochui stood alone in the center of the room, the faint scent of essential oils still lingering around him.

With fifteen minutes of rest time before the next customer, Zhao Xiaochui took out his phone to check the situation online.

To his surprise, this time, besides the H&M Group, it wasn't ZARA that took the lead, but another small company, Yves Delorme.

The company isn't large, but it's the 0.1% of bedding brands at the very top of the pyramid, a 179-year-old private enterprise. They serve an extremely niche circle of ultra-wealthy individuals and don't care at all about the opinions or the market of ordinary Chinese consumers.

Zhao Xiaochui did a quick online search for the company, Evderun, and his eyes lit up!
Isn't this exactly the path his ideal "slow-paced life" should take? Now that a ready-made model has emerged, what are we waiting for? Just copy it!
He immediately sent a message to Zhou Yaqin: "Aunt Zhou, please investigate the product line and sales methods of Evederun thoroughly, the more detailed the better."

After sending the message, he put the matter aside for the time being and devoted himself to subsequent customer service.

Time flew by, and it was already 10 p.m. Zhao Xiaochui, who had been busy all day, finally got off work. He had just settled down in the studio when Zhou Yaqin's investigation data was already sent to his tablet.

He relaxed his slightly sore arms while opening the file.

"..."

Exclusive farms in Egypt's GIZA 86/88; among the top three global suppliers of Sea-Island cotton; exclusive purchase of European flax from "zero-irrigation" growing regions...

There's also a whole host of dazzling technical certifications...

Zhao Xiaochui felt that it was a pipe dream to think that he could catch up with this company with nearly two centuries of history in a short period of time.

Those certifications, in particular, almost completely shut down his envisioned all-domestic alternative.

Wait... why do I absolutely have to get those certifications?
Isn't it precisely because Huaxia Cotton shook the rules set by others that it was subjected to such fierce suppression?
Zhao Xiaochui put down the tablet, bent down and took out a slightly worn file folder from the bottom drawer of the desk.

This was given to him by "a certain company" a couple of days ago; it serves as proof of his "gains" from that trip to South America.

Before his trip to South America, he had already cleared out several "Smith Commissioner's registers" in the United States, and as of yesterday, all of them had been liquidated. His total "harvest" amounted to 1.47 billion US dollars.

Of this, 1.4 billion US dollars were transferred to the company account of EasySlow. The remaining 70 million US dollars were also gradually converted into RMB and entered into his personal account.

Excluding the 90 million RMB I previously entrusted to Yu Xiaoning to set up the "Deep Exploration" project, plus the salary and commission I've received over the past few months, I have a little over 600 million RMB in my personal account.

Now, with a bunch of additional businesses under his control, it's unclear how he managed to keep that 1.4 billion yuan almost untouched; and he himself, through twists and turns, somehow managed to earn back every penny of the money he invested through massage.

Right now, he's clutching a heavy file folder in his hand—the "harvest" of his trip to South America.

The seal was not broken, and the contents are unknown.

"..."

Zhao Xiaochui stared at the bag for a long time, then his lips twitched.

Due to subsequent events, Zhao Xiaochui's commission for his trip to the United States was eventually increased from 20% to 50%; and for his trip to South America, he not only brought back two containers full of hardware, but also an encrypted phone called "Commissioner Smith".

That "Commissioner Smith" controls a complete supply chain that provides "high-quality products" to the American people.

In the eyes of many departments, this wealth, which has a peculiar origin and is enormous in amount, is extremely sensitive.

It's not that no one has ever considered taking it, but the thought of the consequences of angering Zhao Xiaochui, this "strategic nuclear weapon," extinguished all such thoughts.

Therefore, this wealth went 100% to Zhao Xiaochui without any share.

(End of this chapter)