Rebirth in 1980: The Farm Wife Makes a Comeback

"Hot?" That person quietly rolled their eyes, "Hot? In the dead of winter, nearly freezing to death."

Manager Zhao cleared his throat softly, and at this point, everyone's attention focused on him.

"Alright," he smiled again, his face showing the shrewdness of a businessman, yet somehow he had an honest face that made it difficult for anyone to be on guard against him. People would believe him if he said he was a teacher, but if he said he was a businessman, truly no one would believe it.

"Let me introduce myself."

He sat up straight, exuding confidence from his whole being, in his face, in his eyes, including every expression, every movement, all of them projected the demeanor of a successful businessman unmatched by anyone here, as his voice continued at its even pace.

"My name is Zhao Jinmin, I am the manager of the clothing brand cafe, and I will be overseeing the cooperation with everyone here."

"Now, I would like to explain a few requirements for our company's bidding. If you can meet them, please stay; if you find them challenging, feel free to leave."

Not a single person in the audience moved, even Gao Cheng, looking like he was on the verge of constipation and sweating coldly, did not leave.

Manager Zhao was quite pleased with everyone's performance. Of course, each person had their own calculations at heart, it all depended on what exact requirements Zhao Jinmin would present. At this moment, so many eyes were fixated on him, gleaming with avarice as if Zhao Jinmin himself was a gold ingot, each eager to rush up and take him away.

Under such enthusiastic gazes, Zhao Jinmin, however, kept his composure with hardly any excess expression, continuing the conversation with ease.

He opened the materials he had prepared in advance, then placed his hands on the table.

"I believe everyone is aware of cafe brand's strength, and knows that we prioritize quality over quantity. Our clothes are mostly handcrafted, so in terms of quantity, we can't produce that much. However, the garments of our cafe brand have always been very popular."

"In order for more people to recognize and wear our cafe brand, we aim to find a suitable business partner. We will provide each season's clothing designs, including material selection, pattern making, and garment adjustment, all of which will be our responsibility; after which, we will hand them over to our chosen company."

"Of course, that would be you all."

He paused for a bit before speaking again.

"Of course, we have our demands."

"One," he extended a finger, "First and foremost, the fabric must be of high quality; we cannot substitute inferior quality for good quality since our brand's clothing has always prioritized quality and standard."

"Two," he raised another point, "Regarding pricing, official versions should be priced higher than High Market prices."

"Three, designs that come from us can only be used for our sub-brand's clothing and must not be altered to become anything else."

"Of course, regarding pricing, as long as it's not too low, it's up to you. We are only responsible for the design and the final garment quality. Of course, there's also a most crucial point, which is...."

His gaze swept over several people below, deliberately skipping over Gao Cheng. Gao Cheng was acutely aware of it, and in his humiliation and anger, he almost wanted to slam his head against the table, but in the end, he endured. His company placed great importance on securing the cafe brand, or else they would not have sent him. He was full of confidence for this mission. In terms of strength, their Fenghua Company was nationally renowned; whether it was equipment, talent, or reputation, they were second to none. So how could those insignificant small businesses compete with them for this opportunity? He was determined to secure this business deal.

Securing the rights to the cafe brand meant securing the trend of popularity. Not only could they represent the brand's clothing, but they could also design their own to sell. Selling high and low could surely bring in profit.

The others probably had the same idea, thinking about the cafe brand's mysterious designer – what kind of mind did he have that everything he produced defined fashion, taste, and quality? However much they tried to imitate, they could only achieve knock-offs, never reaching the finesse of the genuine article and failing to win people's favor.

"Alright, now," Manager Zhao looked around once more, "We seek a partnership that naturally hopes to obtain a reasonable price. Please write down your bids, and if we find them suitable, we will get in touch to discuss further. As for the price range, please base it on your actual situation."

This had been Qin Xiangnuan's idea, the principle of the highest bidder wins. In her past life, this was quite a common practice, but in this era, it was rare.

Firstly, it was to test the lowest price others would go, and secondly, they also had their own considerations – among several equal bids, they would choose the one best suited for cooperation.

Upon hearing this, other people immediately straightened up with serious expressions, as if worried that someone else might learn their bottom line, quietly making careful calculations. Of course, there was no whispering - this was a bid for business, not a social visit, and even brothers must settle accounts clearly, let alone them who were frankly business rivals.

At this point, many foreheads were beaded with cold sweat, fearful that they had bid too high or too low. Such bidding was truly headache-inducing – bid too high, and there's no profit; bid too low, and the chance might not be theirs. Only by hitting that perfect sweet spot did an opportunity present itself.

Before long, Zhao Jinmin had their bid prices in hand. He sealed them up and did not disclose which company had been selected.

He stood up, probably the only one here who could still muster a smile.

"Please wait for our phone call, as I still need to discuss with our boss."

"Of course, we have already arranged a banquet, and we would be honored if you would kindly attend. We'll talk about personal matters and not business."

His last comment made everyone feel hungry, and regardless of whether it was out of politeness or genuine hunger, this meal was a must. It was also the best way to bridge a closer relationship with Manager Zhao – the business deal's success would be decided over this very meal.

After Zhao Jinmin left, some deliberately schmoozed up to Gao Cheng.

"I say, Manager Gao, I've heard that Manager Zhao used to be with your Fenghua Company. You really have an advantage close to the source, and I'm afraid there's no need to even discuss this tender – it's surely Fenghua's for the taking," they said with a tone that sounded sourer the more it was heard.