This was a normal request, and Director Wang agreed without much hesitation.
The matter was officially settled after the two parties signed the contract.
Regarding the first live Spring Festival Gala, as too many years had passed, he had forgotten many details, but one point remained deeply impressed: for the first year's live Spring Festival Gala, to interact with audiences nationwide, the production team adopted a segment of live teleconnection and audience song requests. Teacher Li sang nine songs that night.
This demonstrated his popularity.
In the studio, which was only a little over six hundred square meters at the time, traditional cultural programs occupied nearly half of the airtime.
To ensure perfection, Chen Lishu specifically requested the program list from Director Zhao and watched the live rehearsal. She then communicated many details with them, after which Chen Lishu began her preparations.
Before coming, she had already designed several performance outfits based on her memories. After the discussions, there were still a few areas that needed changes. Chen Lishu decided to return to the factory first. Once the overall designs were mostly completed, she would bring the designers along for another visit.
The remaining issues were generally minor, and only slight refinements were needed.
Meanwhile, Nan Haitao was completely relieved after the matter of the Spring Festival Gala costume sponsorship was confirmed. After hanging up the phone, he shared the good news with the factory employees.
"General Manager Chen personally went to the capital for the factory's development and secured the Spring Festival Gala costume sponsorship. Audiences nationwide will see the clothing produced by our Shuse Clothing Factory."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone erupted in excitement.
"Our clothes are going to be on the Spring Festival Gala? Oh my goodness, does that mean those big stars will be wearing clothes I produced?"
"It might be clothes I produced too."
"It doesn't matter who produced them, the key is that our factory produced them. Among so many clothing factories across the country, only our factory is providing clothes for the Spring Festival Gala. What a remarkable achievement!"
Seeing their shared pride, Nan Haitao couldn't help but smile.
"General Manager Chen will be back in a couple of days. Everyone, please work diligently and do your best in your respective roles. The factory will definitely not mistreat you if it develops well."
Hearing his words, all the employees present became energized, their expressions filled with excitement.
Previously, they had been feeling rather down because the factory had been scammed and had a backlog of inventory. Now that the Spring Festival Gala sponsorship was secured, they had witnessed the capabilities of the factory's leadership and believed that the factory's development would surely improve.
After finishing his talk with everyone, Nan Haitao was about to leave when Xu An'an suddenly approached him, stating that someone was looking for General Manager Chen.
"Where is the person now?"
Xu An'an replied, "I've invited them to your office."
Nan Haitao nodded and walked towards his office.
As soon as he entered, he saw a man of medium build waiting there. He smiled and introduced himself, "Hello, my surname is Nan. I'm the deputy general manager of the factory. Are you looking for General Manager Chen?"
Jin Kun looked at the man with gold-rimmed glasses in front of him and nodded, "I have something I'd like to discuss with your General Manager Chen."
He didn't watch much television usually, and with Zhao Liang's affairs to handle, he knew little about outside matters.
He had overheard his subordinates talking about the Shuse Clothing Factory a couple of days ago and, recalling what Zhao Liang had said, felt it necessary to inform Chen Lishu.
"Our General Manager Chen went to the capital a few days ago and will be back in the next couple of days. If it's urgent, you can tell me first, and I'll be sure to convey it to her as soon as she returns."
"It's not anything particularly urgent. Then I'll wait until she returns," Jin Kun said, and then he got up to leave.
When Chen Lishu returned, Gu Xingdong specifically went to the station to pick her up.
"I told you, you don't need to come if you're busy."
Gu Xingdong took her bag and smiled, "Even if you're busy, you still have time to come and pick me up."
Li Qiang, standing nearby, chuckled, "General Manager Chen, you and your husband have a very good relationship."
Gu Xingdong put the luggage in the trunk and then beckoned Li Qiang, "Get in the car."
Li Qiang shook his head, "No need, there's a direct bus to the factory from the station. I'll just take the bus."
Seeing his insistence, Gu Xingdong didn't say anything more.
He started the car and drove towards home.
As soon as they arrived home, before Chen Lishu could even take off her coat, her legs were embraced by two little ones.
"Mama." "Mama!"
The two little ones called out to her one after another.
Chen Lishu had just returned from outside, and she still carried the chill from the outdoors.
She quickly took off her outer coat and then crouched down to hug and kiss each of the children.
"Mama bought you milk candies, but each of you can only have one," Chen Lishu said, holding up a finger to indicate.
The eyes of the two little ones immediately lit up, and they nodded repeatedly, indicating they understood.
"Na, eat," Xiao Chengzi said, swallowing his saliva impatiently.
Looking at his greedy little face, Chen Lishu took two candies from her pocket. After unwrapping them, she popped one into each of their mouths.
Upon tasting the candy, Xiao Chengzi's eyes immediately squinted with happiness. Then, he turned around and ran into the house to play with his toys.
Watching his retreating back as he walked away with his little hands clasped, Chen Lishu looked back at her husband and said with a wry smile, "Did this little guy come to me for hugs and kisses just to get this one candy?"
Gu Xingdong raised his eyebrows, "That kid is the epitome of 'useful when needed, forgotten when not.'"
"You're leaving again?" Seeing that he had put down his luggage but hadn't taken off his coat, Chen Lishu picked up her daughter, Xiao Bai, and asked curiously.
"There's a project at the military region. They plan to build a military museum in the city and are interested in having me take charge. I need to go and have a look."
Upon hearing this, Chen Lishu quickly said, "Then you should go and attend to it."
Gu Xingdong tickled his daughter's little nose, "Daddy has to go now. Bai Bai, say goodbye to Daddy."
Xiao Bai showed her four small front teeth towards Gu Xingdong and said in a milky voice, "Daddy, bye-bye."
"You must be exhausted after such a long journey. Go sit on the sofa, and I'll take your luggage upstairs," Zhao Qiuyue said, picking up the luggage at Chen Lishu's feet and heading upstairs.
"Lishu, are you hungry? I steamed some buns this morning. I can stir-fry a dish for you."
Li Xiulan put down the shoe sole she was sewing and prepared to get up, but Chen Lishu stopped her, "Mom, don't bother. I ate in the car."
Hearing that her voice was hoarse again, she couldn't help but ask, "Mom, do you have a cold? Have you taken any medicine?"
Upon hearing her question, Li Xiulan couldn't help but sigh, "This isn't a cold at all; it's entirely due to the anger I've been feeling from your second brother and his wife. Not one of them gives me peace of mind."
Li Xiulan was alone in the provincial capital, without her husband by her side, and especially encountering such a situation. She felt ashamed to speak of it to others. Finally, Chen Lishu had returned, providing her with a receptive audience.
Chen Lishu placed Xiao Bai on the ground, letting her play by herself, and sat beside her mother-in-law, waiting for her to continue.