When it came to charging fees, Zhang Xuemei thought for a moment. Although their net income from the night market was a thousand a day, they couldn't set up their stall every day. Even if they worked twenty days a month, after deducting labor costs, they could only earn a little less than twenty thousand.

Of course, they only earn this much because there are many people at the night market. Even if other people who want to learn earn 200 a day, they should be able to earn 6,000 a month.

If you calculate it that way, charging them 10,000 shouldn't be too expensive, right?

"I've thought about it. How about we charge 10,000 yuan for those who want to learn? That way, we can weed out some people who want to learn but don't want to spend a lot of money. What do you think?"

Zhang Xuemei told her husband her idea. She didn't want to exploit people. Just like in Tianshui City, she only taught ten people and made it clear in advance that the shops would be spaced out, which would be better for everyone.

"Isn't it too expensive? Ten thousand is no small amount these days."

Xu Minghan hesitated. This wasn't the future, where people could easily afford to spend tens of thousands to learn how to make a snack. But this was 1997, and ten thousand would probably scare away a lot of people.

"It's precisely because it's expensive that we can filter out some people. We're not going to teach every single one of them. If they want to make money, they should at least show some sincerity!"

Zhang Xuemei felt that the number was just right and had no intention of lowering the standard.

"Should I spread the word? Zhao Jiaxing has been asking me a long time ago if I'm selling the formula. Should I ask him first?"

"It's possible, but you have to make it clear to him that you can't set up a stall in the night market or food street, so as not to affect you and Mingjiang."

“I know that, there’s another thing, Mingjiang, let’s charge a little less.”

Zhang Xuemei rolled her eyes at him. "Am I such a petty person? You can just teach him directly."

"Hehe, no need for that. We still need to charge him a little, after all, he's not my only brother, and it's not fair to favor one over the other. Or should we ask Panpan's uncle if he wants to learn too?"

Xu Mingjiang didn't forget his brother-in-law either. His braised food always made more money than their breakfast stall, so he always gave the good things to his own people first.

Zhang Xuemei hadn't expected this at all. Since her older brother and sister-in-law came to Tianshui City to sell breakfast, they hadn't seen each other much, as everyone was busy with their own work.

"Okay, I'll find some time to ask them. You can handle things on your end for now!"

...

Today is May Day, and Zhang Xuemei noticed a significant increase in the number of people on the street, suggesting that business would be good today.

Good morning, Xuemei and Xiaowan.

"Good morning, Xiaoxiao, you're here so early today too!" Zhang Xuemei bumped into Chu Xiaoxiao, who was walking and eating a steamed bun, at the market entrance.

Chu Xiaoxiao swallowed the bun in her mouth and followed them inside, saying as they walked, "Yes, our market usually opens at eight o'clock, but on holidays, Grandpa Lu opens it an hour earlier, so we all come early, hoping to catch some big customers who like to get up early to shop, right!"

"Yes, that's what we thought too, so we got up very early today." Zhang Xuemei said, gesturing for Xiao Wan to open the door.

"By the way, I took a look yesterday. You sell bras here?" Because the first thing you see when you enter from the doorway is the bras hanging on the right-hand wall, which is very eye-catching.

"Yeah, why don't you come in and take a look?" Xu Mingwan saw that there was no one in the market yet, so he smiled and invited Chu Xiaoxiao in.

Chu Xiaoxiao had been itching to try it for a while, and when Xu Mingwan said that, she didn't even open the door of her own shop and just went straight in.

“I wanted to come in and take a look yesterday, but I didn’t want to bother you because you were busy.”

"Come in, don't be so polite. Want to try one on? They're all very comfortable. Two customers bought several yesterday," Xu Mingwan said, noticing Chu Xiaoxiao staring at a red bra.

"Is this alright? I'm afraid guests might come later." Chu Xiaoxiao looked outside, but she couldn't see anyone, though her voice could be heard faintly.

"It's okay, it'll only take a minute or two. You like red, I'll get you one to try on. Here, Xiao Wan, go in and help Xiao Xiao." Zhang Xuemei deftly handed over a size that Chu Xiao Xiao could wear, and then pushed her into the fitting room.

Soon, Chu Xiaoxiao came out dressed, her face flushed. "Xuemei, I want this one. How much is it? I'll get it for you."

"Sister-in-law, Miss said this year is her birth year, so she has to wear red underneath. Does that mean she also needs to wear red underwear?" Xu Mingwan remembered that last year was her third sister-in-law's birth year, and she had seen her third sister-in-law showing off her red underwear.

Zhang Xuemei smiled and said, "Xiaoxiao, are you exactly twenty-four this year? That means you should be wearing red underwear. Do you want to get a pair to match?"

"Okay, calculate the total price for me."

Zhang Xuemei didn't say anything about not charging money, and directly said, "I'll just charge you the cost price. Eight yuan for the bra and two yuan for the underwear, that's ten yuan in total."

"Okay, here you go, thanks. If you need any jeans, just come to my place. I have long and short ones, and denim skirts too. I have a lot of styles!"

When Chu Xiaoxiao heard Zhang Xuemei's quote, she knew that Zhang Xuemei was really offering her a cost price and wasn't holding back. She was even happier.

“Okay, we’ll go when we’re not busy. We’re short on pants anyway.” Zhang Xuemei and Xu Mingwan agreed with smiles.

As it approached eight o'clock, more and more people entered the market, but few actually came in. Most just stood at the entrance, peeked out a few times, and then left.

Xu Mingwan gradually became anxious. "Third sister-in-law, why isn't anyone coming in to look? And the few who have come in aren't buying anything. Do you think there's something wrong?"

Although Zhang Xuemei was anxious, she patiently comforted her, saying, "It's alright, it's still early. Here, I'll stand at the door."

Thinking that many people would be too embarrassed to come in, since many women are still hesitant to buy sanitary napkins these days, she decided to just stand at the door and invite them in.

"Hey ma'am, want to come in and take a look? It's May Day today, and if you buy a lot, you get free gifts." Zhang Xuemei saw a middle-aged woman walking past the store with a child, so she quickly went up to greet her.

The middle-aged woman, who had initially shown little interest, became intrigued upon hearing that gifts were included. She looked at Zhang Xuemei and asked, "What kind of gifts does your store give away? Tell me about it."

Zhang Xuemei smiled, pointed into the shop, and said, "Sister, come in and take a look first. It's free to look."

The point is to lure people in first, and then see if they buy anything. Once they're in, there's always a chance.

The middle-aged woman tiptoed into the shop, thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look, and then walked in with her daughter.

"Sister, look, our store has everything for adults and children, with a complete range of styles and colors. You won't find anything like this in the whole market, right?"

The middle-aged woman nodded. "Your shop has a lot of things, but you haven't said what you're giving away as a gift yet."