Surprisingly, the two women actually listened to her advice and implemented it well; the stalls were set up according to her suggestions.
As a result, their business improved significantly compared to when she was away.
In the middle of the afternoon, people were gathered around their stalls as they enthusiastically introduced their products to customers. It was unclear whether they were at a loss or simply didn't recognize Zhou Qiqi, who was watching from afar.
Zhou Qiqi smiled and didn't go forward to disturb her.
We met by chance, but seeing how well they're doing is better than anything else.
She parked her bicycle, bought two piping hot roasted sweet potatoes from a familiar nearby stall, put them in her pocket to warm her hands, and rode straight to the gate of the Normal University.
When the old man guarding the school heard that she was looking for Zou Qianqian, he immediately exclaimed "Oh!" and his face lit up with a smile.
"Looking for Xiao Zou? I know, I know! You wait here, I'll go get him for you right now!"
Before long, Zou Qianqian flew out like a cheerful little bird, and as soon as she saw Zhou Qiqi, she affectionately took her arm.
It was Zou Qianqian who arranged for Zhou Qiqi to go to the First Garment Factory.
This girl is warm and cheerful, and Zhou Qiqi likes her quite a bit. She teased her, saying...
"Wow, Qianqian, you've become a celebrity at school. Even the gatekeeper is so enthusiastic towards you."
Zou Qianqian blushed and scolded playfully.
"What celebrity? I'm just a person's name! It's only because I'm always out and about, and...and I love to dress up, changing my clothes every day, that's how the old man remembered me."
As she spoke, she looked at Zhou Qiqi with envy.
“Unlike you, Sister Qiqi, you’re the real celebrity! Many of my friends in Huacheng and Kyoto know about the ‘Qi’ brand of clothing and love it! They all know I know the designer and they’ve been asking me about it! But I didn’t say anything. Brother Guoqiang said you don’t like to be flashy.”
Zhou Qiqi was amused by her and patted her on the shoulder with a smile: "Okay, that's a good friend!"
She even gave Zou Qianqian a hot roasted sweet potato, and the two chatted as they ate it.
Zou Qianqian took a bite of the sweet and soft sweet potato, blinked her eyes, and asked:
"Sister Qiqi, you came all this way to see me, there must be something important, right? If there's anything you need me to do, just tell me! I'll do everything I can to get it done for you!"
Zhou Qiqi didn't beat around the bush and nodded.
"I have a real favor to ask of you. I'm planning a new product launch and I need a few models. You were the first person I thought of. I was wondering if you know any of your classmates who could help out?"
When she was studying design, she often found student models at the university because they were cheap, easy to use, and cost-effective.
Zou Qianqian straightened up, her eyes instantly lighting up; she was so excited she almost jumped up.
"Models? Fashion shows! I know, I know! Is it the kind that was featured in the China Youth Daily, where they say it's a new way of showcasing clothes from abroad, where you wear the clothes and walk around like that for people to see?"
"Yes! That's the kind!"
Zhou Qiqi smiled and nodded, thinking that college students were well-informed.
Zou Qianqian's eyes widened. "Sister Qiqi, you're amazing! What kind do you want?"
"Ideally, she should have a classical air, and be gentle and graceful,"
Zhou Qiqi described, "Our new product this time is in the style of Chinese ink painting. Don't worry, the pay will definitely satisfy the girls."
"You've come to the right person!"
Zou Qianqian grabbed Zhou Qiqi's hand and patted her chest, saying,
"Leave it to me! Come on, I'll take you to find someone right now! Our teachers' college has tons of pretty girls, if I may not know anything else!"
As she spoke, she hurriedly dragged Zhou Qiqi around the school.
Zou Qianqian was very popular at school. When she took Zhou Qiqi around campus, all the female classmates she met were beautiful and attractive.
Female college students in the 1980s were all uniquely beautiful, with healthy, rosy faces, braided hair or short bob, like tender buds sprouting in spring, full of vitality.
Zhou Qiqi was dazzled by what she saw.
They looked beautiful, but when it came to the idea of wearing new clothes and "walking the runway" in front of strangers, most of the girls blushed and shook their heads vigorously, with a large majority backing out on the spot.
The remaining few, who were a bit bolder, were eager to try, but if they were actually asked to walk around in an orderly fashion in the open space, they would be completely lost.
Zhou Qiqi herself had never been a modeling coach, so she could only gesture based on her intuition:
"Take bigger steps, don't hunch your shoulders...open your shoulders...keep your eyes focused..."
But the girls either walked with their hands and feet moving in unison, or they walked like they were rushing to a market, or they were so nervous that their whole bodies were stiff. No matter how you looked at them, they looked awkward.
After spending most of the afternoon searching, I still couldn't find one that had that "style".
Zhou Qiqi's initial excitement vanished completely, replaced by a deep sense of defeat.
In this day and age, college student models are really not easy to find.
When she got home that evening, she had no appetite and didn't care about anything after eating. She sighed and told Shen Huaichuan about her troubles.
Shen Huaichuan was boiling water in the kitchen, preparing for the family to bathe later. He listened to her with a frown, then pondered for a moment:
"It's too difficult to train students to be models in just a few days by cramming at the last minute. When they get to a press conference or other event, with everyone watching, they'll get nervous and the results will likely suffer."
Zhou Qiqi hung her head.
"I know that, but... what can I do? I can't just go up there myself, can I?"
"Why not find someone already in the workforce with stage experience?"
Shen Huaichuan reminded her,
“Aren’t Zhuo Guangming’s parents both from the city’s cultural troupe? You even designed performance costumes for them before. The actors in the cultural troupe have all been trained in posture, stage presence, and stage experience. Hiring them would probably be a good fit.”
Zhou Qiqi's eyes suddenly lit up. Oh right! How could she have forgotten about that!
For professional actors in a performing arts troupe, walking a show is a piece of cake.
But as soon as she thought about it, the flame of hope that had just been ignited was instantly extinguished, and she shook her head in frustration.
“No, Zhuo’s mother contacted me a few days ago, saying that their city’s cultural troupe has a performance tour in the countryside for the next two weeks, and the whole troupe will be going. I even helped her adjust a few outfits for the tour, but I guess we can’t count on her.”
She sighed, resting her chin on her hand in worry: "Sigh, is this 'Ink Splendor' fashion show really going to be ruined by the models...?"
Just as I was filled with worry and anxiety, a clear, slightly urgent voice suddenly came from beside me:
"Me! Me! Me! Little Sister Qiqi, I can help!"
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