The next day, Chen Xia took out 400 pieces of cloth.
Today, because the quantity was large, it only took most of the day to sell out all 400 pieces of cloth. There were still people rushing in from around Dali to buy cloth.
On the third day, Chen Xia took out 600 pieces of cloth and sold them out again.
On the fourth day, Chen Xia didn't dare to take out so much cloth anymore. He was really afraid of the enthusiasm of the Dali people. He had to put these cloths to great use and go to Ruili to exchange them for jadeite.
Today is the last day of the Xiaguan Spring Market and also the last day for Chen Xia to sell cloth, so what Chen Xia took out today was not cotton cloth, but 200 pieces of Dacron.
Dacron is a polyester fabric that became popular in the 1970s and remained popular until the mid-1980s.
It may have something to do with the fact that people are often surprised by something new. People of this era have a misconception that polyester cloth was invented by foreigners, so it is a symbol of fashion. Everyone strives to own a Dacron shirt.
Pure cotton fabrics are actually cheaper.
This is exactly the opposite of later generations. Who would want to wear this kind of polyester cloth? Pure cotton cloth is the best fabric with good breathability.
This time, Chen Xia got a total of 300 pieces of Dacron from the Hukou Textile Factory. It is estimated that Director He himself did not know the quantity, so he asked Chen Xia to clear out all the goods from the warehouse in one go, which gave Chen Xia a great advantage.
Even this amount of cloth would be a huge bargain if sold in the city, let alone in this remote and poor Dali Prefecture.
So when Chen Xia stood on the table holding a piece of Dacron cloth, everyone below was stunned, including the five people from the light industry store who were shocked to the point of being burnt inside and out.
"My fellow villagers, do you know what kind of fabric I'm holding in my hands? This isn't cotton, it's polyester, called Dacron. It's a fine fabric, and everyone in the city is vying for it. Yes, you, have you heard of Dacron?"
Chen Xia pointed at a young man in the front row and asked. The young man nodded excitedly:
"I know that only cadres in Dali can afford Dacron."
"Did you hear that? This is Dacron. Only cadres can afford it. In our Jiangnan region, only workers can afford it. It's a status symbol. So, do you know why Dacron is so popular?"
Chen Xia pointed at another young man from a minority ethnic group, who shook his head in confusion.
"That's because Dacron is fashionable. Fashion, you know? It's in sync with the US and Hong Kong. The US is rich, so their wealthy people wear Dacron. Our Hong Kong compatriots are also rich, so they wear Dacron, too.
Besides, Dacron is not only fashionable, but you see, it won't wrinkle no matter how much I rub it. It's smooth and durable, dries easily, doesn't need ironing, and has vibrant colors that won't fade. If cotton lasts 10 years, Dacron lasts at least 20. Isn't that amazing?
Everyone who came to the stall to buy cloth, whether they were from ethnic minorities or Han Chinese, was stunned.
They said they didn't know anything else, but they understood two things: Dacron was a high-end product that only workers and cadres could wear, and it would not wear out or wrinkle.
Chen Xia stood on the table and was still talking loudly:
"What should a young man give his girlfriend when he's dating? Dacron, of course. Make it into a shirt or a beautiful skirt and give it to the girl you love. Do you think your marriage will still be in trouble? If you also give one to your mother-in-law, it's like a double insurance policy for your relationship."
The young men and women below all laughed.
"Hey, middle-aged brothers and sisters, if you have a piece of Dacron and wear it, whether you're walking in the factory or in the village, do you know what it means? It means you're the sun, shining brightly, and everyone's attention will be drawn to you. Isn't that great? When you walk on the street, the traffic police will salute you, thinking you're a big boss coming to inspect our work."
There was another burst of laughter from the audience.
"Older men and women, when wearing this, do they know what breathability means? Elderly people have heavy dampness in their bodies, especially in the summer. If the dampness in their bodies cannot dissipate, they are prone to heatstroke and shaqi.
So you see, wearing this Dacron not only makes you feel happy, but it also allows for ventilation and heat dissipation. What do we want when we're young and old? Isn't it all about health? Don't you agree?"
There was no air conditioning in those days, and most people didn't have fans. Wearing cotton or linen clothes on a hot day would make the sweat stick to your body, which was very uncomfortable. So after being fooled by Chen Xia, the elderly people in the audience nodded.
In fact, Chen Xia, the unscrupulous businessman, is talking nonsense. Dacron is not very breathable in summer and does not absorb sweat. Once you sweat, it sticks to your body and is very uncomfortable.
Another disadvantage of Dacron is that it becomes extremely transparent when it comes into contact with water. Therefore, when it rains, it is easy for girls who love beauty to be exposed when they get caught in the rain, and it is almost as if they are completely transparent.
But it's just an advertisement, so just listen to it. Do you think Kangshifu instant noodles really have that much beef? They have been selling instant noodles for decades, and the cow in the factory only suffered a minor injury.
"Young man from a foreign country, how much do you sell this Dacron for?"
"4 yuan per foot," Chen Xia said firmly.
The people in the audience were talking about it, and finally a few small leaders with the temperament of village cadres came out and said, "Here, buy me 30 feet."
Chen Xia sighed inwardly. It seemed that the price was indeed set too high, so the first shot would not be fired.
But he was not worried. If he couldn't sell them all, he would sell them all. When he took them to Ruili to exchange for jadeite, it would probably be more popular among the natives, right?
As Chen Xia expected, the price was too high. By the end of the evening, only 105 bolts of Dacron had been sold. The problem lay in the price: 4 yuan per foot, 12 yuan per meter, and making a short-sleeved shirt cost around 13 yuan. How many wealthy people could afford that?
Just as Chen Xia was about to put it away, Gu Dashan came over with an embarrassed look on his face. "Comrade Chen, I want to discuss something with you. Can you sell the remaining 95 pieces of cloth to our light industry store?"
"Ah! Oh, yes."
This is like being sleepy and having someone give you a pillow. Is there such a good thing?
Gu Dashan slapped Chen Xia on the shoulder.
"Oh, thank you so much! Don't worry, the price is still 4 yuan per foot. Actually, you've misjudged me. After all, this rural market is mainly populated by ethnic minorities, so they still prioritize practicality. If these Dacron were sold in our store, believe it or not, they would definitely be a hot commodity. City dwellers have more money."
Chen Xia nodded in agreement. "Brother Gu, you're right. If the positioning is wrong, sales will be a problem. With Brother Gu's business acumen, he will definitely become a big boss in the Light Industry Bureau in the future."
"I dare not talk nonsense, I dare not talk nonsense," Gu Dashan denied it, but he couldn't help but smile.
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