Uncle Qiao pointed at the bustling shop with a troubled expression: "This is the little shop you were talking about?"
Ning Yuan gave a dry laugh: "Well, that's a long story. Didn't you... check the address and name on my business license?"
Uncle Qiao is dressed quite well today; he's not wearing patched clothes anymore. It seems he only wears nice clothes to work or when meeting guests.
Uncle Joe: "..."
There were only a few hundred business licenses in the first batch in Shanghai. He glanced at one of them and knew that Ning Yuan's name was on it and that the address was indeed on Zhengmin Road, behind Fudan University.
The materials were reviewed without any problems, and he was so busy that he didn't even look at the specific information.
Furthermore, the business license at that time didn't specify the scope of business!
Who knew it would take up such a huge area! What happened to the promised small shop?! What happened to the small shop?!
"Oh dear, this is all thanks to the school. My place is hardly a department store; it's just a small shop, far inferior to those state-owned shops on Nanjing Road!" Ning Yuan quickly tried to cover up.
She caught a glimpse of Director Chu in the office watching the commotion from the side, and quickly reached out to pull him over: "Hey, this is all thanks to our Economics Department! This is the Economics Department's student practice pilot academic project for reform and opening up!"
After saying that, she hooked her arm around Madam Ning's arm and smiled brightly at Uncle Qiao: "Moreover, it's a key scholarship project supported by the Hong Kong government!"
Director Chu looked completely bewildered, but as he listened to Ning Yuan embellish the economics department, he proudly puffed out his thin chest—
"Yes, as the great man said, practice is the sole criterion for testing truth! Our school will certainly put the spirit of reform and opening up into practice to the end, contribute to reform and opening up, and build the Four Modernizations!"
Although Madam Ning didn't understand why the leader of the General Administration of Industry and Commerce looked at her youngest daughter with such a depressed and shocked expression.
But she still gave them face and said, "Yes, we think that Fudan University students are full of vigor and courage, and that they bravely participated in economic entrepreneurship in the early days of opening up. We will provide them with scholarship support."
Uncle Qiao looked at the smiling girl with a complicated expression: "Yes, she is indeed from the Economics Department of Fudan University."
He wasn't stupid. At this point, he still didn't know why he had "coincidentally" run into Ning Yuan at the antique stall, and that he had wasted his time in the General Administration of Industry and Commerce.
Ning Yuan clearly knew his identity and preferences beforehand, which is why she specifically waited for him!
At such a young age, she's practically selling work clothes in a department store—one set after another, with even her school and Hong Kong government officials endorsing her.
What a typical shrewd businessman! As a leader, he absolutely hates people like that who are so opportunistic!
Uncle Qiao didn't say anything, but his expression was somewhat cold as he glanced at Ning Yuan and said coldly, "You're so shrewd at such a young age."
He decided to have his family bring the antique back to Ning Yuan when the time came, and pretend that he had never met her.
Ning Yuan: "..."
The way Uncle Qiao looked at her made it seem like she was a scumbag and he wanted to cut ties with her!
She had actually anticipated that Uncle Joe would be angry... Leaders are all wary of others exploiting their weaknesses.
This time, however, her identity was revealed too suddenly. If she had more time, she was confident she could quell his anger.
For business people, offending the top leader who controls the commercial market is definitely not a good thing.
Ning Bingyu was an extremely astute person, and he keenly sensed that something was amiss.
He smiled slightly, breaking the awkward silence: "Director Qiao, why don't you come with us for a tour? I'm quite curious about the students' business projects."
Although he had disagreements with Ning Yuan, she was a member of the Ning family and also in front of his mother, so he always had to protect her a little.
Uncle Qiao nodded indifferently: "Okay."
Although he had no interest in Ning Yuan's shop, he had taken the initiative to arrange a meeting with the Hong Kong government's investors, so he couldn't refuse their reasonable request.
The group went up the stairs together and entered the shop to visit Ning Yuan's "little shop".
Although Uncle Qiao initially had a stern face, after walking around the shop for a while, he couldn't help but be drawn to it—
This shopping mall's layout is completely different from other department stores.
Nowadays, department stores are all about displaying mannequins on counters and walls, which is quite conventional.
However, Ning Yuan's place is semi-open, with clothes hung on racks and cabinets, and mannequins dressed in clothes placed at intervals.
The shop assistants weren't wearing uniforms, but rather the shop's own clothes, and they even had a dedicated fitting room.
Students who work part-time collect and sort the clothes that guests have changed out of.
Electronic products have their own dedicated display cases, while large radios are displayed as decorations alongside flowers and plants.
The walls are covered with large hand-painted oil paintings, depicting wilderness fields, flower fields, or waves and coconut trees, giving off a summery vibe that perfectly matches the merchandise.
The key is that the waiters are incredibly enthusiastic and proactive, tirelessly promoting products to the customers.
There was absolutely no sign of the indifference and arrogance of the sales staff in the state-owned shops.
Even if they don't buy anything, the students working part-time greet them with smiles as if they've received uniform training, saying "Come again next time!"
Uncle Joe became more and more curious and moved as he looked at the book.
He couldn't help but look at Ning Yuan: "How did you come up with all this?"
Ning Bingyu looked at her without showing any emotion; to be honest, he was also very curious.
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "It's nothing. I saw it in Guangzhou and thought it was great. Human nature is universal; no one dislikes new things or people who treat them well."
These offline retail sales models, which would be commonplace in later generations, were extremely novel and fashionable at that time.
She paused for a moment: "I was just imitating others, and then I improved on it a bit."
Ning Bingyu looked at her and knew at a glance that she wasn't telling the truth. No matter how fashionable it was in Guangzhou, could it be more fashionable than in Hong Kong?
Ning Yuan's service is not only very similar to that of the Hong Kong government, but it is even better.
If she really came up with it herself, then she would be considered a business genius, but she isn't.
But if she doesn't want to say who she learned it from, he won't press her for details.
Uncle Qiao couldn't help but sigh, "Young people's minds are so quick."
As he spoke, his gaze towards Ning Yuan softened considerably.
For the rest of the time, he visited the shops, asking detailed questions about their locations, business scope, and the reasons for their decoration.
Ning Yuan answered them honestly one by one.
After the tour was almost over, Mr. Tang invited everyone to go next door for coffee or drinks and take a break.
Uncle Qiao, recalling Ning Yuan's description of the positioning and management of the Heart of the Era, became interested and went over to look around and ask questions.
While Ning Bingyu and the others were taking their seats to rest, Ning Yuan whispered something—
"Uncle Qiao, don't be angry. I told you the truth back then. The only thing I didn't mention was the size of my store."
Uncle Joe, holding his coffee cup, looked at her noncommittally: "Is that so?"
Ning Yuan smiled helplessly yet sincerely: "You...you can ask the people at the local industrial and commercial bureau and the police station who reported me and why."
Uncle Joe said calmly, "I will ask."
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