Xin Xin Department Store in the provincial capital quickly called, asking Qin Xiaoyu to come over for negotiations.
Qin Xiaoyu boarded the train alone and went to the provincial capital for the second time.
Manager Chen from Xinxin Department Store picked her up at the train station and took her to her hotel.
"Go to the mall now?" Qin Xiaoyu was eager to see the venue. She had never been to Xinxin Department Store before; she had only heard about it from Zhou Yue.
"No rush, take a rest first, we'll treat you to a welcome-back dinner tonight," Manager Chen said with a smile.
Qin Xiaoyu was reluctant to refuse, so she took a shower and changed her clothes. The weather in the provincial capital was a bit hotter than where she was from, and in May, many people on the streets had taken off their trench coats and put on short jackets, looking much more fashionable than back home.
She didn't dare wear light-colored clothes when she went out, for fear of getting them dirty and having trouble washing them. In addition, considering Zhou Xing's matter, she chose a black suit.
The well-fitting top, with its round collar and princess seams, is quite conventional, accentuating a slender waist. However, at the hem, it is divided into four sections that curve in an arc, highlighting the curves of the figure and elongating the figure.
After changing her clothes, she went out and asked for directions along the way, heading towards the military region's guesthouse.
The military district guesthouse is not open to the public, and Qin Xiaoyu's display of Commander Zhou's name was useless, because they needed to make a phone call to verify, so she quickly stopped them.
The guesthouse manager seemed to have some vague impression of her, but he couldn't quite remember her name and could only watch her descend the steps with regret.
She just wanted to see that room.
In that room, Zhou Xing took care of her for two days and one night without sleep. That was the first time they truly showed their feelings for each other, and it marked the beginning of their relationship.
Qin Xiaoyu wandered aimlessly down the street, oblivious to the admiring glances from passersby. Her heart was closed off.
Now that she has no one to protect her, she dares not walk on unfamiliar streets for too long. She mustered her strength and went back to the hotel.
"Are you Factory Director Qin?" A stylishly dressed man approached.
These days, it's so rare to see someone dressed casually.
"My surname is Jiang, and I'm the manager of the No. 1 Department Store," Jiang Fusheng said with a smile, extending his hand.
"Hello, I'm Qin Xiaoyu." Qin Xiaoyu chuckled after saying this. The other person waiting here must know who she is.
"There's a coffee shop across the street. I'd like to invite you for a drink." Needless to say, Jiang Fusheng's real intention was not what it seemed.
"Okay." Qin Xiaoyu accepted the invitation gracefully.
"I heard you're going to collaborate with Xinxin Department Store, and I'd like to get a piece of the pie," Jiang Fusheng said bluntly.
"It's too early to talk about that. I just arrived, and I haven't discussed any specifics with Xin Xin yet." Qin Xiaoyu picked up her cup. The coffee tasted great. It seemed that life in the provincial capital was a step up from that in the small town. It was only a few hours away, but it had already taken a big step forward in terms of fashion.
"Director Qin, let's get straight to the point and skip the formalities. I've looked at Riyue Apparel's products and I'm very interested. Although No. 1 Department Store isn't as large as Xinxin Department Store, we are more flexible in our operations and can offer you more room for growth..."
"Better to arrive at the right time than early. Can I also get a free cup of coffee?" Manager Chen walked in, and Qin Xiaoyu, who was too eye-catching, spotted him at a glance.
"Everyone who sees it gets a share, why is Sister Chen interested?" Jiang Fusheng said with a smile.
"The person I invited almost got snatched away by you before I even had a second thought, and you're asking me what kind of interest I have?"
The two exchanged a sharp look, neither gaining the upper hand. Qin Xiaoyu ignored their words, focusing on drinking her coffee, but in her heart, she thought that her chances of winning were much greater this time; competition was good.
That evening, Manager Chen personally treated Qin Xiaoyu to dinner. During the meal, the general manager of Xinxin Department Store also came to meet her, but left in a hurry because he had other business to attend to.
"Go to the venue tomorrow. Feel free to make any requests. Everything we discussed before was still undecided. Now that we have a cooperative intention, we must be completely open and honest." Manager Chen has been exceptionally enthusiastic ever since he saw Jiang Fusheng get involved.
Qin Xiaoyu guessed that the general manager was not originally on the agenda, but Manager Chen insisted on bringing him in to save face.
Xin Xin Department Store was much bigger than she had imagined; these days, a six-story shopping mall was considered luxurious. Clothing was on the third floor, taking up the entire floor.
Qin Xiaoyu looked around and found no boutiques or specialty stores. The clothing styles were dazzling, and some were quite nice, but none of them were sold in large quantities. It was almost an eyesore several times before she found a truly eye-catching item.
If Riyue Clothing had its own dedicated space, it would probably be the most popular area. She chose a location on the east side, directly opposite the stairs.
"Director Qin has a good eye; this is a prime location." Manager Chen's tone seemed somewhat hesitant.
Qin Xiaoyu understood that if Japanese clothing stores handed over their goods to them for distribution, they would readily give up their prime locations. But since Qin Xiaoyu was going to open her own counter and only give Xinxin Department Store a commission, it didn't make much sense.
"Manager Chen, I have no room for negotiation regarding the location of the counter. If it doesn't meet the requirements, it's better not to set it up at all. What do you say?"
"Well, this prime location, although it's on a floor under my jurisdiction, ultimately requires approval from the head manager. I can't make the decision on my own. Should I report it first?" Manager Chen said with difficulty.
"I see. Okay, I'll wait for your news. If this matter can't proceed, we can't discuss the others either."
"Since you've come all this way to the provincial capital, would you like to look around? I'll go with you," Manager Chen said warmly.
"No need, I'm just here to rest. I'd rather go back to sleep; I'm too tired at home. You should report this matter first and get a result as soon as possible. I can't wait too long." Qin Xiaoyu left, returned to the hotel, changed her clothes, and came out.
This time she wore a navy blue cheongsam dress, which was a modified version, slightly looser than a cheongsam, without a large slit, and too plain. She wrapped a white veil around her neck.
During this period, she always dressed in mourning clothes for Zhou Xing.
As the saying goes, "to look good, wear mourning clothes." Qin Xiaoyu's unintentional attire attracted a lot of attention. A woman dressed in drab clothes, with an unconcealable melancholy in her eyes, was a sight to behold.
She didn't want to reveal her itinerary because she was afraid Manager Chen would insist on accompanying her, making it inconvenient to go anywhere. Now that she was out alone, she could check out the commercial street.
She walked through each room one by one. By then, she had a general idea of what was going on.
Xinxin Department Store is the largest in scale, but its management is also the most rigid. The First Department Store that came to us yesterday is an old department store, even older than Xinxin, having existed before the liberation, hence its dilapidated location. The building is a pre-liberation structure, appearing antique, sturdy, and rustic from the outside, complete with a large Russian-style dome. However, once inside, you'll find that neither the loose, creaking floors nor the dimly lit stained glass makes it suitable for shopping; it's better suited for taking nostalgic photos.
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