Chapter Thirty-Eight
If his daughter could find someone she trusted to run the shop without affecting her studies, then Ji Xingguo didn't think it was a bad idea.
Ji Wanmei said, "I've already told Chunyan about opening the shop together, and she seems quite willing. She's been going home these past few days to discuss it with her parents. Dad, I really need your support for opening this shop. If she's reached an agreement but you disagree, I'll have wasted her time looking for a job!"
"You little rascal, why didn't you discuss such a big matter with your father beforehand? You just ran off to tell other people first."
It's true that kids grow up and become more opinionated; they even dare to act first and ask questions later.
Ji Xingguo pretended to be angry: "What if their parents don't agree?"
Ji Wanmei couldn't possibly have overlooked this point, and said, "If Chunyan's parents don't agree to her contributing capital, then the shop can be considered a joint venture between my father and me. We can hire Chunyan as the shop manager. If even that's not agreed to by her parents, I'll post another job advertisement and find a suitable candidate to manage the shop."
"The reason I went to Chunyan first is that I know she has always wanted to start her own business, and she's quite eloquent and suited for business. After all, we've known each other since childhood, we understand each other, and she's someone I can trust. She's better than anyone else I'd hire from outside. Of course, I'd ask her first."
After listening, Ji Xingguo finally believed that his daughter hadn't just made a whim, so he asked, "Then can you estimate how much capital you'll need to open such a general store?"
Ji Wanmei had already considered this.
She got up, ran back to her room, and came out with a notebook.
Ji Wanmei opened her notebook and showed it to her father: "Dad, look, these are all things I wrote down."
Ji Xingguo took the ledger, which contained detailed information in a concise and clear table, including the shop rent, water and electricity management fees, renovation costs, labor costs, and reserved working capital.
All things considered, my daughter's 'women's goods general store' would require about a thousand dollars in initial capital.
Ji Xingguo pondered for a moment. One thousand yuan, which was actually a little less than he had expected.
He originally thought his daughter would at least ask him for two thousand yuan.
Seeing all of his daughter's plans and journals, Ji Xingguo could see her determination to try opening a shop, so he said, "Alright, Dad supports you."
"Dad will cover this thousand yuan for you, and you don't need to pay me back the principal. However, from now on, I will be the major shareholder of your grocery store. If there are any market adjustments or new developments, you must report to me, the major shareholder, as soon as possible."
Ji Wanmei was overjoyed and rushed over to hug her father's arm: "I knew it! Dad is the best to me, he loves me the most, and he will definitely support me!"
"Hehe." Ji Xingguo patted his daughter's head. "What do you need Dad to do for you? Find someone to help you find a suitable shop? You mentioned those trendy goods, why go all the way to Zhejiang to buy them? There's no need to go so far. We have all kinds of goods right here in our factory."
Dongfang Daily Chemical Factory is the largest daily chemical factory in Pingquan County, and even in Pingdong City. Many places in the surrounding cities and neighboring provinces come to their factory to purchase goods through wholesale channels.
No wonder Deputy Factory Director Yang's position is so lucrative.
And his son, Yang Zhiping, went to university in Guangzhou, but he still traveled a long way back to take over his father's job, all because the factory was profitable and lucrative.
But Ji Wanmei thought differently. Her father's factory did have a lot of daily chemical products, but many of them were readily available. The reason it was profitable was because of the large quantity. Wholesale goods were sold in units of thousands or tens of thousands. With such a large quantity, it was natural to make money.
But what Ji Wanmei wants to open is a retail grocery store.
Retail sales can't compare to the massive quantities produced in factories, so quality and trendy styles are the key to success.
If the things they buy are exactly the same as those in the other grocery stores, why would customers insist on buying from their store?
Ji Wanmei understood a principle: things are valued for their rarity.
So even though it's inconvenient, she still has to go to Guangzhou, Zhejiang to purchase a lot of goods.
Because that area is close to the coast and borders a port city.
At that time, Hong Kong was the most fashionable and trendy place. Whatever was popular there, even outdated items, would create a trend when brought to the mainland.
Ji Wanmei wanted to seize this trend and take the lead in the market to make her "Women's Goods Specialty Store" brand famous.
Once the brand is established, it will be much easier to lay the groundwork for her future career plans.
Ji Wanmei actually has a long-term plan for her career, even a ten- or twenty-year plan.
But she hasn't said it yet, and even if she did, even her father would think she was talking nonsense.
However, Ji Wanmei herself knew very well that, given the limitations of the times, even her father could not foresee what would happen twenty years from now.
As long as she knows what she's doing, that's enough.
Yesterday, Lei Tingjun also said she wanted to find someone to help her find a shop, and now her father also said he would ask a friend to help her find a shop.
Ji Wanmei was very happy and felt very fortunate to have been reborn and to have so many people around her who cared about her.
Ji Wanmei naturally wouldn't refuse her father's love and help, so she nodded and said, "Dad is now my major shareholder, of course I need Dad's help!"
That evening, Ji Xingguo gave Ji Wanmei 1,000 yuan in cash.
He said, "This money was originally meant for you when you went to school, so I didn't deposit it in the bank. Since you need it now, take it and use it. If you need more money for the shop, just tell me. Since I've decided to support you, I'll support you to the end."
Seeing her father's unconditional love for her, Ji Wanmei felt a warmth in her heart and almost wanted to cry.
Her father was such a good man, but in her past life, he was so angry that he died in his sickbed with resentment because she married the wrong person. Ji Wanmei felt heartbroken whenever she thought of that scene.
Ji Wanmei rushed over and hugged her father, her voice choked with emotion, "Dad, why are you so good to me?"
Ji Xingguo patted his daughter's head, coaxing her just like when she was a child: "You are Dad's only daughter, and I am the only person in this world who cares about you. If Dad doesn't love you, who will he love?"
"Look at you, crying again! You're a grown woman now, why do you still cry like this? Hurry up and wipe your tears!"
Ji Wanmei smiled through her tears and nodded with a smile: "Yes, I won't cry."
Holding the thousand yuan her father had given her, she felt confident about the future.
This time, she will fight for a different life for herself!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com