Chapter 237
After Zhou Jiani finished the call, she returned to the small courtyard in Shichahai. Bai Haoyang and Yu Wanxia would come here to find her in a while.
There is still some mutton from the New Year, so I can make a mutton spine hotpot tonight.
Cut some ham into pieces and stir-fry some green garlic sprouts, then steam some rice.
Later in the evening, Bai Haoyang and Yu Wanxia came over following the house number.
Seeing this small, stand-alone courtyard, not only Yu Wanxia was envious, but Bai Haoyang was also extremely envious: "This is too spacious!"
The Qiu family still used the same excuse to the outside world, and Zhou Jiani and Bai Haoyang said the same thing, but everyone knew the truth and did not ask any further questions, thinking that this was a pure land.
The two of them toured the place inside and out, and finally went back into the house to help set the table.
Zhou Jiani asked about their investigation, and Yu Wanxia said, "We have stock. They're all styles we've made before. I took a look, and the workmanship is really poor. The quality won't be up to par with yours anyway."
Bai Haoyang saw some fried peanuts and melon seeds on the table. He grabbed a handful and cracked them, saying, "I also heard something."
Zhou Jiani asked: "What's the matter?"
"Their supplier has changed," Bai Haoyang said. "It's not the guy from before the New Year. It's several girls who delivered the goods. I wonder if Liu Ailing's stall has been taken down?"
Zhou Jiani said: "Not surprising!"
This is very normal. Simple hair ties are very easy to imitate.
When she was helping the villagers sell goods, she was able to retain a few regular partners by changing styles and supplying woven products in a timely manner.
I don’t know whether Liu Ailing was imitated by the handicraft worker this time, or the mall started looking for people to process and sell it.
So the new hairband fabrics she released are all in beautiful colors and patterns, and with some small pendants added, it is difficult for others to buy the materials even if they want to imitate the same ones.
When the Canton Fair opens, she will ask Li Jingdang to help her buy some beautiful floral fabrics from the south. It would be even better if she could buy other small accessories.
If you want others to keep up with you, you have to come up with advantages that others don’t have.
Liu Ailing's business did suffer a setback.
Before the New Year, she gave fabrics and needles and thread to all the students who were willing to make hair bands, and asked them to make more during the winter vacation. They could also mobilize their sisters at home to make them together. After all, the more they made, the more wages they would get when they came to her for settlement after the New Year. The more work, the more money. She believed that anyone who was willing to earn pocket money would not think that the money was too little.
As soon as school started after the Lunar New Year, she and Xin Yougang returned to school with an anxious mentality. They had originally thought that they would have a good harvest, but in the end, the amount of goods they handed in was very small. They also returned the unused fabrics, saying that they had not made any handicrafts when they were helping with housework at home, and they did not plan to make them for her in the future, and wanted to focus on their studies...
Liu Ailing felt a surge of anger rising to her head at that moment, and she almost fainted. She said in a stern tone, "Even if you're busy during the holidays, you shouldn't do so little, right?"
The classmate who came to deliver the goods seemed to be oblivious to Liu Ailing's unpleasant expression and said with a smile, "I have a lot of things to do at home. I'm sorry..."
Others, including Liu Ailing’s roommate, also had their own reasons.
The more Liu Ailing listened, the uglier her expression became, and she almost couldn't help but want to curse several times.
She bought so much cloth and rubber bands, and figured she would be able to collect at least four or five hundred after the New Year, but she didn't expect to collect less than twenty in total.
Xin Yougang was still waiting downstairs to pick up the goods for delivery. He had roughly calculated that he should be able to collect four to five hundred. Excluding the cost and the share given to the mall, they should have no problem making twenty or thirty.
The temperature was a bit low today. Xin Yougang put his hands in his sleeves and stamped his feet constantly, but he waited patiently, thinking that Liu Ailing would have to count the points, and maybe he would have to pay everyone's salary, which would definitely not be fast.
Finally, seeing Liu Ailing coming down, he hurried over, his neck hunched and panting, and asked, "Are you done collecting? How many are there?"
How many? This is a chilling number.
Liu Ailing herself didn't have many. Those she made at home during the winter vacation had already been sold. In total, she only brought about ten or so. At most, she couldn't even make forty. How much money could she earn from this?
She pursed her lips and said nothing. Xin You had just noticed that her face looked extremely grim. Then he looked at the bag she was carrying, which didn't look like it could hold four or five hundred hair bands. He asked, "What's wrong? Where's the stuff?"
"We've been tricked." Liu Ailing took a deep breath and gritted her teeth as she told the story. Xin Yougang immediately frowned, "How could this happen? What's wrong with those people? They're so untrustworthy!"
Then he said angrily: "We won't use them anymore and will find someone else to do the job."
Isn't this a waste of time and a delay in their making money?
Liu Ailing nodded. She would definitely not ask those students to do the job again. She could consider finding people from other classes or other departments, but that would require more time to teach again. How much money would she lose by delaying this?
Liu Ailing felt a little annoyed when she thought about it.
"Send these over first. Every penny I earn is a penny I can earn. I'll sew a few more in the evening when I have nothing to do." Liu Ailing said.
"You've worked hard." Xin Yougang took the hairbands and left, and Liu Ailing returned to the dormitory with a gloomy face.
The roommates felt a little guilty when they saw her face, but then they thought that they could make more money by themselves, and if they did a few more, they would make more than if they followed her. Since everyone chose to stick together, they couldn't be so stupid as to rely on her for food.
Moreover, because Comrade Ailing led everyone to make money, she was usually a bit domineering. Sometimes she spoke to them as if they were superiors and subordinates, which made them feel uncomfortable for a long time.
Liu Ailing didn't expect an even bigger blow to come. More than two hours later, Xin Yougang returned and said sullenly, "We've been robbed, damn it."
Liu Ailing's mind buzzed: "Intercept? Who intercepted?"
"Fuck, how would I know? I just know there were two piles of goods on the counter when I went there, and they said a few women were there to deliver them..."
Xin Yougang turned around and angrily kicked the platform in the flower bed next to him, cursing.
Liu Ailing understood immediately, and her blood boiled. It took her a long time to calm down, and she murmured, "No wonder."
"What's the wonder?" Xin Yougang asked.
Liu Ailing calmly analyzed: "No wonder Zhou Jiani didn't wear the hair tie, maybe she was also intercepted by someone at that time."
Xin Yougang was a little annoyed: "What should we do? Are we just going to watch others rob us of our way of making money?"
They didn't want to think that they had followed someone else's path, but now they were being intercepted by others. The two of them felt so angry that they wanted to die.
Liu Ailing: "Hurry up and find someone else to make it. I'll only teach you the old style. I'll make the new style myself. We'll talk about it later."
Even Zhou Jiani couldn't solve the problem. Apart from temporarily concealing the new style, she couldn't think of a better solution.
She has collected a lot of hairband styles in Xihe Commune. Before the New Year, she only taught those people a part of them, and there are still two styles that she has not taught. During the New Year period, Xin Yougang went to Qianjin Brigade and salvaged two styles that she did not have. Now she has mastered four more new styles than others, and hopes to make a comeback with styles.
Liu Ailing went back and made a curtain for herself. Whenever she made a new style, she would pull up the curtain for fear that her roommates would learn from her.
Apart from attending classes and doing handicrafts, I just have to find someone to do it for me. With so many students in the school, there are always some who want to earn some pocket money.
On the other hand, Zhou Jiani was busy with the printing of the departmental journal in addition to attending classes. She took some time to call Aunt Su to inquire about the progress, quantity and price.
Su Meiqiao also asked her if she wanted to see the samples. Zhou Jiani felt that going back and forth would waste too much time, so as long as the size and color were OK, she would place an order directly.
Besides, Aunt Su was in the import and export business, so what good things had she not seen? She still trusted Aunt Su's vision.
She transferred the money, and Su Meiqiao helped her with any necessary procedures later.
On the weekend, I made an appointment with Zhai Hong to collect some duck eggs, and then got together with Bai Haoyang and others to choose fabrics, and then sent the selected fabrics to Minjuan's mother.
The old man asked her worriedly how her hair bands were selling. Knowing that they had not been put on the market yet and there were still steps to be completed, he suddenly became a little worried and hurriedly said that she didn't need to be paid for the time being and would be paid after the sales were completed.
Then he mentioned the subsequent processing and said, "Nizi, just send the materials you mentioned to me when they arrive. We won't charge you any extra money."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Aunt, we'll be doing an assembly line project from now on. You'll be in charge of sewing. If it works out, I'll provide you with a sewing machine. You can use it to sew faster, and you can also process some bags... There's no rush. Let's develop steadily and steadily."
Minjuan's mother was a little excited when she heard this and asked, "Someone bought that bag too?"
"As long as the style is nice, there is no need to worry about not being able to sell it." Zhou Jiani comforted her.
Ten days later, the beads, sequins, plastic threads, hairpins and other items she wanted were delivered.
Following Zhang Lihai's car, Zhou Jiani wanted to pay the fare, but Zhang Lihai refused and said, "It doesn't take up space. I put it under the seat and brought it here. Don't be so formal."
Indeed, although Zhou Jiani asked for a large quantity, these things are small in size. There are rice-grain beads, and the largest is only the size of a soybean. She asked for thousands of beads, but there are only a few bags in total.
The same goes for sequins, plastic threads, hairpins, etc. All added up to a mediocre box, not even as big as the vegetable basket he used to carry her vegetables.
Zhou Jiani didn't hesitate to treat him to a meal, and was thinking about making some pickles and chili sauce for Zhang Lihai to express her gratitude.
After the things arrived, Bai Haoyang and Yu Wanxia were invited to the small courtyard on the weekend, and the three of them buried their heads in their work.
Not every hair tie can be used with all things. It also depends on the style and color. Some hair ties can be very beautiful with a few sequins.
Zhou Jiani and Yu Wanxia are responsible for the sewing work, while Bai Haoyang is responsible for the gluing work.
He was clumsy at first, but after failing a few times he gradually became proficient, and became more and more skilled. Later he even tried sewing with thread.
The three of them were busy for two days, eating just a few bites at a time, and finally finished decorating all the hair bands they had collected during this period.
Bai Haoyang rubbed his neck and sighed, "If my mother knew I could sew, she would be shocked."
When he was in the Qianjin Brigade, he asked Yu Wanxia to mend his clothes when they were torn or buttons fell off and needed stitching. It was the first time in Bai Shao's life that he held a needle and thread.
Is it easy to earn some pocket money?
Yu Wanxia laughed heartily at his complaints and encouraged him, "You can learn how to sew hair ties later and make one for my future sister-in-law."
Bai Haoyang thought for a moment and asked, "Will that make me look like a woman?"
Yu Wanxia wanted to spit in his face.
But the most important thing right now is the sales of hair bands.
It was impossible for Zhou Jiani to do every step herself as she was also busy, so since she had recruited a partner, she stated the selling price and the bottom line of the profit share, and left the rest to Bai Haoyang to negotiate.
Bai Haoyang is a native local after all, and has natural advantages. He is also smart and has been a factory director and hosted the Canton Fair. He is not without this ability.
Bai Haoyang also patted his chest and said, "No problem, leave it to me, I'll take care of it."
Zhou Jiani grabbed a nearby notebook and pen and casually drew a sample. She said, "Find someone to get a thinner board, punch holes in it, and lay all the hair ties out in a row and pin them on. Not only will it look neat, but it'll also be clear at a glance."
He also arranged for Yu Wanxia: "Wanxia, keep one sample of each type. If you come across a supply and marketing cooperative on the road, go in and ask about it. If you can negotiate a deal, that's the best. If not, that's okay too. This will help you hone your abilities."
Yu Wanxia hurriedly said, "I'll go back and ask my aunt, and ask her to ask her relatives..."
Zhou Jiani nodded, thinking that it would be a waste not to grab such a ready-made bargain.
"You can get the salary first. If you do a good job, we will let you buy shares when our business develops."
"Jiani, you are the best!" Yu Wanxia smiled happily and held Zhou Jiani's arm tightly.
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