Chapter 22 Storefront

Pu Xiang thought about it carefully. She couldn't remember what Mo Jingjing was like when she was a child. But that night, when she tried to snatch the person away from Zhou Xiaorou, although Mo Jingjing seemed a little timid, she still looked like a normal child.

She is obedient and soft, with the innocence of a child that adults can see through at a glance.

But now Mo Jingjing doesn't look like a child at all.

No matter how hard adults try to pretend to be children, they can’t do it. You can tell from their eyes and actions.

Pu Xiang stared at Mo Jingjing, and Mo Jingjing quickly lowered her head, avoiding her gaze.

Mo Yang reached out and touched the top of his daughter's head, and said, "Jingjing has been a little shy lately."

Pu Xiang hummed: "Children will behave like this when they reach a certain age. It will be fine when they grow up... Let's go."

After riding for more than ten minutes, the two bicycles arrived at the Dongmentou small commodity market.

In her memory, Dongmentou has always been some distance away from the bus station. However, when she came here again by bicycle this time, Pu Xiang found that it was much closer than she had imagined.

I don’t know if it’s due to the later convenience of transportation, but the world seems smaller to me. For a while, we have been talking about the global village, high-speed trains and airplanes, but when we look back at the county town, isn’t it just a small county town, a small place?

It doesn’t look very big.

But as a person born in the 90s, Shi Wenya, who seldom leaves the village all year round, was already shouting excitedly.

"Third sister, third sister, look, there are so many stalls, many selling clothes. Over there are hairpins and hair ties, colorful and pretty. Ah, I also saw a headband, but it's a pity that we both gave birth to sons, otherwise we could buy two of the same... Hey, Mo Yang, ask Jingjing if she likes it, and buy her one!"

She had heard the gossip about Mo Yang and Zhou Xiaorou's divorce. Mo Yang was not as financially tight as she had imagined. She thought he would definitely be willing to buy a headband for his daughter.

People are really different. Mo Yang gave Zhou Xiaorou 30 yuan every month to buy groceries, and he didn't ask Zhou Xiaorou for the extra money after the divorce. Even when Zhou Xiaorou cheated on him, he didn't even ask her to settle the score!

Let’s look at Shi Dafu. He was also divorced. Pu Xiang did nothing wrong. Shi Dafu was a lazy guy who didn’t even dare to do anything and left everything to his wife. Yet he even dared to ask for the betrothal gift back!

Pooh!

Shi Wenya really looked down on Shi Dafu from the bottom of her heart. She had been thinking about whether she should try to persuade Pu Xiang to divorce. Although Shi Dafu was not a decent person, they still had a child and she had to think about the child.

But now it seems, persuade? What is there to persuade? If she lets Shi Dafu take her hand, she will want to leave him!

I used to think that among the Shi family, Shi Dafu was the only one who was not decent. Shi Hai, the father-in-law, was not bad. He was reasonable and could support his daughter-in-law. But now it seems that they are all the same!

Shi Wenya became angry whenever she thought of Pu Xiang being locked up and being asked to take back the betrothal gift.

When Mo Yang heard her question, he said, "Buy some. Also, buy some hair ties and clothes. I don't know how to buy these things. Please help me look."

There was an open space for parking at the entrance of the small commodity market. Mo Yang gave two cents and handed over a cigarette, then locked the two bicycles together. The man who was watching the bicycles took the money and the cigarette, then waved at them with a smile.

"Go ahead and buy your stuff. I'll keep the car for you guys."

Pu Xiang slung her canvas bag across her body, revealing the red words "Serve the People" on the front, which had already faded a little.

She adjusted the straps of the bag and wrapped it in front of her belly.

The incident outside the bus station just now made her alert. It was not as safe as it would be later. There were surveillance cameras everywhere on the streets, and real names were required for everything. There were many "three hands" now.

It is very rare for anyone who goes out to have their belongings stolen from them.

There was another severe beating in 1996, and things got better afterwards.

When the three adults and one child entered the small commodity market, Shi Wenya was the most excited. She looked around, this and that. However, she had no money and was just looking for fun.

Mo Yang came here sincerely to buy things. He walked and looked, and asked Shi Wenya how to choose things for children.

He asked in detail, and it was obvious that he was preparing for the future. He was a grown man, and this time he happened to meet Pu Xiang and Shi Wenya. Otherwise, he couldn't ask a woman every time he bought something. If he did that too many times, people might gossip about him.

"Children's winter sweaters should fit close to their skin. They don't need to be particularly thick, but they should be soft, otherwise they will be uncomfortable to wear... Has Jingjing's feet grown? Have you bought her warm winter shoes? Buy them a little bigger so she can wear them for another year next year."

Shi Wenya became more and more excited as she spoke. She only had one son in the family, who didn't need to be dressed up on weekdays. She was so happy to have a little girl now.

In addition, if Mo Yang saw something he liked, he would just spend money to buy it. Even if it was not hers, it would not affect her happiness.

After a while, Mo Yang's hands were full of things. Seeing a stall selling bags, he went over and bought a big backpack, stuffed everything in it, leaving his hands free.

I turned around and saw a stall selling candied haws and loquats. Without asking any questions, I bought a string of candied haws and loquats for each of the three ladies, two adults and one child.

Now, no one doesn’t like to eat this. It tastes sour and sweet, and is much better than any high-end or internet-famous snacks that came out later.

Shi Wenya was very happy to be treated to candy: "Thank you, Mo Yang."

She had just helped him pick out a lot of things and taught him a lot of "secrets", so she took this as a thank you gift.

Pu Xiang also said thank you, and her slightly wrinkled brows relaxed a little. She had just been walking along the road, looking at the stalls selling clothes.

Upon seeing this, she couldn't help but feel disappointed. The small commodity market had a large flow of people and business seemed good, but the level was really not high.

To say that it is low-end or mid-range is an exaggeration. Moreover, after living for a long time several decades later, Pu Xiang has forgotten the biggest feature of buying things in this era.

bargain.

The asking price is fifty, and I can get ten back.

She looked at the buying and selling of each lot and found that they were all the same pattern.

"How much is this dress?"

"Big sister, you have a good eye. This piece is the best material on my stall. It costs 50 yuan. So, if you really want it, I'll give you 45 yuan."

"45 yuan? That's too expensive. I think the material is just average, and the workmanship is not good. You can see there are loose threads all over it. I'll have to fix it when I get it back. How about this, I'll take the 5 yuan."

"Five dollars won't do. I'm a straightforward businessman and I won't lie to you. Just 40 dollars."

"40 bucks, go grab it. I just checked a few stalls and I know the price. 8 bucks."

"8 bucks is really not enough. If you want to buy something cheaper than mine, go there."

"Forget it, just 10 bucks. I won't bargain with you. If it can be sold, I'll take it. If not, forget it."

"How can 10 yuan be enough? The lowest is 25 yuan... Don't go, don't go, big sister, come back, 10 yuan is 10 yuan, you can take it, but you have to come to my house to buy it next time, I am really losing money! Just for the next business!"

Pu Xiang was speechless after hearing this. They were both doing business. She sold snacks and ran a restaurant, but they didn't bargain like that. At most they would just round off the price when settling the bill.

If she is allowed to be a boss like this, she might as well go back to the food business.

This is not just selling clothes, this is simply acting. You have to be an acting genius to do this business.

Apart from the bargaining model, the layout of the place is also not good.

This place was like a big shed, with each shop separated by boards, and clothes hung on hooks and nets. She saw that every shop owner had clothes hanging on and off the boards.

Each stall only has a mirror, let alone lights or anything like that. If it were a rainy day, customers wouldn't be able to see clearly how the clothes would look on them when they try them on.

In addition, each stall does not have a main door, but just a curtain. When the stall is closed at night, the goods are collected and the curtains are closed. The anti-theft measures depend entirely on the iron gate at the entrance of the small commodity market and the two uncles guarding the gate.

Pu Xiang gave up the idea of ​​opening a store in the small commodity market before she finished her shopping.

This place is not as good as the bus station. At least the stores there are independent and have doors.

She can rent a store there and sell mid- to high-end, boutique products without being affected by the overall environment and lowering her grade.

"Third sister, didn't you want to go shopping in the county? Why didn't you buy anything? Didn't you see what you wanted?"

After Shi Wenya helped Mo Yang buy Mo Jingjing's things, her excitement finally wore off.

Pu Xiang smiled and shook her head: "I just came to take a look at the shops here, not to buy anything. Do you want to buy something? I brought money with me, I can lend it to you first."

Shi Wenya didn't even change her clothes or shoes when she went out in the morning, let alone put any money in her pocket.

"Then I'll buy two pairs of socks for Chengcheng, as the weather is going to get cold."

Shi Wenya didn't bother to be polite with her. She said she had come to the county and she would feel a bit of a loss if she didn't buy anything. Her family didn't have a lot of money, but they had enough money to buy a pair of socks for the children.

Pu Xiang didn't just keep the money for the socks, but directly handed her 20 yuan.

Shi Wenya picked up the phone and asked, "Third sister, what kind of store do you want to see? I'll help you look. By the way, you never told me what you want to do."

She was really a little curious.

Are you buying anything? I don't think so.

But if you are not buying anything, then what are you looking at when you visit the store? Are you really looking at the store?

Pu Xiang said, "I'm looking for a job. I want to see a store that sells women's clothing, a better kind. Here are all small stalls, the quality is average, and the prices are too cheap. It's not good."

Shi Wenya's eyes widened: "Is this still a cheap price?"

She couldn't bear to buy any of the clothes here.

Pu Xiang was unable to explain in detail to Shi Wenya at this moment. She was once born in the countryside like Shi Wenya. She rarely even went to a small town. The farthest place she had ever been away from home was the county seat.

她們沒有機* 會看到外面的世界，也沒有辦法想象到外面的世界是怎樣的。

農村人窮，不是因為懶，多少勤快的農村人，一天忙到晚，一年忙到頭，也只是混個勉強糊口。

順應經濟發展的社會潮流，建立事業，創造財富，多少人腦子裏根本沒有這個概念。

後來的幾十年，能抓到風口賺到錢的，都不是勤勞踏實的農村人，反而是一部分在村裏過不好，過不下去，出去闖蕩的人，抓到了機會。

蒲香只說：“這裏的衣服，和中心大廈裏的衣服比，你覺得怎麽樣？”

中心大廈，石文雅今天沒去，但是之前過年那會兒，娘家一個妹妹結婚，去買東西，她可是陪着一起去過的。

“這怎麽比啊，中心大廈裏的東西都是高檔貨，可貴着呢。”

蒲香笑：“所以我說這裏的東西便宜，沒錯吧？”

石文雅笑：“反正這裏便宜的我也買不起。”

蒲香沒再多說，但是她和石文雅對話這會兒，她腦子裏倒是已經有了一個想法。

她還是真是舍近求遠，她要走中高檔路線，中心大廈不是最好的目标嗎？

中心大廈不管是公有的，還是私有的，裏面的商鋪可都是出租的。

她得去打聽打聽，退一萬步說，如果裏面的位置，她一個沒錢沒勢的鄉下人，沒有機會租到手，但中心大廈外圍呢？

她完全可以在附近租一個門面。

蒲香一輩子都是和餐飲這一塊打交道，要說讓她現在去找店面搞個小吃攤，那是熟門熟路，但是女裝這一塊，到底不是一個行業，她就算是有這個社會未來發展走向的記憶，前期也還要摸索。

萬事開頭難。

等真幹起來了就好了。

蒲香思路清晰了，也就不想繼續在小商品市場這裏浪費時間。

“莫陽，我們這邊逛完了，你還要買點什麽嗎？”

要買完了，他們現在就好分開了，各辦各的事去。

莫陽很有眼色，說：“買完了，謝謝你們倆了，我還要去見個朋友，接下來就不和你們一起了。”

莫陽抱着女兒叫了輛三輪車走的，蒲香和石文雅，去拿了自行車，繞了一圈又回到了中心大廈。

這次，石文雅猶豫了一下，還是決定和蒲香一起進去。

對啊，她就是穿得破點，又不偷不搶的，就算買不起東西，去看一眼也沒什麽的！

石文雅給自己做好了心理準備，然後等到一走進大廈裏，锃亮的地板，明亮的燈光，她置身其中，感覺自己就和置物架上的物品一樣，被照得清清楚楚，特別是她空蕩蕩的口袋，就仿佛如此清晰地被攤到了所有人面前。

窘迫。

蒲香卻壓根兒沒顧上自己的穿着打扮，這次進到中心大廈，她先上上下下，裏裏外外全給看了一圈。

中心大廈的一樓主要是賣一些吃的，餅幹、奶糖、奶粉，各種罐頭，禮盒，還有生活用品，臉盆、水壺、毯子等等的東西，基本上都有。

除此之外，還有更貴一些的手表、電視、洗衣機，也都有得賣。

賣服裝的自然少不了，天快冷了，女裝那個櫃上，她看到挂了好幾件呢子大衣。

她過去問了一下，價格可不便宜，一件七八十，最貴的一百多塊。

順便收獲了售貨員幾個上下打量後的輕視眼神。

當然，也有幾個櫃是要憑票買的，價格也要便宜上一些，同樣的，款式就沒有人家不要票的好看。

蒲香沒到那幾家賣女裝的櫃上問，都是同行。

去到一樓找了保安，給了一把奶糖，就打聽到了她想知道的事情。

保安大哥看了一眼旁邊沒有人注意，快速把糖塞進口袋裏。

大白兔奶糖呢，他們家不是買不起，但是這不便宜，這過日子錢是能省一塊是一塊。

“同志，你問這裏的櫃面往外租的事情啊，這租是肯定往外租的，不過這租金可不便宜呢，而且啊，這早就租滿了，這幾年做生意的人越來越多，好多人都盯着，畢竟什麽東西進了中心大廈都好賣。”

他們這裏離海市近，這中心大廈就是學着海市最繁華的商業街上的商廈建起來的。

這不，一建成就成了縣城最高檔的地方。

蒲香倒也不算失望，在再困難的年代，都有有錢人，何況現在大家的生活是越來越好了，做生意，看到商機的人，肯定不少。

謝過了保安大哥，蒲香和石文雅從大廈裏出來，又在大廈的四周轉了一圈。

這一圈還真給她看到了一個合适的店面。

與中心大廈三十米的距離，隔了一條小弄堂，那裏有一排二層的商鋪，賣百貨小飾品的都有，還有兩家吃食店。

而夾在這其中的一家寫着出售。

雖然不是出租，但比起人家正在營業的店鋪，也只有這一家可以過去看一看。

蒲香果斷帶着石文雅過去。

這店是個裁縫鋪子，裏面坐着個五十多快六十來歲的男人，正喝着茶，聽着收音機。

看到有人過來，他擡起眼皮子看了一眼，看到蒲香兩人，以及兩人的打扮，就又把視線收了回去。

“老師傅，請問一下，你們這店面是要賣嗎？租不租啊？”

蒲香粗粗一看，這店面不大，大概15個平方大小，靠最裏的牆那有一個小的木樓梯，可以通向二樓。

這地方要開個女裝店倒是也夠了。

而且有二樓，就算一看就知道是很矮的那種閣樓，可進貨也有地方放了。

這大叔聞言又擡了頭：“不租，就賣，一萬五，一分不能少。”

蒲香：“……”

她還以為自己借了六千的貸款，已經是巨款，果然，她還是太小看了這個世界的發展，和別人有錢的程度。

蒲香沒有轉頭就走，而是繼續和人搭着話：“老師傅，這是你自家的店鋪吧，這地段也好，怎麽就要賣了啊？自己不用的話，租出去收租金，就是個下金蛋的母雞，這一萬五是不便宜，但是長遠來看，并不合算啊。”

這下，店鋪裏坐着的這位大叔來了點興趣，他伸手把收音機給關了。

“小同志懂得挺多啊，要不是有原因，這店面我肯定是不會賣的，和你說個實話，我兒子是個軍人，現在落戶到了隔壁省的茂市，一直叫我們老兩口過去一起生活，就是我們有點年紀了，去外地感覺不習慣，才一直沒去。最近是兒媳婦生了點病，身體不好，我們才決定搬去，好方便搭把手照顧這一家子。”

這大叔還挺實誠，不過也确實沒什麽好隐瞞的，這一排幾家店面，只要問一聲，就都能知道。

不是什麽秘密的事。

蒲香說：“去茂市也不遠啊，老師傅你們這店面租出去就好了，也不是一定要賣，租金你可以半年、一年一收，找郵局彙過去就成，而且你看啊，現在社會發展得越來越好了，這交通肯定也會越來越方便，回來看看也方便。”

本來還沒什麽表情的大叔，一聽蒲香挺能聊，也勾起了一點興趣。

“話是這麽說，但這租店面的事情可說不好，要是租的全是幹兩三個月黃了，不幹的，我總不能隔三差五回來，這去供銷社買菜都得早點去排隊，去晚了可買不着，這租店面的事，麻煩着呢。”

要不是沒辦法，他們家也不想賣店面啊，這位置多好，不愁租不出去。

但他們家沒人在這邊了，很多事情肯定是顧不到，唯一那幾家親戚，都有點一言難盡，他也歇了那個靠親戚幫忙的心。

所以這店面出租的事，想來想去覺得不太好弄，要是碰到些成心給找事的，他也不可能隔三差五回來，還不如就這麽賣了來得省心。

這邊賣了，他們去了茂市再看看，要是有合适的再貼點錢買套新的，就是地段肯定沒有這麽好的了。

茂市是大城市，和他們這種小縣城不一樣，他已經讓兒子打聽過了，那房價貴着呢。

他也想過了，他這年紀，裁縫的活也不用再幹了，如果實在沒有合适的，那捏着這一萬多塊錢，他們老夫妻當養老錢也夠。

蒲香笑着說：“那老師傅你租給我啊，我和你簽個三年五年的合同，我壓半年租金給你，要是我跑了，這租金不用退，你看這不就不用怕我跑了？”

大叔的眼睛亮了一下。

咦，這倒是個辦法。

“你真要租？”

蒲香點頭：“當然是認真的，不然話也得說清楚，我壓半年租金，簽上合同，老師傅你這邊也不能突然說要将店面收回去，至少提前三個月通知我，并且得賠我違約金，合同嘛，必須得雙方都有約束才行。”

看得出來，這大叔确實是心動了，眼神飛快地閃動，應該是在思考。

蒲香安靜地等着，也不着急，石文雅跟在她的身邊，聽了半天，忍不住在心裏咋舌。

Only now did she understand what Pu Xiang wanted to do. When she first heard that she was looking for a job, she thought she just wanted to be a salesperson. She was also surprised because a salesperson is one of the eight major employees. How could they have the chance to find such a good job?

But Pu Xiang didn't think about it at all. She actually wanted to rent a storefront!

This shop sells for 15,000!

Even if it’s rented, how much does it cost per month?

Shi Wenya couldn't even imagine it. Her family worked all year round, and even in a good year with a good harvest, they could only earn a few hundred yuan more. The life of the city dwellers was really incomparable to that of the country people.

No wonder everyone wants to be a city dweller.

Pu Xiang waited for a while and then said, "Master, if you are going to live with your son, the house you live in should be vacant, right? I can rent your house as well. I won't hide it from you. I have a rural household registration and cannot move to the city. I can't buy this house even if I have money."

It is easy to imagine that the houses people owned at that time were not commercial houses as they are later, and the policy had not yet reached the point where one could transfer their household registration and complete the transformation from rural to non-rural by purchasing a house.

At most, she could just rent a house in the city.

Fortunately, now that she has an identity card, she no longer needs a letter of introduction to do anything. Otherwise, she wouldn't even be able to rent a house in the city.

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then he laughed and was happy.

"You are quite honest, young comrade."

Although when he saw Pu Xiang for the first time just now, he felt that she didn't look like a city girl, and even less like someone with money in her pocket.

Pu Xiang asked: "So, Master, do you still own the house? Do you rent it out?"

The uncle really didn't understand Pu Xiang's routine, so he had to answer when faced with this unexpected question.

"The house has not been sold yet. We are preparing to sell it."

It's just that their asking price is quite high and we haven't made a move for a while yet.

There is no other way. The consumption level and prices in Mao City are much higher than those in their small county town. They would feel unwilling if they don't sell at a higher price.

But the price was too high, so many people asked but no one actually bought it.