It's been eight or nine days since I last went to sell clothes. I've made quite a few clothes during this time, and the materials and workmanship have improved a lot, so naturally the prices have also increased.
He Jiuniang didn't plan to go with them this time, only letting Zhang Song and his wife and Lianhua go together, mainly because she wanted to give them some experience.
Although Lianhua was a little nervous, she was also very excited. Aunt Jiu Niang said that she had a talent for doing business and would never let Aunt Jiu Niang down.
The three of them set off early in the morning. This morning, it was Boss Lu and Zhang Yong who went to collect the feathers.
The women in the family are still rushing to finish making clothes; if sales are good today, they'll have to hire more people.
When the three arrived in the county town, they did the same thing as before: they found a spot with the most foot traffic on the main street and set up a stall, each wearing an item to display.
Last time, twenty pieces of clothing were sold out in no time, and many people were still waiting to buy them. However, I didn't see the stall several times when I went to town. Today, I finally saw it, but before they could even hang the clothes on the rack, people came over to watch.
"Wow, they've come up with quite a few new styles this time! How about the prices?"
Some of the people who had come to watch last time asked questions.
"Dear brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts, we have a much wider variety this time. The fabrics on the left are the same as the last batch, mainly fine linen, so the prices are the same. And just like last time, there's a discount for buying four or more items. The fabrics on the right are more expensive, including cotton, fine cotton, floral satin, and other fine materials. The prices are all written on the tags on each garment, so please check them yourself!"
Seeing that Lianhua had already started her introduction, Zhang Song and Lu Guilan chimed in, "These clothes are made with fine materials, and the feathers stuffed inside are carefully selected, so the price is naturally a bit higher. Please buy according to your own means and preferences. In a few days, our family will also be releasing some new styles of clothing, so please be sure to come and support us!"
That's what she said, but Lu Guilan knew that the clothes designed could not be sold at small stalls. They wouldn't fetch a good price that way, and would even make those high-ranking officials and nobles feel that it was beneath them.
"Oh my, this coarse cotton cloth costs 229 coins, which is much more expensive than buying a cotton coat directly! And this fine cotton cloth costs 299 coins! Why don't you just rob us! You're such profiteers!"
Someone in the crowd spoke up in dissatisfaction, while others secretly checked the prices of the styles they had their eyes on, and their eyes widened in disbelief at how expensive they were!
Faced with such questioning, Lianhua remained calm and smiled as she replied, "Anyone who wears our feather coat knows how comfortable it is compared to cotton-padded coats. Besides, the materials are expensive to begin with, and we also have to hire tailors to sew the clothes, so naturally it's more expensive!"
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Of course, we also have cheaper options, the same models as last time, and the prices haven't changed. You can buy according to your needs!"
People are greedy. Before, when there were only linen items, there was no choice at all. But today, with these new fabrics and patterns, those linen items seem ugly.
Most of the onlookers were unmarried young women or wives and mothers. Naturally, they had a competitive sense of aesthetics. If they had an ordinary item, they would be envious of the beautiful ones in other people's hands.
After much deliberation, most people opted for coarse linen and fine cotton. While the floral satin was beautiful, it was expensive, costing 599 yuan per piece.
However, there are indeed buyers, and quite a lot of them.
Looking at them, Lianhua knew that everyone there was wealthy. If they were truly poor, they wouldn't dare to look around so much. So, she smiled and continued to explain the benefits of these fine materials.
Things like how close-fitting and soft it is, what kind of pattern is suitable for a young woman about to get married, how prestigious it would be to buy one for your daughter as part of her dowry, and so on.
They also say the fragrance lasts a long time and can waft the scent wherever you go, saving you money on perfume powder. Compared to that, it does seem much more cost-effective.
Zhang Song and his wife were dumbfounded. How could Lianhua, a young girl, be so eloquent?
In order not to be outdone, the couple praised the items repeatedly, and after two hours, they finally sold 97 out of the 100 items they brought, earning nearly 30 taels of silver in one morning.
The reason is simple: apart from the different prices for linen for boys, girls, and children, everything else is the same price, and the higher-priced items are available in larger quantities.
Azabu is being sold as a welfare product; next time you come to Azabu, the prices will be standardized.
Although customers had some complaints, many people still bought the product, thinking that buying it was a bargain, and they didn't care about anything else.
The remaining three items aren't unsellable; rather, the lotus flower can be kept.
These three pieces are too brightly colored; most girls wouldn't dare wear them. But some girls are tempted to buy them. However, Lotus kept them for herself because she had other plans.
These overly bright fabrics were chosen by Aunt Jiu Niang. She remembered Aunt Jiu Niang saying that in business, it doesn't matter who you sell to, as long as you don't go against your conscience and can sell them.
"Lotus, what use do you have for these three garments?"
Zhang Song was very puzzled. This dress could have been sold, but she insisted on keeping it. He didn't know what she was thinking.
"Uncle Song, I want to sell these overly bright clothes to the girls in the building."
She voiced her thoughts, and Mr. and Mrs. Zhang's eyes widened in disbelief. What was this unmarried young girl saying?!
"Those kinds of places... We're an honest family, we shouldn't associate with places like that!"
Lu Guilan frowned, clearly displeased.
If a young girl like Lianhua goes to a place like that and someone with ulterior motives finds out and spreads the news everywhere, how can she live?
She knew Lianhua wanted to start a business, but she didn't want the girl to go too far and lose everything.
“Aunt Guilan, when we went to buy fabric before, Aunt Jiuniang said that doing business doesn’t discriminate against people. The girls in the building also need to buy winter clothes. Instead of letting them go to other shops to buy them, why don’t we take on this business? Besides, these are all good materials.”
The girls in the building liked to wear brightly colored clothes and had money, so she felt that she was catering to their tastes.
Hearing her say that, Lu Guilan hesitated. Indeed, she hadn't seen any merchants who did business with brothels get a bad reputation.
Moreover, this is indeed a chance to make a lot of money.
There are three brothels in this city, with at least a hundred girls. If each girl buys one or two items, how much money can they make?
"We can't let you go. You're an unmarried girl, we can't let you get hurt. Your Uncle Song and I will go."
Lu Guilan stepped forward. Although she didn't like that kind of place either, she couldn't back down at this moment.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com