Chapter 821 A Great Success On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the courtyards in Luogu Lane were more lively than in previous years.
Not only were Lu Qingyang's family of four and the elderly couple Zhongwen there, but Ding Hanhai and Qin Peiwen were also invited to join them in celebrating the New Year together.
The color television was placed on the eight-immortal table in the center of the main room, and the antenna had long been adjusted to the optimal position by Lu Qingyang.
The room was warm and cozy, and the table was piled high with melon seeds, peanuts, fruit candies, and various snacks that Aunt Liu and the two nannies had been busy making all afternoon.
The aroma of the New Year's Eve dinner had barely faded when the whole family eagerly gathered around the television, waiting to watch the first-ever Spring Festival Gala.
Little Stone and Little Fish were even more excited, wearing new clothes and shoes, crawling around Da Ge's legs, and occasionally craning their necks to look longingly at the dark TV screen.
When the evening's program began and the familiar faces of the announcers appeared, the room immediately fell silent, with only the sound of the television and the occasional soft crackling of sunflower seeds being peeled.
"It's starting! It's starting!" Ding Panyun whispered, her face filled with anticipation.
As the program progressed, featuring singing, dancing, crosstalk, and opera, it elicited bursts of laughter and discussion from the audience.
When the host announced that the next program was a female solo performance by the popular Liu Na, Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo sat up straight in unison and exchanged a knowing glance.
As the lights came on, Liu Na gracefully walked onto the stage.
In an instant, it seemed as if the entire hall was illuminated by the bright red of her dress!
"Oh my!" Ding Panyun exclaimed softly, her eyes lighting up immediately. "This girl's shirt... this red, it's so vibrant! It makes her complexion look so good!"
Sitting next to her, Qin Peiwen adjusted her reading glasses, examined her closely, and couldn't help but nod in approval:
"The tailoring is very skillful, the waist is perfectly fitted, and the neckline is also unique. It is both energetic and graceful. This dress is a good choice and enhances one's temperament."
Even the usually serious Jung-moon nodded slightly and commented, "This color is well chosen; it's festive and grand."
Although Ding Hanhai didn't speak, his gaze lingered on the red shirt for a while, a hint of approval playing on his lips.
As he spoke, the TV screen switched to a commercial break.
When the familiar Jasmine brand logo and the advertising slogan "Jasmine Clothing, Accompanying You to Welcome the New Year" appeared, and the same eye-catching red shirt appeared on the screen, the room instantly erupted in excitement.
"Oh my, Qingyang, isn't this... isn't this your Jasmine brand advertisement?!" Ding Panyun was both surprised and delighted, pointing at the TV screen and turning to look at her son.
"It really is!" Shen Mo also showed just the right amount of surprise, smiling as she looked at Lu Qingyang.
Although Little Stone couldn't understand the advertisement, he recognized the colors and jumped up and down shouting, "Red clothes, Daddy's red clothes are on TV!"
Little Fish nestled in Shen Mo's arms, pointing her little finger at the screen.
Just then, a neighbor sitting a little further away, staring at Liu Na on TV and the advertisements, exclaimed as if suddenly realizing something: "I knew it! The red shirt Sister Na is wearing tonight looks so familiar, and the more I look at it, the better it looks. It's from your factory, Qingyang! Where can I buy this shirt? I want to buy one too when spring comes!"
Her shout immediately drew echoes from the young women of the village, who all began to inquire.
...
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, just as dawn was breaking and the chill of Beijing had not yet dissipated, the Jasmine brand stores were already unusually bustling.
Even before opening time, a large crowd had already gathered at the door, mostly young women and married women, as well as young men who came to buy things for their daughters or boyfriends. They were breathing out white breath and pacing back and forth to warm their feet.
"They're here! They're here! The door's open!" someone shouted, and the crowd immediately stirred, surging forward like a tide.
The worker had just removed a door panel and hadn't even had a chance to say hello when he was pushed back by the surging tide.
People rushed into the store, instantly filling the once spacious space to capacity, creating a noise so loud it felt like the roof was about to be lifted off.
"Comrade, is that the red shirt Liu Na wore on TV?!"
"Give me one! A large one!"
"I was here first! Give me one!"
"How much? Hurry up and give me a receipt!"
The glass counter was banged on repeatedly. The sales clerks had never seen anything like it before. They were so busy that they were sweating profusely, and their voices quickly became hoarse.
The batch of carefully prepared "Spring Festival Gala red" shirts in the warehouse, which were originally thought to last for ten days to half a month, were sold out in less than an afternoon.
"That's all? That's it?" Those who hadn't bought any refused to leave, surrounding the sales clerk and bombarding her with questions, "When will they restock?"
"Comrade, I've come all this way, can't you think of a solution?"
One young woman was so anxious that her eyes welled up with tears, and she grabbed the sales clerk's arm, refusing to let go: "My boyfriend said he won't go to the movies with me if I don't buy this shirt..."
Bao Xiangxiang explained to everyone, "Everyone, please put your things down. The new goods are on the way and will be delivered soon."
Lu Qingyang had said the order was for 5,000 pieces, but Bao Xiangxiang remained skeptical.
Later, the number of items was increased to 10,000, but she was still worried about whether there would be a backlog of inventory.
Now the concern is whether the inventory is sufficient.
Two days later, other stalls selling red shirts appeared on some busy street corners and the edges of free markets.
The shirt, from a distance, was also red, but the color was either too bright and glaring or as dark as pig liver.
Upon closer inspection, the material felt rough and stiff, completely lacking the suppleness and luster of the Jasmine brand.
The fit is even worse; it either looks loose and makes you look listless, or it's too tight and restricts movement.
"Take a look! Liu Na's red shirt, on sale for a bargain!" the vendors shouted, offering prices that were half or even less than those of the Jasmine brand.
Some impatient and cheap customers were attracted over there, but after looking at it over and over again, they felt that something was wrong.
"Yours... seems a little different from the one on TV?"
The vendor, without batting an eye, said, "Hey comrade, that's just the lighting on the TV. It's the same model, but we get our goods directly from the factory, saving on shop rent, so of course it's cheaper!"
Those in the know shook their heads and walked away, but many others, either unaware of the situation or simply unable to buy the original version, paid for it.
However, these poorly made counterfeit goods often come undone and faded after only a few wears, leading to numerous complaints.
The woman even took the counterfeit she bought and stormed to the Jasmine brand store to argue, leaving the staff both amused and exasperated, and they had to patiently explain how to distinguish between the real and fake.
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