Chapter 58: Big Order
Zhang Zhaodi asked anxiously: “Where is that big customer now?”
Chun E smiled and said: “Auntie, don’t worry, he won’t run away. That big customer is a passing traveling merchant, recently staying at the inn. As long as you agree, I’ll go invite him over right away.”
“Agree, agree, of course we agree. We still need to trouble the shop owner to introduce us.” Zhang Zhaodi said.
“No rush.” Chun E said, “First go in and count the silver money from last time clearly.”
Chun E took out a box, inside which were several silver ingots.
Those several silver ingots looked exactly the same, truly pleasing to the eye.
In her previous life, Su Yaoguang became the Top Scholar’s wife and exhausted her energy managing the inner household. No matter how much money she earned, Xiao Yanci could spend it all, to the point that she developed an obsession with silver.
Now looking at these complete and intact silver ingots, she wished she could kiss each one, and spend the rest of her life hugging them. But to avoid scaring Zhang Zhaodi, she had already restrained herself greatly.
“Such big silver ingots, this is the first time I’ve seen them.” Zhang Zhaodi took the silver ingot and touched it again and again. “Jing’er, you touch it too.”
Jiang Jing touched the silver ingot and smiled, saying: “Godmother, we will earn more silver ingots in the future, and let you hug them to sleep later.”
“Chun E sister, did that big customer say how much more inventory he needs?” Su Yaoguang asked.
“He didn’t say, but he can buy all the inventory in one go, which shows he is wealthy. He wants to see you, so it can’t be just for ten or eight boxes of goods.”
Su Yaoguang put away the box and handed it to Zhang Zhaodi, saying to Chun E: “Then trouble you to invite him over. We’ll talk about this order today. If it succeeds, we’ll give Chun E sister ten percent of the profit.”
“You wait here a moment.” Chun E said, “I’ll go find him now.”
The mother and daughter rested here drinking tea, while Chun E went out to find that big customer.
Chun E did not close the shop, so more customers came. Su Yaoguang acted as the temporary shop assistant and sold quite a bit of Chun E’s remaining inventory. When Chun E returned with a middle-aged man, she saw her shop full of customers, and the ones who bought things and left showed pleased smiles, clearly very satisfied with today’s shopping.
“I was only gone half an hour, and you sold so many clothes for me.” Chun E held Su Yaoguang’s hand and said, “As expected of my benefactor, truly invaluable.”
“Chun E sister, you’re making fun of me.” Su Yaoguang said embarrassedly.
“Boss Li, this is the young owner who makes the cosmetics I mentioned. No need for me to say more; you should believe in her ability now, right?” Chun E turned back and said.
Boss Li smiled satisfactorily: “Indeed, the young are formidable. I’m very curious—how did the young owner sell so much inventory?”
“Chun E sister’s goods are good, and many people like them, so of course they sell well.”
Chun E felt guilty.
This girl really lies without drafting. It was precisely because her goods were old-fashioned and outdated that there were few customers, and the shop nearly had to close down. It was only after meeting Su Yaoguang and seeing her matching ability that things turned from decay to magic, reviving her shop. She had never seen so many customers since opening.
Chun E looked at the clothes in the shop.
They were still the same inventory—how did they become hot items in her hands? Later, she had to learn from her. Once she mastered the knack, business could prosper.
“Boss Li, what business are you in?” Su Yaoguang asked proactively.
Boss Li stroked his short beard and smiled, saying: “I run a theater. The people in our theater need a lot of cosmetics. I heard your goods sell well, so I personally tried them and knew they were good, so I want to buy more. This time, I want thirty large bottles of each kind. How soon can you deliver?”
“Such a large quantity would take twenty days.” Su Yaoguang said, “Is your place far? If time doesn’t allow, we might not be able to take such a big order.”
“We can take it, how could we not?” Zhang Zhaodi winked at Su Yaoguang, “We can take it. If we hurry, we can do it, right?”
Zhang Zhaodi did not want the cooked duck to fly away.
One large bottle of face cream can sell for two taels of silver; thirty bottles is sixty taels. Face powder can’t sell for that much—a large bottle sells for five hundred wen, which is also fifteen taels of silver. Not to mention there are three or four kinds of face cream, and face powder has two kinds for now, plus eye powder, rouge, scented powder, flower paste, lip balm, scented dew, and so on.
If Boss Li really orders thirty bottles of each kind, it would add up to several hundred taels of silver. This is no ordinary big order. Taking this order, if used frugally, would ensure food and clothing without worry for ten years.
“Twenty days it is; I can wait.” Boss Li said with a smile.
“In that case, pay the deposit first, then write the order. Such a large order requires a lot of cost, so eighty taels deposit—how does that sound?”
“Fine.” Boss Li agreed immediately.
“Boss Li is truly straightforward. In business, we like straightforward people like you the most. No wonder you built your business so big; big bosses are different.” Zhang Zhaodi said flattering words.
After signing the order, they saw off Boss Li.
“Shop owner, I really don’t know how to thank you.” Zhang Zhaodi said with a smile, “You say my daughter is your benefactor, but you are our great benefactor.”
“Don’t say that. Your things are good; even without me, you wouldn’t earn any less of the money you deserve.” Chun E held Su Yaoguang’s hand and said, “Sister, now that your matter is handled, it’s my turn to ask you for advice. What method did you use to attract so many customers just now? Teach sister quickly.”
“First, the goods are definitely good—this is absolutely true without any falsehood. We matched these things well, customers like them themselves, so no worry about no customers coming. Second, let customers get a little bargain. Buy one at original price, two at eighty percent off, three at seventy percent off. Of course, not too low, or there really won’t be money to earn. Also, give them small gifts, like small handkerchiefs or small shoes and socks… Next time I’ll make some trial size face powder or face cream for you to use as free gifts.”
“That won’t do. Your things are expensive; giving them away for free would be too much of a loss.” Chun E refused hurriedly.
“I’m not giving them away for free. If those customers like it, won’t they come buy from me? This is finding us customers.” Su Yaoguang said, “Unscrupulous merchant, unscrupulous merchant—no unscrupulous, no business. Sister, don’t worry I’ll do loss-making business. I can endure hardship, but not losses.”
Chun E was amused by her.
“Sister’s brain is really smart; I was overthinking.”
“By the way, here is a bottle of scar removal cream.” Su Yaoguang took out a bottle of face cream, “Last time you said your female cousin’s marriage had changes, all because of the scar on her face. This is formulated for customers with scar-prone skin; have her try it. We’ve tested it, and the effect is pretty good. Consider this our thank-you gift to sister; no need for money.”
