As dusk settled, Chen Lishu and Lin Qi ate a simple meal before beginning to count the existing underwear.
In addition to the one hundred and twenty-eight pieces they already had, adding the two hundred and thirty pieces obtained from the supply and marketing cooperative brought the total to three hundred and fifty-eight pieces.
“I want to check out two supply and marketing cooperatives in the suburbs tomorrow,” Chen Lishu said, looking at the underwear in front of her.
There were not just those eight supply and marketing cooperatives in the entire town. The reason she had chosen those eight initially was due to their better geographical locations. Now that she couldn't be picky, being a bit out of the way was acceptable.
Lin Qi asked curiously, "Are we still offering three pieces at an 85% discount? But their price is two jiao lower than ours."
Chen Lishu shook her head. "Our original price remains unchanged, still three yuan."
As Chen Lishu spoke, she picked up a piece of underwear and revealed the label inside. "However, anyone who brings in a label with our 'Shuse' brand name for an exchange will get a 50% discount on underwear."
Lin Qi became anxious. "50% off? One yuan fifty a piece? Sister Chen, our cost price is higher than that!"
"Don't worry, let me finish speaking," Chen Lishu smiled. "Although you see one yuan fifty, have you considered the prerequisite?"
Lin Qi suddenly realized with her reminder. That's right, there was a prerequisite: one must purchase the first piece at the original price for the second piece to be one yuan fifty. This effectively meant a 75% discount for two pieces.
"Doing this actually has many benefits. It not only strengthens our brand's position in the minds of customers but also, from a long-term perspective, allows us to retain these customers. Think about it, we also have clothing. To get a discount next time, they will definitely be willing to purchase from us."
As Chen Lishu explained, Lin Qi's eyes shone brighter and brighter, and her gaze toward Chen Lishu was filled with admiration. "Sister Chen, you are truly amazing!"
Chen Lishu smiled without responding.
These marketing tactics would later become incredibly diverse; she was merely borrowing one of them.
The next day, Lin Qi arrived early. The two of them took the underwear and went to a supply and marketing cooperative near the lumber mill.
"You really want to leave them with me on consignment?" the clerk was exceptionally excited after hearing Chen Lishu. "I've heard people privately mention that the city's supply and marketing cooperatives sell underwear, but I could never find a way. I didn't expect you to come."
Chen Lishu also hadn't expected things to progress so smoothly. After signing an agreement with the clerk, she left some stock at the store.
Subsequently, Chen Lishu and Lin Qi visited two other supply and marketing cooperatives, quickly distributing over three hundred pieces of goods.
This time, Chen Lishu didn't choose as many supply and marketing cooperatives, only three, which was considered giving enough profit to these three.
After leaving these three, Chen Lishu began to focus her efforts on making clothes.
The thirty bolts of fabric transported back from the provincial capital had only resulted in slightly over a hundred pieces being made due to everyone's focus on producing underwear during this period. Since she was home on vacation, she also had time to make clothes.
She handed over the underwear to Lin Qi to oversee, and Chen Lishu returned to the village to concentrate on making t-shirts.
"Hey, have you all heard? As long as you take the 'Shuse' underwear label to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy underwear, you get a 50% discount, only one yuan fifty a piece."
A few girls gathered together during their summer vacation suddenly started discussing underwear. One of them couldn't help but speak.
"Really? Only one yuan fifty? The one I'm wearing now is 'Shuse'."
"Forget it, I heard about this too, it's a scam. I went to the supply and marketing cooperative at the end of my street, and they hadn't heard of anything like this."
"That's because you went to the wrong place. There's a supply and marketing cooperative near the lumber mill, and they have it. I just exchanged one a couple of days ago." To prove her point, the girl even lifted her shirt to show them.
"Really? Then I'm going to buy one too."
"Let's go together, I'll buy one too."
"..."
As it was the slack season for farming, everyone could spare time to make clothes. In just a few days, over a hundred more t-shirts were made.
Coincidentally, Zhou Bin had a vehicle going to the provincial capital. Early that morning, Lin Qi came to pick up the goods, and they went together to deliver them to Zhou Bin. Chen Lishu took the opportunity to call Wang Aixiang and instruct her to receive the goods.
"Sister Chen, all the over three hundred pieces of goods we put in those three supply and marketing cooperatives have sold out," Lin Qi said excitedly after delivering the goods.
"So quickly?" Chen Lishu was a bit surprised. It seemed people were quite well-informed.
"How is it on the 'Meiting' side?"
"Once our 50% discount news came out, their side became practically deserted." Thinking of something, Lin Qi smiled. "Yesterday, someone from a supply and marketing cooperative regretted it and eagerly sought me out, saying they wanted to stock our goods."
"Don't refuse them outright. Just say that the quantity is limited for now and talk about it again after some time."
Lin Qi nodded. "Don't worry, Sister Chen, I know what to say."
...
Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoting, upon hearing the news, stormed into Director Zhou's office in a fury.
"Bitch, that Chen woman is deliberately opposing me."
Director Zhou looked up, puzzled. "Who has upset you again?"
Liu Xiaoting explained the situation and finally said, "It's all because of her. If she weren't so troublesome, we wouldn't have had to lower our prices repeatedly. She's just a village woman from the countryside, how can she be so troublesome!"
Director Zhou also found Chen Lishu very troublesome. "Indeed. We have lower costs for both sourcing and labor than her, yet we can't bring her down. If only there was a way to cut off her supply."
Unfortunately, Nan Haitao's family background was not something he could easily interfere with.
Hearing Director Zhou's words, Liu Xiaoting thought seriously and her eyes suddenly lit up. "Director, I do have a good idea."
...
Wang Chenglin and Sun Min had been troubled for the past two days due to Liu Xiaoting having spoken to them.
Liu Xiaoting offered workers a mere two jiao commission for helping out. Chen Lishu had never been stingy in this regard; her price was double that of Liu Xiaoting. However, Liu Xiaoting was a minor leader in the factory office. Although everyone didn't say it openly, they all knew that Director Zhou's influence was behind it.
"Maybe we should just agree to it. Whether we do a lot or a little, we still have to respond. The 'Model Worker' award for the workshop is decided by them, and this involves salary appraisals and year-end bonuses. We can't let small gains lead to big losses!" Sun Min sighed.
If they agreed to Liu Xiaoting, then Chen Lishu's side would definitely have to be pushed aside. The couple had been working like this for a long time, and their household income was over a hundred yuan every month. The thought of losing it all was heartbreaking.
Wang Chenglin nodded. "After all, work is important. You go talk to her now."
"It's almost lunchtime, I'll go now."
Sun Min said this and went out. As she reached the door of Liu Xiaoting's office, just as she was about to knock, she heard voices from inside. Noticing the door was not fully closed, Sun Min looked through the gap and saw Liu Xiaoting sitting in a man's embrace. That man was the factory's notorious troublemaker, Director Zhou's nephew, Zhou Dacheng.
"...How dare they bully you? That means they don't respect me, Zhou Dacheng. Don't worry about this matter, I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly."
Hearing their conversation, Sun Min was startled and terrified. She didn't say anything further and instead turned around and ran back to the workshop in one breath.