It was understandable that people were slow to accept such novelties, but Chen Lishu wasn't too concerned.
Two days after Lin Qi's return, the batch of denim jackets and woolen coats ordered from Pengcheng arrived. Chen Lishu was very satisfied with both the quality and the styles of this batch of goods.
The woolen coats at the department store sold for over twenty or thirty yuan, depending on the quality. Chen Lishu set the price at thirty yuan, right in the middle.
Because this batch of clothing was exquisitely made and fashionably styled, it was immediately sought after upon its release. However, due to the price, many people, even if they liked it, could only hesitate. The daily sales quickly stabilized at around twenty to thirty pieces.
"Sister Aixiang, try this outfit on," Chen Lishu said, handing Wang Aixiang a pair of bell-bottom pants and a woolen coat.
Wang Aixiang didn't understand, but she did as she was told and went into the fitting room.
Before long, she came out. When she saw the slightly unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, her mouth fell open in astonishment.
Normally, to make it easier to work, she almost always wore loose, baggy navy blue work clothes that were comfortable and dirt-resistant. Wang Aixiang never expected that wearing the outfit Chen Lishu gave her would make her look several sizes slimmer. The bell-bottom pants, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, concealed her thick calves, and paired with a short plaid woolen coat, they made her legs look slender and long.
Chen Lishu examined her carefully and took out thirty yuan from her pocket. "This outfit should also be paired with a pair of wedge-heeled leather shoes. Sister Aixiang, take some time to go to the department store and buy a pair."
"This, I don't lack shoes, why spend that extra money? Besides, I'm selling clothes to others, but now I'm dressing myself up, what does that look like?"
As Wang Aixiang spoke, she tried to go back to the fitting room to change.
Chen Lishu quickly stopped her and said with a smile, "Precisely because we're selling clothes to others, the premise is that we must look good ourselves so that people are immediately tempted to buy. Moreover, I think you look beautiful in this outfit. I'll give you a new hairstyle later, and I guarantee that anyone who sees it will want to buy our clothes."
Although Wang Aixiang wasn't conventionally beautiful, she had a well-proportioned frame. As the saying goes, there are no ugly women, only lazy ones. With a little dressing up, she could also be a pretty lady.
Wang Aixiang understood her intention and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Sister, you're much prettier than me, why aren't you wearing it yourself?" Wouldn't that attract even more customers?
Chen Lishu explained with a smile, "My time in the shop is limited, and also, bell-bottom pants are not convenient to wear at school."
She actually felt a bit resistant. Having seen many fashionable clothes later, Chen Lishu always felt that wearing bell-bottom pants was a bit silly.
Wang Aixiang saw that she said it was for the good of the shop. Although she felt a bit awkward, she didn't mention changing clothes again.
"This will be considered work attire from now on, so it's naturally a company expense." Afterward, Chen Lishu gave her a few industrial coupons and let her buy a pair of black wedge-heeled leather shoes at the department store.
When everything was almost ready, Chen Lishu took an electric curling iron and gave her a different hairstyle than before.
After it was done, Wang Aixiang looked at herself in the mirror and exclaimed repeatedly, "This, is this still me? This is too beautiful!"
When familiar customers came in and saw her transformation, they were also very surprised.
"Hey, Sister Wang, your hairstyle is really beautiful. Which salon did you get it done at? My friend went to get her hair permed before, and it looked like an explosion, but yours looks much better, and the curls are so natural."
Wang Aixiang quickly introduced, "I curled this with an electric curling iron. Haven't you noticed that permed hair from salons basically all look the same? This is different. You can curl it wherever you want, and you can style it in different ways every day according to your preference."
The other party was very tempted, but when she heard the price, she hesitated. Thirty yuan! Although she was on the list for a recent pay raise at the factory, it was almost her monthly salary. Moreover, an electric curling iron couldn't be eaten or drunk, and it felt uneconomical just for looking good.
Seeing her wavering expression, Wang Aixiang continued, "Women have to be good to themselves. You're not married yet, are you? You should buy what you like even more. Once you get married, expenses will be everywhere, and even more so when you have children, you'll be even more reluctant."
Chen Lishu chimed in, "If you really want to buy it, you don't have to bear the cost yourself. If you have sisters or friends, two or three people together, it's only about ten yuan each. Perming hair at a salon costs at least four or five yuan each time, but this electric curling iron can be used all the time."
The girl's eyes lit up, and she quickly went out to find someone.
Before long, she returned with two other girls. Seeing Wang Aixiang's attire, they had originally planned to buy the electric curling iron together, but in the end, they each bought a woolen coat.
...
On Saturday, Chen Lishu took Rui Rui back to the military family district. On the other side, Zhao Hong was also being introduced to a potential suitor by Sister Liu in the park.
"This is Jin Kun, and this is my colleague Xiao Zhao, Zhao Hong, whom I mentioned to you before."
Sister Liu gestured for the two to sit on the stone bench and made a brief introduction. Then, she said a few words to ease the awkward atmosphere and then tactfully left.
Zhao Hong felt a wave of repulsion as she looked at Jin Kun opposite her. With his appearance, he couldn't compare to Lu Chengming at all.
He was about 1.7 meters tall, somewhat thin, with a long face, thin lips, and prominent cheekbones. He looked like he had a bad temper.
As Zhao Hong sized up Jin Kun, Jin Kun was also sizing her up. Although she was quite attractive, she was too thin, and her sallow skin made her appear listless.
The matchmaker had already informed him of the situation, so he didn't pay much attention. Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, he took the initiative to strike up a conversation and asked about work at the factory.
Lu Chengming was off today. He had originally planned to go out with friends, but Lin Xiaohui insisted on dragging him to the park.
"The child is still young and can't be left alone. You just have one whim after another."
Lin Xiaohui was unfazed. "Isn't your mother there? She's idle at home and has time to watch your sister's child but not ours? She's always biased, and today I'm not watching the child, let's see what she can do!"
Since her fake pregnancy, to 'smoothly' give birth to the child, she had even quit her job at the military family district kindergarten, using a pretext to return to her hometown, and thus successfully brought back a child.
Without a job and with an extra child, the couple didn't contribute financially, and Lu's mother found her displeasing. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bickered daily.
"It's rare to come out, don't mention your mother, you're spoiling the mood." Lin Xiaohui hooked her arm around Lu Chengming's, immediately drawing the attention of passersby. Lin Xiaohui pretended not to see it and pulled him forward.
They hadn't walked far when she suddenly spotted Zhao Hong by the stone table in the pavilion with sharp eyes. Her eyes lit up immediately.
"I think the two of us..." are not suitable.
Before Zhao Hong could finish speaking, a mocking voice suddenly came from the side, "I say, Zhao Hong, after leaving our Chengming, you haven't been doing very well, have you? This man looks far inferior to our Chengming."