Chapter 321: Chapter 320: Customer Source
A dozen clothing stores, apart from Yang Erni, two more distant ones came to inquire as well. Someone just pulled a cart of goods, and they all saw it.
People love watching others buy things; when you buy, I buy too.
Two merchants also took Lin Wan’s goods.
In the afternoon, Lin Wan didn’t stay around. She closed the shop, hung up a blackboard outside, and added a note in small letters: "Opening the day after tomorrow morning."
After coming out with Han Yi, Lin Wan and Han Yi strolled around the street, selling a few items with some shouting.
Passing by the Zhao Street gas station, Lin Wan got Han Yi to set up two gas accounts, went in to pick up two tanks of gas, and two gas stoves. Each gas tank was two yuan and seventy cents, and the gas stoves had to be bought separately, with a new one costing ten yuan.
The staff helped them with the tanks and only let them leave after confirming everything was fine.
After going back, Han Yi was even more anxious than Lin Wan, placing the gas tank in the kitchen himself and even making dinner.
At that time, the stove covers were still individual pieces, and you had to use a match to light the stove.
Han Yi thought this process was a bit dangerous.
"In the future, be sure to tighten this valve after cooking dinner, and be careful when lighting the stove. If this thing leaks gas, it could explode."
"Mm-hmm, I’ll be careful," Lin Wan, despite having used it for decades, was prudent with dangerous things and responded obediently.
Han Yi was still not at ease, teaching her patiently several times and having Lin Wan try it herself.
Seeing Lin Wan operating it smoothly, he finally felt reassured.
After dinner, Han Yi took her back to school.
Today, Sister Zhao took so much stock, plus what’s been sold with Mom’s help, and Yin Peibai and Su Ling’s help.
Over 400 pieces of stock were left.
Lin Wan also thought about running to the supply and marketing cooperative.
"Do either of you know any employees in a department store?"
"Why? Do you need anything?" Yin Peibai asked.
"No, these past few days I’ve met a client, likely from a food factory, who regularly sends their goods to the supply and marketing cooperatives and makes some stuff on the side. I still have four or five hundred pieces of stock, and soon, when it gets cold, everyone will need to wear cotton-padded clothes. I need to sell them quickly, or they’ll be stuck with me."
"I don’t know anyone. Su Ling, do you know anyone?"
"I don’t know anyone either, but our classmate Ma Tao’s sister works in the department store," Su Ling said, pointing to a tall, skinny boy in the corner.
Lin Wan and Yin Peibai both looked in Su Ling’s direction. It seemed their gaze was too strong, attracting Ma Tao’s attention.
Su Ling showed no embarrassment at being caught, instead waving at Ma Tao.
Ma Tao looked around, realizing they were calling him, then stood up and came over.
"What’s up?"
"I heard your sister works in the department store?" Su Ling asked.
Ma Tao nodded.
"Ma Tao, could you do me a favor and ask your sister if there’s a way to market clothes through the department store’s clothing counter?"
The fact that Lin Wan was selling clothes was known among the night school students. She had sold quite a few at school these days.
"Selling clothes? My sister works at the clothing counter. I’ll ask her when I get home, but she’s just an ordinary employee, so I can’t guarantee she can help," said Ma Tao, reflective of how people of this era were enthusiastic. Whenever classmates needed help, as long as it was within their ability, they’d lend a hand.
"No problem, just asking would be helpful," Lin Wan said, pulling out a set of styles from home and handing it to Ma Tao. "Take these for your sister to look at. Having a sample makes it easier to talk."