"My measurements are always like this. Buy it or don't," Jiang Weiguo said, tossing the fabric and measuring tape onto the counter.
"Meeting someone like you is really bad luck." It wasn't entirely state-owned stores anymore; with more choices, customers wouldn't tolerate poor sales staff attitudes. The woman, annoyed, turned and left with her companion.
"I say, Old Jiang, you've been in this business for years. Ever since you became a salesperson, do you know how many people you've offended? If you really can't adapt, why don't you go home and rest for a few days?" the newly appointed manager said, frowning with displeasure.
Although he said to go home and rest for a few days, Jiang Weiguo knew that if he truly left, it would be difficult to return. Therefore, he behaved himself reasonably well for the next period.
During his lunch break, he took some time to visit the 'Mei Li' clothing shop. Because 'Shu Se' had dropped its price to thirteen yuan, it had severely impacted the shop's business. When he arrived, not a single customer had entered the shop for a long time.
"Since you refuse to do good business and insist on going against me, let's see who can last longer," Jiang Weiguo gritted his teeth, turned, and went to the door to change the price on the blackboard from fifteen to twelve.
"Uncle, won't this price be too low?" Jiang Zhaodi, Jiang Weiguo's niece, couldn't help but advise him when she saw him about to sell them for twelve.
There were many customers when they sold them for fifteen. Now, dropping to twelve, how much profit would they lose?
With his work not going smoothly and Chen Lishu, that lingering presence, causing trouble in his business, Jiang Weiguo was in a bad mood. He scolded, "Sell them for whatever price I tell you to. Don't worry about anything else; just collect your salary at the end of the month."
Earning less or even losing money at this time was only temporary. As long as he could bring down the 'Shu Se' clothing store, whether bell-bottoms were eighteen or twenty yuan, he would have the final say.
Chen Lishu was just someone from the countryside, with fewer connections and less capital than him. Let's see how long she could hold on.
Not long after Jiang Weiguo left, Jiang Zhaodi was tidying the shelves when two women in their thirties suddenly entered the shop.
"We saw that the bell-bottoms in your shop are twelve yuan each?"
Seeing potential customers, Jiang Zhaodi quickly smiled and nodded, "Yes, they are twelve yuan."
"How many bell-bottoms do you have in your shop? We'll take them all."
Jiang Zhaodi was greatly surprised, "All, all of them?"
Seeing them nod, she was still a little uncertain, "I have over three hundred pairs in my shop. Can you really take them all?"
Hearing there were over three hundred pairs, Feng Xiumei and Bai Guanglan exchanged a look. "Yes, we'll take them all."
Jiang Zhaodi was a little stunned by encountering such a large customer. She wanted to go and tell Jiang Weiguo, but she remembered he had just scolded her. Besides, Jiang Weiguo was at work and didn't like to be disturbed. The price of twelve yuan was set by him, and selling to anyone was the same. Thus, based on the principle of "better to do nothing than to do something extra," Jiang Zhaodi happily sold all the bell-bottoms to the two women.
In the afternoon, Jiang Weiguo habitually looked up at the opposite side while he was at work. He noticed that the promotional paper offering discounts had been removed. He frowned instinctively, feeling that something was about to happen.
After work, just as he was about to go to the shop to check the situation, he saw his niece Jiang Zhaodi waiting for him not far away as soon as he stepped out.
"Why are you here instead of at the shop at this time?" Thinking she was slacking off, Jiang Weiguo's expression was not very pleasant.
Jiang Zhaodi, however, was just happy. "Uncle, the bell-bottoms are all sold out, and we have no stock left in the shop."
"What? All sold out?" More than three hundred pairs in total, how could they be sold out in less than half an afternoon?
"Not long after you left, two women came to the shop and bought all the stock at once."
Jiang Weiguo's expression changed. Thinking of something, he anxiously asked, "Tell me exactly what happened, word for word."
After Jiang Zhaodi explained the situation in detail, and considering the removed promotional paper from the 'Shu Se' shop, Jiang Weiguo felt he had been tricked.
Recalling the events of the past two days, he was certain that no one other than Chen Lishu could be behind this.
She first used his own thoughts to lower the price to the minimum, then took advantage of his inattention to buy them back at the lowest price.
Jiang Weiguo stood frozen, his face a palette of changing colors – regret, dejection, anger, and unwillingness all surged through him at once.
That贱人 surnamed Chen was simply too insidious.
"Uncle, where are you going?"
Jiang Zhaodi had been paying close attention to Jiang Weiguo's expression. Seeing that he showed no joy despite being told that everything was sold, and instead, his face was so grim that it looked like water could drip from it, she felt uneasy, not knowing what she had done wrong. Seeing him turn and walk away without a word, she quickly hurried to catch up.
"Sister, your method is simply brilliant. Now that we've bought all the bell-bottoms from 'Mei Li' clothing shop, what's the next step?"
"Uniform pricing. Chen Lishu said, "After this incident, customers definitely won't buy them for eighteen yuan anymore, so let's set the price at fifteen."
Having bought the goods for twelve yuan and being able to make a profit of three yuan on resale, Feng Xiumei and Bai Guanglan were very happy. They became even more convinced of Chen Lishu's capabilities and immediately decided that from now on, they would buy whatever goods Chen Lishu had, regardless of the price. It was too reassuring to follow someone like her.
"It's getting late. Sister, let's go. Ai Xiang, I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant," Feng Xiumei said with a smile.
Chen Lishu smiled and refused, "My children are still young, I have to go back early. Sister Feng, let's do it another day."
"Yes, if I hadn't told you in advance, my mother-in-law would have already fed me," Wang Aixiang chimed in.
As the few of them were chatting and preparing to pack up and go home, the shop door was suddenly pushed open forcefully. Then, Jiang Weiguo entered with a frosty expression. Upon seeing Feng Xiumei and Bai Guanglan, his expression turned sinister. "It really was you."
Chen Lishu did not reply but smiled and said, "I'm sorry, we are closing the shop now."
"You're a good one, Chen Lishu. I really underestimated you. Using such methods, you are too despicable," Jiang Weiguo questioned angrily at the top of his voice.
"How is my sister despicable? You were the one who lowered the price, weren't you? I paid in cash and took the goods, so what does it have to do with her?" Feng Xiumei retorted impolitely.
Jiang Weiguo didn't listen to her but looked at Chen Lishu and said, "You're thinking too simply. Do you really think you can bring me down with these tactics? Don't dream. To tell you the truth, I've ordered another batch of goods. Even if I lose money..."
"What you're saying is ridiculous," Chen Lishu looked at him and suddenly chuckled, saying, "I said early on that I'm in business, not here to argue with anyone."
"Also, I'm doing this just to make you see reality. With your capabilities, how much can you order? Five hundred? A thousand? Believe it or not, no matter how much you order, I can buy it at a low price, and in the end, you'll be the one losing. I advise you not to do such childish and brainless things. If everyone can coexist peacefully, that's for the best. Otherwise, if you truly push me to my limit, I'll make sure you can't earn a single cent, believe it or not?"