nashuaworldcup Chapter 205 Highly Profitable Small Businesses
Chapter 205 Highly Profitable Small Businesses
"Not expensive, only 50 cents!" Xiao Lan held up a hand.
"50 cents?"
The girl was startled and withdrew her hand. "This is too expensive! A rubber band only costs a few cents at the supply and marketing cooperative."
"How can that be the same?"
Xiao Lan wasn't in a hurry. Smiling, she pointed to the side, "Those are black rubber bands at the supply and marketing cooperative; those are made by old ladies. What's this? This is art! Look at this fabric, it's Dacron, and the lace, the craftsmanship. If you tried to make it yourself, you'd be heartbroken just from the fabric ration coupons. Besides, you're so pretty, this fifty cents will make you happy, and your boyfriend will be pleased too, right?"
These words both flattered the person and subtly mentioned the man next to her.
The male companion was already worried about the money, but upon hearing this, and with several pairs of eyes watching, he couldn't possibly lose face.
"Buy it! It's only fifty cents!" The male companion pulled a crumpled fifty-cent bill from his pocket, slapped it generously on the tray, and said, "Get one for my girlfriend!"
"Alright! You're so generous, big brother! I wish you two a sweet and happy relationship!" Xiao Lan quickly took the money and handed over the pink hair tie.
Once the first person to try something new takes the plunge, business goes much smoother afterward.
This is the herd mentality.
When people see that someone is buying it and that it looks really good on them, their competitive spirit of "I want one too" is stirred up.
In just over ten minutes, five slots on Li Xianglian's tray were empty.
Clutching the few small bills still warm from her body, Li Xianglian's cheeks flushed with excitement.
That's 1.5 yuan! And the cost is so low, the profit margin is shockingly high!
"Sister Lan, it really will sell!" Li Xianglian said in a low voice, her tone full of excitement.
"Absolutely, this is nothing." Xiao Lan proudly raised her chin. "Just wait, tonight we probably won't have enough stock to sell."
Just then, a loud rumbling sound came from afar.
"Put-put-put—put-put-put—"
The noise was so loud, it sounded like a tractor entering the city, accompanied by a piercing horn blare.
The crowd instinctively parted to the sides, making way for them.
A red Happiness 250 motorcycle, resembling a roaring monster and reeking of gasoline, arrogantly stopped at the bottom of the steps in front of the movie theater.
Sitting in the car was a man with slicked-back hair, wearing sunglasses and a floral shirt with the collar open to his chest, revealing a gold chain that was barely visible underneath.
A woman jumped out of the back seat.
The woman was wearing a bright red dress, had fashionable permed hair, bright red lipstick, and white leather shoes.
As soon as she got out of the car, she deliberately tidied her wind-blown hair and pretended to casually pat the man on the shoulder.
They were so eager to show off that they practically wanted to use a megaphone to shout for everyone to look at them.
It was Zhao Guangming and Wang Chunyan.
"Brother Guangming, ride slower, the wind just now made my face hurt." Wang Chunyan said in a coquettish voice, her voice so sweet that even her own mother wouldn't recognize her.
Zhao Guangming pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead, revealing his slightly puffy eyes, and reached out to pinch Wang Chunyan's cheek: "What hurts? This is called a drive! In the whole county, besides me, who else can take you for such a cool drive?"
"That's right, Brother Guangming is the best." Wang Chunyan looked on with admiration, enjoying the envious and jealous looks from those around her.
She felt like she was the queen at the entrance of the movie theater, trampling all those country bumpkins who came on foot or on broken bicycles under her feet.
"Let's go see a movie. I heard this one's pretty good." Zhao Guangming locked his car and swaggered inside.
Wang Chunyan clung tightly to his arm, as if afraid others wouldn't know that this wealthy husband was hers.
As soon as she stepped onto the steps, Wang Chunyan's eyes were drawn to the bustling stalls nearby.
"Hey? What's that selling? Why are there so many people around?"
Women are naturally drawn to these novel gadgets.
She craned her neck to look inside and immediately spotted the colorful hair ties on the black velvet tray.
"Wow, this is quite unique." Wang Chunyan's eyes lit up.
She had seen pictorials in the factory office, and those fashionable big stars in the pictures seemed to be wearing something like this on their heads. She never expected that they would sell it in this run-down county town.
"Brother Guangming, look at that hair tie, it's so pretty!"
Wang Chunyan shook Zhao Guangming's arm, "I want one too, it would look really pretty with this dress."
Zhao Guangming, feeling quite flattered, waved his hand dismissively: "Buy! What's a few broken hair ties worth? If you like them, I'll buy the whole stall for you!"
"Really? Guangming, you're so kind!" Wang Chunyan beamed, pulling Zhao Guangming into the crowd. "Come on, let's go pick some out!"
Her eyes were completely fixed on the pretty hair tie, and with the crowds and dim lighting, she didn't even notice that the proprietress carrying the tray was Li Xianglian, whom she despised the most.
As Li Xianglian was bending down to give an older woman change, she was hit by a strong, pungent perfume smell.
Immediately afterwards, a shrill voice rang out from above.
"Hey boss, show me your best one! I want the red one, to match this dress!"
Li Xianglian's hand trembled; the voice sounded familiar.
She looked up—wasn't that Aunt Liu's arrogant daughter, Wang Chunyan!
Wang Chunyan never expected that the fashionable and beautiful person in front of her was actually Li Xianglian.
Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly open, and she pointed at Li Xianglian without saying a word for a long time.
"Wait...was it you?!"
Wang Chunyan never dreamed that the boss lady, who was surrounded by so many people praising her skillful hands and booming business at the entrance of the movie theater, was actually the country bumpkin she looked down on the most!
Li Xianglian's outfit today wasn't flashy, but it exuded elegance.
A simple white shirt with blue floral print, tucked into dark blue trousers, makes her waist look incredibly slender.
Instead of casually bunsing her hair up like before, she tied it into a high ponytail with a scrunchie she made herself, making her look energetic and neat.
"What? Am I that scary?"
Li Xianglian was taken aback by her reaction, but then she realized what was happening. Her smile faded slightly, and she politely but firmly handed the red hair tie forward, saying, "Do you still want it? If not, don't block the way for the people behind you to buy it."
"You—!" Wang Chunyan's chest heaved violently with anger.
Before she could react, Zhao Guangming, who was standing next to her, took off his sunglasses completely and hung them on the collar of his floral shirt.
Zhao Guangming originally just wanted to casually spend some money to make the young woman next to him happy, but he never expected that when he looked up, he would almost lose his soul.
The Li Xianglian before me, though she wasn't wearing that pale powder and her lips weren't gaping, had skin as tender as a freshly peeled lychee, with a healthy pinkish-white hue.
Especially his eyes, clear as mountain spring water. When he confronted Wang Chunyan just now, his eyes flashed with a hint of aloof arrogance, making Zhao Guangming's heart itch with desire.
Having spent so long working in factories and counties, he had seen countless ordinary women applying makeup and embellishments to their bodies. Suddenly seeing such a beautiful lotus emerging from the water felt like drinking an ice-cold soda on a hot day, refreshing him from head to toe.
"Hey, who's this?"