Chapter 104: Grand Opening (3)
Shu Yan just sat down for a break when Zhang Huaxiu came running over. “Boss, we are out of jeans.”
“Not even the backroom?” asked Shu Yan in surprise.
“No, we are all out.” Zhang Huaxiu was both excited and worried.
“That’s fine. If we are out, we are out. Have the ones still picking to hurry up. Else things would be sold out.” Shu Yan wanted to create a sense of urgency.
Things were just better when they were fought over; that was not a good characteristic in human nature. Once the customers heard that the jeans were sold out, many worried that what they had their eyes on would be sold out also, so they all grabbed them in their hands and picked the ones that they like to pay for them.
When more and more customers came in, Shu Yan had the one handing out flyers by the shop fetch the ones from the outside to come back in to help out.
When they finally had a break, it was already one in the afternoon. All of them were exhausted. Shu Yan stood up and clapped her hands. “Thank you everyone. I have bought some food. Let’s have lunch first.” She went to get the temporary helpers as well. “Come join us for lunch.”
The temporary workers didn’t normally get free lunch, but everybody had worked so hard that Shu Yan called them over to eat with them.
“Thank you, Boss Lady.” The few temporary workers were happy when they heard that. They were even happier when they saw that there were fish and meat on the table.
“Thank you for your hard work. Help yourself.” Shu Yan gave them each a beverage. “Let me know if there’s not enough. I will go get some more.”
“This is enough. This is plenty.”
Shu Yan thought since there were so many of them, she had specifically ordered two orders of braised pork. The layer of glistering grease on top made them look particularly tasty.
They got busy all over again in the afternoon; all the way until after 8 PM before everyone had another chance to sit down and take a break. Shu Yan looked up and saw all the emptied racks inside the shop. She felt both tired and relieved. Her cousin had always said that clothing business was the business in the 90s. There was a saying that if one wanted to make money back then, you go into the clothing industry. She had always thought that her cousin had made it up. Turned out it was true.
“Thank you everyone. I got some beverages and bread. Each of you can take a set.”
The temporary workers get paid daily. In addition to the bread and beverages, Shu Yan paid them 12 yuan for a day, an increase from the agreed upon 10 yuan a day.
“Come back tomorrow at 9 AM. Don’t be late. It’s getting late. Hurry up and go home.”
The few temporary help got their pay and food and chatted and laughed on their way out. It was their first time running into such a nice and generous boss.
“Xiuxiu, you two can divide up the remaining beverages and bread. Don’t worry about picking up the shop tonight; we will do that tomorrow morning. You should get going,” said Shu Yan.
“Then I will take off now, Yan-jie.” Yingying lived a bit further away and the latest bus was 9:30. She needed to make her bus.
“Alright, be careful on your way.”
Shu Yan and Zhang Huaxiu lived in the same district. They had been going home together when they had been working late.
Shu Yan rolled up the money inside the drawer and put them in her purse. She was quite worried about having so much money on her. Luckily, she had Zhang Huaxiu with her.
The two didn’t care to talk too much on their way back. Even Zhang Huaxiu was nervous with all the money. The two were able to finally relax some after they had reached their little district.
“How much inventory do we have left?” Shu Yan had prepared quite a bit of merchandise, but she hadn’t expected business to be so good that she was out of most of them.
“We are sold out on windbreakers and jeans. Jean jackets too, and skirts. We are out of quite a few colors.”
Shu Yan went silent for a little bit and said, “Let me head over to your place. I need to talk to your sister-in-law.”