Free Web NovelChapter 156: Chapter 156: You Aren’t Shills, Are You?
This declaration sent a ripple of excitement through the onlookers. If they waited too long, the price would go up, and a single yuan could cover a week’s worth of vegetables. How much better it would be to use those savings for meat!
"Miss, how long will you be selling?"
Wen Ci thought for a moment before replying, "Until the market closes, I suppose."
"Alright, I’ll go home and get my money then."
Most of the people shopping for groceries at the market were local residents, so the trip back and forth was quick. Before long, a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered in front of the small truck.
Hearing that the price would go up the next day, they all decided to make a purchase.
Wen Ci was happily bustling about on the truck, occasionally having to shout out what she was selling. ’If only I had a megaphone with a recorded message,’ she thought.
Wen Ci shouted at the top of her lungs, "Come on by, don’t miss out! You can’t go wrong, and you won’t get ripped off! These are the most stylish clothes from the Southern region, with fashions for spring, summer, fall, and winter!"
"Only eight yuan a pound for the same quality as clothes in the big department stores! Buying now is a steal! These are all styles that will still be fashionable by the New Year."
"An opportunity like this doesn’t come every day! Today’s the first day, so it’s only eight yuan. Tomorrow, the price is going up by one! It’s a guaranteed deal, and wearing these clothes will give you real prestige!"
Instantly, many people were tempted.
Good clothes weren’t just for personal wear; they could also be given as gifts to friends and family. A woman in the crowd looked at the clothes on the rack and asked, "Are these clothes from a major factory? I hope they’re not from some unknown workshop—looking all bright and shiny on the outside, but stuffed with the worst quality cotton on the inside."
Wen Ci didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She casually picked up an item from a stack of folded clothes on the ground. It had the clothing factory’s logo inside: Hejing Brand. It wasn’t a famous name.
But having a factory logo at all proved it wasn’t some unscrupulous workshop. The Southern region now supported the establishment of private factories, but navigating the layers of bureaucracy for approval was extremely difficult.
After a moment of careful thought, Wen Ci said, "Ma’am, how about this? You pick any piece you want, and I’ll cut it open right here in front of everyone to show you the quality of the cotton inside."
"You two aren’t shills, are you? Just putting on a little show for us."
Wen Ci: "..."
Before Wen Ci could explain, the woman who had asked the first question immediately flew into a rage. "You’re the shill! Your whole family are shills! Who in the East Market doesn’t know me? As if I’d stoop to being a shill for someone!"
As this was happening, Wen Ci borrowed a small knife from Second Brother Su and slit the garment open. Snow-white cotton emerged, and she held it up for everyone to see.
Wen Ci’s eyes curved into a smile. "If there are any other ladies who still have doubts or don’t believe me, feel free to come up and pick out a piece of clothing. I’ll sell it to you for five yuan a pound. But..."
She paused before continuing, "I have to cut the fabric open in public. After that, whether you want to patch it up or use the cotton to make a new piece of clothing is none of my business."
A woman who had just been voicing her skepticism still seemed unwilling to believe Wen Ci, but she stepped forward and said, "I’ll take the one in your hand that you just cut."
Wen Ci’s eyes went wide.
’She never imagined someone would actually offer to buy it.’
"Done."
After Wen Ci’s on-the-spot demonstration, the crowd enthusiastically started picking out styles. Second Brother Su didn’t stay idle, climbing onto the truck to help.
It wasn’t even noon, but the clothes on the truck were already almost sold out.
Second Brother Su spoke up, "Boss Wen, should I go get another truckload?"
Wen Ci had rented the truck for the entire day, so they could still go back to the warehouse for another load.
Wen Ci shook her head. "That’s not necessary, Second Brother Su. Let’s just go home and get some rest this afternoon."
Second Brother Su was astonished. "We’re not selling any more?"
Wen Ci nodded. "That’s right, we’re done for the day."
She needed to employ a bit of scarcity marketing to open up the market, letting the residents who bought the clothes do the advertising for her.
