Free Web NovelChapter 257: Chapter 257: How Much Money Was Made
"Bao, please come inside. Gao Shu, take Bao upstairs for some tea. Oh my, Secretary Qin, you’re here too! I’m so sorry to trouble you over such a small matter..." Some of the people who sent flower baskets and gifts came in person, while others, too busy with their own affairs, had to send someone in their stead. Shen Yibin greeted the guests one by one at the door.
The electric violinists from the event company performed with gusto on stage, creating an incredibly lively atmosphere. When they finished, Sun Qian took a microphone and led Hah’Er onto the stage. The guests were about to enjoy a treat that even Sun Qian’s future fans would never get to see—her singing accompanied by Hah’Er’s dancing.
The crowd at the store entrance grew larger and larger, to the point that officers from the nearby police booth had to come out to help maintain order and keep traffic moving.
Sun Qian sang three songs in a row before leaving the stage. It was time for the official opening. After a string of firecrackers, the crowd of onlookers began to disperse, while customers interested in buying pets flooded into the store.
Dressed in brand-new uniforms, Gao Shu, Li Shiqing, Xia Shixuan, and Xie Nannan hurried forward, enthusiastically and professionally introducing the various pets’ temperaments and traits to the customers. Some were first-timers, but others had visited several times before, unable to choose a pet because the store had been temporarily closed.
The newcomers still needed detailed introductions from Gao Shu and her colleagues, but the returning customers were much easier. They had long since decided which pet they wanted; they just couldn’t commit without seeing the animal in person. Now that they saw the real thing—and every single one seemed cuter and more energetic than the pets at other stores—they couldn’t contain their excitement. They immediately pulled out their wallets, giving Shen Yibin and his team a fantastic start to the day. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"Here you are. This is a complimentary gift for our grand opening," Shen Yibin said with a smile as he handed over an exquisite dog collar. Then, presenting his business card with both hands, he added, "If you have any questions in the future, feel free to call us anytime. Also, would you like us to give you a ride home?"
Buying a pet isn’t as simple as walking it home on a leash. There was the pet carrier, the complimentary pet food Shen Yibin provided, and a pile of other things. It was certainly inconvenient without a car, so for today, Xia Shixuan was acting as the designated driver, responsible for taking the customers and their new pets home.
After a busy stretch, the number of customers in the store gradually dwindled. It was almost lunchtime. Shen Yibin had a restaurant deliver some food so the four girls could grab a bite, while he took his guests to that same restaurant to show his appreciation.
"Sorry, there are just too many guests today. Tonight! I’ll cook you all a feast myself when I get back tonight to make it up to you!" Shen Yibin said apologetically. He felt a little guilty going out to eat and drink while leaving them at the store.
"Go on, Boss. I’d rather be making money than eating," Gao Shu said bluntly. She had secretly done the math—her commission from just those last few sales was already more than half a month’s salary at her old job. For someone with two younger sisters to support, this was a fantastic surprise. She probably wouldn’t have left even if Shen Yibin had tried to drag her away.
Li Shiqing looked like she felt the same. Back in college, the girl had lived solely on the allowance her parents gave her, so she never had any extra money. If she could earn a commission, she could finally go on a shopping spree for all the clothes and makeup she’d been dreaming of. She could even buy her parents some gifts. ’Besides,’ she thought, ’what’s so great about restaurant food? It can’t possibly be better than what the boss cooks.’
Xie Nannan was focused on observing the pet store’s operations to gain experience, so she certainly wasn’t going to miss this chance. As for Xia Shixuan, she usually enjoyed a lively party, but today’s guest list was the problem. If it were just Shen Yibin’s classmates, that would be one thing, but with so many business associates present, it was bound to be stuffy and no fun at all. freёwebnovel.com
So, all four girls were more than happy to stay behind. "Boss, don’t drink too much at lunch! I’m still planning to play dice with you tonight!" Xia Shixuan added, teasing him.
Once at the restaurant, Shen Yibin made sure to thank his guests profusely, making the rounds and toasting each of them. Xu Ye stepped in and took many of the drinks for him, which allowed Shen Yibin to remain relatively clear-headed. Whether it was Qin Qing from the world of politics or Bao from the world of business, their time was precious. After a short meal, they all said their goodbyes, leaving only his classmates like Qiao Wenqi and Mo Xiaomo, his landlady Mrs. Wang, and neighbors like the proprietress of the fruit and vegetable shop next door.
"Now that they’ve left, let’s go too. The air in this restaurant is so stuffy; it’s much more comfortable drinking tea at your shop," Mrs. Wang said as she stood up. With over a hundred square meters of greenery, the air quality in the pet store was simply fantastic.
"Yes, exactly! I happen to have some excellent tea with me. We can all try it," Xu Ye agreed. Compared to drinking here, he much preferred going to Shen Yibin’s store to check out the girls.
And so, the large group trooped back to Shen Yibin’s store. Seeing that it was still bustling with customers, Shen Yibin and Sun Qian went to lend a hand. Xu Ye led Qiao Wenqi, Mrs. Wang, and the others up to the second-floor terrace. As for Hah’Er and Shi Gaofei, they had already scampered off to play in the bamboo grove. The two of them were much happier now that they had this spot.
One moment the two little rascals were scrambling up and down a large tree, the next they were running across the wooden bridge or playing on the swing set. Their antics attracted many customers, who snapped pictures to post on their social media. This, in turn, piqued the curiosity of many others, who began to wonder if they should also find time to visit Shen Yibin’s pet store.
Additionally, Qin Qing had told Shen Yibin earlier that the Yunzhong City Tourism Bureau planned to add his pet store to the next printing of the official Yunzhong tourist map. This could potentially attract a large number of out-of-town tourists looking to buy pets. In preparation, Shen Yibin had already purchased a stock of airline-approved pet carriers and had flyers printed up that explained the process for transporting pets with an airline.
Business was exceptionally good today. It wasn’t until after eight in the evening that the last customer went home, happily cuddling a Siamese Cat. Only then did Shen Yibin finally have time to cook for the girls.
After a pleasant dinner on the terrace under the starry night sky, the remaining guests said their goodbyes, leaving just Sun Qian and the four other girls in the store.
"Alright, let’s count up how many pets we sold and how much money we made today!" Shen Yibin said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. It looked like the day’s revenue was going to be substantial, but he was itching to know the exact number.
"Hah’Er, whether or not you get to live the good life from now on all depends on what these numbers say!" Shen Yibin said, patting Hah’Er’s head.
