How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 296 - 298: Doing Business_1

After getting out of the car at the alleyway, Li Qiao and the others parted ways. As soon as Li Qiao entered the house, she found Old Mrs. Qin and told her about selling the skirts.

"I can make six such skirts in a day. If one is for two yuan, that’s twelve yuan a day. That’s making a fortune," Old Mrs. Qin couldn’t wait to get started.

Li Qiao said, "I’m not sure if there’s enough fabric."

"If all the girls are your size, there should definitely be enough."

"There are two who are a bit plump, I estimate around 140 or 150 kilograms, and there are three who are quite short, probably not 160 centimeters," Li Qiao recalled.

Old Mrs. Qin said, "Let’s start making a few and see, Jin can go find more fabric when he has time."

At this point, Qin Jin put forward his own plan.

Old Mrs. Qin found it feasible, "If you can get the fabric, I’ll call up some sisters I know to help make and sell them."

Li Qiao, "What if someone reports us for doing business? It might be safer to go back to our hometown, where everyone knows everyone, than in the city."

Qin Jin took over the conversation, "The hometown has its own busybodies too. In the city, each of us working at home won’t attract attention."

Saying they would do it, they did it, and Li Qiao sketched out more styles.

Old Mrs. Qin took charge of the tailoring work, while Qin Jin was responsible for sourcing the fabric.

....

The next day was sunny, and Li Qiao, carrying skirts, went to see Counselor Xiang, which also happened to be the third day after her wedding, a traditional day for returning home.

Counselor Xiang and Qi Yuanbin were sending off guests. Both were very happy to see Li Qiao. The former said, "Li Qiao, you came to see me, come in and sit down."

Li Qiao shook the bag in her hand, "It’s the skirts, I’ve finished making them for you."

Counselor Xiang happily took them and immediately went back to her room to try them on. At that moment, she was wearing a red blouse. After taking off the red trousers and putting on the skirt, it surprisingly matched as well, "It looks good, especially accentuating the waist. The dress you’re wearing is pretty nice too."

The neckline of that style spread out towards both sides, creating a ruffled look, and the hemline stopped just above the ankle, conservative yet playful.

Her hair was done up in a single braid at the back of her head.

Her neck was slender, like the swan neck described in books.

Beautiful, stylish.

"Ah, someone good-looking looks great in anything," Counselor Xiang couldn’t help but compliment.

"Haha, I dressed up specially today. If you like it, I can ask Grandma to make one for you. This color overall is dark and makes one look older, not everyone can pull off wearing it head to toe. There’s an off-white one, the pattern is the opposite of this one, little white flowers on my dress, and the off-white fabric has black ones. I think the off-white would be good for you, it suits your skin tone," Li Qiao explained in detail.

Yesterday evening, Qin Jin had found a fabric manufacturer.

There was enough dark fabric to fill a whole truck.

They said that during production, the workshop master read the order wrong and dyed the color incorrectly; even when mixed with brighter fabrics, it still couldn’t sell.

They were worried about it.

Qin Jin bought the whole lot.

The delivery arrived first thing in the morning; they were eager to get rid of it lest he change his mind.

Now the stockpile of goods nearly filled two rooms, and it was even difficult to walk through, plus there was a distinct smell of new clothes.

Along with the goods came a string of fabric swatches.

There were many beautiful fabrics among them.

The off-white was more expensive, but even at a unit price of one yuan and sixty, there was still a significant profit margin when sold.

Counselor Xiang, "That sounds great, saves me the trouble of shopping. How much should I pay for your trouble?"

Li Qiao, "It’s a gift for you."

"Don’t do that," Counselor Xiang insisted on paying for the effort, "I can’t just let your grandma work for free."

Li Qiao didn’t refuse any further, "One yuan and sixty then."

This was the selling price agreed upon by Grandma and Qin Jin.

The wholesale price of the fabric was one yuan and eighty for a large roll.

One roll could make seven or eight pieces, which was already quite profitable.

Counselor Xiang immediately placed her order; with one yuan and sixty, you can’t even buy a decent pair of pants at a shopping mall.

Li Qiao then took out skirts made for other girls, "I found two of the girls who ordered clothes that day at the school yesterday, but I didn’t see the other three. Could you help me deliver them when you have time? These half skirts are one yuan each." This was also the agreed price.

Grandma said that if you cut clothes of the same style and size together, you can save a lot of effort.

Twenty pieces a day can be done, and I wouldn’t feel right charging too much for them.

"The prices are really economical," Counselor Xiang said. "Who are all these dresses for? I was too busy talking to others and didn’t pay attention to who claimed the dresses."

Li Qiao took out a list.

Counselor Xiang said, "Let me give you the money first."

Li Qiao, "No rush, you can give it to me when school starts."

"I’d prefer to pay now. I’m worried I might forget," Counselor Xiang insisted on settling the bill immediately.

Li Qiao accepted the money with a smile, "You’ve gone to some trouble, thank you."

"It’s no trouble at all."

....

After leaving Counselor Xiang’s place, Li Qiao headed straight home.

Old Mrs. Qin wasn’t at home, but there were a lot of finished dresses piled on her table.

There were pleated skirts too, though it was unclear what was used to press them into shape.

The room smelled strongly, and Li Qiao couldn’t stand it, so she sat under the awning in the yard to enjoy the view.

Around half-past four, she took her basket out to buy groceries and when dinner was ready, Qin Jin and Old Mrs. Qin came back home, each holding a large stack of completed dresses.

Qin Jin planned to set up a stall at the trading market that evening, "Qiaoqiao, come with me."

Li Qiao, "Sure." She had planned to accompany him anyway.

Because the clothes don’t look good just hung up, they have to be tried on to see the effect.

At night, under the lights, women look more and more beautiful.

The dresses should sell well tonight.

After finishing their meal, they waited until dark.

They carried their goods and had just set up the stall when a girl came to buy a dress. She picked out the style Li Qiao was wearing and asked to try it on.

Qin Jin hung up a screen for privacy, and since the dress had an elastic waist, it was easy to slip on.

The customer checked herself in the dressing mirror and nodded with satisfaction, "It looks pretty good, I’ll take it. How much was it again?" She had been busy trying it on and forgot to ask the price first. She hoped they weren’t going to overcharge her.

"One-piece dress for one dollar sixty cents."

"That cheap? Then I’ll take two." You couldn’t get that price in the stores. The girl paid promptly.

Li Qiao counted the change, her smile so wide she could barely close her mouth.

Qin Jin smiled along, no wonder she used to talk back to Li Shengcai and Dong Lamei, claiming she could stop studying if she wanted to.

She must like doing business too.

Li Qiao had just handed the money to Qin Jin when another customer approached, wanting the dress she was wearing.

Soon, all of her styles of dresses were sold out.

She ducked behind the screen and changed into a new outfit, a white shirt paired with a mid-length skirt.

In less than half an hour, ten mid-length skirts were sold out.

Only two pleated skirts and two knee-length skirts remained.

Qin Jin, "These two reach the knee, don’t wear them. It’s fine if they don’t sell."

Li Qiao, "Oh, come on, what’s there to worry about?" She slipped into the dressing screen and changed.

She managed to sell off the remaining stock smoothly.

The two packed up and headed home. Qin Jin said, "We made fifty-eight dollars and ninety cents tonight." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"That much? How do you know?" Li Qiao asked curiously. He had been busy handling the merchandise and when it came to taking money, he just stuffed it in the bag without looking, yet he was very clear on the amount.

"I’m an accountant, you know. I’ve become quite sensitive to money these days."

Li Qiao laughed, "None of your knowledge has gone to waste."

"Of course not." Qin Jin curled his lip with a smile, feeling fortunate to be with her. She always urged him to progress, to improve.