In the first month, Qin Shu paid off the Wei family's debt.
Chen Xuan also told Wei Nian about it. A few days ago, Wei Nian specifically asked Qin Shu if he had paid back the money. Now that he knew Qin Shu had paid back the money, he said nothing but nodded. Wei Nian was able to give Zhao Cheng two more months' salary, not because he was interested in the twenty-odd dollars, but because he wanted to see Qin Shu as a person. At least, he knew that he had money to pay back the debt first. In Wei Nian's opinion, although he was a little stupid, he was not hopeless. Even if he wanted to rent the south room of his house and continue to live there, it was okay.
When Qin Shu got money, she immediately upgraded her clothes to more Western styles, and even cheongsams were rare. Fortunately, this girl had suffered before, so she only bought clothes and supplies within her means and did not buy a lot. Qin Shu was a girl who was very good at tidying up and decorating. When she was free, she would add a circle of small lace to the indigo tablecloth, make cushions for the round stools and chairs with the materials bought from the bottom of the Wei family warehouse, and even make a kang skirt for the big kang. On the wall hung Qin Shu's own oil paintings. Oil paintings look nothing special when you look at them up close, but they look real when you look at them from a distance. Chen Xuan thought they were beautiful, and asked Qin Shu to help her paint two paintings when she was free. She asked Wei Nian to take a hammer, knock two nails on the wall, and hang the framed oil paintings. Suddenly, she felt that the two cotton quilts with mandarin ducks playing in the water in the room were also quite fashionable.
Qin Shu paid back the debt owed to the Wei family. Chen Xuan discussed with Wei Yin to pay back half of the money she had borrowed from Wei Nian. Wei Nian was also very happy to accept it and deposited it in the bank. Then, he gave the passbook to Chen Xuan. At the beginning of March, Uncle Wang came to Beijing to visit the third uncle.
Chen Xuan was a little surprised that Uncle Wang came here at this time. Chen Xuan said to Wei Nian, "In the countryside, it's busy in the fields now."
After returning to the old house, I found out that Uncle Wang came here with Mr. Shao, a big grain merchant in Baoding Prefecture. Uncle Wang smiled and said, "Last year, Mr. Shao asked me to work with him. I helped Mr. Shao collect grain from various places. I wanted to come here in December last year, but I went to the border area again. Mr. Shao said he was coming to Beijing, so I hurriedly followed him. The fine flour produced by our flour mill with foreign machines is no worse than American flour, and it is even five cents cheaper per bag. I brought two bags here for Brother Wei to try."
Old Master Wei smiled and said, "Okay, I have also heard of Mr. Shao's reputation. From now on, our family will listen to our domestic flour."
"Try it first, and then eat this if it's delicious." Uncle Wang was still a straightforward person. After coming to the capital, he did not live in the old house of the Wei family, but went to live with the third uncle in Wangfu Cang Hutong. Uncle Wang brought a lot of things to the third uncle, all of which were household items, including two pounds of old tobacco, which the third uncle loved to smoke. Clothes, shoes and socks were all newly made. As a result, when he saw that the third uncle had everything, the third uncle smiled and said, "Arou made my clothes for all seasons. Last winter, the cotton pads of my quilt and mattress were re-stuffed. My wife A-nian is also very good here. I help with the three meals a day and clean up the yard. Alas, the food is too good, and there is meat in every meal. Sometimes I feel a little guilty." The third uncle's point of view is similar to Chen Xuan's before. Basically, having meat in every meal is equivalent to committing a sin. However, Chen Xuan is making rapid progress. Chen Xuan gave up on herself because she ate well every day. She was very focused on her studies and work. If she couldn't grow strawberries well and the hat shop didn't make money, she would have eaten all those delicious foods in vain.
Uncle Wang comforted his uncle, "The food is not just for you. I see that Anian and his wife get up early in the morning and come back at night. Young people who are so busy should eat well."
The third uncle nodded, "That's right."
Uncle Wang felt relieved when he saw that everything was fine with his third uncle.
However, there was another coincidence when Uncle Wang came to Beijing this time.
Chen Xuan and Wei Yin had just discussed the matter of recruiting shop assistants, and did not recruit anyone else. According to Chen Xuan and Wei Yin's discussion, Sun Yan is a good girl. She started knitting sweaters and gloves last year. She is quick and nimble. But Sun Yan doesn't know how to put on makeup. The two sisters-in-law are not worried about this. Anyway, it's not difficult as long as you are willing to learn. Another thing is the salary. The two sisters-in-law have not decided yet. Shopkeeper Li said that a newcomer like Sun Yan is completely an apprentice. The shop provides food. Of course, as for accommodation, Sun Yan's family is in Beijing, so there is no need to worry about this. But there are also clothes for all seasons. According to Shopkeeper Li, apprentices don't need to pay at all. Wei Yin knows Sun Yan's family situation and knows that her family is in difficulty. Wei Yin wants to be kind and give her three or five yuan a month. After all, a girl like Sun Yan can earn a few yuan a month even if she finds a job in a factory. Of course, there are relatively few factories in Beijing, and it is true that it is not easy to find a job.
Chen Xuan was wavering between Shopkeeper Xiao Li and Wei Yin. Chen Xuan was a very frugal person. Of course, she was not stingy to others. However, influenced by Wei Nian, Chen Xuan knew that business was business. However, she also felt that it was not a good idea to let a girl be an apprentice without paying a penny, according to the old business ideas.
As for what was wrong, Chen Xuan really couldn't say.
Chen Xuan consulted Wei Nian, who didn't think this was a big deal. Wei Nian said, "Shopkeeper Li also wants to save money for the shop, but he doesn't give Sun Yan a penny and only cares about her food and clothing. He can't keep her. Her family is so poor, her father is a heavy smoker, her mother is incompetent, and she has younger brothers and sisters. Don't they all rely on her to do odd jobs to make money?"
“If we recruit someone else, firstly, it’s hard to recruit female shop assistants, and secondly, even if we recruit someone, we don’t know their background and we dare not use them.” Chen Xuan’s current philosophy of hiring is to give priority to acquaintances.
Wei Nian said, "This is easy. You just need to offer two kinds of salary. One is a fixed salary of five dollars a month. The other is three dollars a month, but for every item sold, a commission will be given to Sun Yan."
"Is it possible?"
"This isn't anything unusual." Wei Nian said to Chen Xuan, "This is not the era of the old apprentices. Many college students and overseas students are looking for jobs, and they want to get high salaries that month even though they have never worked before. It's the same with me selling things. I get the profit in the middle, just like your shop. I don't even have a basic salary. If it were me, I would propose a third salary method to Sun Yan, no basic salary, but a higher commission rate for each item sold."
Wei Nian was talking excitedly and hooked his finger at Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan leaned over and Wei Nian asked her, "If you have to choose from these three, which one would you choose?"
Chen Xuan understood Wei Nian's meaning a little bit, and said honestly, "If it were me, I would choose the second one."
"This is the most reliable method. Since you have just started working and are not familiar with the job, if you rely purely on commissions, you may not get more money than the first and second methods. However, your store is doing well and you already have your own regular customers, so the second method should be the most profitable way." Wei Nian nodded, "This is in line with your conservative personality and your desire to challenge yourself. If it were me, I would choose the third method."
“Isn’t this too risky?”
Wei Nian said, "Great risks also mean great returns."
Chen Xuan shook her head, still insisting on her own idea, "If it were me, I would choose the second one."
Wei Nian smiled and touched Chen Xuan's head, "This is your advantage."
Chen Xuan discussed Wei Nian's idea with Wei Yin again, and Wei Yin laughed, "Second brother is smart."
"Well, Brother Nian is very smart." When it comes to doing business, Chen Xuan has a blind trust in Wei Nian, and she said to Wei Nian, "So, not only should we learn from him, but we also have to work harder." The two discussed and drafted a contract before telling Sun Yan about looking after the store. Sun Yan was indeed willing, and, to Chen Xuan's surprise, Sun Yan chose the third salary option.
Chen Xuan went home and told Wei Nian about it. Wei Nian nodded and said, "This is the kind of personality you need when selling things."
The hat shop had just added a female clerk, Sun Yan, when a new supplier, Chen Xuan, came. The best-selling cosmetics in their shop were called Fenfang. Chen Xuan did not expect that the founder of this brand was actually a woman.
Of course, it might not be appropriate to call Miss Shao a lady because she looked only a few years older than Chen Xuan. When Chen Xuan heard that Miss Shao was the owner of Fenfang Cosmetics, she politely invited Miss Shao to come in and sit down.
Miss Shao was wearing a pair of fine-checked women's trousers with a white shirt with lace trims, and a similarly fine-checked vest on the outside. Her hair was curled like a movie star's, and her makeup was meticulously done. She was extremely fashionable. Miss Shao politely shook hands with Chen Xuan and said, "You are the agent for my cosmetics, and they are selling very well. My father and I came to Beijing, so we stopped by to take a look."
"I didn't know Miss Shao was coming, otherwise I should have gone to greet you. Please take a seat. Would you like black tea or green tea?" Chen Xuan asked.
"Excuse me, do you have coffee?" Miss Shao did not sit down immediately, but looked around the small shop. The shop was very small and the items sold were too diverse. Wei Yin ordered, "Ayan, go to the coffee shop on the street and buy Miss Shao a cup of coffee."
"No, I'd like some black tea." said Miss Shao.
Seeing that Wei Yin didn't say anything, Sun Yan went out to buy coffee.
Ms. Shao got straight to the point and raised her pointed chin slightly. "My cosmetics sold well last year and gradually became famous in the north. This time I came to Beijing to find a Beijing agent."
Chen Xuan and Wei Yin didn't know much about business, but the Wei family had been doing business for many years. Wei Yin didn't like Miss Shao's aura, but said, "Since Miss Shao is here, I think our store is still good. Miss Shao, you can speak directly if you have anything to say."
Miss Shao waved her hand, her nail-dyed white fingers swaying, and her beautiful eyes looked at Wei Yin and the silent Chen Xuan, "Do you want to be my general agent in Beijing?"
Sun Yan bought back hot coffee, but Miss Shao didn't drink it. Instead, she took out a plain business card from her silver handbag and handed it to her, "I'm staying at the Beijing Hotel now. If you are interested, you can come over to talk at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
The author has something to say: ps: The first update is here, good morning everyone~~~~~~~~~ Thank you all for the mines and grenades~~~~~~~~
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