Chapter 78: Pin Yi Boutique

“Li Yulong has been locked up?” Lihua County was not a large place, and if one was determined to investigate, there were hardly any secrets to be kept.

Though they weren’t directly involved in that incident, and didn’t know the details, the news still managed to spread, intentionally or not, and reached their ears.

“How many years will he be in prison?” What always gave them the greatest satisfaction was hearing about someone else’s misfortune.

“It should be for a long time. Selling first- and second-class nationally protected trees—he’ll be in for at least a dozen years, maybe twenty.” The speaker sounded a bit uncertain, but didn’t mind the sentence being even longer.

Zhang Ye found it all amusing and said, “Why do you care so much? All that matters is we can keep our business running. Let’s stick to the twentieth, as we discussed. There are still two days left—just enough time to do some advertising.” Zhang Ye didn’t mind them continuing their discussion; hearing about the downfall of someone he disliked, being a bit petty himself, he found it hard not to gloat.

Still, business was the priority. Whether their computer house could make a splash on its opening was crucial to them.

As something novel, advertising was essential. Whether they could attract people to come and spend money was a matter that required careful handling. On this point, Zhang Ye’s stance was not to cut corners. Pioneers always had to pay a higher price to achieve their goals. Though the returns were often small, once success was achieved, the rewards for pioneers were always much greater.

Zhang Ye was confident that this time, his investment would yield generous returns.

They chose to advertise with leaflets: economical and convenient. At that time, it wasn’t exactly a new approach, but people still looked at them rather than tossing them away immediately.

As long as people saw the content, as long as they were interested, as long as they had money in their pockets, Zhang Ye was confident he could keep them.

By comparison, Zhang Ye’s family’s clothing store was opening a day earlier, and they had planned a three-day 20% discount from the start. At the entrance, a rather high-end speaker played classic songs, enough to make passersby stop and listen.

The store’s prices were far higher than those of nearby clothing shops. This deterred many who were tempted by the eye-catching, colorful, and unique garments, but it also made the store stand out strikingly.

Word of mouth spread imperceptibly.

Premium pricing required a brand name that would resonate. The store’s name, as the first impression for consumers, needed both elegance and popular appeal. Thus, Liu Meiju’s suggestion of “Zhang Family Clothing Store” was immediately rejected.

As a teacher, Zhang Haiguan had a solid education. With a single phrase—“Pin Yi”—the store’s name was decided.

At the South Gate clothing market, most stores were still being renovated. There were people around, but not many. Most were simply passing by; few were there with the intent to buy. The primary reason for the lack of foot traffic was the dust from ongoing renovations.

About this, Zhang Ye and his companions had nothing to say. With a burst of stirring music, Pin Yi Clothing Store opened its doors.

The discount signs hanging outside were eye-catching. The clothes, different from what other stores offered, were also attractive. The exquisite cloth bags and the distinct store decorations drew even more attention.

When the store officially opened, the flow of people was thin, but those who were drawn in kept coming. However, few were truly willing to make a purchase.

At that time, wearing the same clothes as others wasn’t something people avoided. On the contrary, if one could wear them well and bring out their character, it only fueled the desire to buy. The use of mannequins brought out the beauty of the garments, and Zhang Ye’s good figure gave their clothes a special appeal.

Zhang Ye himself was the store’s live model. Many were drawn in by the clothes he wore.

Still, for Pin Yi Clothing Store, price remained a hurdle. The high prices forced many interested buyers to give up, which made Liu Meiju anxious.

An entire hour passed without a single sale.

It was understandable: one hundred and twenty for a top, one hundred and eighty for pants—nearly half a month’s salary for an adult. In an era of frugality and with few customers around, it was hard for anyone to make up their mind.

“Auntie, how much is this outfit?” Zhang Ye turned to look and was surprised—it was Guo Xiangqing.

“The whole set? Three hundred for the set, but today is our opening day, so with the 20% discount, just two hundred and forty,” Liu Meiju replied warmly.

“All right then, I’ll take two sets—one in black and one in blue. Thank you, Auntie. Shall I get you one too, Aunt?” she asked playfully, glancing at the elegant woman beside her.

Zhang Ye walked over, a little embarrassed. “Aunt Yuan, Xiangqing—it’s you.” Then he turned to his mother with a smile. “These are my classmates and her aunt, I know both of them.”

Before opening, Zhang Ye had mentioned the opening in passing, not really expecting them to come. But to his surprise, they remembered and came over.

“Oh, so you’re Ye’s classmates. In that case, since it’s our first day, we’re not looking to make money. Take the two sets—no charge,” Liu Meiju said joyfully and with enthusiasm.

When the two had just arrived, she’d already admired how striking they looked—like a pair of sisters, one older, one younger. Upon learning they were Zhang Ye’s acquaintances, her gaze became even more eager, practically lighting up.

Despite repeatedly reminding her son not to get into relationships too early, now that he was older, she was actually quite lenient about such things. Making friends was something she was happy to turn a blind eye to.

“That won’t do. You’re running a business here—it’s for making money. If you do this, how can we ever come back to shop again?” Yuan Yuqing quickly intercepted the gift bag from Liu Meiju’s hands, pulling out money from her purse as she spoke.

After a bit of back and forth, Zhang Ye stopped them. With a wry smile he said, “There’s no need to argue. It’s the first day—just pay cost price. One hundred and twenty per set, with the discount that’s ninety-six. All right?”

Hearing this, both sides relented. Yuan Yuqing wanted to protest further, but Zhang Ye didn’t give her a chance—he took a green bill from her and gave her four yuan in change.

Thus, in this almost forced transaction, Zhang Ye’s family made their very first sale.

The first step is always the hardest. After this first deal, a few more sales followed in the next while—not at cost price, of course, but with the discount, there was still a good profit.

Liu Wentao and his friends also came. They had promised to buy their clothes there, and each picked out two sets—a major purchase. Officially, it was for ordering matching outfits, but the quality was certainly a cut above.

Since the profit was nearly all theirs, Zhang Ye took it without hesitation, delighted.