Chapter Two: The Quiet Shop

Compared to the bustling supermarket, the clothing store presented a very different scene.

Zhou Xuan entered the shop and saw his father sitting by the cashier, while his mother sighed beside him.

“What’s wrong, Mom and Dad? Why are your brows so tightly knit?” Zhou Xuan asked, surprised.

Upon seeing Zhou Xuan come in, his mother gestured at the empty shop, her face full of worry. “Zhou Xuan, look, it’s been more than half an hour since we opened, and hardly any customers have come in. Isn’t business just terrible?”

So that was it—his parents thought that since there were so few customers, business must be bad, that the shop was doomed.

Zhou Xuan had long anticipated such a situation. So, when he saw the quiet store upon entering, he wasn’t anxious at all.

Seeing his parents’ worried expressions, Zhou Xuan smiled and explained, “Mom, Dad, it’s only just past ten in the morning. It’s normal for the shop to be empty. Don’t worry, you’ll be busy in the afternoon and evening for sure.”

His mother asked curiously, “Why aren’t there many people in the morning?”

“Think about it, Mom. For people in the city, during holidays, who isn’t at home sleeping in? For most folks with nothing to do on New Year’s Day, they’ll only head out in the afternoon or evening. You know as well as I do, here, most people play cards or hang out at night—getting up early would be a miracle. Besides, our brand, Mister Bonway, mainly targets young people between fifteen and twenty-five. Most of our customers are probably still sleeping at home. They’ll come out in the afternoon or evening.”

Zhou Xuan cleared his throat gently and continued, “And, while mornings are when the market is bustling, you know the folks who come to market—they don’t buy clothes in the central garden area. Clothes here are nearly half again as expensive compared to those near the farmers’ market. So, Mom and Dad, rest assured. Business is slow now only because the people with buying power haven’t come out yet. By afternoon, you won’t have so much idle time. I expected this, which is why I went to Uncle’s place first this morning. Our shop will be busiest in the afternoon and evening. In future, you could open up after ten and sleep a bit more in the morning.”

After Zhou Xuan finished, he saw his parents’ unease melt away and they began bustling about again, checking here and there, anxious that something might not be ready.

“How’s business at your uncle’s place?” his father asked.

“Very good—he’s sold over a thousand yuan worth of goods in just a couple of hours since opening.” Hearing this, both parents relaxed.

Seeing them like this, Zhou Xuan couldn’t help but smile. He pulled up a chair, carried it to the door, and sat down in a leisurely manner.

At this time, the shops along the street were just beginning to open for the day. It seemed everyone knew there wasn’t much business in the morning, but there was quite a bit of curiosity about the new clothing store.

As Zhou Xuan sat at the entrance, people occasionally glanced over.

After a short while, a mother and son passed by the shop and, without much hesitation, came in.

Zhou Xuan immediately stood up, greeted them with a smile, and asked warmly, “Looking for something in particular? All our clothes are brand new arrivals, very stylish and perfect for young people.”

The pair were indeed a mother and her son, the boy about sixteen or seventeen. It was clear she’d brought him to buy clothes.

Zhou Xuan noticed that both were well dressed—not wearing cheap clothing—clearly people with both purchasing power and willingness.

After browsing for a bit, the boy took a liking to a blue-and-white jacket. Zhou Xuan took it down and had him try it on—it fit perfectly.

Zhou Xuan praised the jacket, saying how well it suited the boy, giving him a youthful look. The woman didn’t hesitate and decided to buy it.

They also picked out a pair of coffee-colored slim trousers. The total came to 187 yuan.

Normally, prices at branded franchise shops like this were set directly by the brand. But since it was opening day, they offered a ten percent discount. So, the total was 168 yuan, and they received a pair of slippers as a bonus—an opening week promotion for purchases over one hundred yuan.

No sooner had the pair left than two more groups came in, and suddenly the store was lively.

Zhou Xuan watched his parents clumsily greet customers, selecting the right sizes from the storage cabinet for them to try on, a satisfied and proud smile on his face.

His parents weren’t yet skilled at this, lacking prior experience as sales assistants. But his mother, a natural at bargaining since childhood, adapted quickly to sales, much faster than his father.

As he mused, two more people entered, and Zhou Xuan quickly went to greet them.

A slender, graceful figure, hand-in-hand with a smiling woman in her late thirties, walked in.

“My goodness! What a coincidence— isn’t that Liu Yixue? The woman beside her must be her mother.” Zhou Xuan hadn’t expected to run into Liu Yixue here, and with her family, no less.

He really didn’t want to meet Liu Yixue’s family right now—it was only ninth grade, not senior year. Zhou Xuan put on a smile, walked over, and winked at Liu Yixue, saying, “Looking for something special? It’s opening day—ten percent off, and purchases over one hundred yuan come with a free pair of slippers.”

Liu Yixue was equally surprised to meet Zhou Xuan here, momentarily speechless. Her mother, however, smiled at Zhou Xuan’s words. “Such a young man, helping his family with the shop. Very filial.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Children from poor families learn responsibility early. Auntie, is your daughter here to buy clothes?” Zhou Xuan replied modestly, casting a glance at Liu Yixue and giving her a playful look. “Your daughter is beautiful—she looks good in anything.”

Her mother laughed, looking at Zhou Xuan. “Young man, you sure have a way with words. But whether I buy your clothes depends on whether my daughter likes them.”

She took Liu Yixue’s hand. “Yixue, I think the clothes here are nice—youthful and fashionable. Mister Bonway, a good brand, and this is the first franchise in our county. Take your time—pick out a few more.”

Liu Yixue hadn’t realized this was Zhou Xuan’s family’s shop, and hearing her mother suggest buying more clothes, she thought happily: This is perfect—I can buy nice clothes and help Zhou Xuan’s family sell more.

She said cheerfully, “Sure! Mom, I see some really nice pieces.”

Since Liu Yixue was picking out clothes, Zhou Xuan naturally provided excellent service, staying close throughout, which greatly pleased her mother, who promised to come again with her friends.

Liu Yixue finally chose a knitted sweater, a pair of trousers, and a jacket, spending around three hundred and fifty yuan—all at Zhou Xuan’s cost price. Watching Liu Yixue and her mother leave satisfied, Zhou Xuan felt genuinely happy.

Yet, recalling her mother’s manner, Zhou Xuan suspected Liu Yixue’s family wasn’t ordinary. If he wanted to pursue her, he’d need to strengthen his own position.

At lunch, his parents remarked on how pretty that girl was, suggesting Zhou Xuan might fancy her—otherwise, why such generous pricing?

Zhou Xuan could only be speechless.