Chapter Thirty-Five: Grand Opening! Limin General Store

A gentle breeze blew, bringing a touch of coolness. Chen Tong felt exceptionally lighthearted. As he looked up at the white clouds drifting leisurely across the sky, he felt as though he could already envision a prosperous future for the Black Wind Stronghold, built through his own dedicated efforts.

Two days later, following the address Chen Tong had left behind, Liu Er arrived at the New Village. Standing at the village entrance, he gazed at this place—so unfamiliar yet brimming with vibrant vitality—his heart filled with curiosity. He saw the villagers bustling about, working with great enthusiasm, every face glowing with simple, sincere smiles.

Liu Er cautiously inquired about Chen Tong’s whereabouts. Although the villagers were somewhat guarded toward an outsider, some kindly directed him to Chen Tong’s residence. Upon arriving, he found Chen Tong already waiting for him. In the courtyard, a batch of goods was neatly arranged: one hundred sets of workwear, one hundred pairs of socks, and one hundred pairs of rubber rain boots. Chen Tong had meticulously selected the sizes for the workwear based on the average height data for people of that era provided by his system, ensuring they would fit the vast majority of people.

"Brother Liu Er, you've arrived," Chen Tong greeted him with a beaming smile. "These are the goods we are preparing to sell. Please carefully verify the quantity and quality."

Liu Er stepped into the courtyard, his eyes immediately drawn to the merchandise. He couldn't wait to pick up a set of workwear to examine it thoroughly. "Big Brother, the quality of these goods is simply impeccable," Liu Er exclaimed while inspecting them. "The craftsmanship and the fabric—you won’t find anything like this in the county town."

Chen Tong laughed, "Brother Liu Er, don't worry. Can't you trust me to get things done? I’ve handpicked every one of these items."

Liu Er nodded and began a serious count, checking the details. As he tallied the items, he silently calculated the potential profit. Once the check was complete, Chen Tong pulled Liu Er aside to sit down. "Brother Liu Er, I have some new ideas regarding the promotional activities for the shop's opening."

Liu Er replied eagerly, "Big Brother, please speak. I am listening closely."

Chen Tong continued, "For the first two items—the socks and the workwear—we can set up a lucky draw, but the prizes will be discount coupons. The first prize is a coupon for two hundred off five hundred; the second prize is one hundred off three hundred; and the third prize is thirty off one hundred. This will not only attract more people to participate in the draw but also stimulate their consumption."

Liu Er’s eyes lit up instantly. "Big Brother, that’s a brilliant idea! Using coupons as prizes makes customers feel like they are getting a real bargain, which encourages them to buy more and boosts our total sales."

Chen Tong added, "As for the rubber rain boots, we’ll stick to a smaller discount, like twenty off three hundred. Since the boots have a higher price point, this method allows customers to feel they are getting a good deal while still protecting our profit margins."

Liu Er pondered for a moment before saying, "Big Brother, your foresight is impeccable. However, with so many different denominations of coupons, will it be too complicated to manage? Will customers find it troublesome?"

Chen Tong smiled and explained, "Brother Liu Er, you don't need to worry. We will post detailed promotional instructions at the shop entrance, clearly stating the rules and the applicable items for each coupon so that customers understand at a glance. As long as they feel they are getting genuine discounts, they won't find it troublesome."

After a moment of reflection, Liu Er looked troubled. "Big Brother, your plan is thorough, but as you know, most people in the county town are uneducated and likely won't be able to read the posted instructions. If customers don't understand, the promotion won't be effective."

Chen Tong tapped his own head, suddenly realizing, "Ah, that was my oversight. In that case, we won't post the written instructions. Find a shop assistant with a loud voice and a silver tongue to stand at the entrance and announce the promotion. Have him clearly call out the value of each coupon, which items they apply to, and the rules for the lucky draw."

Liu Er’s eyes brightened. "Big Brother, that’s a great way to do it! With someone skilled at shouting, we’re sure to attract a crowd. Once people hear it announced on the spot, they’ll understand immediately, and it will definitely stir their desire to buy."

Chen Tong laughed, "Exactly, let's do that. Also, for the opening day, prepare some small colorful flags and banners to decorate the shop. Make it lively so that everyone knows there’s a special event happening."

Liu Er nodded repeatedly. "Big Brother, your planning is impeccable. I’ll head back now to prepare, find an assistant, and decorate the shop. I’ll do my best to get us open as soon as possible."

Chen Tong patted Liu Er on the shoulder. "Good. Brother Liu Er, if you run into any problems, come find me anytime."

Liu Er left the New Village with the goods.

...

A few days later, Liu Er’s "Limin Grocery Store" officially opened. The storefront was bedecked with lanterns and colorful flags fluttering in the breeze. The assistant Liu Er had handpicked stood at the entrance, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Come and take a look! The Limin Grocery Store is having a grand opening sale! Workwear, socks, and rubber rain boots—we have it all at affordable prices! There’s also a lucky draw where you can save up to two hundred wen!"

This announcement immediately caught the attention of passersby. Soon, a crowd gathered in the shop. People looked at the workwear, socks, and rubber boots on the shelves with great curiosity. The craftsmanship was stunning, with tight, uniform stitches and smooth, flat fabric. In this small county town, no one had ever seen such refined goods. However, what surprised them even more was the price; for such high-quality items, the cost was surprisingly low.

"These things look great, but why are they so cheap? Could there be something wrong with them?" asked a middle-aged man, frowning with suspicion. He picked up a piece of workwear, turning it over repeatedly as if trying to find a flaw.

"Exactly. At this price, is it some kind of trick?" a middle-aged woman nearby echoed. She picked up a pair of socks, squeezed them, and sniffed them. "These socks look soft, but I hope they don't fall apart after a few washes."

The crowd murmured back and forth. Although they were very interested in the goods, they were worried about the quality and were hesitant to spend their money. Seeing this, Liu Er hurried forward, his face wreathed in smiles, and addressed the middle-aged man.