Chapter 46: Becoming the Boss

After graduation, He Zhixing still had not found a job. Many of the desirable positions in art galleries, calligraphy and painting shops, antique stores, and so on, were already saturated. With the flood of new graduates each year—junior college and university students alike—he and his peers, being of only a modest educational background, found themselves at a disadvantage. Now, He Zhixing was constantly on the move, traveling through cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Changsha, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi’an, Beijing, and more. He’d traversed much of China in search of opportunities, but to no avail; he treated it as a journey of experience and self-cultivation.

Returning once again to G City, He Zhixing sought out Yufang. Yufang was working as a pattern maker in a local textile factory, still a long way from her dream of becoming a master fashion designer. He Zhixing simply suggested she quit, and together, with great energy, they set off for Guangzhou.

Back home, after the flood and the subsequent rebuilding, Hou Juan had also left. She told them she now worked in a clothing store in Baiyun District, Guangzhou. The salary wasn’t high, but the job was pleasant and far from the monotonous drudgery of factory work.

He Zhixing gave her a call, and Hou Juan quickly took leave to meet them. The store was not far from the bus stop—just a short walk away. The storefront itself was not large, the size of two standard shops combined, and flanked by many other clothing stores. This street could well be called a “fashion row.” Due to the fierce competition from bigger neighboring stores, racks of heavily discounted clothes lined the entrance, each marked with sale signs to attract customers.

A banner read, “Final Season Clearance Sale.” He Zhixing and Yufang entered and met the proprietress, a woman in her twenties, not yet thirty, about five foot tall, quite pretty and fresh-faced. She wore a white blouse, black skirt, and stockings, her almond-shaped eyes lively, her nose unremarkable, lips thin, but her smile was charming.

At the moment, she was busy, so the newcomers watched from the side as she and Hou Juan bustled about, greeting customers, flattering them, and haggling over prices in the lively rhythm of retail.

Very soon, He Zhixing and Yufang picked up a few tricks. When the proprietress and Hou Juan were swamped with customers, they pitched in, selling several garments themselves. Though they didn’t drive the prices down much, customers seemed happy, appreciating the service as much as the purchase.

He Zhixing and Yufang both had a way with words. The shop carried a wide range of trendy urban styles for both men and women, catering to youthful city dwellers.

By around ten at night, business had slowed, and it was nearly time to close up. With few customers left, the group chatted and learned that the proprietress’s name was Hu Li, a native of Hunan. Her parents had invested in the shop, she had a brother still in university, and a sister already working.

Hu Li asked them to call her Sister Li. He Zhixing asked, “Sister Li, your business seems pretty good today. Why do you still have a sign out front saying ‘Final Season Clearance Sale’? Isn’t it profitable?”

Hu Li replied, “Sigh, I run a small operation—it can’t compare to the big stores nearby. They have the advantage of offering every kind of clothing, attracting customers of all ages and tastes. Me? I only have this little place, and there’s not even room to display much stock. And the trendy clothes I bring in—other shops have them too. The competition is just too fierce.”

He Zhixing took a look around the shop, examining every rack and display. “Sister Li, are you thinking of transferring the shop?”

She nodded. “Yes, I’ve been at it for two or three years now. I’ve invested over a hundred thousand yuan but haven’t even recouped half of it. I don’t have the heart for it anymore. I’d like to try something else.”

He Zhixing said, “Sister Li, wait a moment…” He pulled Yufang aside and whispered, “Yufang, what if we take this place over?”

Yufang was startled. “You mean we run it ourselves?”

He Zhixing smiled meaningfully. “Exactly.” He pointed at the racks of stylish clothes and said, “With your talent for design, we could redesign these garments, transform them into different styles and personalities. Look at this one—I could cut off the sleeves at the elbow, add a diamond-shaped panel at the knee, and trim the collar with white piping. Wouldn’t that make it a whole new, unique piece? Or that blue-and-white checkered shirt—I could make it mid-sleeved with buttoned cuffs, pair it with light blue or beige pants, and turn the whole set into a casual suit: a collarless, double-breasted blazer with orange piping and cropped sleeves. That would be a hit! And that one over there…”

He Zhixing shared many ideas in a low voice, and Yufang was moved. “All right, let’s do it. But will Sister Li agree? If we could have her as our store manager, that would be even better.”

He Zhixing squeezed her hand tightly. “Let’s give it a try.”

He approached Hu Li. “Sister Li, would you be willing to transfer the shop to us? We could offer 180,000 yuan, and if you agree, we’d like to hire you as our store manager with an annual salary of 80,000.”

Hu Li had been fretting about finding someone to take over. Suddenly presented with such a windfall, she hesitated only briefly before agreeing. “All right, you’ve convinced me. Deal! But we must sign a contract. And you’re not joking about that salary, right?”

He Zhixing patted his chest. “You can trust us—Hou Juan is from our hometown and can vouch for us. If that’s not enough, look at this.”

He pulled out his bankbook and card. Hu Li glanced at the balance and exclaimed, “Goodness! Seven digits—over ten million yuan?”

Hu Li looked at them in astonishment, thinking, “This is unbelievable. I’ve toiled for years and haven’t made more than a hundred thousand, yet they’re fresh graduates with millions. How is one supposed to compete?”

With the formal contract signed, they went with Hou Juan to see her apartment. They rented a room there for the night while Hu Li stayed at the shop. There was a bedroom in the store for her convenience. With the contract in hand, they felt secure, knowing the law was on their side.