Chapter 65: Doing Business

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an pedaled a tricycle to buy the sewing machine, causing another stir among the people in the Siheyuan.

"Our courtyard is about to become a garment factory."

"Hahaha, who's to say it isn't?"

Families who couldn't afford a sewing machine were happy to see more of them in the courtyard, because by helping out, they could always get plenty of free fabric scraps, and by saving those up, they could at least make a few pairs of shoes.

The empty room next to the side room where Zhang Lanhua lived became her workshop; Zhang Ping'an also bought several books on garment making and design at the Library, and likewise bought three bolts of fabric in different colors for Si Jie to practice with.

"Ping'an, this..."

"Si Jie, since we've decided to do this, let's practice well. With the experience from He's sister-in-law, plus these books and fabrics, you will definitely become a famous master garment maker far and wide."

"It's not as easy as you say," Zhang Lanhua chuckled.

"Then I won't worry about it; you practice well."

Zhang Lanhua silently took all of this to heart, vowing to achieve some results in this trade and not let her little brother down.

It was 1951, and there were at least two more years to do business; Zhang Ping'an also wanted his Si Jie to grow during these two years so that when the Public-Private Partnership came, she could enter a clothing factory or Textile Factory.

Moreover, when Si Jie married in the future, she would have her own source of income in her husband's home, making it difficult for her parents-in-law to give her a hard time.

Over the next two months, Zhang Lanhua spent almost every morning reading and studying, the afternoons asking Qin Pandi for advice, and the evenings trying to make new-style clothes.

"Si Jie, it's best to make some children's and men's clothes; women's can be simply altered."

It was still a conservative era, and Zhang Ping'an did not want his Si Jie to be daring and innovative with women's clothing, as one wrong move could lead to criticism.

"Okay."

Zhang Lanhua clearly understood the stakes, though Zhang Ping'an was worrying for nothing; without the impact of Western culture, people in this era were still very conservative.

Zhang Lanhua still followed Zhang Ping'an's suggestion, so the children in the courtyard became her models, and the children were happy to try on new clothes every day, not to mention they would get a free set of new clothes afterward.

And Zhang Ping'an became the male model, being dragged by his Si Jie to try on clothes whenever he had free time; sometimes even Wang Xiaoling was conscripted.

Soon it was time for school to start, and the children in the courtyard who had been conscripted by Zhang Lanhua happily wore their new clothes to register, including those from the Lao Yan family and the Lao Liu family; of course, the little ones who weren't in school had them too.

There were already more than thirty sets of children's clothes of different sizes in the side room, and Zhang Lanhua was preparing to go out and set up a stall in the morning.

"Hmm, Si Jie, then let Xiaochen and Xiaojing come over to lend a hand; they shouldn't have anything to do at home anyway."

Li Chen was the second son of the eldest sister, seventeen years old this year; Li Jing was the second son of the second sister, sixteen years old this year. Zhang Ping'an was worried about his Si Jie going out to set up a stall, especially since she had to bring her few little models.

Yes, He Yushui, Xu Xiaoling, Yan Jiefang, and Liu Guangfu were not yet of school age and were now his Si Jie's designated models.

"Okay, having Xiaochen and Xiaojing there will save me a lot of worry."

No sooner said than done, Zhang Ping'an made a special trip to Li Family Village the next day.

"Eldest sister, second sister..." Zhang Ping'an explained the matter roughly.

"Uncle, I want to go too. Little Aunt will definitely be busy and won't have time to cook; I'll go help cook," Li Qing and Li Mei said hurriedly.

Both were thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls who weren't in school and only gathered pig feed at home, but Zhang Ping'an might have to trouble Yan Bugui again when they got to Sijiucheng.

"I have no objection, but..." Zhang Ping'an looked at the eldest and second sisters.

"Go if you want; there's nothing to do at home now, but don't cause trouble for your uncle."

"Okay."

Just like that, Zhang Ping'an took the four of them and their packed luggage and set off for Sijiucheng.

Inside the Siheyuan, Zhang Ping'an had already arranged for the four of them: the two girls in the same room as Si Jie, and the two nephews in another room.

"Xiaochen, Xiaojing, tomorrow you are mainly responsible for watching the children and protecting Si Jie. I will go with you for these two days; once you are familiar with the route, you will have to rely on yourselves."

A few days ago, Zhang Ping'an had already gotten two simple racks from the Style Lei, which were just enough to support the clothes for the roadside stall.

"Okay, Uncle."

"You two little girls just wait at home to cook; you can also study, your little aunt's books are all there, or go to your third aunt's place to help her look after the children."

"Okay, Uncle."

After arranging everything, Zhang Ping'an demonstrated the daily meal standard to the two little girls, and the two little girls gasped in surprise again.

"Alright, from now on, follow this standard. You can eat whatever is in the house; you don't need to tell me."

"Mm, okay."

Both girls were full of happiness; they had just discovered quite a few good things in the kitchen, and there was no shortage in their little aunt's bedroom either.

The next morning, Zhang Lanhua and the two girls finished breakfast, and the group ate and then set off in high spirits on the tricycle.

The location was one Zhang Ping'an had scouted in advance, right near the staff Family Building; those living here were either long-term Workers or Cadres, and their purchasing power was stronger than that of ordinary families.

It was September, and there was still a bit of the "autumn tiger" heat, so people weren't wearing much, and the children's clothes sold were mostly for autumn.

With the two racks set up, the clothes displayed, and the little models standing there, the effect was immediate; Zhang Ping'an didn't even need to shout, as many aunts and grandmothers buying groceries gathered around.

"Young man, are you selling clothes?"

"Yes, Auntie, take a look. This is the effect when children wear them. We have every size, and if we don't, you can pre-order." Zhang Ping'an pulled the four still-bewildered people to the front.

"Not bad, not bad. The material is good, the workmanship is good, and the clothes are quite pretty. Young man, how are you selling them?"

Indeed, these children's clothes were different from the current ones; they were novel without being gaudy, and they all gave people a refreshing feeling.

"25,000 yuan, or 35,000 yuan for a set. Add 500 for larger ones, subtract 500 for smaller ones. Auntie, for their height, they are all 35,000 yuan."

This price could be called a fair price; the fabric itself was soft and skin-friendly, which wasn't cheap, and with the novel style and craftsmanship, the price was about the same as the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and it saved them a trip.

Each set of clothes earned a little over 8,000 yuan after deducting raw materials, but counting the craftsmanship and time, one piece earned at most about 5,000 yuan.

"The price is alright, but young man, if we buy more, can't it be a bit cheaper?"

"Deal. Today is our first time setting up a stall, and since you are supporting our business, Auntie, I'll make each set 500 cheaper."

"Good, good, good." Several aunts put down their vegetable baskets and chose the sizes suitable for their grandchildren.

Before long, the twenty-three sets of boys' clothes were sold out, and many who didn't find the right size placed orders in advance, while only four sets of girls' clothes were sold.

Fortunately, considering the preference for boys over girls in this era, they had focused on boys' clothing, and the sizes were on the larger side, as people in this era basically chose clothes a size or two too big.

"How does it feel?" Zhang Ping'an asked after the crowd dispersed.

"Uncle, money in the city is really easy to earn."

"...."

"What are you thinking about? It's mainly because the clothes your aunt makes are novel, and we don't sell them for much; otherwise, how could we have sold so many all at once?"

"Ping'an, you all watch over things here; I'm going back to finish making the clothes ordered today."

"Alright, I see there are quite a few orders; if you can't keep up, distribute some to San Jie and the others."

"Mm, okay."