Make a Fortune and Become Well-off [90] - Chapter 156

The guard had clearly bought several pieces and did not hesitate to praise the store. “The factory has shut down and is no longer producing clothes. This store probably won’t be open for long. Once the clothes are sold out, that’ll be it.”

A few boys overheard that padded coats and jackets were selling for just 29 or 39 yuan.

Even if they didn’t know much about pricing, their parents had certainly told them how expensive their clothes were.

As the Chinese New Year approached, the prices of clothes on the street rose steadily. People knew that shoppers were buying for the New Year and took advantage of the season to hike up prices, hoping to cash in at the end of the year.

If they didn’t rip people off during this time, when would they? Other than weddings or special events, there weren’t many occasions when people were so willing to spend money on new clothes. So, upon hearing that the clothes in this store were both cheap and high-quality, they couldn’t resist heading over to check it out.

As they got closer, the loudspeaker’s voice became clearer, like a hypnotic rhythm filling their ears. The young, lively voice inside echoed, “Jiangnan Garment Factory closed down. Bastard He, the factory director. Bastard He, the factory director, ran away with a young married employee.”

When had these simple Wuzhong high school students, who spent their days reading about sages, ever heard such gossip? Even those familiar with gossip rarely spread it. Wuzhong students were all focused on their studies.

What had they just heard?

They were so innocent that they didn’t realize it was just a fabricated advertisement. They thought it was all true. Shocked, they believed Director He had really run off with 35 million yuan.

How much was thirty-five million?

Their fathers earned less than 200 yuan a month, and yet Director He had made off with 35 million yuan and ran away with a young woman.

At the thought, their faces flushed slightly, and with reddened cheeks, they walked into the store that was rumored to be selling quality clothes at cheap prices.

Because the guard had recommended it, they didn’t doubt the store’s quality. If the clothes weren’t good, the guard wouldn’t have endorsed it.

There weren’t many people inside at that time, so it was easy to see who was there and what clothes were on display. As they entered the store, they spotted Jiang Bai, neatly dressed.

Jiang Bai was ironing clothes and smiled warmly at them when he saw them enter. They stared at his face, stunned.

In fact, Jiang Bai, at 1.81 meters tall, with a long face, no longer resembled a girl. His Adam’s apple was prominent, and his hair was cut very short. Anyone would be blind to mistake him for a girl.

But they couldn’t stand how good-looking he was.

The brightness, completely different from the dullness in Wucheng High School, was like a ray of light that struck their eyes. They were stunned for a while, then reluctantly moved their gaze away from his face and focused on his clothes. They couldn’t help but want to try on the clothes he was wearing.

They must look handsome in the clothes he wore.

They just didn’t bring enough money.

It didn’t matter—the school was right next to the store. They could easily go back and get it.

The family background of Wuzhong students was generally better than that of No. 1 High School. Local students with excellent grades in Wucheng would usually choose to study in Wuzhong rather than No. 1 High School. Since No. 1 High School couldn’t recruit good students in Wucheng, it set its sights on students with good grades but poor family backgrounds, offering scholarships and free tuition as incentives.

For instance, the top ten students in the high school entrance exam were lured by scholarships and free tuition, which were tempting for many families. But even then, these students didn’t go to No. 1 High School. They chose Wuzhong, which required tuition fees and didn’t offer as many scholarships as No. 1 High School. This was an indication that these students’ families, regardless of their academic excellence, were not lacking in money.

Take Jiang Hehua, for example. Although she was a girl from the countryside, her father was the brigade secretary, the most powerful official in their rural area.

These students received pocket money weekly, but being locked up in school left them with few opportunities to spend it. Other than buying snacks at the school canteen, they had nowhere to use their money, so they saved it. Some students had significant amounts of money on hand. If they ran out, they would borrow from classmates and repay them later by asking their parents for more.

Before long, one student returned to the dormitory wearing new clothes. Even the dark blue knitted scarf Jiang Bai used as a decoration around his neck was sold out.

The scarves were sold in bundles. They saw how Jiang Bai casually tied his and admired how good it looked. They imitated him, trying out the scarves themselves.

Though the scarf-tying method, like that of Xu Wenqiang, looked stylish, it wasn’t warm.

In Wuzhong, students weren’t allowed to wear their coats open or wear scarves loosely around their necks. If a teacher saw it, they’d come over and tie it up properly for them.

Soon, the new scarf-tying style became popular throughout No. 1 High School and Wuzhong High School.

Yes, not just Wuzhong High School, but the boys at No. 1 High School had been eyeing Jiang Bai for days, admiring his various outfits. They had long wanted to buy his clothes too! But the school gates were always closed, so they couldn’t leave. Now, with a rare day off, why not take the chance to go out?

The students at No. 1 High School weren’t as wealthy as those at Wuzhong, but some still had plenty of pocket money, and others were very thrifty. They usually didn’t spend much, saving instead, so they had enough to buy clothes. Some of them noticed how good and affordable the clothes were and wanted to buy a set for their parents too. Sadly, their funds were limited. Buying two pieces of clothing was the best they could do.

When it came down to choosing between themselves and their parents, they chose their parents, gifting each one piece of clothing. Some only thought of themselves and bought a coat for their own use. By nine o’clock, Jiang Ning’s store was already packed with people eager to buy clothes.

Boys shop differently from girls, who like to try on items one by one. Boys tended to see something they liked, try it on, and if it fits, they buy it.

Especially since the store had fixed prices with no haggling, it was straightforward.

For the shy boys who didn’t know how to bargain, this was perfect. They made their purchases quickly and easily.

Grandpa Jiang was responsible for counting the money inside, while Jiang Bai took care of selling the clothes and handling the payments.

During this rare holiday, Tong Jingang even brought a basketball to play with Jiang Bai. But when he arrived at the store, he couldn’t even get inside.

As soon as Jiang Bai saw him, he grabbed the young man and said, “King Kong, come help me sell these clothes. There are too many people, and I’m overwhelmed.”