Font Size:
Ye Xiaoyu handed her staff matching aprons adorned with the Chinese character “福” (blessing). With everyone’s help, they finally displayed all the gift boxes in the storefront.
Each team member had specific responsibilities. Ye Xiaoyu mainly handled cashier duties and sales, while Chen Yanan focused on selling and occasionally helped with cash handling. Aunt Mao managed the warehouse and packing, while the other two employees were all-rounders, helping wherever needed.
By 8:00 a.m., their sales had exceeded 400 yuan.
While Ye Xiaoyu avoided using firecrackers at the station, she allowed long strings of balloons to be popped instead. Both staff and customers eagerly joined in, creating a festive atmosphere. At the same time, an advertising loudspeaker began playing prerecorded messages:
“Celebrate the New Year with vibrant festivities and shop for holiday goods! Let your family and friends enjoy the taste of Beijing specialties!”
Initially, Ye Xiaoyu had wanted a device to record and replay advertisements, but none were available at the time. Eventually, she resorted to using a tape recorder connected to a speaker, which not only served its purpose but also doubled as an English learning tool for little Lele in the future.
The popping balloons and lively announcements attracted a crowd. More and more people stopped by to see what was happening, forming a semicircle around the shop. In a country where people loved gathering to watch the action, the growing crowd naturally drew even more attention.
Some passersby asked if she sold loose goods instead of gift boxes. Ye Xiaoyu smiled and responded, “Sorry, ma’am. If you’re interested, you can find loose items at other shops nearby. Our products here are all premium quality and beautifully packaged. For instance, these rolled pastries, called Donkey Rolls, come from the same supplier that serves the Tanzhe Temple fair. Our Beijing Eight Delicacies use ingredients like jujube paste, green plums, raisins, red bean paste, sugar, bananas, roses, and salted pepper—craftsmanship only mastered by royal chefs. Even the peanuts and sunflower seeds are perfectly roasted. You can open the packaging after buying to see for yourself. During New Year’s, it’s important to treat yourself to the best and give gifts that truly warm people’s hearts, right?”
Initially puzzled by Ye Xiaoyu’s suggestion to shop elsewhere, the elderly woman was surprised by her genuine and warm demeanor. After hearing her detailed explanation, the woman felt convinced and bought an 18-yuan New Year’s Blessing gift box.
The elderly woman, frugal and meticulous, opened the package on the spot to inspect its contents. She was pleasantly surprised to find not only the outer packaging exquisite but also the interior thoughtfully arranged. Each item was wrapped in red paper with Chinese “福” characters and tied with elegant red bows.
With this level of presentation, more and more people began purchasing gift boxes. Some spent as little as 18 yuan, while others opted for 38- or 48-yuan boxes. The best-sellers were pastries and wine, though fruits also sold well.
The shop was bustling with activity, customers calling out and asking questions like a cacophony of ducks. Amid the chaos, Ye Xiaoyu remained calm, knowing that vigilance was crucial. This era had its share of petty theft and counterfeit money.
To ensure authenticity, Ye Xiaoyu had trained herself and her staff on how to identify fake currency. Whether it was 10, 20, 50, or 100 yuan notes, they inspected each bill carefully. Larger denominations were usually handled by Ye Xiaoyu herself, using a simple “touch and look” method:
In an era when counterfeiting technology wasn’t highly advanced, these methods easily filtered out 99% of fake bills.
To prevent theft, Ye Xiaoyu took various precautions. For instance, she strung ropes on both sides of the stall to control access through the central entrance. Additionally, she posted a sign on the wall stating, “Monitored by the police station opposite. Steal, and you’ll be fined tenfold.” While this was primarily a deterrent, in reality, recovering stolen items was unlikely.
Much of the theft prevention still relied on vigilance.
These measures proved useful. Between 9 and 11 a.m., Ye Xiaoyu detected two counterfeit 100-yuan bills, three fake 50-yuan notes, a forged 20-yuan bill, and even a 10-yuan note that was only half intact. Most bizarrely, someone tried paying with an oversized counterfeit 1-yuan coin.
The team also thwarted over ten attempts where people tried to walk off with goods without paying. It was clear that societal etiquette still had room for improvement.
While there were other shops at the station selling specialties, Ye Xiaoyu’s store was the only one offering such beautifully packaged products. Business thrived consistently. Though not always packed, there hadn’t been a single stretch of ten minutes without sales since the shop opened. From 9 to 11 a.m., when train arrivals were frequent, the shop was so busy that all four sales staff were required to manage the crowd.
At noon, Ye Xiaoyu ordered takeout from a nearby restaurant but ensured staff took turns eating, as at least two people needed to guard the shop. To reward her employees, she ordered a hearty meal of eight dishes:
Famished, Ye Xiaoyu devoured her meal quickly. During the break, she finally had a chance to chat with her son, Lele, who had come out for some fresh air.
“Are you scared? Bored?” she asked gently.
Lele shook his head firmly. “Mommy is making big money!”
“Yes! Big money!” Ye Xiaoyu laughed, her eyes crinkling with joy. Though the work was exhausting, the satisfaction of earning made it all worthwhile.
Aunt Mao added, “Ye Boss, your little boy is so well-behaved. He’s been running errands for me all morning.”
Ye Xiaoyu smiled and reminded her, “Please keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t wander outside.”
The day’s business exceeded her expectations, prompting her to consider hiring another staff member. However, hiring wasn’t easy. She had no time to vet candidates properly, and hiring someone untrustworthy could cause losses worse than being short-staffed.
Aunt Mao quickly chimed in, “Ye Boss, how about my eldest daughter?”
Ye Xiaoyu asked, “Doesn’t she have a job?”
“She works as a temp at a private garment factory,” Aunt Mao explained hesitantly. “Her monthly wage is only 200 yuan. I can vouch for her—she’s quick and trustworthy.”
“Alright, let her try for two days first. If she passes, her salary will be the same as yours.”
The period from 2 to 3:30 p.m. was even busier than the morning. After 5:30 p.m., business slowed slightly, but there were still steady customers. One newlywed couple purchased a 99-yuan “Everlasting Happiness” gift box.
Although late work hours weren’t common practice, Ye Xiaoyu didn’t want her employees returning home too late. She had hired two women specifically for the evening shift. Both lived in nearby residential buildings, making their commute much easier than for Aunt Mao and the others.
On their way home, Aunt Mao and Chen Yanan, who lived nearby, couldn’t help discussing their boss.
“How does Ye Boss manage to say the same things we do, but make it sound so convincing? Even I want to buy something!” Aunt Mao exclaimed.
“She’s smart, educated, and cultured. She knows more than us, which is why she can make money so easily,” Chen Yanan replied.
Reflecting on her own family, Aunt Mao nodded. “That’s right, education matters. My second daughter has good grades, so I’ll definitely support her studies.”
Recalling her mother-in-law’s old-fashioned view that girls didn’t need education, Aunt Mao felt vindicated. Ye Xiaoyu was proof that women could earn big money. Now that Aunt Mao was in charge of her household, she was determined to fund her second daughter’s schooling.
Chen Yanan, on the other hand, came from a family that favored sons over daughters. She had dropped out of school early to support her younger brother. Working in the city and meeting Ye Xiaoyu had given her new perspectives.
“Night schools in Beijing offer technical courses and even opportunities to take university entrance exams,” Chen Yanan mused. The idea of returning to school grew increasingly appealing to her.
With fewer customers in the evening, Lele was finally allowed to step out of the back room—but only under strict supervision. Ye Xiaoyu kept a tight grip on his hand, refusing to let go even when teased by her staff for being an overprotective “mother hen.”
Lele sighed dramatically, playing along. “What can I do with such a clingy mom? I’ll just spoil her secretly.”
His playful remark made the staff burst into laughter.
During a quiet moment, Ye Xiaoyu took the opportunity to visit the police station across the street and build rapport with the officers.
Her friendly demeanor, along with Lele’s adorable “Hello, Officer Uncle,” amused everyone at the station.
One officer jokingly pointed to a young policewoman and asked, “Why is she ‘Officer Miss,’ but we’re all ‘Officer Uncle’?”
The short-haired policewoman grinned mischievously. “Because I’m young, and you’re old!”
Ye Xiaoyu: “So young, handsome men, and beautiful women—good-looking people really do get handed over to the state.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard that,” someone remarked, amused.
In just a few minutes of interaction, Ye Xiaoyu got to know several police officers. The one who left the deepest impression was the lively and cheerful policewoman, Su Xi, whose name sounded just as pleasant as her demeanor.
When she returned to her store, having her lucky charm, Lele, around proved beneficial. That evening, several toy gift packages sold, including a “Family Bundle” priced at 168 yuan.
The specialty shop stayed open until midnight—not because Ye Xiaoyu wanted to work late, but because other shops in the area followed similar hours, with some even operating 24/7. Closing early would still result in noise disturbances, so she decided to stay in sync with the surrounding shops.
After her two employees helped move the goods inside and headed home together, Ye Xiaoyu settled down with a notebook and calculator to indulge in one of her favorite activities—counting money.
Lele, unable to sleep in the unfamiliar environment, joined in. The two huddled together, counting bills of various denominations:
“One hundred, two hundred… one thousand, two thousand… fifty, one hundred… twenty, forty… ten yuan, twenty yuan… five yuan, one yuan… fifty cents, ten cents…”
Though minor, small denominations like fifty and ten cents still appeared, as some customers preferred to pay with coins. For instance, one customer paid an 18-yuan bill with ten 1-yuan coins, fifteen 50-cent coins, and ten 10-cent coins.
“A total of 8,943 yuan,” Ye Xiaoyu announced.
She had also prepared a gift package inventory sheet. Since the shop only had about 20 types of packages, calculating the number of boxes sold and multiplying by their respective prices allowed her to estimate daily sales revenue.
The calculation showed a discrepancy of about 200 yuan, with recorded sales slightly higher. However, small losses were inevitable in business, and this was an acceptable margin.
Still, the 8,943 yuan was just gross revenue, not net profit. After accounting for expenses—rent (5,000 yuan), staff wages (2,500 × 4 + 1,500 × 2), a cassette player (1,000 yuan), a second-hand pager (888 yuan), two calculators (75 yuan), a set of scales (188 yuan), estimated electricity (100 yuan), food (1,000 yuan), living costs (1,000 yuan), and miscellaneous expenses (2,000 yuan)—the total amounted to 21,351 yuan, not including product costs.
Discussing costs on the first day felt premature. It wasn’t even Lunar New Year yet. Instead of depositing the 8,943 yuan in the bank, Ye Xiaoyu planned to use her pager to contact suppliers and order more packaging and products based on the day’s sales trends.
Although the pager lacked advanced functionality, a second-hand one was sufficient for her short-term needs.
“Is Lele asleep? If so, raise your hand,” Ye Xiaoyu whispered.
With his eyes tightly shut, Lele raised his right hand and began fake snoring. “Zzz…”
“Pfft—alright, put your hand down,” Ye Xiaoyu chuckled.
