Chapter 34: I’ll Tell You My Thoughts Tonight

Gu Qiangwei shook her head and quickly adjusted her emotions. “No, it’s nothing. I think the wind just blew into my eyes earlier, made them feel a little uncomfortable. Let’s get some sleep early.”

“Uncle, Auntie, you two should go to bed early too.”

Su Qingshuang thought about how they had to get up early tomorrow for the shop’s opening, so after saying their goodnights, everyone went back to their own rooms.

Lying in bed, He Xiulan and Su Jianbin began talking about Gu Qiangwei.

“This girl’s life has been too hard. She doesn’t even have any family left. Let’s just keep her here and treat her like a half-daughter.”

“Of course. I think she’s a great girl—pretty, kind, a good cook, and smart too.”

After chatting for a bit, they fell asleep.

The Next Morning

Gu Qiangwei and Su Qingyi got up early and had a bowl of noodles at home.

He Xiulan was packing up, getting ready to head to the business stall. Gu Qiangwei especially made her a few flatbreads to eat on the train.

She also packed some for Su Jianbin.

“Not bad at all! Ever since Qiangwei came to our house, our quality of life has been steadily improving!”

Su Qingshuang couldn’t help but sigh while eating her noodles.

Usually, going from home to the shop took a long time. Sometimes she couldn’t even get up in time for breakfast, so she’d just grab a bun or fried dough on the road.

But now, she was eating delicious noodles with eggs in the morning—it felt like heaven!

After finishing breakfast, Su Jianbin and He Xiulan gave them a few final reminders before the girls jogged to the shop.

Because Su Qingyi had them jogging every day before, running there now wasn’t as tiring anymore.

Once they arrived at the shop, they tidied up, wiped down the windows, and finally opened the doors. They also changed into spring outfits from their new collection.

Both were wearing fresh, trendy styles.

Spring clothes weren’t that different from autumn ones, just with brighter colors and some small design tweaks—like cheerful cardigans or sporty sets, catering to different tastes.

Not long after they opened, a customer walked in—it was a loyal regular who had topped up her store credit before.

“You’re finally open! I put some money on my card here and have been coming by these past few days, hoping to buy a few outfits.”

“I came specifically to pick some out today!”

After the woman spoke, Gu Qiangwei politely accompanied her around the store and helped her pick out two or three outfits.

Each outfit had a different style, and Gu Qiangwei even matched them with shoes.

She mainly helped adjust the woman’s collar or skirt hem—nothing excessive.

This particular customer didn’t like small talk—she had her own opinions.

After trying them all on and seeing the shoes Gu Qiangwei had picked, the woman hesitated.

“What do you think about these three outfits?”

She finally asked. Normally she wouldn’t consult a sales clerk, but she liked all three and wanted Qiangwei’s opinion.

“This one is great for everyday shopping or casual outings—it’s comfortable.”

“The cardigan set is perfect for regular daily wear.”

“This third one is a little more elegant. If you have a special occasion or need to meet someone important, this would be a great choice. Honestly, I think all three suit you perfectly.”

Gu Qiangwei’s comments hit the mark.

The customer really did need outfits for those exact occasions.

The daily set had nice fabric, stylish without being gaudy, and made her look younger.

Still a little torn, the woman was about to make a decision when another customer walked in. Gu Qiangwei greeted the new guest and went over to help.

Because it was opening day, many old customers dropped in once they saw the store was open.

Just after Gu Qiangwei finished helping the new guest, the previous woman came up holding all three outfits.

“I’ll take all of them. Just deduct the total from my top-up card. If it’s not enough, I’ll recharge.”

After deducting the amount from her card, she still owed 27 yuan.

“Then I’ll top up another 100.”

She pulled out some bills from her pocket. Gu Qiangwei nodded and quickly wrote the transaction in their notebook—100 yuan added, then deducted accordingly.

With a 100 yuan recharge, they offered a free item—either an autumn outfit, two accessories, or a pair of out-of-season shoes.

They used leftover stock as free gifts, which gave customers a sense of genuine appreciation.

In the end, the woman chose a pair of off-season leather shoes that she could still wear next year.

She walked out beaming, carrying her three new outfits.

Seeing someone making a purchase, recharging, and getting gifts prompted others to browse too.

Their spring collection was stylish and fresh. The first day had a great turnout, and even though traffic was lighter in the following days, they steadily earned over 30 yuan daily.

A few days later, their second batch of spring clothing arrived.

This was the batch they had brainstormed over the New Year and pushed the factory to rush-produce.

This round featured brighter colors and little clever design elements.

As soon as they dressed the mannequins in the new outfits, old customers came in again.

With the weather warming, demand for spring outfits was rising fast. Their shop saw steady foot traffic.

Some pieces were already down to just display samples, so they asked the factory to send more.

One regular customer even wanted to buy the display outfit.

“Just sell me this one—I need it in two days!”

“What if it’s gone by then?”

She kept pestering Gu Qiangwei, who smiled helplessly. “Don’t worry, it’s coming—we’ve already placed the order. But this display one really can’t be sold.”

Neither Qiangwei nor Su Qingshuang expected the second spring collection to sell out so fast—most items were down to the last piece.

They asked the factory to speed up, but still couldn’t keep up with demand.

Eventually, they started taking pre-orders.

They were a bit worried customers wouldn’t like the idea, but as soon as they mentioned it, people lined up to pay—some even paid in full.

“I’ve bought from your store so many times. The quality is great, styles are fresh, and prices are fair. I don’t mind paying upfront. Your store is right here—you’re not going to run off with a few bucks!”

One outspoken customer made the remark loud enough for others to hear, and soon more people followed suit.

“She’s right!”

No way would they shut down and disappear over a few yuan. The shop was clearly doing well—closing would be a huge loss.

Seeing so many orders, Gu Qiangwei quickly jotted everything down and sent Su Qingshuang to the factory as soon as possible.

The factory had the goods ready, but their small backroom storage couldn’t hold much, so large shipments weren’t feasible.

After another two days of hustle, supply still lagged behind demand. When they finally had a moment to breathe, Su Qingshuang brought it up.

“The factory’s fulfilled everything, but our little storage space just isn’t enough. I think we should rent a bigger warehouse nearby. Otherwise, we’ll keep falling behind.”

Though many regulars were happy to pre-order, new customers still had doubts. If they couldn’t deliver, it would be bad for business.

Now that people were familiar with the store, even their shoes were selling well—customers often bought full outfits including accessories and footwear to avoid the hassle of matching.

They had also formed a partnership with a shoe manufacturer. Sometimes Su Qingshuang would even design a pair herself when inspired, though most of the stock was wholesale from the factory.

Besides clothes and shoes, they also brought in accessories—spring scarves, winter hats and gloves, socks, and even bags.

These were all Gu Qiangwei’s suggestions—items with consistent turnover.

But expanding like this meant they definitely needed a larger warehouse.

Su Qingshuang had been thinking about it all day and wanted to talk it over with Qiangwei. After all, the rent would be shared between them, and though it might not be a huge cost, it was still a business decision.

When she heard this, Gu Qiangwei realized it was time to reveal her secret about her “space.”

Tonight would be the moment.

“Qiangwei, what do you think?”

“If you agree, and we have time this afternoon, we could go check out some warehouse options and get one secured soon. Then we can ask the factory to send our stock straight there.”

“Preferably somewhere nearby.”

As Su Qingshuang continued talking, Gu Qiangwei gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“This isn’t urgent. I’ll tell you my thoughts tonight.”