newbobooks Chapter 123 The Beauty's Fan
Chapter 123 The Beauty's Fan
After enjoying a sumptuous and heartwarming reunion dinner, Su Yuning and Ye Beichen embarked on their journey back to the city side by side. They chatted amiably along the way, and before they knew it, they had arrived in the city.
Upon entering the city, Su Yuning didn't waste any time. As soon as she got off the carriage, she rushed towards the factory like an arrow released from a bow, her hurried steps as if she was afraid of missing something of utmost importance.
Ye Beichen drove the carriage at a leisurely pace, first safely delivering Su Yuning to the factory gate. Watching her hurried figure rush inside, a doting smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. After confirming that Su Yuning had successfully entered the factory, Ye Beichen lightly flicked the whip, urging the carriage slowly towards his Ni Chang Pavilion.
As Ye Beichen drew closer to the Ni Chang Pavilion, he noticed a long, winding queue forming in front of his shop. The crowd was bustling and jostling, a lively and bustling scene indeed!
Upon seeing this, Ye Beichen was filled with astonishment. He quickly stopped the carriage and got off with a suspicious look on his face. He stared wide-eyed at the scene before him in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words, completely stunned. After a moment of daze, he came to his senses and quickly walked into the shop's main hall.
He had hoped to find some guards in the hall to ask what had happened, but to his dismay, he couldn't see a single guard in the entire hall. Frustrated, Ye Beichen walked straight to the busy waiter at the counter, patted him on the shoulder, and asked, "Brother, why is our shop so bustling today? How come business has suddenly become so booming?"
The shop assistant, seeing his boss approaching from afar, instantly brightened his slightly tired face, his smile spreading like a flower blooming in the warm spring sun. His round face quickly became a small hill of joy, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He exclaimed excitedly, "Oh my, boss! This is truly wonderful news! I must immediately report this earth-shattering good news! The new fans we just got are selling like hotcakes! There are so many people buying them, they're practically breaking down the door! Orders are pouring in like snowflakes! The scene is... wow, so lively! It's truly a case of supply falling short of demand!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen was slightly taken aback, his heart filled with suspicion. His brows furrowed tightly, forming a deep furrow, and he asked with a puzzled expression, "How come I don't remember that our Ni Chang Pavilion has always dealt in clothes, shoes, and various fabrics? When did we get involved in the fan trade?"
Seeing this, the shop assistant quickly put on a smiling face, nodding and bowing as he explained incessantly, "Hehehe, boss, you don't know, this batch of fans was personally purchased by that Miss Xuanyuan! I heard that these fans have a particularly beautiful name, called 'Beauty Fan,' and oh my, ever since they were put on the shelves, they've been incredibly popular! Many customers come specifically for them!"
Hearing this, Ye Beichen's curiosity grew even stronger. He slowly turned his head and focused his gaze on the fans displayed in the shop. Upon closer inspection, he saw that each fan was enormous, shaped like an elephant's fan-like ears, drooping on the shelf. Ye Beichen couldn't help but frown again, muttering under his breath, "Look at these, aren't they just ordinary banana leaf fans? How did they transform into such sought-after 'beauty fans'? It's truly perplexing..."
The shop assistant, with a warm smile on his face, patiently explained to the customers: "Ladies and gentlemen, the design of our fan is truly ingenious! When young ladies hold this fan and gently wave it, the delicate fan surface can perfectly cover part of their cheeks, creating a visual effect that makes their faces appear smaller. That's why it has earned the beautiful name 'Beauty Fan'!"
Just as the shop was bustling with business and the staff were working themselves to the bone, a graceful figure rushed in—it was Xuan Yuan Rong'er, returning from outside. Her expression was slightly grave, and she announced loudly as soon as she entered, "Dear esteemed guests, I have some shocking news to share! Due to the massive deforestation of the trees that produce the banana leaf fan, native to tropical regions, there are very few left. Therefore, our shop can only procure a very small batch of these fans! After careful consideration, I hereby solemnly announce a decision: from now on, our shop will only sell ten fans per day. Furthermore, the price will increase dramatically from one tael of silver to five taels! Also, if you wish to purchase additional fans, you must simultaneously purchase a certain amount of clothing."
These words caused a huge uproar, and the people present immediately began to complain: "Oh dear, this is too unreasonable! How can they suddenly raise prices and set so many restrictions?" In an instant, various complaints and grumbles rose and fell.
However, amidst the commotion, a clear and steady voice rang out: "Please calm down, everyone, and let me say a few words. Although the shop has made this adjustment, the good news is that this new rule will officially take effect tomorrow. That means that everyone can still freely purchase the beauty fans at the original prices and in the original way today!" The speaker was none other than the elegant Ye Beichen. His appearance seemed to inject a calming agent into the noisy scene, gradually quieting down the previously restless crowd.
A thunderous applause erupted, and the crowd cheered and applauded! Immediately afterward, the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, scrambling to grab the exquisite fan. The scene was incredibly lively; people pushed and shoved, afraid of falling behind and missing out on their desired fan.
After a fierce scramble, everyone was satisfied, holding their own fan with a happy smile on their face. They excitedly went to the counter, paid readily, and then happily went home with their fans.
By this time, the sun had gradually set, and night had quietly fallen. The shop had also ended its day's business and slowly closed its doors. However, the shop owner, Ye Beichen, showed no sign of resting. With a solemn expression, he summoned his guards and Xuan Yuan Rong'er to the hall for questioning.
Ye Beichen sat upright in his armchair, his gaze fixed intently on the two men standing ramrod straight before him. He said sternly, "What on earth are you two up to? I put you in charge of purchasing high-quality clothing fabrics to ensure a sufficient supply of goods for the store, but instead of doing your job properly, you've poured all the money you've earned recently into those banana leaf fans! Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Faced with Ye Beichen's questioning, the young couple exchanged a glance, nodded somewhat guiltily, and replied softly, "Sir, please calm down. We did this to increase the shop's revenue. Think about it, the clothing styles on the market are all very similar these days, and the competition is too fierce. If we just keep buying ordinary fabrics, it will be difficult to attract more customers. These unique banana leaf fans, on the other hand, are not only uniquely designed but also highly practical. They will definitely become a major selling point for our shop, thereby boosting the sales of other products."
“Okay, I understand.” Ye Beichen paused and continued, “But you can’t limit the sales, can you? Selling ten fans a day, what were you thinking?”
Just as Xuanyuan Rong'er was about to speak, the guard interrupted, "You can't blame us for this. All the banana trees in the original production area have been cut down, so we can only sell the limited supply. This way, we can not only increase our sales but also boost clothing sales. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
"Then why did the price suddenly increase so much? Isn't this obviously making things difficult for consumers?" Ye Beichen's eyes widened, his face flushed with anger, his hands on his hips, and he questioned loudly in a fit of rage.
Faced with Ye Beichen's questioning, Xuan Yuan Rong'er remained calm. She smiled slightly, a faint expression on her face, and replied softly, "The principle of scarcity driving up prices is perfectly normal. The limited quantity of this style and material naturally leads to higher prices."
However, Ye Beichen was not satisfied with this explanation. He frowned and retorted with a serious expression, "I absolutely cannot accept this situation! Since the only way to get a fan is to buy clothes, then let's just give the fan away as a free gift!" As he said this, his eyes were firm and determined, as if he had made up his mind to change the status quo.
Upon hearing Ye Beichen's suggestion, the guard standing to the side looked troubled. He shook his head and said with a bitter face, "Young lord, we're running a business, not a charity event. If we give away the fans for free, we'll lose money!" He then let out a long sigh.
At this moment, Xuan Yuan Rong'er nodded in agreement with the guard's opinion. She continued, "That's right. Right now, it's the height of summer, and fans are practically an essential item for people. So, instead of giving them away for free, we should raise the price to ensure the shop makes a sufficient profit."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the factory, the production of cooling mats was in full swing. Due to strong market demand, merchants from not only the Song Dynasty but also the Liao Dynasty, Western Xia, and even distant East Africa were placing orders for cooling mats from Su Yuning's factory, making the already busy production line even more strained. Faced with such enormous order pressure, Su Yuning knew that she had to take measures to ensure the health and efficiency of her workers.
So, she made a quick decision and decided to gather all the workers together for an emergency meeting. Once everyone was assembled, Su Yuning cleared her throat and said loudly, "Fellow workers, you've all worked incredibly hard lately! I want to express my sincere gratitude to every one of you who has contributed so diligently. The main reason I've called you all here is to announce two important things. First, starting today, our work schedule will change to two shifts. The men will form one group, and the women will form the other. Tonight, the men will be working overtime to finish making the mats, while the women can go home early to get some rest. This arrangement will ensure that production progress isn't affected, and it will also allow everyone to get sufficient rest so they can be in better shape for the work ahead."
At this point, many male workers in the audience clapped, indicating their willingness to take on the overtime work that night. Su Yuning smiled and nodded, continuing, "The second thing I want to talk about is the 'mentorship' policy. If any of you experienced employees can successfully refer new employees to our factory, you'll not only receive a generous bonus, but also an extra delicious fruit reward! We hope everyone will actively encourage their friends and family to join our big family and work together to complete these orders!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted. Many people excitedly whispered among themselves, discussing how to find suitable new recruits to recommend to the factory. Seeing everyone's high spirits, Su Yuning felt very gratified. Finally, she raised her voice again and instructed, "Alright, now everyone, according to the group assignments we just made, those who need to work, hurry up and get to your jobs, and those who need to go home and rest, leave as soon as possible. Be careful on the road, and get home safely!" As her gentle and kind words fell, everyone stood up and dispersed in an orderly manner, returning to their posts or embarking on their journeys home. Although the whole scene was busy, it was filled with harmony and vitality.
After a long day, Su Yuning dragged her slightly tired body slowly toward home, thinking that she could finally get some rest. However, just as she was about to turn into the alley leading to the Princess's residence, a familiar figure suddenly appeared before her, causing her to stop in her tracks, her face filled with astonishment.