Chen Xiliang hadn’t approached major national newspapers. Luna clearly didn’t have that distribution capacity – what was the point of such a big promotion?

Besides, local newspaper people were easier to approach. Chen Xiliang had worked hard to establish these connections; getting a soft advertisement in the newspaper was good enough. “Fashion” magazine’s report was for fashion-conscious women to read.

The newspaper’s soft advertisements were for “attracting business and investment.”

The investment wasn’t needed yet, but attracting business would be good. If they didn’t build Luna’s reputation, distributors wouldn’t introduce Luna. If they relied on Xia Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang to open stores one by one, how long would it take for the brand to establish itself?

Luna was a bit more expensive than fast-fashion brands.

Luna equally needed others to actively seek franchise opportunities.

To successfully attract business, Xia Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang needed to run their existing stores to perfection, showing others how profitable Luna could be.

Whether it was the magazine’s loyal readership or Wang Mingming’s influence, Luna’s sales surged within days of the magazine’s release. Now Luna’s staff finally didn’t need to envy Blue Phoenix’s business… Little Manager Xia wasn’t neglecting Luna’s survival, but rather preparing a major move.

“Manager Xia, customers love the dress Wang Mingming wore at the Spring Festival Gala.”

That dress was quite extravagant, not suitable for daily wear.

Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t reject customer requests – the customer is god. But Ms. Wang Mingming was now her and Chen Xiliang’s timely rain: “Tell them clearly that the dress was custom-made for Wang Mingming, there’s only one in the world, and we’ve already given it to Ms. Wang Mingming. If they still want one, we have similar styles, but not the same. Do they still want it?”

The dress could be shorter, with a lower neckline – there had to be some different details.

Xia Xiaolan was forcefully riding on Wang Mingming’s fame, but she wouldn’t break her word.

Having exploited Wang Mingming’s reputation, the dress given to her naturally had to be unique.

The sales staff thought customers wouldn’t want copies, but when they relayed Xia Xiaolan’s message about the dress being one-of-a-kind and custom-made for Wang Mingming, the fashionable female customers of 1985 were utterly enchanted.

“Then we’ll take similar ones!”

The sales staff couldn’t understand it, but Xia Xiaolan could – it was the star power.

It was a pity Wang Mingming herself didn’t want more involvement with Luna. Otherwise, Xia Xiaolan could have gotten some signed posters and organized a points-based lottery where accumulated purchases of a certain amount could win Wang Mingming’s autographed poster… She could have played Wang Mingming’s fans dizzy!

No, no, that would be too ruthless. 1985 wasn’t like later times when fans could chase stars around the world, when getting a star’s autograph was nothing when they could take photos together and even hug. Now they can only hear Hong Kong and Taiwan stars’ voices on cassettes, and only see their images on TV, videotapes, and posters. At such a distance, a star’s autograph would be too exciting.

The common people of 1985 had a kind of innocent charm – they weren’t picky.

Few people liked only one star; whoever acted in a good TV show or sang a good song, could switch their affections around and like many stars simultaneously. Xia Xiaolan had already decided that after the spring collection’s returns came in if Wang Mingming still looked down on domestic brands, she’d have Chen Xiliang find mainland actresses for advertisements.

Let Luna’s recognition soar like a rocket!

If pushed, she could see if there were any urban dramas currently filming and have Luna be their clothing sponsor.

After all, she knew Director Wang now, and the entertainment circle was small – Wang Linshu surely knew other directors.

The more Xia Xiaolan thought about it, the better this idea seemed – they could even save on advertising costs.

She had come to Xidan during her free time between classes and needed to return after inspecting both stores. Bank Manager Wu said he’d arranged things with the local police station chief, and Xia Xiaolan had asked Manager Wu to be an intermediary for a dinner with the chief.

She was used to handling these things herself, but when Liu Fen heard about it, she offered to share the burden.

“How appropriate is it for a student to dine with the station chief? Let Mom go, I’m managing the store anyway.”

Looking after three stores alone, in such a short time, she’d lost some of the weight she’d just gained. Xia Xiaolan worried about her too. “Then let’s go together, Mother and daughter. With Manager Wu there, it’ll be fine.”

To run a successful business, you need to deal with different people.

Men can discuss business over drinks, and some even enjoy it.

It’s especially difficult for women in business. When you need something from someone, will you drink or not? If you don’t drink, business can’t be done; if you do, your safety might not be guaranteed.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t encountered such problems in her previous life – those who made her drink did so because of her outgoing nature, not because they were after her looks.

In this life, though Xia Xiaolan had become beautiful, she was experienced and wouldn’t put herself in dangerous situations.

But her mother hadn’t experienced these situations before.

She hoped the station chief Manager Wu found was truly reliable, without unsavory habits.

…

Not long after Xia Xiaolan left Xidan, Xia Ziyu and Zhang Cui, accompanied by Wang Jianhua, came to look at the storefront.

Xidan was truly bustling – Zhang Cui was half-satisfied just getting off the bus.

Barbershops, department stores, clothing stores – all kinds of shops were there, all seeming to do good business.

The shop Wang Jianhua found had only one storefront in front of a residential building, maybe twenty-some square meters, not as spacious as “Zhang’s” in Anqing County. Just for this shop, they wanted several hundred yuan a year. Zhang Cui’s heart ached thinking about the rent.

She’d thought with Wang Jianhua’s involvement, they could save on rent, but they still had to pay.

Xia Ziyu understood even less, privately telling her mother: “What’s several hundred yuan? You can earn it back in less than a month. If you don’t want the storefront Jianhua found, then find one yourself. Remember how our shop in Anqing closed? We’re outsiders in Beijing – without someone speaking for us, people will bully us!”

Could Xia Ziyu not find a shop herself?

Having Wang Jianhua find it must have been her consideration.

Several hundred yuan rent per year wasn’t much – as long as they could operate steadily, they could soon upgrade from a small shop to a larger storefront.

If business was good, they could even open branch stores.

If others could run breakfast chain stores, why couldn’t she?

Xia Ziyu’s mind became active again, looking at the twenty-some square meter small shop, seemingly seeing Zhang’s chain stores spread across China.

Running a restaurant business could work too, right?

Xia Ziyu wasn’t sure, she’d wait to see how her mother handled the business first.

Wang Jianhua returned with two bottles of soda. “Ziyu, Auntie, are you satisfied with this storefront? After some cleaning up, you can open for business. Don’t worry about the industrial and commercial bureau – I’ll have someone handle it.”

Xia Ziyu spoke before Zhang Cui could: “Of course we’re satisfied, you must have chosen it carefully.”

Wang Jianhua offered her the soda, but she refused, saying Wang Jianhua had worked hard and should drink it himself.

Wang Jianhua was touched. Remembering seeing a busy clothing store earlier while buying soda, and noting Xia Ziyu’s plain clothes, he felt the hundred-some yuan in his pocket and had an idea:

“Ziyu, let me take you to buy some new clothes.”