Song Qi learned to ride a bicycle on the way. Because he had cultivated in his previous life, flying on a sword and the like had been everyday occurrences.
Besides, he still had his martial prowess, so riding a bicycle was very simple. Once he got on and found his balance, he carried Shen Moxi along very steadily.
He took out the luminous pearl and gave it to Shen Moxi to light the way. With Shen Moxi giving directions, they soon reached town.
This time, they chose a spot near the intersection opposite the department store, where there was more foot traffic. When people going shopping saw these clothes and compared the styles and prices, they would be more likely to choose hers.
After stopping and locking the bicycle, Song Qi put the luminous pearl in the basket, took their things out of the space, and deftly set up the racks, hanging up the clothes one by one and sorting them.
Shen Moxi asked Song Qi to take out the small table and chairs they had bought and set them to one side. Then she bought two servings of sushi, a cake, and two cartons of milk from the system and placed them on the table.
After helping Song Qi arrange the clothes and shoes, she dressed the female mannequin in a newly designed two-piece outfit. The men's outfit was still a shirt-and-trousers set.
With everything ready, she pulled Song Qi over to sit at the table and eat something to replenish their energy, passing the time as they waited for dawn.
Song Qi picked up a piece of sushi and tasted it. "What is this? Other than the rice and cucumber, I don't recognize anything."
Shen Moxi took a bite and pointed at the ingredients inside as she explained, "This is called sushi. It's a food that came to us from another country. The main ingredient is rice. This yellow bit is pickled radish, and there's cucumber too. This yellow, fluffy stuff is pork floss, which is made from pork. And this is ham sausage. The outer layer is seaweed."
Song Qi only half understood. "All I need to know is that it tastes good. Do you know how to make it? We can make it ourselves in the future. Teach me."
"It's very simple. When we have time, I'll teach you to make food from Hua Country. There are so, so many delicious things," Shen Moxi said with a nod.
The two finished their food at a leisurely pace, and Shen Moxi wrote the prices of the newly added clothes on signs and attached them to the racks.
Dawn was approaching. Shen Moxi put away the luminous pearl and handed it to Song Qi to store in the space, then rested her head on the table and closed her eyes for a while. Having risen early these past two days and worked all day, she really was a little tired.
Bored, Song Qi took out an illustrated storybook he had collected earlier from the space and read it to pass the time while waiting for full daylight.
Shen Moxi dozed for a little while. When she opened her eyes again, it was light, and pedestrians were gradually appearing on the road, their numbers growing. She sat up, patted her shoulders, took a sip of water, and stood, just in time to see Song Qi put away the book in his hands.
She asked curiously, "What were you reading just now? Were you practicing martial arts?"
Song Qi shook his head. "An illustrated storybook I collected when I was bored before. I took it out just now to pass the time."
Shen Moxi nodded and sighed. "Ah, let's earn enough today to hurry up and secure the shop, renovate it, and move in. If we keep running back and forth like this, we won't be able to take it much longer."
"Mm, we'll definitely earn enough today. I have faith in you." Song Qi patted her hand.
Their timing was good today too. It happened to be Saturday, so many people were off work and more were out shopping. The crowd around their stall gradually grew, and the two began busily introducing their goods and collecting money.
In the early eighties, people mostly bought fabric and made their own clothes because it was cheaper.
Shen Moxi had chosen fabrics that were very soft and comfortable to wear, along with polyester-cotton blends and some relatively expensive silk fabrics.
The country was gradually developing now, and there was no shortage of wealthy people. Once people had money, they paid close attention to their clothing, with keeping up appearances being the most important thing. So attractive, pretty, comfortable clothes never lacked buyers.
A young woman of about twenty-one or twenty-two spotted the floral two-piece outfit on the mannequin, and her eyes lit up. She walked over and reached out to feel the fabric, which was very comfortable, then called to Shen Moxi, "Comrade, I'd like one of these in small and one in medium. Do you have any left?"
Shen Moxi looked up and saw a pretty young woman, then greeted her warmly. "Yes, miss. I'll get them for you."
She found a medium set and a small set on the rack and brought them over, handing them to her. "Here, miss, have a look. Pair this outfit with little leather heels, and you'll have the perfect look for a fashionable lady."
"I liked this set the moment I saw it. I'll get one for my younger cousin too. I see you have heels here as well. Are those for sale too?" The young woman took the clothes.
"The leather shoes are thirty yuan a pair. You can try them on and buy them if they fit." Shen Moxi brought over a small stool for her. "What size do you wear, miss? I'll get you a pair to try."
"I need a thirty-seven. I'll try them on, and if they fit, I'll take a pair in thirty-eight too." The young woman sat on the stool, took off her own shoes, and put on the leather shoes Shen Moxi brought over.
She put down the clothes, stood up, and walked around. "They're very comfortable and soft. The heel height is just right, and they aren't tiring to wear. Wrap up these two pairs for me."
Shen Moxi took them with a smile. "Of course, miss. Please sit and wait a moment."
Shen Moxi was delighted inside. I've run into a rich lady! Haha.
She wrapped up all the clothes and shoes and handed them over. "Miss, the clothes are twenty yuan a set, and the leather shoes are thirty yuan a pair. Two sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes come to exactly one hundred yuan."
"All right, here you go." The young woman took a small wallet out of her shoulder bag, counted out one hundred yuan, and handed it to her. "Count it again."
Shen Moxi thought, What a big spender.
"No need. I trust you." Shen Moxi took the money and tucked it into her pocket. "Thank you for your support. If any of your friends like these, please send them my way."
"All right." The young woman rode away on her bicycle.
Song Qi was also busy introducing clothes to some male customers, finding their clothes, and collecting money. The two worked away happily. The feeling of taking in money was simply fantastic.
They worked all morning. Once most of the customers had left, Shen Moxi tidied up the remaining clothes on the racks and rearranged them, and the two sat down on the chairs to rest.
"Phew, Brother Song, I think we probably made at least as much today as yesterday," Shen Moxi said with a smile, resting her head on the table.
"Mm. When we leave today, we'll go pay off the balance. Then we can start renovating the shop." Song Qi was happy too. So earning money through work felt this good.
Once she had rested, Shen Moxi poured the money onto the table and began counting. Watching her money-loving manner, Song Qi found her very cute.
After finishing her count, Shen Moxi hugged Song Qi and laughed with delight. "We made five hundred and seventy-five yuan today! That's wonderful!"
Song Qi patted her back and smiled. "My girl is amazing. Your clothes are very popular, which is why we earned so much. Thank you for all your hard work."
"Let's stop selling and pack up. We'll go pay off the balance, then look for my brothers. They're at the supply and marketing cooperative here in town. I don't know if they're working today. Let's go tell them the good news," Shen Moxi said with a smile, holding Song Qi's arm.