"These are for the opening-day promotion." Shen Moxi put the prize slips she had written into the cardboard box. "Customers can draw once for every set amount they spend. I'll write the prizes on a big sheet of red paper later and put it up beside it."
"These red envelopes are also for draws after a purchase, but the spending requirement will be a little higher than for the prize box."
Song Qi nodded appreciatively. "You really are a clever girl. This way, they'll definitely spend more, since there's something extra to get."
Shen Moxi laughed. "This is nothing. These are all very ordinary promotional rewards in later times. I'll check with the system in a bit and see what prizes to get."
"I'll hang these red envelopes up. Go do what you need to." Song Qi took the red envelopes, found some thin string, and followed Shen Moxi's instructions, tying them up and hanging them from the top of the wall.
Once all the red envelopes were hung up, they really did look lovely, all bright red.
After the prize box was ready, they placed it beside the checkout counter and posted the red paper listing the prizes on the front of the counter cabinet.
Shen Moxi took out a calligraphy brush and handed it to Song Qi. "Your brush calligraphy should be much better than mine. I'll dictate, and you write."
Song Qi nodded and took it. "All right. Go ahead, I'll write."
Shen Moxi crouched beside him. "First prize: one pair of stockings. Second prize: one hat. Third prize: one pair of sunglasses. Lucky prize: five percent off clothing in the store."
Song Qi wrote it all down neatly. His handwriting was even prettier and tidier than the writing in a copybook.
"They say people live up to their names, and you can tell a person by their handwriting. Yours is so beautiful. You're amazing." Shen Moxi cupped her cheeks in both hands and spoke enviously.
"I've just been writing with a brush since childhood. It's only the result of several hundred years of practice. You could do the same if you studied hard." Song Qi pinched her nose.
"I can write with one, but I'm only average. Even calling you a master would be selling you short. If you wrote a piece of calligraphy, I think it would definitely fetch a high price at auction." Shen Moxi sighed and shook her head.
"All right, enough about that. Let's see what else needs doing." Song Qi handed her the brush and pulled her to her feet.
Shen Moxi sat on a chair and looked around. "I don't think there's anything else. We're pretty much done, right?"
"We still need to hurry and make more clothes later. We'll put plenty in the space so we can replenish our stock as soon as it runs out. When the time comes, we can go away for a day or two and come back pulling a big handcart."
Song Qi nodded. "Then we'll need a handcart of our own. We can't keep renting someone else's."
Shen Moxi waved a hand. "That's easy. We can just buy one from the system later. I didn't buy one before because I was worried people would ask and find out. Now it's just the two of us, so we can put it in the little storeroom after we buy it. When they get here, we'll just say we bought it new."
"Mm, everything's ready. Shall we go eat?" Song Qi rubbed his stomach.
"Let's go eat at a restaurant. Afterward, we'll go to my parents' place and tell them to rest well tomorrow, then all come sleep over tomorrow night. We'll open the morning after." Shen Moxi hopped off the chair and took his hand. "Oh, right, I need to make some flyers when we get home. You and Niuzai can hand them out and give our clothing store some proper publicity."
"All right, whatever you say. Let's hurry and eat. We're hungry." Song Qi took out the key and opened the door.
They locked up, rode their bicycle to a small restaurant for a meal, then headed for the Shen family home.
On the way, Shen Moxi bought a few things. She felt rather uncomfortable showing up empty-handed.
She bought two tins of malted milk powder, a bag of White Rabbit milk candy, and some red dates, sunflower seeds, and other snacks for her little nephew.
They soon arrived at the Shen family home. Before they even entered, they heard Xiao Xuan's cheerful voice.
As soon as they went inside, they saw Shen Tao and Shen Yuan playing with Xiao Xuan. When Xiao Xuan saw Shen Moxi come in, he shot over like a little firecracker and hugged her leg. "Auntie! Auntie!"
"Yes!" Shen Moxi smiled, picked him up, and bounced him in her arms. "You've put on weight again, little fellow. Auntie can barely hold you anymore."
Xiao Xuan tightened his arms around her neck and said anxiously, "Not... fat... thin."
"Haha!" Shen Moxi burst out laughing at him. "Look what yummy things Auntie bought you."
"Little Sis, Brother-in-law, what brings you here?" Shen Yuan took the things from Song Qi. "Don't buy these things next time you visit. They're so expensive."
"I bought them for my little nephew, not you. Got a problem with that?" Shen Moxi shot him a glance.
"Haha, no... no problem." Shen Yuan scratched his head and laughed.
"Sit down and rest for a while. Xiao Xuan, come down. Auntie's tired from getting here. Let her rest." Shen Tao beckoned to Xiao Xuan.
Hearing that his auntie was tired, Xiao Xuan hurriedly loosened his arms and slid down. He couldn't wear his auntie out. If she got worn out, she wouldn't come buy him yummy things anymore.
"Brothers, we came to let you know that we finished getting the shop ready today. Everything's set up inside, and the living quarters upstairs are ready too. The beds and everything we need are all there. We'll move in tomorrow night and open early the morning after," Shen Moxi said after taking a sip of water.
"So soon? Little Sis, why didn't you come ask us to help? The two of you did it all yourselves? You must be exhausted." Shen Yuan frowned at her unhappily.
Shen Moxi smiled and waved a hand. "It wasn't tiring. Everything we bought was delivered and installed for us. We didn't have to do any of that ourselves. My friend had someone deliver the clothes, and we sorted them out together. It wasn't that tiring."
Seeing that neither of them really looked very tired, Shen Tao nodded, half convinced. "Tell your brothers if you need anything in the future, understand? When you act like this, it makes me think you see us as outsiders."
Shen Moxi smiled and nodded. "I know, Eldest Brother, Second Brother. I will next time. Have you both already quit your jobs?"
"Yes. When we came back that day, your second brother and I went to quit," Shen Tao said with a nod.
"Speaking of that old man makes me angry. We went to quit, and he said we hadn't told him in advance, so he wouldn't let us leave until he found replacements. He even said he'd withhold our pay for the previous few days. We got so angry that we left without taking anything."
When Shen Moxi heard this, she said, "That boss is really unfair. You worked there for years, after all."
"That's enough, Second Brother. It's over, so why bring him up? It was only a few days' pay. It's nothing." Shen Tao glared at him.
"Stay for dinner, Little Sis. I'll go buy some groceries." Shen Tao looked at Shen Moxi and Song Qi.
"No, Eldest Brother. We ate just before coming here. We'll head back in a bit. We still need to make some preparations and speak to Aunt Shan and the others." Shen Moxi shook her head.
"All right. You'll be coming over tomorrow anyway." Shen Tao nodded.
"Eldest Brother, remember to bring Sister-in-law tomorrow, and bring Xiao Xuan too. You don't need to bring anything. Just put on new clothes when you get there. We're opening a clothing store, so we can't look shabby. Xiao Xuan can be a little model or something and help draw people in." Thinking of Xiao Xuan's fair, soft little face, Shen Moxi felt he would be perfect as a little model.
"All right, I've got it. We'll all come over tomorrow," Shen Tao agreed.
"Then let's go. Otherwise, Mom and Dad will get home and start nagging us to stay again." Shen Moxi stood up.
"You're leaving already, Little Sis? Stay a little longer." Shen Yuan stood up.
"It's all right. We'll have plenty of time to chat later. These few minutes won't matter. We're heading back now." Shen Moxi waved a hand.
"Aun... tie..." Xiao Xuan hurried out with his hands outstretched.
Shen Moxi crouched down and pinched his little cheek. "Xiao Xuan, Auntie has things to do, so I have to go. We'll see each other again tomorrow."
Xiao Xuan nodded, only half understanding, and waved goodbye to her.