The head of the Mu family

Chapter 60: Attracting Talent with Gimmicks

Mu Huaisheng used all of the more than 6,000 taels of silver he earned in September and October to buy goods.

Ask your master to make valuable and beautiful jewelry and headdresses.

Manager Dong was getting a little anxious:

"Boss, we didn't sell this even though it was selling so well in September. These past few days in November and December aren't as good as October!"

Mu Huaisheng chuckled:

Previously, the store had all kinds of top-quality jewelry available year-round, and Uncle Dong never had to worry about it.

Uncle Dong started taking care of things at the shop; the magic of money!

Mu Huaisheng joked:

"Don't worry, Uncle Dong, your monthly salary will still be paid."

Then, Aunt Wu and Madam Wang worked together to clean up the second floor.

Change the four display cases to be placed back-to-back in the middle.

Four private rooms were partitioned off along the walls on both sides of the perimeter.

Use light pink gauze to separate the space, and buy some pretty little lanterns to hang up.

Then let them learn to make simple silk flowers and give full play to their talents.

I bought some materials, made them into the shape of artificial flowers, and put them in a light watermelon red vase.

In addition to the north side leading upstairs, there is a path leading to the private rooms on both sides.

Elsewhere, place a row of tables and chairs.

When guests arrive, flower tea is served.

All four display cases were completely wrapped in indigo silk.

A string of lanterns hangs close to the counter, and all the lanterns in the shop are lit during the day.

The shop isn't too busy; the customers will be busy buying things in a couple of days.

The three women who were in charge of entertaining guests were the most enthusiastic; they received a cut of the profits.

Although the three of them were so busy in September and October that they could barely keep up, each of them earned about twenty taels of silver.

The money they earned in two months was equivalent to the monthly salary of a hostess in the largest store in Kyoto for a year.

How can we not be proactive?

Because everyone working in the store gets a commission, the shopkeeper and Mr. Tong are both very enthusiastic.

Everyone, even the doormen, received bonuses and rest days.

I dare not say what my wages will be when I go out, I dare not say what my rest will be, but the more I do this job, the more enthusiastic I become.

Based on the experience from September and October, Mu Huaisheng plans to hire another waiter and two more temporary workers.

Let's ask everyone in the shop first:

"Are there any clever little girls?"

If things get busy in a few days, I'll come to the store and work until the Chinese New Year.

Let Ah Jin find a partner for him, so he can be busy until the New Year.

Just pay them according to their wages, pay them for each day they work.

Mu Huaisheng thought of Xiao Qianyan's older sister, so he went to poach her.

As soon as it was mentioned, Wanxing agreed.

Huai Sheng was exceptionally good to the siblings.

Furthermore, the people working in the Hou Mansion's shops were all indentured servitude.

As an outsider living there, Wanxing felt uneasy over time.

Besides, the pay is indeed high if you do a good job here.

They had already agreed with Wanxing that in front of everyone, she would say that she was a house-born child.

She mentioned it to Uncle Ping that day, and since she was the only one without a contract of indenture, Uncle Ping happily agreed.

Right now, I've settled my monthly payment for the day.

Mu Huaisheng told Wanxing to finish her work for the day and pack up her things for the evening.

Mu Huaisheng went back to the shop and asked Wang Niangzi to help tidy up two servant rooms.

“I have a son who has moved in today.”

Starting tomorrow, come to the store to serve guests.

Madam Wang readily agreed and quickly went to tidy up.

The next day at noon, when she went to the shop, everyone called Wanxing "Star Girl".

She was born into a family and was so beautiful.

Once everyone sees this, they'll all be more polite.

After all, Mu Huaisheng never knew where the owner lived after taking over their business.

No one dared to ask.

A servant boy arrived, and judging from his appearance, he was clearly not from an ordinary family, so we naturally treated him with courtesy.

A few days later, Wanxing became familiar with the items in the store.

Then Mu Huaisheng urged Master Dong to hurry up with the high-end jewelry, as it needed to be put on the shelves on the second floor after the Laba Festival.

Based on the previous top-quality headdress design, I made some modifications.

Ask Mr. Tong to finish it before the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. Huai Sheng pondered to himself:

If things continue like this, we should consider having Mr. Tong take on an apprentice.

Sure enough, after the Laba Festival, the number of customers in the shop increased.

Sometimes, ancient bronze mirrors don't reflect images very clearly.

Wanxing was strikingly beautiful and intelligent. She held up the jewelry to her head, stood next to the lantern, and the effect was amazing!

Evening Star's performance surpassed that of its predecessors.

Huai Sheng secretly admired:

This is the same principle as a wealthy woman watching a fashion show.

Of the six thousand taels invested, two thousand taels were spent on that top-tier jewelry.

Mr. Tong even worked overtime at the store.

Mu Huaisheng then asked Wang Niangzi to buy more groceries so that she and Mr. Tong could have a working lunch together.

She brought the child to the shop, and together with Wanxing, they locked up the second floor and kept the shop open on the first floor for a while longer.

While accompanying Mr. Tong to work overtime, we occasionally managed to get some business.

After the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, several women each brought a little girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, to work as temporary laborers.

I guess it's one of my own children or relatives.

Mu Huaisheng didn't ask any questions, just told him to do his job well.

Then they all wore matching full-length aprons with lace trim.

We prepared everything in advance after we announced we were hiring.

I also made two smocks for Ajin, an apron and a smock, with the shop's name sewn on them in gold fabric.

Baojin Silver Shop.

We made quite a few extra aprons and smocks, so we had Aunt Wu and Madam Wang wear aprons too, which made the whole place look much better.

When Wanxing saw this, she embroidered words on the collar of their work uniforms as well, making them look more professional.

All the uniforms, smocks, and aprons are all blue; work clothes with some patterns look nicer.

The school closed for the holidays on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. On the evening of the 19th, I finished work and picked up Xiao Qianyan and took her to the shop.

The next day at noon, when Huaisheng went to the shop, he saw the little prodigy helping out.

Xiao Qianyan happily walked over when she saw Mu Huaisheng, grinning mischievously:

"Young Master!"

Mu Huaisheng took his hand and asked about the school.

Mu Huaisheng:

Just ask the unnecessary question~

If you ask a genius if it's difficult to get into second grade, he'll show you a sixth-grade book and tell you it's not.

But I was still very happy to hear that. Who doesn't like a child who gets good grades and is also well-behaved?

Mu Huaisheng inspected the store's prized possession, which was named 'Qisi'.

When it was taken out, everyone was stunned.

A set of headdresses and accessories created by combining various ingenious ideas makes everyone feel that they will look good and classy when they wear it.

Mu Huaisheng instructed that the item be displayed as a model and placed in the private room on the second floor that was not used for receiving guests.

Normally, it's kept inside and covered with gauze. Outside the private room, there's a sign that says it's the store's prized possession, and a string of lanterns hangs nearby to illuminate it.

Lanterns are placed on both sides of the model inside, and the lanterns are lit when someone wants to go inside.

Previously, when they had free time, they were asked to decorate the surrounding area with light blue gauze and hang it up.

Make some larger silk flowers and place them inside as decorations.

She also asked Wanxing to make some pastries the night before.

Place the high-end indigo packaging box between the model and the wall.

Normally, the screen on the outside door is not hung up, and a small screen about waist-high is placed outside as a partition.

If anyone asks, lift the lid and go inside, light the lantern first, then look at the treasure.

When telling the story, you should tell others:

There will never be another headdress like this in the world.

We also have a unique logo.

Using acupuncture needles, Mr. Tong wrote the two characters "宝金" (Baojin) for the silver shop.

Ordinary people can't find it; a waiter in the shop needs to give them special directions.