in spring

Chapter 106 New Career, New Beginning

Chunying thought hard, what kind of business can meet these two conditions?Originally, it is best to be a middle-aged man, and it is really a no-cost business, but Hu Fei's concerns are also reasonable. His good friend lives in the back street of Houfu, and he has been here many times before, so he is familiar with the surrounding situation. The second uncle helps, but in this way, he will encounter various difficulties in the process of being a middle-aged man, let alone other places?If there is no suggestion from the second uncle, and he only finds a job by himself, I am afraid it will take a long time for him to gain a firm foothold.

What about other businesses?
It has been more than a year and a half since Chunying traveled to this world. Most of the time she lived in the family circle of the Hou family, and her understanding of the economy and people's livelihood outside was limited to the half a year she lived in the compound and the blessings. What I saw and heard in the past few months on Ning Street.The most lucrative industry she has ever seen is probably peddling. Whether the second uncle used to help the young master sell private goods, or Uncle Cheng went to Songjiang to sell cotton cloth, he could make a lot of money.Buying low and selling high is the eternal secret to doing business. Can Hu Fei replicate this method?
Probably not, at least not yet.There is no certain amount to buy goods in other places, and the travel expenses and taxes alone will make a loss. Hu Fei only has a few dozen taels of silver on hand, and he invests them all.In addition, he is a novice and unfamiliar with the place, who knows if he can get a good one at a good price?Looking at his words and deeds these days, it seems that after he calmed down, he gradually returned to his previous gentle appearance. She, a modern person with culture and quality, finds it difficult to talk to him. It is not difficult to imagine that if he goes to talk to other people What kind of scene is it like for a businessman to bargain.

Chunying sighed. Speaking of which, she probably has the most experience in opening a small restaurant, but it is a pity that Hu Fei went to open a restaurant and cook as a chef, which is also unimaginable.He also said that you can't rent a storefront, lest you get too big and you can't get out of your body.

what can we do about it?

Chunying was thinking hard here, and Hu Fei felt a little embarrassed when she saw that her brows were knotted a few times: "It's all because of me asking too much. In fact, in this world, how can everything be considered? Or... I will Go to Tongzhou Wharf to try your luck, buy some gadgets from the south, and transport them to the counties on the outskirts of Beijing to resell, and you should be able to earn two dollars."

Chunying turned to look at him: "Brother Xiaofei, have you ever been to Tongzhou Wharf to sell goods?"

"This..." Hu Fei paused, "I've heard others say it, it shouldn't be... not difficult, right?"

"Others are familiar with it, so it's not difficult, but you go, and the capital is small, will others sell you the goods at a fair price? Even if you buy it, how do you know that others are willing to buy it?"

Hu Fei frowned, knowing that he hadn't thought carefully: "Everything is difficult at the beginning... You have to try it before you know."

"If you really want to go, you can ask Second Uncle to introduce you to some acquaintances. But now Second Uncle has to go back to Yingmao every day, how can he have time to accompany you?" Chunying thought for a while, "I think... you Don't rush to try, it's better to think about what you are best at, and to use your own advantages to do business is the prerequisite for success!"

"What are you good at?" Hu Fei's eyes flashed blankly, he lowered his head to think carefully, and couldn't help sighing, "Since I was young... I have been running around with my father, and when I was seven years old, my father invited me to have a husband Seriously taught me to read, and said that I should take the right path of the imperial examination. Unfortunately, after studying for ten years, I have always been mediocre in qualifications. When I was eighteen, I went to try it. As long as I can be admitted to a scholar, everything will be fine. But when my father fell ill, I left the book and went home to wait for the sick. I didn't bother to read the book. After all, I Articles are mediocre, speaking and doing things... are also mediocre, and the friends I make are also mediocre, so I really can’t say that I am good at anything.”

Chunying coughed lightly: "Then you don't have any hobbies? What do you like to do? It doesn't have to be reading and writing, but it can be other things, such as... antiques, calligraphy and painting, flower growing... just like me, I I'm still a little talented in cooking, and I learned needlework very quickly. Thanks to Mrs. Cheng, I learned to distinguish various fabrics. If I do business, I will definitely be related to needlework girls first, and then come down It's a small restaurant, because the cost of opening a store is relatively high. Tell me, what are you good at?"

Hu Fei thought for a while, and suddenly blushed a little: "Speaking of which... the imperial merchants of the Hu family... buy jewelry for the harem, and sometimes also make up makeup."

"Huh?" Chunying blinked, guessed what he meant, but hesitated, "You mean...to do business in this area? It sounds good, but what do you know? Make jewelry?" can't you?Jeweler?No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like something Hu Fei would do, and besides, he doesn't have enough capital.

Suddenly, she thought of a possibility, she stood up abruptly, with a look of surprise on her face: "You know how to match rouge and gouache?! Is there a secret recipe?!" That was really a lucrative business!If it wasn't for the fact that she didn't have time to memorize a few recipes of homemade cosmetics and skin care products before she traveled, she wouldn't have to work so hard to practice female red!

Hu Fei was taken aback by her, and felt embarrassed: "That's not the case...the so-called purchases are not all made in his own shop. Although Hu's family has a jewelry shop, they can't take care of all the orders in the palace. , so most of them are purchased from outside... As for makeup powder, a relative's family makes this, but I have only seen it..." His voice lowered a little, as if it was a little difficult to say: "My father said before his death... He is better than his elder brother in this kind of things, and he can always choose the best one. If he is born, he can help with the jewelry and cosmetics business... But maybe dad is just teasing me. When I was young, I loved going to school with dad It seems that people who buy jewelry in the shop will be scolded by their mother every time..."

Chunying stretched out her hand to hold him down: "Be clear, what kind of strong method? You don't mean doing it? That's vision? Matching? Or distinguishing?!"

Hu Fei thought for a while: "For example, the aunt you served earlier...was surnamed Cheng? The rouge she used was a cheap product from the suburbs of Beijing, and the face powder was 'Yan Shuangfei' from Jiangnan. That fragrance seems to have been around for some time. And the concubine of her family, I have met once, the powder used is all the high-quality goods of Jiangnan's "Wanrongxiang", but this shop is usually engaged in brothel business, and there are also rich people's. Concubines often patronize it, because its products are a little too frivolous regardless of their aroma and color, and very few women of good families buy them."

Chunying opened her mouth wide: "Awesome! I have never seen the concubine of the Cheng family, so I don't know, but Mrs. Cheng's powder box does have the words Yan Shuangfei printed on it!" But speaking of it, the concubine of the Cheng family is not the daughter of a merchant's family. ?How can you use the powder commonly used by brothel women?Chunying shook her head, and when she heard Hu Fei talking again, she put the question behind her.

Hu Fei looked at Chunying and continued: "Your earrings are made of small sapphire beads, right? Unfortunately, they are of inferior quality. I passed by a nearby street a few days ago and saw a woman selling earrings of this style. For two renminbi silver, copper hooks can be included, and the cost is only five cents, and if the beads are made of copper wire, add two cents."

This earring was bought by the second uncle nearby as a gift for her. Chunying clapped her hands happily: "Sure enough, an expert is an expert! Then..." She rolled her eyes, "Let's change it to a small business of cosmetic jewelry! The goods in each store are bought at wholesale prices, and then sold loosely. I have seen women who sell flowers do this, and add embroidery patterns, purses, handkerchiefs and so on. After a year, they can earn a lot! "If she also sells purses and handkerchiefs, then she can participate in a share, and if she makes money, she will also have a share. It is better to give Hu Fei a commission than to let others earn it.

But she quickly thought: "It's common to sell flower girls, and flower sellers..." She raised her eyes to look at Hu Fei, a little hesitant.

Hu Fei laughed and said: "I've seen this before, called a peddler. When I was young, my mother took care of the kitchen for several years. When I was playing near the back door, I saw maids and sisters open the door and call a burden-carrying brother to come in. Some hair powder, some small jewelry. Because the little brother looks fair and speaks kindly, they often talk about it in private. It was only later that we heard that he had eloped with the neighbor's maid, so our family no longer allowed the salesman to come to our door. I heard that little brother mentioned at that time that he only does business with rich people all year round, and he has an income of more than 20 taels, so he doesn’t have to worry about food and clothing.”

"Then you can give it a try? But selling cosmetics to rich people..." Chun Ying paused, only worried that he would be ridiculed if he met an acquaintance, but he didn't know whether to speak out what was in his heart.

Hu Fei said lightly: "The maid who sells things to wealthy families may not have a good reputation. It's better to buy the fat powder flowers produced by famous shops in Beijing and sell them to counties in the suburbs of Beijing. Although it is more difficult, I don’t worry about not being able to sell it.”

Chunying remembered that every time there was a market on Funing Street, there would be farmers and small citizens from the suburbs of Beijing who went to the city to buy things, so she nodded immediately: "That's right! You can't buy popular goods in Beijing in those places, only Being able to travel a long distance to buy, if we can ship things over and save them the money to go to the city, this is a good match! If Brother Xiaofei wants to do this business, I also want to join, I did Many things like handkerchiefs, purses, shoes, hats, and the like are sold on consignment by Second Uncle, and it seems that they are selling slowly, if I embroider fresh patterns, they might be sold out in the suburbs of Beijing very quickly!"

Hu Fei also gained confidence after being told by her: "Then let's find a suitable store to buy?"

"Don't be too busy!" Chunying stopped him, "What about carrying poles and the like?"

"I can do it myself. I learned a lot of carpentry from Wei Gong a few days ago."

"Well, let's do market research first!"

"Market...what to check?" Hu Fei was a little confused.

Chunying patted him: "Of course, we must first find out which brands of powder are popular, and pay attention to the fragrance and color. We must inquire about the price so that we can calculate the cost! Otherwise, what if we buy it? Things, what do those big girls and daughter-in-laws not like? Only by doing market research can we avoid risks!"

Hu Fei smiled: "So this is called market...investigation? Naturally, I need to inquire. I only have a little money, so I don't dare to buy expensive things."

The two discussed with great interest where to find out, but Hu Fei was a young man in plain clothes and seemed not suitable for this kind of work, so Chunying volunteered: "I'll go with you! Anyway, Marquis Li If the house is farther away, others will not know me! Please ask Second Uncle to borrow a carriage before going out!"

Hu Fei hesitated: "This...you are a girl..."

"How old am I? Do I have to worry about this?" Chunying didn't take it seriously, "At worst, let's pretend to be brother and sister. I'll call you brother, and others won't gossip!"

Hu Fei thought for a while, and said seriously: "Little girl, if it weren't for you and Uncle Lu's help, I don't know where I would be now. You are my own sister, let's just worship?"

Chunying's eyes widened: "There's no need..." Sworn brothers and sisters, this seems to be a common drama in martial arts novels, and it is too far from the environment she is in now. She said: "As long as you decide in your heart, The form is not important! Instead of worrying about this, it is better to think about how to prevent others from recognizing you. Since you are familiar with rouge and gouache, and your family is in the jewelry business, the people in those shops Will I see you?"

Hu Fei's face suddenly changed, why did he forget this?If he is recognized, as long as Hu Peng says a word, the small business he planned will no longer be possible.

Chunying watched him frown, and comforted him: "Don't worry, don't you have to be a burden or something? You should think of a way first, or... simply shave your beard, and others will not recognize you." Right?" To be honest, Hu Fei is dark and thin now, even if his chin has rounded a bit due to his relatively stable life recently, his temperament has changed a lot. As long as he loses his beard, he will be completely different Alone?
Hu Fei hesitated. After all, it was still during the filial piety...

He finally promised to think about it carefully. Chunying didn't quite understand what he was hesitating about, but she didn't push too hard. Seeing that it was getting late, she left and went back to her second uncle's house.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she went out, she saw a woman standing at the door of her second uncle's house. She seemed to be looking through the crack of the door, and then put her ear to the door to listen.She immediately became vigilant, retreated to the door, and peeked at the woman through the door, wanting to know who she was and what her purpose was.

The woman turned her face and glanced into the alley.Chun Ying was taken aback.

Isn't that Widow Cui? !What is she here for? !

(End of this chapter)