Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 222 - 221: New Idea

Chapter 222: Chapter 221: New Idea

Ji Man did not think there was anything wrong with street vending—those vendors could earn more than anyone in her family.

Whether it was Jiang Mingyuan or Lin Xia, she saw that they made quite a lot in just one day.

These iron rice bowl holders sometimes don’t earn as much in a whole month as some make in one day!

Besides, what’s the distinction of high and low when it comes to making money through hard work?

However, to avoid angering her mother and to prevent her from watching her too closely in the future, Ji Man silently accepted her mother’s criticism and education. On the surface, she seemed to cooperate without expressing any opinion, but she was arguing with her mother in her mind.

For every sentence Kong Xiangyun said, Ji Man had a silent retort.

If Ji Man’s mother had the "Mind Reading Technique," she might have been so angry that she vomited blood.

The next day, Lin Xia saw Ji Man who had come to class at Yecheng University and asked with concern, "Ji Man! Are you okay?"

After closing up the stand and going home yesterday, they had talked about Ji Man at the dinner table, suspecting that her mother would likely scold her.

Actually, her mother’s reaction was quite normal, given that it was a time when iron rice bowl workers were in demand, while small traders and vendors were looked down upon.

Ji Man pursed her lips and smiled, "I’m fine! My mom is just like that, always wanting to control me! Lin Xia, don’t take it to heart! I was in such a hurry that I didn’t introduce you guys properly!"

As she spoke, she glanced at Jiang Mingyuan standing beside Lin Xia, also worried that he might have a bad first impression of her mother.

But Jiang Mingyuan stoically lowered his head to read a book, seemingly uninterested in their conversation.

Lin Xia smiled and waved her hand dismissively, "That’s nothing! I was just worried about you, afraid you would be scolded!"

At that time, Ji Man’s mother’s complexion was particularly unpleasant, and her glance carried a hint of disdain. It left Lin Xia feeling uncomfortable.

But later, she was more worried about what would happen to Ji Man when she got home.

At this moment, the teacher arrived, and Ji Man took her seat.

Jiang Mingyuan looked at Lin Xia amusingly and whispered, "Are you reassured now?"

Lin Xia curled her lips in acknowledgment and began to listen to the lecture attentively, taking notes.

As the weather turned colder day by day, Lin Xia tested if Jade’s room was suitable for storing Clivia, but the plant suffered the same fate as drying hazelnuts.

After the failure, Lin Xia was not too discouraged. In fact, she had thought before that even if she could store them, it was a bit unrealistic to go to Ji City to sell Clivia on her own.

Moreover, in those years, she had heard about Clivias selling for sky-high prices, and those transactions occurred with flower magnates, not someone like her, an outsider without any establishment and unable to cultivate many varieties. How much could she possibly earn from reselling?

In addition, how could she manage from so far from home?

Lin Dong was living at school, and Lin Qiu could manage by herself for a day or two, but any longer, her timid nature certainly wouldn’t be able to sustain the household.

Lin Xia hadn’t really thought it through at first, especially considering the Northern winters are harsh and snowy, and most people either make their own outer clothes or have them tailor-made. Thus, when she had gone with her second brother to stock up, she hadn’t taken much.

Now, although she earned quite a bit every day, and sometimes even tens of yuan in gross profit felt easy on a good day,

retail profits were ultimately limited. Plus, with the back and forth of restocking, the profits were reduced considerably.

She realized that if she wanted to earn more, wholesale was definitely better than retail!

She had encountered several merchants from smaller towns recognized from her previous wholesale of bucket skirts, and some had even inquired if she currently was wholesaling.

So, she began to entertain the thought of wholesaling clothes again.

But she was somewhat puzzled as to what to wholesale.

Flared pants were popular in the market currently, but she certainly couldn’t make those. If she were to make something, it had to be different.

Lin Xia finally thought of one, the pedal pushers that had once been popular for quite a long time!

Initially, they were a type of elastic, form-fitting pants worn by actors during practice and dance.

Nobody knows who suddenly had the epiphany to turn them into everyday wear, but they largely hit the market in the late 80’s to early 90’s, becoming a trendy item, sweeping through most of Huaxia.

Pedal pushers were originally the choice for young women, the most harmonious match being a coat or a dress on top, with boots to accompany it below.

However, at that time, it didn’t matter if it was elderly ladies in their sixties or seventies, or little girls aged two or three; regardless of height, body shape, stout or slim; whether wearing short tops or wide ones, throughout the seasons, the pants were uniformly pedal pushers.

Lin Xia remembered that, when they were in style, she also had several pairs. The only drawback was that after wearing them for a long time, the knee area would become baggy, and some places would get shiny from wear.

She didn’t know if people today would be able to accept such close-fitting attire.

Although wearing them could show off a slender figure and elongated leg shape, in the eyes of the elderly it would definitely be considered indecent exposure.

But since she had thought of it, Lin Xia wanted to give it a try.

Everything is like this, if you only think without acting, you will never have a chance at success!

Afterward, Jiang Mingyuan helped watch the stall, and Lin Xia went to look for fabric suitable for pedal pushers.

Effort pays off for those who try, and she indeed found a kind of black elastic material, which she immediately bought and took to Auntie Tao for processing.

Having the experience of working together on A-line skirts before, Auntie Tao was surprised but very cooperative with Lin Xia’s idea. She knew Lin Xia was a girl with a knack for business.

Soon, Auntie Tao made the pedal pushers according to Lin Xia’s specifications.

Curious, Lin Qiu picked them up and held them against herself, "Sis! Aren’t these pants too skinny?"

Lin Xia laughed, "Xiaoqiu! Take off your outer pants and try these on!"

As long as she wore these stretchy pedal pushers, she would know how comfortable they were.

Lin Qiu shyly smiled and obediently changed into them.

Her legs were thin and long, perfectly straight, so they looked really good on her.

"See if it’s comfortable to squat down and stand up?"

Lin Qiu did as told and looked at Lin Xia in surprise, "Sis! It’s really comfortable! Doesn’t feel tight at all!"

Auntie Tao couldn’t help but tug at them, "Lin Xia! They look great! But it also depends on who wears them, they’re definitely more flattering on young girls!"

Lin Xia just smiled without saying a word, knowing she didn’t need to say anything. Once these pedal pushers really took off and became popular, she believed Auntie Tao would definitely wear them too.

Next, Lin Xia and Auntie Tao discussed the labor cost.

The design Lin Xia had in mind for the pedal part wasn’t one-piece but rather a plain pant leg with three inches of elastic added, saving time and effort.

The one-piece version would be more difficult to cut and involve more steps in sewing.

Therefore, making the pedal pushers was less troublesome than the A-line skirts, and with Lin Qiu helping out, the labor cost was set at fifty cents.

After Lin Xia left, she calculated the costs herself.

The elastic fabric wasn’t cheap, and adding the elastic waistband and elastic at the leg openings, plus fifty cents for labor, the cost was roughly three yuan.

So, she planned to retail them at eight yuan each or two for fifteen yuan.

If someone wanted to wholesale from her, she could give them away for five yuan each and still make a solid two yuan profit!

However, for now, everything was uncertain, and it all depended on the level of acceptance from the people...