Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1216 A little rubbing won't kill you.

Several people were looking at Sister Wang.

Sister Wang said, "Going to a shopping mall requires all the batch numbers and various documents to be complete, and the tax is calculated based on the turnover. Going to a beauty salon means you get it directly from the manufacturer and give it to them, understand? The difference is huge. A bottle of snow cream that costs more than ten yuan only costs one yuan at the factory."

"Some skin-whitening products now sell for tens or even hundreds of yuan, but the factory cost is only ten yuan or even a few yuan. If you sell them through beauty salons at a 30-40% discount, the profit is only about ten yuan. There's a significant difference."

Chen Hui said, "The profit margin on cosmetics is indeed huge. I've been to beauty expos, and the prices there are unbelievably cheap. They just don't sell to individuals."

Sister Wang, while wrapping up a roll of duck, said, "Cosmetics are all chemical products, so there's not much cost to begin with. The biggest costs are the bottles, boxes, and transportation fees. How much you make depends entirely on the distribution channels. You have to make sure the final retailer makes money."

Chen Hui laughed and said, "So you mean the products sold to beauty salons don't have any permits or inspections, and they don't pay taxes?"

Sister Wang said, "That's how it is. What's the point of making money if we do all this?"

Chen Hui asked, "How can we guarantee the product quality?"

Sister Wang said, "It's just a base liquid mixed with fragrances and various reagents. It won't kill you by applying it, and it's not like you're eating it."

Chen Hui asked, "What if someone has an allergic reaction or something?"

Sister Wang said, "That's just bad luck. How would I know what to do? Usually nothing happens. I've never heard of anyone getting into trouble. Haven't you been to the Beauty Expo? Didn't you see how many companies and products there were? How many of those do you usually see in the market?"

Xiao Wei said, "Nobody cares?"

Sister Wang said, "If an entire industry relies on this for a living, how can it be managed? Besides, manufacturers and companies all have to pay taxes."

Xiao Wei shook his head.

Six people, six dishes, all the plates and bowls were cleaned. Sister Wang, Wan Bin, and Zhang Yanhong were all a little full. Zhang Yanhong was a little embarrassed, but Sister Wang leaned back in her chair and rubbed her stomach, saying, "What's there to be embarrassed about? We could eat this again in who knows when, we'd have to eat our money's worth!"

Everyone laughed. Chen Hui paid the bill, which came to a little over three hundred but less than four hundred. The six of them left the restaurant.

After getting on the bus, I drove the three of them back to Malian Road. We exchanged contact information and waved goodbye. It was quite a coincidence.

On the way back, Chen Hui said, "I feel like we can use Sister Wang and Wan Bin; one is in finance and the other knows computers."

Xiao Wei said, "Anyone can be used if you want. If you think it's okay, just call them over."

Chen Hui thought for a moment and said, "Sister Wang is fine. We need someone in finance here or in Hainan, and I think she's alright. Wanbin is a bit of a problem. We don't have much connection with the computer industry. She's not as good as Zhang Yanhong. She'd definitely be fine as an office clerk."

Xiao Wei said, "But you just said they all work."

Chen Hui said, "I think it's usable, but I can't think of any use for it."

Xiao Wei said, "The company will gradually have more computers in the future. It would be good to hire someone who knows how to use them. They can do other things in their spare time. There's plenty of work to be done."

Chen Hui nodded.

Xiao Wei said, "These outsiders have it so tough. It's hard to imagine how bad their quality of life is, and how they manage to get through each day."

Chen Hui said, "So what can we do? Just to survive. Who knows how many heroes will emerge from here in the future?"

Xiao Wei agreed, "That's true, there's always a chance to succeed." He turned to the side, pulled out his ringing phone from his pocket, glanced at it, and answered with a smile, "Hey?"

"Checking out the staff, where are you and what are you doing?"

Xiao Wei said, "I just treated two women to dinner. One was a woman in her thirties, and the other was a recent graduate in her early twenties. They were both quite good-looking."

Xiao Hong said, "Dexing."

I could hear Beibei crying on the other end of the phone, "Mommy, I want to talk! Mommy, I want to talk to Daddy!"

After a pause, Beibei's voice rang out: "Checking up on things? What are you doing, Shen Yao?"

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "I'm on the phone with Bei Bei."

Xiao Hong said from the side, "Ask your dad when he's coming back."

"Dad, when are you coming back? I miss you so much, and Mom misses you too, we all miss you."

Xiao Wei said, "I'll be going back in the next couple of days. You study hard, and Dad will pick you up from school when I get home."

Beibei said, "Okay, pinky promise."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, pinky promise."

After a few seconds, Beibei said, "Oh no, we can't hook it either."

Xiao Hong smiled and took the phone: "When are you coming back?"

Xiao Wei said, "The day after tomorrow, I have some things to do tomorrow."

Xiaohong said, "Starting from May 1st, we'll have two days off a week."

Xiao Wei asked, "Why?"

Xiao Hong said, "Why? It's the government's decision. Workers, students, and government employees will all have two days off from May 1st."

Xiao Wei asked, "Will it always be like this from now on?"

Xiao Hong said, "Yeah, probably. When you come back, bring me some of those shumai from 'Something in One Place'. I've been craving them ever since Xue Mei mentioned them."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, I'll buy some things to take with me before I leave. Is there anything else you want?"

Xiaohong said, "Please bring me some clothes. My belly is showing now, and I can't fit into my old clothes anymore. Buy me some summer clothes."

Xiao Wei stared wide-eyed, pondering for a long time: "Me? Can I wear it? Can I even wear the ones I bought?"

"Why don't you ask Sister Xuemei and Aunt Chen? You're so silly."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, I'll take them out for a walk tomorrow afternoon."

Xiaohong said, "It needs to be soft and lightweight fabric, not too sheer so I can't wear it out."

Xiao Wei said, "Let me have Aunt Chen watch it. I don't understand these things either."

The two chatted for a while and then hung up the phone. Chen Hui said, "Xiao Xiao was really difficult to deal with back then in the winter. It's so much easier for you guys in the summer."

Xiao Wei asked, "How can it be dealt with so easily?"

Chen Hui said, "In summer, you only need one layer, but in winter you need so many layers! How can you not be afraid of that?"

Hou Qiang asked, "Are we just going back? Are we going anywhere else?"

Chen Hui said, "Let's just go back; there's nowhere else to go."

The car drove north along the West Second Ring Road, and it was almost seven o'clock when we arrived home; it was already dark.

Old Chen hadn't returned yet. Aunt Chen, Chen Xiao, and Qin Xuemei were sitting and talking in the study of the main room, holding Xiao Xiaohui.

"Xiuer didn't come back today?" Xiaowei asked as he entered the house.

"No, they said it's some kind of student council activity." Chen Xiao turned his head and glanced at the two of them.

Xiao Wei asked, "Auntie, are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

Aunt Chen said, "I don't know, it should be nothing serious. Is something wrong?"

Xiaowei said, "Xiaohong, could you please bring me a couple of summer clothes? My belly is showing now and I can't wear my old ones anymore. Could you go and check for me? I don't really know much about this."

Chen Xiao said, "I'll go too. Let's go shopping at Yansha tomorrow and buy Dad a couple of outfits."

(End of this chapter)