Chapter 140: The Gold-Medal Salesman

Shen Guodong’s sudden display immediately drew a large crowd of onlookers. Although street vendors were a common sight here, those selling clothing were rare, as most apparel was typically sold in specialized boutiques with their own storefronts. The presence of Liu Yueru and Liu Yuexian, two attractive young women standing by the stall, naturally piqued the interest of passersby, causing many to stop and watch.

Seeing that he had successfully gathered a crowd, Shen Guodong immediately seized the opportunity. "Step right up, don’t miss out! Take a look, everyone. These are the latest fashions we’ve just brought in from Huadu."

As soon as he mentioned "Huadu fashion," a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. "Huadu clothing? These pieces look so novel!"

Hearing the mention of Huadu, several fashion-conscious university students rushed over. Shen Guodong, sensing the bait had been taken, gave a faint smile. "That’s right, this is genuine Huadu fashion. Huadu only operates these designs after obtaining authorization from Hong Kong. You can find exact replicas of these outfits in the latest films. Do you want to look as stylish as the Hong Kong stars you see on screen? Do you want to have that stunning silhouette? Come and take a look at our collection."

Shen Guodong felt that if he didn't pursue a career in sales, it would truly be a waste of his talents. His glib and persuasive tongue quickly sparked a discussion among the onlookers. "The style is so trendy, but would it look good on us?" one person asked. "Exactly. I think I’ve seen this outfit in a movie, but can ordinary people like us really pull it off?"

To these concerns, Shen Guodong replied with a calm smile, "You’ll never know how it looks until you try it on. Step right up, don't miss out! We’ve had these custom-made specifically by a Huadu clothing firm as a special treat for the people of Fengcheng. We only have twenty pieces in total. And look at this set—it’s inspired by the film starring that big Hong Kong celebrity, which is currently a massive hit in Hong Kong and is already showing in Huadu."

Hearing this, the university students nodded in recognition. "That sounds right. I remember hearing about that movie on the radio—I think it’s called *All's Well, Ends Well*?"

"Exactly! And for you female students, these overalls are a perfect fit. The clothes we’ve had in Fengcheng until now are just too outdated; you can hardly call them fashion."

The students agreed, lamenting that while Fengcheng had plenty of food and entertainment, its fashion scene was indeed lacking. One student pointed to a piece and asked, "I think this pleated skirt would suit me. Could we try it on, boss?"

"Of course, you’re welcome to, though we might not have a dressing room here. But feel the fabric—just touch the quality of the material."

Shen Guodong had already had Liu Yueru test the material the night before. By current standards, it was excellent; after being accustomed to rough linen, the feel of acrylic was a revelation of comfort. The students reached out and were pleasantly surprised. "This material actually feels quite nice," one remarked.

"It’s great," the student continued. "I’ve seen these pleated floral skirts in movies before. How much for these?"

Shen Guodong, a shrewd observer, could tell the student came from a well-off family and clearly knew her fashion. "Miss, you certainly have an eye for quality. Tell you what—since you’re our very first customer, I’ll give you a discount. How about thirty cents?"

The student was stunned. "Only thirty cents? That can’t be right. My uncle told me that when he was in Huadu, a piece like this cost ten yuan."

Shen Guodong nodded. "That’s true. Our wholesale cost is quite high—I paid seven or eight yuan for each piece. I’m only doing this to build a reputation here in Fengcheng. Once the brand takes off, I’ll be stocking up more so everyone can enjoy these styles."

"All right, deal!" the student exclaimed. "Wrap this skirt up for me. And these overalls look great too. How much for those?"

"The material on those is thicker and of higher quality, so they’re a bit more expensive. Let’s say sixty cents. That makes eighty cents in total for both."

Seeing Shen Guodong’s meticulous calculations, the student laughed. "Forget it, here’s a full yuan. Just give me both."

As the haggling continued, the crowd grew more animated, with many reaching out to touch the clothes. Someone else asked, "Hey boss, how much for these shorts? They look pretty good, and they’ll be perfect once the weather warms up."

"Those are men’s shorts, a limited Huadu style," Shen Guodong explained. "They’re designed to hit right at the knee for the summer heat. Since you’re our second customer, I’ll give them to you for thirty cents instead of fifty. Today is our first day, and since these just arrived last night, I’m giving everyone a 50% discount as a grand opening special."

The crowd erupted in discussion. "Wow, these are so much better than what we usually see. Our local clothes are so plain, and the stuff in the big department stores is way too expensive. We should definitely buy these."

The group of students quickly decided, "Boss, we’ll take these two pieces. Here’s a yuan, please wrap them up."

In a short time, the three students had purchased six pieces of clothing, and with the sale of the shorts, seven items were gone. The remaining dozen pieces sat on display, drawing a constant stream of curious onlookers.

Liu Yueru stood up and addressed the crowd. "Everyone, you might be worried that these styles won't look good or won't fit right. But honestly, I felt the same way last night. Once I put them on, I realized how comfortable they are. The fabric is thick and substantial—that’s the most important part. It feels completely different from what we’re used to wearing. Take them home, try them on in front of your mirror, and I promise you’ll feel a difference. Trust me."