Cheng Hui smiled even more radiantly, standing up with the plate as she said, “Then I’ll get to work.”
She glanced at the bag of cakes on the table and added, “This is a gift from our factory to our partners. Please everyone try them and share your feedback.
“I’m not very familiar with everyone here, Manager, so could you help distribute them?”
After speaking, she flashed another bright smile and turned to leave.
Since childhood, her excessively beautiful face had brought her many troubles. Only by maintaining an aloof demeanor could she reduce them slightly.
But having been reborn, she now understood that beauty was a weapon to be wielded skillfully.
However, she had to be discerning about whom to use it on, or it would lead to even greater troubles.
Cui Degui watched her retreating figure with a smile.
The young lady was not only beautiful but also articulate.
By saying the bag was for everyone to share as samples, she made it acceptable for him to receive it.
As for how he handled it afterward, that was no longer her concern.
Cui Degui chuckled, opened the bag, and carried it out to distribute among the various offices.
Was he, Cui Degui, the kind to covet such trivial gains?
After going downstairs, Cheng Hui became much more enthusiastic, carrying the plate to several counters.
“Hello, comrade. I’m Xiao Cheng from the Xian Food Factory. I’ve already discussed with your manager about conducting a three-day new product promotion here.
“The original price of Weifeng Cake is 1 yuan each, but now it’s half price! Only 5 mao each.
“Please try it and see if it lives up to the name ‘Number One Cake Under Heaven’?”
Those who heard were all astonished, their first reaction being: “How much? 5 mao per jin, right? You must have misspoken?”
Cheng Hui would respond with a beaming smile and a crisp reply: “You heard correctly—it’s 1 yuan each! Now half price, buy one jin get one free! This offer lasts only three days, after which it returns to the original price!
“Oh, and we don’t require grain tickets.”
As for the 100 jin of grain tickets that should have been collected for the 100 jin of flour from the factory, she would find another way to make up for it.
After hearing the shocking price and incredible offer, most would pick up a toothpick to sample it.
Cheng Hui would immediately brighten her smile and ask, “Is it delicious?”
Faced with such a rare, dazzling smile, even if it wasn’t tasty, they’d have to say it was.
Moreover, the cake was genuinely delicious—far superior to ordinary Caozi Cake—and so expensive, yet given to them for free.
Everyone who tasted it would lavish praise, and those nearby heard every word clearly.
Cheng Hui promoted from the second floor to the first, though she had only offered samples to salesclerks at seven or eight counters.
And these were all clerks selling high-value items: watches, bicycles, televisions, washing machines, radios, premium cigarettes and alcohol, etc.
Then she returned to the entrance and said to the three dazed colleagues, “Set up the table. We can start selling here. Display single pieces on the table for 5 mao each, and large bags for 5 yuan.”
Turning to Tao Juan, she added, “Take five large bags and come with me.”
Tao Juan flusteredly hugged the five bags and followed her, looking bewildered.
Cheng Hui returned to the watch counter on the first floor.
She had already scoped it out earlier—while offering samples to the clerk, a young couple shopping for watches had shown interest.
Cheng Hui approached again with her plate, smiling at the female customer: “Comrade, where did you buy that jacket? It’s really beautiful! It complements your skin tone perfectly, making you look so fair~”
She had discovered that she couldn’t compliment other women on their beauty. When others did it, it was fine, but when she did, the other person would actually become displeased.
With her face, praising someone else’s beauty came across as insincere.
But she could pick a specific feature to compliment—like “You’re so fair,” “Your eyes are so big,” “Your hair is so black,” or “Your clothes are so pretty~”
Then the other person would be happier.
The woman opposite her was exactly like that. Seeing that Cheng Hui hadn’t spoken to her boyfriend and had instead praised her fair skin, she immediately broke into a smile and said she had made the clothes herself.
Cheng Hui praised her with “So clever and skilled,” then pushed the plate forward: “Try it, it’s our factory’s new product—Weifeng Cake, the Number One Cake Under Heaven. Right now, it’s a great deal—buy one, get one free!”
The woman hesitated to reach out, so Cheng Hui firmly placed one in her hand.
Once it was in her hand, not eating it would seem a bit petty.
The woman took a bite.
Anyone who tried it thought it was amazing!
The only downside was the price—they had just heard it cost 1 yuan each, and even with the discount, it was 50 cents each! This bag would be 5 yuan.
“You two look so much like a married couple—are you planning to get married?” Cheng Hui asked.
The woman said in surprise, “How did you know?”
Cheng Hui smiled. What was so hard to guess? Gold jewelry wasn’t allowed to be sold now, so the big-ticket items for young people getting married were watches, bicycles, radios, and sewing machines—the “three rotations and one sound.”
Young couples coming to buy watches were almost always preparing for marriage.
Cheng Hui finally turned to the young man opposite her: “Our Weifeng Cake is known as the Number One Cake Under Heaven, and it tastes this good. The key point is, it’s only being sold at the Department Store for three days. After that, it’ll be shipped to Jingcheng and Shanghai. People here might not be able to buy it even if they want to.
“If you buy a bag now for your future father-in-law, he’s sure to think more highly of you.”
The young man immediately reached into his pocket: “Give me a bag!”He was slightly inferior to his girlfriend in various aspects, and his future father-in-law had always looked at him with picky disdain and reluctance.”
He desperately wanted his future father-in-law to think more highly of him!
Hearing it was for her father, the woman naturally didn’t try to dissuade him….
Cheng Hui then looked at her: “Aren’t you going to buy a bag for your future mother-in-law? This cake is expensive and high-quality. If you’re willing to give it to her, even if she complains, she’ll be happy inside and will praise you to others….”
Before she could finish, the woman said, “Give me a bag too!”
As she collected the money, Cheng Hui took a bag from Tao Juan’s arms and handed it to them, sighing, “You’re really getting a great deal with this buy-one-get-one-free offer. A promotion like this, we’ll only do once in our lifetime!”
The two immediately wanted to buy another bag!
But going too far is as bad as falling short, so Cheng Hui didn’t push further. There were plenty of sheep here—no need to shear the same one repeatedly.
She headed to the television counter.
All televisions now were black and white and particularly small—9-inch or 12-inch.
The 9-inch ones usually cost 360 yuan, and the 12-inch ones 420 yuan, both requiring coupons.
Those who could afford them were well-off.
Right now, there were two men in their forties, who looked like cadres, picking out televisions.
One of them had shown interest in the Weifeng Cake earlier.
The other had rolled his eyes several times while she was giving her introduction! He had been scoffing the entire time.
With someone like that, Cheng Hui wouldn’t waste her time.
Their Weifeng Cake really had limited production, after all!
The one who had shown interest, however, would be much easier to win over.
One had affection, the other had interest… no, one was willing to hit, the other was willing to be hit—the deal was quickly and smoothly closed.
Cheng Hui also managed to extract some information from the other party: he was a designer at the provincial machinery factory.
Excellent! Just the kind of person she wanted to connect with. She made a mental note to jot it down later.
The area selling bicycles was quite crowded, but Cheng Hui glanced over and didn’t approach.
Several people wore expressions of caution and visible pain, indicating that buying a bicycle costing around 200 yuan was no easy feat for them.
She decided not to take advantage of them.
Instead, she headed to the section selling premium cigarettes and liquor, where a few men were hesitantly choosing among the most expensive bottles of alcohol.
Cheng Hui gazed longingly at a few bottles of Feitian Maotai in the display case and said to them, “Buy Beidacang! For Northeasterners, Beidacang is the way to go! I’ve even heard of this liquor in Jingcheng—they say it’s brewed from pure grains and tastes exceptionally good.
“I mailed two cases to my dad, and he said he gave two bottles to his minister, who was absolutely thrilled…”
Cheng Hui suddenly cut herself off as if she had let something slip, looking embarrassed as she held up a tray and said, “Our factory’s new product, Weifeng Cake, made with technology just learned from the U.S. Would you like to try some?”
The men nearby turned to look at her, their eyes lighting up.