After all, online shopping is so developed and cheap now.
Moreover, on this street, there are 7 or 8 hardware stores scattered around, and the competition is very fierce.
So, any store that can continue to develop must have some stable major customers.
For example, factories, renovation companies, construction teams, etc.
Their little store is just like that; she looks after the store, while Tang Jianying goes out to find business.
Tang Jianying is almost 50 years old and has worked many jobs over the years.
Relying on the connections he made while working at renovation companies, he can get a few orders every month.
Currently, 70% of Jianying Hardware Store’s sales come from renovation teams.
The fact that Tang Song didn’t go to graduate school because of family issues is the greatest pain in their hearts.
Now, their son has started his own business and made money.
Tang Jianying feels both gratified and guilty, feeling that he has been an incompetent father who hasn’t provided strong support for the family.
Once the hardware store started to make stable profits, he wanted to prove himself and save more money for his son in the meantime.
To secure more orders from the renovation teams, he agreed to the advance payment request, with a one-month agreement.
Among them, a team called Tiger’s Renovation took nearly 20,000 in goods over two months.
They were from the same village and had worked together before, so he was so trusting that he didn’t urge them at first.
As a result, it has dragged on until now without a definite answer.
For stores like theirs, the biggest cost is stocking inventory, if things keep going this way, they’ll go bust sooner or later.
Today, just as Tiger is in his store, he has to go over and ask for an explanation, at least get half of it settled.
"I’m leaving now, I’ll definitely be back by 11 at the latest."
Tang Jianying said, getting onto a tricycle parked outside and heading towards the county town.
"Xu Feng, I just heard you two making a fuss, what was it about?" Sister Guo, who sells tiles next door, curiously came over.
Standing at the doorway, Xu Feng sighed and began to chat with her.
Stores like theirs have very little foot traffic, but basically, 70-80% of the customers who come in end up buying.
So, daily operations are quite leisurely.
The two chatted for a considerable time.
Sister Guo, munching on peanuts, laughed, "By the way, I heard you mention Tang Song, is he coming back?"
She is also a long-time neighbor, quite familiar with Tang Song, knowing that he is now developing in Yan City.
Mentioning her son, the worry on Xu Feng’s face vanished immediately.
She replied cheerfully, "Yes, he’ll arrive before noon!"
"Oh, it’s been nearly half a year since he last came home, hasn’t it?"
"Yeah, he’s quite busy with work, and now he’s also busy with starting his own business, so he hasn’t had time to come back home and visit."
"Being busy is good!" Sister Guo shook her head, lamenting, "Look at my daughter, ever since the company closed down, she returned from the Imperial City and stays home all day. When I tell her to find a job, she says she wants to do livestream sales, and help us sell tiles and take over our little store."
Their tile store is quite large, it’s their own property, and it is located on the main road of the town, indeed a valuable asset.
"Livestreaming?" Xu Feng smiled and said, "My Song is also doing livestream sales, maybe the two kids can exchange some ideas."
"That’s great!" Sister Guo clapped her hands, revealing her intention, "If Tang Song could help our Ranran, that would be wonderful."
She had heard before that Xu Feng’s son was starting a business in Yan City with partners and doing quite well.
Her daughter lounging at home is certainly not a solution, since she is interested in livestreaming, it might be good to try at Tang Song’s company.
After all, they’re neighbors, they wouldn’t harm the daughter.
At that moment, a female voice chimed in, "Mom! Are you talking about me again?"
Soon, a fashionably dressed girl with heavy makeup came over.
In her early twenties, she had dyed yellow hair, and her appearance and figure were quite good.
Sister Guo frowned, "Am I wrong to talk about you? Staying home all day, didn’t you want to get into livestreaming? Your Brother Song is doing that now, learn from him."
"Pfft—" Li Ranran stifled a laugh, "Mom, you wouldn’t be trying to matchmake me with Tang Song, right? Don’t play matchmaker randomly, we’re not right for each other."
"Uh..." Xu Feng was a bit taken aback, feeling a bit awkward.
However, she knew that Li Ranran was always , outspoken and not very considerate of others’ feelings.
In other words, she had a bit of a "rich girl attitude."
A girl like that, even if married into the family, her son would surely suffer grievances, something she wouldn’t want.
Besides, with Qingning around, no one else seemed good enough.
Sister Guo’s eyebrow gave a twitch, a bit annoyed with her daughter’s bluntness, "What nonsense are you talking, who would fancy you, lazy and unemployed?"
"Tch~" Li Ranran rolled her eyes, flicking her hair, "Plenty of people fancy me, I just haven’t told you."
She was two years younger than Tang Song; during high school, she actually had a good impression of him, their neighbor’s brother.
After all, back then, Tang Song was tall and slim, a boyish handsome guy.
Unfortunately, he later fell out of good shape.
Especially around the Chinese New Year, when she followed her mom to have a meal at his home.
Back then, Tang Song had become plump and unkempt, a typical tech geek look.
"If you really have guts, just get married quickly, and save us some headache."
"I’m not arguing with you." Li Ranran shrugged, took out her phone from her bag, and waved it, "I’ve been making local videos these days, and gained some local followers. Today, I plan to start a livestream to help promote your tiles."