CHAPTER 467: CHAPTER 494: HOW CAN BUSINESS THRIVE?

Liu Gang intentionally or unintentionally pinned everything on Ai Mei, saying she was the mastermind and he was just taking the blame, which garnered him quite a bit of sympathy. Apart from Gu Junming and his wife, he wasn’t really snubbed by anyone else.

Liu Gang quietly started going on blind dates, wanting to seize the opportunity to get married quickly, hoping that once the rice was cooked, everything would be easier.

As long as his parents kept an eye on Ai Mei, that would be enough. Besides, with Ai Mei’s personality, she wouldn’t survive in the village for long.

Gu Junming soon found out and sneered, "How shameless to even dare to date!"

"Let him be, it doesn’t concern us." Sun Chan packed her luggage, as the school holidays had begun and it was time to head back to the village for family visits. More preparations were necessary.

However, Gu Junming was still angry: "How can we let someone like that stay in the military? Although Ai Mei is a bit confused and annoying, Liu Gang is despicable. The nature of the two is completely different." Today, he betrays you for profit, and who knows who he’ll betray tomorrow. Moreover, his rank isn’t low. If there’s any disciplinary violation, it would be hard to deal with.

Sun Chan smiled, "There’s nothing we can do about it; you don’t run the military."

Gu Junming frowned and said nothing.

Sun Chan continued, "There’s always going to be unscrupulous people in every field. Moreover, people like that often do quite well. Be cautious when dealing with him in the future. Now hurry up and pack, I have to get to my drawings. Before leaving, I have to complete the new illustrations for Han Dong."

"Alright, I’ll pack, you go draw." Gu Junming knew that fighting with someone like Liu Gang wouldn’t do him any good, so he started thinking about a later strategy.

Sun Chan did not object, watched Gu Junming work, and went to the study to draw, contemplating how her shop had been open for half a year. Business was neither great nor bad—not enough to lose money—but it was far below her expectations, which left her a bit disappointed. Han Dong was also thinking about where the problem lay.

The designs were innovative, the fabric was good, and she offered customization services; the service was excellent, yet sales were poor, leaving Sun Chan really worried.

Sitting in front of the easel, holding the paintbrush, she pondered deeply, frowning slightly. Was it too expensive?

Last month, Wu Dafu’s boutique also opened officially, seemingly intending to compete with them. The pricing was similar, but their business was doing well.

Han Dong said it was normal competition: "Since they didn’t open directly opposite us, we can’t interfere. Even if they did, we have to meet it with a smile. Even if it annoys us, we have to keep going."

Sun Chan felt helpless, "But their performance is said to be quite good. What exactly is the secret?"

"Yes, after all, it’s an old brand. Their clothing brand has been around for about thirty years, right? It’s famous in X City, and we’re new to this industry. Earning public trust takes time. For newcomers like us, managing sales as they are now is already quite good."

Han Dong was not very anxious, but Sun Chan was a bit impatient.

After contemplating for a while, Sun Chan began sketching. This time, she wasn’t drawing clothes but bags, thinking about whether offering a complementary bag with clothing purchases could boost sales. Bags could also be decorative. Designing a leather bag with floral designs, slightly softer material that could be used in winter, wasn’t that a great idea?

She designed several models, with different colors and materials—a large black leather shoulder bag, which could fit many items with simple patterns on it. There was also a dark red backpack, much smaller, meant for young girls. She also created decorative bags with tassels for children, made of canvas, and practical fabric bags for women to use when going grocery shopping.

In the corner, she drew her store’s logo, so it was clear they formed a series.

She finished the sketches; it was already quite late. She stretched and was about to rest.

Then she saw Gu Junming looking at her with a complicated expression. He didn’t seem ready to sleep.

Sun Chan looked at him curiously: "What’s wrong? Did you find something out?"

"Your father came by earlier, but he didn’t disturb you."

"Really?" Sun Chan looked outside, "He left? I didn’t even hear."

"Yes, he left after explaining the matter."

Seeing Gu Junming’s expression, Sun Chan began to worry: "Did something happen? Is Mom’s health not good?"

"No." Gu Junming hesitated for a moment and then said, "It’s your sister... There’s news about Yang Yun. She said she’ll return for the New Year. Your father was worried you’d overthink, so he came here especially. Later, upon finding out you were drawing, he didn’t disturb you and left quickly." While saying this, Gu Junming cautiously glanced at Sun Chan.

Yang Yun had done many shameful things, but she was still a Yang Family member, and the parents were concerned about her.

Sun Chan was silent for a while, then smiled, "Returning? Great, I almost forgot about her. Is her injury getting better?"

"Yes, it’s said to be better, and she’s also found someone, planning to marry once she comes home."

Sun Chan frowned—such capability? Yet she had no desire to involve herself in Yang Yun’s affairs and merely nodded slightly.

Gu Junming approached and hugged her, saying, "Don’t worry, you still have me. Don’t overthink."

Although Sun Chan claimed not to care about the past, Yang Yun’s hurt couldn’t be easily forgotten. Clearly, she was unhappy about her parents’ decision to welcome her back. Inside Sun Chan’s mind, two little voices were at odds.

One voice said: "After all, she’s your sister, and your parents are concerned about you. You can’t ignore her. Despite many disappointments, your parents can’t sever their blood ties with her."

The other voice said: "In their eyes, the most important is your sister, right? No matter how hard I try, I can never surpass my sister Yang Yun! Even if she committed crimes, she’s still their cherished daughter for over twenty years. What am I? I almost got killed by her!"

Of course, Gu Junming understood her conflicted feelings and continued to comfort her.

Sun Chan chuckled, "Alright, I’ve never seen Mr. Gu speak so eloquently before."

"Hehe." Gu Junming patted her head, "I’m not a captain; I’m a deputy. I also hope to get a promotion soon."

Sun Chan laughed, "Alright, got it. You just keep working hard. As for Yang Yun... I won’t meet her. I believe my parents won’t force me to see this woman. If they push for some sisterly bonding, I’d rather abandon all ties."