Chapter 129: The Expansion Plans of Mom and Dad Li

Whenever the topic of business came up, Li’s parents were all smiles.

Now that September had just ended, they had audited the store’s accounts: sales had reached over seven hundred thousand, averaging more than twenty thousand per day. Li Mu was full of admiration upon hearing this. He had underestimated the potential of the clothing market, previously thinking that a daily turnover of ten thousand was impressive—a figure not even half of their actual performance. Realizing that the total turnover since opening had already reached one hundred forty or fifty thousand, he was left speechless; the store’s net profit had already climbed into the hundreds of thousands.

Li’s mother said, "Business has slowed down a bit recently, but once the weather turns colder at the end of October, there will definitely be another peak season. By the end of November, winter clothing will spark another surge, and before long, it will be the Spring Festival—an even bigger season."

Li Mu nodded. "Branded clothing doesn't really have an off-season. Every change of season is a peak period. Aside from that, there’s the pre-school rush and the Spring Festival. When you add it all up, the year just flies by."

Li’s mother agreed, but after a moment of hesitation, she said, "Son, that plan to buy a house in Yanjing? It looks like we’ll have to put it on hold for now."

Thinking of how eager his mother had been to buy a property in Yanjing, Li Mu asked curiously, "Why is that? Looking at this trend, we should be able to earn enough for a house by November."

His father chimed in, "Your mother has taken an interest in another brand called Semir. We looked into it and found their headquarters is also in Wencheng, so she wants to go there after the holiday to negotiate the rights for the brand."

Afraid that Li Mu might disapprove, his mother explained, "I think Semir is a good brand. While it isn't as well-known as Metersbonwe, it isn't far behind. I took some time to visit Jinling and found that their store performance is just as good as Metersbonwe's."

Li Mu was pleasantly surprised. His parents had changed; they no longer possessed the mindset of people content with a meager salary, nor were they as timid with money as they used to be. Now, they were actually planning to expand their territory. It was truly rare and commendable.

Li Mu had considered Semir before, but based on his memories, it wasn't as stable as Metersbonwe, which was why he had excluded it when he had to choose one. However, now that they already had a successful Metersbonwe store, Semir would be an excellent choice for a second location.

With a firm tone, Li Mu said, "I think your idea is fantastic. We shouldn't be satisfied with just one store. The market space in the clothing industry is still vast. If there is a good project and we have sufficient capital, we must act decisively!"

Then, concerned, he asked, "Are you two too busy? Can you handle the workload?"

His mother replied, "Your aunt-in-law is so capable that we don't need to intervene in most things. We don't even need to be at the store every day. Lately, we just drop by every few days to check on sales and inventory, coordinate orders with her, and reconcile accounts weekly. With the computer system helping, we’re actually quite free."

His father added with a smile, "Based on the commission structure we set, your aunt-in-law made over ten thousand in September. She’s more motivated than anyone."

Li Mu nodded. "In that case, the second store will also need a capable manager."

His mother hesitated, sounding a bit uncertain. "Actually, I wanted to discuss that with you."

Li Mu waited for her to continue.

Li’s mother said, "Since you left, your aunt has been to our house a few times."

"Oh? What for?" In Li Mu’s memory, his aunt rarely visited. She barely came even for festivals, maybe once a year at most. Coming several times in just one month meant she definitely had an agenda.

His mother explained, "Your aunt’s store is doing worse and, since everyone in Haizhou knows our store is booming—with our sales clerks making several thousand in commissions in September, more than your aunt makes running her own shop—she wants to come work for us."

"She wants to come? Then what about your sister-in-law?" Li Mu asked. "You know your sister’s personality. If she has to work under your sister-in-law, will she be content?"

His mother replied, "Your aunt isn’t asking for much; she just wants to be a sales lead. She’s run a clothing store for years, so she has no problem with sales."

Li Mu nodded. "Are you implying that if we open the Semir store, you want her to be the manager?"

His mother said, "That is what I meant, but I wanted to seek your opinion first..." She added, "Your aunt is much better than she used to be."

She knew Li Mu had strong opinions about his aunt and was afraid he would object. His father also stood by her side, saying, "Xiao Mu, your aunt has really made a lot of progress."

Li Mu hesitated for a moment and sighed. He truly disliked many things about his aunt. She was nearly forty, yet her temperament was unstable; she would get carried away after making a little money, and she was often sharp-tongued toward his father. It was even more infuriating when she colluded with his uncle.

However, she was his mother’s own sister. Years ago, when he was just born, she had been a young woman who had held and doted on him plenty.

Psychologically, Li Mu did not believe in nepotism in business. But for his parents, money was secondary; helping them feel satisfied and proving their value in life was what mattered most. They had a need to earn and a need to be recognized. Having taken the first step toward success and seeing the wealth gap grow between them and their relatives, they weren't gloating or mocking others; instead, they wanted to help those lagging behind. This showed they also had a need to be relied upon by their kin.

Since that was the case, he would let them be. Using his aunt was not impossible, provided she worked diligently and didn't cause trouble in the family business. If she did that, his parents would gain even more of a sense of achievement.

So, Li Mu set three rules with his parents: "Using my aunt is fine, but there are conditions. First, she must change her temper, especially when managing the sales team—she must never adopt an arrogant attitude or use sarcasm. Second, she must participate in training seriously and fulfill her duties as a store manager. Finally, if she lacks the ability or her mindset isn't right, we must replace her promptly."

His mother agreed without hesitation. Although she wanted to help her sister, she had been an accountant for years and held strong principles. His father had no objections either; if she did well, everyone would be happy, but if she didn't, they couldn't jeopardize a store—an investment of hundreds of thousands—just to humor her.

Li Mu asked, "Have you picked a location?"

"Yes," his mother said. "There’s a 120-square-meter storefront for rent less than a hundred meters from our current shop."

Li Mu said, "Alright, if the price is right, rent it. But the contract details must be solid. It’s best to follow the terms of our current lease; if the rent is a bit higher on that basis, that’s fine."

Li Mu hadn't expected his mother to be so efficient; she rented the space and signed the contract that very afternoon. She explained that because they were already operating a Metersbonwe, they were considered premium partners for Semir, potentially bypassing the on-site audit process. This meant the preparations wouldn't take long: they would sign the contract after the holiday, start renovations immediately, and be open by the end of October.

The family of three reached a consensus on the Semir franchise. His father seemed to have something on his mind, but he held back throughout the morning and even during lunch.

At noon, his father brought out his favorite Kouzi Cellar liquor, pouring two ounces for himself and about one for Li Mu. His mother had been preparing lunch since morning, putting extra effort into the first meal after her son’s return. She made six dishes and a soup, including two cold dishes, specifically so Li Mu could keep his father company.

When a family’s material life and state of mind were both thriving, the sense of satisfaction was incredibly profound. Even an ordinary home-cooked meal felt more joyful and pleasant than the holidays of years past.

At the table, his mother kept piling food onto Li Mu’s plate, and he ate and drank to his heart’s content.

After two ounces of liquor, his father’s face was flushed. He suddenly spoke up: "I want to discuss something with you two."

His mother hadn't noticed his father's struggle throughout the morning, but Li Mu had seen it all. He said, "Dad, just say it. You’re the head of the family; you don't need to consult us for everything. You can make your own decisions."

His father smiled sheepishly and voiced what had been weighing on him.

For a long time, Li Mu’s grandparents had been living with his uncle, Li Daoguang. His uncle had farmed his whole life and picked up odd jobs during the off-season. Their living conditions were average, and Li Mu had a younger cousin and a younger sister. His cousin was seventeen and had dropped out of school to work in town, while his younger cousin was sixteen and still in vocational school. The family burden was heavy.

Before Li Mu’s family opened their store, his father would send a monthly allowance to his uncle, which was enough for the elderly couple’s needs. After the store opened, his father had tried to give his uncle twenty thousand, but his uncle had refused. Knowing his brother’s stubborn nature, his father thought it would be better to teach him how to fish rather than just giving him the fish. He planned to put up some money to open a wholesale shop in their hometown town.

His father said that the wholesale business in town was decent and the rent was cheap. If they invested in it, he would let his uncle and cousin run it together. His cousin was currently only earning three hundred a month working for someone else; it would be better to give them a small business of their own.

Li Mu had no objections, only asking, "Dad, Uncle is so stubborn. If you put up the money for him to open a shop, will he accept it?"