Chapter Ninety-Two: Wishes Fulfilled

After more than half a month away for advanced studies, Li Mu’s parents finally returned.

By the time they came back, the shop renovation was nearly complete. The shelves and cashier counter were already installed; only the three-sided fitting-room mirror was still missing.

Li Mu had not followed the renovation plan suggested by the headquarters. A single mirror with white lighting did not create a good enough effect. If customers did not even find themselves attractive in the mirror, how could they be stirred to spend?

So Li Mu borrowed from the later experiences of fast-fashion brands overseas such as Zara: all three sides of the fitting room were mirrors, joined at right angles as seamlessly as possible. In this way, when customers tried on clothes, they could see not only their left and right, front and back, but most importantly, when they looked into the angle formed by two mirrors, they could see their true, non-reflected selves. In other words, they could see how they truly appeared in the eyes of others.

On top of that, the warm spotlights were almost like built-in beautification. They made people feel that their skin in the mirror looked especially good, and that they looked better than usual.

That was also why so many people, when trying on clothes in a branded store, felt stunningly beautiful, only to go home, look in the mirror, and nearly want to tear the clothes to pieces.

After Li Mu’s parents returned, he took them and his aunt-in-law to the shop. When the three of them saw the bright, imposing storefront, their faces lit up with surprise, and their excitement was unmistakable.

Li Mu said, “A few days before you came, I already transferred the payment for the goods to the company. It should arrive in Haizhou in about three days.”

Unable to hide her excitement, Aunt-in-law said, “Xiao Mu, does that mean we need to start hiring shop assistants now?”

Li Mu nodded. “Of course. I originally planned to post an ad, but after thinking about it, it’s probably better to let you, the store manager, handle the hiring yourself.”

Aunt-in-law had already attended the headquarters training program and now had a thorough understanding of how a specialty store operated. “How about this: I’ll go find a print shop later and have a few recruitment notices made. We can put them up outside the store today.”

Li Mu had no objections. Since he had chosen his aunt-in-law as store manager long ago, these matters should naturally be decided by her. Besides, seeing how proactive she was put his mind at ease.

Li’s mother walked around the large shop of more than a hundred square meters a few times, and suddenly remembered the billboard advertisements she had seen on the way here. “Son, those ads you hung on the buildings in the city center must have cost a lot, right?”

“They didn’t cost anything. A friend had the spots, so he let us use them for free for a while.”

That Song Liang was truly the most thoughtful businessman Li Mu had ever met. It wasn’t just that he arranged a few building ads for him. During their last barbecue and drinking session, in casual conversation, Li Mu learned that the reason Zou Hua had been released on the same day Guo Yuhang was discharged from the hospital was also the result of Song Liang’s deliberate maneuvering, and it had indeed given Guo Lin quite a headache for a while.

At that moment, Aunt-in-law was holding a small notebook and rapidly scribbling in it with a gel pen, muttering to herself as she wrote, “Goods arriving in three days. For a store of more than one hundred and sixty square meters, stocking the merchandise will take at least fifty to sixty labor-hours. Based on ten-hour workdays, we’ll need five employees.”

“If we assign one sales assistant for every fifteen square meters, we’ll need about ten assistants for the shop to manage comfortably…”

After muttering for a while, Aunt-in-law looked up and asked Li Mu, “Xiao Mu, what day do you want to set for the opening?”

“The eighteenth,” Li Mu said. “August eighteenth, 8/18. Nice and smooth.”

Aunt-in-law nodded and also let out a breath of relief. “Then the timing is still fine. I need to hurry up and recruit people, and I’ll also need at least three days to both guide them in stocking the merchandise and organize basic training.”

Li Mu was more satisfied than ever with her focused attitude, and said with a smile, “Aunt, whether this store can bring in more than three hundred thousand a month depends on you!”

Aunt-in-law smiled with great confidence. “When we were at the headquarters, we looked at plenty of operating data from stores in other cities. For a place the size of Haizhou, I think making ten thousand a day will be easy. And you’ve even put up such eye-catching building ads. Once we open, business will definitely boom. I’m only afraid the fitting rooms won’t be enough.”

Li Mu laughed. “We only have five fitting rooms altogether. If that’s still not enough, then we’ll really be making it big.”

Li’s mother teased from the side, “You really are obsessed with money.”

Li Mu looked innocent. “Mom, this store is for you and Dad. Whatever it earns will belong to you two in the future. How can you say I’m obsessed with money?”

Li’s father interjected, “And the money we earn wouldn’t still be earned for you?”

Li Mu said seriously, “You can decide how to use the store’s profits yourselves. If this shop really turns a lot of money, you can also use it for the next round of investment.”

Neither of Li Mu’s parents paid much attention to his talk of reinvestment. Compared with earning money, Li’s father was more worried about Li Mu’s admission letter. He could not help asking, “Has the letter still not arrived?”

“Not yet. They still use registered mail. From the capital to our place, it can’t be that fast. It should be two more days, I think.”

“What if you didn’t get in?”

“Don’t worry, Dad. Impossible. I’m definitely getting in.”

…

The very next morning after Li Mu confidently declared that he would definitely be admitted to Renmin University, the postman delivered a registered letter.

Li Mu was still asleep when it arrived. When Li’s father signed for it, he saw the words “Renmin University” written in bold letters on the envelope, and that it was rather thick besides. In his heart, he knew at once that his son’s admission letter had arrived.

But he did not open it immediately. Instead, he suppressed the excitement and anticipation in his chest and, together with his wife, called Li Mu out of bed.

“Open it, open it quickly!”

Li’s mother looked at the sleep-disheveled Li Mu, already unable to contain herself.

Li Mu rubbed his eyes to adjust to the bright light. Seeing the anticipation overflowing from his parents’ faces, he did not dare delay.

With a rip, the envelope tore open in a smooth line.

“Hey, be gentler!” Li’s mother said nervously. “Tear it slowly from the back. Don’t ruin it. Your father and I are keeping this envelope as a memento!”

“It’s just an envelope!”

“I told you to be gentler, so be gentler!”

“Fine…”

Li Mu carefully tore the envelope open eighty percent of the way before Li’s mother refused to let him tear any further. He then took out a stiff card that looked like a greeting card or invitation. On the front were the words “Admission Letter of China Renmin University,” along with an image of the university gate and the school emblem.

When he slowly opened it, the five large characters on the front made his parents burst into tears of joy at once.

Admission Letter

Student Li Mu: Congratulations on being admitted to our university to study Finance in the School of Finance. Please report to the university with this notice on September 3, 2001.

When Li’s father and mother saw the five words “Admission Letter,” they were overjoyed, and then tears of happiness followed. Li Mu clicked his tongue as he finished reading the notice and murmured to himself, “So I still didn’t make it into the School of Economics.”

Li Mu himself knew very well that the School of Economics was Renmin University’s flagship college. With his score of six hundred and thirty-six, getting into the School of Economics was basically a fool’s dream. Still, it did not matter. For him, there were many reasons to attend Renmin University. If he listed them one by one, part of it was to make his parents proud, part of it was to go to the capital early and lay the groundwork for his future, part of it was that he needed a good diploma to polish his image, and part of it was that having Su Yingxue as a classmate meant four years at university with a beauty at his side would probably not be too dull.

In that case, did it really matter what he studied? Not at all. He honestly did not give a damn.

His parents were not focused on what major Li Mu had been admitted to at all. They had already picked up the phone and were calling relatives to spread the news.

Renmin University! How remarkable was that! Li’s parents felt that in their forty-odd years of life, today was truly the proudest day they had ever had. What could be more important than their son getting into a good university? Nothing. If they had to name one thing, then their son’s birth eighteen years ago might count as slightly more important.

While his parents were on the phone, Li Mu’s mobile rang too.

It was Su Yingxue.

“Hello, Li Mu. Have you received your admission letter?”

These days, logistics were practically a one-horse game for the postal service. If one person received an admission letter from the capital, it meant many local students who had applied to other universities there might also receive theirs today, because their letters were all sent in one parcel.

Su Yingxue had received the notice a little earlier than Li Mu. After her family finished celebrating and informing everyone, she immediately called him.

Li Mu answered with a smile, “I received it.”

Su Yingxue’s voice instantly carried unmistakable joy. “What major are you in?”

“Finance.”

“Oh, then you’re in the School of Finance. That’s very good too! Congratulations!”

“That’s right. And you? Are you in Economics?”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations on finally getting what you wanted!”