Sit Softly On Your Shoulder

Chapter 38: Savvy Negotiations

In the morning, Wei Ying steps out of the hotel with a spring in his step and determination sitting firmly on his shoulders. Last night, Lan Zhan had successfully erased any and all thoughts, leaving him in a state of blissful emptiness. Lan Zhan is still smug about it.

Surprisingly, today Wei Ying feels ready and able to tackle the world, every single seller of fabric, and of course, his gorgeous husband.

"Yesterday, we went that way," he gestures with a nod from his head tilting left. "I propose we try our luck this way and see what we can find." Wei Ying beams, finding a lightness of heart that was missing on the day before.

"As you wish. They say, "Fortune favours the brave."" Lan Zhan takes his hand as they begin walking.

"I was thinking," Wei Ying muses out loud, "Judging from the whole relationship between the agents and the sellers, I bet there's room to bargain on the prices these traders are offering."

"Mn."

"But maybe we shouldn't bargain too hard."

"Why?"

"Well, they're also running a business, right? It would be nice if both of us, them and our shop, make some money. From my point of view, if I was on the receiving end of a customer going for a hard deal, that would make me want to be as uncooperative as possible. And I'd remember them for the wrong reason. We want to establish a good working relationship with our suppliers, so it stands to reason that whatever we purchase from them comes with their blessings that it should sell well." Wei Ying grins at him, self-consciously embarrassed.

"All good points. Wei Ying is a natural." Lan Zhan smiles at his protesting whine.

"Say that again after everything we buy just tanks," he mutters under his breath.

"If we trust in the Universe, then we are required to take a leap of faith. There have been times the shop has surprised me." To admit this and not be laughed at is a huge step for Lan Zhan's own confidence regarding running the shop.

"When?"

"Sometimes, it feels as if the shop is its own entity. When we clean the shelves, tidy up and all the little jobs that pertain to its maintenance, it shows us gratitude by making people come inside. Nobody has to buy from us. But there's something that compels them to walk in and make a purchase, and that can be attributed to the Universe. Something wants us to succeed."

"That's a unique way of looking at it," Wei Ying agrees. "Hey, Lan Zhan, what's that?"

He pulls his husband towards a stand of glittering soft materials, all different to each other. The seller comes out like a fisherman reeling in his prey.

"That is polyester georgette with interwoven lurex thread. And the one next to it is smoke chiffon. Also polyester, sold by the set. However, we are a wholesale establishment. No retail purchase." He emphasises.

Wei Ying snickers. "Thanks for making that clear."

"How much is it?" Lan Zhan pulls out his phone so he can work out the conversion into pound sterling. But there's a greedy look in the seller's eyes that makes him reluctant to buy from him. And judging by Wei Ying's hesitant backwards step, he's not the only one who noticed it.

"Um, so it's really nice, but not quite what we wanted," Wei Ying quickly adds.

The seller, sensing their reluctance and the possibility of losing their custom, lowers his initial price.

"We'll get back to you, thank you." Lan Zhan bows and moves away, taking Wei Ying with him.

"That was close," Wei Ying mutters as soon as they are enough of a distance away from him. "I didn't like him drooling at us. Well, not exactly us but our bank account."