dmims Chapter 41 Florasis Cosmetics
Chapter 41 Florasis Cosmetics
He reached out his well-maintained hand, picked up the box, and gently opened it. The sight inside made his eyes light up—neatly arranged round mirrors, combs and brushes with carved wooden handles, and rows of lipsticks printed with delicate floral and bird patterns. Lipsticks in various colors, such as bright red, mauve, and fuchsia, were neatly arranged. Next to them were eyeshadow palettes in the same color family, fine powder compacts, and bottles of lotion and foundation with a delicate luster. In addition, there were lengthening mascaras, moisturizing lipsticks, and fine glitter powders. Each item exuded sophistication.
"Wow! The craftsmanship is reminiscent of Parisian luxury goods!" Wolf picked up a lipstick engraved with magnolia flowers, tracing the delicate lines with his fingertips, examining it from all angles, completely captivated. His previously critical brows relaxed, and his eyes gleamed with the light of money. "Where did this come from? This thing doesn't look ordinary; it must be worth a lot of money." As a former nobleman who had traveled throughout Europe, he had a keen eye for the value of exquisite items.
Yan Shuo lit a cigarette, crossed his legs, leaned back in his chair, and introduced with great enthusiasm: "My own brand is called Florasis. It uses French craftsmanship and Chinese design. The company is registered in the Netherlands. I just finished making a sample, and I brought it to you to check its quality and give me some advice on how much to sell it for per box."
"Florasis... what an elegant name, quite reminiscent of the Orient." Wolf stroked the edge of the gift box, his tone tinged with approval. "French-made cosmetics are most popular in the concession, especially among socialites and ladies. They love buying items that combine style and uniqueness. Your gift box is so complete, and the design is so special, with hand-carved patterns. I think it could sell for at least two hundred silver dollars a box. Those nouveau riche ladies would never be stingy with that kind of money."
"Two hundred yuan? Isn't that too high?" Yan Shuo had just opened his mouth when the office door was gently pushed open, and Li Yue (Li Zhiyao) walked in carrying a tray with three cups of coffee and a plate of delicate snacks. She was wearing a light blue dress, her hair was simply tied back, revealing her neck, and she looked intellectual and lively.
"Mr. Wolf, Nernd (Yan Shuo's pseudonym), have a cup of coffee and take a break." Li Yue placed the coffees in front of the two of them one by one. When she handed the coffee to Yan Shuo, she secretly touched the back of his hand with her finger, her eyes filled with a smile and tacit understanding.
She had heard the conversation inside and knew that Yan Shuo was being nagged by the old man, so she came over to help him out.
"Xiaoyue is so sensible, much less troublesome than that kid Bernd." Wolf smiled as he picked up his coffee, his fingertips pinching the handle of the cup. "Perfect timing, you can also give me your opinion on how much Bernd should sell his cosmetics for."
Li Yue picked up an eyeshadow palette from the gift box, held it up to the sunlight, and gently swept it across her face. The powder was so fine that the particles were almost invisible. She said playfully, "Mr. Wolf, the two hundred yuan you mentioned is indeed not cheap, but I think it's worth the price. Look how fine the powder is, and the patterns on this lipstick are all hand-carved. You simply can't find another like it on the market. Those socialites are buying this uniqueness and exquisiteness; they might even give it to each other as a gift. That way, our Florasis brand will really gain a reputation."
She paused, then added, "Besides, Bernd (Yan Shuo) is always reliable, so the quality is definitely guaranteed. Don't you remember the batch of French perfumes he helped you get last time? The quality was much better than other brands, and the price was fair. Didn't they sell out very quickly? Those customers are still constantly asking if we have any similar good stuff."
Yan Shuo couldn't help but smile as he watched her speak up for him. While Wolf was drinking his coffee, he secretly winked at her, his eyes full of affection.
Li Yue blushed slightly under his gaze and gently turned her face away.
"Hey, hey, this is the office, be mindful of your behavior." Wolf coughed twice, but there was no reproach in his eyes. Instead, his eyes showed a kind of elder's affection for a younger person.
He already knew the two were a couple, and seeing how affectionate the young couple was, he was quite happy.
Li Yue, in particular, was not only clever and quick-witted, but also very skilled in sales, helping the foreign firm attract many high-quality clients. He genuinely liked this young girl.
Li Yue stuck out her tongue, sat down next to Bernd's chair, and continued to offer suggestions: "Then we can get a few samples first and give them to some famous socialites in the concession to try, such as General Zhang's wife and Governor Li's daughter. They have the most say. Let them help promote it, and once it's become well-known, we can officially launch it. Maybe people will be scrambling to buy it for two hundred yuan, and we can even raise the price!"
"That's a great idea! Xiaoyue is so quick-witted, much more thoughtful than Bernd." Wolf nodded repeatedly, looking at Bernd with a hint of teasing. "Bernd, you really have to thank Xiaoyue, otherwise it's uncertain whether your cosmetics will sell well."
Bernd smiled and nodded: "Of course, I'll give her a big red envelope later so she can buy whatever she likes."
After discussing cosmetics, Wolf's tone relaxed considerably. He took a sip of coffee, his expression becoming more serious: "The situation isn't good lately. Have you heard? There's been fighting in Europe. Germany has occupied Poland. It's really worrying." As a former German nobleman, he had a natural concern for the situation in his homeland, and his tone carried a complex mix of emotions.
Bernd's expression softened slightly: "I've heard about it. There's a bit of panic in the French Concession right now, and many foreign firms are scaling back their operations, fearing the war might spread to them."
"Indeed," Wolf sighed, then straightened his back, adopting an air of aristocratic arrogance. "But my trading company can't go under. Luckily, I have you, Bernd. You not only manage the finances well, keeping every account clear, but you also maintain good relationships with the dockworkers, the industrial and commercial tax authorities, ensuring our goods can be received and stored smoothly. Those difficult tax officials from last time were easily dealt with by you. And the security personnel you introduced are also very capable; nothing has ever happened at the warehouse. They're much more reliable than those boastful British security guards."
At this point, Wolf looked at Bernd sincerely and said, "Bernd, I really didn't misjudge you. In these chaotic times, having someone as capable and reliable as you to help me puts my old bones at ease. If the owners of those other trading companies had half your ability, they wouldn't be so panicked."
"You flatter me, boss. This is all I should do," Bernd said. "Rest assured, I will continue to keep an eye on the docks and the commerce bureau, and I will deal with any suspicious activity promptly. I will also have the security personnel strengthen their vigilance, especially now that the situation is tense, we cannot afford any mistakes. Even if the situation becomes more tense, I will ensure that the trading company's goods can enter and exit smoothly, and that business will not be greatly affected."
Li Yue chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Wolf, don't you trust Bernd with your work? He's the most reliable. And I'll keep a close eye on the news in the concession, whether it's the client's needs or changes in the situation, I'll keep you and Bernd informed in a timely manner."