Chapter 638: The Beauty Salon Idea
Chapter 638: The Beauty Salon Idea
Zong Simeng had come to see Lu Jiaxin with a specific purpose in mind. She intended to open a high-end beauty salon, catering to the vanity of women, especially the wealthy socialites and young ladies of Hong Kong. With a dedicated client base, she believed she could build a successful business of her own, freeing herself from being confined at home.
Zong Simeng shared her thoughts, "I've been pondering my options, and starting a company isn't feasible given our family situation with four children. Besides, having been a housewife for so long, I lack the confidence to manage a company. So, I think the best option for me is to open a boutique, and after considering various projects, I feel that a beauty salon suits me the best."
Over the years, she had diligently taken care of her skin, and despite having four children, she still looked youthful. Her close relationships with many wealthy wives meant that as long as her salon offered excellent products and services, business would thrive.
Lu Jiaxin supported her idea, "All women want to maintain their youthful looks and figures. If you do this well, you'll have a lucrative business."
Zong Simeng held her hand and said, "For my business to succeed, I need your help."
She then touched her face and added, "Jiaxin, the Yu Ji Cream you gave me has worked wonders. My skin now feels as smooth as an egg. Whenever I attend banquets, everyone asks me about my skincare secret."
"So, what do you tell them?" Lu Jiaxin inquired.
Zong Simeng sighed, "I explained that it's an ancient formula that hasn't been released yet, so I can't reveal too much. I just say that I've been going for early morning runs, and with Zhifeng taking care of the kids on weekends, I have less to worry about. A stress-free life, coupled with good food and sleep, has improved my skin."
Lu Jiaxin laughed, "Simeng, you're not wrong. A positive mood is a woman's best beauty treatment. Even the best skincare products can't give you this radiant glow if you're constantly frowning and feeling down."
While Zong Simeng agreed that a good mood was essential, she also acknowledged the effectiveness of the Yu Ji Cream. "Jiaxin, aside from the Yu Ji Cream, have you developed any other skincare products? If so, could you provide them for my salon? I'd like to feature them as our signature treatments."
Lu Jiaxin, who was already planning for mass production, saw no harm in sharing, "In addition to the Yu Ji Cream for the face, there are also creams for the body and facial masks. However, as I mentioned before, the main drawbacks are the expensive ingredients and short shelf life. On the bright side, all the ingredients are herbal and have minimal side effects."
Zong Simeng's eyes lit up at the mention of no side effects. "Absolutely none?" she asked.
"Herbal remedies tend to have minimal side effects, and when applied externally, the chances of any side effects are negligible," Lu Jiaxin explained. "However, the cost is indeed high, and the quantity produced won't be substantial."
"That's alright," Zong Simeng smiled, "as long as it's effective. I can reserve it exclusively for our top VIPs, emphasizing their elite status."
Lu Jiaxin felt confident that Zong Simeng's salon would be a success. "Alright, I'll speak to them soon and prepare a batch for you. It's best to find people with sensitive skin to test it out and minimize any potential risks."
After Zong Simeng agreed, she asked, "Jiaxin, would you like to join me in this venture? I've never done business before, and having you as an investor would give me peace of mind."
Lu Jiaxin smiled gently, "Simeng, with your years of skincare experience and extensive social network, all you need is a good manager and strict quality control over the products. There's no doubt you'll make a profit."
Zong Simeng knew Lu Jiaxin was busy, and the scale of the beauty salon was insignificant compared to her other ventures. "He Yuandao said you have good financial luck, and whatever you invest in turns profitable. I want to ride on your coattails a little. You won't need to manage the salon; I just need your investment."
Having said so much, it would be hurtful to refuse further.
Seeing Lu Jiaxin's agreement, Zong Simeng smiled and said, "I also plan to bring a friend on board, who wants a 20% stake. How about I give you 30%?"
Lu Jiaxin felt that was too much. She said, "I won't be involved in the management of the company, and my social circle is limited, so I can't help bring in customers. 20% is more than enough."
Zong Simeng smiled faintly. "We won't need to pull in customers; as long as we establish a good reputation, people will come."
"Alright, then we've settled on 20%."
"Agreed."
Zong Simeng then asked about Lu Jiaxin's family. "Next week is the engagement banquet. When will your family be arriving? Customs here in Hong Kong are different from the mainland, so it's best to inform them in advance and let them prepare accordingly."
This was a very tactful statement. The Nie family was extremely wealthy, and both Nie Zhan and Lu Jiaxin were rising stars in Hong Kong. Many prominent figures would undoubtedly attend their engagement banquet. Coming from a humble salaried family, Lu Jiaxin felt it necessary to inform her family in advance, explaining the banquet's procedures and local customs to prevent any embarrassing situations.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "My dad arrived yesterday and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. I'll bring him back before the engagement banquet. My eldest brother and his wife will be arriving the day after tomorrow."
"The engagement procedures have already been finalized, and I've removed some of the more outdated customs. After all, it's a new century, and we don't need to stick to old traditions."
Zong Simeng was merely giving a friendly reminder, and it was up to Lu Jiaxin to heed her advice. "Is your dad at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital now? I thought he was doing well in his recovery. Why does he need to go to the hospital?"
Lu Jiaxin explained, "His recovery has been good, but I still wanted him to get checked out, so I took him to the hospital. The doctors didn't find any major issues, but they recommended rehabilitation therapy to speed up his recovery."
"Then I'll visit him tomorrow."
The last time Lu Jiaxin had prevented her from going to Si Jiucheng, it was because she didn't want to hold her back. Now that Lu Hongjun was in Hong Kong, there was no such concern.
Lu Jiaxin provided Zong Simeng with her father's hospital room number and added, "I have two meetings to attend tomorrow morning, so I won't be able to visit. If he says anything unpleasant, please don't take it to heart."
In the past, she had despised meetings, but now she had to attend two or three every week, and these were already streamlined. Ah, the life of a boss wasn't easy!
Zong Simeng laughed. "He's a patient, and I won't take issue with anything he says. If I took everything to heart, my mother-in-law would have driven me to an early grave."
During her stay in Si Jiucheng, she had learned about the strained relationship between mother and daughter from Mei Gu. There was little one could do with such a father, and one could only look forward.
"What happened with your mother-in-law?"
Zong Simeng sighed. "She disagrees with me opening a beauty salon. She thinks I should just focus on taking care of Zhifeng and the four children, and that making money is a man's job. Thankfully, Zhifeng and my father-in-law support me, so she hasn't said anything more."
Hu Yu supported her for two reasons. Firstly, he felt that having something to do would keep his daughter-in-law from constantly hovering over his son. Secondly, with a high-end beauty salon, there might be opportunities to expand their social network.
Lu Jiaxin could only console herself that the older generation had set ways of thinking and that if they couldn't be changed, one could only learn to let go.
(End of Chapter)
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