"Xi Xi's Bedtime Stories" quietly became popular in Yangcheng, gradually boosting sales in surrounding cities, with some cities even experiencing a situation where a single copy was hard to find!
However, due to the news blockade by chain bookstores, it was only through feedback from reader calls that Sahara Publishing House learned that "Xi Xi's Bedtime Stories" had already sold out, and readers were struggling to find purchasing channels.
"Those bastards at Love Read, Book Bar, and Scholar Pavilion won't even give us restock notices—are state-owned bookstores messing with us too?" Fu Jun slammed his cup heavily on the table, asking angrily.
His subordinate reported with a grim face, "No, the state-owned bookstores are fine, but their pricing is a bit high, so sales really haven't picked up."
This conclusion came only after their all-night investigation. Most buyers of these fairy tale books were ordinary mothers and women managing household expenses. Their attitude toward buying books was much like shopping for groceries at the market—heavily influenced by price!
So, they wouldn't go to state-owned bookstores, and chain bookstores were perpetually out of stock...
Fu Jun had a headache, and so did everyone at Sahara Publishing House.
Only now did they realize that last week's column recommendation by Yu Qian had sparked a sales surge for this book, but it was too late. With only a few days left in the first-month protection period, how could they possibly create data compelling enough to make those chain and state-owned bookstores keep it on their shelves?
Missing this opportunity was because the relationship between Sahara Publishing House and the chain bookstore alliance wasn't as good as Fu Jun had imagined. They hadn't managed to break through the blockade with "Soldier Assault" and "Bright Sword." Behind it all, there were still invisible forces suppressing the efforts of small publishing houses...
The enemy had linked their ships like an iron chain, blocking the great river. To break through, they had to burn their boats and use a fiercer fire attack!
Recalling the source of this surge, Fu Jun had an idea. He gathered both the Sahara Publishing House and Sahara Online Mall teams for a meeting.
"First, the customer service department—set up training. From now on, whenever anyone asks where they can buy our books, tell them to go to Sahara Online Mall—it's cheap, convenient, and delivers to their door!"
"Then, run ads. First, do a survey to find out which newspapers our reader base reads most often, and place ads there. Buy a full page, just with a couplet: Top line: 'Xi Xi's Bedtime Stories, great read'; Bottom line: 'Sahara Online Mall, cheap'; Horizontal scroll: 'For the kids, worth it!'"
One subordinate asked nervously, "Boss, isn't the ad expense a bit too much? Nationwide, it would cost millions for just one campaign."
"It will be a lot, but this is a golden chance to boost Sahara Online Mall's reputation! Spending millions—it's worth it!" Fu Jun waved his hand boldly.
Sahara Online Mall had actually turned a profit recently, and a sizable one at that. Fu Jun had the funds for a few big moves.
He turned to the online mall staff and said, "You all need to step it up too. Enrich our mall's inventory. Get those publishers you've been negotiating with to send their books to our warehouse. And broaden your thinking—don't just sell books. List baby and toddler products too. Make sure suppliers maintain quality control..."
This time, Fu Jun was determined to spare no expense. He would ride the wave of "Xi Xi's Bedtime Stories" to wage a major battle—a comeback battle!
...
How his book was selling, Yang Yi didn't care about at all. What he cared about was what Xi Xi would wear tonight when they went to watch Guo Ziyi's performance at the freshman welcome party.
"I want to wear a dress." The little girl bounced on the bed. Even though she was already in her nightgown after her bath, she still looked eagerly at the princess dresses she loved in the closet.
"No dress today. It'll be a bit chilly outside tonight." Yang Yi rummaged through the closet and pulled out a pair of denim overall shorts he'd bought for her at Hailong Mall early on. The light blue fabric was soft, not rough like adult jeans.
"How about this?" Yang Yi thought Xi Xi would look good in this. With a T-shirt and the denim layer over her belly like an outer layer, she'd be much warmer.
"This is cute too!" Xi Xi quickly switched her affection. She happily held it up against herself. "There's a pocket on my tummy here—I really like it!"
Blue skin, a pocket on the belly—Yang Yi didn't know why, but it reminded him of a certain famous anime character.
Hmm! After finishing "Journey to the West," he'd tell Xi Xi the story of that blue fatty!
Putting the blue fatty aside for now, Yang Yi looked for a T-shirt to match the overalls. The little girl jumped down herself and, together with her dad, pulled out a short-sleeved T-shirt with the same design as her panda baby—her favorite one!
Black short sleeves, a white body, and a black collar around the neck! Even though the cartoon character on it wasn't a giant panda, this T-shirt looked just like Xi Xi's panda baby, didn't it?
"Wear this?" Yang Yi asked. "Will you be cold?"
After all, it was already autumn.
"Not cold, not cold. Wear this, I want to wear this!" The excited little one had already started taking off her nightgown, eager to put on the panda-themed T-shirt.
Yang Yi had to help his daughter slip the T-shirt on. Dressing a girl was a bit tricky—he had to pull her thin little arms through, and that wasn't all. He gently gathered her long hair caught in the back of the shirt, pulled it out, and used a comb to straighten the tangled strands.
When he put the overall shorts on Xi Xi, Yang Yi was surprised to find she'd grown taller! The overalls, which used to cover her knees, now left her little knees exposed.
Luckily, the panda T-shirt hadn't been bought too long ago, or Xi Xi might have outgrown it too.
Thinking about it, Yang Yi would probably have to retire some of the little girl's clothes and buy a new batch. Raising a kid was still quite a burden! Good thing Yang Yi wasn't short on money now...
Yang Yi slipped white short socks onto Xi Xi's feet, then put on her magenta sneakers with white star patterns, before letting the little girl admire herself in the mirror.
This little one couldn't resist checking herself out even when she was just wearing the panda T-shirt without the overalls.
"Want me to do your hair?" Yang Yi sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Xi Xi's long hair, and asked.
The little girl's hair was beautiful—thick, dark, and glossy, feeling like flowing clouds slipping through his fingers, incredibly pleasant.
"No, no." Xi Xi waved at her dad, the smile still lingering in her eyes.
Xi Xi's outfit was really nice, especially the overall shorts, which were like the finishing touch, making the little girl's slightly chubby face look adorable.
Yang Yi dressed his daughter up carefully, but he wore whatever he usually did, even slipping on a pair of oversized sandals, casual and carefree.
"Brother Yang, we need to hurry, or it'll start soon." Ding Xiang waited anxiously for them downstairs. She had changed clothes early at the shop and didn't need makeup, so she'd waited a long time. Always principled, she hated being late.