Rebirth: She is Ready for a Counterattack!-Chapter 431 - 430: Flagship Store

Besides, they are all honest people doing business by the book, never thinking of deceit or playing tricks.

In this way, as costs rise with prices, their prices, driven by competition, keep dropping, and profits become smaller and smaller.

"Mom, I’ve been thinking about this matter outside, since the store has resumed normal operation. It’s time to make a move."

Gu Xiaoqing certainly understood the current situation.

"Make a move?"

Li Xuemei was overjoyed to hear and asked, "Xiaoqing, do you have a good plan?"

"Let’s talk about hot pot first. I think for our Gu Family hot pot restaurant, you should invest some money to open flagship stores of our brand specifically in the Capital, Shenzhen, and Inner Mongolia."

"Flagship stores?"

Li Xuemei was stunned, she couldn’t keep up with Gu Xiaoqing’s new terminology.

"Yes, stores that represent the highest standards of our Gu Family hot pot and barbecue, putting all our efforts into managing these three flagship stores."

Franchising is merely a means of primitive accumulation, and when it’s almost ripe, it’s time to establish the brand.

For this type of hot pot restaurant to establish a brand, it naturally involves focusing all resources on a flagship store to present an image to everyone.

"Domestic living standards are only going to get better, and people will gradually demand more in taste and texture. The most important point is..."

"What?"

"Health!"

Gu Xiaoqing paused; what she was about to discuss next was the major trend for hot pot restaurants in the future.

"We need to separate the big pot and the small pots."

"Big pot, small pots?"

"That’s right, there should be a big pot for gatherings, like the common twin-flavor pots. Additionally, there should be small individual pots for each person."

The advantage of small pots is that they look hygienic; in a big pot, everyone’s chopsticks go in, and not to sound unpleasant, it’s like everyone’s saliva merging in one pot.

But small pots are different; everyone eats their own, surely preferred by those with a germ phobia, and they will become increasingly popular in the future.

"We also need to innovate with the soup base."

"How could you possibly do that with soup bases?"

Li Xuemei felt she wasn’t cut out for business, and these matters would still rely on Gu Xiaoqing.

Although Gu Xiaoqing repeatedly stated that today’s achievements were a collective effort, she deeply felt that it was entirely up to Gu Xiaoqing’s support to reach this point.

"Mushroom soup pot, tomato pot, and bone soup pot... I can think of these for now, and I’ve pretty much worked them out. Actually, I was originally thinking about creating a secret beef soup base..."

Gu Xiaoqing had been fiddling with the soup bases during this time, having eaten hot pot a few times with Ye Mingyue.

The mushroom soup pot became a favorite among everyone later on.

There’s also the tomato pot, which some people prefer.

Once these two soup bases and the small pot system are launched, they will surely provide a refreshingly new experience for consumers, setting them apart from ordinary hot pot restaurants.

"Wait, let me take notes."

Li Xuemei hastily grabbed paper and a pen to jot everything down. She didn’t expect her daughter, despite being swamped abroad, to be so thoughtful about home affairs.

"Tell Dad and the others that all this was your idea."

"How can I do that?!"

Li Xuemei immediately protested; this was clearly her daughter’s credit, and she didn’t want to claim it for herself.

Gu Xiaoqing sighed on the other end of the phone, "Mom, have you ever thought about why things have developed as they are now?"

"What?"

"Why does my sister resent me, and why has Xiaojie become addicted to games?"

"Isn’t it because life is too good?"

"That’s just one aspect. On the other hand, it’s because I’m always the one steering the family’s direction. I’ve never considered how being the eldest sister makes her feel invisible, as if her contributions don’t matter in my presence.

Mom, everyone wants their abilities to be recognized by others. You always say I did this, and I did that, but continuing like this, similar issues will inevitably arise again.

The same goes for Xiaojie; he’s not involved in anything, and he feels that he has no place in the family, no recognition of his abilities. That’s why he’s enamored with the illusionary success of online games, lost in that sense of achievement. Do you see any successful people obsessed with online games?"

Through this experience, Gu Xiaoqing saw through many things.

Previously, she helped her sister choose a husband, and although she did help, she never considered that she was intruding on someone else’s feelings.

Some things might be beneficial but not necessarily correct.

People need to be hurt; hurt will lead to growth.

Gu Xiaoqing matured, learning to hide her sharp points, understanding what she should or shouldn’t do.

Realizing that family is not about avoiding all harm, their presence is more about spiritual support.

"But this, this..."

"Mom, alright, just listen to me. Sister toils for the family, and sometimes you need to empathize. As for Xiaojie, let him handle some things; don’t make him stop just because he fails. Otherwise, he’ll always be shadowed by the fear of failure."

Gu Xiaoqing’s words moved and touched Li Xuemei; she realized that her daughter had a clearer understanding of life despite being so young.

However, there were things she would still do.

"Okay, then, as you said."

"Hmm, there’s one more thing you can ask Xiao Jie to run."

"What thing?"

"Our flagship store must have class, so I think we should include imported meat. Let her go to Hong Kong and see about getting foreign beef imported."

This was something Gu Xiaoqing had always wanted to do.

She used to source beef and mutton from Inner Mongolia, but she now felt that foreign sources were better, especially for beef.

It’s just the tax issue...

She thought these could be addressed gradually since high-end meats target business magnates and certain government-funded banquets where money isn’t a concern.

The call with Li Xuemei lasted almost until midnight before she hung up.

Knowing her daughter was doing well over there, Li Xuemei felt at ease.

After hanging up, she realized she forgot to ask her daughter for her contact information, and Fang Shaohan was nearly going crazy waiting for it.

On Christmas Eve, deep within a large, ancient courtyard in the Capital, light from a spacious, rustic house shone through the glass window onto the night-bare branches of willow trees, casting moving shadows on them.

"Grandpa, is it you who had Sister-in-law do such a thing? Framing Gu Xiaoqing, causing her to be lonely and wandering outside? How could you do this?"

Fang Shaohan yelled at the old man in the rocking chair. He had never been so angry, never confronted his grandfather like this before.

"Shaohan, watch your tone. If you’re here to interrogate, then leave; there’s no need to say anything more."

Fang Shaohan’s capable and astute sister-in-law, dressed in a military uniform, stood beside the old man, speaking coldly.