Gu Ruinian’s adoption event began with much fanfare but ended quietly.

Gu Youtian stayed at home for a night and then went to Black Dragon Pond to discuss the department store’s matters with Wu Ren.

Since my sister-in-law is also venturing into the department store business, there’s no time like the present, so it’s best to clash on the opening day of her store.

She should also taste the bitterness of failure.

Otherwise, she, a widow from Qinghe Bay, is unbearably arrogant.

Tong Huaqiong was in high spirits after playing a trick on Gu Ruinian. Having five children from both the past and present, she was genuinely unwilling to have a sixth child call her ’mother.’

Unless the emperor pleaded for her to be the Empress Dowager, she wouldn’t acknowledge a sixth child.

Tong Huaqiong was very busy these days, expanding the pig farm, tending to the cotton fields, and most importantly, preparing for the supermarket opening.

The villagers didn’t quite understand what a supermarket was, but they knew Tong Huaqiong’s supermarket needed manpower.

Everyone wanted their kin to work for Tong Huaqiong since the pay was decent, whether it be at Taohua Dessert or the fields.

If they could latch onto Tong Huaqiong, living in luxury might be too much to ask, but at least they’d have more in their pockets.

The two supermarkets Tong Huaqiong planned to open in Pingchuan County and Yan Guan Town were not small. She recruited a substantial number of clerks for sales, stocking, and odd jobs. She had recruited a batch when the store plan was finalized.

These clerks were primarily recruited from within a ten-mile radius of Yan Guan Town.

Initially, Tong Huaqiong wanted to provide job opportunities for village girls, but few were willing to work as clerks in her supermarket.

She only recruited two girls, both from the Gu family’s kin.

Firstly, the village girls were shy and unwilling to expose themselves. Secondly, their families forbade them, especially those whose parents beat them into submission and requested to replace them with their brothers.

Tong Huaqiong shook her head and sighed.

The prevailing trend in this era was to keep girls from being exposed, except for those like Gu Xiaocao, who had no choice.

Tong Huaqiong did not blame the villagers. With the environment being as it is, one can only influence little by little.

When the cotton harvest in autumn calls for many weavers, then perhaps it will be easier to persuade village girls to work in the embroidery workshop.

Tong Huaqiong selected some clever, nimble, or honest young villagers to work in the supermarket.

Currently, these recruits were undergoing pre-job training in Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard.

Gu Honglian learned that Tong Huaqiong’s store was hiring, and since two Gu family girls were recruited, she also wanted to work at the supermarket.

Although her sister-in-law was cold to her, she still wanted to give it a shot.

Gu Honglian entered Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard and saw the young recruits from the village practicing smiles in uniform, supervised by her sister-in-law from under the gallery.

Now, the entire village knew that the clerks at her sister-in-law’s shop underwent rigorous training and assessments, with those failing during training being dismissed.

She thought it was some form of training, not merely smiling.

What’s so hard about that; she could smile too.

Gu Honglian approached Tong Huaqiong, picked up the leg-pounding tool nearby, and intended to massage her sister-in-law’s legs.

Offering unsolicited kindness seldom comes without ulterior motives.

As Tong Huaqiong enjoyed the massage, she didn’t inquire about Gu Honglian’s intentions.

Unable to hold back, Gu Honglian said: "Sister-in-law, I can smile too, and I wish to work in your store."

Tong Huaqiong replied: "You’re not suitable."

A pampered lady, how could she serve customers?

Gu Honglian said: "Sister-in-law, I heard your town store still needs odd-job workers. Let me work in your town store, whether it’s serving tea or cleaning, I can handle it."

"Let’s do this: I won’t ask for a salary for the first three months; just watch my performance."

Upon noticing Gu Honglian’s eagerness for the town job, Tong Huaqiong got the sense there might be more to it.

Tong Huaqiong was about to open supermarkets in both Pingchuan County and Yan Guan Town. Knowing Gu Honglian might prefer Pingchuan County, why was she insisting on Yan Guan Town?

There must be something she’s hiding.

Tong Huaqiong asked: "Honglian, why are you so determined to go to the town?"

Being someone who couldn’t hide secrets, when questioned by Tong Huaqiong, Gu Honglian’s head dropped, and her face flushed a suspicious red.

While Tong Huaqiong hadn’t been in a romantic relationship, she’d seen lovestruck young people before, and the look closely resembled Jingzhe missing Zhao Zhao.

Tong Huaqiong directly asked: "Could it be that someone has caught your eye?"

Gu Honglian’s face reddened further, indeed concealing someone in her heart.

The person was Fan Tong, Fan Xiucai.

She initially wanted to disclose this to Tong Huaqiong in exchange for the job opportunity in Yan Guan Town but grew unhappy thinking about Fan Tong’s indifference to her, while his eyes sparkled whenever Taohua was mentioned.

She couldn’t let her sister-in-law know, fearing Taohua might also fancy Fan Tong, and together, they could ruin her plans.

Gu Honglian denied: "No, nothing."

Tong Huaqiong thought: You’re fooling no one.

Your feelings are written all over your face.

Still, whomever Gu Honglian likes or dislikes was not her concern. If Gu Honglian married, she would offer a dowry as a sister-in-law gesture; however, before that, Gu Honglian mustn’t be wooed away at her store.

Tong Huaqiong said: "I was just asking casually. My store doesn’t lack workers. If you’re idle, you might as well help with the family’s fieldwork. Didn’t your family just take on five acres of my land for corn? Watering, fertilizing, weeding — don’t these all need manpower?"

Gu Honglian looked displeased.

She was unwilling to farm. She was already tanned, and working outdoors made even cosmetics futile.

Her eyes twinkled, recalling You Tian’s plan to open a store, thinking this information might persuade her sister-in-law to let her work at the town store.

She asked with a smile: "Sister-in-law, do you want to know what my second brother is doing?"

Tong Huaqiong raised an eyebrow: Gu Honglian was eyeing a trade-off.

She wasn’t concerned with what You Tian was doing; even if he plotted against her, Gu Honglian wouldn’t provide significant information.

The simple reason being, You Tian thought Honglian was not worth recruiting.

Tong Huaqiong gestured: "Why you need to tell me about your brother’s affairs as I’m not your second sister-in-law."

Gu Honglian gritted her teeth; the sister-in-law was adamant and indifferent.

Nonetheless, since she had brought it up, not disclosing it felt quite suffocating.

Gu Honglian said: "My second brother, along with the Black Dragon Pond chief, is planning to open a store in Pingchuan County, similar to yours, both selling goods. I’ve heard they plan to open it on the same day as your store."

Oh, now this interested Tong Huaqiong. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

You Tian intended to compete with her supermarket’s opening.

However, she wasn’t afraid.

After all, competing is inevitable in business.

Seeing her sister-in-law’s interest, Gu Honglian eagerly requested a place at the Yan Guan Town store again, only to be declined once more by her sister-in-law.

Frustrated, Gu Honglian fumed.

The sister-in-law wouldn’t recognize a good opportunity even if it stood right in front of her; I’ll just wish your business gets snatched away by my brother this time.