"You know nothing."

"What kind of nonsense idea are you coming up with?"

Gu Youtian reprimanded Gu Ruinian and, in his agitation, threw a cup at Gu Ruinian.

Initially, Gu Youtian thought that Wu Ji could overshadow Jufu Supermarket, but by the end of the day, Jufu Supermarket had him lost.

The bustling business at Jufu Supermarket underscored how deserted Wu Ji was.

He slightly regretted choosing to open on the same day as Jufu Supermarket; now the entire Pingchuan County knew about Jufu Supermarket, while Wu Ji was completely overlooked.

It was likely that most people didn’t even know Wu Ji had opened today.

What made him even more frustrated was that Jufu Supermarket’s celebration was booked at the same restaurant as his, right next door to his room.

The laughter and joy from the adjacent room highlighted the desolation at Wu Ji, increasingly unsettling Gu Youtian.

Thus, when Gu Ruinian started explaining to Wu Ren what a supermarket was and suggested transforming Wu Ji into a supermarket, it ignited Gu Youtian’s anger.

"You think you’re so smart, don’t you?"

Hadn’t had the chance to hit you the past few days, and now you’re showing off again. It wasn’t enough that you encouraged him to invest in the escort agency and failed, now you’re here giving advice about the department store.

Wu Ren was already unhappy with the decision to open Wu Ji today, and Gu Ruinian kept talking business jargon, making Gu Youtian feel like he was incompetent as a father.

The more Gu Youtian thought about it, the angrier he got, pointing at Gu Ruinian and yelled at him extensively.

"Youtian, don’t get angry at your boy. I think Ruinian makes sense," Wu Ren said, "Our shop has too few products; it should be like Jufu Supermarket."

Gu Youtian refused to acknowledge his failure, saying, "Running like Jufu Supermarket wouldn’t work; so much stock ties up the funds easily causing problems."

Gu Youtian did not agree with Jufu Supermarket’s business model as he visited when it was crowded; they had everything from daily goods to food supplies. How much capital must they tie up to build so many channels?

If the goods don’t sell, wouldn’t that tie them up in hand?

Moreover, there’s the risk of not replenishing goods in time.

Wu Ren hadn’t done business before, he didn’t understand.

Wu Ren just said, "Then how does Jufu Supermarket manage?"

Today, seeing how many customers Jufu Supermarket had made Wu Ren envious, considering how much Widow Tong must have made in a day.

What aggravated him even more was seeing his former daughter-in-law Tong Pandi actively attracting customers.

Gu Youtian said, "Customers haven’t seen a supermarket before, they’re initially attracted, it’s quite normal. Besides, did you notice Jufu Supermarket had an all-items 20% discount today? They’re attracting customers by selling at a loss, which isn’t sustainable. When the prices recover, won’t customers leave angrily?"

Wu Ren admitted Gu Youtian’s reasoning made sense.

Jufu Supermarket’s all-items 20% off is something Wu Ji couldn’t replicate.

Although Wu Ren didn’t know business, he knew the goods’ cost price. Based on Gu Youtian’s explanation, he calculated Jufu Supermarket’s pricing and found indeed they were selling at a loss.

Despite Jufu Supermarket sold out the shelves today, it didn’t yield much profit.

Wu Ren felt somewhat balanced in his heart.

Jufu Supermarket’s shamelessness, using this method to steal Wu Ji’s customers.

Business is done for profit, yet they used such means the first day to attract customers and suppress Wu Ji, weren’t they afraid of retribution?

However, Wu Ren calculated Jufu Supermarket’s costs and profits based on Wu Ji’s situation, not according to Tong Huaqiong’s source prices. In his estimation, Jufu Supermarket was naturally selling at a loss.

Mr. Gu and others, like Wu Ren, felt slightly comforted hearing Gu Youtian’s advice.

Originally, Jufu Supermarket appeared to be booming today, but it was all losing trades.

Mr. Gu opened the wine jar they had brought, poured it around, and said, "Even though both shops are open, I believe my son can establish solidly in Pingchuan County. Business isn’t about the moment but the long-term."

He then proceeded to toast Wu Ren.

Wu Ren felt uncomfortable seeing Mr. Gu act like the host.

All the wine and dishes on the table must have cost quite a bit.

If today’s opening had been profitable, it would be fine, but with such poor business and Gu Youtian ordering such expensive food to celebrate, spending company money without any qualms.

Once Wu Ren thought this way, he increasingly felt the Gu Family had come to freeload, and his demeanor turned cold, barely acknowledging Mr. Gu with a light touch of the glass.

"Come, eat, eat."

Despite the cold business, Mr. Gu maintained his host-like stance.

Due to the poor business, the dining atmosphere was low-spirited.

Everyone was in a bad mood, especially after Gu Youtian had just yelled at Gu Ruinian; others were even more disinterested in eating.

Except for Gu Honglian.

Gu Honglian didn’t care about the business; she was just happy to eat and drink well.

Gu Honglian first aimed at the roast chicken, tore off a drumstick, placed it in her bowl, then reached her chopsticks to grab a big piece of pork knuckle. Before the knuckle was swallowed down, she quickly and skillfully took the tenderest part of the fish belly.

Wu Ren’s wife, Mrs. Qiao, frowned tightly, and their daughter Wu Na, usually quite headstrong, couldn’t swallow this watching Gu Honglian take all the good parts, saying, "Aunt Honglian, haven’t you eaten?"

Gu Honglian, gnawing at the drumstick, said, "No, I’ve been standing all day, I’m starving."

"Why are you all not eating?"

Gu Honglian was a bit puzzled why others weren’t using their chopsticks; poor business doesn’t mean not eating would improve it.

Wu Na thought spitefully, thinking of cursing silently.

"Is Honglian engaged?"

Mrs. Qiao couldn’t hold back, asking.

She meant to comment how Gu Honglian, despite reaching engagement age, had no manners at meals.

However, Mrs. Gu didn’t catch on, thinking Mrs. Qiao wanted to matchmake Gu Honglian, otherwise who would mention this out of nowhere.

She glanced at Tong Pandi’s ex-husband Wu Musheng, considering whether Mrs. Qiao was thinking of pairing Gu Honglian with him.

No way, Wu Musheng being second-hand goods was unworthy of her virgin daughter; her daughter couldn’t accept what Tong Pandi rejected.

"Not engaged. Do you intend to matchmake Honglian? She’s my only daughter, and I have requirements for her marriage: family with land and shops, preferably educated, and most importantly, cannot be a stepmother, nor someone previously married."

Mrs. Gu’s speech was direct; to thwart Mrs. Qiao’s matchmaking idea with Wu Musheng, she spoke even more straightforwardly, almost addressing it to Wu Musheng’s face.

Mrs. Qiao was suffocated, wanting to slam the chopsticks.

What does she mean? Did this old lady assume she wanted to match Gu Honglian with her son?

The old lady should look in the mirror; her daughter being lazy and greedy, nowhere as fresh as Tong Pandi, how could she be suitable for the Wu Family, even if Wu Musheng was thrice married he wouldn’t want her.

Mrs. Qiao replied, passive-aggressively, "My son Musheng likes people who eat politely."

Now it was Mrs. Gu’s turn to feel suffocated.

Mrs. Gu thought, must be complaining about Honglian eating alone.

Mrs. Qiao was overstepping; all the food on this table was bought by her son Gu Youtian, Honglian wasn’t eating Wu family’s.

Gu Ruinian noticed Mrs. Gu and Mrs. Qiao were about to clash; he quickly stood to pour water for Mrs. Qiao, and skillfully put a drumstick in front of Wu Na.

Mrs. Qiao’s expression slightly eased.

Gu Ruinian breathed a sigh of relief; he didn’t want the stupidity of Mrs. Gu and Gu Honglian ruining the collaboration between the Gu and Wu families; otherwise, where else could he find money-making ideas quickly?