The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 470 Supermarket Opening

The eighth day of the sixth lunar month is an auspicious day.

The sky was clear, like a piece of blue cloth; although it was already summer, it wasn't hot yet.

Tong Huaqiong's "Fujulai" supermarket officially opened on this day.

Thanks to the earlier publicity, the entire Pingchuan County knew that Tong Huaqiong's supermarket would open on the eighth day of June.

Most people still vividly remember the grand opening of Peach Blossom Dessert Shop, especially the free tastings available that day. Because of this precedent, everyone is eagerly anticipating what Tong Huaqiong's supermarket will be like and what new surprises it will bring.

As a modern person, Tong Huaqiong is naturally familiar with supermarkets, but for people of this era, although they are similar in definition to department stores, they still want to see what kinds of goods are sold inside.

It's not that people are unsophisticated; it's just that the business model of this era is still based on each company selling its own products.

For example, there are specialized grain and oil shops to buy rice, flour, and cooking oil; you have to go to a blacksmith's shop to buy farm tools; and you usually buy needles and thread from a peddler's carrying pole.
Even though Gu Youtian's department store in the fertile southern region specialized in a particular type of goods, Gu Youtian mainly sold household items such as tables, chairs, and benches, and also sold some handicrafts. Calling it a department store was just a nice-sounding name.

Tong Huaqiong's supermarket is a business model that integrates various commodities such as daily necessities, handicrafts, easy-to-store food, and cultural products.

In addition, letter writing and pawn/pledge services are also offered.

If Tong Huaqiong wants to build her own business empire, she needs her own financial business and exclusive money exchange business.

Like Gu Jingzhe's father-in-law's family, the Lu family, they had their own pawnshops and banks all over the country.

Pawnbroking and pledging business is the most basic form of financial business. We will start with the basic form and then, as Tong Huaqiong's business expands, she will have various forms of financial business.

So when Gu Honglian told her about Gu Youtian's shop opening, she didn't take it to heart at all.

What's in Gu Youtian's shop?
Even if you think about it, you can imagine that she would at most specialize in a certain product and also run some other businesses on the side.

It simply cannot compare to the wide variety of goods and services offered by Tong Huaqiong.

The reason why supermarkets didn't exist in this era was mainly due to low commodity circulation, with most businesses focusing on a single product category.

It's not that the general public doesn't need the unified and centralized model of supermarkets and shopping malls.

Therefore, Tong Huaqiong is very confident that her supermarket will be quickly accepted by everyone and make a lot of money.

This time, the Jufulai Supermarket in Pingchuan County opened together with Yanguan Town. Instead of staying in Yanguan Town, she came to Pingchuan County to oversee the opening.

He Chao oversaw the shops in Yanguan Town, while she focused her efforts on Pingchuan County.

After all, Pingchuan County has a larger customer base with higher requirements, and she wants to make a name for herself there.

The shop in Pingchuan County was located in the most prosperous area. The shop had a total of six rooms, upstairs and downstairs, and all of them were combined according to Tong Huaqiong's requirements.

This shop belongs to Gu Baishuang. According to the management rights, Gu Baishuang owns 30% of the shares in this shop, Tong Huaqiong owns 60%, and the remaining 10% is used as a reward for the employees.

Tong Huaqiong can be said to have pioneered the option system of this era.

The goods were all prepared half a month ago and arranged in a modern supermarket style, with a wide variety of products that gave people a refreshing feeling.

After passing the training and assessment, the staff changed into uniforms and took their positions, eagerly awaiting the opening day.

Of course, these staff members are not all newcomers; the team leaders or supervisors are all outstanding employees transferred from Peach Blossom Dessert by Tong Huaqiong.

Liu Yue'e served as the team leader.

A team leader trained to the high standards of Peach Blossom Desserts will definitely be able to serve the supermarket's customers well.

Besides Liu Yue'e, the others were also busy.

Tong Huaqiong, as the chief manager and planner, naturally deserves all credit; success or failure rests entirely on her shoulders.

Gu Taohua was in charge of accounts, Gu Dahan was in charge of goods allocation, Gu Dashu was in charge of emergencies, Gu Baishuang was in charge of personnel allocation, and Tong Pandi was in charge of logistics. Su Chengmin and Nie Xiaofeng were in charge of security. Tong Huaqiong said that there was no telling who might sabotage the supermarket on its opening day, especially since they couldn't afford to ruin its reputation on the first day.

Everyone was paying attention to the news of Tong Huaqiong's supermarket opening. Families with whom she had good relations, such as the Lu family, the Huang family, and the Qian family, as well as business associates, sent congratulatory gifts.

A row of congratulatory gifts and flowers were displayed at the entrance of the shop, along with two strings of 1,000-shot firecrackers.

The drum troupe, lion dance troupe, and other performance groups are all ready, just waiting for the auspicious time to open the business and create a festive atmosphere.

There are already quite a few people outside watching.

Of course, following the usual opening routine for Peach Blossom Desserts, Tong Huaqiong still prepared a few shills to create an atmosphere.

With everything prepared, the door was opened with a whoosh when the auspicious hour arrived.

The atmosphere instantly became lively, with music, drums, and firecrackers all playing and creating a great commotion.

Led by Liu Yue'e, the young staff members smiled broadly, revealing eight teeth, and warmly greeted the customers.

"Jufulai Supermarket Grand Opening Special: 20% Off Everything"

"Come and take a look, we have everything. Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, needles and thread, gold and silver jewelry, rice, flour and cooking oil, tables, chairs and benches, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, Western mirrors and colored glass. We can also write letters for you."

Everyone was curious about the supermarket. Seeing the transparent shelves, the dazzling array of goods neatly arranged on the shelves, the spotless floor, and the uniformed staff, it looked very expensive, so they were hesitant to go in.

"Come in, ma'am, come in and have a look."

"Miss, this shop has rouge from the capital. Would you like to come in and take a look?"

"This scholar has a fine inkstone from Huizhou inside. I wish you success in your examination."

The shop assistants tried their best to promote the products according to Tong Huaqiong's training, but the crowd just watched from outside and no one dared to go in and buy anything.

"Is this the supermarket that has everything?"

Magistrate Liu's mother, Madam Han, and grandson, Liu Yanhong, came to show their support.

"Oh, ma'am, come in and have a look," Liu Yue'e greeted warmly.

She saw Han wink at her, meaning that she was a shill and shouldn't bother with small talk.

Liu Yue'e immediately understood and began to treat Han Shi as if she were a stranger.

Han asked, "I'd like to buy a mirror, do you have any?"

Liu Yue'e said, "Yes, we have mirrors from Shengjing and mirrors from the West. You can go in and choose one."

Han asked, "How much?"

Liu Yue'e said, "Our prices are all transparent and displayed on the shelves. You can take a look at them first when you go in. If you like them, then you can buy them. If you don't like them, that's fine too."

Han raised her voice and said, "If it's really like you said, where I can try it out and touch it, and the prices are all marked, then I'll go in and see for myself."

Liu Yue'e said loudly, "Please go ahead."

Han and Liu Yanhong went inside.

Attracted by Liu Yue'e's statement that people could try things out freely and that the prices were marked on the shelves, onlookers were eager to try them out.

They had never heard of putting prices on the shelves before.

Many people are hesitant to go in because they worry that if they see something they like and ask the price, it might be too expensive for them to buy, which would be embarrassing. Now, Jufulai Supermarket's operations have saved them from this awkward situation.

Besides, Magistrate Liu's mother was the most prominent figure in Pingchuan County. Since she went in to see what was so special, how could everyone resist? So they all flocked into Jufulai Supermarket.