Chapter 396: 403: Receiving Affirmation

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However, even though Chen Li was quite interested in Han Yu, she was a rational and ambitious woman. In history, it was Liu Xiu who eventually ascended to the throne, so her ultimate target was still Liu Xiu. Han Yu could be considered a way to bide her time, or perhaps a spare tire. If it turned out that Liu Xiu truly couldn’t satisfy her, then she would settle for the next best option. There was another point: Chen Li felt that the history of this era had some changes, and many things were different from what she knew, just like Han Yu. Therefore, she couldn’t be completely sure that Liu Xiu would ultimately reach that position, so it was natural to have a backup plan. And Han Yu, with his abilities and talents, was also a figure of substance; keeping him onside would definitely not be a mistake.

Chen Li’s calculations were meticulously planned, and in her previous life, things had indeed gone according to her expectations. This life, with the rebirth of Su Wenyue and since both stood on opposing sides, it was destined not to proceed so smoothly.

“Boss, there’s going to be a shop opening not far from ours, in the street center. It seems to be a department store, just like ours, and that store has a better location and a bigger storefront than ours. Shouldn’t we go over and find out some information beforehand, to prevent being caught off guard?” Li Ming said with some worry.

Li Ming was the new shopkeeper hired by Chen Li. His abilities were also quite decent, having earned some reputation, so Chen Li had lured him away with a high salary. However, Li Ming, compared to Yu Zhengqing, although much more sophisticated, was somewhat timid and selfish. His eagerness to take the initiative this time was not out of loyalty but rather to show off in front of Chen Li—to gain her trust and more power.

Since her last experience, even though Yu Zhengqing did not betray her, Chen Li still kept this event in mind. Even if Yu Zhengqing hadn’t betrayed her, who could say she wouldn’t encounter such people in the future? She decided to strictly control her subordinates and thought of many ways. Ultimately, she decided to divide the shop’s authority into sections to supervise each other. Even as a shopkeeper, one didn’t have absolute say and was subject to many restrictions. It seemed like a good solution, but naturally, it also had downsides. The subordinates, in an attempt to gain the master’s trust, would compete and jostle with each other, which could inevitably lead to trouble. While not very obvious at present, such resentment often accumulates day by day until it finally explodes.

Upon hearing Li Ming’s words, Chen Li’s brows furrowed. At first, she was a bit nervous, but after thinking about it, she relaxed. Her ideas came from the modern world. Even if the concept of opening a store had some similarities, it couldn’t possibly be as innovative as hers. It was merely an ordinary store, so there was nothing to fear.

It must be said that Chen Li was brimming with confidence. Although she had understood this, she still felt somewhat displeased. Li Ming’s words were clearly about boosting others’ morale while undermining her own prestige. It was a bad sign to speak such discouraging words before the other store had even opened.

“What if there is a similar store? It’s just an ordinary store. Even if their location and size are better than ours, we are not far off. The most important thing is that our store is unique. Many things simply cannot be found outside; they are specially made to order. With this advantage, we can remain unbeaten. Let it go this time, but don’t say such disheartening things in the future. Since you work for me, you should know what you ought to do and what you shouldn’t!”

Chen Li scolded, feeling a rather pleasant sensation inside. Back in the modern era, although she had reached a managerial position, she was still working for someone else. Despite her efforts, she was often berated by her superiors over trivial matters. Now that she had become her own boss, she could finally relish this feeling. And her ambitions did not stop there—in the future, she would soar higher, perhaps even reaching the position just below the top, second to none.

Li Ming thought the boss was too confident. To demonstrate his capabilities, he had sent someone to scout the other store, and although he hadn’t bribed an insider to get specific details, he had managed to gather some information. He initially wanted to offer some advice, but seeing the boss’s attitude, even if he did speak up, it would be a thankless task—likely to displease the boss, and instead of earning brownie points, he might become the butt of the joke. So he kept his concerns to himself. After all, he would take things as they come; if business at the store turned bad, he could always find a new boss with the skills he possessed. Sometimes the boss took such a harsh approach.

Li Ming made up his mind and, feeling relieved, put on a pleasing smile. He had come to realize that no one knows what the future holds—securing immediate benefits was what truly mattered.

“Yes, what you say is right, boss. Your ability is well-known to this subordinate. It’s just that I was overly eager to do my job well, which led to undue worry. With your talent and ability, how could you regard such a store as an obstacle? I crossed the line for a moment, and I hope you can forgive me. From now on, I will serve with even more dedication and never let you down.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Li Ming spoke with a fawning smile, a flattering and submissive demeanor that Su Wenyue would certainly disdain. Such a person typically did not have very good character traits, but Chen Li enjoyed Li Ming’s flattery, unaware that her attitude allowed Li Ming to figure out his boss’s temper, thus determining his conduct for the future. Any shopkeeper could articulate well—who didn’t have a glib tongue?

After visiting the store, Su Wenyue was about to head back when she saw Han Yu coming over with people. She felt both happy and helpless. It was a good thing that her man was so attentive, but the obviously distrustful look on Han Yu’s face made her feel a bit constrained by his protectiveness.

“Don’t you have important things to take care of today? Why did you come over here?” Su Wenyue walked towards Han Yu, her hand seamlessly finding its way into his.

Han Yu, pleased with his wife’s initiative, took his daughter-in-law’s hand, and with the other hand, he gently caressed Su Wenyue’s forehead. “I’ve finished all my tasks for today, and besides, even if there was more to do, nothing is more important than my wife. So, as soon as I was done, I came to pick you up. How about it, are you satisfied with the store decoration? Is there anything you need my help with?”

“It’s quite good. Uncle Fu has outdone my expectations. The decoration effect is even better than what the drawings suggested; I might not even have managed as well myself. Now that you’re here, why not come in and take a look at the fruits of my labor these past days?” Su Wenyue looked at Han Yu with sparkling eyes, obviously eager to show off her capabilities to her man and eager for Han Yu’s acknowledgment, letting him know she’s not only a good wife but also has a knack for business.

Han Yu’s heart melted seeing his wife’s desire for acknowledgment and approval, his face showing indulgence and doting.

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