Chapter 23: The Storm is Coming

  Wojia Supermarket, which has been open for a month, has an average monthly turnover of over 300,000 yuan. This news greatly stimulated all the suppliers. This brand new business model immediately became popular in Beijing. With monthly settlements, Nie Zhenbang didn't delay payment at all. He promptly settled accounts with suppliers. At this time, Wojia Supermarket was not short of cash flow. To cut off Wojia Supermarket's funding for such a small amount of money would be something Nie Zhenbang would never do.

  "Boss Yang, something's gone wrong. Right next to our supermarket, within 500 meters, a new supermarket called Fugui has opened up, with a business area of over 10,000 square meters. I've already investigated the behind-the-scenes boss, and it's Zhou Chen. Looks like this kid is competing with us." Yang Anbang rushed in, panting. With the opening of Fugui Supermarket, the sales volume of Wojiagou Supermarket had also decreased by a few hundred thousand yuan. Although it was only a decrease of a few hundred thousand yuan, it was enough to make Yang Anbang feel anxious.

  Next to him, Nie Jiamin, who had come to learn, heard that it was Zhou Chen. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Zhou Chen? This kid must be itching for a fight. How dare he go against us. Zhenbang, I'll call someone right away. Let's go up there and smash his store."

  "What are you yelling about, household people? Do you think you're the only big shot in the 49th city? Can he smash it and Zhou Chen can't? His supermarket just opened. Our business is booming here. He's not afraid of being barefoot when others wear shoes. At worst, neither will do." After several months of training, Xiao Yali seems much more mature than before.

  Nie Zhenbang smiled slightly, but at this time Yang Anbang was far from being as refined as in his previous life, and his cultivation had not yet reached the point where he could remain unruffled even if Mount Tai were to collapse in front of him.

  "What's the hurry? Nie Zhenbang seemed quite relaxed at this moment: "Second brother, calm down. Can we stop others from opening up even if we want to? There's no development without competition, after all. As the first supermarket, we can't stop others from imitating us; we can only solve our own problems. If he wants to imitate us, let him always follow in our footsteps and eat dust. You guys take a look at this membership card plan."

  Saying that, Nie Zhenbang handed over the membership card plan he had come up with to Yang Anbang. After reading through the entire membership card plan, Yang Anbang also smiled with joy: "Zhenbang, I said how you could be so calm, it turns out you had a trump card! With this membership card and the points system in place, these customers will become our supermarket's loyal customers, and no one can poach them away."

  Nie Zhenbang also burst out laughing and said, "Learning from others is just a primary way of thinking. What we need to do in the Wo family is to be at the forefront of the industry. Second brother, relying on just us few people won't work. Beijing is not that big, yet there are already five supermarkets now, and four have not even opened yet, but we're busy running around like headless flies. If this expands to the entire north or even nationwide, will one person need to split into countless pieces? Doing things personally is a good habit, but cultivating our own talent backbone is what we should be doing if we want to become the leader in domestic retail and compete with America's Walmart and France's Carrefour. I think it's time for us to increase our talent reserves."

  After this period of training, Yang Anbang's talent in business also gradually emerged. With the success of his career, Yang Anbang's status in the Yang family was also promoted step by step. The old couple of the Yang family no longer interfered with Yang Anbang's affairs. For Yang Anbang, this was undoubtedly a liberation of his hands and feet.

  "Zhen Bang, is Zhou Chen's supermarket just going to be left unattended like that?" Yang Anbang still had some discontent. Who is Zhou Chen? The Zhou family is just a mid-to-upper-level family in the capital city, and compared to the Yang family, they are inferior by a notch. Compared to the Nie family, they are even more so. Such behavior is no different from slapping oneself in the face. This tone, however, was something Yang Anbang couldn't swallow.

  Fu Jia Supermarket, just by the name, you can tell Zhou Chen's intention, it's simply a showdown with himself. The business location of Fu Jia Supermarket is actually the warehouse of Zhong Cheng District Materials Bureau. Three floors up and down. Each floor has an area of nearly 10,000 square meters. This location is even coveted by Nie Zhenbang.

  "Heh heh, Second Brother, don't be impatient. Opening a supermarket isn't just about doing business at this time. In such a sensitive environment, Zhou Chen is doing this to provoke me, nothing more. You can rest assured, that place will eventually fall into our hands." Nie Zhenbang smiled with confidence.

  As WOJIA Supermarket opened four more stores in Beijing simultaneously, the withdrawal of membership card plan immediately captured the consumption thinking of all Beijingers. The daily turnover, calculated together by five supermarkets, reached a staggering 13 million. This is indeed a money-printing machine.

  At the end of this year, the paramount leader made speeches against bourgeois liberalization at various meetings and also denounced such behavior. At the same time, domestic conservatives began to use this as a pretext to attack reform and opening up.

  At this moment, the atmosphere throughout the country has become tense. From small towns to provinces, scenes of conservatives and reformers attacking each other can be seen everywhere. And at this moment, in the central government, this atmosphere is becoming increasingly intense.

  Conservatives and reformers are attacking each other. Meetings within various circles are also being held in secret.

  ……

  Plum Fragrance Garden

  This is the residence of the head of state. At this moment, in the study of the head of state in Meixiang Garden, several major leaders are sitting upright and solemnly.

  Yang Lao looked at Yuan Shou's slightly solemn expression, also somewhat tense. Just in November, Ye Jia Lao Er passed away, and as the backbone of the reformist faction, Ye Lao's departure was a significant blow to the reformists. At this time, if the conservative faction were to mobilize the military, the entire country would be thrown into turmoil. Yang Lao couldn't help but worry.

  "Director, the national party congress is about to be held, and Comrade Hua is about to step down. The conservative faction has made up their minds this time. Comrade Akira is also ambitious, it seems like he's determined to get it." Yang Lao said with concern.

  Next to him, several central bigwigs also nodded in agreement, their eyes all looking towards the Paramount Leader. As the leader of the military, and the one who presides over the country's reform and opening-up policy, the Paramount Leader's decision is the reform faction's decision. This is beyond doubt.

  At this moment, the paramount leader slightly shook his head, and although he was not tall, he exuded a kind of self-confidence. With his unique rural accent, he emphasized: "Military personnel do not interfere in politics. This is our party's iron law. I am fine with it, Old Nie is also fine with it. We still have this awareness. National stability cannot be changed at this time. The international situation is very complicated. Since the conservatives are so determined, I think we can slow down completely. We don't need this position, do we? What should be reformed will be reformed, what should be opened up will be opened up."

  The leader's words are already very clear. Since the conservatives want to get this highest leadership position in the party, let them fight for it. As long as the country is not chaotic, the reformers will do what they should do. This has not changed anything.

  With the arrival of the New Year, Shōwa comrade formally resigned from the highest leadership position within the party. At the same time, conservative factions worked hard to operate, and Hikari comrade was officially elected as the highest leader of the party.

  Just as the conservatives were celebrating, inside the Zhou family, it was a heavy atmosphere. As a neutral party, the Zhou family had always adopted an unbiased policy. In this situation, both the conservative and reform parties wanted to win over the Zhou family, making them feel like they were in a favorable position. However, at this critical moment, the eldest grandson of the Zhou family, Zhou Chen, opened a supermarket, which was a typical move of the reform party. With the conservatives' victory, the Zhou family faced unprecedented pressure, and even Old Man Zhou was affected.

  "Kneel down!"

  With a loud roar from Old Man Zhou, Zhou Chenyi immediately knelt down. Old Man Zhou of the Zhou family was also originally a political and ideological worker, but later transferred to the local government. Over the years, he has become deeply rooted in the local government. However, Old Man Zhou's temper is extremely fiery.

  Zhou Chen looked at his grandfather, then glanced at his parents beside him and knelt down respectfully. At this moment, even Zhou Chen's parents wouldn't dare to touch the old man's head.

  "You don't know the height of the sky and the thickness of the earth. You're still learning to run a supermarket. What's money? In front of power, all money is just paper tigers. I order you to close this dogshit supermarket within ten days. The Zhou family isn't ready for you to take charge yet. After closing it down, go to Chu Nan to be tempered at the grassroots level. If you don't do well, then don't come back." Old Master Zhou thundered. At this time, under pressure from the conservative faction, the old master could only express the Zhou family's attitude in this way.