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Chapter 482: This Shop Won’t Last

Li Zhu had been engrossed in his studies recently, spending little time in the village. Upon learning of the Lin family’s new shop during his New Year’s visit, he had made a special trip with his mother.

Li Hua brought them a pot of tea, instructing, “There are cups here. Help yourselves to the tea.” She then retreated to the kitchen, returning shortly with the items they had ordered. As most of the food was ready-made, their meal was served swiftly.

Noticing the shop wasn’t particularly busy, Li Hua decided to bring a cup of hot tea outside. Gu Zi had been tirelessly welcoming and bidding farewell to customers on her own, and Li Hua thought she could use a drink.

Outside the shop, the scene was bustling. Every now and then, someone would approach Gu Zi to inquire about the prices. However, after getting their answers, most would leave without further ado, some even complaining about the prices being too steep.

A middle-aged woman had just asked about the prices and immediately began to grumble, “Even after the discount, it’s still so expensive. How can ordinary folks like us afford it? This is a town, not a city. Your prices are comparable to those in the city! Selling at such high prices in this location, tsk tsk…”

Gu Zi accepted the cup of tea from her sister-in-law, took a small sip to moisten her throat, and then calmly responded to the woman, “Our prices are set scientifically, referencing market standards. We have not overcharged our customers by a single penny, and we can say that with a clear conscience.”

“As for whether this is a town or a city,” she continued, “I’d like to ask, how many breakfast shops in the city have you eaten at? Have you tried our breakfast here?”

The middle-aged woman stood with her arms crossed, an air of arrogance about her. “Of course, I haven’t eaten at your place,” she said dismissively. “Who knows if it’s worth it. I’ve eaten plenty in the city, though. My husband takes me there every week. Don’t think that just because we’re from a small town, we haven’t seen the world.”

Gu Zi, maintaining her calm demeanor, responded, “You haven’t tried our breakfast, so how can you say that our prices can’t be the same as those in the city? Moreover, we’ve taken geographical factors into account. Our prices are actually lower than those in the city. The price we’re offering is indeed fair to our customers.”

She continued, “Before opening this shop, I made a point of trying many breakfast and braised meat shops in the city. I believe our unique flavor is worth the price. Of course, we’re not forcing anyone to buy. If you think the price is high, you’re free not to patronize us.”

As Gu Zi conversed with the middle-aged woman, murmurs spread through the crowd. “It’s already past seven,” one villager commented. “Breakfast time is almost over, and only a few customers have come in. I bet this shop won’t last. Pretty women are only good for looking at, not for running businesses.”

Another villager chimed in, “Your laughter is a bit too much. The owner’s husband is Su Shen, after all. Even if you don’t respect her or the Lin family, you should respect him. But it’s true, all this fanfare for just a few customers is laughable.”

“Did you see the kitchen?” another villager interjected. “There were several large plates of braised meat. They were piled up like a small hill. They won’t be able to sell all that.”

“Why don’t we go in and ask Li Hua for some?” another suggested. “They won’t be able to sell it all anyway. They might as well give it to us. They can’t expect to sell it tomorrow, can they?”

Seeing the lack of business in the shop, some villagers were already considering taking the braised meat for themselves. The Su family was wealthy, after all. If they gave away the meat, it wouldn’t hurt them.

Those who thought this way saw nothing wrong with their intentions. However, some townsfolk felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this. They didn’t want to see the shop succeed, but they wouldn’t stoop so low!

A few townsfolk, unable to bear the conversation, moved away, leaving a path for newcomers. A group of refined-looking individuals approached, led by a woman wearing glasses. She exuded an air of intelligence. She asked a passerby, “Excuse me, ma’am, is this Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop?”

The woman addressed straightened up at the sight of the cultured group. She brushed the dust off her clothes and suppressed a laugh at being referred to as ‘ma’am.’ She never thought she would be addressed so elegantly. “Yes, it is,” she replied, holding back her laughter. “What brings you here?”