Back To The 80s-Chapter 427 - 437: Alliance_1

Gu Xiaobei laughed and said, "Alright, from now on you must all remember, cool your tempers a bit more. We are in business, arguments, fights, they solve nothing."

The conflict outside had been brawling for an hour without devolving into physical blows. Ultimately, the market administrators stepped in, reprimanding the two and sending them back to their rooms. Fining each one ten dollars, they accused them of causing disturbance and disrupting market order.

As the afternoon wound down and it was nearly time to close up shop, Ding Daquan arrived.

As soon as he entered the shop, he laughed and quipped, "Boss Gu, here to bother you again."

Gu Xiaobei chuckled, silently watching him without a word. Ding Daquan was notorious for never making a visit without an ulterior motive.

Ding Daquan met Gu Xiaobei’s silence and awkwardly chuckled in reply, "Boss Gu, how is business going recently?"

Gu Xiaobei responded nonchalantly, "It’s alright."

Ding Daquan froze in embarrassment. Normally, people would lament poor sales, and the challenge of another competitor making business even harder. Yet the first thing out of Gu Xiaobei’s mouth was that things were fine. Most business people couldn’t help themselves from claiming to always be at a financial loss.

Ding Daquan felt an awkward pang welling up inside him. He quickly glanced over the inventory, not wanting to waste any more time circling around the issue with Gu Xiaobei. "The new neighbor’s business is identical to yours, it affects me directly, and it affects you even more."

Gu Xiaobei understood. This Ding Daquan wanted to team up against the newly opened competitor. However, she never formed alliances based on mutual benefits, such alliances would only make things worse. And so, pretending to not comprehend, she said, "Competition is natural when doing business. It can only promote us to work harder."

"But you’ll stand to lose a lot from this. I heard they have someone in higher places, that’s how they managed to get their paperwork done so quickly around the New Year," Ding Daquan continued to persuade Gu Xiaobei.

Gu Xiaobei feigned ignorance yet again, "It’s good to have connections, it makes things more efficient. As for those without connections like us, as long as we work harder, it won’t make much difference."

Ding Daquan was about to burst in frustration. It was clear that he had made his intentions explicit, yet this woman was beating around the bush. He bluntly said, "Why don’t we team up and drive him out?"

Gu Xiaobei finally put on a fac̩ade of surprised comprehension, "Mr. Ding, how do you propose we drive him out?"

Ding Daquan glanced at the people by the stove, warming themselves. He seemed to have something on his mind, but he hesitated.

Gu Xiaobei laughed and said, "Whatever it is, you can just tell me directly. There’s no outsiders here. They’re like siblings to my brother." As she spoke, she warmed the hearts of the few people seated by the stove. She also subtly reminded Ding Daquan that there was no need for his roundabout approach.

Ding Daquan suppressed his dissatisfaction. This woman was really unappreciative. He intended to help her, but instead she made him lose face.

"What about we join forces, place our orders together? More orders means lower prices. We can make less profit, but we’ll outprice him. And we can share customers too, what do you think?"

Gu Xiaobei chuckled inwardly. She would not partner in business even with her own family, let alone with Ding Daquan, a stranger.

Ding Daquan noticed Gu Xiaobei’s knitted brows and her silence. Without waiting for her to speak, he added, "We’ll split the profits into three and seven. You get seven, and I get three."

Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Ding, isn’t this a losing proposition for you?"

"No worries, I really can’t stand that new shopkeeper next door." Ding Daquan waved it off and laughed.

Gu Xiaobei looked at Ding Daquan, a sense of distaste growing inside her. It was clear that Ding Daquan intended to use her as a pawn. Gently shaking her head, she said, "When doing business, I believe in fair competition. If we put stumbling blocks in someone else’s path, someone else will do the same to us. Seeking to outsmart others is too time-consuming."

As though expecting Gu Xiaobei’s rejection, Ding Daquan laughed, "What Boss Gu says is right. Nevertheless, if you change your mind, you can come find me." With that, he turned around and left.

Gu Xiaobei watched as Ding Daquan walked out the door and crossed to the other side of the street. She noticed the young man from the neighboring shop standing at their entrance, watching the shop.

The young man noticed Gu Xiaobei’s gaze, nodded slightly and smiled to acknowledge her.

Gu Xiaobei responded with a small smile, turned back, and said to the people in the shop, "In the future, regardless of what happens, let’s focus on doing our work well and not act rashly, especially Chen Zhao and you two. You’re all at the age when your blood is running hot. Don’t let shrewd individuals provoke you."

Chen Zhao and the others pledged, "Sister Xiaobei, you have our word. We won’t act rashly."

Qin Li was also worried, "Sister Xiaobei, if things continue like this, it won’t end well. Like for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, they’ll certainly start selling mooncakes too, and we’ll lose out."

Gu Xiaobei frowned slightly, reassured and said, "That’s okay, if we can’t earn more, we’ll earn less. And besides, the snow has yet to melt, what’s the rush?" As she spoke, she was growing more anxious inside than anyone else. She decided to go look for Zhan Hezhi, that bastard. Although he certainly won’t play fair, she wants him to know that she’s not someone he can just manipulate at will.

It wasn’t yet the end of the first lunar month, so business was bleak. Before the sun had set, Gu Xiaobei decided to close up early. Staying open was just a waste of time.

After locking up the shop, Gu Xiaobei went to the market on her bicycle, bought two pounds of apples, and quickly headed back home.

Entering the courtyard, she could hear Bai Xiaolan in the kitchen teaching Xiaopang and Mo Wang a tongue twister, "A small kid, sitting on a doorstop, crying and calling for his wife. What is he doing? Lighting a lamp and talking..." Bai Xiaolan’s Beijing accent was strong, and her pronunciation of the "er" in each word gave the phrase a unique flavor.

Xiaopang was sitting at a small table, clapping his hands and smiling, following along with the tongue twister, "A small kid, his wife, talking." He directly spoke the last two words.

Bai Xiaolan chuckled, "Xiaopang, you’re really lazy, just saying two words. Come on, Mo Wang try it too. A small kid..."

Mo Wang was staring intently at Bai Xiaolan, his big eyes didn’t blink, but he did not open his mouth to speak. He heard the noise of stirring curtains and suddenly turned back, saw Gu Xiaobei, and cheerfully yelled, "Mother, mother..."

Xiaopang also clapped his hands, laughing and calling, "Mother, hug."

Gu Xiaobei put the apples on the window sill, washed her hands, and then came over to hug her two children. She smiled and said, "Our Xiaopang can recite nursery rhymes now? Come, recite it again for mother."

Xiaopang immediately began showing off with enthusiastic clapping, "A small kid, his wife, talking." After he finished, he eagerly clapped his hands again, verifying that he had recited perfectly.

Mo Wang had a serious expression on his little face and suddenly blurted out, "No door, no door..." His words were unclear, leaving Gu Xiaobei somewhat puzzled about what her son could be saying.

Wen Xiuqing, who was cooking pancakes on the stove, guessed, "Could Mo Wang be saying that Xiaopang forgot to say ’door stop’ in his recitation?"

Gu Xiaobei, surprised, asked Mo Wang, "Little Mo Wang, are you saying that your sister forgot to say ’door stop’?"