Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 403: Receiving Affirmation (1/2)

Chapter 396: Chapter 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.