Chapter 408: Xia Chen ‘s Act

Chapter 408: Xia Chen ‘s Act
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It would be advantageous if word got out. Uncle Chen had seniority and a gift for storytelling that made it captivating.
Song Yan wanted to refuse, but she had no valid reason to do so.
Chen Lian also insisted on accompanying them.
Li Jin had been taking an afternoon nap but was awakened by the commotion in the courtyard. When she saw Xia Chen, surprise flickered in her eyes.
“Xia Chen, why are you back?” she inquired. “Is it to bring Grandma some money?”
Xia Chen, concerned about Xia Ru’s deliberate rivalry by opening a shop, decided to address it upfront in response to Li Jin’s question. His expression turned somber as he spoke, “Grandma, usually I’d be more than willing to bring you money and food, but this time, our business is in dire straits.
“Recently, a new shop opened up right across from ours. They’ve copied our decor and offer clothes very similar to ours. The kicker is, they’re selling their clothes at even lower prices, so all our regular customers have flocked over there to shop. We’re struggling to sell our merchandise.
“Curious, my sister decided to investigate this new shop, only to discover that it’s none other than Xia Ru who opened it.
“Grandma, Xia Ru has found a wealthy boyfriend with a reliable supply chain, allowing her to purchase clothes at a significantly lower cost. As a result, her profit margins are soaring.
“Grandma, if you’re in need of money, I suggest you turn to Xia Ru. Her boyfriend seems quite generous with her, and I’m confident that if Xia Ru asks, he’ll willingly provide the funds.”
Liu Hua couldn’t help but silently applaud Xia Chen’s words. On one hand, he confirmed their family’s financial difficulties, and on the other hand, he planted the idea of benefiting from Xia Ru in Li Jin’s mind.
Xia Ru seemed eager to flaunt her newfound wealth and prove that her boyfriend could render Xia Wan’s shop unable to compete in sales. Xia Wan and her family could exploit Li Jin’s greed to coerce Xia Ru into sharing some of her earnings.
Liu Hua couldn’t help but feel relieved that she was on Xia Wan’s side. With Xia Wan’s family’s cunning, anyone who crossed them would be courting trouble.
Li Jin’s eyes gleamed upon hearing Xia Chen’s words. Unlike Song Yan, she was more concerned with whether Xia Ru’s boyfriend could bring wealth.
If this boyfriend had the means to open a clothing store, he must be incredibly affluent. Although Xia Wan’s family also had a clothing store, their circumstances were different. They only operated on behalf of others, whereas Xia Ru’s store belonged entirely to her boyfriend. It was clear that Xia Ru’s boyfriend was wealthier than Xia Wan’s family.
Li Jin might not excel at mathematics, but she had a keen understanding of this aspect.
“What are you waiting for?” Li Jin promptly exclaimed. “Go see Xia Ru.”
Song Yan had no opportunity to say anything more. Everyone washed their hands and tidied up before rushing to the county town.
Xia Chen and Liu Hua had bicycles, while the others had borrowed tricycles from the villagers.
By the time they arrived at the county town, nearly forty minutes had passed.
The group entered Xia Ru’s clothing store with an air of importance, leaving the attendant somewhat bewildered.
Judging by their attire, they didn’t appear to be customers who could afford the store’s clothing.
The attendant, who had seen Xia Chen and Liu Hua before, remembered that they were recent visitors and relatives of the shop’s owner. Despite being relatives, their relationship didn’t seem to be on good terms.
Suspicion flickered in the attendant’s eyes as she observed the group. She had a hunch that they might be there to cause trouble.
“What brings you here?” she inquired, warily eyeing the crowd.
Upon entering the shop, Li Jin quickly assessed it. The store featured the latest fashion trends, offering clothing for men, women, and children, which delighted Li Jin.
She stepped forward and picked up a random piece of clothing. When she saw the price tag, Li Jin’s excitement grew.
The clothes were priced at 80 yuan each..