Chapter 107: Grand Opening Success! (Please Support with Votes! Please Subscribe!)

Qian Helberg was nearly at his wit’s end. Faced with a job offer, Sumu readily agreed to the $2,000 salary request, and Helberg, equally straightforward, nodded his consent.

Contrary to popular belief, Jews are not always as shrewd as people imagine; their meticulous bargaining in business often leaves others with an impression of stinginess and harshness.

Chinese merchants, however, are no less capable than Jewish traders. Hundreds of years ago, Chinese ancestors sold porcelain, silk, and tea to Jewish merchants, exchanging these for even more valuable goods.

Sumu felt a slight relief.

That night, on the thirty-first, he slept soundly. His dreams were filled with beaches and sunlight, and he played volleyball with seven beautiful young women, later returning to the hotel with them… The morning brought an awkward moment, and he sneaked into the restroom to wash his undergarments.

At his age, such issues were inevitable.

As usual, after breakfast, his grandfather went off to work, while his father, Suding Cai, prepared to shop for fresh ingredients at the market. Sumu’s mother, seeing her husband with a bag, cheerfully said, “Don’t go to the market today. Yesterday we marked down the vegetables in the supermarket—they’re cheaper and fresher there, carefully selected before being shelved. I’ll take you to buy some big bones to stew with radishes tonight, maybe add some medicinal herbs for autumn nourishment.”

“Really? Then I’ll go with you since it’s on the way. You work inside, do you get discounts?” Suding Cai asked with interest. Their family wasn’t financially free; to save money on groceries, they preferred walking extra steps.

For over a century, America had been free from war and turmoil, and the early Chinese immigrants preserved their ancestors’ traditions, such as the “autumn replenishment and winter storage” approach to diet.

Ancient scholars placed great importance on this seasonal regimen, believing that after the draining summer heat, the body needed gradual nourishment in autumn. This principle is documented in Chinese dietary texts and remained embedded in the lives of these early settlers.

Sumu’s mother smiled, shaking her head. “No discounts exactly, but even if there weren’t any, prices are still lower than outside. Since we work there, we get benefits—like buying milk and bread nearing expiration at a discount, or even items not yet expired but on sale. All good stuff.”

Sumu, brushing his teeth, looked up at her.

He had briefly discussed how to handle such goods with Boss Han, and judging by his mother’s expression, it seemed they had scored a great deal. There was little worry about milk or bread spoiling. If their family, in relatively better conditions, thought this way, then those in tougher situations probably preferred discounted goods even more.

Thinking about the supermarket’s grand opening today, Sumu felt so nervous his calves cramped. They had invested $150,000. If this venture failed, he could only imagine the agony of banging his head against a wall. Reflecting on the summer when he and Boss Han discussed the partnership, he was amazed at his own boldness back then.

Spitting out toothpaste foam and rinsing his mouth, his father exclaimed, “How does Boss Han think of these things, coming up with such a business? I think it’s great. Once you start working there and we save some money, maybe we could try opening one ourselves. You work there first and see how it’s run.”

His mother rolled her eyes disdainfully. “Invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and just open one like that? Where’s the money?”

Suding Cai awkwardly replied, “I said it’d be small, nothing that big…”

After breakfast, Sumu and his parents climbed into their recently purchased secondhand car and headed to the supermarket.

Since returning, he hadn’t yet visited the place and felt anxious, worrying there would be no customers at the entrance.

His worry was needless. As the car turned the corner and parked in the lot beside the supermarket, the first thing he saw were four enormous balloons holding up a banner high in the air.

The loudspeaker carried Boss Han’s voice: “Everyone, please keep order! Don’t rush! Today, buy something and get a towel—everyone! The washing machine and TV raffle will be drawn tonight. Remember to come back then. All electronics are discounted today and will be delivered to your homes!”

Getting out, Sumu craned his neck to look at the stage set up at the supermarket entrance. It was packed with people, mostly middle-aged women, their chatter audible even from where he stood.

He felt a joy wanting to burst into laughter!

Remembering his parents beside him, he restrained himself. He hadn’t expected Boss Han to organize such a promotion. Judging by the scene, today’s business was bound to be excellent!

Hurrying to the stage, it was still before opening time. People stood at the doors, some even pressed against the windows, marveling at the rows of sparkling goods inside.

Discarded promotional posters littered the ground, advertising discounted prices. Shopping carts specially ordered from manufacturers were large, square iron baskets on four wheels, with handles for pushing.

Boss Han hadn’t noticed Sumu, and he didn’t seek him out either. He could see the creases of laughter on Boss Han’s face—no one anticipated such a turnout!

Nearby, a woman said, “Get inside quickly and grab whatever’s cheap. Opening day deals won’t last; prices will go up in a few days. Toilet paper is thirty cents a pack here, while outside it’s forty-nine cents!”

“What!? That much cheaper? I’ll buy more, no expiration worries. We’ve got a little one at home, and we go through paper fast.” Another woman’s eyes sparkled. Living in Los Angeles was expensive, but incomes were limited; Chinese families had no choice but to budget carefully.

Sumu smiled quietly and took a few steps forward, overhearing someone else say, “This place is big, has everything! From now on, I’ll shop here. It’s cheaper and more convenient than outside.”

Her husband nodded faintly, indifferent to shopping. “Yeah, since you do the shopping and it’s not far from home…”

His mother, nearly late for work, hurried off. If certain goods ran low later, she was responsible for fetching stock from the warehouse—called the “warehouse manager”—earning the same as other staff but with a lighter workload.

Suding Cai patted his son’s shoulder and pointed to the door. “How do you buy inside? Just grab what you want and pay?”

“More or less. You don’t have to carry bags; you push a cart and put things in. When you’re done, you check out at the register.”

At the supermarket entrance, a long row of square storage lockers with small locks awaited customers to store baskets, handbags, or backpacks. Most were already locked, with many people wearing keys on wristbands.

Two security guards stood at the door. It was nearly eight o’clock when Boss Han approached, passing by Sumu but stopping to smile heartily. “I thought you hadn’t come back. Come on, we’ll cut the ribbon and let them in to shop.”

Suding Cai was still a bit slow to catch on, dazed.

Sumu raised an eyebrow, thinking, “This time, there’s no hiding it…”