He opened by asking for ten million outright.
Liu Yutong wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Instead, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, carrying a faint trace of amusement. "Tell me, what do you need such a large sum for?"
Seeing her reaction, Yang Xin felt a little more at ease. "Since you’re being straightforward, it wouldn’t be right for me to keep things from you."
"To be honest, the main reason I’ve returned is to conduct research in Bright Pearl City’s counties and towns."
"Xinglong Supermarket—" At this point, Yang Xin paused briefly. Though it felt a bit awkward, he pressed on.
"Although Xinglong Supermarket is currently doing well in terms of profits, major supermarket chains are all expanding into lower-tier markets. Before this, whether it was those big chains or even my previous company, they all started by developing in second-tier cities. If the market remains stable, maintaining profitability shouldn’t be difficult. But now, with rapid development and increasingly fierce competition, market penetration is a must for every supermarket."
"I’ve surveyed Bright Pearl City’s three counties and four districts. Let’s set aside the four districts for now—my main focus is on the three counties, as well as a town at the border between Wushui County and Bright Pearl City’s Haishang District."
"Right now, the three counties already have large supermarkets, but the market isn’t saturated yet. Especially in Moshui Town—there isn’t even a single major supermarket. This is our opportunity..."
Though Yang Xin appeared refined and lacked the rough edges of someone like Ma Da, when speaking about his area of expertise, he seemed like a completely different person.
More confident.
It took him about ten minutes to detail his recent findings—population density, consumer spending levels, competitor analysis, and more.
Finally, he said solemnly, "Miss Liu, time waits for no one. I want to open chain supermarkets in these locations right away."
"Since we’ve already secured Xinglong Supermarket in Wushui County, we can set that aside for now. As for the other two counties and the town, I think we can open three chain supermarkets simultaneously."
"I’ve also estimated the funding required—around eight to ten million. As for supply channels, I can leverage my connections to negotiate a sixty-day payment term."
After finishing, Yang Xin looked at Liu Yutong with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
Truthfully, he had no idea about Liu Yutong’s financial situation. All he knew was that the highly successful Yuyue Restaurant in the county belonged to her.
Beyond that, he was in the dark.
So, he wasn’t sure if she would approve his chain supermarket plan—or if she even had the funds to support it.
Originally, he was supposed to submit this research report to his former company today.
But now that he’d been laid off, that opportunity was gone.
His only option was to present it to Liu Yutong.
If she refused or couldn’t afford it, all his hard work would go to waste.
After all, market conditions were constantly changing.
In a few months—or a year—the landscape could be entirely different.
That was why seizing the initiative was so crucial.
After listening carefully to his report, Liu Yutong became even more convinced that she’d stumbled upon a gem.
His preparation was impeccable.
"Why are you so optimistic about Moshui Town? There are plenty of towns in these counties," she asked.
"Location!"
Yang Xin traced an invisible map on the table with his finger. "Moshui Town is surrounded by several other towns, but it’s the one that attracts the most market-goers—even people from neighboring towns come here to shop. It naturally draws a huge crowd. Plus, I saw a government announcement about an industrial park being built nearby. As the only major consumer hub in the area, Moshui Town has enormous potential."
"If we act fast, I guarantee the supermarket in Moshui Town won’t underperform compared to those in the counties—and the operating costs will be much lower."
His explanation immediately sparked a realization in Liu Yutong.
In her past life, Moshui Town had indeed undergone significant changes. Not only did it thrive due to the industrial park, but it also siphoned business from surrounding towns.
Moreover, Moshui Town was eventually absorbed into Bright Pearl City, separated from Wushui County.
By the time she’d been reborn, this seemingly unremarkable town had five major supermarkets—competition was even fiercer than in the urban districts.
That alone spoke volumes about its potential.
While Liu Yutong knew this from experience, Yang Xin’s thorough analysis—and his boldness in targeting an ordinary town—proved his sharp business acumen.
It also confirmed that choosing him had been the right decision.
This alone saved her so much trouble.
Sure, she was a reborn individual, but she’d never run a supermarket in her past life.
As for her subordinates? Even less experience.
Just obtaining all the necessary permits—business licenses, health certificates, food distribution permits, tobacco retail licenses—would be a headache.
Then there was management, resource allocation, and so on.
Without someone capable of handling all this independently, opening a supermarket—let alone a chain—would be nearly impossible without resorting to franchising.
But that came with heavy restrictions.
And franchised brands weren’t immune to problems. Countless supermarkets had collapsed in her past life—proof enough.
That’s why she preferred building her own brand.
If managed well, even with the rise of e-commerce, it could still thrive.
Without hesitation, Liu Yutong said to Yang Xin, "Since I’ve entrusted the supermarket business to you, you’re in charge. Just let me know what you need. However, I don’t have ten million on hand right now."
She’d already poured all her funds—over ten million—into the stock market. Liquidating now wasn’t an option; she’d have to wait at least two months.
Yang Xin’s spirits lifted at the first part of her response.
But the second half dampened them again.
After all, even the most skilled housewife couldn’t cook without rice. Without money, the best plans were just ideas.
They could try using Xinglong Supermarket’s funds, but they’d have to consult Niu Ben first.
Though Liu Yutong already treated the supermarket as hers, it wasn’t officially in her hands yet.
Would they really have to take things slow?
"How long would it normally take from selecting locations to opening the supermarkets?" Liu Yutong suddenly asked.
Yang Xin was taken aback but answered, "About two to three months. But without funding, none of it—"
Liu Yutong cut him off. "I don’t have ten million right now, but could we defer payment and settle after completion?"
A blank check?
At first, Yang Xin balked—but then reconsidered.
There was no rule saying all expenses had to be paid upfront. For construction and renovations, wasn’t it standard to pay a deposit first and settle the rest upon completion?
As for suppliers, he was confident he could negotiate deferred payments there too.
Looks like it might work!
