Lu You walked to the door and gently opened the glass door.
The door opened!
"Charge!"
No one knew who shouted the first cry.
The business elites, who had previously maintained their last shred of dignity, instantly tore off their disguises.
With a "whoosh."
It was as if a floodgate had been breached.
Dozens of people ignored any sense of decorum or status, swarming into the store in a frenzy.
"Director Wang, I'll clear the way for you!" The assistant named Xiao Li took the lead.
Using his somewhat slender frame, he forcefully squeezed a gap through the crowd.
"Don't push! Don't push! I'm from Huasheng Group! Let me go first!"
"Boss Lu! Boss Lu! Look at me! I'm from Tianke Zhihui! I sent you ten rockets during the challenge match a few days ago!"
"Boss Lu! Our company needs your Controllable Nuclear Fusion Technology! The price is negotiable!" Someone who was clearly there to join the fun or had had too much to drink shouted from the side, then slipped away to who knows where.
The scene became chaotic to the point of being uncontrollable.
Fortunately, the interior space of Lu You's Hardware Store was extremely large.
Otherwise, this rush would have surely caused the small shop to explode on the spot.
Lu You stood behind the counter, watching this group of big shots.
With an average age of over forty.
Whose combined wealth could probably buy half of Yangcheng.
Each one like a wolf cub that hadn't eaten for three days.
Scrambling to pounce on him, the scene was both comical and shocking.
He could even smell the air mixed with cologne, cigars, and... the fragrance of money.
"They're all business points!!" Lu You thought to himself, unable to hold back.
Tears almost uncontrollably flowed from the corner of his mouth.
But he quickly steadied his mind.
"Everyone, quiet!"
A stern shout was like a thunderclap on level ground.
Instantly overpowering all the noise on the scene.
Lu You's voice wasn't loud, but it was full of vigor.
Combined with his calm and composed aura at the moment.
It actually carried a sense of imposing authority without anger.
After all, the current situation was "you need me, not I need you."
The initiative had been firmly in his hands from the start.
The originally chaotic elites were collectively stunned by this shout.
They looked at each other.
Only then realizing how inappropriate their behavior had just been.
Each one's face slightly reddened.
Awkwardly straightening their wrinkled suits and ties that had been squeezed in the crowd.
Slowly quieting down.
They knew perfectly well in their hearts.
This young man before them, though not old.
Held in his hands something they dreamed of for the future!
Here, no Director, no Chairman held any sway.
The only boss was Lu You.
"Everyone, I know you're all in a hurry, but don't be in such a hurry." Lu You placed his hands on the counter, his gaze slowly sweeping over each person present.
"One at a time, queue up and take a number, just like going to the bank for business, understand?"
As he spoke, he took out a stack of number papers he had printed himself from under the counter.
On them, in bold black font, were written "Numbers 1-100."
Everyone looked at each other; who dared say anything more?
Obediently, like kindergarten children waiting for the teacher to hand out candy, they formed a long line.
Taking number plates one by one from Lu You's hands.
"Alright, since you're all here, I assume you have some understanding of my 'products.'" Lu You cleared his throat.
He still had to lay out the unpleasant truths upfront, to avoid wasting breath later.
"Before we begin formal negotiations, I need to clarify a fact for everyone."
He paused, ensuring everyone's attention was focused on him.
Then he said word by word: "The prices of all items I presented during the challenge match a few days ago can be understood as promotion prices, trial prices."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room erupted in uproar.
"What do you mean?"
"Promotion prices? Does that mean batch production isn't at this price?"
Insuppressible discussions arose from the crowd.
Many people's faces showed expressions of astonishment.
They had traveled from afar.
Just for the outrageously cheap and high-quality prices from the challenge match.
Like the Superconducting Materials that were almost given away for free, the Memory Alloys cheaper than ordinary steel... They thought they could take the opportunity to purchase in large batches, and upon returning, they could stir up a storm in the industry.
But now, with Lu You's one sentence, all their beautiful dreams were shattered back to reality.
"That's right." Lu You smiled, confirming their suspicions.
"The purpose of the challenge match was to boost the reputation of 'Old Lu Hardware Store,' to let everyone know that I have good stuff here."
"It seems this goal has been achieved now." He spread his hands, looking completely justified.
"So starting today, the batch order prices for all products will be repriced based on the item's rarity, technical content, and each of your demand quantities."
"Hiss—"
The sound of gasps filled the room.
Everyone was dumbfounded, frozen in place.
Their brains rapidly working, trying to comprehend this sudden change.
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
So this was Boss Lu's real intention!
They had originally thought this young man was just a tech geek who mastered incredible black technology but was naive about the world.
Now they understood, not only was he skilled with technology, but his business acumen was terrifyingly sharp!
Using a nationwide live-streamed challenge match.
With extremely tempting prices as a gimmick, attracting the attention of all potential customers.
This itself was a textbook example of viral marketing!
First using "free samples" to lure you in.
Then, after whetting your appetite, telling you: "Sorry, the main course requires payment, and it's not cheap."
An open scheme! This was a blatant open scheme!
But even so, what could they do? Turn around and leave?
What a joke!
Which company here wasn't being strangled in some field, struggling desperately?
Which one wasn't coveting the products in Lu You's hands that could change the industry landscape?
Like that Special Catalyst monopolized by foreign countries, with sky-high prices.
Or that High-Grade Separator inside lithium batteries.
These things, even if the price increased, even if it multiplied tenfold.
As long as they could get their hands on them, it would still be a sure-profit deal!
For a moment, the store fell into an eerie silence.
The representatives from dozens of companies looked at each other.
Their eyes filled with complex emotions.
Hesitation, struggle, but more than anything, an undeniable craving.
Lu You found their "want to buy but stingy with money" conflicted expressions somewhat amusing.
But he didn't rush them.
Businessmen, after all, profit-seeking is their nature.
The new rules he gave created a huge gap with the prices they had in mind.
It was normal to need time to digest and weigh the options.
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
After a brief silence, the sound of phone vibrations filled the store.
"Hello? Chairman... the situation has changed..."
"Boss, the plan needs adjustment, Boss Lu's side... the price isn't what we thought..."
"Hold an emergency video conference immediately! All senior executives must attend! Yes, now! Immediately! Right away!"
These high-ranking representatives, now unconcerned about face.
Each one hurriedly pulled out their phones, walking to corners to urgently report the situation to their headquarters.
After all, this had already exceeded the scope of what they could decide on their own.
They had to consult higher-level leadership.