The struggle between the street stall association and the shop owners' association can affect the lives of nearby residents, with some families deliberately not buying anything for many days, just waiting for the two sides to start competing and give away all goods for free, before rushing to grab them.
A neighbor not far from Ma Lin's left said that for the past six months, all the vegetables and daily necessities she had bought were free, as whenever she wanted to buy something, both sides would be in a huff, holding free shopping events.
Wouldn't these small vendors and shopkeepers lose money this way?
Losing a bit doesn't matter; what counts is not losing face.
The more the two sides fought, the luckier the customers got, often not having to spend a dime. The variety, quality, and price of the goods became more and more attractive. After three years, the competitiveness and reputation of these two streets in Gem City had become unmatched.
