After the deal was confirmed and all documents were signed, Mr Duan decided to take Eli on a tour of the store.
Inside the store, there was a faint smell of damp cardboard and soy sauce. The lights flickered on and off. One shelf in the canned goods section was snapping badly,so much so it was held up by a pile of old newspapers.
"We have stock, but not enough room to store it," Mr. Duan said. "Half the time, we can't keep the shelves full, even when the storeroom is overflowing."
He pointed to a freezer at the back. "That one's on its last legs. Sometimes it overworks and freezes everything solid. Last month, we lost half our dumplings."
The checkout counter had a chipped top and an old cash register that beeped weirdly.
"No scanners, no automation," Mr. Duan muttered. "Every price goes in manually. You can imagine how long that takes when it's busy."
They walked into the back room, which was packed, dim, and not well ventilated. Boxes were stacked randomly on metal racks. The space for the office was tiny, more like a broom closet with a desk. A cracked whiteboard showed outdated notes about restocks and community events.
"The kicker?" Mr. Duan said, pulling at a rusty pipe near the ceiling. "The plumbing's terrible. We get leaks when it rains hard. And don't get me started on the wiring."
He paused by a suggestion box taped to a pillar next to the staff fridge. One suggestion card peeked out:
"Get a new coffee machine. This one tastes terrible."
Eli couldn't help but laugh. "So, not exactly high-end shopping, huh?"
"Nope," Mr. Duan said with a smirk. "But it's still here. We've kept it going this long. It just needs some real help."
He gave a reassuring pat to the nearest shelf, like he was comforting an old friend.
"But with Your investment, although it's not much, it could help solve the plumbing, wiring and lighting." Mr Duan said with a smile
"Now," he said, "let's meet the neighborhood."
After the tour of the store, Mr. Duan wanted to show Eli around the neighborhood. "If you're putting money into the Corner Pocket," he said, "you're also putting money into these people."
They walked out into the busy Briggon district, where narrow alleyways nestled between old apartments and small shops still had hand painted signs. Mr. Duan greeted everyone he met.
First, they stopped at Auntie Lin's tiny food stall, where she sold sweet tofu pudding and dumplings. "She's been on her own for ten years," Mr. Duan leaned in to say. "Lost her son in a car accident. Now she feeds half the street with what she makes."
Auntie Lin squinted at Eli. "You look too skinny. Eat more." She handed him a hot cup of soy milk without waiting for him to ask.
Next was Mr. Bao, a retired opera singer with thick glasses and a bad back. He ran a secondhand bookstore next to a pet grooming shop. "He forgets book titles but remembers every face," Mr. Duan said. "He sings to stray cats when it's slow."
Mr. Bao bowed. "So you're the boy who wants to help save the Corner Pocket? Good! Maybe now Duan will fix that leak in the ceiling."
Eli chuckled, already starting to enjoy the vibe of this place.
Then they met Sally and Momo, a young couple running a daycare out of their small apartment. "We charge by what people can pay," Momo said, bouncing a baby on her hip. "Some bring food, some do repairs, and some just give us the latest gossip."
As they walked on, Mr. Duan's mood changed when they reached a shiny storefront being renovated for SuperMartX, a big chain store opening soon.
"They're no good," he said flatly. "They cut prices, take away real service, and soon all these shops will be gone."
Eli looked at the almost-finished sign and saw ads for sign-up bonuses, delivery drones, and discounts. It felt like a different planet.
"But we're not giving up," Mr. Duan said. "We fight back with real people. That's where you come in."
Back at the Corner Pocket, they walked past the community bulletin board, crowded with flyers: free tutoring, laundry help, a missing cat named Baozi, a sign-up sheet for Neighborhood Cleanup Day, and an enthusiastic (but misspelled) ad for "Briggon's Got Talent," hosted by Crazy Uncle Meng, the local handyman and failed magician.
"Every person here," Mr. Duan said, "wants this place to thrive, not just get by. Thrive."
Eli looked around. He saw rust, warmth, tired faces, and determined smiles. And for the first time, he didn't just see a supermarket.
He saw a community worth standing up for.
During the tour Eli learnt that Mr Duan has a daughter who is studying in the capital city.
After the Tour Eli thanked Mr Duan and went home.