陈智高 and 王明月 discuss the reasons behind 永旺's eight consecutive years of losses in China and analyze the deeper issues of Japanese supermarkets struggling to adapt to the Chinese market.

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王明月: Master, have you heard? 永旺 has been losing money in China for eight consecutive years and has recently closed several more stores. Once a popular Japanese supermarket chain, why has it fallen into such a predicament?
陈智高: The problems of 永旺 reflect the overall struggle of Japanese retail in China. The core issue is that it has failed to adapt to the rapidly changing consumer patterns and business logic of the Chinese market.
王明月: Indeed, China's retail industry is fiercely competitive today. Models like Hema, Sam's Club, and Pinduoduo each have their own strengths, while 永旺 seems to be stuck in an awkward position. It is neither a high-end membership-based supermarket nor does it offer extreme cost-effectiveness, and it doesn't even have an advantage in the supply chain.
陈智高: That's exactly the key issue. China's consumer market has become highly localized, and the rise of e-commerce and instant retail has gradually diminished the appeal of traditional supermarket models. 永旺's initial success relied on 'Japanese sentiment' and 'uniform price promotions,' but these selling points are no longer effective in today's market environment.
王明月: Moreover, 永旺 insists on importing a large number of Japanese products, leading to excessive inventory and high costs. In contrast, domestic retailers are more flexible and can quickly adjust strategies. For example, Sam's Club develops high-value private-label products, while Hema leverages its supply chain advantages to provide the best fresh food experience.
陈智高: Therefore, if 永旺 wants to break through, it must identify real market demands instead of sticking to outdated business models. In Japan, it has begun developing senior-friendly malls focused on the needs of elderly consumers. Whether it can find a similar breakthrough in China will be crucial.
王明月: Then, could it shift towards community-based development, offering services more closely integrated with local lifestyles? For example, combining smart delivery, instant retail, or even adopting the customer service model of 胖东来 to win with high-quality experiences?
陈智高: That is one direction, but ultimately, 永旺 needs to establish a true 'value anchor' in the minds of consumers. If it cannot provide an irreplaceable core advantage, its difficulties will likely remain unsolved.

小刚 and 小宝 discuss a news story about a woman in 重庆 who successfully lost weight and explore the meaning of a healthy lifestyle.

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小刚: 小宝, I just saw a news report saying that an auntie in 重庆 lost 95 jin in a year!
小宝: Wow! How did she do it? Did she use magic?
小刚: Not magic, but healthy eating and exercise. She ate very healthily every day and kept running and swimming.
小宝: But running is tiring, and vegetables aren’t as tasty as cake.
小刚: Exactly, that’s why persistence is needed. She struggled at first, but later, her body got healthier, and she became more confident.
小宝: Then she must be really happy, right?
小刚: Yes, now she’s not only healthier but also enjoys participating in activities and has made many new friends.
小宝: Then I should exercise more in the future and grow stronger!

David takes the subway in China for the first time and asks 刘娜 what he should pay attention to. 刘娜 tells him about the security check.

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大卫: Teacher Liu, I want to take the subway. What should I pay attention to?
刘娜: In China, you need to go through a security check before taking the subway.
大卫: What is a security check?
刘娜: A security check is a safety inspection where they check your bag, for example, to see if you’re carrying anything dangerous.
大卫: Oh, I see. It’s for safety, right?
刘娜: Yes, the security check is to protect everyone’s safety.
大卫: Will the first security check be troublesome?
刘娜: It’s not troublesome, it’s very quick. Just go to the subway station a bit earlier.
大卫: Okay, thank you, teacher!
刘娜: You’re welcome! I hope you have a smooth subway ride!

小刚 explains to 小宝 the issues of AI songwriting and copyright.

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小宝: Brother, I heard that someone used AI to write a song and was accused of being 'unfair.' What does that mean?
小刚: Oh, are you talking about the DeepSeek songwriting case? A blogger used AI to create a song, and someone reported them for 'unfair competition.'
小宝: Why isn’t it allowed to use AI to write songs?
小刚: AI can help with songwriting, but if it just 'copies' someone else's style or lyrics, it might be considered plagiarism instead of original creation.
小宝: Then how can it be considered your own work?
小刚: It needs to have 'originality,' meaning you truly put thought and effort into writing it, instead of just letting AI randomly piece things together.
小宝: Oh, I see! AI can assist, but it shouldn’t steal someone else's work, right?
小刚: Exactly! Using AI should involve creativity, not just 'copying' something that already exists.

黄刚 and 陈花 discuss proposals by NPC representatives on birth support, covering topics such as paternity leave and subsidies for 'mom jobs.'

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黄刚: 小花, I saw a news article today saying that an NPC representative suggested piloting 'paternity leave' and proposed subsidies for 'mom jobs' to encourage childbirth.
陈花: 'Paternity leave'? You mean allowing fathers to take parental leave too? That’s actually a good idea since raising children isn’t just a mother’s responsibility.
黄刚: Yes, he suggested that men could apply for up to six months of parental leave, which would allow fathers to be more involved in their children’s growth while also easing the burden on mothers.
陈花: That sounds great, but I wonder if companies would be willing to support it. After all, even maternity leave can sometimes affect women's employment, let alone paternity leave for men.
黄刚: Exactly. That’s why the proposal also includes special subsidies for 'mom jobs,' such as an annual subsidy of 20,000 yuan per position, encouraging companies to be more supportive of working mothers.
陈花: If this can be truly implemented, it would be a blessing for working women. Many mothers have to quit or take lower-paying jobs to take care of their children.
黄刚: Yes, if these policies can be widely promoted, they might reduce the fear of having children. However, beyond policy support, changing societal attitudes is also crucial.
陈花: Right, I hope that in the future, more people will understand the parenting pressures parents face and help them find a balance between family and work.

陈智高 and 王明月 discuss China's space cooperation with Pakistan.

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王明月: Master, have you heard? China's space station is about to welcome its first foreign astronaut, from Pakistan.
陈智高: Of course, I know. This is an important step for China's space program and demonstrates our maturity in manned spaceflight technology.
王明月: Yes, in the past, the International Space Station was mainly led by the United States, Europe, and Japan. Now, China's space station is becoming a new platform for international cooperation.
陈智高: Exactly. Especially for developing countries, China's cooperation model has lowered the threshold for entering space. This is not only a technological collaboration but also a practice of the concept of a shared future for humanity.
王明月: In this China-Pakistan collaboration, I saw that the Pakistani astronaut will receive comprehensive training and may participate in microgravity experiments, biomedical research, and other missions in the future. This means scientific research on China's space station will become even more diverse.
陈智高: Indeed. Space cooperation is not just about technology sharing but also about promoting global scientific progress. While providing opportunities for developing countries, China is also exploring how to make space resources benefit all of humanity.
王明月: I'm really curious—will we see astronauts from more countries entering China's space station in the future? Could we even see scientists from different cultural backgrounds working together in space?
陈智高: That is entirely possible. The advancement of science and technology always comes with international cooperation. Perhaps in the future, space exploration will truly become a global endeavor, and China is paving a new path for it.

刘娜 and David discuss the differences between American and Chinese food and learn about each other's food culture.

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刘娜: David, what do you think is the difference between American and Chinese food?
大卫: I think American food is very simple, like burgers and pizza. It’s quick to make.
刘娜: Chinese food takes time. Sometimes, preparation can take a long time.
大卫: Yes, I think Chinese food has many flavors—salty, sweet, spicy. It’s very interesting.
刘娜: Also, when Chinese people eat, they put the dishes in the middle of the table and everyone shares.
大卫: Right, Americans usually eat their own portion and rarely share from the same plate.
刘娜: Which one do you prefer?
大卫: I think sharing is better because you can try many different dishes!
刘娜: Then I’ll teach you how to cook some Chinese dishes, okay?
大卫: Great! Thank you, teacher!

优子 tells Teacher 刘 about her life after moving to 上海 with her family.

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刘娜: 优子, how long have you been in 上海?
优子: I have been in 上海 for three months.
刘娜: How do you feel about 上海?
优子: 上海 is great, but I don’t have a job, so I have a lot of free time.
刘娜: I see! So what do you usually do?
优子: Recently, I like watching Chinese dramas.
刘娜: Watching dramas to learn Chinese is great!
优子: Yes! I want to learn more Chinese and understand the dramas.
刘娜: What kind of dramas do you like to watch?
优子: I like romance dramas and historical dramas.
刘娜: That’s wonderful! We can study together.
优子: That’s great! Thank you, Teacher 刘!