Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 109 - 15 Never Tried

Chapter 109: Chapter 15 Never Tried

Zheng Fa arrived at Zhang’s house first thing in the morning.

"Is there something the matter?"

Seeing Zheng Fa coming to look for her, Zhang’s face showed a bit of puzzlement.

"Sister, I’ve been looking at the accounts from the past few days, and the workshop’s revenue... it has decreased significantly lately."

Zhang thought for a moment, then gestured to a chair nearby, indicating for Zheng Fa to sit down.

"When I first took over the Affairs Hall, the workshop’s income was more than two thousand Spirit Stones a month," Zhang said frankly. "But over the past century, both the rent and the transaction tax from the workshop have been declining."

Zheng Fa was also somewhat surprised to hear this; the decline seemed quite substantial.

"This isn’t just a problem for our Jiushan Sect alone," Zhang consoled him. "Just do your best."

It was apparent that she thought Zheng Fa was afraid of taking over the workshop operations and being punished for a continued decrease in revenue, which was why he had come to her.

Revealing her own shortcomings was a way to comfort Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa was silent for a while, then spoke up: "It’s not that I’m worried about this, Junior Brother has an idea and wanted to consult with you, sister, to see if it’s feasible."

"An idea?"

Zhang gave Zheng Fa a look, then suddenly said, "You feel that your cultivation is not strong enough to hold the position, and you want to make some achievements in the operation of the workshop?"

Zheng Fa smiled and said, "You’ve seen through me, sister. Since I don’t have the kind of cultivation that commands respect, I have to use my brains on these matters."

This was a necessity in order to secure his position.

Either one must have a cultivation like Yuan, overwhelming others with Golden Core strength,

Or you need to make the workshop more prosperous.

Zhang nodded her head, but her expression did not show much anticipation; clearly, she did not believe Zheng Fa would have any good ideas.

"Let’s hear it."

"Sister also knows that the decline in the workshop’s income is fundamentally due to the decline of Spiritual Mechanism," Zheng Fa began. "But from the immediate problem, it’s that the vendors and shop owners within our sect are not making any money."

In fact, the income of the workshop comes from these vendors and merchants; if they don’t have business, the workshop naturally has no income.

"Especially since there are too many Talisman Masters in our Sect, Spirit Talismans are increasingly hard to sell. Han Qi and others are selling Spirit Talismans for me, and now they have to throw in yellow-grade talismans just to make a sale."

Zheng Fa’s expression was a bit strange.

This method was actually Han Qi’s own idea; he did have some talent and managed to do good business.

But in reality—this strategy of bundling goods upon goods was quickly overwhelming the talisman stalls in the marketplace.

Zhang nodded when she heard this: "Indeed, it has been more difficult to rent out some of the stalls these past few years."

Her expression did not change much, as this was not only apparent to Zheng Fa, but the higher-ups of Jiushan Sect had already figured it out.

But now the entire Cultivation world is downgrading consumption, and they don’t really have any good solutions.

"Junior Brother has been thinking about increasing their income, it’s nothing more than the four words ’increase revenue and reduce expenditure,’" Zheng Fa revealed his plans: "I have no ideas about the latter for now, but I do have some thoughts about increasing revenue."

"Oh?"

Zheng Fa took out a booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang.

Zhang took the booklet and after flipping through it for a while, she looked up at Zheng Fa with a hint of surprise and appreciation: "You want us to dispatch Guiding Ships to attract customers from the Hundred Immortals Alliance and various Immortal Sects, and even offer free transportation?"

"Yes," said Zheng Fa. "Junior Brother was thinking, too many Talisman Masters actually means too few customers. Also, we can arrange for staff on board, allowing those who can’t make the trip to place orders which we can then deliver to them."

At the end of the day, this was just the free shuttle service offered by some supermarkets.

It’s the favorite of thrifty seniors.

Plus a straightforward mail-order service.

It’s not a complex idea, but no one in the Xuanwei Realm has ever done it before.

Such a model has only existed for a few years in modern times—this required business civilization and a level of service consciousness to evolve to a certain stage.

The workshop owners in the Xuanwei Realm were all landlords who only cared about collecting rent and protection fees.

But in Zheng Fa’s plan, the workshop’s responsibilities actually resembled those of modern shopping centers—they had to undertake marketing responsibilities.

Especially for those small vendors and shop owners, who actually lack marketing capabilities and have to rely on the workshop.

This kind of thinking actually requires service consciousness from the workshop towards the small vendors, obviously, workshops backed by large Sects really struggle with this mindset.

"This idea... it’s quite interesting, targeting those lower-tier cultivators without much money," Zhang lightly tapped the booklet in her hand, showing some appreciation in her gaze: "We can give it a try."

Zheng Fa nodded: "Sister is wise. I was thinking since there are so many yellow-grade Talisman Masters in our Sect, our main audience is those lower-tier cultivators who are not highly cultivated and find it inconvenient to visit; in fact, our Spirit Talismans are relatively cheap. If they don’t have to pay for travel, those people will probably be quite willing to come, at least willing to have a look around."

As for whether they would buy once they came—that’s where the saying goes, since you’ve already come.

Zhang looked at the booklet again and realized that it contained quite a lot of content.

There were plans for pilot runs near certain sects or marketplaces.

There was a marketing strategy—like writing and decorations on the ship.

And how to arrange for the staff who will guide—Zheng Fa recommended Han Qi, who had the potential to be a sly tour guide; he could utilize his strengths on the ship and sell some products.

"You’ve written this booklet with great care," Zhang looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes full of admiration: "I only wanted you to hold this position for now, but you’ve actually brought me a pleasant surprise."

Zheng Fa shook his head, being very cautious: "This matter still has some costs, that’s why I came to consult with you first, sister."

"Trying it out is fine, I will arrange things," Zhang handed the booklet back to Zheng Fa and added: "In the workshop, go ahead and do what you need to."

...

This day marked Zheng Fa’s first meeting with the disciples from the workshop.

He arrived at the small building in the workshop.

Yuan was already waiting there.

"Are you nervous, Junior Brother?" She asked curiously. "I was very nervous the first time I took over the position of managing the workshop!"

Zheng Fa shook his head with a smile.

He had made all the preparations he could.

Formed a Frost Blade Talisman.

And with that business plan booklet, he secured further support from Zhang — the success of the plan wasn’t the most important part; what mattered was getting Zhang to acknowledge his talent and effort in this area, and her willingness to help eliminate other obstacles.

He felt he was now sufficiently equipped to handle some targeted difficulties and ostracism.

As for even more malice, Zheng Fa was not unprepared for it.

After all, given his background, he had faced no shortage of malice both on the farm and in modern times.

Disliking conflict did not mean he feared it.

Seeing him shake his head, Yuan made a face, seemingly a bit disappointed.

Soon, the disciples under Yuan had all arrived.

There weren’t many; less than thirty disciples in total.

Standing together, they packed the first floor of the small building to the brim.

What surprised Zheng Fa was—every disciple in the room seemed a bit scared of him.

From left to right, none of them dared to meet his gaze.

Whether they were practicing Qi cultivation or at the Foundation Establishment level, they would all lower their heads when he looked at them.

If he stared at someone for too long, they would lift their head, carefully showing a flattering smile.

...What’s going on?

Yuan watched with a smile for a while before she coughed lightly and said, "Now, let me introduce everyone, this is Zheng, who will be managing the workshop with me in the future."

Zheng Fa hadn’t even managed to show his friendly smile yet.

The senior disciples had already started speaking.

"We’ve long heard of the great reputation of Brother Zheng!"

"The workshop should indeed be managed by someone talented like brother Zheng!"

"Ever since I heard the news, I’ve been looking forward to seeing brother Zheng day and night, and finally, the time has come!"

...No, why do you all look as if you’ve seen a savior? What’s going on?

He looked at the group of overly enthusiastic senior brothers and humbly spoke, "My cultivation is shallow..."

"That’s self-belittling talk!" An older-looking senior brother interrupted him: "It’s not about age when it comes to ambition! So what if your cultivation is low? Is our cultivation high or something?"

"Exactly! If there’s anything that needs to be done, you lay back, brother Zheng, and let us handle it!"

"Right!"

"...And you are, senior brother?"

"My surname is Yang!" The senior brother said enthusiastically: "If anyone causes you trouble, just tell me!"

Zhang’s lineage is more united than I imagined!

"Well then... I have an idea here, I’d like to discuss it with all the senior brothers."

Zheng Fa thought for a bit, then shared the measures he and Zhang had discussed with the senior brothers.

Truth be told, he wasn’t very confident in his business skills — after all, he had never been in business in the modern world.

Let alone in a completely different world.

So, what he wrote in the booklet was also very cautious — starting with a small-scale pilot, the cost invested was limited.

He wanted the senior brothers to discuss it because he truly wanted to hear their opinions.

After all, their familiarity with the workshop was something he couldn’t match.

"Brilliant!"

But he had not even finished speaking, and senior brother Yang was clapping and laughing.

"..."

"Brother, your idea saves the urgent needs of the stores in the workshop!"

"Such benevolence and righteousness!"

"I think those shop owners will be erecting a longevity monument for you, brother!"

"You guys have no objections?" Zheng Fa asked earnestly and puzzled.

"Your plan is flawless, brother, no objections, no objections!"

"..."

Watching the senior brothers leaving gradually in the distance, Zheng Fa slowly frowned and turned to Yuan: "Senior sister, are all our workshop disciples... always this amiable?"

"How come, don’t you like it?"

"It’s not that..." Zheng Fa shook his head and smiled: "I thought there would be some conflicts, and I prepared some measures just in case."

"You’ve already taken the measures."

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa turned to see Yuan smiling smugly, wearing a slightly self-congratulatory expression.

"These people have been coming to me in groups these past few days, stirring up trouble in front of me," Yuan said with a smirk: "I’ve taught each of them a lesson."

"..."

"For the next half a year, as long as I’m still here, these people will behave," Yuan slapped her chest and said: "If they cause trouble after I leave, you come find me, and I’ll come back and teach them a lesson."

Zheng Fa looked at the booklet he had meticulously prepared, then at the proud Yuan; with a flick of his finger, a trace of cold air condensed into a sharp blade in the air, slicing through a potted plant in the corner.

A leaf from the plant slowly fell.

"Brother?" Yuan looked puzzled.

"...I’m just testing it out," Zheng Fa said, somewhat gloomily.