Chapter 14 (1/2)
Chapter 14: Planting fruits on a mountain!
Lu Feng knew he was just the new kid on the block in the eyes of these shopkeepers. The older shopkeepers were making a commotion, treating him like a child. Except back on Earth, he was quite smart plus he has the magical painting. Thus, he laughed, “My suggestion is actually very simple, we just don’t sell.”
When the crowd heard this, they were all amazed, and a second pa.s.sed before they all laughed in hysteria. Elder Su laughed bitterly, “Just look Head, just let him out. This little kid doesn’t understand anything.”
The other managers also voted for Lu Feng to leave, and to stop messing around. The Head and Bai Yao were in a tough position, as they were the ones who wanted Lu Feng to join them. Lu Feng saw that the two were troubled, but he still kept a smile and said “Gentlemen, hold your horses. I’m not finished yet, so you can keep your jokes for later.”
“Your suggestion was for us not to sell anything. Are you trying to make us go bankrupt?! To make us starve on the street like peasants?!” Elder Su reb.u.t.ted noisily. “Elder Su’s right….” the rest of the managers all said in unison.
However, Lu Feng continued to speak. “In this world, there are many things you could sell, so why only sell perishables? We could always sell other things.” he explained. “Sell other items?” Elder Su scoffed “What else could be more profitable than the things we’re selling now?”
“Yeah. We can sell Spirit Plants.” Lu Feng replied. The moment he said that, a wave of laughter erupted from the managers. “Oi brat, say that again?! Spirit Plants?!” Elder Su said while snickering. “Those are only used by cultivators, and there aren’t many in QingLong Town. Most of us are commonfolk, people with no abilities or powers. So the items that they need most would be groceries and perishables. Don’t tell me you’re trying to rely on these few cultivators to generate the Bai Family’s income?” he said.
Lu Feng looked towards the Bai family head and Bai Yao, “In our Qinglong town, there are a few cultivators right?” The Bai family head intended to give Lu Feng some face and slightly nodded, “En, there are estimated to not be more than a hundred.”
Elder Su said in a mocking tone, “Qinlong town does not have millions of people but we have a few good hundred thousand. Even then, we barely make money from a hundred thousand people, to even target the hundred cultivators? Young one, don’t you think what you are suggesting is stupid?”
Lu Feng did not think otherwise, “Is there a large city near Qinglong town?” The Bai family head made an En sound in agreement, “There are five nearby cities which have millions of people, and also have small towns around surrounding them.”
When Lu Feng confirmed it, he smiled, “Then within these cities including the small towns and Sects nearby, there definitely isn’t a small amount of cultivators right.”
Elder Su mockingly smiled, “There are lots, except the large sects and clans have already monopolised the market. Are you expecting us to steal their business? What a joke, their single day of income is comparable to our ten years of business. Just by throwing a bit of money, they can completely crush our existence.”
The rest of the shopkeepers also wanted to give Lu Feng a good spanking for being so ignorant, Lu Feng laughed, “If everyone is willing to give me a month’s time, I will be able to make the Bai family earn more than it has ever before.”
Elder Su snorted, “A month? By then we would have already disappeared, how could we wait for you.” Lu Feng reb.u.t.ted, “I can guarantee with my life that if within a month the Bai Family’s income is lower than it is now, I will apologize with my death.”
Elder Su sneered, “You d.a.m.n brat, who do you think you are? One person can do what so many people aren’t able to? Are you trying to pull my leg!?” Lu Feng knew convincing the shopkeepers would be the most difficult job. If the Bai family head forcefully made them agree, they would not be happy to cooperate. So he asked, “Elder Su, so what do you think, do you accept my offer?”
Elder Su wanted to teach Lu Feng a lesson, so he replied, “Wanting us to accept your suggestion is possible, in three days if you can earn a thousand gold taels then it’s settled. Likewise, if you can’t then there will be no way.”
Lu Feng did not understand the worth of a thousand gold taels. Bai Yao was shocked, “Elder Su, one thousand gold taels is our annual income, how could he ever do it.” The Bai family head was also frowning, “Elder Su, perhaps this condition is too difficult.”
Elder Su continued, “Head, Young Master, I only want the best for the Bai family. If he really has the ability, we will see the results. Otherwise, if we just let him take control and compete with the large clans and sects recklessly; it will be just like using an egg to break a rock.”
The shopkeepers all agreed with Elder Su, yet Lu Feng just continued smiling. “Fine, I accept.” No one thought Lu Feng would accept the ridiculous terms, causing Elder Su to scoff at him. “You brat, you better remember well not to try any tricks. If we find out someone is secretly giving you the gold, then it will not count.”
Lu Feng laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t try to cheat. When the time comes, you can personally witness it.”
Everyone was doubting him, the Bai family head could not think of a way to resolve it and could only say, “Then it’s settled, three days from now we will see the outcome.” Elder Su took out a gold tael and smiled.”Here, you must use this to get a thousand.”
Bai Yao was stunned, “Elder Su, how can you do this. At least give him three hundred gold taels.” Elder Su coldly replied, “If I did that, would there still be any significance?” When Lu Feng saw Bai Yao was about to continue, he just smiled, “It’s fine, Brother-in-Law, this one tael is enough.”
Elder Su laughed loudly, “Little brat, don’t you dare try to cheat. We are all observing you, within the next three days you must work under our surveillance.” Lu Feng’s heart was silent, but in his mind a light flashed as he smiled, “That is fine, but I don’t know whether our Bai family has any fields?”
“Fields?” Everyone was puzzled about what Lu Feng wanted to do, Elder Su sneered, “Brat, you aren’t thinking of finding a farm and planting the gold tael. Then three days later a thousand would magically appear, right?” Everyone broke out in laughter.
The Bai family head and Bai Yao both were frowning, Lu Feng cooly smiled, “No, I was just thinking of buying some seeds, and planting a few.” Elder Su almost forgot to mock him, “Head, just see for yourself. If he has this kind of plan, I don’t even want to give him three days. What a waste of time, we should just think of a solution.”