Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 284 - 23: Another Fortune Spent by Li Xinyu
Losing the mulberry and elm, gaining the eastern corner.
Shen Rong never expected that her first business deal would open in such a way.
Looking at this ten-thousand-worth order with the Shen Family's third-house inheritance rights as collateral, Shen Rong's emotions were complicated.
On one hand, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief and no longer worry about disappointing the Deputy City Lord's expectations.
On the other hand, she couldn't help but feel a bit nuanced, after all, the one who got the order wasn't her, but her often absent-minded junior brother Shen Fang, who frequently followed her around.
As a senior sister who has looked after him for many years, Shen Rong naturally didn't feel jealousy, but feelings of loss and urgency were inevitable.
Shen Fang already had a ten-thousand performance, as a senior sister, was she to end with zero performance?
After taking a deep breath, Shen Rong decided to pull herself together, re-energize, and face the upcoming challenges with greater enthusiasm.
Isn't it just sales? If Shen Fang can do it, can't I do it too? 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
——
However, by the next day, Shen Rong despairingly realized that the world does not particularly favor those who work hard. Some things are futile no matter how hard you try—you ultimately have to rely on opportunity.
Shen Fang easily obtained a ten-thousand order from Li Xinyu, while Shen Rong's efforts, even if painstakingly exhausting, made no difference.
On this day, Shen Rong led a group into the high-tech zone, visiting more than ten Immortal Technique labs, showcasing several groundbreaking, concept-level Immortal Techniques.
According to Shen Rong's promotional speech, these were all great inventions that, once perfected and launched, would change the entire Xiangzhou Cultivation Realm landscape.
"I believe this is truly an exceptional opportunity not to be missed. Currently, it only requires a small amount of investment to obtain special authorization for these concept-level Immortal Techniques, thus gaining a strategic advantage in a time of great change. It will also foster a solid bridge of friendship between the Shen and Li families."
Of course, along with the carrot, Shen Rong didn't shy away from wielding the stick.
"On the other hand, I believe the family authorized the display of these core technologies to show the importance of friendship between our two families. Such opportunities are truly rare. Personally, I think the two families should take this chance to renew old ties and not let grudges from decades ago continue, don't you agree?"
Usually, after reaching this point, people can't bow out and will at least make a symbolic investment—and once such investment begins, there are ways to encourage further contributions!
At that moment, Shen Rong saw hesitation on Shen Qingming's face.
However, just as Shen Qingming was about to respond, Wang Jiu stepped forward.
"Well said, it's commendable that such technology is being showcased, and Shen Family's sincerity is worth appreciating, so I'll speak frankly. Many of the core technologies the Shen Family displayed have fatal theoretical flaws and basically lack practical value. I suggest you scrap the projects to avoid further cost loss."
"..."
Shen Rong felt as though she was having her throat constricted, the sales pitch she prepared all night jammed in her throat, stuck going neither up nor down.
Before Shen Rong could speak, several lab heads angrily surrounded Wang Jiu, ready to argue.\\p>
But Wang Jiu remained calm, first pointing to someone: "Shen Hao, your Gang Wind Collection Platform's climate change model is only applicable on a micro level. Once you begin large-scale collection of the Nine Heavens Gang Wind, creating a local vacuum will rapidly induce a frenzy state, completely destroying the filter net. This process cannot be remedied by the filter net's self-adaptation. Unless you fundamentally remodel the Laws of Heaven and Earth and reorganize the Nine Heavens Gang Wind's operational cycle, large-scale Gang Wind collection will remain theoretical. For this, I suggest you release a low-pressure vacuum technique in the Nine Heavens Gang Wind Layer, then gather data for verification."
After these words, although no specific data were given, Shen Hao's face changed instantly, and ultimately, he turned speechlessly away.
"Shen Yudao, your Deep Space Fortress Battle Plan follows the same principle, not taking into account the Nine Heavens Gang Wind's strong exclusivity and frenzy. Establishing a large-scale battle fortress in the Gang Wind Layer will cause considerable local vacuums, inciting gang wind frenzy that current Xiangzhou technologies cannot handle."
"Shen Jingxiong, your Deep Ore Refinement Technique validation report has repeated data on page thirteen and the appendix on page fifteen. I suggest, when falsifying data to procure funding, you enhance detail review to improve success rate."
For a moment, Shen Rong could only watch as Wang Jiu, with a sovereign presence, directed the conversation and taught the high-tech zone's haughty tech elites, leaving them pale and retreating one by one.
During this, Shen Rong wanted to stop it but she didn't understand a single word of the tech exchanges and occasionally tried to intervene but was forcefully silenced by the Shen Family members.
"Alright, we're having an expert discussion. What are you a tour guide meddling for?"
Shen Rong, humiliated, couldn't help but retort, "Discussion? It's entirely one-sided humiliation, okay!?"
"Hmph, this kind of academic humiliation, so many people can't even beg for it. Today, an expert can put aside their personal biases and use insightful critiques to humiliate us. Even if I were to bang my head and die here, I'd be willing!"
Hearing the conversation reach this point, Shen Rong could only retreat in defeat.
In the end, Wang Jiu watched with great satisfaction as the group of laboratory heads staggered away. In Shen Rong's eyes, he was like a lion king who had just mated with the lionesses, exuding a carefreeness beyond words.
Then, Wang Jiu turned around and sincerely thanked them: "I really must thank you all. I never imagined the academic prowess of the Shen Family's high-tech zone could be so low. It gave someone like me, who was never interested in cutting-edge theories, a chance to flaunt my knowledge. Additionally, I was able to prove my intelligence to some mildly delusional folks. Thanks a million!"
Shen Rong stared at Wang Jiu for quite a while, but from those clear eyes, there wasn't a hint of mockery or irony. However, this heartfelt gratitude made Shen Rong feel even worse.
Then, Wang Jiu switched tones again: "Alright, through my efforts just now, I successfully helped the Shen Family avoid more than ten million Spirit Stones in cost losses. Let these ten million Spirit Stones serve as the Li Family's sincerity in resolving the feud between our two families. I wonder if the Shen Family can accept this."
Shen Rong almost jumped up: "What ten million Spirit Stones?!"
Wang Jiu replied: "Didn't you just say that those cutting-edge technologies centered on the Nine Heavens Gang Wind are the research focus for the Shen Family for the next fifty years, and they would invest all efforts? According to their experimental costs, they would need to spend at least ten million Spirit Stones over the next fifty years to push the theory into a dead end, even if they manage to stop losses in time, it would mean fifty years and over ten million Spirit Stones wasted. But now, I've avoided these losses."
"..." Shen Rong felt her Qi blood surging, and for a moment, she almost saw stars.
Damn research focus! The reason I put those projects out for you to invest in was because we knew they were going nowhere! How could the Shen Family open the doors for projects they truly value to the Li Family?!
But at this moment, Shen Rong couldn't say any of this. Seeing Wang Jiu's increasingly sincere smile, like the early spring sunshine, Shen Rong wished she could melt into a puddle of muddy snow, evaporate under the sun, and never face anyone again!
——
By lunchtime, Shen Rong was already a bit despondent, not even knowing how to report the morning's work to the Deputy City Lord.
Picking at the tasteless work meal in her plate, Shen Rong was pondering whether she should resign in disgrace and leave the Lingshan working district.
However, at this moment, Shen Fang came over with a joyful face.
"Sister, sister, I got another order worth two hundred thousand! Li Xinyu really is a golden client!"
Shen Rong almost spat out a mouthful of soup.
"Another two hundred thousand?! Little brother, you… are truly impressive." Pausing for a moment, Shen Rong suppressed the strange emotion that abruptly surged in her heart, spread a smile, and asked, "How did you do it?"
Shen Fang still had that clueless look, scratching his head, and said: "I overheard the Li Family saying something about using merchandise around idols for lottery draws. For example, a thousand tael item might not sell well, but if you turn it into a draw for 10 taels each with a 1% chance of winning, people will flock to it immediately."
"..."
"Then I thought, when I was pitching the character packs to Li Xinyu yesterday, there were a few key high-profile character packs he wanted but found expensive. These are major historical figures from Xiangzhou, with high replication costs, and if there are copyright issues, the licensing fees would skyrocket, making the additional cost per character possibly over ten thousand Spirit Stones. So, Li Xinyu hesitated for a long time and didn't buy many. But today, I followed the Li Family's idea and made those character packs available in a draw format for him, with a 1% grand prize rate. For 2500 Spirit Stones, you could draw 10 times, and each set of 10 draws had a guaranteed prize, at least featuring a Female Monarch-level character from Teng Country. And then…"
Shen Rong was a bit incredulous: "Then he drew twenty thousand Spirit Stones worth?"
"Yes, the Li Family has such deep pockets, it's truly impressive."
"So… how many character packs did he get?"
"He drew one Cyan Yang True Master."
Shen Rong was stunned for a moment: "But isn't that a man?! Although indeed more attractive than many women, it's still a man!"
Shen Fang paused and said: "In the Battle Array Map, there are male and female versions."
"… Who came up with this!?"
Shen Fang said: "It's said to be an idea from the high-tech zone people, but the industrial park folks didn't object, so they made it according to the design."
Shen Rong was almost grinding her teeth in fury at these shady dealings. Then, thinking it over, she asked: "What did Li Xinyu say?"
"He… seemed quite happy about it."
