After Guo Zifeng's iron smelting furnace was rebuilt, the efficiency of iron smelting indeed increased significantly.
He also called Jiang Bo to help, and together they made a bunch of ironware for daily use.
Sickles, axes, shovels, knives, etc.
Although their skills weren't particularly refined, they were definitely improving. Hong Gui seemed to have fallen in love with blacksmithing, and it's said that he now leads the blacksmithing work on the island, as he has a great talent for it.
Hong Gui and Guo Zifeng are researching how to forge ironware that can be called swords, while Bai Jing has returned to the camp to help make pottery.
Not only pottery, but they are also actively searching for porcelain clay in the hope of firing porcelain.
Although pottery is simple and convenient, and there are no problems using it, people would certainly be happier if they could use porcelain.
However, porcelain clay is different from pottery clay. Pottery clay is available everywhere, but only those that are fired well need to be carefully selected. Porcelain clay, also known as kaolin, has much higher requirements. The most famous production area in China is Jingdezhen.
Bai Jing wanted to take advantage of the recent holiday to go to Jingdezhen to learn and seek advice. Guo Zifeng was very supportive. If he hadn't been so busy with work recently, he would have definitely accompanied her personally.
After several attempts to book, Xu Meng finally secured a free two-night stay at the Microworld Inn and bought a plane ticket to the inn. Tang Jiaqi then discussed it with her and offered to reimburse her round-trip airfare in exchange for the right to share a room with her.
Microworld Inn is almost always fully booked, especially for free days and free rooms.
To prevent their phones from being constantly ringing off the hook, they set up a group where people could participate in daily flash sales. Only those who joined the group were eligible to participate.
This group was extremely active, exceeding a thousand members on the day it was created. Every day, a group of people chatted in it. At first, Chen Yang would check it out, but later he stopped paying much attention.
In addition to the group chat for the Microworld Inn, Chen Yang also created a group for the Microworld citizens. In real life, everyone often needs to discuss various matters of the Microworld, and they can chat freely in the citizen group.
The popularity of the Micro Realm Inn actually surprised Chen Yang a bit. The reason he has always been confident in running the Micro Realm Inn is that he has seen the huge potential of the Micro Realm.
But now, many of the residents have no connection whatsoever with the residents of the Micro Realm.
In this era, places as unconventional as Microworld Inn seem to be very popular.
Within Hangzhou's social circles, Weijie Inn is already quite famous. It has extremely high room rates, a rule prohibiting consecutive stays of two nights within a ten-day period, and reservations are only available by phone and group chat. It also offers free rooms and free days.
These seemingly strange regulations have surprisingly attracted a large number of people willing to pay to experience them.
Of course, there are also many guests who are unwilling to follow the rules, like the one they encountered today.
A male guest insisted on staying for a third night, and no amount of explanation from Li Su'er and Jiang Yining could change his mind.
However, when Chen Yang and Ye Wu arrived, they already knew why: this guest was actually an acquaintance of theirs.
"Chen Yang, you really are here."
"Su Li, it's been a long time," Chen Yang said casually.
After seeing Chen Yang, the man stopped insisting on staying for a third night, as if his only goal was to get Chen Yang to come out.
"I heard you run an inn. I couldn't believe it at first, but it's true. I came all this way to see you."
Chen Yang sat down, gesturing for Li Su'er to make him a cup of tea, then looked at Su Li and said, "What, you lost to me for four years in college, are you trying to get attention now?"
Chen Yang's blunt words made Su Li's face stiffen, and then he sneered, "Your performance in the debate competition during your senior year was not as good as mine."
"Su Li, don't you have any self-awareness? How dare you bring this up? Don't you know why Chen Yang underperformed back then?" Ye Wu said.
Su Li wasn't annoyed and continued, "I actually came here this time to discuss cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Chen Yang was somewhat surprised. Su Li would actually cooperate with him?
Su Li nodded proudly and said, "My uncle's company is interested in your inn and wants to acquire it for 8 million. You'll make a killing. Plus, you can continue running your inn and we'll pay you 20,000 a month. That's more than what a general manager gets. I've brought the contract with me. Sign it. I'll be leaving after you've signed it."
Su Li spoke so naturally, as if he had given Chen Yang a tremendous favor that Chen Yang would not refuse.
In fact, that's exactly what he thought.
For such a small inn, including rent, 4 million is the maximum. Even if it is still profitable, 8 million is just giving away money. Moreover, Chen Yang is paid a salary of 20,000. With only five rooms, how much profit can an inn make each month even if it is fully booked?
Chen Yang is terrible at business; he hasn't even expanded the inn yet, and he even stipulates that guests cannot stay for two consecutive days within a ten-day period.
Given the current business of the inn, if they expand by four or five rooms, eliminate staff rooms, raise prices slightly, and do some online marketing, they can quickly start to recoup their costs.
In addition, there are various marketing tasks such as tea and tourism products that need to be done well, and goals need to be set for employees.
In fact, it was he who persuaded his uncle to acquire Chen Yang's inn. He originally intended to acquire it for 5 million, but after his uncle investigated the inn's business, he felt that 5 million was not enough and wanted to increase it to 8 million.
Once the inn is acquired, Chen Yang will be considered his employee. What good is a prestigious university degree if he still has to work for him?
Su Li placed the contract and his Parker pen on the table, looked at Chen Yang who was somewhat dazed, and said, "Don't be surprised. 8 million is indeed beyond the value of your inn, but my uncle can still afford it."
"No, you've misunderstood..." Chen Yang said, "I was wondering where you got the courage?"
"What?" Su Li was a little confused.
Chen Yang shook his head, "No wonder I didn't achieve anything despite having so many resources during my four years of university."
"What do you mean!" Su Li said, somewhat annoyed.
Chen Yang stood up and said, "I'll give you a free lesson."
"First of all, when discussing business, the most important thing is to clarify the other party's needs. Our inn currently has a stable customer base and a lot of room for appreciation. Although eight million does exceed the inn's current value, it's not worth it in the long run. Besides, you and I have known each other for quite some time, so you should know that I don't have a strong desire for money."
"Secondly, since you've come to discuss cooperation with me, you should have anticipated my reaction. I really don't understand, you know I hate and despise you, where did you get the courage to acquire my inn? Besides, this isn't a very worthwhile deal to begin with. Even if you threw 15 million at me, do you really think I'd be tempted? I'd like to ask you, don't you have any self-awareness?"
As Chen Yang spoke, Su Li's expression grew increasingly grim. By the time Chen Yang finished speaking, Su Li's face was deathly pale.
"Chen Yang, don't be so arrogant. You're just an innkeeper, aren't you? You still have to serve others. I'm the general manager of a company now, with more than two hundred people under me."
“Your company is really pathetic.” Chen Yang shook his head and said, “You haven’t achieved anything since you took over in the past few years. I remember you said in college that your uncle only has one daughter, so he wanted to hand over the company to you. Now you should be starting to hesitate, right?”
Su Li's face turned from pale to liver-colored, because Chen Yang was absolutely right.
He suddenly grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it at Chen Yang.
Both women were somewhat flustered, but Ye Wu knew Chen Yang's abilities, so he wasn't nervous at all.
Unexpectedly, Chen Yang did not dodge, but simply blocked it with his arm.
"With the surveillance cameras on, I can now claim that I am acting in self-defense."
Chen Yang looked up and smiled, which gave Su Li a chilling feeling.
(End of this chapter)
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