Qian's Combination Punch
All eyes in the side hall were focused on Qian Jin, who had suddenly spoken.
A hint of surprise and anticipation flashed in the eyes of the God of Wealth of the North Road. Tu Shanlan also temporarily suppressed her insistence and wanted to hear what insightful opinions this new junior sister, who always managed to surprise people, had.
Ao Ming's eyes widened, and he subconsciously wanted to question him, but remembering his experience in the Burial Soul Valley and the ginseng root that Elder Shen had, he swallowed his words and just muttered, "You... what kind of trick are you up to now?"
Qian Jin took a small step forward, her face showing no sign of stage fright, but rather a confident composure. She first nodded slightly to the God of Wealth of the Northern Road and Tu Shanlan, then her gaze swept over the huge map of the Northern Territory, and she spoke crisply:
"The God of Wealth is concerned about the people's livelihood, and Sister Lan is concerned about the long term. Both of you have made sense. It is indeed difficult to choose between the two. So, why don't we try a different approach and combine these two matters into one?"
Her words successfully piqued everyone's interest.
"Oh? How can you do two things at once? Qian Jin, tell me in detail!" The God of Wealth from the North Road leaned forward and asked eagerly.
Qian Jin smiled slightly and held up three fingers: "My method is simple, just three moves, called 'short-term profit sharing, medium-term guarantees, and long-term customer retention'."
“First, we’ll offer short-term concessions.” She pointed to several major trade routes on the map. “For the first three months after the project restarts, all caravans traveling on the Northern Border trade routes will enjoy a ‘half-tax reduction’ specially approved by the God of Wealth’s Mansion. At the same time, the Northern Route God of Wealth’s Mansion will fund ‘fodder subsidies’ for their pack animals, which is equivalent to reducing transportation costs. We’ll cut some of our own profits first, so that merchants can see real benefits and be willing to come back and test the waters.”
The God of Wealth of the North Road stroked his beard and pondered, "Hmm... a concession... would indeed reduce incense offerings in the short term, but if it can quickly revitalize trade routes, it's worth it. I can agree!"
Tu Shanlan nodded thoughtfully: "The act of making concessions does indeed demonstrate the sincerity of the God of Wealth's Mansion and helps to ease tensions."
“Simply offering discounts isn’t enough,” Qian Jin lowered the first finger and raised the second. “So the second strategy is mid-term protection. Aren’t those three bosses afraid of death? Then let’s make them unafraid. Please ask the God of Wealth to coordinate with the local immortal sects in the Northern Territory to send immortal officials and warriors to escort the caravan in shifts during the initial restart phase, specifically traversing those legendary, treacherous routes. We’ll show them the true meaning of ‘safety’! Low cost, excellent results.”
"Brilliant!" A celestial official from the Northern Road God of Wealth Temple couldn't help but clap his hands. "This plan will completely dispel the merchants' doubts!"
Ao Ming couldn't help but nod: "That's a good idea, I think it's feasible."
"Finally, and most importantly, we need to secure long-term customer loyalty." Qian Jin lowered his second finger, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on the God of Wealth on North Road. "We need to give merchants a reason to stay long-term. I propose that the God of Wealth's official office launch a 'Perfect Ten' blessing plan."
"It is hereby announced that during the one-year promotion period of the project, any honest and diligent merchant who makes ten or more trips to the Northern Border will be personally blessed by the God of Wealth for their business or family, ensuring their prosperity and safe journeys for the next three years. The number of those blessed will be recorded and announced to the Northern Border."
These words shocked everyone in the room!
The God of Wealth personally bestows blessings! This is an unparalleled honor that ordinary merchants dream of, and the reputational value and potential wealth it brings are far more attractive than a one-time monetary reward!
The God of Wealth of the North Road was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up with surprise!
This blessing was nothing more than a simple matter for him, requiring only a little bit of his willpower, but its appeal and long-term benefits were immense!
"Excellent! What a perfect plan! This is brilliant!" The God of Wealth of the North Road clapped his hands and laughed, his worried expression vanishing completely. "With this, why worry about merchants not returning? Why worry about the trade routes not thriving?! Hahaha!"
Tu Shanlan's brows relaxed completely, and her gaze towards Qian Jin was filled with admiration. This plan not only stabilized the situation in the short term with its affordability and security, but also bound the core customer with long-term blessings, perfectly balancing the needs of both her and the God of Wealth.
"But..." Ao Ming couldn't help but ask the most crucial question, "With tax cuts and subsidies, where will the money for the initial investment come from? We can't really expect the God of Wealth's Mansion to foot the bill themselves, can we?"
Qian Jin winked at him slyly, as if she had been waiting for this question.
“The seed fund, of course, will come from those three ‘meritorious’ bosses.” She smiled like a sly fox. “Didn’t they promise double the premium and full cooperation? Perfect, let them invest the ‘premium’ directly into the trade route restart fund, and use their reputation and connections to lobby and organize the first batch of caravans. Make amends for their past mistakes, and put their resources to good use.”
"As for 'Valley of Burial Souls'," Qian Jin added at the end, "I suggest renaming it 'Valley of Grace' or 'Valley of Spirit Ginseng,' officially named by the God of Wealth's Mansion, promoting its auspiciousness and good health to attract cultivators and medicine merchants. This would not only dispel its stigma but also add another attractive destination to the Northern Territory, increasing trade routes and customer traffic."
Perfect!
The entire solution is logically closed-loop, cost-controllable, and has promising results. It not only solves the immediate crisis but also plans for the long-term future.
The hall was quiet for a moment, then erupted into a heated discussion. The celestial officials nodded in agreement, and their gazes toward Qian Jin were now different.
The God of Wealth of the Northern Route stood up excitedly: "Good! As Qian Jin said! Immediately draft the detailed rules and announce them to the Northern Territory! Lan, you will take charge of this matter. Ao Ming and Qian Jin, you will provide full assistance!"
"Yes!" the three replied in unison.
Ao Ming looked at Qian Jin beside him, whose expression remained calm, as if he had only mentioned a trivial matter, and felt a complex mix of emotions. He hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't resist. Taking advantage of a lull in everyone's activity, he leaned closer and whispered:
"Hey...where...where did you learn all these ideas?"
Qian Jin took out a piece of candied fruit from her storage bag and handed it to him, her eyes crinkling with a naive and innocent smile.
"Do you even need to learn this? Once you've been poor, you'll naturally learn it."
…
The announcement from the Northern God of Wealth's Mansion was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up towering waves in the northern border.
The celestial officials of the Northern God of Wealth's Palace abandoned their usual languid pace and transformed into streaks of light, carrying jade slips stamped with the golden seal of the God of Wealth, flying to various human towns, tribal settlements, and large merchant guilds in the Northern Territory.
The document clearly lists "tax reduction and exemption", "freight subsidy", "celestial official escort" and the most eye-catching "perfect blessing plan".
At first, there was a deathly silence and unbelievable disbelief.
"The God of Wealth's Mansion... is giving us tax cuts? And even subsidizing fodder? Did spirit stones fall from the sky?" An old merchant with a weathered face held the notice, his hands trembling. He read it over three times, fearing it was some mischievous prank.
"The key point is the last one! Brother Ao, look!" A young shop assistant excitedly pointed to the last one, "Ten round trips, and the God of Wealth will personally bestow blessings! This is a great thing that will bring honor to our ancestors and bless three generations! From now on, our business signboard will be gilded!"
Doubt was quickly replaced by immense excitement. In the post station, in the tavern, and in the market, all the merchants were discussing it enthusiastically.
Soon, the first group of bold merchants eager to escape their predicament flocked to the registration point set up at the God of Wealth Palace on North Road. The queue was even longer than during the previous protests, but the atmosphere was completely different, filled with hope and anticipation.
…
At this moment, Master Wang, Manager Li, and Boss Zhao, their faces contorted with grief, pressed their fingerprints onto documents related to fund allocation. Watching the gold, silver, spirit stones, and jewels from their family vaults being carried out box after box to fill the "Northern Border Trade Route Reopening Fund," their hearts bled.
"My century-old coral tree..." "My chest of top-grade fire spirit stones..." "Stop wailing!" Boss Zhao's bald head was covered in cold sweat, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Losing money is better than getting into trouble! Don't you understand? It's better than being followed by the god of poverty! Besides..." He lowered his voice, "If we take the lead in setting up the trade route, there will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future! Let's get through this hurdle first!"
Thus, to the astonishment of the people of the North, the three wealthy merchants who had been wailing and acting like madmen not long ago were now wearing thick fur coats, standing in front of the camel-drawn beasts of their caravan, trying their best to force the most professional smiles of businessmen to the surrounding merchants and celestial officials, but those smiles were even uglier than cries.
"Fellow villagers! Fellow merchants! Before... before we were blinded by greed and misunderstood the God of Wealth's Palace and Lord Golden Dragon!" Master Wang, holding a tin megaphone, spoke in a hoarse voice, "The God of Wealth's Palace is benevolent! It has given us a chance to make amends! Look, the first batch of goods from my Wang Family Trading Company has been loaded onto the carts! We will personally lead the team to make the first successful trade route after its reopening! With celestial officials escorting us, safety is assured! What are you all waiting for?"
There was a lot of discussion in the audience; some were laughing, some were just watching the spectacle, but quite a few people were indeed tempted.
Shopkeeper Li quickly added, no longer feigning a cough, his voice unusually loud: "Yes, yes! This is a golden opportunity!"
Ao Ming, who was peeking from a corner of the corridor in the distance, couldn't help but chuckle when he saw the three of them forcing smiles and putting on a show. He turned to Qian Jin beside him and said, "Your trick is really... killing them psychologically. Look how uncomfortable they are."
Qian Jin was holding a small notebook, quickly calculating the amount of the first batch of subsidies and the expected increase in caravan traffic, without even looking up: "Hmm, the effect is good. Making the best use of resources and talents. We've both expended money and put in the effort; this is the best apology."
Ao Ming looked at her focused profile and the clattering sound of the abacus, remained silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been on his mind for a long time: "Hey... Qian Jin."
"Hmm?" Qian Jin continued writing.
"These ideas of yours... are not things that should be learned in a cultivation sect, are they? What on earth is going on in your head?"
Qian Jin finally raised her head, blinked her clear eyes, and seemed to find the question strange: "Cultivating immortality is about transcendence, not about becoming an idiot. To live, you must first know how to live well and understand life, right? Spirit stones don't fall from the sky, and people's hearts can't be subdued by intimidation. This is called learning through practice."
She spoke so matter-of-factly, as if it were the most basic truth in the world.
Ao Ming was stunned once again. He had grown up in the Dragon Palace and the God of Wealth's Mansion, where he was exposed to nothing but cultivation secrets and the rules of the Heavenly Dao. He had never heard such... worldly yet insightful remarks before. Yet, he was unable to refute them.
He looked at the girl in front of him. She was clearly so greedy for money, and sometimes even seemed a bit vulgar and violent, yet time and time again she used her peculiar ways to solve problems that even the God of Wealth of the North Road and Sister Lan found difficult.
An indescribable curiosity and sense of inquiry grew wildly in his heart.
"Alright, stop daydreaming," Qian Jin closed her notebook, patted his arm, and handed him a piece of candied snow lotus seed. "Get to work! We still need to check the duty roster of the escorting immortals. We can't afford any mistakes."
Ao Ming subconsciously took the lotus seed and popped it into his mouth. The sweet and refreshing taste cleared his muddled mind a bit. He watched her light steps as she walked towards the side hall and quickly followed.
Just then, chubby Qiangzi flew over from the side and landed precisely on Qian Jin's shoulder. His little paws adoringly tugged at her collar, his big golden eyes filled with stars.
"Little sister! You're awesome! I'll follow you from now on! I'll go wherever you point! You're my dear little sister!" It excitedly wagged its tail, then shuddered when Qian Jin subconsciously raised her hand to touch its scales. But this time it didn't dodge, it just shrank its neck, with a heroic expression that said, "I'd be willing to be touched a couple of times in order to follow my boss."
Qian Jin was amused by it and flicked its dragon horn with her finger: "Alright, then you'd better be obedient."
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
However, at that moment, a celestial official who had just returned from duty outside strode into the side hall with a worried expression. He went straight to the Northern God of Wealth, who was discussing the details of the escort with Tu Shanlan, and whispered:
"Lord God of Wealth, Fairy Lan. Your subordinate just escorted a small merchant caravan that had set out on a trial mission back home. When we passed through the Black Wind Gorge section of the road, I seemed to sense... extremely subtle fluctuations of demonic energy above the snow-capped mountains on both sides. These were not the kinds of spirits commonly seen in the Northern Territory. When I tried to investigate, the aura vanished without a trace, which was very strange. It seems... that something else is secretly observing the reopened trade route."
The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became noticeably more somber.
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