"Jin’Er."
With a concerned look, Mr. Zhao quietly asked:
"Are you okay?"
"..." Zhao Jin’s body was tightly wrapped in a trench coat, her hair falling to cover her face. Upon hearing his words, she shivered, lowered her head, and spoke hoarsely:
"Dad, I’m fine."
Her voice was hoarse and harsh, completely different from usual.
"Hmm."
Mr. Zhao frowned and slowly nodded:
"Then you should rest early. If you feel uncomfortable, tell your Aunt Jiang."
"Hmm." Zhao Jin nodded, curling up as she walked towards her room, her silhouette bleak and forlorn, causing a pang in one’s heart.
Once the door upstairs closed, Mr. Zhao’s expression turned cold.
"Bang!"
He slamd the teacup down with anger in his eyes:
"Fang Zheng is too reckless, look at how scared Jin’Er has beco."
"Yes." Secretary Qian bitterly smiled:
"Boss Fang’s temperant is indeed hard to control, but I didn’t expect he’d really dare to be so harsh on Miss Zhao."
"Humph!" Mr. Zhao snorted coldly:
"He dared more than just that."
Zhao Jin, a delicate and weak girl, had been beaten to the point of a bloody head and terrified, still trembling from ti to ti.
Although he had thought of using Fang Zheng to discipline his daughter, this scene was beyond Mr. Zhao’s expectations.
"Then..."
Secretary Qian spoke softly:
"Should we say sothing to Boss Fang?"
"..." Mr. Zhao squinted and then slowly shook his head:
"Forget it."
"I see that Jin’Er is quite obedient today, not as rebellious as before, always arguing with . It’s good to teach her a lesson."
Secretary Qian understood and kept silent.
*
*
*
New Year’s Eve.
Square Porcelain.
Near Seven Miles and Celestial Plate Mountain, fireworks were banned years ago for fear of forest fires, and businessn had long returned ho by the New Year season.
Standing by the window looking out, the vast market was a cold and dead silence.
No fireworks,
No lights,
No shadows!
"It’s New Year..."
Fang Zheng’s voice was drawn out, and he looked back at the portrait of his uncle, Fang Jian:
"It’s too desolate here. Next year, I should find a lively place. I can’t stay here and watch over you, uncle, you won’t bla , will you?"
No response.
"Heh..."
Fang Zheng lowered his head and chuckled, feeling a sense of loneliness.
"Beep beep!"
A ssage chid on his phone. It was New Year’s greetings from Wan Dandan.
"Boss, Happy New Year!"
"To you too."
After so thought, he edited the ssage for group sending.
Soon, replies ca in.
Dapeng was attending a family gathering, sending over a photo of more than a dozen family mbers around the table celebrating the New Year lively.
Guo Erqiu had gone abroad with his parents, planning to settle there after obtaining a lawyer’s license next year; they had beco strangers over ti.
Guo Ziran was with a group of old friends celebrating.
Lu Qian had returned to her northeast ho, curled up on the couch watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Wen Lei was working overti...
"Working overti?"
Fang Zheng grinned:
"Indeed, seeing others in worse situations makes oneself feel better."
Wen Lei responded with an eye-roll.
*
*
*
Otherworld.
Green bricks and glazed tiles, earthen walls and paper windows.
Here, there’s none of the colorful, vibrant variety of the modern society, whether it’s the houses or the passersby’s clothing, they are mostly gray.
Even if there are other colors, they are not very distinct.
Only people,
Are as lively and vibrant as ever.
Sitting atop Jade Cauldron Tower, seeing the streams of people passing by below after ’months’ apart, Fang Zheng’s eyes flickered, giving rise to so reflections.
"Master."
Wu Hai’s face was filled with excitent:
"This month, we’ve sold nine sets of porcelain from Square Porcelain, totaling a revenue of seventeen taels. As per your words, we’ve established ourselves with high-end porcelain in Gu’an County."
Nine sets, seventeen taels.
The average price per set is nearly two taels.
Such consumption, only wealthy families would indulge in.
"Not bad."
Fang Zheng nodded:
"How’s the situation with the jade?"
"We’ve made contact with the Qi Family of Zhaonan Prefecture, and this month they’ll be sending jade worth a hundred taels of silver for us to try out," Wu Hai said:
"It’s primarily white jade, and if specialty items are needed, prices are negotiable."
"Hmm."
Fang Zheng squinted.
The porcelain trade was only his attempt in the Otherworld to have a position to interact with people; the jade business was his true objective.
Wu Hai was unaware of this.
In his view, acquiring jade was Fang Zheng’s personal hobby, a loss-making venture, and only the porcelain trade had good prospects.
"The pit-fire kiln has been modified according to your instructions, and two batches of porcelain have been produced with quality far surpassing the original products."
"Master."
Wu Hai asked for instructions:
"Although the pit-fired porcelain cannot compare to the ones you brought from outside, they aren’t bad either. Should we sell them in the shop as well?"
"No." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"Square Porcelain will only sell high-end porcelain. Buy another shop, specifically to sell pit-fired porcelain, and set the price at a mid-range level."
"When promoting, ntion it’s a branch of Square Porcelain."
"Also, Square Porcelain’s porcelain prices should increase by ten percent based on current pricing. Don’t fear there won’t be buyers; the more expensive we sell, the more they’ll buy."
"Yes."
Wu Hai complied.
He held great admiration for Fang Zheng.
High-end porcelain is unlike others; as long as Square Porcelain maintains quality, the wealthy will keep purchasing and not choose others.
That’s what Master calls affluent custor stickiness, psychological expectation, and value anchoring...
Though he doesn’t quite understand.
But Wu Hai could see, those who co to Square Porcelain are wealthy and noble, with repeat purchases, and never haggle over price.
Such people really exist!
They only care about quality, exclusivity, and don’t care about cost-effectiveness.
No wonder the Master aims to do business with wealthy clients.
"Any news from Pan She Martial Arts Hall?"
"None." Wu Hai shook his head:
"Should I follow up?"
"Forget it." Fang Zheng sighed lightly:
"Let’s check on Square Porcelain first."
"Yes."
Wu Hai complied.
The two walked out of Jade Cauldron Tower, unaware of the figure not far away.
Once they left, Qinggu, dressed as a Daoist, retracted his gaze with a cold face, and turned to the apprehensive Huang Su.
Performing curse techniques is no easy task.
Especially without knowing the target’s birth date and ti, failing twice at spellcasting has been significantly costly for Qinggu.
"Daoist."
Seeing his impending anger, Huang Su quickly swore an oath:
"I definitely took sothing from Mr. Fang’s room. If not, may Huang be damned with a thousand cuts!"
"Humph!"
Qinggu snorted:
"Just because it was from his room doesn’t an it’s his."
"At this point, saying anything else is too late; Shopkeeper Wang over there is pressing hard. Do you know what to do next?"
"..." Huang Su’s eyes showed worry:
"Daoist, though my body technique is decent, my strength is not up to par."
"That Fang man has a Qi Blood Martial Artist by his side and good connections with Pan She Martial Arts Hall. If it cos to a confrontation, I’m afraid I won’t be a match."
"It’s not that I’m timid,"
he said:
"I’m just afraid of ruining things for you and Shopkeeper Wang."
"Don’t worry," Qinggu pulled an item from his person:
"I borrowed sothing from my junior sister that might help."
Huang Su looked at the item in Qinggu’s hand, feeling a chill in his heart, as he saw a palm-sized black coffin.
Even with the sun blazing above,
the mont he saw that coffin, it was as though he was plunged into the icy cold of deep winter.
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