Chapter 41

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***【Family Business】***

【Fishing Brigade】

【Changning Fish Stall】

【Fenggu Farm】

【Xingsheng Farm】

【Xinmao Silkworm Farm】

There are five items, and behind each is (Click to View Details). Naturally, Wang Shouzhe clicked on the Fishing Brigade.

The page "jumped" to the Fishing Brigade details page.

***【Fishing Brigade】***

Small fishing boats: 9

Medium fishing boats: 1

Boat workers and fishermen: 46

Family responsible person: Wang Dinghai

Average annual income over the past five years: 606 gold

Average annual expenditure over the past five years: 385 gold

Average annual net profit over the past five years: 221 gold

Average annual catch of spirit fish over the past five years: 400 pounds

...

Improvement direction: Develop mixed fishing operations with various fishing tools

...

This year's goals:

Net profit goal: 1000 gold

Spirit fish goal: 1000 pounds

This is the simplified panel for the Fishing Brigade, recording the financial data before Wang Shouzhe took office, along with improvement directions and this year's profit goals.

According to Wang Shouzhe's estimation, this goal is easily achievable. After all, it is currently the peak season, and due to the insect disaster causing a food shortage, fish meat, as a partial substitute for staple food, will inevitably rise in price.

For the Fishing Brigade and the fish stall, Wang Shouzhe's total profit goal is 2000 gold.

However, the only problem is that increasing the catch volume of the Fishing Brigade could gradually disrupt the ecological balance, although it won't be a major issue for a few years.

But this is not a long-term solution.

For a Xuanwu family, a long-term and stable source of income is the true pillar of the family. Short-term windfalls can only serve as a supplement to the family's business.

For example, the Fenggu Farm is a true century-old business, capable of providing resources to a Xuanwu family for hundreds of years.

This is very important.

The Xuanwu world is not short of windfalls. Getting lucky and finding a treasure, encountering the legacy of a senior, or witnessing two high-level fierce beasts fighting to the death, etc., these miracles can make you rich overnight.

But what happens after you get rich? No matter how many resources you have, they will eventually run out. Only a solid foundation can last forever.

Take Wang Shouzhe himself, for example. At eighteen years old, he is at the high stage of the sixth level of the Qi Condensation realm. He currently spends nearly 200 gold on resources each year. According to the family's estimate, he will reach the peak of the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm in about twenty years, at which point he will be thirty-eight years old, in his prime.

Even if the 200 gold in resources remains constant, it will take 4000 gold over twenty years.

Of course, it is impossible for it to remain constant. When he reaches the seventh and eighth levels of the Qi Condensation realm, his annual resource consumption will increase rapidly. To reach the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm from his current level, he will need at least 8000 gold in resources.

Where do these resources come from? They are squeezed out bit by bit from the annual output of the family's various businesses. Those businesses that can produce a steady stream of benefits over the long term are the true foundation of the family.

Similarly, due to the current situation of the Wang family, they do not have the resources to cultivate a second Wang Shouzhe. Otherwise, even with slightly inferior talent, as long as the resources are invested, a young expert could still be created.

In fact, if the resources invested in Wang Shouzhe were doubled or even tripled, he would not need twenty years to reach the peak of the Qi Condensation realm. It might take only fifteen years, or even ten or less.

This is also why it is difficult for wandering cultivators to achieve much. Wandering cultivators have no roots or traces. They might get lucky and obtain a batch of resources, but if they are unlucky, they might even go hungry.

A wandering cultivator who reaches the Lingtai realm is either blessed with extraordinary talent and luck, or has extreme luck.

Therefore, although the more than 10,000 gold in resources that Wang Shouzhe has seems like a lot, it is only a few years' total expenditure for the family in its current tight financial situation. Without proper planning, it would be like a fire that burns brightly but quickly runs out of fuel.

Wang Shouzhe looked at the "simplified system panel" he had created, and his mind was racing. How to spend the money wisely was something he had been pondering for several days.

What does the family lack the most now? Of course, it lacks a Lingtai realm expert. Such an expert could replace Longyan Old Ancestor and serve as a long-term protector for the family. Longyan Old Ancestor's injuries have never fully healed, and her condition is getting worse.

But can the more than 10,000 gold in resources support the cultivation of a Lingtai realm expert? Clearly, it is far from enough. If the Lingtai realm experts were so cheap, the Wang family would have easily solved the problem with their overall financial strength.

Even more so, the Lingtai realm elders of all Xuanwu families would be abundant. Therefore, this option can be ruled out and need not be considered.

Using all the money to expand the family's businesses...

Wang Shouzhe had also carefully considered this. But how much of the family's businesses can be expanded with more than 10,000 gold? Pillar businesses are known for their large scale, long development cycles, and low input-output ratios.

For example, the Fenggu Farm of the Wang family, how much effort and capital have been invested by previous generations? But how much profit does it generate annually? In a good year, a net profit of 700 to 800 gold is already quite good.

In the long term, increasing investment in pillar businesses is a necessity. However, it cannot solve immediate problems. Therefore, this idea is temporarily put on hold for further consideration.

Or, using the money to purchase a large amount of cultivation resources for himself and other promising family members?

Wang Shouzhe had naturally considered this as well.

However, there is a diminishing marginal effect. Even if he takes [Small Nourishing Essence Pills] every day for several years, can he reach the Lingtai realm?

Clearly, no... Not to mention the Lingtai realm, even the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm is not guaranteed.

Even if he could ruthlessly consume resources to reach the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm in a few short years, what would that solve? Could it address the fundamental survival issues of the family?

Even he, with the best talent in the family, cannot achieve this, let alone other family members.

Grandfather Wang Xiaohan once failed to reach the Lingtai realm. Although his condition has declined with age, he is still at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm, though not as peak as before. If he were given ample resources and confidence, there would be a chance for him to return to the peak of the Qi Condensation realm and attempt the Lingtai realm again. This is the fastest way Wang Shouzhe can think of to add a Lingtai realm elder to the family.

However, the resources required for this are far from enough. Moreover, it would take more than a short time to adjust Grandfather Wang Xiaohan's mental and physical state to a level where he can attempt the Lingtai realm.

Wang Shouzhe thought about it, and if the money could be used to treat Longyan Old Ancestor's injuries and extend her life, it would be the most urgent solution.

However, it is clear that it is impossible to completely cure Longyan Old Ancestor with this amount of money. If 10,000 gold could cure her, the family would have done so long ago.

Therefore, even if she could be cured, the cost would be far greater than supporting one or even multiple Lingtai realm experts.

Perhaps a large investment would only alleviate her injuries and extend her life a bit.

Let's put this on the backup list for now, Wang Shouzhe thought with a frown.

He really envied those transmigrators with real golden finger systems, who can solve any problem with their golden fingers, and just need to laugh and play all day, killing anyone who stands in their way, and can indulge in their whims.

Unlike him, who has to think carefully about how to spend even a small amount of money. To advance from the high stage of the sixth level to the seventh level of the Qi Condensation realm, it takes months of cultivation and refinement, even with abundant resources, which is much faster than others.

But on second thought, he felt that this world is quite realistic. The path of a strong person has always required steady progress.

While he was lost in thought, Lady Gong Sun Hui sent her attendant, Xia He, to say that Longyan Old Ancestor wanted to see him.

Longyan Old Ancestor wants to see him?

Wang Shouzhe was taken aback and immediately perked up. The Old Ancestor has been in seclusion for several years and rarely sees family members. She did not even appear at Wang Dingyue's funeral, indicating that her health is not good.

Even the most favored Wang Shouzhe of the seventh generation has not seen the Old Ancestor for over a year. Lady Gong Sun Hui usually takes care of the Old Ancestor.

"Thank you, Miss Xia He." Wang Shouzhe was quite polite to Xia He.

Xia He hurriedly bowed. "Sir, if you have no urgent matters, please come with me to see the Old Ancestor."

She has been with Lady Gong Sun Hui since she was nine and is now nineteen. Although she has no cultivation talent, she is very intelligent and literate, and proficient in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.

Many of Lady Gong Sun Hui's accounts are calculated and organized by her.

Subsequently,

Wang Shouzhe followed Xia He to the side courtyard where Longyan Old Ancestor lived, which is close to Pearl Wei Lake. In a short while, Wang Shouzhe arrived at the side courtyard called [Longyan Residence].

To prevent disturbing Longyan Old Ancestor's cultivation, this area is a family禁区, and no one can enter without her summons.

Lady Gong Sun Hui was already waiting at the entrance of Longyan Residence. When they met, she said in a clear voice, "Old Ancestor, Shouzhe has arrived."

"Shouzhe, come in."

A calm and steady voice sounded at the entrance.

"Yes, Old Ancestor." Wang Shouzhe took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and pushed the door to enter Longyan Residence.

It was an ancient and simple courtyard, decorated without any luxury. In the courtyard, some ordinary flowers and plants were planted, swaying gently in the breeze.

In the pavilion, a slender woman stood by the railing, looking at the garden. She had her back to Wang Shouzhe, with her long white hair casually draped over her shoulders.

Seeing the white hair, Wang Shouzhe's heart ached. It was a deep memory from his previous life. When he was young, he clearly remembered that Longyan Old Ancestor's hair was only half white.

In just a few years, it had turned completely white.

Wang Shouzhe felt a lump in his throat, walked forward, and bowed. "Shouzhe pays respects to the Old Ancestor."

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