Chapter 48

Chapter 47. Even if it goes wrong, don't blame. (2)

After a long period of hardship, peace finally came to Huashan.

Thanks to Qingming's efforts, the financial issues that had been the most troubling for Huashan were resolved, and they had acquired new martial arts to move forward.

Just as spring follows winter, Huashan was filled with the vitality of new sprouts, and the happy laughter of everyone should have been continuous... but it wasn't.

"Peace is freezing to death."

Qingming's face contorted in agony.

His hand tightened, and the broom he was holding bent as if it were about to break.

Peace?

This place is a living hell.

"Excuse me? The bill? This... This is... Just a moment. Zhaogel Shixiong! Zhaogel Shixiong! How much is this?"

"Hey! I told you to stock up on the goods!"

"Isn't everything dependent on the Dao? It's natural that we don't have the materials. What? A refund? Yes. Uh..."

The third-generation disciples of Huashan, dressed in white robes, were drenched in cold sweat as they dealt with the influx of customers.

'They're trying, they're trying.'

This place is Huayin.

It was good that they had found the ledgers and reclaimed all of Huayin's business operations. Having taken over more than ten well-run businesses, all that was left was to make money, right?

...That was the start of all the problems.

Even Qingming hadn't anticipated this, but these guys had no experience running a proper business for nearly a hundred years. So, these complete novices suddenly found themselves managing over ten businesses.

The result?

As you can see.

"No! We've been out of materials for ages, and they still haven't arrived!"

"What is Rear Hall doing?"

"What is that lunatic doing, holding onto the customer! Hey! Hey, damn it!"

Qingming smiled contentedly.

'They're having fun. They're really having fun.'

The Huashan disciples, who had only ever wielded swords, were now drenched in cold sweat as they dealt with customers in Huayin.

If the old sages of Huaxian saw this, they would have scolded them severely... no, they would have clutched their bellies and rolled on the ground in laughter.

Qingming included.

And of course, the customers' reactions were not good.

"No! What is this tea so bitter!"

"I asked for leaf tea, leaf tea! Do you not know what leaf tea is? This is leaf tea?"

"Where is the owner? Who just throws tea leaves into the teapot and serves it like this?"

I'm seeing hell while I'm still alive.

Qingming sighed contentedly as he watched the scene.

"Alas, what a disaster."

This place is still better off.

The third-generation disciples who were sent to other businesses are experiencing hell. No, the people who have to work with them are the ones suffering.

A guy selling silk who ends up tearing it.

A guy who brings a pickaxe when asked for a hoe.

At least a guy who eats the meat meant for the customers while cooking can be understood, though he should be beaten to death.

At least the third-generation disciples, who only deal with customers, can get away with rolling on the floor, but the first-generation disciples are on the verge of a mental breakdown.

People who have spent their lives cultivating the Dao are now so overwhelmed by the secular world that they are not just losing their composure but are ready to throw away the tools in their hands.

"Hey, you! What are you doing! Hurry up and sweep!"

"Ugh. Yes. I'll sweep! I'll sweep!"

Qingming's broom moved back and forth, sweeping the front of the teahouse.

'What's the point of sweeping this? All the customers are leaving in disgust.'

Qingming saw customers pushing open the door and leaving. Looking at their disgruntled faces, he felt like shouting,

'Beat those guys!'

Of course, as the youngest disciple of Huashan, he couldn't say such a thing.

After roughly sweeping the front, Qingming quietly moved to the back. He noticed Zhaogel, who was busy serving pastries.

"Shixiong."

No response.

"Shixiong."

Still no response.

"Hey. Hey, damn it. Hey!"

His ears were blocked.

"Zhaogel, you bastard!"

"Yes! Third-generation disciple Zhaogel... What, damn it?"

Zhaogel glared at Qingming, his eyes wide. No matter how un-disciple-like he was, he was still a disciple. A disciple who was cursing at him, and a shixiong who could tolerate it...

"Why?"

There it is.

Zhaogel glanced around subtly, then stepped out of the teahouse and approached Qingming.

"Shixiong."

"Why?"

"Let's talk about this personally. Shixiong, you're the youngest son of a famous merchant family, right? The youngest son of the Continental Battlefield, or something like that?"

"The Continental Battlefield can freeze to death. It's just a small merchant family."

"Still, you must have some insight into how things work. After all, the youngest son of a successful family is usually a spoiled brat, but secretly has great talent."

"...What are you talking about?"

Zhaogel sighed deeply.

Anyway, whenever he talks to this guy, he can't understand a word.

"So..."

Qingming subtly nodded towards the chaotic scene.

"Why did this situation happen?"

"Well..."

Zhaogel sighed.

"The people who were originally in charge here."

"Uh-huh."

"Apparently, they were quite popular. When they left, many of the staff quit as well."

"Huh? Popular?"

Popular scammers? What kind of corrupt officials are donating to beggars?

"Popular? What kind of nonsense is that, Shixiong?"

"More accurately, they were very thorough in their connections. Most of the staff were relatives or family members, so they all quit one after another."

Grr.

This is the downside of family management. This is why professional managers are needed... No, that's not the point.

"So, it's a staff problem?"

"That's the first issue."

"Huh? There's more?"

Zhaogel frowned subtly and looked around. Confirming that no one was listening, he lowered his voice.

"As you can see, the biggest problem is that the elders of Huashan lack the ability to run these businesses."

"Do they need such skills?"

"People who cultivate the Dao or practice martial arts tend to take making a living lightly, but it's not as easy as it sounds. If it were easy, everyone would be rich."

"True, but still."

Qingming sighed deeply.

"So, Huashan doesn't have the ability to handle these businesses?"

"To put it mildly, it's like putting a pearl necklace on a pig. I didn't expect it to be this bad..."

At that moment.

A loud voice came from inside.

"No! If we're short on Pu'er, why bring Oolong? What are you supposed to do with that!"

"That's the same thing, isn't it?"

"I said Pu'er! Shixiong! I'm already having a headache, and now you're changing the product!"

"Why are you shouting! Have I ever dealt with such expensive tea in my life? How would I know anything about it?"

"Who has ever tasted such expensive tea!"

Qingming shook his head.

'These people who cultivate the Dao.'

They're fighting over a change in tea leaves.

"Look at this."

Zhaogel clicked his tongue.

"Running a business isn't that simple. Every ingredient, every item, needs to be carefully selected. If you choose poor quality materials, you won't make a profit, and if you use cheap materials, customers will leave. If you can't manage it properly and hire merchants, they'll take advantage of you and you'll be left with nothing."

"...We're learning now?"

"Would you teach martial arts to a forty-year-old man?"

"No."

Zhaogel shook his head.

"To be honest, if things continue like this, we won't last six months. I don't know what the old Huashan was like, but the current Huashan lacks the ability to run these businesses. There's no solution."

"But can't we learn and improve?"

Zhaogel looked at Qingming with a hopeless expression.

"Qingming, look. Do you know what the common feature of the businesses we're in charge of is?"

"Um?"

"They all involve selling goods."

"..."

"Teahouses, taverns, silk shops, blacksmiths, and so on. They all involve sourcing materials and either making or selling them. Do you know what the key to these businesses is?"

"If I knew, I'd be rich."

"It's all about selecting and selling goods well. But what do you think will happen when a naive Taoist, who knows nothing about the world, comes with money to buy goods?"

"They'll be taken advantage of."

"It won't just be taken advantage of. They'll be stripped to the bone."

"..."

"This is doomed. It was bound to fail from the start."

Qingming turned his head and looked at the distant sky.

Then he smiled.

'Changwen Shixiong.'

I finally understand the greatness of Changwen Shixiong. When he was around, the businesses ran smoothly.

'Screw it. If I'm going to suffer, I might as well die!'

Qingming exhaled sharply.

"Then what's the solution?"

Zhaogel looked at Qingming with a blank expression.

"Why are you looking for a solution from me!"

"No! Shixiong, you're from a merchant family. There must be a solution, right?"

"You lunatic! If I could cure a deadly disease by picking herbs for the first time, would I be swinging a sword at Huashan? I'd have inherited the family business and made a fortune. Even my father couldn't save this."

"...Is the situation that bad?"

"There's no solution."

Zhaogel smiled bitterly.

"How bad do you think it is for me to even consider contacting my family? But it's too far, and my family doesn't have the resources. To run these businesses smoothly, we need a wealthy merchant with expertise in various goods. But Huashan doesn't have such a person."

There used to be.

Qingwen.

But he's not around now.

Zhaogel smiled bitterly.

"If Lord Huang were still in good health, we wouldn't have these worries."

"Lord Huang?"

"Yep. Lord Huang."

Qingming tilted his head.

"Come to think of it, I've heard about this Lord Huang before. What does he do?"

"He's a wealthy merchant."

"A wealthy merchant?"

Zhaogel nodded.

"One of the wealthy merchants based in Shanxi. He deals with goods from Qinghai, Yunnan, and the Western Regions."

"Does he have any connection with Huashan?"

"He has been supporting Huashan for a long time. It's a well-known story. Thanks to him, Huashan didn't completely fall."

"...What did he see in Huashan?"

"I don't know... but..."

Zhaogel shrugged.

"I heard he supported many places, not just Huashan. Anyway, if he were still around, there wouldn't be a problem. We could get advice and help from him."

"Then why don't we ask him for help?"

"It's not possible. Lord Huang has been bedridden for a year. There are rumors that he's unconscious."

"Uh."

"So..."

At that moment.

"Qingming! Qingming, are you here!"

Qingming raised his voice in response to the call.

"I'm here!"

A familiar face entered Qingming's field of vision.