CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 263: THE LEGENDARY BUSINESS WAR

Leaving behind two papier-mâché figures to clean up the traces, Jiang Yuan had Chuci drive while he himself leaned back in the passenger seat, silently sorting through the current crisis due to feeling somewhat tired.

First, it is known that the lifespan is only two years and four months, but when the system notified it did not specify whether it’s real-world time or Wilderness time.

If it’s real-world time, it’s slightly better, considering the time flow in the Wilderness World is ridiculously fast;

But what if the system is calculating it based on Wilderness time?

Secondly, whenever I return to the real world, time in the Wilderness stops, or precisely speaking, nothing is disrupted over there. For the sake of security, it’s best to wait in the real world first to get Liu Qiang’s stockpile to extend my life.

Otherwise, entering the Wilderness World could waste all the limited time, and before a few days pass here, if I can’t procure the Immortal Peach or the obtained lifespan doesn’t connect, I’d be completely out of luck. This matter must be handled steadily; it cannot rely on gambling luck.

Additionally, even if I secure a few years of lifespan due to the threat to my life, it does not completely resolve the issue. I need to calculate carefully in the Wilderness World to ensure I can complete more tasks in the shortest time and strengthen myself!

On this side of the real world, I can’t continually enjoy leisure and comfort either; I need to actively pursue and hunt down characters like Liu Qiang, evil cultivators, purify their essence, and earn time for myself.

Once I made up my mind, while returning home to have a late-night snack, I clearly expressed to Chuci my intention to "go into action" and eliminate such scoundrels;

Chuci was equally pleased upon hearing this, as it meant he would have reliable resources to introduce whenever he encountered mysterious events in the future. It also allowed him to grasp the intricacies firsthand, and even like tonight, personally participate in them and experience a different lifestyle.

At night, lying on a comfortable bed to sleep, Jiang Yuan’s mood completely calmed down.

Discover, confront, resolve, and let go; since it’s already like this, being anxious and consuming oneself won’t change anything.

Moreover, although the system’s prompt brought unsettling news, on the brighter side, being clearly informed was better than suddenly burning out without any warning when the lifespan is exhausted.

Satiated, rested, and having ample energy to tackle problems—that’s exactly what I need to do.

Even with these thoughts, Jiang Yuan didn’t sleep soundly that night; in his dreams, he was either fighting monsters to extract essence to prolong life or being chased by Yin Messenger-like figures like Ma Hongtu, wanting to drag him into the Netherworld...

"Bro, can we talk about a job opportunity I want to introduce you to?" After breakfast, Chuci eagerly brought up the matter.

Initially, he casually mentioned it without giving it much thought,

But after going back and forth with the ghost sisters last night, the more he pondered, the more he felt it was possible to try out the Causality Weapon, a win-win if successful, without much loss if it fails.

Jiang Yuan hesitated but did not reject.

His main consideration was the worst-case scenario in which he couldn’t extend lifespan much despite his efforts, leaving his long-suffering parents to bury their child.

Earning more money to leave them sufficient retirement funds was basic; additionally, establishing a good relationship with Chuci, whose character makes entrusting the care of his parents to him a safe choice.

Yang Hongye had mentioned, in essence, all human interactions are a swap of benefits. As exchanges deepen, they naturally offer an additional layer of security in crucial moments.

Plus, staying idle means a tendency toward wild thoughts; having something to do makes one less prone to such distractions.

"My dad is involved in several industries, one of which is the founding family business named after my mom, our well-known Qingmei Daily Chemicals in Shannan Province."

Upon hearing this name, Jiang Yuan was taken aback, "Qingmei Daily Chemicals is your family’s business? Wasn’t there news recently about rumors that carcinogenic substances were added, and the chairman came forward to refute them?"

As a local brand, his mom had always loved using Qingmei Daily Chemicals’ cleaning products; they were affordable, and efficient, like a staple in store shelves from childhood memory. Upon hearing about the carcinogenic rumors, he even called his parents to advise them not to use it for the time being...

"Our product quality is absolutely guaranteed, and inspection reports have been released, but rumors spread effortlessly while refuting them relies on proof." Chuci sighed heavily, "The rumors were spread by our competitor Languzi Daily Chemicals! Bro, how much do you know about live-streamed shopping?"

Jiang Yuan responded honestly, "I occasionally watch it, but like Yang Jie, I watch more than I buy. However, the prices in live-streamed shopping are indeed cheaper, probably because... The influencer negotiates prices with brands using their traffic, brands lower prices to increase volume, consumers save some money, essentially a win-win-win, right? Like celebrity endorsements?"

"But the wool comes off the sheep’s back!" Chuci humorously shook his head, "Let me just recount our family’s situation, it’s not universally applicable; listen for entertainment.

A few years ago, when online live-stream shopping first became popular, my dad approached a famous influencer—Muzi Xiaoba, intending for him to promote our three-way win concept.

Turns out the influencer had towering demands, asking for a commission of ten bucks per bag, refusing any lower.

Have you seen our cleaning product refill packs? Adding all the costs, materials, labor, etc., it amounts to six bucks, we earn three bucks for distributors to make profit, they’re priced at ten bucks when stocked in supermarkets.

Originally my dad thought to waive profits for distributors and cut some from our own just to leverage the influential big name for volume, spreading the brand beyond Shannan Province. Unexpectedly, those influencers act like merciless blood-sucking middlemen!"

"But... live-stream prices are indeed cheaper than flagship stores." Jiang Yuan suddenly realized, manufacturer direct sales are indeed cheapest, but having a middleman like an influencer requires them to profit to fuel the enthusiastic calls to buy, buy, buy—where else would they get their share of profit? It couldn’t all be manufacturer concessions, right?

Chuci couldn’t resist rolling his eyes, exhaling in displeasure, "My dad denied it immediately upon hearing their demands.

To be honest, although he hasn’t received much formal education, he’s a self-made entrepreneur, not lacking funds but pursuing some spiritual goals. One of his ambitions is to build the family business into a century-old enterprise, which is the primary reason preventing me from meddling.

What sustains a centenary enterprise? Beyond quality, it requires winning people’s hearts, hence he dislikes scenarios involving deceitful price hikes followed by insincere discounts to mislead consumers.

But since we didn’t collaborate with that influencer, Languzi couldn’t resist temptation and took the plunge.

Originally Qingmei products were priced at ten bucks; Languzi aimed for competitive pricing at nine-fifty, then after hitching onto the influencer’s bandwagon, granted him thirty percent shares and revamped packaging, transforming into a national brand hailed as the pride of domestic goods.

From an original price of nine-fifty in flagship stores to eighty, hired click farms to boost sales and reviews, subsequently Muzi Xiaoba proclaimed in live-stream, ’I’ve driven the price down, originally eighty, today’s live-stream sixty-six!’"

Jiang Yuan was dumbfounded; this is how traffic monetization is played!

"In fact, how Languzi prices their products doesn’t concern Qingmei Daily Chemicals; cats have their feline paths, dogs have theirs, every profit-making endeavor relies on individual skills. Muzi Xiaoba’s ability to persuade ’family members’ into believing that thing’s worth eighty is its own skill. But earning profits and then turning around to stomp on our family... what’s that all about?"

Chuci grew increasingly indignant, "Hyped things, whether they’re stars or brands, largely rely on personas. Languzi’s soaring prices are increasingly hard to sell, so they elevate themselves as high-end brands or ascribe value, claiming to be the pride of domestic goods, stating not purchasing equates to not supporting national enterprises or domestic goods’ rise.

As they overinflate themselves, self-media picked it for comparison against Qingmei Daily Chemicals. The prominent influencer holding sway over online discourse didn’t relent; competitors and influencers didn’t stand down, leading to a clash wherein Languzi, attempting to evade negative publicity, weaponized rumors to accuse our family’s products of being carcinogenic!

Of course, this falls under business warfare, handled significantly by my parents, not the scene for me to step into.

Nonetheless, I feel stifled; how’s that justified? They contrive deception to earn money and garner reputation, cap it over our family, and divert public attention, leaving Qingmei Daily Chemicals to bear the brunt and clean up the mess?

Bro, don’t worry about any mental pressure; I’ll arrange for you to join, and you’ll job sincerely, drawing salary. If Languzi actually collapses, wonderful; if they don’t, you can quit whenever you choose, want to continue, I’ll position you as an executive, relaxedly earning tens of thousands annually."