August 1, 2023, Shuangqing City.

Today was Army Day, and business at Cai Xinzi’s model shop was booming.

Especially military models. They were flying off the shelves every minute. Models of the Liaoning, the Chongqing, paratrooper figures… It was open season for selling today.

Cai Xinzi was delighted, her eyes sparkling as she grinned.

While counting money, the shop door opened. She was about to greet the customer when she saw it was her old friend, Li Daoxuan.

Cai Xinzi smiled and called out, “Daoxuan, what brings you here today? Here for the Hakka roundhouse? Hold on, it won’t be ready for another ten days or so.”

Li Daoxuan wore a mysterious smile. “I’m not here to pick up an order today. I’m here to supply you.”

Cai Xinzi eyed him sideways. “Trying to cheat me again?”

Li Daoxuan replied, “I’m here to help you make big money, and you accuse me of cheating? Tsk, what a waste of a friendship.” As he spoke, he slid his hand into his pants pocket, pulled out a tiny figure only about one centimeter tall, and placed it on the counter in front of Cai Xinzi.

The figure was so small that Cai Xinzi barely glanced at it. “A Supreme Treasure version of Sun Wukong model? Where’d you get such a tiny one? Plastic? This thing is worth five yuan at most.”

Li Daoxuan chuckled. “Solid wood.”

Cai Xinzi: “?”

The words “solid wood” piqued her interest.

Wooden figures were definitely more upscale than plastic ones. But being this small kind of defeated the purpose.

Li Daoxuan said, “Want to get a magnifying glass and take a closer look at this little wooden figure?”

Hearing him say that, Cai Xinzi knew something was unusual. She temporarily set aside her work, let the shop assistant handle the other customers, composed herself, took out a magnifying glass, and examined the little wooden figure closely.

She hadn’t looked properly before, but one close look made her jump in surprise.

Though only one centimeter tall, this little wooden figure was crafted with extreme precision. Every detail was meticulously carved. The tiny facial features were an absolute match for Supreme Treasure. Even the fine hair on its face was depicted. The armor Sun Wukong wore was detailed down to each individual plate, painted with incredible finesse.

This… this wasn’t a toy anymore. It was a handicraft!

Undoubtedly a Micro-sculpting craft piece.

Cai Xinzi inhaled sharply. “Where did you get this little wooden figure?”

Li Daoxuan: “Secret.”

Cai Xinzi: “It’s not stolen goods you’re trying to fence through me, is it? Shit!”

Li Daoxuan: “How many years have you known me? Am I the kind of guy to engage in illegal activities?”

Cai Xinzi thought carefully. “That’s true. Not only are you a hopelessly nice guy, you’re also someone who hates evil. You’d be the first to charge in if someone shouted ‘Stop thief!’ There’s no way you’d steal things to fence.”

“Glad you know me,” Li Daoxuan smiled. “I want to offload this thing, but I don’t have sales channels, so I thought of you, my old brother who sells models. Sell it here for me. You can take a cut.”

Cai Xinzi laughed and scolded him. “Take a cut, my ass! After all these years? I’ll just sell it for you.”

“No, you should take a cut,” Li Daoxuan’s tone turned serious. “This isn’t a one-off deal. It’s long-term. So you must get your percentage.”

“Long-term?” Cai Xinzi blinked, then immediately understood. “Ah, you found someone who can do Micro-sculpting to collaborate with? They carve, you sell, and you take your cut from the middle? Well, since that’s the case, I won’t be polite either. I’ll take ten percent.”

“Deal!” said Li Daoxuan. “I don’t know how much this thing is worth, and you’re probably a bit lost too. Test the waters with the price.”

“Okay, I’ll try. I’m just a model seller. I’ve never sold Micro-sculpting crafts before. If I end up selling it at a loss for you, don’t go blaming me.”

“Hey! Don’t be nervous, sell it boldly. Even if we lose money, I won’t blame you.”

Once their plan was settled, Li Daoxuan hailed a taxi home. While the car was still en route, he noticed a new update on Cai Xinzi’s WeChat Moments.

“New rare treasure just arrived! A one-centimeter-tall Supreme Treasure micro-sculpture. Its exquisite detail can only be appreciated under a magnifying glass. Only one available! First come, first served. Latecomers will regret it. Friends and family discount: ¥8888…”

This was followed by several photos taken with a high-end camera in “macro” mode. One photo deliberately showed the sculpture resting on a fingertip, highlighting its minuscule size against the finger.

Li Daoxuan chuckled, “She’s really putting effort into this.”

He reached out to give it a like…

Unexpectedly, as soon as his finger tapped the like button, a prompt popped up: “Operation failed.”

“Huh? Can’t give a like?”

Li Daoxuan refreshed the page. Cai Xinzi’s just-posted Moment had vanished. No wonder the like failed.

Shortly after, a message from Cai Xinzi arrived: “Wow, your micro-sculpture! I just posted it to Moments, and a regular customer snapped it up instantly!”

Li Daoxuan: “It really sold that fast?”

Cai Xinzi: “That guy definitely knows his stuff. Seeing my price was too low, he bought it outright without a word—transferred ¥8888 immediately to secure it. He’s on his way to pick it up now. Damn it, I should have priced it hundreds higher! I screwed up. Both of us just took a big loss.”

Li Daoxuan laughed: “It’s fine, it’s fine! ¥8888 is plenty of profit. I don’t feel cheated at all.”

Cai Xinzi: “You still have stock available, right? That guy is coming to pick it up soon. We can definitely negotiate further purchases. I need to discuss follow-up orders with him. This time, we must set the right price!”

“Current stock is gone. I’d need to carve another.”

“So… that means… custom orders are possible?”

“Of course! Any custom request.”

“Hehehehe,” Cai Xinzi messaged: “Just wait for my good news.”

Li Daoxuan said: “Don’t price it too rigidly. Leave some profit for others; that’s how we build long-term partnerships. I can take a smaller cut on my end.”

Cai Xinzi: “No need to teach me that. When it comes to business, I’m way more experienced than you. Just watch.”

【Cai Xinzi transferred ¥8000 to you】

Li Daoxuan tapped “Receive,” secretly delighted. Not bad, not bad at all—finally earning money! For over half a month, raising those tiny people only cost money; now he could finally earn something back from them. Indeed, talented individuals were the most important key. As the variety of talents inside the box increased, his own ability to devise new money-making ideas would grow stronger.

His mood became exceptionally cheerful!

Soon, the taxi reached the entrance of his residential compound. Li Daoxuan hopped out and ducked into the supermarket by the gate. He bought a pork tenderloin, humming a tune as he strolled back home.

Inside the box, dusk was falling. The little people were cooking, wisps of smoke curling upwards from their fires.

Li Daoxuan cut off a very small piece from the fresh tenderloin and gently placed it on the open ground in the center of the village.

The villagers gasped in astonishment: “Meat! What a huge piece of tenderloin!”

Li Daoxuan smiled and instructed: “Yiye, tell everyone: extra meat for dinner tonight! Twenty grams per person. The two sculptors eat last—all the leftover portions go entirely to them both, as a reward for carving the Fighting Buddha statue.”