Chapter 49, Debat Between Uncle and Nephew and a Change in Attitude

Translator: Raznick

 

“All I hear is empty words!”

 

Within the Spirit Beast Pavilion Zhou Jiasheng faced Zhou Chun’s impassioned speech with a cold laugh.

 

His face filled with disdain as he looked down at Zhou Chun, his voice cutting like ice: “You speak of market rumors among the cultivators about our fixed prices—which is indeed true. But even without such talk, do you think they wouldn’t gossip about it?

 

“Quality speaks for itself. Our shop is unique in Red Cliff Market from its name to its main products, so there’s no need to worry about people not knowing us in the future!

 

“But you’re using fixed prices as a gimmick to attract customers—doesn’t that seem unnecessary?

 

“Doing something so pointless, apart from harming the shop’s interests and reducing revenue,I can’t see it doing us any favors.”

 

It was clear Zhou Jiasheng did have some business acumen. At least he understood how important it was for a shop to stand out to attract customers.

 

But his perspective remained confined within the bounds of traditional businesses, fixated merely on the minor fluctuations in pricing—utterly oblivious to the profound impact advertising could have in expanding market share.

 

In response to his challenge, Zhou Chun felt it was crucial to enlighten him.

 

He promptly stated, “Sixteenth Uncle, do not overlook this: while our Zhou Clan possesses these secret formulas, there are others that holds them. In fact, some formulas might even be unknown to us!”

 

Zhou Jiasheng understood exactly whom the statement was referring to.

 

He immediately showed a change in expression, but quickly regained his composure and said firmly, “Even so, what of it? They aren’t currently operating a stall in the market.

 

“At least not yet—only we have a shop here selling those items!”

 

“True, but Sixteenth Uncle, do you think that given their influence and strength, they will wait much longer now that both the Li Clan and our Zhou Clan have opened shops at the Red Cliff Market?”

 

Zhou Chun continued without looking at Jiasheng’s changing expression, speaking directly, “Therefore, precisely because of this potential competitor, we must ensure that cultivators in Mist Province know before they set up shop in the market: for spirit beast pills and repellents, choose our store, Spirit Beast Pavilion!

 

“Sixteenth Uncle, you said that quality speaks for itself, and you’re right. We want to build our reputation; we want everyone who utters the words Spirit Beast Pavilion to speak highly of us, believing that our goods are the most practical and authentic!”

 

At this point, he said firmly: “To achieve this, marked prices may not be the only option, but it is undoubtedly the fastest way to help us achieve our goals.

 

“In this regard, what is the point of sacrificing some minor income from haggling now over the long-term benefit?”

 

When it came to reason, the most logical person didn’t always talke the most.

 

But those who could make a long speech and make a point would definitely make the other party think deeply about what they said.

 

The premise was that the other party would reason with you and was a reasonable person.

 

Zhou Jiasheng was old, but not senile. So he also pondered the truth behind Zhou Chun’s words and tried to find the fallacy.

 

Seing no obvious flaw te rebuke didn’t mean he was about accept being talked back by a junior.

 

At the moment, he could only stiffen his neck and say, “Your so-called marked prices are just to attract people with a lower price. What if they also use lower prices to attract people after entering the market?”

 

Zhou Chun couldn’t help but shake his head when he heard this: “Using lower prices to attract people? Are they in the business of loosing money?”

 

After saying that, he looked at Zhou Jiasheng and asked: “Moreover, if they have always attracted customers with low prices, doesn’t that make our marked priced offerings seem even more reasonable？”

 

Finally, he looked at Zhou Jiasheng meaningfully and said: “We run a store, not a one-time sale at a street stall. The most important things for a shop are reputation and rumors.

 

“By selling at a set price now, if later people find that our price is higher than elsewhere, they cannot accuse us of deception or label us as dishonest merchants. On the contrary, it would be problematic otherwise!”

 

The deep meaning behind these final words was not lost on Zhou Jiasheng.

 

His face turned pale.

 

Zhou Chun’s words were almost a direct accusation of him being a crook!

 

But at that moment, he couldn’t bring up his usual ‘clan-first’ argument to counter Zhou Chun.

 

It was he who had first suggested that competitors would sell lower than the Spirit Beast Pavilion.

 

If the assumption held true, then the previously vague pricing and expensive sales in the past would inevitably damage the shop’s reputation in the eyes of customers, leading them to no longer visit this place for shopping in the future.

 

Upon seeing Zhou Jiasheng silent with nothing to say at that moment, Zhou Chun realized he had run out of words as well.

 

Zhou Chun immediately gave him an easy way out, speaking calmly, “Since I suggested setting marked prices, if this results in the shop not meeting its profit expectations, I will be accountable in front ot Clan Leader. Why not just wait and see how things turn out, Sixteenth Uncle?”

 

“Fine, we’ll just go and see if you’re words only work on paper.”

 

Zhou Jiasheng gave Zhou Chun a cold look, then turned and left the counter.

 

According to market rules, each store could have one or more permanent clerks depending on its size.

 

Zhou Clan’s Spirit Beast Pavilion had a total of three, including the shopkeeper.

 

The three individuals affiliated with the shop wre allowed to reside within the market, where they could freely cultivate in their personal quarters behind the store.

 

They were permitted unrestricted access to the market without being required to pay additional fees or undertake any tasks assigned by the market authorities.

 

As a result, Zhou Jiasheng and Zhou Chun took turns overseeing the store during their time.

 

However, since the shop was newly established, Zhou Jiasheng, in his role as the store’s manager, was overly concerned with its revenue. He chose not to cultivate for this month, opting instead to remain at the store daily. Zhou Chun was quite pleased with this arrangement and did not voice any objections.

 

And just as Zhou Chun had said, over the next half month, there was a steady stream of cultivators who heard about their shop coming to visit after entering the market.

 

Though most of them were merely curious, it only took one or two in every ten to make purchases for the shop’s revenue to become quite obvious。

 

Especially after half a month had passed, when cultivators who initially bought Zhou Chun’s specially made beast-repellent and insect-repellent medicine found their effects truly excellent, they all came back for more, which in turn encouraged many of those who had been browsing to make purchases as well.

 

As a result, the sales during the latter half of the period saw a significant surge.

 

After one month, Zhou Jiasheng and Zhou Chun reviewed their sales. The total monthly sales reached two thousand six hundred thirty-seven spirit coins, far exceeding the initial estimate of two thousand spirit coins set before opening.

 

This discovery left Zhou Jiasheng speechless regarding the practice of marked pricing.

 

He might have been stubborn, self-assured, and perhaps even a bit arrogant.

 

But he was no fool.

 

In the face of tangible gain, how could he still stick to the original practice?

 

He just couldn’t bring myself to apologize to Zhou Chun.

 

Of course Zhou Chun didn’t need him to apologize, as long as he accepted it.

 

Moreover, Zhou Jiasheng was indeed very capable. He had carefully selected and purchased various items in the past month without making any mistakes, which also allowed Zhou Chun to learn a lot.

 

“Excellent, excellent. It’s unexpected that business is so good just one month after opening. Moreover, even within the clan, I’ve heard those rogue cultivators mentioning the name. It’s truly popular!”

 

Within the Spirit Beast Pavilion, Zhou Daoquan, the Third Elder of the Zhou Clan, had arrived at the market to restock and replenish supplies after a month away from the clan. After reviewing the accounts and the spirit coins, his face displayed an expression of surprise, finding the results remarkable.

 

In response to Zhou Daoquan’s praise, Jiasheng remained calm as he stated, “Such excellent business performance is due to the outstanding effect of our clan’s secret medicines. We dare not claim any credit.”

 

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoquan couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “Heh, whether you deserve the credit or not is for the Clan Leader to judge; I have no authority over that.”

 

Zhou Daoquan shook his head and said, “In any case, all the goods Clan Leader asked me to bring are here. I’ve also taken the items you purchase. Keep up the good work.”

 

Then he left without saying anything else.

 

After Zhou Daoquan had departed, Jiasheng looked at Zhou Chun, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, and suddenly said, “From now on, if someone comes to sell, you take charge of appraising them first. Only report to me for a decision if you’re unsure.”

 

Zhou Chun, upon hearing this, immediately smiled and bowed in gratitude, saying, “I deeply appreciate your guidance, Sixteenth Uncle. I will work hard to learn from you.”