Becoming a God from a Water Monkey

Chapter 1221 Obligatory Martial Arts Training, Four Trials for Everyone (Seeking Monthly Tickets, Two Chapters Combined)

"How much did you say?" Xu Zishuai's eyes widened.

The light of dusk slanted in, cutting out a brilliant halo.

“Five hundred and sixty-nine thousand forty-six taels and three mace.” Hedgehog repeated, handing over the ledger. “Many customers spend lavishly, giving the full amount of silver, which can be converted into standard silver weighing fifty-two taels and four mace at the money shop.”

These wealthy customers who gave Bao Yin received either fifty-two tickets or only fifty, but most gave two silver ingots at a time to buy a total of one hundred tickets. Regardless of the method, they would have a surplus income. The martial arts disciples kept a close watch on them, preventing the ticket sellers from taking advantage of any loopholes to cut corners.

Furthermore, even if someone buys only a few tickets, they'll still pay an extra half-dollar in their rush to secure them, resulting in an additional thousand taels in the account. The hype continues, and it's estimated that by this time tomorrow, all one million tickets should be sold out.

One million votes, one million taels!
"Wow, thirteen hours, a little over a day, and it can sell for a million?" Xu Zishuai was dumbfounded. "There are so many people here, at least tens of thousands of people must be buying."

Hedgehog added: "The tens of thousands are just ticket buyers, accounting for 20-30% of the tourists. The actual number of visitors today should be around 650,000."

Hearing this, Xu Shi and Long Eying, who had come to help, also came over, clicking their tongues in amazement.

That's making way too much money.

"No wonder you said you wanted to build so many toilets. With hundreds of thousands of people, the fertilizer produced each day could fertilize thousands of acres of land," Xu Zishuai exclaimed.

"We're only at the beginning," Liang Qu said, closing the ledger. He was even somewhat dissatisfied with the data. "The River God Festival is held once a year. In my plan, at least a million people should come, each spending ten taels of silver, and the revenue should reach tens of millions to meet my expectations."

Ultimately, the preparation time was too short. The little mirage dragon hadn't found the mirage clan until June, a full day's worth of news, and the crucial information hadn't fully disseminated.

Xu Zishuai rested his chin on his hand in deep thought: "Even a Martial Saint can get a fever?"

"What fever?"

"Why would you talk nonsense if you don't have a fever?"

Liang Qu rolled his eyes, leaned against the railing, looked down at the crowds jostling on the bluestone path below, pointed diagonally downwards, and asked a completely unrelated question.

"Senior brother, do you know how many theaters there are in Southern Zhili?"

"Are you asking about the central capital of Southern Zhili, or all the prefectures and counties within Southern Zhili?"

"The central southern capital."

"do not know."

“Then…Southern Zhili.”

"do not know either."

Liang Qu raised an eyebrow: "Then what did you ask, Senior Brother?"

"Ask me. You must know the answer in your heart if you ask me. I'll explain it to you clearly."

Liang Qu took a deep breath: "I started making arrangements for this year's River God Festival last year when Yixing was divided into fiefdoms. I sent people to do a survey early on. In just one Nan Dadu, there are 472 theaters, opera houses, amusement parks, and other entertainment venues."

Thirty-six of these businesses are struggling, with almost no customers except for their neighbors, and are on the verge of bankruptcy, seeking owners to transfer ownership.

There are more than 230 businesses that are operating at a moderate pace, just enough to make ends meet, provide food for their people and horses, and earn a small profit. They have one event a day, with around a hundred customers.

"The rest of the show is daily, with performances every day, one during the day and one at night. Each show has a capacity of two to three thousand seats, and the attendance rate is usually around 50%. When famous actors perform, it's packed. Do you know what kind of scale this is, senior brother?"

The hedgehog plucked the abacus from its back and laid it horizontally.

Xu Zishuai was helpless. After a moment's calculation, he was startled.

"Does nearly half a million people watch plays and listen to storytelling every day?"

"That's right! Besides, people don't go to see plays every day, and there aren't new plays every day. Going to see a play every seven or eight days is considered diligent. Similarly, the potential number of people who would watch plays is at least that many times higher than the frequency. Seven or eight days, seven or eight times, that's three or four million."

This is just one of the southern capitals. The entire Southern Zhili region is mostly prosperous, and the number of theatergoers could triple!
Similarly, the Huai River flows through eleven provinces, encompassing eleven provinces. Although it is not as extensive as Southern Zhili, it is certainly no less.

If theaters are like this, what about teahouses? Pleasure boats? Brothels? And wealthy landlords in the countryside? The number of 'customers' is several times, even dozens of times, more—hundreds of millions, even hundreds of millions of people in a single province, and there's never a shortage of wealthy individuals. That's the kind of people I've attracted!
Those who came to Pingyang today, having seen and played, will they be able to go back and eat only coarse food?

"Just you wait, within ten years, at least half of the theaters in Nanjing will go out of business! Nobody will go to see them, nobody will listen! All their money will flow into my pocket from now on!"

The evening breeze blows, and the vast lake ripples.

His words were bold and resounding.

The Qinhuai River, Qujiang Pool, Pingkangfang, West Lake... In the past, there were only tens of millions of people who relied on the local officials and nobles. They did not lack such prosperous places and places that never sleep, as described in poems.

Although Yixing County is not a political or economic center, the [Vortex Escape Path] acts like a tentacle or a bridge, penetrating into these centers and solving the most crucial link!
Today, Yixing can completely leverage its more sophisticated entertainment and richer landscapes to replace and complement the Qinhuai River, Qujiang Pool, Pingkangfang, and West Lake...

No matter how beautiful the opera is, can it be as entertaining as shadow puppetry? No matter how exquisite the game of pitch-pot or archery is, can it be as fun as entering a dream?
It's simply a matter of merging these places into one place, or relocating them to one place.

Liang Qu has thoroughly investigated the feasibility of every step that has become a reality up to today!
"Won't closing half of it offend people?" Xu Zishuai worried for Liang Qu. "Those who can open a theater must have some connections. With so many, who can guarantee that there might be some royal relatives behind them?"

"Therefore, I will distribute profits to each Martial Saint, grant corresponding authorization to the imperial court, bestow favors upon His Majesty, and give the breeding of the Mirage Clan to the Turtle King and the Hedgehog!"

"Clatter, crash, crash."

The hedgehog flattens the abacus and moves the beads.

"Today, we purchased 570,000 Dream Tickets. 20% of that, 114,000, will be distributed among the Martial Saints and Demon Kings; another 30% will be used for the Turtle King's breeding; and the remaining 20% ​​will be used to purchase cockscomb fruits from the imperial court to cultivate the Mirage Clan."

The remaining 30%, or 170,000 taels, was kept in the accounts, but the costs of holding the River God Festival also needed to be covered.

Today, the martial arts school has 3,000 disciples. There is no wage payment, only three meals a day, the standard is 230 wen per day. Beef and mutton are unlimited, 700 taels per day. If they go to other ports, accommodation will be arranged separately, 20 wen per day... 240 people are responsible for cleaning toilets, cleaning streets, crystal boats, subsidies for Pingyang Prefecture officials, construction...

The abacus beads clicked and clattered.

"After deducting the imperial taxes, I actually received more than 34,600 taels."

The original 570,000 has shrunk to 34,000.

From the sky to the ground.

Liang Qu always disliked trouble; before reaping any benefits, he would first consider how to share them.

To counter the old forces, we must first win over and unite a group of new forces!

If any trouble arises, others will step in to resolve it. The most united among them is the royal family, which receives 70% of local tax revenue, plus various dividends. The Holy Emperor is essentially the major shareholder.

All Liang Qu needs to do is earn a little less.

Rather than saying he's making money, it's more accurate to say he's a professional manager whose capital comes from these thirteen ports.

"I not only didn't make a big profit from this River God Festival, I'm even prepared to hold it at a loss!"

"Losing money." Xu Zishuai didn't quite understand. "Where are you losing money? We've made over 30,000 now, haven't we? And once the costs are factored in, we won't lose much on the remaining 30% of the 400,000 or so, right?"

Liang Qu waved his hand and pointed to the next room. The servant beside him bowed and immediately opened the door.

"Is this the medium, large, or extra-large size you mentioned?"

"Yes, take one and have a look."

The mountain of large white fish, known as "Benboerba," rolled down and landed silently.

A very exquisite rag doll.

The servants picked up a pile and distributed it to everyone.

Ms. Xu picked one up, squeezed it, and was surprised to find that it was filled with cotton.

"A cotton doll?"

“That’s right.” Liang Qu grabbed one and flicked his fish tail. “This rag doll is based on Ah Fei’s design and creation. It has a more approachable image.” First the toad, then the turtle king, then the dragon, and now the white dragon king.

With his masterful political maneuvering, Afei was undoubtedly the most skilled "diplomat" among Liang Qu's water beasts.

The fat catfish proudly puffed out its chest.

Up!
骨！
Liang Qu patted its head: "Senior brother, do you know why I fabricated a non-existent 'Benboerba'?"

Xu Zishuai shook his head: "You're thinking too far ahead, I can't guess."

Liang Qu squeezed the doll tightly, saying, "I'm not talking about the large or extra-large sizes. I'm going to sell this medium-sized one for three hundred coins each."

"Three hundred coins? Are you crazy?" Xu Zishuai was shocked. "You filled it with white cotton, didn't you? It's so tight and solid. You could take it apart and make half a garment. The cotton alone would be worth about that much. You'll have to pay for the extra fabric, dyeing, and labor yourself?"

"It's not that expensive. I use long-staple cotton from Northwest China. It's soft, elastic, and tough. They grow a lot there. I buy it in the summer and transport it by waterway in time. The cost is 30% lower than the normal purchase price."

The price difference is enough to cover the cost of the fabric. As for the labor cost, I will definitely cover that. Including the sales, I will lose about thirty coins for each item sold.

"No, what are you after? Are you worried that people won't have enough winter clothes, so you're being kind?"

"It's for the sake of a keepsake." Liang Qu laughed. "I want to come to Yixing and make sure everyone who sees this cotton doll buys one to take home. It has to be cheap enough so that enough people can buy it. Even ordinary people will buy one just because of the cotton inside!"

After returning home, I took out the cotton and refilled it with whatever straw or reeds would do. I had achieved my goal: to make "Benboerba" a symbol of Yixing's memory and to bring it into their homes!
The items are displayed on the antique shelf, held in a child's hands; seeing them will make them smile, and the smile will remind them of the place, leading them to visit. This serves as a constant reminder that Yixing is a fun place, letting guests visiting the home know that Yixing is a place worth visiting.

Xu Zishuai felt a chill run down his spine.

His junior brother was a genius, an unparalleled genius. He had known this fact for a long time, but today he realized that he had underestimated Liang Qu.

The mirage enters the dream, thirteen major competitions, spanning thirteen ports, diverting water layer by layer, maximizing the "water storage".

"Memory symbols" that represent cost price or even labor costs paid in lieu of payment.

Send money to the imperial court in advance using appropriate methods.

One link leads to another, one step leads to another.

I can't understand it, and I can't learn it.

"Junior brother, how much silver do you think is enough?" Xu Zishuai exclaimed. "If you keep spending like this in the first year, won't your fortune be rolling in from here on out?"

“It’s far from enough.” Liang Qu shook his head. “Senior brother, mother, I actually have a bigger idea that requires a greater investment. If it can be successful, it will truly be a world-changing event.”

"Change the world? You're talking big! Come on, come on, what's your idea for making a fortune? Bring your senior brother along!"

Liang Qu didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Brother, how long do you think a normal person can live without cultivating themselves? No, the question should be, at what age will they be unable to work or farm?"

"Around sixty years old? People of that age don't have to pay taxes, and they can't afford to. It'll only drive them to their deaths." Xu Zishuai looked at Madam Xu.

"In her fifties, I suppose," Xu thought. "In her fifties, her teeth start to fall out, she can't eat much, and gradually she won't be able to do any work."

"Yes, it's the teeth. But what about the skin, flesh, bones, and blood? What if you refine them to the third level, the bone level?"

Xu Zishuai pondered: "A strong body naturally leads to a long life. Before reaching the peak of enlightenment, the difference in lifespan is not significant, perhaps even more than ninety. After refining the bone barrier, a person's teeth will not easily fall out."

"Absolutely! Once you reach the Bone Gate in your cultivation, you can gain an extra thirty years of 'work experience.' Now, let's compare the cost of reaching the third level of cultivation, considering only those with average innate talent."

“Three hundred taels is the minimum cost, and you can focus on cultivation for five years or more, but you can’t calculate it that way.” Xu Zishuai shook his head. “A farmer, if he has a good harvest and does some odd jobs, might earn fifteen or sixteen taels a year, or forty coins a day. But a large part of that has to go for basic living expenses, food, drink and sanitation, so he can’t save any more, not to mention those who have a bad harvest.”

"A farmer earns fifteen or sixteen yuan a year, but can't a martial artist at the third level double that? Besides, the thirty years at the third level are not the thirty years of a farmer, but rather the seventy years of the third level!"

"Seventy years?"

"It's unrealistic to expect them to save up three hundred taels to learn martial arts. Even if they manage to save it, they'll miss out on the crucial time for training as young people. But what if someone is willing to 'lend' it to them?"

"Who?"

"The imperial court, bestowing titles of kings, and me! I'll 'lend' them!" Liang Qu paced back and forth. "I've been thinking, could we provide each good young man from a respectable family with 'three hundred taels' of silver in advance when he's fourteen or fifteen, so he can cultivate to the third level, study in conjunction with his education, and then 'pay back' the following seventy years..."

"Would they lend it? Would they dare to lend it? Three hundred taels of silver, who would take on such a huge debt?"

“They don’t need to pay them back. As long as they are from respectable families, they can go to school. I will cover their expenses.”

"No need to pay it back? Then how do I pay it back?" Xu Zishuai felt like he was being tricked.

"This is not the same as that. It's a bit complicated to explain. In short, as a king, as long as they are working and doing their jobs, they will create corresponding value. This value will continue to circulate within my territory, and that's enough."

"To keep wealth among the people?" Xu asked.

"It can be understood this way."

Xu roughly understood Liang Qu's meaning.

It's not a simple loan and repayment relationship, but rather providing free martial arts training. Consider it an investment; if most people succeed, the value generated by the three martial arts masters will be much greater, and it will eventually be recovered from taxes over the next seventy years of their lives.

If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out, and no one will come to collect the debt. The cost of this failure can be offset by the value created by the successful people.

An unprecedented act of benevolent governance.

"But what about medicinal herbs? Won't the price of ordinary herbs rise with the increase in the number of cultivators?"

“Senior brother, broaden your horizons. There are countless ways to increase the yield of rice leeches and rice frogs. These mundane medicines are useless to experts. Moreover, the world has never been just a place where only humans cultivate. Humans are not just about taking. All things have many mutually beneficial coexistences. In many cases, the cultivation of subordinate races is crucial.”

“You mean…” Xu Zishuai’s mind conjured up the image of the “Emerald Dragon” beside Liang Qu.

"If we spread it out each year, those who need to receive funding can only create an extra four ounces of value. If we exclude those who die unexpectedly or those who are not talented... we can estimate the cost to be three ounces more. As long as they create seven ounces more value each year after they reach the third stage of their twenties than a farmer, they will not lose money. If they exceed seven ounces, they will make a profit!"

"Senior brother, mother, E'ying, what do you think...? Can this work?"

Dusk fell.

Liang Qu's face was almost invisible, with only a halo around it visible.

Goosebumps spread rapidly, a chill ran through his lower abdomen, and Xu Zishuai trembled. He involuntarily took a half-step back, his pupils dilated, and his breathing became heavier.

Everyone faces three challenges.

Twenty years, forty years, sixty years later, will there be no more mortals in the world?
All three levels are the foundation; with such a solid base, progressing to the Galloping Horse, Beacon Fire, and Hunting Tiger levels will inevitably lead to further increases...

Mr. Xu was deep in thought.

A strange light flashed in Long Eying's eyes.

The fat catfish pinched the rag doll, lifting it up and letting it float in the air.

"Hahaha." Liang Qu stepped out of the twilight and smiled. "Senior brother, what's with that expression? It was just a sudden thought, a casual remark. If a million people wanted to build it, it would require an investment of three hundred million taels. How long would it take me to earn that much?"
"If we actually do it, there will be too many problems. At least we should wait until the rice leeches and rice frogs are spread all over the world, the number of low-level creatures gradually increases, and we have a better grasp of the situation before the competition starts. I'll go down and make the arrangements, or you, senior brother, will provide the commentary."

Liang Qu turned and went downstairs.

Xu Zishuai took a deep breath.

Xu Shi.

Night had fallen.

Fireworks lit up the sky.

Liang Qu embraced E Ying and received a spiritual link message.

"The Insect Valley Festival is set for July 21st this year? Okay, I understand. I'll help her plant the second supernatural seed tonight after I finish my work."

(End of this chapter)