Journey to the West: Starting from the Imperial Horse Stable

When Bai Jian asked this question, his gaze calmly fell on Wang Chen's face, with scrutiny and a complex emotion of being troubled by the problem for a long time but not daring to have too much hope.

Zhang Jinghe was also listening intently. He had spent years working his way up in Xuanzhu Village and considered himself quite knowledgeable and resourceful, but he was truly helpless when faced with the "Dewdrop Ephemeral" covering the mountains and fields.

They tried every possible avenue and method, but in the end, all they got were disappointed and caught red-handed by the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs.

He had pondered this countless times these past few days, but he simply couldn't fathom what divine plan Wang Chen could possibly have to turn this universally acknowledged "useless object" into a spirit stone.

This curiosity and lingering disbelief had been driving him crazy, and now the time had finally come to reveal the answer.

Wang Chen met their gazes with a relaxed expression, not immediately offering an answer. He first picked up the teapot and refilled Bai Jian's half-empty teacup with hot tea, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Lord Bai," Wang Chen put down the teapot, his voice steady, "I have been pondering the crux of the problem with this Dewdrop Flower these past few days. In my humble opinion, the reason this flower is not selling is not only because of its limited efficacy, but more importantly, because the way it is being sold is incorrect."

"Oh? The way you're selling it is wrong?" Bai Jian's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Yes." Wang Chen nodded. "The current approach is to treat this flower as a raw material or a low-grade spiritual plant, selling it individually by weight or tael. This method has three drawbacks."

He held up three fingers: "First, this flower is so abundant in the Heavenly Court that it's practically everywhere. Scarcity drives up value, while abundance drives down prices. Second, the effect of a single plant is weak, offering little appeal to immortals. While there is some demand from cultivators in the lower realms, it's scattered and difficult to achieve on a large scale, and the communication and transaction costs are extremely high. Third, and most importantly..."

Wang Chen paused, then looked at Zhang Jinghe: "Manager Zhang must know this all too well. Selling in this way is extremely easy to violate the rules of the Heavenly Court. Celestial officials have no right to deal in spiritual plants and flowers. Even if it's just a resale, it's easy to attract the attention of the Department of Ceremonial Affairs. If you're not careful, you'll be guilty of overstepping your bounds. Manager Zhang's situation last time serves as a warning."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinghe's face immediately showed a mixture of lingering fear and deep agreement, and he nodded repeatedly: "Wang Xianli is absolutely right, that's exactly what I got into trouble with! Those heavenly rules and regulations are so annoying!"

Bai Jian didn't speak, but his eyes showed agreement. This was indeed a real dilemma.

"So," Wang Chen changed the subject, leaning forward slightly, his tone carrying a hint of guidance, "what we're selling isn't just the Dewdrop Ephemeral flower itself. What we're selling is a story, a sentiment."

Both Bai Jian and Zhang Jinghe looked somewhat puzzled. "Explanation? Intention?"

"We can prune and care for them, select three to five of the best-looking plants, match them with leaves of the same color, and tie them with specially made iridescent ribbons to make an exquisite bouquet."

"It is named... 'For example, morning dew gathers affection.' It is said that this flower receives the essence of the morning sun and the brilliance of the celestial dew. Its elegant appearance and graceful demeanor best reflect the beauty and purity of the female immortal. It does not value spiritual power, but rather a sentiment and a touch of tranquility, which subtly conveys the beauty of the fleeting nature of morning dew and the enduring nature of affection."

Seeing their focused expressions, Wang Chen continued, "We will no longer sell them individually. We will present this bouquet as a complete and elegant gift. We can design different styles, such as the 'Dawn Dew' bouquet, which is small and exquisite, symbolizing love at first sight. The 'Double Flowers Reflecting the Moon' bouquet, with two main flowers complementing each other, symbolizes a perfect match. The 'Stars Surrounding the Moon' bouquet, with many stars surrounding the moon, makes it even more precious. Each bouquet will be accompanied by a carefully written and elegant note that fits the occasion."

"The target audience," Wang Chen's tone shifted slightly, becoming more certain.

"It's mainly aimed at male immortals in the Heavenly Court who have feelings for or want to express their affections. Whether it's a low-ranking immortal official who wants to please a fairy maiden they admire, or a certain immortal official who wants to give a Daoist partner to add some fun, as for the Heavenly Court's rule against having romantic Daoist partners, these people will digest it on their own."

"As for the price, one hundred spirit stones per bundle is too little."

After Wang Chen finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took a sip, leaving time for Bai Jian and Zhang Jinghe to process his thoughts.

The private room was quiet for a moment, with only the faint sound of flowing water.

Zhang Jinghe's mouth was slightly agape, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock. His mind raced: three or five Echeveria elegans plants, along with some other herbs and a strip of weigela, would cost almost nothing.

According to Wang Chen, what kind of "bouquet" could sell for hundreds of spirit stones? This price is like a meteoric rise from the mud to the clouds. He was used to buying and selling materials and found it hard to understand how such a "fancy" thing could be worth that much.

"Wang Xianli," Zhang Jinghe's voice was somewhat dry, filled with deep doubt and incomprehension, "according to you, we can sell a few worthless flowers, tied together, for hundreds of spirit stones? Is that even possible? What rare and exotic flowers and herbs haven't the fairies of Heaven seen? Would they care about this? Would those male immortals really be willing to waste money on a bunch of inedible and useless flowers to give away?"

He found it hard to believe that by simply rearranging the price and giving it a "sentimental" label, the price could change drastically. This was completely different from the trading rules he was familiar with, which emphasized practical utility.

Wang Chen smiled, his tone calm yet confident: "Manager Zhang, the fairies have seen many rare and exotic flowers and plants, but those are either extremely valuable and rare, or too common. The beauty of our bouquet lies in its perfect balance. It's not expensive, so the recipient won't feel indebted."

"It's not tacky either; it's fresh, elegant, and thoughtfully chosen. For many male immortals who aren't actually lovers but simply have feelings for each other or want to maintain a good relationship, a reasonably priced gift with a beautiful meaning and a touch of romance is exactly what they need. Why not give it a try? The initial costs are minimal—just some materials and craftsmanship—it's much better than letting the flowers rot in your hands."

At this moment, Bai Jian, who had been silently pondering, slowly raised his head. His face did not show the obvious shock and doubt that Zhang Jinghe had shown, but rather a deep contemplation.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, his gaze lingering on Wang Chen's face for a long time.

"A bouquet of flowers given to a fairy, to express feelings through flowers..." Bai Jian slowly repeated these words, a complex light gradually appearing in his eyes, as if he had seen some neglected corner.

"This method... is quite unconventional, completely breaking away from the business of buying and selling spiritual plants and pills, and instead delving into the romance and customs among immortals."

He paused, looked at Wang Chen, and said with approval and a hint of admiration, "Wang Xianli, your mind is indeed clever and insightful. Others only see the uselessness of things, but you can see the usefulness in the useless and also imbue it with a sense of purpose. In just a few days, you managed to extract more than 200,000 spirit stones from the Golden Wound Medicine. I originally thought it might be a fluke. But now, after hearing your insight into conveying meaning through flowers, I realize that it is true skill, and you deserve to earn it."

Bai Jian's affirmation immediately silenced Zhang Jinghe's remaining doubts, and his face changed to an expression of skepticism but willingness to give it a try. If even the employer said it was feasible, then it was at least worth a try.

"You flatter me, sir," Wang Chen said modestly. "These are just some clever ideas. Whether they will succeed depends on your guidance and Manager Zhang's handling of the details. The key is to make this bouquet exquisite and spread its meaning."

Bai Jian waved his hand, his expression becoming more serious: "This idea is quite novel, though unprecedented. But upon closer examination, many celestial officials in the Heavenly Court do indeed have this need for interactions that are free from self-interest and based solely on shared interests. I think it's worth a try. Jing He, you will later discuss in detail with Immortal Wang how to select materials, how to craft the items, and how to find the first group of customers willing to try it and who can create a trend. You can directly allocate all the necessary materials and manpower."

"Yes, Master!" Zhang Jinghe quickly replied, already pondering where to find skilled immortals to make flowers, and which celestial officials he knew well who might be struggling to find gifts to promote the service to.

Bai Jian seemed to be in a better mood. He looked at Wang Chen and said, "Wang Xianli, since you have such a clever mind and the ability to break through difficulties, if you encounter any problems in the Heavenly Court in the future, or need help mediating matters, you can come to me. As long as you do not violate the Heavenly Laws or commit any great evil, I may be able to speak on your behalf."

This was a clear acceptance and commitment. Wang Chen was overjoyed, knowing that the main objective of this meeting had been achieved. He immediately stood up and bowed solemnly: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Bai! I am deeply grateful!"

After the formalities were completed and he sat down, Wang Chen's face revealed a perfectly timed hint of hesitation and embarrassment.

Bai Jian, observing this, asked, "What's wrong? Is something happening now?"