Chapter 188: Chapter 184 The Situation is Excellent
 

Due to the need for good reputation to ferment over time,

the Willpower Empowerment Talismans did not immediately create a sensation or a buying frenzy when they went on sale at Tongbao Pavilion.

It took over a week for the first batch of twenty Willpower Empowerment Talismans drawn by Yue Linger to sell out at Tongbao Pavilion.

However, as time went by, more and more people learned about the Willpower Empowerment Talismans, and business at Tongbao Pavilion gradually picked up.

Many Cultivators adopted a “since I’m here” mindset and purchased other necessary items at the Huayuan Road Store of Tongbao Pavilion.

Therefore, not only the sales of Talismans, but also the sales of other goods in the store improved.

Jiang Cheng’s current task was to develop a Reusable Type of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman.

According to feedback from some customers, many Elixirs released their effects over a much longer period than the duration of the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. This meant that they often needed two to three Talismans to completely absorb a single Elixir.

Thus, they urgently required Reusable Type Willpower Empowerment Talismans that could last longer.

That day, Jiang Cheng returned to his dormitory as usual.

But he found all three of his roommates engrossed in drawing Talismans.

Even Zhu Hongcai was writing furiously.

“Guangming, what are you all drawing? I don’t remember having this much homework,” Jiang Cheng asked.

Ding Guangming did not even lift his head as he replied, “Oh, Cheng, you don’t have to draw because you didn’t join the Talisman Drawing Society. This is homework from the Society.”

Jiang Cheng nodded, then sensed something was off.

He looked more closely at what they were drawing.

Good Lord!

Wasn’t Ding Guangming drawing his “Willpower Empowerment Talisman”?

“Guangming, this is homework?”

“Yes.”

“So, do you get paid by the Society for doing homework?”

Ding Guangming looked up, puzzled, and said, “Cheng, you’ve confused me. Why would anyone get paid for doing homework? We bought this Talisman Paper and ink with our own money.”

Jiang Cheng: …

So, not only do you not get paid, but you also have to put your own money into it, right?

The real pay-to-work job.

Both the capitalists and the production team’s donkeys would hang their heads in shame if they heard about this.

Is this what they call “being sold and still counting the money for the trafficker”?

Who, exactly, came up with the devious idea of assigning such homework?

However, the situation in the dormitory made Jiang Cheng realize another problem.

That was, Yue Linger’s capacity for drawing Talismans might already be nearing its limit.

There were many students in the Talisman Department at Lotus University, but not many were interested in part-time jobs. Most students who could afford to attend Lotus University were from wealthy or noble families.

Additionally, with classes and homework, even if many students were willing to draw, they didn’t have much time to earn money by drawing Talismans.

Given the varying levels of student skills and lack of work experience, the inevitable result was a substantial number of defective products. This increased the pressure on Yue Linger to review and check the Talismans.

It seemed he couldn’t rely on Yue Linger to handle the pressure of drawing Talismans like during the summer break.

Instead, he should learn from the advanced experiences of Miaodan Workshop and have professionals do professional work.

“Junsheng,” Jiang Cheng called softly.

Song Junsheng, fully focused on drawing a Talisman, did not hear Jiang Cheng’s words.

“Song Junsheng?” Jiang Cheng said again.

Song Junsheng did not respond, but Zhu Hongcai, who was sitting next to him, was the first to express dissatisfaction.

“Cheng, keep it down! You’re disturbing my Talisman drawing!” Zhu Hongcai yelled, startling the nearby Song Junsheng.

Jiang Cheng: …

Zhu Hongcai said very discontentedly, “I was just about to grasp how to draw this Talisman! It’s all your fault!”

Seeing the awkward atmosphere in the dormitory, Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng rushed to smooth things over.

Ding Guangming said, “Hong Cai, don’t be angry. Cheng didn’t do it on purpose.”

Song Junsheng: “This is my fault, I was too focused just now.”

Jiang Cheng scratched his head and said, “Sorry, Hong Cai, indeed, it’s my fault.”

Seeing Jiang Cheng apologize, Zhu Hongcai didn’t take it to heart and said, “It’s nothing, I don’t blame you. I was a bit impulsive just now. I was actually close to understanding it, but then your voice came, and snap, my train of thought was gone.”

Jiang Cheng said with unusual sincerity, “It really is my fault.”

“It’s not your fault, really, it’s not your fault.”

“It really is my fault.”

“It’s really not your fault! Jiang Cheng, don’t be like this, you’re making me feel embarrassed.”

Jiang Cheng waved his hand and said, “I’m not joking, it really is my fault, mainly because I made it too complicated. If I were just a bit more skilled, this talisman could have been optimized further. That way, even Zhu Hongcai would have almost been able to understand it.”

Zhu Hongcai: ?

Song Junsheng: ?

Ding Guangming: ?

Zhu Hongcai said incredulously, “Wait, this empowerment talisman, you drew it?”

Jiang Cheng: “Yes. My recent new work, I haven’t had the chance to tell everyone. I didn’t expect it to already become homework.”

After hearing this, Zhu Hongcai immediately ran his hands through his hair, sculpting a slicked-back hairstyle. Then he carelessly opened a drawer, took out a lollipop, and pretended to smoke on the balcony.

If sadness had a shape, it would be Zhu Hongcai at this moment.

Ding Guangming had been siding with Jiang Cheng just now, but couldn’t help feeling sympathy for his “Hong Cai Bro.”

“Cheng, next time, can you, like, not show off in front of Hong Cai Bro? I’m worried Hong Cai Bro might not be able to handle it.”

Jiang Cheng thought carefully about what he had just said and replied, “I wasn’t showing off. Everything I said was the truth.”

Ding Guangming took a deep breath and said, “Cheng, do you know? You just showed off again.”

Jiang Cheng: ???

In the end, it was Song Junsheng who stepped up.

“Jiang Cheng, did you call me for something just now?”

“Right, I’m looking to contact a talisman shop to help with drawing talismans.”

“My family’s?” Song Junsheng pointed to himself.

“Is that okay?”

“It’s okay, but the price definitely can’t be the lowest. Our shop has always been focused on reputation and quality.”

Jiang Cheng laughed and said, “So am I.”

Ocean Talisman Studio, Fuyang Road Store.

Song Junsheng brought Jiang Cheng into the store, and many people greeted Song Junsheng, obviously recognizing him as the young master of the Song family.

“Uncle Three? Is Uncle Three here?”

“My dad’s not here, but you can talk to me if you need anything.”

A male cultivator with thick eyebrows and a buzz cut walked out from the back room.

Song Junsheng said in surprise, “Cousin? Aren’t you supposed to be in class today?”

Song Junhu, a second-tier Talisman Master, and a junior at Capital University.

“Came home to prepare some materials for the graduation project,” Song Junhu said succinctly.

Song Junsheng turned aside to reveal Jiang Cheng standing behind him.

“Cousin, this is my roommate, Jiang Cheng, who is currently, um, not yet certified as a Talisman Master. But he’s really good at drawing talismans. Today we’re planning to discuss some outsourced talisman business with our shop.”

“Hello, I’m Jiang Cheng,” Jiang Cheng said politely, extending his hand.

Song Junhu shook it perfunctorily and said, “We don’t do business with university students, you guys can leave. Also, Junsheng, are you at Lotus University just to play? Don’t get distracted by trivial matters and miss out on your second-tier Talisman Master Certificate this year.”

Song Junsheng, of course, understood the subtext in his cousin’s words.

It was advising him not to waste time playing with Jiang Cheng.

Just as Song Junsheng was about to explain on behalf of Jiang Cheng, he heard Jiang Cheng take the initiative to squat on the ground and say to Song Junhu, “The talisman on the ground that you’re planning for your graduation project, it seems to have a fundamental flaw. You’d better not continue with it.”

Song Junhu looked sideways in a cantaloupe-stall manner: Are you picking a fight on purpose?