Chapter 1737: Chapter 1739: A Sudden Inspiration
Feng Jun certainly didn’t expect that if he was willing to extort, he would gain a fresh young princess of the Huang Fu Family.
In fact, he felt that to precisely explain "modern industry" was not an easy task.
He had definitions, and if it didn’t work, he could go back to the Earth Realm and flip through a book to find the answer. But those were Earth Realm definitions, not explanations for this dimension.
Feng Jun wanted this plane to develop, but only hoped they would develop a basic industrial system. As for a modern industrial system — sorry, once you develop modern industry, where could I go to dump my industrial products?
You should know that one of his dual degrees was in business administration, and he was quite familiar with product value systems. In his view, the Kunhao Plane was exactly the dumping ground for Earth Realm’s industrial products — probably akin to a colonial nature.
What is the profit system of a colony? Obtaining raw materials at low prices, then dumping industrial products to make a profit.
Why can dumping industrial products still be profitable? After all, "dumping" typically implies a loss.
But in reality, the "dumping" involves industrial products, and in terms of costs, it’s far below that of non-industrial products.
How much does it cost to hand-weave a piece of cloth? How much does it cost to weave a piece of cloth in a factory?
Dumping might not be dumping; it’s merely the technological disparity that makes it appear as dumping.
Feng Jun wouldn’t be like those Western countries, focused only on dumping without cultivating local industry — we can’t treat people as fools; the method for producing basic industrial products, give it when it’s due, we can’t just keep taking.
Of course, the truth is, if the other side can create too little value, then what you get is also limited!
These matters stray far off topic, but anyway, as for modern industry... you should transition slowly first.
After thinking these things over, Feng Jun wiped his forehead and spoke earnestly, "This... don’t you think the production efficiency here in Kunhao is a bit low?"
"Of course it’s low," Huang Fu Wuxia answered without hesitation, and expressed indignation, "They’re idle most of the time, can’t they do something else? Even working with a bit of graphene would be good."
This graphene... how to say it? It’s high-tech in the Earth Realm, but in her view... even in the eyes of cultivators in the Kunhao Plane, it’s probably a very simple matter, right?
The reason Kunhao here doesn’t delve into these matters is purely due to the lack of graphite. Coupled with the fact that the living environment here is far superior to the Chaotic World, everyone can barely survive no matter what they do, so naturally no one bothers with graphene.
True, the commoners at the lower levels of Kunhao also live tough lives, but that depends on who you’re comparing them with. In the Chaotic World, grain production is severely insufficient, and most must be traded between planes to meet basic needs.
In other words, people here just have less material abundance; with a bit of effort, survival isn’t a problem. But in the Chaos Plane, to survive, you must work hard — and also rely on luck.
So people there work with graphene because they have no choice — no food means death, but Kunhao has more options.
Feng Jun raised an eyebrow as he listened, "Right, the matter of graphene... is there stock now?"
"We’ve already acquired it," Huang Fu Wuxia replied with a smile, "About more than five hundred tons, enough for you to use for a while, right?"
Feng Jun nodded, "That’s enough for now. By the way, you need to open up new sources, this one-time thing isn’t enough."
"With war, there’s no way around it," Huang Fu Wuxia said helplessly, spreading her hands, "They’re fighting life and death over there, in charge today and changing leaders tomorrow. Over ten factions are constantly fighting, with internal wars within the factions as well, it’s utter chaos..."
In her words, the Huang Fu Family was already considered cautious, having connections with multiple factions, though the Chaos Plane was quite envious of this stable channel for grain trade.
Recently, the supply was interrupted because someone in the Chaos Plane wanted to control the trade channel themselves, so they directly controlled the person responsible for procurement, even attempting to bypass middlemen.
Of those responsible for procurement, only two knew the channel, one committed suicide, and the other triggered a restriction during a soul search and became a fool.
The Huang Fu Family didn’t have time to care, busy staking out territory in Kunhao, and simply demanded that the Chaos Plane hand over the people, or else they wouldn’t deal with that plane again.
The Chaos Plane outright refused to hand them over — you think you can sell graphene and we can’t?
This actually involves a cognitive bias: people in Chaos believe that since the other side is willing to trade large amounts of food for graphene, they essentially have a demand for graphene; if the supply is cut for too long, they’d probably become anxious.
Moreover, they think such a large-scale grain trade cannot avoid influencing a certain plane, and by analyzing grain price fluctuations, it shouldn’t be too hard to identify that plane.
However, it is very unfortunate that after more than half a year, they haven’t obtained any useful clues. Yet, their food reserves have become tight, and starvation has begun to appear.
What added insult to injury for them was: the Huang Fu Family finally made their move!
Huang Fu’s work is even busier than it was six months ago, but the mechanisms are steadily being established, the relevant backbone has been trained, and they are gradually becoming self-reliant; she can already anticipate free time in the future.
The key is Ancestor Huang Fu has made his move. He has invited two Golden Core cultivators to begin pressuring the Chaos Plane, warning them that if they don’t surrender someone, they’ll have to bear the consequences!
Because the Huang Fu Family monopolizes the installation and debugging of communication equipment, the current market is also rising sharply, and their words carry more weight.
The Chaos Plane had no choice but to push out a Golden Core as a scapegoat, and that Golden Core directly fled. However, six Cultivators and dozens of Qi Refinement Practitioners were taken away by Ancestor Huang Fu and others.
Talking about this, Huang Fu couldn’t help but sigh, "In such a chaotic place, there’s really no sense; a group failed in provocation before, and now a new group comes up to provoke again... when will this ever end?"
Feng Jun was also a bit surprised by the chaos of the Chaos Plane, but then thinking about it, even the Earth Realm had its chaotic times, so he answered indifferently, "Still not enough lessons taught, after a few more, no one will dare."
Seeing the matter finally resolved, Huang Fu smiled and expressed, "We’ve set up two more dark lines in the Chaos Plane to ensure that graphene won’t be completely out of stock in the future; this business is really not easy."
Words of goodwill said at this moment are true goodwill, not an exchange of conditions.
Feng Jun curiously asked, "In other planes can’t they find someone to make graphene?"
Huang Fu shook her head and said helplessly, "Places poorer than the Chaos Plane are really hard to find; graphene can be made, but the cost would rise significantly."
"There still needs to be one," Feng Jun said blandly, "In business, a single supplier is too prone to problems, too easily controlled... we must find another. Cost doesn’t matter, if you find it difficult, then I’ll look."
In the past, he would never have said such words - he didn’t have that qualification. But now... Although the Huang Fu Family’s status is rapidly rising, Feng Jun’s status is rising even faster.
"No need, I’ll look," Huang Fu replied with a wry smile, "Any dissatisfaction, just name your terms... right, you’re the sole supplier of communication products as well, who do I complain to?"
Feng Jun laughed at her words, "Don’t compare me, I have irreplaceability, which you can’t help."
Huang Fu pondered for a while and then seriously answered, "The second supplier must be found in other planes, Kunhao is really not suitable... by the way, you said you could start some kind of industry?"
Feng Jun tilted his head in thought for a while, "This matter needs serious consideration, in any case... I have many ideas that can increase production efficiency in the Kunhao Plane and improve product quality, but the key is to consider how to operate well."
Huang Fu blinked and pondered for a long time before speaking up, "Can the methods be offered for common use?"
Feng Jun thought for a moment, in the early stages of industrial development, it is primarily labor-intensive, and there is a considerable requirement for capital which ordinary people may not have, moreover——there must be displaced farmers to serve as workers.
Otherwise, even with factories, if there are no workers, how can production take place?
From this perspective, the early stage of industrialization can’t really be handled by small families.
Even though he hasn’t decided what kind of projects to introduce, he still stated, "Common use is likely difficult; initially, it’s better for large families to do it, more easily see results."
"That’s good," Huang Fu nodded and smiled, her big eyes almost squinting into a line, "If it’s something that helps everyone, I wouldn’t know how to tell my family."
Feng Jun pursed his lips silently; this plane is really conservative; no matter what changes they face, they start from family interests.
However, isn’t that completely a bad thing? Valuing blood relations is better than those who don’t care about anything and live only for themselves. As people, one must have concerns and fears.
Ultimately, he said, "This matter is too big for one Huang Fu Family to handle alone, so I certainly need to find other partners. I’m notifying you in advance here."
It’s a notification, not a negotiation!
Huang Fu certainly understood his meaning, so she sighed and made a sad expression, "You really are... quite ruthless!"
"Some things can’t be forced," Feng Jun smiled and spread his hands, "The market is too large, wanting to eat it alone will only burst the belly... by the way, did you bring graphene?"
He was already eager to discuss with Sister Hong and others what initial industry could be introduced.
(New Year’s Day, three updates, hard-working Feng Xiao asks for monthly votes.)
