bookbashuk Chapter 11: Four Rumors Spread, but Lingmi Still Sells.
Chapter 11: Four Rumors Spread, but Lingmi Still Sells.
Early morning, Dongshi, Qingyun County.
As soon as it was light, there were already 30% more pedestrians on the street than usual.
Vegetable vendors, stall owners, market attendees, and porters were all discussing the same thing.
"Have you heard? There's something wrong with the Li family's 'spiritual rice'!"
"I've heard about it too. They say it's an evil practice that accelerates growth, and consuming too much of it can damage one's foundation!"
"Really? Didn't it sell out like crazy yesterday?"
"Who knows? We have no idea what cultivators are all about."
Rumors spread like wildfire, reaching half the county town in just one night.
⸻
In front of Wang's Grain Store.
Wang Fu stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, listening to the discussions in the streets and alleys, and a smile finally appeared on his lips.
Yesterday, the Li family humiliated us, but today we finally got our revenge.
"The shopkeeper is brilliant!"
One of the men had a fawning expression on his face.
"Buyers are most afraid of damaging the family's foundation. Once this news gets out, who would dare to touch the Li family's rice?"
Wang Fufu nodded, stroking his beard.
"In business, it's not just about the goods."
"You also need to use your brain."
As he spoke, he waved his hand.
"Today, we're bringing out all of the Wang family's top-grade spiritual rice, and we're lowering the price by another 30%."
"Take advantage of the Li family's tarnished reputation and win back all the customers."
The men responded in unison and immediately got to work.
⸻
the other side.
On the mountain path of Black Stone Mountain, Li Yuanshan was sweating profusely as he rushed into the council hall.
"Young Clan Chief!"
"Something's happened!"
Li Xuan was looking through the account books without even looking up.
"Did the Wang family spread rumors?"
Li Yuanshan paused, his eyes widening.
"How did you know?!"
Li Xuan said calmly:
"The Zhao family came yesterday, so the Wang family must have made a move last night."
"If you can't win in a business war, you can only resort to dirty tricks."
Li Yuanshan was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands together.
"What should we do then?"
"The number of people coming to the mountain to buy rice this morning is probably half of what it used to be!"
⸻
Li Tianheng sat in the main seat, his expression calm and composed.
"Rumors are the most damaging."
"Especially when it comes to the foundation of spiritual practice, no one dares to gamble."
Li Yuanlie stood by the pillar, sword in hand, his face full of impatience.
"Enough with the nonsense, I might as well go and chop that old bastard Wang Fu up."
Li Yuanshan angrily said:
"What else can you do besides chop people up?!"
Li Yuanlie sneered:
"At least you're better at making money than him."
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Li Xuan finally put down the account book.
"Alright."
He stood up and looked at the crowd.
"Since the Wang family says that my Li family's spiritual rice is damaging our foundation—"
"Then let them see for themselves what will happen if they eat it."
Everyone was taken aback.
⸻
Half an hour later.
In the center of Dongshi, Qingyun County, the vacant land was once again occupied by the Li family.
The three oxcarts slowly came to a stop.
The vehicle was loaded with Qingyu Lingmi (a type of rice).
Li Yuanshan's legs were shaking as he got out of the car carrying the account books.
"Young clan leader... you really came today?"
"There's bad talk going around everywhere."
Li Xuan remained calm.
"The more it's spread, the more we want to come."
Li Yuanlie stood in front of the car with his knife on his shoulder and grinned.
"Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll teach them what it means to have their foundation damaged."
⸻
As soon as Li's stall was set up, it was quickly surrounded by people.
But today is different from yesterday.
Everyone watched the spectacle, but no one made the first purchase.
Some people even pointed fingers and gossiped.
"Is this the rice?"
"I've heard that eating too much of this can clog your meridians."
"I wouldn't dare try."
Li Yuanshan felt a chill run down his spine.
Yesterday, people lined up to buy them; today, no one is interested.
This rumor is incredibly powerful.
⸻
Just then.
Wang Fu walked over from across the street with several of his men, his face beaming with smiles.
"Oh, so Young Clan Chief Li dares to set up his stall today?"
"I admire you."
He deliberately raised his voice.
"It's just about having a conscience in business."
"If one sells things that damage people's very foundation in order to make money, it would be an outrage against morality."
A murmur of agreement immediately rippled through the crowd.
Many people looked even more hesitant.
Li Yuanshan was so angry that his face turned red.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Wang Fu shrugged.
"I didn't say it was definitely fake."
"But who dares to bet?"
This sentence is the most venomous.
⸻
Li Xuan showed no anger whatsoever, and simply spoke:
"Manager Wang is right."
Wang Fu was taken aback.
The people around were also stunned.
Li Xuan continued:
"For cultivators, the foundation is the most important factor in their practice."
"Therefore, today, Li Jia Ling Rice is available for free tasting."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
free?!
Wang Fu's expression changed slightly.
⸻
Li Xuan raised his hand to signal, and the Li family guards immediately set up a pot and started a fire.
As the Jade Spirit Rice was put into the pot, its aroma quickly filled the entire street once again.
Those who smelled it yesterday immediately changed their expressions.
That refreshing and delicate fragrance cannot be faked.
Li Xuan's gaze swept across the crowd, his voice calm.
"Take a bite, and if there are any problems, my Li family will publicly compensate you tenfold."
"If there are no problems—"
He looked at Wang Fu and smiled faintly.
Shopkeeper Wang apologized in the street.
The entire audience erupted in cheers.
This is a huge gamble!
⸻
Wang Fu's face darkened.
"Li Xuan, stop putting on airs!"
Li Xuan ignored him and only looked at the crowd.
"Who will try the first bowl?"
After a brief silence, a gray-robed hermit who had bought rice the day before came out.
It was that cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining.
He said coldly:
"I'll do it."
Li Yuanshan immediately perked up and hurriedly served a bowl.
The gray-robed monk took it and ate it in front of everyone.
Everyone was staring at him.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
The gray-robed cultivator closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, then suddenly opened them, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"My spiritual energy is recovering much faster."
"The hidden injuries I sustained in yesterday's battle have all eased by a third."
After saying that, he turned to look at Wang Fu and said coldly:
"If your Wang family's rice has this effect, I'll buy it at double the price."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
⸻
Immediately afterwards, the second and third people stepped forward to try the food.
"I'm really okay!"
"I feel warmth spreading through my lower abdomen!"
"It tastes even better than yesterday!"
"Give me five pounds!"
"I want ten pounds!"
The initially hesitant crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy, scrambling to push forward.
Li Yuanshan was so excited that his voice cracked.
"Line up! Line up!"
"Don't step on my ledger!"
⸻
Wang Fu stood there, his face turning pale and then flushed.
The rumors he painstakingly spread were shattered by Li Xuanyi's pot of rice.
Even worse—
There are even more people today.
Many people who missed out yesterday were also drawn to the area.
The long queue in front of Li's stall has reappeared.
The entrance to Wang's Grain Store was once again deserted.
⸻
Li Xuan looked at Wang Fu, his tone indifferent.
"Manager Wang."
"It's your turn to apologize."
Countless eyes immediately focused on Wang Fu.
Wang Fu's face twitched, and his fists clenched.
Should we force him to bow his head in the street?
It's worse than killing him.
He stared intently at Li Xuan and said through gritted teeth:
"This matter is not over yet."
After saying that, he turned and left.
His back view was extremely disheveled.
A burst of laughter immediately erupted around them.
⸻
Li Yuanshan, his face flushed from counting the money, exclaimed excitedly:
"Young Clan Chief!"
"Today's sales are even higher than yesterday's!"
Li Yuanlie laughed heartily, carrying his sword.
"That old man comes to see guests off every day."
Li Tianheng watched this scene from a distance, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
He suddenly felt that the Li family might actually be able to leave Blackstone Mountain.
⸻
A system notification sounded in my mind:
[Successfully debunked the rumors]
[Enhance Family Reputation]
[Current Luck: 96]
[Mission Progress: Disintegration of the King Zhao Alliance (30%)]
[Reward Preview: Opportunity to upgrade the third acre of spirit field]
Li Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
Luck is approaching 100 points.
This means that new changes are coming soon.
The Wang family, having been forced into this situation, is also nearing its breaking point.
He looked towards the direction of the Wang family's ancestral home, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Next time."
"It's time for you to make your move."
Chapter Eleven End