Chapter 37: No Advantages

Three more days passed.

During these three days, Fatty Lei and Wangcai had discovered the huge number of views that came after their Integrity Value increased by +1.

However, Fatty Lei did not look very happy because the increase in views did not bring him many actual deals. Only two or three small inquiries came, and basically no other Merchants had traded with Fatty Lei.

This made Fatty Lei extremely angry.

“Damn it!” Fatty Lei cursed with a twisted expression. “Are the goods here really so bad that these guys don’t even want them!”

Fatty Lei was so angry that he shook all over, like a patient with epilepsy.

If you think about it, it was not hard to understand how Fatty Lei felt. Over three full days, there were over a million views, but not a single person bought any goods. How could that make Fatty Lei feel good?

Not just Fatty Lei, even others would not feel comfortable in this situation.

It was like a person opening a shop in a busy area, with many customers coming in to look around, but no one actually spending money to buy anything. That was really unbearable.

And Fatty Lei was in exactly that kind of situation.

But even though Fatty Lei complained a lot, he clearly understood the reason himself.

Who asked the stuff in his little shop to be really unimpressive?

If the products had some value, they would not be so hard to sell.

“Sigh～”

Thinking of this, Fatty Lei could not help but let out a long sigh.

“Master, no matter what, having more views is not a bad thing for us now,” Wangcai consoled Fatty Lei. Fatty Lei looked up at Wangcai and said to him helplessly, “What’s the use of more views? You know, only when people spend Credit Points to buy our stuff is what really matters.”

But Wangcai had no solution for why their items would not sell. After all, for Fatty Lei now, they simply had no leverage to negotiate with others.

Take the few items Fatty Lei was selling: Laser Rifle, high-defense Combat Suit, and Sand Beast. In the eyes of other Merchants, these three had almost no value at all.

In terms of technology—trash!

In terms of craftsmanship—trash!

No matter how they were compared with goods from other Sci-Fi Dimensions, Fatty Lei’s products were just not good.

Moreover, similar goods in other Sci-Fi Dimensions were sold at much lower prices than Fatty Lei’s. Some Merchants even sold them in bulk for as low as three Credit Points, which left Fatty Lei with no choice.

Therefore, whether in technological level or price, Fatty Lei had no advantages at all.

No wonder Fatty Lei was so dejected.

“At least… at least,” Fatty Lei thought, he still had the ‘Contract Manufacturing’ business to earn Credit Points. If not for that, he might have been eliminated by the System for failing to pay the Tax and listing fees.

But Fatty Lei still felt uneasy because during these three days, he had dealings with many Merchants. As a result, he discovered that his World was not the only one where Andrew’s ‘Sweet Potato’ could be grown.

While interacting with these Merchants, Fatty Lei took out the sand from around his Military Outpost and explained its functions to them one by one.

In the end, their replies terrified him even more.

Because several Merchants from Sci-Fi Dimensions and even Fantasy Dimensions had environments more suitable for growing it than his.

“Hiss～”

Knowing this, Fatty Lei could not help but gasp sharply.

Because he knew that if only his place could grow ‘Sweet Potato’, then at least he would have a monopoly on this business. That meant he wouldn’t have to worry about competition from others, and could just focus on ‘Contract Manufacturing’ steadily.

But if there were other ‘Contract Manufacturing’ factories, his business would not be easy.

Fatty Lei understood this very well.

And because of this, Fatty Lei felt extremely anxious at that time.

He didn’t know whether Andrew, upon learning that other Merchants could also grow ‘Sweet Potato’, would lower the purchasing price and suppress him.

If Andrew really did that, it seemed Fatty Lei had no way to resist.

For a ‘Contract Manufacturing’ factory, he simply had no control. This was what made Fatty Lei feel the worst, and he was deeply troubled by it.

He shook his head and stopped thinking about these annoying things. Fatty Lei and Wangcai exited the Trading Space. “Wangcai, what do you think—how should we plan our future path?” Fatty Lei felt he should have a good discussion with Wangcai about this matter. It was always wise to plan ahead.

After the two left the Trading Space, they went up the Military Outpost’s Metal High Wall as usual.

Life here was actually boring and monotonous, with no TV, no computers, and no entertainment at all. For Fatty Lei now, walking up the Metal Wall every day and sitting there to look at the huge Planet in the distance had become a good way to relax.

Of course, when Xenomorphs and Bugs occasionally appeared, that was the real entertainment time.

Because Fatty Lei would shoot at those creatures with his Laser Rifle for fun, just like playing a game.

But the premise was that the number of Xenomorphs and Bugs was small, and they could not climb up the Military Outpost’s Metal Wall.

After sitting down, Fatty Lei fastened his collar tightly to keep the sand from blowing into his clothes, even though it was not very effective.

“Master,” Wangcai said beside Fatty Lei, “I know what you’re worried about. You’re just afraid that those who have the same Contract Manufacturing environment as you will steal your business, right?”

As Fatty Lei’s Steward, Wangcai certainly knew what his Master was worried about.

Fatty Lei nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m worried about,” Fatty Lei admitted openly. “Before, I thought only our World had such a ‘Contract Manufacturing’ environment. Who knew there were so many others in different Worlds with the same conditions? And their Contract Manufacturing prices are much lower than mine.” Thinking of this, Fatty Lei spoke to Wangcai with no small concern.

In terms of price, Fatty Lei had no advantage, so he was truly worried.

Because he knew that if others found out he was also doing Contract Manufacturing, they would definitely try to steal his clients, and the chance of success was high.

Because whether in software, hardware, or price, Fatty Lei held no advantages.

Seeing Fatty Lei’s worried expression clearly showing, Wangcai could not help but smile knowingly. “Master, you’re too pessimistic. Things haven’t reached that point yet, so, in my opinion, you really shouldn’t think so far ahead.” Wangcai felt Fatty Lei was overthinking things.

“A person without long-term worries will have immediate troubles. I have to consider these things,” Fatty Lei knew Wangcai was right, but sometimes he couldn’t help it.

In terms of level, he had none now; in terms of Credit Points, he was still in debt.

If something unexpected really happened, he would have no way to fight back. How could Fatty Lei not worry? It was a matter of his own life.

“Master, your main task now is to build a good relationship with Mr. Andrew. As long as we establish a foundation of trust and cooperation with him, even if others try to steal our business, it won’t be so easy.” Seeing how worried Fatty Lei was, Wangcai had to share his opinion.

Fatty Lei raised his hand and stroked his bearded chin. “Hmm,” he said, then added, “Right! What I need to do now is get along well with Andrew. I guess I really am thinking too much about other things.” After thinking it over, Fatty Lei felt Wangcai’s words made a lot of sense.

Maybe he was being too paranoid.

“After these Sweet Potatoes are harvested, we need to expand the planting area,” Fatty Lei turned to look at Wangcai and said. “Only by expanding the planting area can we earn more Credit Points in the future. As long as we have Credit Points in hand, we won’t be afraid even if we have to fight a price war.”

Wangcai took a small step closer, a long-absent flattering expression appearing on his face.

“That’s exactly it, Master. Let’s focus on doing what’s in front of us well and work hard to earn Credit Points. Then, even if there’s a price war, we won’t be afraid.”

Many ideas flashed through Fatty Lei’s mind, but he couldn’t make them all happen at once.

Truthfully, Fatty Lei was not content with just doing Contract Manufacturing forever, because the fees earned from Contract Manufacturing were pitifully low.

This could be seen from him and Andrew.

Andrew provided the seeds for Fatty Lei to grow, then bought them back for three hundred Credit Points each. With just one resale, Andrew could easily make a pure profit of over two thousand eight hundred Credit Points per item.

That was almost ten times what Fatty Lei earned.

You should know, Fatty Lei originally asked for one hundred Credit Points each, and it was Andrew himself who raised the price by two hundred points.

If not for that, Fatty Lei would have earned even less.

Of course, apart from not earning many Credit Points, Fatty Lei did earn the System’s reward of Integrity Value +1.

And he was also added by Andrew as a Special Friend, becoming a Merchant in the same faction.

At least for Fatty Lei at this stage, he had a backer like Andrew, who was not very high level either.

“I want to become strong and big!” Fatty Lei stood up, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the huge Planet in the distance, making a decision in his heart—a decision that became his goal for the future.

“Wangcai! Let’s go out and check if those Sweet Potatoes are ripe yet.” Remembering that he hadn’t checked on these Sweet Potatoes for three days, Fatty Lei turned, jumped down from the Metal Wall edge, and headed toward the Military Outpost gate.