"Not bad at all. I underestimated you before, but you indeed have some skills," Qu Shanling nodded and said.
Finally, Mu Nan was overwhelmed with joy as he received Qu Shanling’s affirmation. He was about to continue speaking when Qu Shanling interrupted him.
"However, although your auction house is innovatively managed, it’s just a small venture in Heishi City. This city is too small. Even if you manage it well, making a name for yourself is extremely difficult. Moreover, your management approach is bound to offend some people, and they won’t just sit back and watch you grow; you’re aware of this, aren’t you?" Qu Shanling asked as he sipped his tea.
"Senior speaks wisely, please advise," Mu Nan nodded and responded.
He was undoubtedly ambitious—it was the age for youthful naiveté and big dreams. However, faced with reality, Heishi City was too small with hardly any reputation even in Anyun Country. Although the Nanmu Auction looked promising, both merchants and customers came from nearby, and he wondered how long it would take to make a name across Anyun Country.
The key issue was that he might not have enough time. The Nanmu Auction’s management was deemed novel, but it was just an attempt to stand out. Already, established businesses in Heishi had taken offense, and it was uncertain how many more people he might alienate in the future.
For those local businesses, it didn’t matter as much since no one wanted to push matters too far and risk future confrontations with well-established, powerful families. It might prevent the auction house from gaining fame before it could even properly start.
Mu Hanyan felt a deep sense of guilt. In her previous life, the Nanmu Auction had risen dramatically aided by the Dragon Blood Stone and had quickly soared before the other chambers of commerce had time to react. By the time they wanted to intervene, the Nanmu Chamber of Commerce was too powerful and protected by the Mu Family in the capital, leaving them helpless.
This time, without the Dragon Blood Stone, the Nanmu Chamber could only slowly grow amidst threats, vulnerable to being completely devoured. Naturally, the Mu Family in the capital wouldn’t offer any protection to what seemed like a small, trivial business.
Mu Hanyan knew that it was because she had secured the Dragon Blood Stone first that led to the auction house’s current state. Thus, she secretly contemplated how to change the present situation of the Nanmu Auction. She aimed to not only compensate Mu Nan and alter the current situation but to also develop the Nanmu Auction on a much grander scale!
"You need an opportunity, a chance to make a name quickly and expand the Nanmu Auction significantly, leaving no time for others to target you," Qu Shanling hit the nail on the head, thinking exactly like Mu Hanyan.
"How can I make a name then?" Mu Nan asked worriedly.
If he had outstanding Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, it might be possible to shoot to fame overnight; however, the few treasures he possess were good for making money, yet insufficient for instant fame.
"Isn’t this the reason you invited me here? Let’s be clear, you wanted to use my reputation to add glory to your Nanmu Chamber of Commerce, and I’ll help you," Qu Shanling said, visibly annoyed, no longer wanting to waste time debating.
"Ah!" Mu Nan was a bit taken aback. Official source is novel(ꜰ)ire.net