Chapter 198

After a brief exchange, Yu Kong began inviting the chairman to elaborate on its plans and considerations for Jinren Xiang.

The Jinren Xiang Chairman and Xing both wanted Jinren Xiang to prosper, but the chairman believed that the prosperity envisioned by Xing and others would erase Jinren Xiang's tradition and individuality, which is essentially the same as what the company does.

Overdevelopment only affects visitor experience, causing the number of actual visitors to the street to decline; in the chairman's view, this is a fact.

"Is this your conclusion based on data?" Xing handed a Tonggong Workshop revenue report to the chairman, "Look at this; the data shows visitor numbers have not decreased!"

The data recorded not only Tonggong Workshop's revenue changes but also the number of visiting customers. This data that did not fall but rose…… made the chairman begin to doubt the authenticity of the data source.

However, with Yu Kong vouching for the data's authenticity, the chairman could only believe it. Yet he stubbornly maintained that this was merely an isolated case, not representative of Jinren Xiang as a whole.

"You haven't experienced the era I have, so you don't understand… my persistence."

——

Teyvat, Liyue.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the carved wooden window of the General Affairs Office, casting dappled shadows on the tea table. Hearing the Jinren Xiang Chairman's remarks, Keqing let out a heavy hum, a flicker of displeasure passing through purple eyes.

"The times are changing; Jinren Xiang should keep up. Saying 'you haven't experienced the era I have'… is clearly just leaning on seniority."

"Oh?" Ningguang raised an eyebrow beside them, the pipe turning lightly between fingers, "That's quite direct. But why do you think the Jinren Xiang Chairman is so insistent?"

"... Just hoping to recreate past glory." Keqing set down the teacup, voice firm: "Xianzhou people have long lifespans, often several hundred or even thousands of years; some have grown accustomed to every brick and tile of Jinren Xiang, wishing them to 'remain unchanged,' and calling it 'sentiment'."

"But in my view, this is merely a narrow 'conservative' notion."

Ningguang let out a light laugh: "You're still as sharp as ever, though… this is also why I've always admired you."

She took a sip of tea, "But in my view, governing Jinren Xiang requires not only the courage to forge ahead, but also understanding and tolerance. The chairman's experience, though containing many rules that seem outdated today, has often been tested through countless practices."

Keqing's fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of the teacup: "I don't disrespect his experience, but if experience cannot keep up with the times, it becomes a shackle. Take your Jade Pavilion as an example—without constant expansion and innovation, it wouldn't have reached its current size."

"An interesting comparison." A glint of appreciation flashed in Ningguang's eyes: "But every expansion of the Jade Pavilion is built on a thorough understanding of the original structure. I never recklessly tear down; instead, I innovate within inheritance."

——

"\"Former Jinren Xiang chose my persistence, and that is how it created today's unattainable business miracle. \""

"The chairman's meaning is clear: today's Jinren Xiang falls far short of the past Jinren Xiang, which truly deserved the title of 'Luofu First Night Market'."

"\"I object! \" Xing produced Jinren Xiang's historical transaction volume ledger, \"Your description of the past is not objective! \""

"According to the ledgers, even the transaction volume during Jinren Xiang's glorious era is on par with today."

"\"You even counted the flying mechanical birds, \" the President finally grew impatient, arguing: \"The past cannot be directly compared with the present. The environment then was completely unlike now... \""

"The President did not continue."

"Because he realized he was going in circles and arrived at the argument of the star‑ranked people."

"\"President, in my view, Jinren Xiang is not a phantom to reminisce about the past, \" Mingxi said sincerely, \"Jinren Xiang is a human's Jinren Xiang; as long as people continue to change, Jinren Xiang should also change. \""

"Mingxi's words left the President speechless, unable to refute."

"Hurdles are hard to get over, yet they are passed. Just as everyone was about to sigh in relief at the President's defeat and ready to turn their sights on the company, the young master Xiao Han, who had been assisting them all along, suddenly stepped forward, declaring himself the company's business representative in Changletian."

"\"You brat! \" Su Shang exclaimed, \"The mole is right beside me! \""

"However, Xiao Han does not regard the few as opponents but as like‑minded friends; although their goal is the development of Jinren Xiang, his vision differs completely from the junior secretary's."

"His ultimate goal is to create a Jinren Xiang far surpassing its former self, turning it into a commercial port renowned throughout the galaxy."

——

"Fuli Lian, the doomed."

"\"Uh… doesn't this turn Jinren Xiang into Jinren 'Port'? \" Hutu Erke asked, puzzled."

"\"The logic is the logic, but I feel turning it into Jinren Port isn't bad; it sounds like it could be more prosperous than before. \" Zan Yin actually supported Xiao Han's idea, \"If the operation of Jinren Xiang can be handed to him, I think that's not bad at all. \""

"\"It's not handed to 'him' but to the 'company,' Zan Yin, \" Fuli Lian said, shaking her head. \"If Xiao Han didn't have the role of company business representative, I'd support his competition with the junior secretary. But with the company behind him… haha, I still side with the junior secretary. \""

"\"Ah, Fuli Lian, do you really hate the company? \" Hutu Erke scratched his face, \"Not everyone in the company is like Si Ke Te. \""

"\"I don't dislike it; it has nothing to do with who is in the company. In the end, I simply think the development and planning of Jinren Xiang should be in our own hands, not an outside company. \""

"Fuli Lian continued, \"Self‑planning, self‑development… this path may be difficult at first, but as long as we can make it through, that's fine. Yet if we hand the authority of development to the company, it might be easy at the start, but over time, a Jinren Xiang that loses its autonomous operating ability will inevitably become a stagnant pool. \""

"\"It's not that severe, right? Madam Fuli Lian, isn't Xiao Han here? \" Filien asked, puzzled."

"\"Yes, at present… he is indeed present. In his hands, perhaps the great vessel of Jinren Xiang won't stray from its course. \""

"\"But Xiao Han is also human; 'people constantly change.' His stance and vision may shift later. Moreover, when his vision aligns with the company's interests, he is Jinren Xiang's business representative. But if one day his vision conflicts with the company's interests? \""

"\"... So, I still hope the junior secretary can win, even if her vision lacks Xiao Han's grandeur. \""

"Fuli Lian smiled faintly, \"Going slower is fine, but step by step… at least we walk steadily. \"