Just like him.

When they saw Yao Yao, Qin Ying, Xu Yuyu, and so on, everyone still felt like a teenager of seventeen or eighteen.

However, even though he felt a bit disgruntled, he couldn't let it show on his face.

He quickly said to Yu Lan, "Don't think that just because you're a Grandmaster, and I, a humble Martial Master, am coincidentally a tiny bit stronger than you, that you can go around swindling people in the Federal Martial Arts Academy..."

What if it leads to a fight I can't win? Of course, Wang Zhan spoke somewhat circumspectly.

"If it leads to public outrage, I've warned you beforehand. My life is precious; I'll definitely be the first to run."

In response, Yu Lan simply rolled her eyes at him.

"Do you think our company is like those trashy companies out there? We get paid for overtime, and it's three times the normal rate. However, that's just one reason. The ones who can work overtime are students I personally designate, those whose families aren't well-off. Others don't get the chance, even if they want to."

He hesitated for a moment. Although hearing about triple pay gave him a pang of regret—after all, Wang Zhan hadn't really earned much money in his life.

He had always relied on plundering.

But since it's to help those students from poor families, I'll let it slide.

Consequently, Yu Lan took Wang Zhan back to her office.

This was also the boss's office. The large desk belonged to Wang Zhan, the boss who had never actually been there, while the small desk belonged to Yu Lan, the long-suffering secretary.

Although, on the way, it seemed Wang Zhan was the one suffering more.

Taking the financial statements and accompanying receipts handed over by Yu Lan, Wang Zhan made a rough estimate.

He found that although the profits on the financial statements seemed scattered and unsystematic, they had clearly brought significant returns to his company, "Barter."

His initial investment of about 13 billion had already turned into 30 billion.

In the final analysis, it was because those large families weren't interested in the low-tier barter market; they had the inclination but lacked the capability.

Thus, the dark horse "Barter," which had started from the Federation's top four Martial Arts Academies, had managed to take a huge, rich bite.

The two of them looked at each other.

Wang Zhan remained pensive, while Yu Lan stayed quiet, awaiting Wang Zhan's questions, not moving a muscle.

After a long pause, Wang Zhan finally spoke.

"You've done very well. For a moment there, I almost wondered if I'd bought some ancient stock, for it to multiply so many times in such a short period."

Yu Lan corrected him, "Actually, stocks still exist today; they're not just relics of ancient times. Of course, those are things only the high-level elites can afford to play with. Ordinary people, even if they could get access, wouldn't have the chance to get an entry ticket."

Wang Zhan chuckled, unbothered by Yu Lan's sarcastic jab, and directly began to exercise his authority.

"But I'm very curious. Why is it that after initially stabilizing our market within the Federation's top four, we now seem to be stuck in a rut, unable to break out?"

According to the financial report, Wang Zhan found that in the past week's developments, although the commission from exchanging low-level items was still substantial, their market was locked within the top four or other small Martial Arts Academies, unable to expand.

If they even stepped outside the campus, they were often met with losses, aggressive undercutting, and fierce competition, making it seem almost impossible for "Barter" to capture the off-campus market.

But in Wang Zhan's view, this situation was unacceptable.

Because his market positioning was for the entire Federation!

Only when the entire underlying martial artist population of the Federation supported "Barter" would it have greater qualifications and more opportunities for further development.

Otherwise, it would sooner or later become stagnant water or be replaced by newly emerging barter platforms from outside the academies.

Yu Lan said with a serious expression, "I also didn't expect things to develop this way. But having reached this point, I now understand that not everyone likes things originating from the Federal Martial Arts Academy, regardless of whether it's the top four or other major and minor Martial Arts Academies.

"Moreover, there's another thing: our reputation is too small, our brand is too insignificant, and our foundation is too shallow. Unless a series of miracles occurs, making more people aware of our name, only then can we contend with these various large and small businesses that are blockading us!

"I have the ability to get the company up and running, but I don't have the ability to create something from nothing. These miracles have to come from you. Just like that medicinal herb earlier, if you could produce another seven or eight stalks, and we combine them with some other items, we could organize a small-scale auction…"

Wang Zhan looked at her with a strange gaze.

"You're saying, seven or eight stalks?"

Yu Lan gave a bitter smile.

"It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? But I can't help it. We handle various low-level items sent by students from the major Martial Arts Academies every day, but that stalk you brought earlier is already considered top-grade. We've never seen anything like it…"

After all, she wasn't a professional like Wu Lanhe, so she naturally didn't have a thorough understanding of Wang Zhan's medicinal herbs. Of course, Wang Zhan wasn't entirely clear on their value either, since he had merely picked them up casually.

However, that didn't stop him from exuding an air of wealth and confidence!

One should know that just seven or eight of these plants could completely rescue the company from this predicament! So why was I even making Yu Lan go through all this trouble?

However, seeing the dark expression and the helpless, bitter smile on Yu Lan's face, Wang Zhan thought for a moment.

I still need to handle this gently. I can't let this woman get too agitated. Agitation leads to mistakes, mistakes lead to anger, and anger... makes one ugly. Her beauty is practically her only redeeming quality. What would I do if she became ugly?

So, Wang Zhan, his expression somewhat serious yet trying to appear casual, asked, "And? That can't be the only reason, can it?"

Yu Lan nodded.

"The second reason is even more difficult. We are, by nature, an obscure little company. The reason we could rise so suddenly is entirely due to your relationships with your two rumored girlfriends.

"Not only do we have Yuan Mengru, a woman who's practically the gold standard for young Martial Artists, publicly promoting you, but also Xu Yuyu, the great beauty who is becoming increasingly popular at Yanjing Martial Arts Academy, helping us. That's how we were able to quickly capture the Yanjing Martial Arts Academy market.

"In fact, the reason their market share fell to us is partly because we genuinely provided convenience, and partly simply because of your relationships with them.

"If it weren't for the fact that they are Ying Ying's friends, I'd even suggest you could sell yourself to them; you'd save at least thirty or forty years of struggle. Of course, since we've leveraged their convenience, our dependence on them has also grown stronger. This is our predicament. We need to change direction."

Wang Zhan fell into deep thought before responding, "I understand. Let me think about it?"

"You? What bright ideas could you possibly have? Go on, tell me! I still haven't figured out a good solution. We can either consolidate our hold on the market of the Federation's top four and slow our expansion into the Federation's major Martial Arts Academies, shifting our focus to the broader Federation market. Or, we can accelerate our expansion into the Federation's major Martial Arts Academies, trying to secure more resources and potentially compete with the giants that might emerge from the Federation itself."

Without a doubt, these were the two most effective solutions.

And, if it were left to Yu Lan to choose, she would definitely pick the second option. Although the market of the Martial Arts Academies might not seem very large, it represented the vast majority of the Federation's martial artists.

This was a consequence of the current era.

The fear was that if they failed in their expansion into the Martial Arts Academies, "Barter" might completely stall in the Federation market, becoming a discarded failure.

The business world is a battlefield; not advancing means retreating—it's always like that.

Unfortunately, Wang Zhan knew more about the Federation's internal workings than Yu Lan did.

So when Yu Lan presented the two choices, Wang Zhan's mind immediately flashed with the option of abandoning the market share in the Federation's major Martial Arts Academies. Then, he had a sudden realization.

Only children are the ones who have to make choices. As a flower of the Federation who had already grown up and was about to turn eighteen, Wang Zhan's answer was, naturally: I want it all!

The Federation's major Martial Arts Academies represented current benefits and future variables, while the Federation itself represented a vast base and endless secrets.

Giving up either would be a great loss.

So, after some contemplation, Wang Zhan finally made a decision and instructed Yu Lan, "Alright, tell me, which market do you prefer? You take charge of the one you're inclined towards, and leave the rest to me."

It sounded domineering, and his tone was grand, but Yu Lan looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Do you think you're a genius, that there's nothing in this world that can stump you?"

Wang Zhan shook his head.

"Don't let your preconceived notions interfere with our discussion. I don't mind, but this is business, and we need to come up with a plan quickly. As I said before, the market waits for no one!"

Compared to Yu Lan, Wang Zhan was far more familiar with the twists and turns of a Martial Artist's path.

Business opportunities were killing opportunities. While the marketplace might not shed blood, the number of people who went bankrupt each year was not small.

At least Wang Zhan, having climbed out of the slums, had seen too many people who, due to a moment's hesitation, completely missed out on great opportunities, only to continue their miserable struggle in the slums.

Opportunities are plentiful in this world, but those truly suitable for oneself are not always available; some might only come along once.

Yu Lan was moved. So, after some thought, she temporarily put aside her disdain for Wang Zhan and spoke professionally, "I favor the Martial Arts Academy market. Compared to the Federation as a whole, the Martial Arts Academy market is more clearly defined and easier to manage. The Federation market, on the other hand, carries many uncertainties, and it also involves numerous complex entanglements of interests, which is disadvantageous for newcomers like us…"

After listening to her analysis, the corners of Wang Zhan's mouth lifted slightly.

He had known Yu Lan would think this way because she was more rational and thus more inclined to pursue tangible, visible benefits.

But that didn't mean Wang Zhan could blatantly state this.

After all, even though I'm the boss, I should still leave some room for my managers to maneuver, shouldn't I?

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