Chapter 254: Year-end statistics, family atmosphere!
Lu Family Mansion, the council hall.
Lu Changsheng sat upright in the main seat, with Lu Miaoge and Ling Zixiao seated on either side.
Lu Miaoyun, Lu Miaohuan, Qu Zhenzhen, and other wives and concubines, along with their children Lu Ping’an, Lu Xianzhi, Lu Ruyi, and others, were seated on both sides.
Almost filling the entire council hall.
“Husband, the family has 1,430 mu of ordinary spiritual fields, planted with spiritual mulberry trees, red flower grass, green seed fruit, blue moon flowers, and white corn.”
“These spiritual crops are all harvested once a year. Currently, we have obtained 9,200 jin of spiritual mulberry leaves, 12,200 jin of red flower grass, 20,050 jin of green seed fruit, 11,300 jin of blue moon flowers, and 23,600 jin of white corn.”
“We have 1,000 mu of first-tier spiritual fields, planted with top-grade first-tier ‘Jade Marrow Rice’. The Jade Marrow Rice is harvested once every one and a half years. Currently, all of it has been harvested. After husking and removing the bran, we obtained 24,630 jin of Jade Marrow Rice and 10,150 jin of rice bran.”
“The remaining 150 mu of second-tier spiritual fields are planted with Azure Water Rice, which matures once every two and a half years and is currently not yet ripe.”
“Because these crops were all originally planted by the Yu family, after we took over, due to manpower and familiarity issues, the yield decreased by 30% to 40%. However, with the replenishment of manpower, the quantity is expected to gradually increase next year.”
Lu Miaoyun, holding an account book, spoke slowly, reporting on the family’s spiritual field crops.
“Will the insufficient yield of spiritual mulberry leaves, red flower grass, green seed fruit, and blue moon flowers affect the aquatic production?”
Lu Changsheng asked upon hearing this.
These crops are all used to formulate fish feed for raising spiritual fish.
If the yield is insufficient, it will affect the situation in Azure Water Lake and the fish farm.
“I have confirmed this with Zhong Yu and the others. Currently, it will not be greatly affected. The warehouse has pre-prepared fish feed, but if it continues like this next year, it will cause a certain impact.”
Lu Miaoyun said.
“Alright.”
Lu Changsheng nodded, signaling her to continue.
“Currently, in terms of spiritual fish, this year’s output is 11,300 jin, including 219 Crimson Blood Carp, totaling 2,890 jin, and 86 Azure Blood Carp, totaling 1,210 jin.”
“As for spiritual herbs, none have matured yet.”
Lu Miaoyun continued, “The estimated income from spiritual fields is 19,000 spirit stones, and the estimated income from aquatic products is 6,700 spirit stones.”
“The income from aquatic products is so low? Shouldn’t the income from aquatic products be higher than that from spiritual fields?”
Lu Changsheng frowned slightly upon hearing this, somewhat surprised.
He knew that the aquatic products of Azure Lake Mountain were the main source of income.
“Husband, the income from spiritual fields is only estimated to be this much. Spiritual mulberry leaves, red flower grass, green seed fruit, and blue moon flowers are basically self-produced and self-sold, used to feed spiritual fish, and are not actually considered profitable.”
“Moreover, before this, the Yu family had just sold a batch of spiritual fish, and the fish farm lacks carp kings, affecting the fish farm’s ecology. Furthermore, sales channels have been affected. For various reasons, the income from aquatic products has greatly decreased.”
“Otherwise, under normal circumstances, the income from the fish farm should be around 20,000 spirit stones.”
Lu Miaoyun said.
“I see.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng immediately understood that the income from the spiritual field area seemed high, but after deducting the four types of spiritual crops, deducting labor, seeds, and other costs, it was actually just average.
On the other hand, the aquatic production was affected by many factors and seriously declined.
“In the future, only calculate the total income, expenses, and net profit in this regard.”
“Then, compare the annual increase and decrease with the previous year, and what caused it.”
Lu Changsheng said.
He felt that there was no need to make things so complicated in this regard.
“Understood, husband.”
Lu Miaoyun nodded in response.
Then, she looked at Lu Miaohuan, signaling her to speak and report.
Currently, she is responsible for the three major aspects of the family: spiritual fields, spiritual herbs, and aquatic products.
The income from the external shops and cooperative businesses is controlled by Lu Miaohuan.
The remaining puppet workshop, talisman workshop, and brewing workshop are respectively managed by Lu Xianzhi, Lu Ruyi, and Lu Quanzhen.
“Currently, the family has eleven shops: three talisman shops, two rice shops, two fish shops, one spiritual herb shop, one pill shop, one magic item shop, and one restaurant.”
“The main profits come from the talisman shops and fish shops. The other shops are all operated externally in a cooperative model, with a total income of 30,593 spirit stones.”
“There are also three mineral veins under our name, currently being mined in cooperation with the Bai family of Hundred Birds Lake, the Ji family of Little Jing Mountain, and the Zhao family of White Tiger Mountain, with an estimated income of 1,100 spirit stones.”
“The Hongye Valley market earned 5,961 spirit stones.”
Lu Miaohuan said, holding the account book jade scroll.
“What is the proportion of the talisman shops, and what is the net profit?”
Lu Changsheng looked at Lu Miaohuan upon hearing this and asked.
“Talismans account for more than 40% of the income, at 13,566 spirit stones. Thanks to your second-tier spiritual talismans, husband, the profit is as high as 40%, at 5,400 spirit stones.”
Lu Miaohuan said.
“Huanhuan, in the future, just calculate the expenses and profits directly in this regard.”
Lu Changsheng said gently.
After speaking, he looked at his children and said, “You continue.”
“Father, currently, the puppet workshop has thirteen puppet apprentices and sixty-one workers. We have created thirteen Beast No. 1 puppets, eleven Flying Eagle No. 1 puppets, and two humanoid puppets. All materials cost a total of 2,832 spirit stones.”
Lu Xianzhi stood up and said.
“Well, tell me when you can skillfully create humanoid puppets.”
“Also, in terms of talent cultivation, don’t be stingy with spending money as long as there is talent in this area.”
Lu Changsheng nodded and said.
Beast No. 1, Flying Bird No. 1, and Humanoid No. 1 are the three blueprints he gave to Lu Xianzhi, asking him to lead people to become proficient.
Subsequently, these three types of puppets will be continuously upgraded to create advanced puppets.
“Yes, Father.”
Lu Xianzhi cupped his hands in response and then sat down.
His daughter, Lu Ruyi, stood up beside him and said in a clear voice, “Daddy, currently, the talisman factory mainly focuses on OEM production, producing ordinary talisman paper and spiritual ink for Green Bamboo Mountain. This year, we produced a total of 962 ordinary talisman papers and 115 boxes of spiritual ink, with a total income of 63 spirit stones.”
“Haha, not bad, you made money in the first year.”
Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing this.
However, if the labor cost is deducted from this spiritual stone income, there is actually no profit at all, and it is also a loss.
“Father, the brewing workshop brewed a total of 950 jin of White Jade Wine and 460 jin of Spiritual Mulberry Wine this year.”
“These wines consumed a total of 4,920 jin of white corn and 2,100 jin of spiritual mulberry leaves. The remaining auxiliary materials cost a total of 863 spirit stones.”
“If all the wine is sold, the estimated income is 1,400 spirit stones.”
At this time, Lu Quanzhen reported.
“Well, not bad, next year it will be almost able to achieve a balance of payments and start making a profit.”
Lu Changsheng nodded upon hearing Lu Quanzhen’s words.
“Husband, currently, the family has a total of 241 people, including three Foundation Establishment cultivators, three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, twenty mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and twelve early-stage Qi Refining cultivators.”
“According to the family rules, the family will give encouragement to the birth of newborns in the family. This year, the family has a total of thirty-one newborns.”
Xiao Yueru said.
The things she is responsible for are relatively simple, such as counting the family disciples and giving rewards to the family concubines and disciples.
Currently, the main thing is to issue newborn rewards.
“Well, not bad.”
Lu Changsheng nodded slightly.
In addition to the eight children born to him, these thirty-three newborns are all the third generation of the Lu family.
Through the system, he knew that none of these twenty-five people had spiritual roots.
He didn’t care too much about this.
After all, none of these children, except for Lu Xianzhi, possessed spiritual roots.
The probability of birthing offspring with spiritual roots was extremely small.
However, after the twentieth offspring, the system no longer provided congratulatory money, causing Lu Changsheng a slight disappointment.
He had thought he could rely on his children to frantically farm a wave of congratulatory money.
“This year, the family’s profit income is 54,688 spiritual stones.”
After everyone had finished reporting, Ling Zixiao, holding a jade scroll, spoke with an elegant and dignified expression.
Her first sentence surprised everyone present, as they hadn’t expected the family’s profit income to be so high this year.
“Apart from talismans, fisheries, mineral veins, shop rentals, and the market, the main income comes from the sale of assets, amounting to 31,500 spiritual stones.”
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Ling Zixiao continued, “This year, the family’s expenditure is 80,649 spiritual stones.”
“Among them, the purchase of the Ji family’s territory cost 16,000 spiritual stones, the tribute to the Qingyun Sect cost 12,000 spiritual stones, and the family’s salary and reward expenditure amounted to 12,760 spiritual stones.”
“The family’s guest elder’s offering cost 1,200 spiritual stones, and the recruitment of apprentices, spiritual farmers, and fishermen, totaling 123 people, cost 1,839 spiritual stones.”
“In terms of family construction, the family formation cost 24,891 spiritual stones; fisheries expenditure amounted to 1,561 spiritual stones; spiritual medicine expenditure amounted to 2,300 spiritual stones; workshop expenditure amounted to 3,692 spiritual stones; external procurement expenditure amounted to 1,251 spiritual stones; and social interaction expenditure amounted to 3,152 spiritual stones.”
Ling Zixiao spoke in a clear and melodious voice, neither hurried nor slow, with an elegant and dignified demeanor.
“Hiss!”
“This year’s expenditure is so high!”
“A loss of over 10,000 spiritual stones!”
“If it weren’t for selling off assets, wouldn’t we have lost over 50,000!”
“This, this, this…”
In the council hall, all the concubines, sons, and daughters were shocked and stunned upon hearing this.
They hadn’t expected that after establishing Azure Lake Mountain, the expenditure would be so large.
Not only them, but even Lu Miaoyun, Lu Miaohuan, and even Lu Miaoge were shocked when they saw this spiritual stone expenditure.
Because this expenditure was too exaggerated.
“Haha, I didn’t expect this year’s expenditure to be so high.”
“However, the Ji family’s spiritual land and the family formation cost too much. Once the family stabilizes next year, the labor and family construction expenses will decrease, and the fisheries and workshops will start to generate profits, things will slowly improve.”
Lu Changsheng said with a chuckle upon seeing this.
He had always been accustomed to spending money lavishly and had no concept of it, nor would he carefully calculate how much he had spent.
Moreover, during this period, he had also asked the Ji family and Xiao Xiyue to purchase spiritual materials for him, and many of the funds came from his private treasury and were not recorded in the family’s accounts.
Otherwise, the expenditure would have been even more exaggerated.
Of course, this year he also earned a lot by selling second-order talismans, but this income also went into his private treasury.
“You all need to work harder. The family fortune I’ve accumulated over the years is almost spent.”
“If we continue to lose money and can’t make ends meet, the family will be difficult to operate.”
Lu Changsheng looked at his children, such as Lu Ping’an, Lu Xianzhi, and Lu Ruyi, and continued.
“Father, the family is currently in the initial stage of development, and there are many places where the family needs money.”
“Our brothers and sisters are not yet able to stably generate income. You can adjust and reduce the family’s expenses. When the family’s situation stabilizes and gradually becomes profitable, we can readjust.”
At this time, Lu Quanzhen stood up, his expression serious, looked at Lu Changsheng, slightly cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice.
In his opinion, although the expenses for the family formation and the Ji family’s spiritual land were high, the salaries of his brothers and sisters, including his concubine mothers, were also clearly too high.
“Father, your child also thinks so.”
Lu Ping’an also hurriedly stood up and said upon seeing this.
He knew that this kind of thing could easily make the other younger siblings, or concubine mothers, feel uncomfortable, so as the eldest brother, he spoke to share the pressure for Lu Quanzhen.
Seeing this, several other children also stood up and said the same.
“Continue to maintain it this year. If the family still suffers a serious loss next year and cannot make ends meet, I will consider this aspect.”
Lu Changsheng raised his hand, motioned for everyone to sit down, and said aloud.
“Yun’er, the main expenditure next year should be on talent cultivation, especially in puppets and winemaking. We can increase talent recruitment and cultivation.”
“As for alchemy, talisman making, and formations, these few are more about quality than quantity. If there is talent in the family, cultivate it. If there is no talent in this area, there is no need to force it too much.”
Lu Changsheng said to Lu Miaoyun.
In his opinion, relying solely on spiritual fields, fisheries, and medicine gardens would definitely not work.
These three can only be considered the primary industry, the foundation of Azure Lake Mountain.
To make money, we still have to rely on the secondary industry, manufacturing.
In Lu Changsheng’s plan, once the foundation of the secondary industries such as puppets and winemaking is stabilized and profitability is achieved, it will be almost time for the children to go out.
Through the Red Leaf Valley market, the family’s current shops and income can be used to start expanding and developing the tertiary industry.
“Yes, husband.”
Lu Miaoyun nodded in response upon hearing this.
The main purpose of this family meeting was to give the family’s concubines, sons, and daughters a general understanding of the family’s current situation.
Otherwise, Lu Changsheng’s general arrangements for the family would have been clear to her long ago.
“Alright, do you have anything to say? Any suggestions or ideas for the family can be brought up.”
Lu Changsheng looked at these concubines, sons, and daughters, and said aloud.
“Father, your child has something to say.”
Lu Quanzhen stood up and cupped his hands, saying.
He stated that the family’s current situation was still somewhat scattered and casual, and all the disciples were relatively casual in their learning and work.
This kind of situation was normal, but the family should have arrangements in the family rules that those who break through the fourth level of Qi Refining, or reach a certain age, should start contributing to the family.
Especially since the family was newly established and could not make ends meet, the family’s disciples should be made to work and contribute to the family even more.
Moreover, the family had spiritual fields, fisheries, and spiritual medicines inside, and shops and mines outside, and many things could be arranged.
Lu Changsheng looked at his son.
What the other party said was correct.
It just didn’t consider the harmony of the brothers and sisters very much.
After all, there were indeed many children in the family, as Lu Quanzhen said, whose spiritual root talent was average, and who were not very attentive to either cultivation or work.
“Quanzhen, you are indeed right in this regard.”
“However, it has only been a little over a year since the Xiahou Demon Spawn incident, and perhaps other remnants of Xiahou are still paying attention to our family, so the matter of going out should be put aside for the time being.”
“As for the arrangement of internal family affairs…”
Lu Changsheng said, looking at Lu Miaoyun, “Yun’er, all family children who have reached the age of sixteen and have not yet broken through the fourth level of Qi Refining will be assigned tasks. The tasks will not only calculate family contributions, but also calculate assessments every year to determine the family salary for the following year.”
Since Lu Quanzhen had already said this, he felt that the atmosphere should indeed change.
After all, if there were too many lazy children, it would not only affect the family atmosphere and others, but also make the children who worked hard feel unhappy.
Although he could afford to support them, the family was newly established, and the atmosphere must be grasped and not allowed to go wrong.
“Yes, husband.”
Lu Miaoyun nodded in response.