NOVEL NEXT Chapter 264 - 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish
Chapter 264: Chapter 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish
“Not bad, riding on a Ducati now?”
Standing at the doorway, Yao Jun watched Bi Fang ride up on a black motorcycle, dust trailing behind him, and let out a pleased whistle.
“Buy whatever you like, otherwise what’s the point of making money? But man, your place is really out in the sticks.”
Bi Fang set down his helmet and got off the bike, looking at the clubhouse entrance which was still not fully renovated. He nodded in satisfaction; although it wasn’t completely finished yet, it already had scale and exuded the aura of a high-end club. If it had been him from half a year ago, he wouldn’t have even walked through the doors.
No other reason, just a realization through his eyes, it was a place he couldn’t afford.
What a turnaround indeed.
“Can’t help it, if you want a large space, you have to move to the suburbs. Otherwise, the cost is too high. Speaking of which, you really let go as the absentee landlord, didn’t even inquire about the location.”
Yao Jun also felt the club was a bit far from the city center, but fortunately, it was still on the main road with convenient transportation.
The three partners were all well-off, so if they were going to do something, they wanted to do it right. Not to mention anything else, at the very least the place had to be impressive, otherwise they’d lose face just talking about it.
“Isn’t it better to leave the professional stuff to the professionals?” Bi Fang said with a smile. The other two’s business acumen was far superior to his own, and they had plenty of capable people under them, so there was no need for him to meddle. Bi Fang glanced around and suddenly asked.
“Lin Chang didn’t come?”
“He’s tied up. After the New Year, he went back to the company to deal with business. I’ve realized I’m the only one who’s idle; if I weren’t busy with the club this year, the old man would probably accuse me of being lazy.”
Yao Jun scratched his eyebrow, even Bi Fang had just returned from abroad not long ago. Compared to them, it seemed he was indeed the one with the most free time.
“Thanks for your help with the rankings last time.”
“Ah, it was nothing. Don’t belittle me with that talk; without me, you’d be first anyway, believe it or not?”
“Credit where credit is due, if you give me money, I have to thank you.”
“Damn, not playing next time!”
The two chatted as they walked deeper into the club, which was currently constructing several venues simultaneously: rock climbing, archery, and even a fighting gym.
The decorations were very modern and nicely done. The walls even incorporated color-changing glass, which under the lighting gave off a feeling of being deep in the jungle, along with the indoor trees surrounding the area.
But the more Bi Fang looked around, the more he felt something wasn’t quite right, or rather, it was missing something. It seemed to lack a certain zest.
Though the real adventure would take place outdoors, as far as the club was concerned, apart from the décor being a bit different, filled with “natural ambience,” at first glance, it didn’t seem much different from any standard rock climbing or archery club—perhaps only combined.
Bi Fang was clear on the aim of the club. True wilderness expeditions were harsh, and aside from the enthusiasts, many people might only come once for the novelty and never return. Most people would come with two goals in mind: fun and socializing.
To ensure fun, the club had to be easy-going, not too challenging, as the high learning curve could easily discourage some.
The club’s current appeal was lacking. It might make money upon open, but certainly not a fortune. Instead, it risked becoming an expensive toy requiring a lot of energy to manage.
At this thought, Bi Fang vaguely regretted his decision. Aside from the initial investment, he had later put in several tens of millions more. To think that he ended up with this?
No sign of the expected effect.
Yao Jun, noticing Bi Fang’s discontent, immediately laughed and said, “Are you feeling like this club is just a stitched-together monster?”
Bi Fang looked at him in surprise and then nodded.
Yao Jun wasn’t worried at all. “Actually, Lin Chang and I came to check this place out a month ago. We also felt something was off. This thing, well, it’s hardly fun to talk about. It’s like a club for professionals, naturally discouraging. On the other hand, it still has an appeal to a certain group of people, particularly the wealthy ones.”
Most outdoor enthusiasts are also well-off. Relying on just a small group of people could cover the daily expenses. With Bi Fang’s reputation, losing money is unlikely, but the payback period would also be long.
“So, we brought in a professional marketing team afterward, had a meeting together, and decided to approach from two angles: professionalism and entertainment.”
“Professionalism is about being the best, the kind enthusiasts can get certificates in. Don’t worry about the proof; we’ve got connections for that. We’re just waiting for you to hire instructors from the military.”
“And the entertainment aspect?”
Yao Jun cackled strangely and led Bi Fang through the hall to the back of the club. Suddenly, a mix of licorice and manure odors made Bi Fang’s brow furrow.
Here, surprisingly, they were raising a good number of animals.
Just by looking, one could see rabbits, foxes, deer, and goats.
Bi Fang suddenly understood and immediately realized Yao Jun’s idea, “You’re planning to do hunting?”
“Exactly!” Yao Jun confirmed, “Do you remember how we later asked you for a big sum of money? We rented out the entire back mountain of the club, more than two square kilometers. It’s this size for now, but we plan to expand later. We’re planning to build a hunting ground!”
“Primitive hunting ground, cold weapon hunting!”
“Is that even allowed?”
Bi Fang was shocked, and then he had another question, “Do you have a permit? And won’t it be dangerous for the tourists?”
Yao Jun shook his head, “You’re underestimating us. Lin Chang and I might not have what it takes, but he and my father have plenty of connections. Plus, the main appeal of this entertainment is its mass appeal. The risks have been considered; otherwise, how could it be opened to the public? When the time comes, visitors will need relevant certificates, and it all comes full circle.”
Yao Jun led Bi Fang to the armory to show him the items inside.
Bi Fang looked them over one by one; there were longbows and spears, but without exception, the heads had been removed, replaced by a special pouch head covered with colored powder.
“The arrows have no tips; they’re made of rubber. Once they hit the prey, the paint will leave a mark on the animal, counting as a successful hunt. Afterwards, customers can pay to purchase the prey, covering the cost of its upkeep, or it will be not for sale. Plus, they can get related souvenirs.
We’ve thought about the difficulty level too. The animals are bred and not so alert. Under the lead of a captain, tourists can fully enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We’re also considering setting up a restaurant where one can process the prey or rent equipment for the visitors to grill on their own.
We even plan to introduce some not-so-rare animals later on, turning it into a kind of alternative zoo.”
Purchasing the prey?
Well, I’ll be!
Bi Fang thought to himself, an expert at making money twice over: this sounds indeed fun, distinctively featured, and safe while still being accessible to the general public.
“That’s pretty cool, you guys!”
Bi Fang playfully punched Yao Jun’s shoulder, his excitement apparent, “Can I give it a try now?”
“Of course, the fence is almost completely built, but there aren’t many animals yet, so catching them might be a bit difficult.” Yao Jun scratched his head, remembering how excited he had been himself half a month ago when he hadn’t managed to catch even one rabbit.
After listening to Yao Jun’s experience, Bi Fang looked at him with scorn and said, “Do you think you’re on the same level as me?”
Yao Jun: “…”
Why did he find those words so unpleasant to hear?
Can’t he take a hint?
That very afternoon, Yao Jun witnessed firsthand what real expertise looked like.
Out of the twenty rabbits and two deer released, Bi Fang caught twenty-two rabbits back, and not a single deer was missing.
He even caught wild rabbits that were originally on the mountain.
However, two of the bred ones were not found.
If it weren’t for the sheer size of the place and the lack of time, Yao Jun would have doubted whether any animal could escape at all.
It must be said, the bred rabbits were indeed plump and tender, and much easier to catch than the wild ones. Almost none could escape once spotted. Bi Fang and Yao Jun ate to their hearts’ content that night, packing up plenty to send to Lin Chang for a taste.
In the following days, instead of intensively training, Bi Fang relaxed properly during the spring break, occasionally visiting the club.
In the mornings, he would go to the park to practice Tai Chi with the old men. His flowing, unique movements dazzled the crowd, who exclaimed in amazement. Several elders even wanted to become his disciples on the spot, but unfortunately, Bi Fang stopped them. What would he do with a group of elderly disciples?
Because of this, many park-goers witnessed an odd scene for a few days.
A handsome and vigorous young man leading a group of old men in Tai Chi, not hesitating to rebuke them for incorrect moves, was indeed strange to see.
In the meantime, Bi Fang had also kept an eye on Gou Lin’s situation. As one of the friends who had borrowed money, Bi Fang had promised to give him a hand, but unfortunately, after mentioning it once, the other party never replied.
Half a month passed quietly like this.