Never stay the same

Fang Shi walked into his room with his dinner, and sat down while thinking about the day. He had several things to consider right now, and after procrastinating for an hour while eating, he opened the system status panel. He glanced at (!) mark on the achievement tab, but he instead went to the store tab and went to the section where the store uniform design was saved.

"System, can I add more uniforms?", He asked.

'Answer: Yes, additional uniform slots can be purchased', the system replied.

"Add three more uniform slots, and organize the puppets into separate categories, service providers and artisans", Fang Shi directed.

The status screen changed as all the portraits of the puppets were organized, and a separate column of icons representing the uniforms. The first icon showed the current uniform in use, and the other three icons are blank. Fang Shi assigned four uniforms to the puppets: the current robes, clothes from the Tang Dynasty, Hanboks, and Kimonos. He arranged a set of colors based on based on the catergory and the season. Starting tomorrow, the puppets would change uniforms every few days based on their profession and season.

With that taken of, Fang Shi finally went back to the achievement tab and opened the new achievement:

[New! I'm going to need those TPS reports ASAP]

He casually opened the entry,

[I'm going to need those TPS reports ASAP

As someone following the path of the merchant, it's important to know how your business is doing. Until now, the Host has assigned resources based on his own judgement. Since the Host requested the store performance report for the first time, the system will issue a new tool.

Reward: The system will add a new tab to the status panel, Report, that will update every morning. Also, this tab will also have past reports saved for the Host's need.]

Fang Shi accepted the reward, and selected the new tab. The status screen showed the current day's report, and previous day's reports were located at the bottom of the panel. He gritted his teeth and looked at the report, but relaxed when he saw how the report was formatted. It reminded him of how simulation games in his past life would organize information. But he noticed that the report covered the whole store as a whole.

"How am I supposed to distinguish the pod cafe from the rest of the store?", Fang Shi complained.

'Answer: The host can change the parameters of the report using vocal or mental comands', the system responded.

"Display all the days of the pod cafe from opening until today", he requested.

The status panel changed as the report shifted the numbers and charts around to satisfy Fang Shi'a command. He took ten minutes to read all the information before smiling, if his calculations were correct, he would barely pass his task. This made him curious, so he started changing to the other businesses to understand their situation. He would read everything until he understood each shop, and then switch to another. Everything looked normal until he reached the main shop, which showed an irregularity. He switched to a different tab that showed how much product was made each day, and compared it to the number of products sold each day.

"System, it seems that we produce too much of certain products compared to what we sell", Fang Shi stated, "What happens to the unsold items?"

'Answer: When a perishable item reaches a state that is deemed below standards, the system will automatically remove it from circulation and it becomes fertilizer for future crops', it explained.

For the next few hours, Fang Shi tirelessly used the reports to properly calculate how much of each crop was needed to supply the shops. He went over to the framed wall scrolls, and applied changes so that he could cut down on wasting precious materials before saving all his progress and going to bed.

The next few days went by, and Fang Shi would tend shop as usual, but also, he would hang out in the Pod cafe and listen as the customers would play, watch, and talk with others about their experience. He also was thinking of a new shop to open to benefit his neighbors, and indirectly the city. He had been using the reports the last couple of days to gauge how to arrange things to support his idea, but he thought of a problem, space.

The current task was due to finish today, and when he checked its status, he estimated that it would be completed in a few hours. As he watched the cultivators congregating, it reminded him of the days he would read or post on forums or sites like *eddit about strategies, secrets, and more. He made up his mind that tonight he would need to do four things: read the day's reports, arrange the shops to ease foot traffic, create forums in the virtual realm, and add a training module to the virtual realm as well.

As he was planning what do after work finished, he heard the notification chime for the completion of a task. He finished his shift in a great mood before heading to his room.

Fang Shi ate his dinner on the balcony while looking at the scenery and customers walking between shops. When he finished, he went back inside to prepare for tomorrow. His first step was the whole store layout, so he add two basement floors to the building with the cultivation room and cafe. He made these floors and the first floor the cultivation cafe with pod artifacts populated all three floors, and kept the second floor for cultivation rooms since his reports suggested some people still used them. For the Artisan hall, he made the first floor exclusively for alchemy, the second floor for artifact refinery, and the third for talismans and arrays. In the main building, the first floor was still the main store, the second was the restaurant, but now the third was a combination of the clothing store and the beauty shop.

Fang Shi had originally planned to wait a few days before introducing something new, but he changed his mind since he was already changing the layout of the stores. Now on the first floor, the fresh produce, rice, and meat was still there, but he also introduced a new section for spiritual farmers. This new section had tools, fertilizer, seeds, sprouts, and other items to help farmers like his neighbors. Everything he put on sale would only allow farmers to plant low quality spirit rice, but most of the farmers that lived out here didn't have the ability to spirit rice at all, so it was still an improvement.

Satisfied with this arrangement, he turned his attention towards his pod artifact. Sitting inside, he first created the forums.

"This new addition to the virtual realm should look simple and nice, use my memories as a basis. Include a tutorial on how to use it but adapt it to the standards of this world", Fang Shi instructed the system, "But there has to be regulations to prevent shady practices from occurring. Anything that deals with unorthodox, illegal, or unethical practices will be flagged. Preserve the information and the user so that I can inform the authorities."

'Notice: all instructions are received, and will be implemented', he heard in response.

"Next in the training module", Fang Shi remarked, "Design a workshop appropriate for the profession, question the user on their preferences, and provide 'items' for those interested. Next, create a large group of 'Instructors' for each profession, and when it is determined what will motivate the student, assign the instructor best suited. Currently we only have books, scrolls, and jade slips that I have bought from other shops or from customers for 3rd rate recipes. This training module will only be for beginners since we lack 2nd rate recipes. The courses for now should include alchemy, inscription, arrays, refining, and farming."

'Does the host also want to create something similar in the combat training section of the cultivation program?', the system asked.

This was a conundrum for Fang Shi, in the novels he read cultivators usually tried to gain enlightenment by themselves, but they also looked forward to gaining the attention of someone who could guide them.

"Create instructors for the combat training as well, but add an additional cost to utilize it", he decided, "That's enough for now, bring up today's report so that I can make adjustments for these changes."

Fang Shi read the reports, and made a few adjustments to his wall scrolls before going to bed.

Mei Lan was a 3rd rate alchemist that was currently working for Lan Mingyu, and today he was bringing her and two other low ranked alchemists with him to another pavilion. She wasn't pleased with this, but since he was the boss, she withheld any complaints.

"Now, I'm sure that the three of you are unhappy with this arrangement", Lan Mingyu told the three of them, "Even if you have your doubts, keep them to yourself. This pavilion has an obscenely high amount of perfect pills and elixirs, and I need you to find out how. Take these spirit stones, as I was told you will need them, and follow instructions."

"Yes, Boss Lan", the three alchemists replied.

Mei Lan became genuinely curious about this place because as far as she could tell, they were heading towards the farmlands of the outer city. Eventually the carriage carrying them stopped, and when they exited, they saw a grand gate and a sign marked 'Heaven and Earth pavilion'. As the four of the entered the gate, Mei Lan saw others that she recognized, all lower level artisans from companies in the inner city.

The owners of the eight companies walked up to a twelve, thirteen, or fourteen year old boy, much to the surprise of Mei Lan.

"Owner Fang, good morning", all the owners said to the surprise of everyone.

"Good day to you as well", Owner Fang replied casually, "Follow the four here, they will show you our products and then guide you to meet our artisans. Refiners follow this one, alchemist follow that one, inscribers follow the third one, and Array masters follow the fourth."

"Tho, Those are all puppets?!", a voice from the crowd exclaimed.

"Good eye, but I'm afraid there is no prize", Owner Fang laughed.

Mei Lan was flabbergasted, no one living in the farmlands would ever talk to someone from the inner city like this, yet it just happened.

"Alright, let's go", Lan Mingyu said, and Mei Lan and the other two alchemists followed behind him.

The large crowd made their way to the doors in the back, and everyone was amazed by the pond surrounding by bamboo when they exited. Mei Lan had never seen a store like this that had gardens in the front and sights like this in the back. They made their way to the right building, and as soon as they entered a strong scent was smelled by Mei Lan.

"This floor is for Alchemy, head up stairs for the other professions", the puppet said, and Mei Lan was grateful she wouldn't have to climb stairs.

When she looked around, she saw a whole floor dedicated to selling pills and elixirs. A huge crowd was inside selecting what they want before getting into the large, it quickly moving line as they purchased the goods.

"This is the standard of this shop, so take some time to look around", Lan Mingyu told them, "Once you are ready, we will head over to a master who is responsible for refining pills."

In a separate corner, the members of their rival shop had also received the same instructions, so Mei Lan hurried to inspect the goods on sale. As she approached a counter where a variety of pills were on display, she leaned over to take a look. Her eyes widened when she looked at the first pill, it had pill clouds, the sign of a perfectly refined pill.

"No, this is probably their treasured pill they use to attract attention", she told herself, "It would be trouble to compare them to the first pill, and even our 2nd rate alchemist in the shop occasionally produce a perfect pill."

She went to next jade box, only to find a second pill with clouds, so she quickly looked at the third. She kept checking one after the other, and each time she saw clouds each time, much to her dismay.

"How could this be?", she whispered, "This isn't possible."

In the end, whether it was her or any of the other alchemists visiting today, they all had to face reality. Mei Lan was only grateful for one thing, not a single pill of 2nd ranked of any quality was present. Had that not been the case, she feared their pill pavilion would be out of business.

Soon, everyone gathered again, but the alchemists looked lifeless. Soon, the people from the other floors came back down, and they also shared the same look.

Then a thought occurred to her, and she said something to cheer herself up, "I didn't see any beautification pills or elixirs now that I think about it."

The puppet guiding them turned to her, Lady Mei Lan, those products are sold on the third floor of the main store."

Mei Lan thanked the guide, and suddenly felt conflicted. On one hand, it meant they sold perfectly refined beautification pills here after all. But on the other hand, They sold perfectly refined beautification pills!"

Everyone was once again together, so the 'guides' led them from this building to the other. When they entered the next building, they immediately saw a larger counter. The 'guides' looked at the puppets behind the counter before turning around.

"Today, artifacts that lead to the virtual realm have been reserved for you", it said, "This will be the only time this will happen, so line up, register, and receive your Jade slip. I will lead you to your place once everyone has complied."

As the people got in line, Mei Lan couldn't help but ask, "Can these artifacts be sold?"

Everyone looked at her, but soon turned towards the puppet to hear the answer.

"My master says that it's currently not available", it replied, "But he expects soon it will be possible to order them based on refining material availability."

It took a few minutes, and then the puppet took everyone to the destination.

"Enter the artifact, and follow the instructions delivered to you", the puppet instructed, "Based on the reservation, you have three hours. Any more than that requires more stones, enjoy your time."