Chapter 5: First Sales and Rising Demand

Zhang Wei sat at his desk, the dim glow of his computer screen illuminating his face. It had been a week since he uploaded the rocket motors and assault rifles to the Flagship Store under his new company, Stellar Innovations. The excitement of seeing his first sales notifications hadn't worn off, and he found himself checking the store more often than he liked to admit. But tonight, something different happened—a new notification appeared.

Ding! Transaction alert: 6 assault rifles sold to Outworld Mining Group on Gynis-7.Zhang Wei blinked. Gynis-7 was a distant colony planet known for its dangerous environment and rough mining operations. It was a place where people needed protection, and it seemed they had found his affordable assault rifles the perfect solution."System, show me the stock levels of the Flagship Store," Zhang Wei ordered, leaning closer to the screen.Ding! Current stock levels:Stella Mark I Rocket Motor: 15 units available, priced at 1,200 yuan each.Stellar Assault Rifle: 32 units remaining, priced at 800 yuan each.Zhang Wei quickly calculated the sales.Sales of 6 rifles at 800 yuan each: 6 x 800 = 4,800 yuanBalance before sales: 290,900 yuan

New balance after sales: 290,900 + 4,800 = 295,700 yuan

4,800 yuan might not have seemed like much, but it was a start. It was proof that his products were gaining traction, even on distant planets. More importantly, the sales gave him motivation. If a small mining group on a remote planet needed his rifles, how many others might be interested once word spread?Zhang Wei opened the store's analytics, keeping a close eye on trends. He noticed a few other users had bookmarked the Stella Mark I rocket motor, though none had purchased yet. It was understandable—1,200 yuan was a significant investment for a motor. However, he was confident that when the time came, they would sell as well.The next day, after another long shift at the café, Zhang Wei returned to his room. He was exhausted but eager to check his store. His mind drifted back to the 6 assault rifles sold. He couldn't help but think about how they were being used on Gynis-7."System," Zhang Wei said, his voice tinged with curiosity, "keep track of all items sold from the store. I want to know exactly how much inventory I have and what's been purchased."Ding! Command acknowledged. A real-time inventory tracker has been implemented for Stellar Innovations.Zhang Wei smiled. It was just one more step in making sure his business ran smoothly. He couldn't afford any mistakes or lost stock. Every rifle, every rocket motor counted.Current Flagship Store Inventory:Stella Mark I Rocket Motor: 15 units availableStellar Assault Rifle: 32 units availableItems sold:6 Assault Rifles (sold to Outworld Mining Group on Gynis-7)Zhang Wei took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. He had sold 6 rifles and still had plenty of stock left. His mind wandered to the rocket motors, which were still sitting idle in the store."System, can we advertise the rocket motors to more planets?" Zhang Wei asked. "Specifically, colonies or groups that are working on space travel and construction. I want the Stella Mark I to be known."Ding! Targeting parameters adjusted. Advertising campaign launched to sectors involved in early-stage space travel. Estimated engagement: 1,200 potential clients.Zhang Wei nodded. That would take time to bear fruit, but it was a necessary step. He couldn't rely on chance buyers forever. The rocket motor, the Stella Mark I, had real potential—he just had to make sure the right people knew about it.Later that night, Zhang Wei went over his finances again. He had spent a lot of time thinking about how to carefully manage the money his parents left behind. With the system's help, he was starting to turn that initial capital into something sustainable. But he had to be smart about it.Balance before any purchases: 295,700 yuanHe still had plenty of stock, and the café job, while grueling, provided a steady income of 50 yuan per hour. After working four days straight, he'd earned:50 yuan per hour x 8 hours per day = 400 yuan per day400 yuan per day x 4 days = 1,600 yuanSo, his new balance was:Balance before café job earnings: 295,700 yuanAdd café job earnings: 1,600 yuan

New balance: 295,700 + 1,600 = 297,300 yuan

Zhang Wei was pleased with how things were progressing. He still had enough money to keep the business going, and sales were starting to come in. The future was starting to look bright, but he knew that he couldn't let his guard down. There was still a long way to go before he had enough to cover Xiaoyu's medical treatment.As Zhang Wei closed his notebook, his thoughts briefly returned to the past. The former Zhang Wei had lived in fear of rejection, of being overlooked. He had wasted so much time on people like Xu Meiling, who had never cared about him. But now, with the system at his side and his business growing, Zhang Wei had a clear goal.No one would take advantage of him again, and no one would know where his success came from.He glanced at the screen one last time, reviewing the remaining stock. The Stella Mark I might not have sold yet, but it was only a matter of time. In a universe where space travel was in its infancy, there would always be a need for propulsion systems.And when that need arose, Stellar Innovations would be ready.Final Balance: 297,300 yuanRemaining stock:Stella Mark I Rocket Motor: 15 units availableStellar Assault Rifle: 32 units available