Chapter 146: 146 The precarious-looking Mountain Flower_1
"Shichun, are you leaving?"
Jiao Zhongwei watched Ye Shichun pack her bags, her expression somewhat complex.
"If I don’t leave now, why would I stay?" Ye Shichun rolled her eyes. "This factory is going under. If I stay, I’m afraid they won’t even be able to pay my salary later."
Ye Shichun was a B-Level Popular Royal Spirit Card Master at this factory. Her distinctive card designs had cultivated a loyal online following, and her cards sold well. The Mount Flower Card Factory had discovered her and propelled her to fame. Now, with the news of the severed cooperation with the Qiao Family, coupled with the olive branch the Qiao Family extended to her, her decision to leave without hesitation was natural.
Jiao Zhongwei was a recently hired newcomer. The cards she created had a unique style and were produced in limited quantities. While not as popular as Ye Shichun’s, she was a rising star. The Qiao Family had also made her a generous offer, hoping to poach her, but Jiao Zhongwei had declined.
She had joined Mount Flower due to financial difficulties. After she signed her contract, Mount Flower, at her request, had prepaid a portion of her salary. She had always remembered this kindness and wouldn’t leave unless Mount Flower asked her to.
After finishing her packing, Ye Shichun saw Jiao Zhongwei standing there, still unmoved, and sneered, "I advise you to find another way out soon. What can you possibly gain by staying here? You stubborn fool."
Jiao Zhongwei replied softly, "One shouldn’t forget one’s roots."
The comment stung Ye Shichun. She, too, had been propelled to fame by Mount Flower, which had provided her with significant resources and publicity. Her current standing in the industry was largely thanks to Mount Flower. Perceiving Jiao Zhongwei’s words as a jab, she shot her a fierce glare. "Go on, pretend you’re so high and mighty! If you don’t leave, don’t expect me to lend you a hand when I become a B-Rank Ace Card Maker!"
Pausing at the door, as if to justify herself, Ye Shichun added, "I’ve been with Mount Flower for many years. All the copyrights for those cards belong to Mount Flower, so they aren’t losing out."
In reality, unless a card became an explosive hit in competitions, requiring Mount Flower to maintain exclusive control, the copyrights for an average card—designed more for aesthetics than strong combat abilities—weren’t particularly valuable. The payments Mount Flower had made to her were sufficient to cover the value of those copyrights.
After all, the truly valuable items were cards that could be copied and possessed Card Spirits. Ordinary cards were merely inexpensive collectibles for the general public.
Watching Ye Shichun leave, Jiao Zhongwei felt somewhat lost.
It wasn’t her own future she was uncertain about, but the future of the Card Factory.
When she reached her apartment building, Jiao Zhongwei ran into Shao Lanxiang, the factory’s B-Rank Ace Card Maker and its representative.
Mount Flower provided communal apartments for its Card Makers. Though not located in a major city, the conditions were even better than the residences provided by the government for Spirit Card Masters—each was a 150-square-meter duplex.
Shao Lanxiang and her family lived here.
She was already in her fifties, and the cards she designed were highly popular in the B-Level market. Many associations had tried to recruit her before, but she had never left.
Even now, with Mount Flower facing trouble, she hadn’t left.
At her age, her inspiration was dwindling, and she hadn’t produced any new cards in years. However, her past creations were enough to ensure her a comfortable and prosperous life.
She was sitting on a lounge chair outside the apartment building, basking in the sun and cuddling a pet. She greeted Jiao Zhongwei cheerfully when she saw her come downstairs.
Jiao Zhongwei walked over, her voice respectful. "Auntie Shao, a lot of people have left the factory."
Shao Lanxiang brushed it off. "Let them go. You can’t hold back those who want to leave. People naturally strive for better opportunities, just as water flows downhill. With the factory in its current state, no one really understands what the young lady’s strategy is. But what about you? Why didn’t you leave?"
Jiao Zhongwei slowly shook her head. "I don’t want to leave. Mount Flower helped me when I first came here. I won’t leave unless they ask me to."
Shao Lanxiang looked at Jiao Zhongwei, nodding with satisfaction and affection. "I’ve been at Mount Flower for so many years; I don’t want to go anywhere else. This situation is just unfolding. Let’s see if the young lady who just returned can find a way to salvage things from this downturn."
Jiao Zhongwei remained anxious. "Auntie Shao, do you think Mount Flower can really get back on track?"
As for a new era of glory, that was something Jiao Zhongwei didn’t dare to contemplate.
Given Mount Flower’s current state, most felt it would be a significant achievement just to revive it.
Shao Lanxiang shook her head slightly, offering an honest assessment. "It’s difficult. The competition among Card Factories is already fierce. Now, the quality of cards on the market is declining. Everything depends on the one in charge."
Jiao Zhongwei asked curiously, "Is that person really from the slums?"
It was likely the Nobility wanted to tarnish the Jimo Family’s reputation. Wen Jiang had just returned to the Jimo Family, and her true identity hadn’t been publicly announced yet, but the fact that she came from the slums had already spread widely.
The Mount Flower Card Factory was full of their own people.
Shao Lanxiang gestured for silence. "We common folk shouldn’t discuss these matters. How about coming to my place for lunch today?"
Jiao Zhongwei was usually honest and well-behaved, so Shao Lanxiang had always been fond of her.
Coincidentally, feeling uncertain about the factory’s future and unsure what to do, Jiao Zhongwei readily agreed with a smile.
Meanwhile, the matter was also being heatedly discussed online.
#The Qiao Family and Jimo Family card collaboration ends#
#A large number of Card Makers leave Mount Flower Card Factory#
#A-Level Popular Card Maker ’Silver Adornment’ announces termination of cooperation with Mount Flower Association#
#How to Save the Declining Mount Flower?#
[Looks like the Mount Flower Card Factory is doomed. I heard the one who just returned to the Jimo Family ordered the termination of the contract with the Qiao Family.]
[The Qiao Family is ruthless, poaching many of Mount Flower’s popular B-Level Card Makers and directly undermining its foundation. Now, not even Immortals could save it.]
[Why is the heir causing such a mess upon returning? She’s really driving the Jimo Family to a dead end.]
[Sigh... After General Jimo Xiao fell, the Jimo Family was considered beyond saving. Did they really think an heir from the slums could take control of the situation?]
When it came to the affairs of the Nobility, online secrecy was quite effective. Unless someone’s identity was publicly known, anonymous discussions, even gossip about the Nobility, continued unabated.
The Card Factory and the Mount Flower Association were closely linked. The previous unrest had already impacted the Association, only for the situation to be stabilized by the sudden appearance of Hua Zhuo.
But Wen Jiang’s move was a severe blow to Mount Flower’s lifeline. The future of these enterprises was hers, so why was she driving her own businesses to ruin?
Not only were people within the Mount Flower Association panic-stricken, but even those like Tang Qian, who knew Wen Jiang’s true identity, were puzzled.
Tang Qian knew Wen Jiang could create cards for combat—a skill Wen Jiang excelled at—but Wen Jiang had been keeping this ability secret. Moreover, the heirloom cards had been handed over to the Empire. Where would Wen Jiang find the time now to produce cards to save the Card Factory?
During this period, Wen Jiang calmly continued to participate in two more competitions, seemingly at ease.