This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Footnotes:
¹ Chinese gaming slang "有手就行" used to describe extremely easy tasks
² Reference to Chinese internet slang "基本操作, 勿6". Typing "666" praises skillful acts (six 六 sounds like "skilled" 流). Saying "勿6" is humble bragging—the feat was too basic for praise.
At most a few years older than him and not even a university graduate, Xu Qingxue was definitely not a Potion Master, but likely just an assistant. Given her surname, she was undoubtedly related to Xu Xiaoyu. However, since Potion Masters were indispensable to any potion company, even Xu Qingxue had to take them seriously.
"What do you want?" Xu Qingxue frowned.
"An apology, for starters. You were looking down your nose at me from the very beginning, and nobody can stand that," Chen Shu said casually, thinking to himself, You gave me the cold shoulder then, so I'll be out of your league now. "Besides, I can also attempt to brew Medium and High-Grade Strength Potions, I'm just not proficient yet."
A flicker of shock crossed Xu Qingxue's face.
Before she could speak, the Potion Master beside her exclaimed:
"You can brew High-Grade Strength Potions?"
"Of course. It's so simple, anyone with hands can do it."¹ Chen Shu smiled.
Xu Qingxue's eyes showed hesitation before finally revealing determination.
"Fine! I apologize. But if you're lying to me, don't think about staying at the company."
"Is that the attitude of someone apologizing?" Chen Shu frowned slightly.
"S-sorry..." Xu Qingxue lowered her head.
"What was that? I don't have my glasses on, so I can't hear you very well," Chen Shu said, rubbing his eyes.
What the hell do glasses have to do with hearing?! Xu Qingxue knew he was deliberately making things difficult for her, but a talent like Chen Shu was invaluable to the company.
Even if executives came, she would be the one who had to back down.
"I apologize for my behavior. Please forgive me, Mr. Chen!"
Xu Qingxue took a deep breath and finally spoke sincerely.
"Mm, that's more like it."
Chen Shu didn't push her too hard. After all, she was a Xu—if he completely offended her, it would create problems with Xu Xiaoyu too.
"But I'm only coming for two months during summer vacation as a temp worker. Just pay me whatever you think is fair."
Chen Shu spoke casually, not particularly caring about wages anymore.
His real goal was the Strength Potions; while others could only brew five bottles at a time, he could make thirteen. By secretly stashing away eight bottles from each batch, he could make 40,000 yuan, rendering his official wages irrelevant.
"Good! I'll draft a contract. Each Potion Master has a daily minimum output of five bottles. That shouldn't be a problem for you." Xu Qingxue said.
The company didn't support freeloaders—they naturally set quotas. If you couldn't meet them, you'd be asked to leave.
Five bottles was nothing for Chen Shu—one successful brewing session would do it.
"No problem at all." Chen Shu nodded.
"Can I start working these three days? Daily pay would be fine."
"Of course." Xu Qingxue turned and left the potion brewing department.
Though Xu Qingxue was cold, her work efficiency was quite good.
She quickly drafted a special contract for Chen Shu.
His position was only Potion Master's Assistant since Chen Shu didn't have a Potion Master's certificate.
But his salary was at Potion Master level—1,000 yuan per day.
While it sounded generous, the five Strength Potions he was required to produce daily generated roughly 5,000 yuan in profit, meaning the company took 80% while the Potion Master received 20%. However, the contract had an enticing clause: any bottles produced beyond the five-bottle quota belonged to the Potion Master, which was why there were no surveillance cameras in the labs. As long as you delivered your daily five, nothing else mattered. The company, though greedy, provided a path for skilled Potion Masters to earn more. If you couldn't make extra, it was simply a reflection of your own abilities. This arrangement created a win-win situation where both the company and the Potion Masters could profit.
Chen Shu didn't hesitate and immediately signed the company contract.
Since he could independently brew potions, the company prepared a separate potion lab just for him.
Those sharing labs were basically fresh college graduate apprentice Potion Masters.
With his system cheat, Chen Shu started way ahead of everyone else.
As long as he kept unlocking new potion recipes, he could theoretically become the world's top Potion Master.
In one afternoon, others usually only succeeded once—exactly five bottles of output.
Brewing potions was incredibly mentally draining. Most Potion Masters were already going bald by thirty from the stress.
But Chen Shu's table now held a full twenty bottles of potions.
"Not bad!" Chen Shu clapped his hands.
His system space already stored a full forty bottles of Strength Potions—way faster than robbing people.
"Xiao Mao, help me request the fifth batch of materials. I want to brew another batch." The assistant by the door walked in, eyes full of disbelief.
"Master Chen, aren't you tired?"
"Not tired at all—feeling great! What's wrong?" Chen Shu looked at Xiao Mao, who was specifically assigned to prepare his materials.
"The company's out of Power Flower stock..."
"Out? How can there be so little!" Chen Shu raised an eyebrow, not expecting the company to limit his potential.
Just then, a stern-faced middle-aged man walked in, followed by a girl with delicate features.
It was the grade's top student—Xu Xiaoyu.
"Xiaoyu, what brings you here?" Chen Shu smiled.
"I came with my uncle." Xu Xiaoyu said.
"This must be your classmate—truly a young prodigy!" The middle-aged man beside Xiaoyu sighed admiringly. "I'm Xiaoyu's uncle, Zhou Cheng. Hello!"
"Uncle Zhou, you have good taste!" Chen Shu shook hands with him in a friendly manner.
"I heard you successfully brewed Strength Potions four times this afternoon?" Zhou Cheng asked, still finding it hard to believe.
"Just a basic operation, no need for the '666s'."²
Chen Shu waved it off with complete nonchalance.
Everyone had the same thought: Damn, he actually pulled it off!
After a while, Zhou Cheng spoke: "In that case, you'll be the sole person brewing Strength Potions. However, the company can only provide three batches of materials daily at most."
The main ingredient for Strength Potions—Power Flowers—came from dimensional spaces. 666 Potion Company was just a major company in Nanjiang City and clearly didn't have the credentials to purchase large quantities of Power Flowers.
Three Power Flowers were already their daily limit.
Besides, the company's products were various potions, not just Strength Potions. They couldn't transfer all funding to this alone.
"No problem."
Chen Shu nodded. Three batches of Power Flowers would let him pocket an extra twenty-four bottles of Strength Potions.
That was 100,000 yuan daily income—probably equivalent to high-level Potion Masters already.
"Good! Xiao Chen, Uncle Zhou decides—your daily wage doubles, and you can collect it the same day."
Zhou Cheng smiled, not expecting the company to gain such talent today.
Paying just 60,000 monthly to get hundreds of thousands in returns was pure profit for any businessman.
"I wonder if Xiao Chen has considered becoming a professional Potion Master? The company could offer long-term employment with a salary that would definitely satisfy you." Zhou Cheng asked hopefully.
Just then, options appeared before Chen Shu again.