With Dean Flander's "capital support" (exploitation) and Oscar's diligent output, Oscar's Custom Skewers finally got their little business on track.
Lin Kun put his basic marketing skills from the information age to work. First, he segmented and packaged the products:
· Original Power Supply Blocks (original flavor): Focused on basic recovery at an affordable price.
· Spicy Recovery Skewers (spicy flavor): An exciting taste that refreshed the mind (?), suitable for students with heavy tastes.
· Honey Spirit Power Skewers (sweet flavor): Deeply loved by female students—specifically Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
· Limited Edition Seven-Colored Glazed Skewers (with colorful candy sprinkles sponsored by Ning Rongrong): Expensive, specially made to fleece... ahem, specially supplied to noble students with taste.
Then, he used the money they had saved to buy some rough but clean greaseproof paper for simple packaging. Printed on it was the crooked "Oscar's" logo Oscar had carved from a radish.
Next came promotion. Lin Kun understood the importance of advertising. He once again raised the banner of the Kun Kun Information Bureau and posted a carefully designed advertisement on the academy bulletin board—which was really just a broken wooden plank:
Oscar's Gourmet Shop—Grand Opening! —Shrek Academy's one and only designated Soul Power replenishment partner (self-proclaimed)!
Hungry? Tired? Soul Power depleted? Beaten flat by Teacher Zhao? Trained into uselessness by the Grandmaster? Come to Oscar's Gourmet Shop! One Oscar skewer, and you're instantly back at full condition! Two bites of Honey Spirit Power Skewers, and you'll be cute and pretty! Friendly reminder: Even Dean Flander says it's good! (Though that was mainly because he wanted to collect money.)
Today's special: Buy five skewers, get one free! Collect ten bamboo sticks to exchange for a "Beat-Me-Not Ticket" (only valid when senior Dai Mubai is in a good mood)!
The moment this bizarre advertisement, carrying a strangely familiar feeling to Lin Kun, went up, it immediately drew the attention of teachers and students across the academy.
Xiao Wu laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. "Hahaha! What even is this stuff you wrote, Lin Kun? You actually dared to write something like 'beaten flat by Teacher Zhao'!" Ning Rongrong covered her mouth and chuckled. "'Cute and pretty'? That slogan is rather unique." Dai Mubai's face darkened. "What the hell is a 'Beat-Me-Not Ticket'? Since when did I become a redeemable prize?" Zhao Wuji stroked his chin. "Hm? Me beating people up has advertising value?" Flander stared at the advertisement, light flashing off his glasses, and muttered, "One and only designated partner? That title's great! Next time I ask other merchants for sponsorship fees, I can use that name..."
No matter what, the advertisement was incredibly effective! Driven by curiosity, the desire to try something new, or a genuine need to replenish their Soul Power, the students flocked over to buy. For the first time, Oscar's sausages were accepted in a positive and popular light. Though he still had to recite the soul incantation, everyone was far less resistant after seeing the revamped products.
Business was exceptionally booming! Especially after special training every day, supply could barely meet demand. Lin Kun handled the money and sales pitches while Oscar handled production, and the two of them were run off their feet.
Watching the money pouch gradually swell, Oscar was so excited that tears filled his eyes. "Lin Kun! We did it! I finally don't have to watch people look at my sausages like they're something strange!"
Lin Kun was exhausted but happy as well. Although most of the profits had to be handed over to that bloodsucker Flander, what remained was enough to pay off part of his debt. On top of that, the system occasionally popped up with updates on the Sausage Tycoon mission and notifications of XX points earned, filling him with motivation.
Ding! Successfully promoted "Oscar's Custom Skewers." Daily profits have stabilized. Reward: 80 Plot Breakdown Points. Ding! The host's business activities have positively affected Oscar's mindset, slightly altering a fate node. Reward: 30 Plot Breakdown Points.
However, the good times did not last. Their booming business soon caught someone's attention—Teacher Shao!
Shao Xin, a Food System Spirit Saint and one of Shrek Academy's old guard, was also in charge of the academy cafeteria—though it charged money. Seeing two juniors do better business selling skewers than his own cafeteria, Teacher Shao felt that his professional field had been challenged!
That day, there was still a long line in front of Lin Kun and Oscar's stall. Teacher Shao strolled over slowly with his hands behind his back, his expression less than pleasant.
"Hmph! Crooked tricks!" Teacher Shao snorted as he looked at the flashy skewers. "The food of Food System soul masters is meant to pursue the purest energy replenishment and maximize effectiveness! Adding all these fancy seasonings and gimmicks is simply putting the cart before the horse!"
Oscar immediately grew nervous. Teacher Shao was a senior powerhouse in the Food System. But Lin Kun's eyes lit up, realizing that this might be an opportunity!
Lin Kun hurried forward and said respectfully, "Teacher Shao, you're right! The foundation of the Food System truly is effectiveness. But adding some seasoning and changing the presentation is also meant to help everyone accept it more easily and make better use of Brother Oscar's sausages. After all, no matter how good something is, if no one is willing to eat it, then it's equivalent to nothing. Don't you agree?"
Teacher Shao glanced at him. "Brat, you've got quite a smooth tongue. Are you saying no one's willing to eat this old man's cooking?"
Lin Kun quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I wouldn't dare! Teacher Shao, your dishes... uh... are full of energy—setting aside the taste. Everyone respects them very much." His words were somewhat against his conscience. Teacher Shao's cooking was truly hard to praise; its defining feature was, "As long as you can eat it, there's plenty of energy."
Teacher Shao naturally caught the hidden meaning and became so angry that his beard quivered and his eyes bulged. "Fine! Since you think your stuff is so good, then let's have a contest! Tomorrow at this time, right here, we'll hold a 'God of Food' showdown! We'll see whose food is more popular with the students! The loser won't be allowed to sell food in the academy ever again!"
Oscar was so frightened that his face turned pale. "Teacher Shao! This..." But Lin Kun grabbed him, a crafty gleam flashing in his eyes. "Teacher Shao, a contest is fine! But simply comparing popularity isn't comprehensive enough, is it? Since we're Food System soul masters, why don't we compete in three categories? First, energy purity and recovery effect; second, taste and popularity; third, creativity and originality! Let all the academy's students and teachers judge together! What do you think?"
There was calculation behind those three categories. Teacher Shao would definitely win the first, which gave him some face. Lin Kun's side held the advantage in the second. As for the third, it was a contest of ideas. Coming from the information age, was Lin Kun afraid of lacking creativity?
Teacher Shao considered it and found it reasonable. He also could not bully the juniors too much, so he nodded. "Fine! We'll compete in those three categories! Don't cry if you lose!"
The news spread quickly, and all of Shrek Academy was shaken! Teacher Shao, a Food System Spirit Saint, was going to have a God of Food showdown with the newly arrived work-study students Lin Kun and Oscar! This was practically the biggest entertainment event since Shrek Academy had been founded!
Dean Flander rubbed his hands excitedly. "Bets are open, bets are open! Bet on Teacher Shao to win, and the payout is one point one! Bet on Lin Kun and Oscar to win, and the payout is five to one! Place your bets!" His profiteer's nature was fully exposed.
Even the Grandmaster showed a rare expression of interest, believing this could serve as a special round of Stress Resistance Training.
On the day of the showdown, the open space in the center of the village was packed tight. Teacher Shao brought out his equipment—a large pot—and with Soul Power surging, prepared to make his signature All-Purpose Spirit Power Soup.
Lin Kun and Oscar set out their grill along with all kinds of seasoning bottles and jars.
First was energy purity. Teacher Shao won without suspense. His Soul Power soup contained vast, pure energy; one mouthful sent Soul Power surging through the body. Oscar's sausages were not bad in effect either, but they fell slightly short in purity.
Second was taste and popularity. Teacher Shao's Soul Power soup... tasted as "natural" as ever. Though it contained plenty of energy, its flavor was truly indescribable. Meanwhile, Lin Kun and Oscar's various skewers gave off enticing aromas and offered diverse flavors, earning unanimous praise from nearly all the students! Even Zhao Wuji secretly devoured several spicy ones. Lin Kun's side won this category decisively!
Third was creativity and originality. Teacher Shao displayed his newly researched "compressed Soul Power biscuits." Though they were easy to carry, they still had little flavor. Lin Kun, meanwhile, brought out his secret weapon—he had Oscar try infusing Soul Power into different fruit juices, creating "Soul Power fruit drinks" with slight recovery effects! Though the effect was weak, the flavor was refreshing and novel, instantly capturing the hearts of girls like Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu!
In the end, after an overall evaluation, Teacher Shao had crushed the first category, but Lin Kun and Oscar performed outstandingly in the latter two. Their creativity in particular won even more applause. Dean Flander announced with a "heartbroken" expression, "A tie! Damn it, my betting pool was opened for nothing!"
Though it was a tie, Teacher Shao's gaze toward Lin Kun and Oscar softened considerably, even carrying a trace of appreciation. "Hmph! You two have some clever ideas after all! From now on, you can help with the cafeteria breakfast and try improving the flavor... but don't even think about slacking off!"
This was practically an indirect acknowledgment of their "business," and he had even given them the opportunity to participate in cafeteria work!
Oscar was overjoyed! Lin Kun also let out a breath of relief. They had made it through another hurdle at last!
Ding! Successfully handled Teacher Shao's challenge, stabilized the "sausage business," and gained an opportunity to work in the cafeteria. Reward: 150 Plot Breakdown Points. Ding! The host's actions have had a slight impact on Shrek Academy's food culture. Reward: 50 Plot Breakdown Points.
Through this showdown, Lin Kun not only preserved their business and improved the academy's meals—indirectly saving everyone's taste buds—but also integrated himself further into Shrek Academy. His journey of "breakdown" had begun to affect every aspect of this monster academy in an unexpected way.
However, the Grandmaster's special training continued, and Flander's debt still weighed heavily on him. Lin Kun's academy life remained full of "hardship" and "fun."
Before you continue