Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

Pei Qian could not help but feel good, looking at Chen Kangtuo's helpless expression.

Who asked you to misinterpret what I meant? Go reflect on yourself in the haunted house!

Chen Kangtuo might know more about the haunted house than tourists as the designer, but that did not mean that he was not afraid.

It was just like Outlast 2, where the designer of Outlast 2 personally tried it and was so scared that he dropped the controller on the spot.

Of course, some designers were so well-versed in the game machines, playing horror scenes as though they were nothing. However, they were exceptional talents.

Ordinary people would be scared sh*tless.

Would someone not be afraid to enter the haunted house even if they gave that person the diagram of the haunted house, mark out all the scary places, and make the person memorize them all?

At the very most, the person would be prepared psychologically, and the degree of fear would be reduced. However, it was impossible to be not afraid.

Visual effects, auditory effects, and various psychological cues… even if someone was psychologically prepared, it was still difficult for their psychological defenses to keep up when they were truly immersed in it.

Of course, it was another matter altogether if it was a gifted person who had no sense of fear.

However, Chen Kangtuo was obviously not such a gifted person. His current expression was enough proof.

Chen Kangtuo's expression changed from blank to stunned, to shock, and then collapse after hearing Boss Pei say that in an indifferent tone.

Are you trying to kill me, Boss Pei?!

The haunted house that Chen Kangtuo designed himself and customized it in his own style. He checked the semi-finished product during construction so he knew how terrifying it really was.

In fact, he never went in again after the third project of the Thriller Hostel was completed even though there was no staff acting as ghosts.

It was enough to scare people to death just by walking around in this environment!

But what did Boss Pei say just now? He wanted him to go through every single detail?

It was not something that could be completed by sheer willpower at all!

However, Pei Qian did not give Chen Kangtuo a chance to protest. He waved dismissively and continued. "Alright, continue the visit."

Chen Kangtuo had no choice but to continue leading everyone on the visit.

Industries such as the restaurants and hotels invested in by the investors were explained by the corresponding investors.

In addition, it also included some other reports, including the recruitment of staff required to maintain the entire operation of the Thriller Hostel.

This haunted house was neither big nor small, but it still required waiters, ticketing agents, cleaners, equipment maintenance, make-up artists, prop artists, and staff acting as ghosts.

Especially the staff acting as ghosts. They had been recruited a long time back and had been undergoing training. It was not only physical labor but also a technical job.

If they were too far away from the tourists, the tourists would not be scared at all because it would be pitch-black and would not achieve any effect.

Be too near to tourists, and it might stimulate some stressful behaviors which may cause them to be injured by tourists easily.

Appearing too sudden and really giving the tourists a huge scare was a huge no-no as well.

In short, these groups of people must know how to play with different mentalities to scare different tourists to achieve the best results.

At the same time, these people had to know where the emergency exits of the haunted house very clearly, guide the tourists to leave if necessary. They must even master certain first-aid knowledge.

All in all, the goal of the training was to allow the staff to gradually and moderately frighten tourists, on the premises of protecting themselves so that the entire haunted house could operate normally.

Chen Kangtuo suggested: "Then, everyone, would you like to visit the three projects of the haunted house and give some suggestions?"

Pei Qian laughed. "No need."

Trying to fool me into going to the haunted house? Impossible!

Pei Qian was very relaxed now. His only concern was for the Golden Maze to be profitable. As for the Thriller Hostel… it was far from being the project that he needed to worry the most.

First, the fees were low, and there was a limit to its capacity. Therefore, it would not make much money even if it was full every day.

As for the second and third projects, there would certainly be not many people to play it if it weren't scary. He could also use it to deal with his smaller enemies if it was very scary.

Therefore, he would not be making a loss either way!

Pei Qian's attitude was very clear. Say all you want, but I would definitely not go to the haunted house. I'm a noble person with high-end taste. I'm busy at work and do not have time to experience such simple and crude entertainment.

Chen Kangtuo looked at the other investors. "Then, what about everyone else…?"

"No need!" Boss Li replied hurriedly.

"Brother Chen, don't get me wrong, it is not that we don't trust you. It's exactly the opposite. We trust you so much that we dare not go in. Our old bones are not suited for such excitement."

Chen Kangtuo. "…"

Great, no one was willing to go in. This means that only I would be the one 'experiencing it to the fullest' right?

No one was willing to experience the Thriller Hostel project after going one big round. Just let it go.

The investors were very happy. The problem of the Golden Maze had been solved, and the chances of this project making money were greatly increased after all.

Chen Kangtuo sent everyone back to the door where everyone spoke merrily. He fell into melancholy.

The investors and Pei Qian entered their cars, ready to leave.

Chen Kangtuo remembered something suddenly.

"By the way, Boss Pei! Zhang Wang came to be previously and said that he hoped the Golden Maze can also sell the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine. The Shared phone booth had promoted the Thriller Hostel so this request seems reasonable…"

Pei Qian's expression changed immediately as he was about to close the car door.

"Definitely not!"

The Fully-Automated Bickering Machine might be a mystery with no practical use, but it was exquisitely crafted and set in a Golden Maze. What if people actually bought it?

Pei Qian was now hiding the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine like a baby. People must not find it.

Chen Kangtuo was taken aback. He did not think that Boss Pei would refuse.

Chen Kangtuo did not put this matter onto his heart when Zhang Wang came to find him previously.

Wasn't it just a small handicraft? It might be rather large and difficult to bring around, but there were so many shops in the Golden Maze, so wouldn't it be a small matter to just place it somewhere to sell it?

What was more, Zhang Wang arranged for a shared phone booth to advertise the Thriller Hostel. It should be reasonable if it was just to reciprocate the effort, right?

Yet, Boss Pei reacted fiercely and refused flatly?

"But Boss Pei—"

Chen Kangtuo wanted to explain further, but Pei Qian held up a hand to stop him.

"Definitely not!

"I'll talk to Zhang Wang about it. In short, there will be other arrangements. There will be no selling of the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine in the Golden Maze, absolutely not!"

Chen Kangtuo could say no more seeing how resolute Boss Pei was. He would only nod.

Finally, Pei Qian could heave a sigh of relief after closing the door.

Lucky!

Lucky that Chen Kangtuo did not take actions without thinking first. He actually gave Pei Qian advance warning; if not, something bad would definitely happen.

It looked like Zhang Wang did not take what Pei Qian said seriously and was still trying to secretly find ways to sell it. No, he had to emphasize to Zhang Wang to produce at full capacity first and not think about all these useless things.

The sapling, which was the Fully-Automated Bickering Machine, had to be preserved!

Boss Li closed the car door on the other side and prepared to leave as well. He did not hear very clearly what Chen Kangtuo and Boss Pei said, but he vaguely heard something like 'sell XX machine' which seemed to be some sort of investment.

However, Boss Li did not ask since Boss Pei did not say anything. He just jotted down this item silently, thinking it might prove useful in the future.

…

…

July 4th, Monday…

Pei Qian came to the office as usual.

At present, most departments had formed a tacit understanding that they should get Boss Pei on Monday if they needed decisions from him. That was because Boss Pei was generally in office on Mondays. As for the other timing, they would contact him via phone.

The Manage Loss Trainees meeting was held as scheduled last Saturday. Two pieces of information caught his attention in addition to the information that he already had.

First, Fish-Catching Take-Out's new high-end brand, Food Harmony, was currently undergoing intense preparation.

The Manage Loss Trainee from Fish-Catching Take-Out also gave a detailed report. The idea of this high-end brand was to produce a simplified version of the menu from the nameless restaurant and then package it all with beautiful food boxes to provide the customers with a high-end take-out dining experience.

Pei Qian felt that it was probably good news after he listened to the report.

Fish-Catching Take-Out had been making losses because of its high prices. Wouldn't it make even more losses if they were to make something with even higher prices?

This new brand would require the training of chefs, customized food containers, and specialized delivery personnel. No matter whether they were to sell more or less, these costs would be difficult to save.

It was possible to make a profit if they were to sell a lot. If they were to sell in very little amounts, then it would be worse than Fish-Catching Take-Out.

There seemed to be no reason to stop such a good loss-making strategy?

Then, the Manage Loss Trainee from Tengda Games reported about Zhang Zuting's acting. The danger of such a matter was obvious, but there was no helping it since it had already happened. Pei Qian could not do anything else.

He couldn't possibly cast a forgetful spell to make these actors forget what Zhang Zuting said.

He could only silently record Zhang Zuting on his small notebook and teach him a lesson when Thriller Hostel opened.

Pei Qian sat in his office for five minutes. As expected, someone knocked on the door. He raised his head up, only to see Xiao Peng.

"Boss Pei, looking at the working model of Live Esports Museum of Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0, it should be a success, right? Then… can I open branches like what you mentioned before?"

Xiao Peng's face was filled with expectations.

Boss Pei said before—when they started to open the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0—that they would open branches for renovation, purchase of computers, and spend all their money without any money left if this store would make money.

Boss Pei's mood seemed to be not very right when he said that, but Xiao Peng understood that this sentence in itself still showed the trust of Boss Pei towards himself.

However, having said that, he still felt that he should ask for directions and confirm again. Such power was great, and Xiao Peng was afraid that he would be wrong so he wanted to double-confirm it.

What if Boss Pei said it casually without being serious?

What if Boss Pei became angry when the time came when he really spent lavishly? Who was he to speak to then?

It would be better to speak clearly in advance to make a huge splash.

Pei Qian was speechless.

Do not report good news twice!

Pei Qian waved his hand helplessly. "When did I ever break my promise? Open up as many branches as you can, and remember to spend all the money. Don't report this little thing over and over again."

Anyway, Fish-Catching Internet Cafe originally invested a lot in the early stages. It might have made money, but it took a long return cycle. Profits would not be able to catch up to him as long as they expanded fast enough.