Others try to survive on an island, I try to survive on a raft?

Chapter 63 A Business with Extremely High Profits

"Yes."

Su Jin nodded slightly, looking at her with a hint of surprise.

He thought the young woman would be more upset, after all, this was the starting island, and leaving would cut off the path to the top, so she would inevitably feel a little reluctant to leave.

I didn't expect her to see things so clearly and accept them so quickly.

"It's good that you understand."

Su Jin smiled slightly, then answered Shen Ruying's question:

"I'm definitely going to the archipelago. I reckon that old Zhang still has a lot of good stuff. I'll take advantage of this opportunity to make a killing."

"The tools that Qiaoqiao makes are all in high demand. You know, it's difficult for ordinary people to even make their own tools, let alone some high-quality ones."

Shen Ruying listened attentively and nodded gently.

She knew this all too well. Before meeting Su Jin, she and her daughter didn't even have a decent stone axe; they relied entirely on their hands and luck.

Su Jin continued, his tone carrying a calm certainty:

"For a fine stone axe, I'll ask for at least 10 units of wood in exchange."

"This is just the base price. Depending on how urgent the other party is and whether they have other good products, the price can be raised."

He paused, looking into Shen Ruying's eyes.

"The cost of a stone axe is just a little bit of wood and a little bit of stone, and a drop of Qiaoqiao's sweat."

"It takes less time, is more efficient, and the quality far surpasses the junk they produce after months of tinkering."

As Shen Ruying listened, her eyes slowly widened.

She had only vaguely felt that having Qiaoqiao's talent would be convenient, but she had never considered the implications from that perspective.

10 units of timber... How long would it take one person to chop that?

You'd have to cut down at least one tree and break it all down into firewood, which would take at least one or two hours.

Moreover, you need the right tools and enough strength.

On their side, mass production is almost zero cost.

"Is this called... the price difference?" She asked uncertainly, recalling a term Su Jin had mentioned before.

"That's right, the industrial price scissors gap." Su Jin nodded, a noticeable smile curving his lips.

"We exchanged industrial products that cost almost nothing for raw materials that they would need to spend a lot of time and effort to obtain."

"Why not take advantage of such a highly profitable business?"

He put down the branch and dusted off his hands.

"Not just axes, but also knives, sickles, pots and pans... any household tools they can't make themselves, or make very poorly."

"These are all readily available to us, but they are desperately needed treasures for them. There are many people in the islands, so the demand is huge. We control the production end, so we control the pricing power."

Shen Ruying understood completely.

Looking at Su Jin's profile, half-lit and half-shadowed in the firelight, she realized for the first time with such clarity.

This small team possesses more than just the strength and luck of a few people; it also represents... an overwhelming level of productivity.

While others were still struggling to survive and risking their lives for a crude stone tool, they were already considering using industrial products for unequal trade and rapidly accumulating primitive capital.

As the CEO, she certainly understands this; it's a transaction, a willing buyer and a willing seller.

This sense of security, from a higher dimension, stirred her emotions more than simply possessing food and weapons.

The unease and uncertainty I felt before leaving the island have now been replaced by a stronger sense of confidence and anticipation.

Seeing the smile on the young woman's face, Su Jin couldn't help but purse his lips as well.

Just then, Shen Qiaoqiao helped Li Yuanyuan walk over. The two girls were dressed very lightly, almost like swimsuits.

Su Jin briefly recounted what they had just discussed to the two of them, and then told everyone to eat something and get some rest.

Tonight will probably be the last night they sleep on land; they may not have a safe place to sleep for the rest of the nights.

The next morning, Su Jin got up early, as he had a lot to do that day.

First, you need to go to Chestnut Round Forest to find Steelwood and cut it down. You need its trunk to make the mast for upgrading to a level 4 sailboat.

As soon as it was dawn, he woke everyone up.

"Hurry up, there's a lot to do today. Move everything you packed last night onto the boat, check it over, and don't forget anything important."

His voice wasn't loud, but his tone left no room for argument.

Shen Ruying and Shen Qiaoqiao immediately sprang into action.

Shen Ruying silently tied the processed flax tightly and carried it onto the ship in trip after trip.

Shen Qiaoqiao carefully placed the tools she had made the night before on soft hay and put them into the cabin to secure them.

Despite her mobility issues, Li Yuanyuan helped tidy up some odds and ends.

After taking one last look at this once vibrant grassland island, Su Jin was the first to jump onto the boat and stow the anchor.

"I'm gone."

The boat slowly sailed away from the shore, heading towards Forest Island.

The weather was fine today, the sea was calm and the view was wide open. They didn't encounter any troublesome sea monsters along the way, so Su Jin didn't have a chance to test the crossbow. The voyage was exceptionally smooth.

It took less than two hours to reach Forest Island, which was considered fast considering that it was entirely driven by Su Jin.

The boat docked at the familiar shallows, and Su Jin jumped off first, turning back to reach out his hand to Li Yuanyuan.

"Can you still give me directions?"

"Yes!" Li Yuanyuan nodded and carefully moved to the side of the boat, holding onto the edge of the boat.

Su Jin didn't say much, turned around and squatted down with his back to her:

"Get on, you show me the way, I'll carry you, don't strain your legs."

Li Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, her face turned a little red, but she still obediently climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Su Jin supported her legs and helped her stand up steadily.

"You two stay close to me," he said to Shen Ruying and her daughter Shen Qiaoqiao. "There might be something in the woods, so don't wander off or touch any unfamiliar plants."

"Understood, Brother Su," Shen Ruying replied nervously, instinctively tightening her grip on her daughter's hand.

This was her first time entering such a primeval forest, and the little girl next to her was so nervous that her hands were sweating.

Before entering the forest, they also saw the ruins on the beach ravaged by coral crystal crabs, with fallen trees everywhere and extremely gruesome cuts on them.

Instead, once they entered the forest, the sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the surrounding tranquility gave them a sense of peace.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth, and underfoot lay a thick layer of fallen leaves that felt soft and yielding. Occasionally, a dead branch would snap underfoot, making a crisp sound.

However, the mother and daughter lacked experience. Before they had gone far, Shen Ruying cried out softly as her arm was scratched by a thorny vine, leaving a white mark.

Seeing this, Shen Qiaoqiao became even more cautious, looking left and right with every step she took, and was very vigilant about any slight movement.

Just then, a large, brightly colored insect fell from a leaf and almost landed on her head, startling her so much that she nearly screamed.

Su Jin walked ahead, his steps much more steady.

He scanned his surroundings with his eyes and listened to the sounds, avoiding any obviously thorny or strange plants and choosing the relatively easy path.

He was carrying someone on his back, but his speed didn't slow down much, after all, he was already used to this kind of environment.

Occasionally, a drooping branch would block his path, and he would simply use the iron axe he carried to clear it away, his movements swift and decisive.

"Go left ahead...yes, go around that really thick tree, um, the one with leaves like fans, ah, right."

Li Yuanyuan lay on his back, quietly pointing out the direction, her eyes also trying hard to make out the way.

"A little further ahead... there seems to be a small slope; I slid down it last time."

The further you go, the taller and thicker the trees become, and the darker the light becomes.

Shen Ruying and her daughter followed closely, not daring to breathe, but seeing Su Jin strolling around as if in his own backyard, they couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance.

With him leading the way, this dark and unknown forest didn't seem so scary anymore.

After struggling up a small slope with sparse vegetation, Li Yuanyuan suddenly patted Su Jin on the shoulder, her voice tinged with excitement:

"We're here! Brother Su, look over there!"

Su Jin stopped and looked in the direction she was pointing.

Beneath the rock face, a giant, dark silver tree stood like a nail driven into the earth.