“Don’t reply to them yet, wait until Mum Zhou comes to ask me herself.”
Tang Xiao Bei replied.
The girls in the brothel are also people with bitter fates, their status lower than house slaves, ninety-nine percent of the money they earn goes to the boss behind the scenes, very little falls into their own hands, Tang Xiao Bei cannot bear to earn their money and looks down on it.
If selling, sell directly to the madams, just like rouge and powder.
The rouge and powder in brothels are not bought by the girls themselves, but procured uniformly by the brothel and then distributed.
Tang Xiao Bei’s ideal is to make soap like rouge and powder, an essential item for every brothel, without which they cannot operate.
After playing around in Ting Jie’s room for a while, Tang Xiao Bei confirmed that the two did not mind her using them too much, then left.
“Miss Xiao Bei, just now several girls came to ask me if I can sell soap to them.”
Da Liu waiting at the door saw Tang Xiao Bei come out and quietly asked: “When do we start?”
“Doing business requires staying calm, it’s not time yet.”
Tang Xiao Bei shook her head.
She must wait until the madams of various brothels cannot sit still anymore.
Originally thought it would take a few more days, but upon returning to the inn, the waiter told Tang Xiao Bei that the courtesan Lu Liu had waited for her half the day.
“Lu Liu?”
Tang Xiao Bei’s eyes lit up slightly, sensing the opportunity had come.
Still in that small courtyard, Tang Xiao Bei received Lu Liu from the Music Bureau.
“Miss Xiao Bei, just a few days apart, your charm is even more outstanding.”
Lu Liu put down her teacup, her eyes looking at Tang Xiao Bei full of envy.
In recent days, Tang Xiao Bei became a big celebrity in Fengyue Workshop and even the entire county town’s noblewomen circle, her limelight completely overshadowing Lu Liu who had been the top courtesan for four consecutive years.
However, this was not what she envied Tang Xiao Bei most about, what truly made her envious was that she could feel the vitality and drive emanating from Tang Xiao Bei now.
This was something no other brothel woman had.
If possible, she would be willing to use the position of top courtesan, no, she would use everything to exchange for being redeemed by Jin Feng.
“Miss Lu Liu is joking, you have been the top courtesan for four years, yet I was eliminated in the first round, how dare I talk about charm in front of you?”
Tang Xiao Bei flattered once, then went straight to the point: “I wonder what business Miss Lu Liu has with me?”
If it were before, she would definitely chat idly with Lu Liu for half a day, mutually praising before getting to business.
But after spending a few days with Jin Feng, she gradually learned his straightforward character, feeling that empty pleasantries with unfamiliar people is wasting time.
Of course, this was also the courage brought by Jin Feng’s trust in her.
“Miss Xiao Bei is indeed straightforward, then I won’t beat around the bush.”
Lu Liu smiled and said: “I want to buy some soap from Miss Xiao Bei.”
“Buy soap?”
Tang Xiao Bei still kept a faint smile and asked: “I wonder if Miss Lu Liu wants to buy for herself, or is asking on behalf of the Music Bureau?”
“What’s the difference?” Lu Liu asked.
“If it’s Miss Lu Liu buying for yourself, I can decide to give you one piece.”
Tang Xiao Bei said: “But if representing the Music Bureau, then please have Mum Shen come negotiate herself, after all, soap is not cheap.”
“Oh?”
Lu Liu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Tang Xiao Bei saying it’s not cheap means it can be bought.
Then her mission today is accomplished.
As the saying goes, the one who understands you best is not necessarily a friend, but your enemy.
As a competitor, Chunfeng Tower has been in the limelight recently, the Music Bureau cannot ignore it.
Since the appearance of soap, Ting Jie and Xiao Ru’s value has directly multiplied several times, yet there are still many rich young masters paying to book them, which shows the popularity of soap.
Now it’s only Ting Jie and Xiao Ru two people, the impact is not big, but who doesn’t know Tang Xiao Bei came from Chunfeng Tower, what if she supplies a large amount of soap to Chunfeng Tower?
For this matter, the Music Bureau cannot sit idly by, so they sent Lu Liu who has some connection with Jin Feng to probe Tang Xiao Bei’s tone.
“In that case, I will report back to Mum Shen and have her come see Miss Xiao Bei when free.”
Lu Liu stood and curtsied: “Then I won’t disturb you.”
“Miss wait a moment.”
Tang Xiao Bei turned and took out a wooden box: “Since Xiao Bei was not here, making you wait long, this piece of soap is Xiao Bei’s apology, please accept it.”
“How can this be, too precious.” Lu Liu declined.
But the longing in her eyes could not be concealed at all.
“My husband had a very good impression of Miss Lu Liu back then, still thinking about it after returning, always praising that your dance is good, figure good, and person beautiful.”
Tang Xiao Bei smiled and said: “Next time husband comes to the county town, he will definitely visit the Music Bureau to see you, at that time hope you can take good care of him.”
“If husband goes to the Music Bureau, this little woman will do her utmost to satisfy him, it is my honour.”
A trace of excitement passed through Lu Liu’s heart, but she still declined not wanting to accept the soap.
The Music Bureau is the largest brothel in the county town, naturally they must buy soap, but Tang Xiao Bei has no acquaintances in the Music Bureau, no way to send samples in.
If forcing to give, it would be inferior.
Lu Liu’s arrival exactly solved this problem for her.
How could Tang Xiao Bei let her return empty-handed?
Deliberately pretending to be unhappy: “Miss refuses to accept, could it be dissatisfaction with my husband, unwilling to entertain him?”
“No, Miss Xiao Bei you misunderstood.” Lu Liu quickly waved her hands.
“Since not, then accept it.” Tang Xiao Bei forcefully stuffed the wooden box into Lu Liu’s hands.
When withdrawing her hand, she couldn’t help glancing at Lu Liu’s prominent chest.
“Then I will accept without declining.”
Lu Liu had to take the soap.
Watching Lu Liu’s carriage leave the inn, a smile couldn’t help appearing at the corner of Tang Xiao Bei’s mouth.
She knew, the madams were about to sit still no longer.
Sure enough, early the next morning, the madam of the Music Bureau, Mum Shen, came to the inn to find Tang Xiao Bei.
Yesterday she had studied the soap Lu Liu brought back, marvelling at its oil and stain removing ability.
What satisfied her most was that after bathing with soap, there really was fragrance on the body.
Simply tailor-made washing products for brothel girls.
But Mum Shen knew she couldn’t be too proactive, otherwise negotiations would start at a disadvantage, so after seeing Tang Xiao Bei, she didn’t mention buying soap, but casually chatted idly.
Tang Xiao Bei naturally understood this reasoning, yesterday going straight to the point with Lu Liu was because she knew Lu Liu couldn’t make decisions, at most probing information, too lazy to waste time.
Treating Mum Shen, couldn’t do that.
So Tang Xiao Bei wasn’t anxious either, just chatted idly with Mum Shen, anyway this was her job now.
The Music Bureau is such a big operation, chatting until near noon, Mum Shen finally couldn’t hold out and asked:
“Miss Xiao Bei, time is not early, I won’t beat around with you, how to sell the soap? Name a price.”
