Early the next morning, a stall appeared at the entrance of the Zhao Family Inn.
“Selling soap, exclusive soap made by Mr. Jin! With osmanthus fragrance, and plum blossom fragrance! …”
Liu Tie, along with a few men, stood at the stall shouting vigorously.
People in Dakang did not have the habit of sleeping in, and the vegetables delivered from outside the city were the freshest. Many maids from wealthy families carried baskets out to buy vegetables.
Soap was not only famous in Fengyue Lane, but under the promotion of the prefect’s wife, it also gained great fame among wealthy families.
Many ladies learned that soap had started to be sold externally, and they sent their maids over to purchase it.
Moreover, it was not just one or two boxes. Basically, every maid who came would buy at least one box of each fragrance.
The most was one maid who directly bought sixty boxes, filling a large crate, which the servant pulled away with a carriage.
Beside her, four house slaves followed for protection, just like escorting silver.
Tang Xiaobei had only prepared to release three hundred boxes of soap in the first batch. The Jiaofang Division bought eighty boxes, Chunfeng House bought forty boxes, and the remaining were not many to begin with.
In less than half an hour, the several large wooden crates holding the soap on the table were empty.
Even so, maids kept coming to inquire, then leaving in fear and trepidation.
In their minds, they were already thinking about how to explain to their masters when they returned.
“There are so many rich people!”
Big Liu organised the empty crates, sighing.
He could not understand how someone could spend five taels of silver to buy a piece of something for bathing.
“The gentleman said that ninety percent of the world’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of less than ten percent of the people. Perhaps the money a landlord or gentry spends on entertaining friends for one meal is enough for the villagers of a whole village to eat for a year.”
Tang Xiaobei said, “We only sold a total of over a thousand taels of silver today. Not to mention Guangyuan Prefecture city, even in Jinchuan County, any gentry could easily take it out. For them, spending a few dozen taels of silver to buy something new is nothing.”
“Yes, we should earn their money.” Big Liu happily asked, “So, does that count as robbing the rich to help the poor?”
“Of course it does. Aren’t all those children in the village who can’t survive being supported by the gentleman?”
Tang Xiaobei slowly nodded.
“Before, I felt a bit guilty about selling a piece of soap for five taels of silver. After you said that, Miss Xiaobei, I suddenly feel it’s sold too cheaply.”
Big Liu said, “We should earn the money of the rich, and then use this money to help those who can’t survive.”
“There are so many people in the world who can’t survive. How can the gentleman help them all?”
Tang Xiaobei sighed, “The gentleman said, giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish, meaning directly giving someone a few fish to eat is not as good as teaching him the skill to fish. That’s why he opened the textile factory.”
“The gentleman truly has a bodhisattva’s heart.” Big Liu nodded and said, “Meeting the gentleman in this lifetime is the luckiest thing for me. If not for the gentleman, my whole family probably wouldn’t have made it through this year, and one or two would have starved to death.”
“So we all have to work hard to repay the gentleman.” Tang Xiaobei said with a smile.
“Yes, follow the gentleman to rob the rich and help the poor, benefiting the world!”
Big Liu suddenly felt passionate.
The ladies from wealthy families received the news of the soap release, and naturally, the various brothels in Fengyue Lane, which had been keeping an eye on it, also received it.
But at this point, those shrewd madams were no longer in a hurry.
In their view, once sales started, couldn’t they buy it with silver?
Going early would instead let Tang Xiaobei see their urgency, which was not good for bargaining.
So, the madams waited until mid-morning, then lazily took carriages to the Zhao Family Inn.
They had all thought about how to haggle with Tang Xiaobei.
However, when they arrived, all the madams were dumbfounded.
Out of stock…
Now the madams were all anxious.
“Miss Xiaobei, how can it be out of stock?”
“Miss Xiaobei, just say how much, I absolutely won’t bargain.”
“Miss Xiaobei…”
The madams surrounded Tang Xiaobei, each one anxious like ants on a hot pan.
Brothels were not like other businesses. Many customers, once they fancied a certain girl, would keep going to support her.
After all, people have emotions.
If the Jiaofang Division and Chunfeng House had soap, and they didn’t, wouldn’t all the business go to the Jiaofang Division and Chunfeng House?
Even if they bought it later, the customers might not come back.
“Ladies, I’m really sorry, it’s sold out.”
Tang Xiaobei said, “But I’ll send someone on fast horse back to Jinchuan right away. If nothing unexpected happens, it should arrive by tomorrow noon. Everyone, come back tomorrow.”
The madams knew that saying anything now was useless, so they could only sigh and leave.
“Miss Xiaobei, we clearly brought so much soap. Why not sell to them?”
Big Liu asked puzzled.
“The gentleman said, scarcity makes things valuable. Once something becomes abundant, it’s not worth money.”
Tang Xiaobei said, “The gentleman said the highest realm of sales is customers lining up with money waiting for the merchant to open, so not only can you sell at a high price, but you can also sell more.”
“So impressive!”
Big Liu praised, giving a thumbs up.
Actually, he didn’t understand, but he just felt that Jin Feng and Tang Xiaobei were so impressive.
“Big Brother Liu, later send someone back and report the good news to the gentleman.”
Tang Xiaobei instructed, “Also, ask the gentleman to make sure to guard Iron Can Mountain well, absolutely not letting outsiders approach.”
“Okay.”
Big Liu quickly nodded.
Even if he was slow, he could now see that soap had become a money tree, and it must be protected well.
“Right, the things I asked Brother Tie to buy, are they all bought?”
Before coming to the prefecture city, Jin Feng instructed Tang Xiaobei to buy some materials to take back, saying that if the experiment with Wan Niang succeeded, they could mix more fragrances for the soap, and the concentration of the fragrance could be improved further.
“All bought. As per your instructions, Miss, Brother Tie arranged for the brothers to buy separately, without attracting attention.” Big Liu replied.
“Then send them back together.” Tang Dongdong said.
“Okay.” Big Liu agreed and ran out to arrange.
Soon, a team of horses set off from the prefecture city, returning to Xihe Bay.
Warhorses galloping were several times faster than walking. That night around seven or eight o’clock, Monkey and the others returned to Xihe Bay.
Jin Feng had already washed and was preparing to sleep. Hearing Monkey was back, he quickly put on clothes again and came out.
“Monkey, how was it in the prefecture city?”
“Very good, sir, you don’t know, soap is almost selling like crazy in the city. Many people with silver notes rushing to buy couldn’t get it…”
Monkey excitedly recounted what Tang Xiaobei did in the prefecture city.
Of course, he didn’t forget Tang Xiaobei’s reminder.
“Xiaobei is indeed a good hand at business.”
After listening, Jin Feng also smiled happily.
He thought Tang Xiaobei selling soap at three taels of silver was already good, who knew it sold at five taels.
The cost of soap was very low. Just this time, Tang Xiaobei helped him earn one thousand five hundred taels of silver.
And Jin Feng knew, this was just the beginning.
“Yes, Miss Xiaobei is simply too impressive.”
Monkey said with a smile, “Clearly there was so much soap left, but Miss Xiaobei didn’t sell, and specially had us run back.”
“To act, you have to act the full set.”
Jin Feng said with a smile, “Then you run another trip tomorrow, bring more empty crates, cooperate with Xiaobei to act the play well.”
“Yes!” Monkey clasped his fists and turned to leave.
Jin Feng didn’t sleep either, had someone call Zhang Liang, and arranged to strengthen the defence of Iron Can Mountain.
…
Guangyuan Prefecture city.
Tang Xiaobei originally thought the madams would wait until noon to come, but as soon as she got up in the morning, Alan told her that all the madams were waiting at the inn entrance.
