Popular in Fuyang Town

 

“Alright, alright, let me ask you, was this pricing decided by you through discussion? Or did the Huang family in the capital set it, and is it too high?” Father Lin asked, getting to the point.

 

About the pricing, Chuxia didn’t understand it very well before. She didn’t expect there would be so much to it.

 

“Father, the pricing is currently set by ourselves. Jing Yi said that the price of the jade soap is reasonable based on the craftsmanship and the target audience. However, soap is a daily consumable item, so it can’t be unreasonably high. Consumables mean they are used daily.”

 

“We also discussed the pricing with Second Brother Huang. The same product in the capital and the prefectural city is ten or twenty wen higher than ours. If the information spreads from their side, we can increase our price to match it. We’ve said that it’s a benefit for everyone in our hometown.”

 

“I heard that the research in Qingzhou Prefectural City is progressing faster, and they’ve already made medicinal soap. The most expensive version, the Ginseng Jade Soap, costs three taels of silver for a small piece. The current market in our town is hard to judge, and high-quality medicinal herbs are not easy to find. Jing Yi said we should take it slow with the medicinal soap.”

 

Chuxia explained the current situation in great detail to his father, Xiaochen, and Xiao Yu, ensuring that everyone had a clear understanding to avoid any misunderstandings with customers later on.

 

The first batch of jade soaps went on sale smoothly, and Chuxia felt much more at ease. The next step was to witness the selling ability of Miss Li.

 

The first three days were quiet, with no significant activity. Chuxia was somewhat worried, but Jing Yi remained calm and composed throughout.

 

Starting from the fourth day, representatives from various wealthy families and merchants sent people to inquire about the jade soap at Ningxia Pavillion. Chuxia specifically instructed Xiaochen and Xiao Yu to prepare a trial size for each variant and had maids and servants try them.

 

This trial usage model turned out to be effective. After experiencing the moisturizing effects of the jade soap, the servants couldn’t wait to come back the same day to make purchases, buying several boxes of gift sets.

 

Those who purchased individual bars were likely using them personally.

 

Gradually, the sales of jade soap saw rapid growth within a few days. The profits quickly exceeded those of regular soap. However, this also caused a shortage of supply, forcing them to limit purchases for a short period.

 

Chuxia didn’t want to offend these esteemed customers. He had to apologize and instructed the village to speed up production. This worried Chuxia to the point where he considered going to Qingzhou Prefectural City to borrow some stock from the Huang family.

 

“Don’t worry, Xiaxia, what’s easy for the Buddha to give is hard for the beggar to ask for. Don’t let this bother you. Since everyone is restricted equally, I believe no one will make trouble for you. Those with narrow minds who want to act tough will have to consider the Huang family behind us.”

 

Jing Yi knew that Chuxia was doing business independently for the first time and might be feeling uneasy, so he reassured him and taught him business principles, offering his advice to guide him.

 

Chuxia contemplated for a while and thought about the profound meaning behind his husband’s words. He decided not to worry about it and waited for the next batch of jade soaps to be delivered. With some free time on his hands, he carefully reviewed the business over the past few days. It suddenly struck him that in the small town of Fuyang, there were so many wealthy people.

 

Indeed, due to Fuyang’s favorable geographical location, with the ability to travel by boat from the dock directly to Qingzhou Prefectural City in the west and to the capital in the south, it could be considered an affluent town within Qingzhou Prefecture.

 

With no wars for many years in the Da Yuan Dynasty and no major disasters in Qingzhou Prefecture, it had accumulated a group of wealthy individuals. Now, they were keeping a low profile, which was something Jing Yi felt he had underestimated.

 

As the days passed, the sales of soap and jade soap stabilized. Ningxia Pavillion’s products were now genuinely becoming the talk of Fuyang Town. Initially, they only had access to the lower-tier market, but now their reach was expanding.

 

The two store clerks of Ningxia Pavillion Xiaochen and Xiao Lan, had gone through a month of training and were now capable of handling customers independently. Whether it was soap or jade soap, they could sell them without trembling or nervousness.

 

Among the three people in charge, Lin’s Mother and Jing’s mother had already organized their schedules and took turns to manage the shop. As they were each busy with other family matters, it was relatively easy to reach an agreement.

 

However, Chuxia was fully dedicated to the business of Ningxia Pavillion and was kept busy. Sometimes, he would work all day, and upon returning home, he would stay up late to calculate the accounts. This left Jing Yi quite worried and frustrated, as he seemed too preoccupied.

 

This made him jealous and unhappy. He would remind him that he was more important, and he would suggest they meet tomorrow to settle the accounts.

 

That day, the couple rested in the backyard of the hot pot restaurant, which had essentially become their regular place of residence in town.

 

The following morning, Chuxia heard a faint noise in the courtyard, waking him up from his sleep. Since Ningxia Pavillion’s opening, his sleep had been less restful due to his busyness and the stress, making him easier to wake up.

 

He struggled to open his eyes, his mind still groggy. He rolled over to see Jing Yi sitting at the edge of the bed. He pulled back the bed curtain and peeked outside. Through the thick window paper, he could see that it was already starting to get light outside.

 

It must be nearly morning on a winter night, probably not long until the Chen hour.

 

Chuxia forced himself to think about the many things in the shop today. Although he felt lazy, he still reluctantly got dressed and got up.

 

But then, a pair of hands reached around his waist from behind and dragged him back into bed. The familiar voice was somewhat husky, possibly due to waking up early. It had a lazy tone as it said, “Why are you going? You’re leaving your husband alone again.”

 

“Don’t be silly; I have to get up and go to the shop.”

 

Chuxia exerted force to push against the bed with one hand and gently pushed against Jing Yi’s chest with the other, attempting to free himself from his embrace. However, Jing Yi, who had grown taller and stronger, wasn’t going to let him escape so easily. With a gentle tug, he pulled him back into his arms, and he landed there safely.

 

“Darling, think about how long it’s been since you had a proper conversation with me,” Jing Yi half-squinted his eyes, pretending to be displeased. However, Chuxia knew that his feigned annoyance didn’t hold any weight. He stroked his husband’s face and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t help but worry when I’m not at the shop.”

 

“Chuxia, we both know the situation. You’re the boss, not the shopkeeper. You need to train your staff. Besides, your mother and father are here to look after the shop on your behalf. You should take a break today,” Jing Yi began reasoning with her.

 

“But…”

 

“No ‘buts,’ I’m more important, or is the business more important?” When reason failed, he resorted to being a little spoiled.

 

“Okay, of course, you’re more important!” His husband was like a child when he became affectionate, and it was true that he had neglected him for almost a month. He had to use all his tricks to make it up to him, or else he’d feel guilty.

 

“That’s more like it. Let’s get some more sleep, and then I’ll take you somewhere nice!” After Jing Yi spoke mysteriously, he didn’t let Chuxia continue asking questions. He pulled up the blanket, held him close, and returned to slumber.

 

By mid-morning, Jing Yi finally unlocked their entangled bodies from the bed. At this time, a fine drizzle fell outside, and the weather was slightly overcast and cool.

 

However, the people in the Jing family didn’t feel bored; on the contrary, their moods were even more cheerful. Rainwater in early spring was precious, as the old saying goes, “Spring rain is as precious as oil.” Crops that had overwintered in the fields were beginning to turn green, and they required a lot of water. In ancient times, without a well-developed irrigation system, farmers relied on heavenly blessings to water their fields.

 

For the Jing family, spring rain was not inconvenient or annoying, unlike other wealthy families who might find it troublesome. They appreciated and felt grateful for it.

 

Today, when they went out, they were accompanied by Steward Tong and Gao Kun. Just before leaving, Jing Yi saw Gao Kun teaching Ah Qi, who was studying characters with great dedication. This was a task assigned by Jing Yi to his second brother, Jing An, teaching Gao Kun to read basic characters from Da Yuan Dynasty’s version of the Three Hundred Rhymes, as well as Three-Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic.

 

Once the other household servants in the house were a bit older, they would also be arranged to study and learn. When Jingy Yi saw Gao Kun teaching Ah Qi, he couldn’t help but feel moved. Indeed, not many rural folks in the Da Yuan Dynasty’s countryside consciously taught their children to read and write.

 

When Gao Kun was called away, Ah Qi watched them leave the compound with lonely eyes. Feeling sympathy, Jing Yi took Ah Qi along with them on their outing.

 

Jing Yi usually brought Steward Tong and Gao Kun with him when he went out for business. The main purpose was to train them and systematically develop his right and left hands according to his own habits.

 

These are the moments that Jing Yi appreciates deeply. He will continue to be patient and teach, taking the role of a mentor. It’s expected that it will take at least three to four years for Gao Kun to become a proficient assistant, considering that he’s just eleven years old.

 

The Jing family’s carriage was traveling on the official road north of the town. By now, the rain had stopped.

 

Chuxia opened the curtain and looked outside. The willow and poplar trees on both sides of the road had started to sprout. The fields were also turning green, and the recent rain made the vibrant green even more refreshing and full of life.

 

The scent of early spring filled the air, with fresh soil carrying the fragrance of tender sprouts. Chuxia deeply inhaled and exhaled slowly. It was so comfortable.

 

“Hoo… Hoo…” He heard the sound of someone’s labored breathing next to him.

 

Chuxia turned to see Ah Qi trying hard to imitate him by taking deep breaths, puffing out his cheeks, and moving his little shoulders in rhythm with his breathing.

 

“Hahaha, Ah Qi, take it slow, no need to try too hard,” Chuxia gently patted his back, signaling him to relax.

 

Ah Qi, realizing that Chuxia was looking at him, blushed and shrank his small shoulders.

 

Feeling Chuxia’s kindness and seeing her smile, his eyes sparkled with admiration.

 

Chuxia noticed this and affectionately rubbed Ah Qi’s little head. He gave him a piece of osmanthus cake to enjoy, harboring no sense of offense. Children, regardless of their background, were lovable and deserving of affection.

 

The carriage continued to move, and after about forty-five minutes, Chuxia thought they had returned to their village. He was surprised at how quickly they’d arrived. However, when he stepped off the carriage, he realized that they were in an entirely unfamiliar place.

 

“Jing Yi, where are we?”

 

Chuxia was somewhat puzzled. This place didn’t seem like a tourist destination. All he could see was a large courtyard with tall walls, and the main gate was tightly closed. The surroundings appeared to be fields.