Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 155 - 80: Soap Division

"Dad! The Wang Family has also opened a soap shop in the Prefecture this time. We need to make more, otherwise, it won’t be enough like before," Gu Chengyu said to Mr. Gu after finishing his meal.

In the past two years, their family partitioned a room in the courtyard to make a soap workshop, and the ones making the soap were just a few family members, but they increased the molds, so they could make hundreds of pieces at a time.

Two years ago, he sought out Wang Qikai to propose a profit-sharing collaboration with the Wang Family. Mr. Wang, considering he was Wang Qikai’s classmate, gave the Gu Family forty percent. Don’t underestimate this forty percent; the Gu Family did not participate in the operation and was only responsible for making the soap, while the Wang Family had to supply the shop, use their contacts, and share some profits with the high officials and nobles.

So, being able to receive forty percent was already quite good for the Gu Family. After all, the Gu Family was just an ordinary farming household.

Although Mr. Wang recognized the profitability, he didn’t dare to sell too much. He was sent from the Capital to manage the business, and if this matter was known to the main family, he would likely have to hand over his share, and the Gu Family wouldn’t benefit either. Therefore, the Wang Family only expanded their shop to the Prefecture this year.

Of course, the Gu Family didn’t dare to produce too much soap either. Gu Chengyu had to go for a scarcity marketing strategy. Even so, the Wang Family still shielded them from many troubles. Since the production wasn’t high, they could only sell to wealthy families, so the soap price wasn’t cheap.

The soap made by the Gu Family was divided into three grades. The third grade was cheaper, being pure soap without any additives, packaged in a crude porcelain container with the Gu Family’s trademark and a rose on top, selling for five hundred coins; the second grade had some petals and essential oils added. The essential oils were later made by Gu Chengyu using books from their space, although not much oil was put into the soap, packaged in a white porcelain box, selling for one tael and half a coin of silver; the first grade had some medicinal herbs added, like He Shouwu, Aloe Vera, and others, which had skin and hair care functions, so they were more expensive, starting at three taels of silver. If more expensive medicinal herbs were added, the price naturally increased. These were packed in intricately carved wooden boxes coated with lacquer, making them look more exquisite.

The porcelain and wooden boxes for packaging were found by the Wang Family, and the Gu Family didn’t deal with that. After all, these were also costs, and Gu Chengyu’s requirement was that the box must have the Gu Family’s trademark and a rose on it.

The soap made by the Gu Family was not large in size, and the expensive ones were made in different shapes, like plum blossom and cylindrical shapes. Because of the added medicinal herbs and essential oils, they looked delicate, smelled fragrant, and were effective, so they were always in high demand.

However, neither the Wang Family nor the Gu Family dared to produce aggressively. The low production could still be explained, but if they produced more, it would surely attract the covetous eyes of those big influential figures.

Thinking of these, Gu Chengyu sighed! Wasn’t it all because their family lacked status? He was determined to participate in the imperial examination in February next year. Even if Mr. Wen didn’t support it, he would still be determined to carry it out.

"How come? Didn’t we say we couldn’t make more? How come they’re opening a shop in the Prefecture now?" Mr. Gu was somewhat surprised.

Previously, the Gu Family made over a thousand taels of pure profit from soap alone every year, which already satisfied Mr. Gu. He didn’t want to make a huge fortune, without power, even a minor official could stir trouble for his family.

"Since Mr. Wang mentioned it, it must mean he’s thought of a way. You don’t need to worry. Since more soap needs to be made, that flower field at the foot of the mountain has to be planted with more, including the medicinal field, all five acres should be planted next year, and it’s best to carve out a few more acres."

The Gu Family had purchased a piece of land at the foot of the mountain, enclosed by walls for a flower field, and an orchard was also there, used for picking peach and pear blossoms, not all were for fruit. They also bought ten acres intended for medicinal herbs, but currently, just three acres were used, and yet they still had a lot of stock, with the rest planted with grain.

"Alright! As long as you and Mr. Wang have it under control." Mr. Gu, seeing his son had ideas, no longer worried.

As the two talked, everyone in the Gu Family pricked up their ears to listen. The Gu Family always made a fixed amount of soap each year, never more, so everyone at home had an idea of how much silver they earned. Now, if they could produce more, wouldn’t that mean more silver?

In fact, Gu Chengyu speculated that Mr. Wang suddenly decided to open a shop in the Prefecture possibly due to having connections with some official. Recalling Wang Qikai saying his father took him to the Prefecture last time for the Prefect’s wife’s birthday banquet, Gu Chengyu was somewhat worried whether they could keep hold of their forty percent share.

It seems they need to let Yu Tuanzi find a way to check it out.

"Dad! Is it too little for our family to only take forty percent? This soap recipe is from our family, couldn’t we at least take seventy percent?" He, after listening to Gu Chengyu and his father’s conversation, couldn’t help feeling that her family giving away sixty percent was just too much, thinking about how much silver that was.

"What do you know, woman? You have them do the work and go around using connections, and only give them thirty percent? How does that make any sense? Moreover, not all of that sixty percent goes to the Wang Family," Mr. Gu was a bit displeased that He interrupted. No one likes giving money away, but did their family have the ability to take it? He wouldn’t be muddle-headed about such a big issue. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Then we shouldn’t have done business with the Wang Family in the first place, look, we let them have the larger share, if we sold it ourselves, wouldn’t all the silver be ours?" He felt heartbroken just thinking about all that shiny silver going into someone else’s pocket.

"Second sister-in-law, didn’t I tell you before? Without relying on others, do you think we could’ve sold this much soap in a year? And not have anyone make trouble for us? Do you think people are fools? If we didn’t rely on the Wang Family, we’d be eaten up until not even the bones are left. You’re really stupid!"

Mrs. Lv, hearing He’s complaints, was already in a bad mood, and it only made her more furious! This second sister-in-law had been told many times but still didn’t understand, always thinking about silver that didn’t belong to them.

Gu Chengyi silently ate his meal. Although he knew Mr. Gu was right, he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable inside. It was Mr. Gu and Gu Chengyu who discussed things with the Wang Family, who knew if the Wang Family really took sixty percent? Weren’t those just the two of them saying it? So he didn’t interfere with He’s rant.

"Second sister-in-law! Doing business isn’t as easy as you think. Our family is just a farming household. If we took on this business ourselves, even those local thugs and hooligans would be enough trouble for us,"

Gu Chengyu was at a loss for words at this second sister-in-law; her mind seemed not to turn. Didn’t she know the Wang Family resolved their previous troubles?

Gu Chengyu glanced at Gu Chengyi, finding it strange that he remained unusually quiet today. Logically speaking, he had explained it before, so the second brother should understand. Yet, he saw Chengyi was just focused on eating and didn’t stop He.

Mrs. Zhang had been listening carefully to their conversation. Having been married into the family for almost two years, she naturally understood some things about the Gu Family and knew that their good days were all thanks to the Little Uncle. She was aware that the Gu Family must have a lot of silver, even if Gu Chenglian didn’t tell her explicitly. Now hearing He’s words made her think He was really stupid. She looked down on this second sister-in-law.

"Alright! Don’t talk about this matter in the future, if it reaches the ears of the Wang Family, won’t they say our family has a big heart? We still need to rely on them to earn silver," Mr. Gu had to add a last reminder. He’s words were too loose, and if the Wang Family found out, how could the two families continue their partnership?

"Little Uncle! After the meal, there are some things in my book that I don’t understand. I’d like to go to the study to consult with you." After the table fell silent, Da Lang’s voice suddenly broke the quiet.