Chapter 1150: Chapter 1141: Palace (26)
The woman spoke in a calm and measured tone, and although there were quite a few items in the tray, she did not seem eager to sell them.
The soap and Rouge were both excellent products and did not worry about not selling.
She had been selling soap and Rouge on this busy road not just for a day or two.
Seeing her promotion, few people were interested, but once she introduced the soap in detail, most would buy some to try, and some even bought her out entirely.
The Princess Consort was dressed in luxurious attire with an elegant demeanor, clearly someone who was not short of money.
Especially with the Prince sitting beside her, even if the Princess Consort didn’t buy, the Prince would buy some to please her; the woman had seen this many times and could predict it well.
However, before the woman could speak, Xique said, "We’re not buying soap."
The woman was taken aback; she hadn’t mentioned the soap yet, and even the Maid knew about it?
The woman felt awkward.
The woman inquired from Xique, "How much did you buy your soap for?"
Xique replied, "One silver for two pieces."
The woman chuckled, "You bought it expensive; I only charge eight maces of silver here."
Xique also laughed, "Then do you have the scented soap?"
"Yes, but that kind is expensive, one silver per piece," the woman smiled.
"Our Madam uses that kind," Xique laughed.
"...."
The woman felt even more awkward.
She was selling at twice the price of theirs.
They got two pieces for one silver, while she sold one piece for one silver.
But at the border of Daqi, not many sold soap, and it took one silver three maces to buy two pieces of that crystal-clear soap; where did they buy theirs?
The woman inquired, and Xique didn’t hide it from her, "We bought it directly from the Daqi Capital."
The woman gave a wry smile, "No wonder, things at the border are more expensive than in the Capital, it’s normal, I can’t sell at that price, or I’d lose everything."
The woman turned with the tray.
Prince NanAn and his group sat a little farther, and the woman thought they were not with the Princess Consort, so she introduced the products to Prince NanAn and his companions.
Prince NanAn tapped the tray with the jade fan and said, "Don’t do the soap business three months from now; you’ll end up stuck with it."
The woman was puzzled, "Why?"
"Three months later, someone will be selling soap, and it will be much cheaper than what you sell," Prince NanAn said.
The woman smiled, not taking Prince NanAn’s words to heart.
Seeing no one buying soap, she carried the tray back inside.
The woman didn’t take out the tray for anyone who came to the stall for tea; the soap was a luxury item, not something common people could afford.
After the Princess Consort and her group left, the woman carried the tray out a few more times and sold a few pieces.
The next day, Su Jin, Xie Jingchen, and their group rested at the tea stall. The woman saw Su Jin and Qin Hanhan, who were accompanied by two children, and her eyes lit up with excitement.
Noble ladies who are willing to buy soap are even more willing to spend on their children; this soap is perfect for bathing children.
The woman was confident this tray would sell out, but ended up not selling a single piece.
Just as she brought it out, Xingxing exclaimed, "So Nanliang also sells soap?"
The woman, "...."
Isn’t she allowed to do business anymore?
If they don’t buy, so be it, but they wouldn’t even give her a chance to speak.
The woman glanced at Su Jin and Qin Hanhan, then looked at Xingxing, "From your accent, you don’t seem to be from Nanliang?"
"We are from Daqi," Xingxing replied honestly.
"...."
No wonder.
In Daqi, what noble family doesn’t use soap?
Even in Nanliang, a noble lady who doesn’t use soap isn’t really noble.
Yesterday, Prince NanAn advised the woman not to sell soap anymore.
Xingxing advised her the same.
The woman, "...."
Su Jin and her group didn’t stay long at the tea stall; after a cup of tea, they set off.
Watching the carriage go off into the distance, the woman turned to the tea stall owner and said, "Master, someone advised me yesterday not to sell soap, and today someone advised me again; is it true that the soap business can’t go on anymore?"
The money earned from selling soap these past months was much more than from selling tea.
To stop selling now, the woman was reluctant.
The tea stall owner watching the distant carriage said, "Today’s group is of no lesser status than yesterday’s; they must have some inside information. Let’s do this soap business for two more months, then we’ll stop."
The woman, disappointed, said, "Could it be deliberately spread news, so they can sell themselves?"
The tea stall owner replied, "If that’s truly the case, then we mustn’t continue."
They have limited resources, how can they compete with large merchants?
Noble ladies wanting to buy soap will also go to shops first; only when it’s impossible will they think of them.
And the shops purchase in bulk, so their prices are lower; without a price advantage, it’s even harder to sell.
Throughout their journey, though bumpy, the carriage moved slowly; they stopped often to enjoy the scenery, ensuring the two children were not overly tired.
