Chapter 23: Money Must Be Spent

Chapter 23

Zou Youcai was the shopkeeper and the boss.

After personally testing the effect of the green grass ointment, he immediately wanted to buy all the finished products.

"For one box like this, I can give you 300 coins."

He thought the price was generous enough, but Li Yao shook her head. This time she was going to fleece some rich people first, so how could she set the price so affordable?

"Two taels of silver per box."

The shopkeeper was so shocked that he staggered.

If he had to sell it to him for two taels, how much would he have to sell it for?

"Even if the product is good, selling it at too high a price would be futile."

"That's because you're using the wrong method," Li Yao said. "If you do as I say, you will not only be able to sell it, but I guarantee you will have more demand than supply."

After listening to Li Yao's method, Zou the shopkeeper's eyes kept flashing.

"Okay, I'll try it your way."

...

Before long, a message began to circulate among the ladies and young ladies in Baichuan Market.

"Have you heard? Zou's Rouge Shop has a new type of green grass ointment that takes effect immediately. If you get bitten by mosquitoes, just apply a little and it will heal right away."

"It doesn't stain your skin at all when applied, and feels nice and cool." Gét latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om

"I heard about it too. It seems it can also repel mosquitoes."

...

Through word of mouth, some people began to come to Zou's Rouge Shop.

But they were told: Indeed there is such a magical green grass ointment, but I'm afraid I can't sell it to you for now as we have run out of stock.

No stock? Then just wait a little longer.

As a result, they kept waiting and waiting, but there was still no stock.

There was no green grass ointment, but there was no shortage of mosquitoes. No matter how well you protect yourself, you're bound to get a few bites.

The mosquitoes this season were like venomous, even a light bite would immediately swell up badly.

The more unbearably itchy the ladies felt, the more they thought about that magical green grass ointment. Those with bad tempers brought their servants to threaten,

"If you still have no stock, do you believe I will smash your shop?"

"Tomorrow, I will definitely have it by tomorrow!" Zou Youcai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "It's just not easy to make this stuff, so the price will be a bit high..."

"I don't care how expensive it is! Just get me the goods!"

"Yes, yes..."

Anyway, recently Zou Youcai has been rather frightened, afraid that someone would smash his shop. It wasn't until Li Yao delivered 60 boxes of green grass ointment as promised, that he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly spread the word,

"The green grass ointment is in stock!"

This news exploded and spread throughout Baichuan Market instantly. The ladies who were free and had nothing to do immediately threw aside what they were doing and rushed to Zou's Rouge Shop.

"I came first, I want two boxes!"

"What do you mean you came first, I obviously came first. I want 10 boxes!"

"Don't fight with me, I want them all!"

...

Zou Youcai was dumbfounded.

In over twenty years since he opened his shop, it had never been so lively. Let alone seeing such a frenzied scramble.

"Everyone listen to me!"

Bringing the children to a fabric shop, they each bought 3 sets of ready-made clothes first. 800 coins per set on average, 15 sets cost 12 taels of silver.

Shoes of course could not be omitted.

Forget about brocade shoes, they were expensive and not practical. Cloth shoes with thousand-layer soles were good, 160 coins a pair, 3 pairs each.

Seeing her spending freely, the fabric shop owner seized the opportunity to make a sale: "Madam, it will be cold soon, we have new cotton, would you like to take a look?"

There was no cotton yet in this era, or rather it wasn't widespread. For quilted jackets and comforters, good ones would usually have bulrush flowers or willow catkins stuffed inside, poorer ones would stuff straw.

Warming effect aside, wearing them felt really awkward.

Kapok was a relatively high-end filler, but also expensive, 500 coins per jin, only the rich could afford it.

"Son, there's no hurry for the kapok," Da Zhuang saw her spending money like flowing water and felt a little distressed, "Winter is still early."

"It's not early."

Kapok must be bought.

Li Yao had endured the straw bedding for a long time. Sleeping under it every night made her feel itchy all over, this time she would change it no matter what.

Making 4 quilts and mattresses each, 8 jin per set, totaling 64 jin.

Plus 2 sets of cotton jackets and pants for each person, at least 10 more jin would be needed.

"80 jin to start with."

"8...80 jin???"

The fabric shop owner was stunned.

In his many years running the shop, he had never met anyone buying 80 jin of kapok in one go. Even when Zhang Official married off his daughter, the 30 jin of kapok as dowry was the biggest deal he had ever done.

This lady didn't look like much, he didn't expect her to spend so extravagantly. He really hit the jackpot today!

"Don't you not have that much?"

"There is, definitely enough!" The fabric shop owner's face blossomed with smiles. "Go get the goods for this lady! And we have fine silks, great for making quilted jackets..."

"I'll take them!"

"And high quality cotton cloth..."

"I'll take them!"

...

Li Yao also bought a bolt of silk to make jackets and pants.

Three bolts of cotton cloth.

Although the workmanship was a bit crude, they were all made of pure kapok and felt very soft to the touch, perfect for making quilts and blankets.

Finally, there were several large spools of cotton thread, for making the batting.

In total it cost 60 taels.

Half of the money they had just gotten went straight out.

But it couldn't be helped, that's what happens when there's so many people in the family.

The kids neatly organized everything on the cart, loading up the big bundles of kapok, filling up the whole cart.

Although it hurt to spend the money, being able to wear comfortable new clothes and cloth shoes, sleep in a soft bed at night under a thick warm quilt...

Just thinking about it made the kids tremble slightly in happiness.

"Mother, we've bought most of what we need, can we go home now?" Li Yao asked.

Li Yao shook her head. Going home was out of the question, they hadn't finished buying everything yet.

"What else do we need to buy?"

"Cattle."