Chapter 48: The Power to Set the Price Is Mine

Xu Mo appeared thoughtful for a moment before speaking. “It seems, Miss Ning, that you didn’t just happen to wander by. You came here specifically to find me.”

Ning Yaxin replied, “To be honest, I originally just wanted to ask what kind of workshop you planned to open. I hadn’t expected to see soap.”

Xu Mo shook his head helplessly. “That was my oversight.”

Ning Yaxin asked earnestly, “Master Xu, soap is in high demand right now. I’m quite curious: once your soap workshop is up and running, how much can you produce each day?”

Xu Mo immediately frowned, his gaze wary as he looked at Ning Yaxin. “Miss Ning, why do you want to know that?”

Ning Yaxin answered straightforwardly, “Master Xu, since we’ve come this far in the conversation, I’ll speak plainly.”

She then continued, very seriously, “I want to become your business partner and open the soap workshop together!”

“No,” Xu Mo refused without hesitation.

Ning Yaxin frowned slightly but quickly said, “Master Xu, there’s no need to reject me so quickly. There’s still time; you can think it over…”

“Don’t worry, if we work together, the profit split is negotiable… How about forty percent to me, sixty to you?” Ning Yaxin offered.

Xu Mo shook his head in refusal.

Unwilling to give up, Ning Yaxin immediately conceded, “Thirty to me, seventy to you—would that work?”

Xu Mo still shook his head.

“Twenty to me, eighty to you!” Ning Yaxin said through gritted teeth.

Xu Mo continued to shake his head.

Now Ning Yaxin was a bit annoyed. “Master Xu, you’re not thinking of taking ninety percent for yourself, are you?”

Xu Mo smiled. “Miss Ning, I never intended to take on a partner for the workshop in the first place.”

Ning Yaxin fell silent, her expression somewhat clouded.

Xu Mo continued, “Miss Ning, to be honest, I already have the perfect partner for the soap workshop.”

“Who?” Ning Yaxin asked. “Is it Liu Rushi?”

Xu Mo shook his head and pointed to the people on the roof ahead. “No, it’s that family over there.”

Ning Yaxin turned to look. “Your uncle’s family?”

Xu Mo nodded, answering with certainty, “Yes, other than them, I trust no one else.”

Though disappointed, Ning Yaxin understood Xu Mo’s reasoning. After all, the formula and process for making soap were too valuable. If they were leaked, the losses would be unimaginable.

“I understand, Master Xu. Please forgive my earlier impertinence.” Ning Yaxin apologized and turned to leave.

Just then, Xu Mo spoke up, “Miss Ning, though we can’t be business partners in the workshop, it’s not out of the question for us to cooperate in other ways.”

Ning Yaxin was surprised and quickly turned back. “What do you mean, Master Xu?”

Xu Mo smiled, gesturing toward the grove behind the house. “Miss Ning, why don’t we take a walk nearby and discuss the matter of cooperation?”

Ning Yaxin, of course, did not refuse and followed Xu Mo toward the grove.

They had only walked a short distance when they encountered Chen Miaoyi and Ling’er returning with water.

“Husband, where are you off to?” Chen Miaoyi asked.

Ling’er also looked curiously at Ning Yaxin.

Xu Mo replied gently, “My dear, I’m taking Miss Ning for a stroll in the woods to discuss some business matters. We’ll be back soon.”

“All right,” Chen Miaoyi nodded, unable to resist glancing at Ning Yaxin.

Ning Yaxin said, “Ling’er, you don’t need to come. Just wait for me here.”

With that, the two continued into the woods.

Chen Miaoyi watched Xu Mo and Ning Yaxin walking side by side, feeling an inexplicable twinge of unease in her heart.

Soon, Xu Mo and Ning Yaxin reached the woods. Not wishing to venture deeper, Ning Yaxin stopped and said, “Master Xu, let’s talk here.”

Xu Mo stopped as well. “Miss Ning, as far as I know, your family does business in Xinzhou, Heyang, Kaixian, and even farther south in Fuchun County.”

“That’s right!” Ning Yaxin nodded. “I didn’t expect Master Xu to be so well-informed about our family’s business.”

Xu Mo waved his hand. “It’s nothing much. I merely heard a few things in casual conversation with Young Master Ning.”

Ning Yaxin asked, “Master Xu, just say what’s on your mind. How do you want to cooperate?”

Xu Mo’s demeanor became serious. “Miss Ning, I think your family could become the sole distributor for our Peony Brand Soap!”

“Sole distributor?” Ning Yaxin found the term unfamiliar.

Xu Mo patiently explained, “A sole distributor is essentially an exclusive sales agent. Whether in Liang, or in the northern Wei, or even among traders from the Western Regions, anyone wanting to buy Peony Brand Soap must purchase it from you.”

Ning Yaxin, with her natural business acumen, grew excited upon hearing this. “Master Xu, you mean your soap will only be sold to us, and we will resell it to others? Is that correct?”

“Exactly!” Xu Mo nodded solemnly.

Ning Yaxin was overjoyed. “Master Xu, you must keep your word!”

Xu Mo added at once, “Miss Ning, I’m not done yet. If you want to be our sole distributor, you must agree to one condition.”

“Please state it!” Ning Yaxin’s expression became serious as she fixed her gaze on Xu Mo.

Xu Mo declared, “The condition is that the right to set the price belongs to me!”

“The right to set the price?” Ning Yaxin repeated, surprised.

Xu Mo nodded and explained, “That’s right. The price at which you, as sole distributor, sell the soap to others will be determined by me. Whether the price goes up or down in the future, that’s also my decision. You’ll have no right to object.”

“Of course, as sole distributor, you’re welcome to offer suggestions or advice. Whether I accept them or not, however, is up to me.”

Ning Yaxin immediately frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this condition.

“Master Xu, don’t you think that requirement is rather… overbearing?” she said gravely.

The reason Xu Mo insisted on retaining pricing power was to prevent the sole distributor from setting the price too high, which could result in a situation where there was price but no market. As the producer, Xu Mo was not willing to see that happen.

After all, soap was a staple of everyday life. High prices were only suitable in the earliest stages; once the high-end market was saturated, prices would inevitably fall drastically.

Yet Xu Mo didn’t bother explaining. With an air of nonchalance, he said, “If Miss Ning finds this unreasonable, that’s fine. I can always discuss it with someone else.”

To Xu Mo, soap was like the emperor’s daughter—there was no shortage of suitors.

Ning Yaxin suddenly felt anxious, though she kept her composure.

“Master Xu, may I have some time to consider?” she asked.

Xu Mo smiled. “Of course! Take your time, Miss Ning—we have plenty of time.”

With that, Xu Mo walked to a nearby tree and looked up into its branches.

During the time that followed, Ning Yaxin remained silent, her thoughts churning as she weighed the pros and cons.

In the end, she decided she could not afford to lose such a good opportunity.

Having made up her mind, Ning Yaxin turned to Xu Mo. “Master Xu, let’s do as you say—the right to set the price is yours!”

Xu Mo returned, smiling. “Miss Ning, congratulations on making the right decision!”

Yet Ning Yaxin could not bring herself to smile.

Xu Mo said, “Miss Ning, I understand your concerns. Rest assured, even though I hold the pricing power, I won’t disregard your interests for my own gain. The reason I do this is to ensure the business lasts longer and prospers.”

Ning Yaxin was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “I hope you mean what you say.”

Xu Mo smiled. “My words now don’t matter; in time, you’ll see for yourself.”

At that moment, Xu Mo suddenly extended his right hand, wanting to shake hands with Ning Yaxin. “Miss Ning, may our cooperation be a happy one!”

Ning Yaxin was baffled by the gesture. She glanced down at Xu Mo’s outstretched hand and asked, “Master Xu, what are you doing?”

Xu Mo instantly realized his mistake—this was not modern society, and handshakes were unheard of.

“It’s nothing, nothing at all. My hand just suddenly felt itchy… yes, itchy… I’ll just rub it, that’ll do…”

Xu Mo’s face turned awkward as he quickly pressed his left hand over his right and began rubbing them together.