Chapter 63: The Soap Trial Letter

Xie Yuqing felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and raised her hand to cover her mouth with a gentle laugh. “Miss Jianjia, you do know how to make people happy.”

Though the two women were not particularly close, their relationship had always been harmonious, and it was only natural that they exchanged pleasantries upon meeting.

Once the greetings were over, Mo Jianjia smiled and said, “Manager Xie, I used to buy soap from Manager Liu’s Sundry Goods Hall, but lately I haven’t been able to find any. I thought I’d have to wait even longer, but unexpectedly, the Ning family opened a specialty skincare shop and, without warning, began selling soap.”

Xie Yuqing replied with a smile, “Miss Jianjia, business is truly difficult these days. Take the silk trade, for example: southern suppliers keep raising prices, and the Wang family, our competitor, keeps lowering theirs, causing the profits from silk to fall again and again. So Miss Ning had no choice but to find other ways to make money.”

Mo Jianjia nodded in agreement. “Yes, it’s hard for everyone.”

Xie Yuqing nodded as well and continued, “Miss Jianjia, you’ve come at the perfect time. Our skincare shop is having a grand opening sale these days—buy two soaps and get one free. It’s an opportunity not to be missed!”

Mo Jianjia hurriedly asked, “Manager Xie, how much does your soap cost?”

Xie Yuqing beamed. “Don’t worry, Miss Jianjia, our soap is definitely cheaper than at the Sundry Goods Hall—only eight coins per piece. Today, with the buy-two-get-one-free deal, it’s sixteen coins for three pieces, which comes out to just over five coins each.”

“Just over five coins per piece?” Mo Jianjia was stunned.

She had always bought soap at the Sundry Goods Hall for ten coins each, without any discounts, and now it was half the price here.

Xie Yuqing nodded with a smile. “Miss Jianjia, with the Ning family's reputation, how could we deceive our customers?”

“Of course, of course,” Mo Jianjia nodded repeatedly.

Then Xie Yuqing said, “But Miss Jianjia, to enjoy our buy-two-get-one-free offer, you need to get a VIP card first.”

Mo Jianjia had been to the Delicacies Pavilion, so she understood right away. “Manager Xie, do you mean a VIP card like the one at the Delicacies Pavilion? Does it require depositing money?”

Xie Yuqing shook her head. “No, Miss Jianjia, our shop’s VIP card is different. You don’t need to deposit any money; after each purchase, the card keeps track of reward points—one point per coin spent. Fifty points can be redeemed for a bar of soap, and two hundred points for a scented soap.”

At the mention of scented soap, Mo Jianjia’s interest piqued. “Manager Xie, I didn’t just come to buy regular soap today. I heard your shop has a new product called scented soap. May I see it?”

Xie Yuqing looked troubled. “Miss Jianjia, I’m so sorry. Miss Ning has said scented soap is a limited item right now. Customers wishing to purchase must present a trial letter for scented soap, then go upstairs to try it before buying.”

Mo Jianjia glanced toward the staircase, only then noticing two male staff standing guard.

She asked, “Manager Xie, how can one obtain a scented soap trial letter?”

Just as she finished speaking, three people entered the shop.

Leading them was a richly dressed, slightly plump woman, exuding an air of superiority. Two maids followed behind her.

Both Mo Jianjia and Xie Yuqing recognized her; she was the wife of Yao Zhongxiao, the largest rice merchant in Xinzhou, and a frequent customer at the Ning family’s silk shop.

One of Yao Madam’s maids approached a staff member, showing a bright red trial letter. “Is Manager Xie here? My mistress has come especially to try the scented soap!”

Seeing this, Xie Yuqing quickly apologized to Mo Jianjia and, with a radiant smile, hurried over.

“Madam Yao, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting day and night for you!” Xie Yuqing greeted her with extra warmth and enthusiasm.

Mo Jianjia stood quietly by, watching the scene unfold.

Within a few words, Xie Yuqing had Madam Yao smiling happily, and the group headed upstairs.

While waiting for Xie Yuqing to return, Mo Jianjia observed many people buying soap—her rough estimate was no fewer than thirty pieces.

After about the time it takes incense to burn, Xie Yuqing accompanied Madam Yao downstairs.

Madam Yao’s face was radiant with joy, smelling the fragrance on her hands as she descended, clearly delighted.

Once downstairs, Xie Yuqing loudly instructed a staff member, “Take thirty bars of soap to Madam Yao’s carriage at once!”

“Yes, Manager.” The staff responded promptly and hurried off.

The customers on the first floor were amazed to learn Madam Yao had purchased thirty bars of soap at once; some were envious, some jealous, others whispered quietly.

Madam Yao basked in the attention, enjoying the admiring gazes, and had her maid pay one hundred sixty taels in silver notes in a conspicuously high-profile manner.

Xie Yuqing personally collected the silver, then enthusiastically issued the VIP card, calculated the points, and handed it over to Madam Yao’s personal maid.

“Madam Yao, your ten bars of scented soap will be delivered to your residence within three days,” Xie Yuqing said with a smile.

Madam Yao nodded with a smile. “Thank you for your efforts, Manager Xie.”

Xie Yuqing hurriedly shook her head in polite refusal.

Soon after, Madam Yao, thoroughly satisfied, left the shop with her maids.

Xie Yuqing followed her out, didn’t return until she saw the carriage leave.

Mo Jianjia stepped forward and asked, “Manager Xie, how much does the scented soap Madam Yao ordered cost per bar?”

Xie Yuqing smiled. “Normally, fifty coins per bar, but with the opening promotion and demand outstripping supply, all scented soap is pre-ordered—just thirty coins per bar.”

Mo Jianjia was inwardly astonished: thirty coins per bar—‘just’ thirty! For a little more, she could buy six bars of regular soap.

Though surprised, Mo Jianjia kept her expression well-controlled.

“Manager Xie, you haven’t told me how to get a scented soap trial letter,” Mo Jianjia said, her desire to experience the scented soap only growing.

Xie Yuqing looked a bit helpless. “Miss Jianjia, the trial letters are personally distributed by Miss Ning; who gets one and who doesn’t, I, as a humble shop manager, really don’t know…”

Xie Yuqing quickly added, “But I do remember some of those who’ve brought trial letters these days: Madam Liu from Liu’s Salt House, Madam Yan and Miss Yan from Guangtong Tea Company, the eldest and second young ladies from Four Seas Bank…”

She continued, listing seven or eight names—all wealthy merchants and gentry from Xinzhou—making Mo Jianjia envious.

Mo Jianjia quietly pulled Xie Yuqing aside and whispered, “Manager Xie, I’d like to try the scented soap too. Could you help me?”

Xie Yuqing was immediately put in a difficult position.

Mo Jianjia quickly said, “Manager Xie, many of the girls at Li Shui Pavilion love using soap. Don’t worry, when I return I’ll persuade them all to come buy some!”

Xie Yuqing thought for a moment and replied, “Miss Jianjia, I truly can’t get you a trial letter, but if you manage to collect two hundred points and redeem them for a bar of scented soap, then I could…”

She trailed off, then glanced upstairs toward the second floor.

Then she asked, “Miss Jianjia, do you understand what I mean?”

Mo Jianjia was shocked: two hundred points—that meant spending two hundred coins!

Although Mo Jianjia was a popular figure at Li Shui Pavilion, her income was not as high as people imagined.

Most of her earnings had to be handed over to the pavilion; whatever she managed to save was mainly from generous patrons.

So, two hundred coins was a considerable sum for her.

Xie Yuqing noticed the subtle change in her expression and immediately guessed why.

She changed her tone and said, “Miss Jianjia, perhaps I could try another way—give me a few days, and when I see Miss Ning, I’ll try to request a trial letter for you as well. Would that be all right?”

As soon as Mo Jianjia heard this, her brow furrowed.

She knew very well that, as a courtesan, her status was low and humble. How could the Ning family possibly grant her a trial letter for scented soap?

Xie Yuqing was merely offering polite words.

Thinking this, Mo Jianjia’s competitive spirit was ignited. Without further hesitation, she declared decisively, “Manager Xie, please wait a moment. I’ll go fetch the money right away!”