Chapter 36: Buying Out the Flowering Branches
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Zhou Hao’s eyes widened, and his breathing quickened slightly.
“The wind was rather loud just now. What did you say?”
He had the distinct feeling that he had misheard something.
“One tael of silver for one tael of Floral Cleanser. That was the price Ruxue told us. First Imperial Prince, you are not planning to raise the price, are you?”
Raise the price? Zhou Hao clearly remembered that he had never quoted such a price.
What he had said before was plainly one tael of silver for three taels of Floral Cleanser.
After all, the cost of making the stuff was minimal. Most of the expense lay in the flowers. Pig pancreases and mutton tail fat were merely unwanted offal.
Even ten jars of Floral Cleanser, jars included, cost less than one tael of silver to produce.
And yet these women intended to buy one tael of Floral Cleanser for one tael of silver?
Indeed, being a merchant meant having to be ruthless.
If you sold something too cheaply, hardly anyone would be willing to buy it.
“Of course, of course. Since Miss Ruxue was the one who told you the price, we shall naturally proceed according to it.”
“Only, with so many of you, it would be difficult to divide the Floral Cleanser evenly, would it not?”
With that, Zhou Hao turned toward the servants nearby.
“Go and bring the small scales. Divide the Floral Cleanser into separate portions of one tael each and pack them individually.”
“Once they are ready, bring them back here.”
The servants hurriedly carried the jars away.
The daughters of the officials all breathed a sigh of relief.
If the First Imperial Prince had truly sold the product by the jar, most of them would have been unable to obtain any at all.
Though each person would receive less this way, everyone would at least have a share, and their anxious hearts finally settled.
Yet this was not what concerned them most. What they truly wanted to know was how the product was made and how much could be produced at a time.
If production was scarce, would they not still have to scramble to place their orders in advance?
“First Imperial Prince, could you tell us how much Floral Cleanser can be produced in a single day?”
As soon as the question was asked, all the women around them fell silent and pricked up their ears, eager to hear Zhou Hao’s answer.
After all, every one of them was intensely envious of Bi Ruxue, who had been able to enjoy such a marvelous product ahead of them.
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They naturally wanted some as well—perhaps something even better.
“As you can see, this product not only cleanses the body but also leaves behind a floral fragrance.”
“Unfortunately, its output is extremely limited. Otherwise, I would not have brought out so little Floral Cleanser today. I can produce only one jar every two days.”
“And each jar contains merely three jin.”
At those words, the daughters of the officials all widened their eyes and stared at Zhou Hao in disbelief.
Three jin every two days?
If someone placed a custom order, would that not mean that no ordinary Floral Cleanser could be produced for several days afterward?
“Then… First Imperial Prince, may I ask how much silver a custom order would require?”
Zhou Hao froze. He did not dare state the figure he had prepared in advance. He was genuinely afraid that his price would not match the one Bi Ruxue had quoted.
He gave two soft coughs and deftly shifted the conversation elsewhere.
“Custom orders are rather troublesome. In fact, if you truly wish to place one, you must order an entire jar.”
“In that case, it would be difficult to maintain a regular supply of Floral Cleanser.”
Before Zhou Hao could finish speaking, a young woman drew a quantity of silver from her sleeve and slammed it heavily onto the table in the courtyard.
“First Imperial Prince, I would like to order one jar of Floral Cleanser scented with the roses blooming in my garden.”
Zhou Hao nodded and signaled for a servant to summon Bi Ruxue at once.
As for himself, he used every verbal stratagem he could think of to keep the daughters of the officials occupied.
Bi Ruxue was truly something else. If she intended to raise the price, why had she not told him?
Now, even though the deposit had been placed right in front of him, he did not dare accept it, much less name a price.
“And you are?” Zhou Hao asked.
“My father is the Minister of Revenue.”
The young woman inclined her hand slightly, her expression carrying a hint of smug pride.
The Minister of Revenue’s daughter—Hu Xiaoxia.
Zhou Hao immediately matched her identity with the information in his memories.
“So it is Miss Hu. There is no need to pay the deposit just yet. Once my servants have gathered the flowers from your garden, you may pay then.”
Hu Xiaoxia shook her head repeatedly.
If she waited until then, her dear friends would probably have claimed the entire month’s quota among themselves.
How could there possibly be any left for her?
Impossible.
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“No need, First Imperial Prince. You may take it now. The amount is exact.”
With that, Hu Xiaoxia pushed the silver forward, her face filled with undisguised satisfaction.
She had anticipated that the scene would unfold this way, which was why she had brought enough silver to place a custom order and secure a jar directly from the First Imperial Prince.
Hu Xiaoxia’s action was like a spark thrown into a powder keg.
The women around them surged toward Zhou Hao as though possessed.
“First Imperial Prince, I want a custom order as well. You may gather the flowers from my garden.”
“So do I! You cannot favor one person over another, First Imperial Prince.”
“Exactly. We all have silver now. You must consider this carefully. Such a treasure should not be given to people who do not know how to appreciate it.”
When faced with disobedient men, Zhou Hao would usually strike them across the face and make them learn to listen.
But these women were not his subordinates. They had come rushing over to give him money. Even if Zhou Hao wanted to lash out, he could find neither a reasonable excuse nor a suitable way to do so.
He could only smile awkwardly as the quarrels grew increasingly heated, until it seemed they might actually come to blows.
“What are you doing? Are you truly planning to disgrace yourselves before the First Imperial Prince?”
Bi Ruxue’s sharp rebuke rang out, and all the arguing women immediately fell silent.
They, too, felt a lingering fear. If the First Imperial Prince became angry because of their quarrelling and refused to sell them any Floral Cleanser, that would be a genuine loss.
“Ruxue, you have finally arrived. Hu Xiaoxia has brought out this silver and wishes to place a custom order for one jar of Floral Cleanser. What do you think?”
Bi Ruxue naturally understood what Zhou Hao meant. She first weighed the silver lightly in her hand, then slowly nodded.
“One and a half taels of silver for each tael of Floral Cleanser. That is the price for custom orders. If you truly wish to place one, come forward and register.”
“But you must decide among yourselves who goes first and who goes later.”
Bi Ruxue had no intention of taking responsibility for this thankless task, nor would she allow Zhou Hao to handle it.
Whoever was placed at the front would inevitably leave those behind her somewhat dissatisfied. If that dissatisfaction continued to accumulate, eventually becoming one overwhelming resentment, it would create a disastrous situation for the First Imperial Prince.
There would certainly be more people opposing him than supporting him.
Bi Ruxue’s words not only caused Hu Xiaoxia to raise her chin proudly, but also filled the eyes of the other daughters of officials with hostility.
Everyone around them was a rival competing for the Floral Cleanser.
“I have an idea. Why don’t we reserve all the Floral Cleanser that will be produced from now on, so we will not have to worry about waiting for future batches?”
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