The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the back mountain was shrouded in a hazy white veil.

Shen Qiqi was wearing a washed-out coarse cloth dress and a pair of Liberation shoes. She looked as capable as a female warrior ready for a big fight.

Following behind her was a dark-skinned, thin man, who was Wang, the collector in charge of collecting waste in the back mountain of the village.

"Brother Wang, you have to help me take a good look." Shen Qiqi pointed at the vegetation all over the mountain, her tone a little anxious, "Which grasses and flowers on this mountain can be used to make handmade soap?"

Collector Wang scratched his head, his honest face full of confusion.

He usually collected herbs according to the old customs of the village, so how would he know the raw materials for making soap?

He hesitated for a long time but couldn't make any clear explanation.

Shen Qiqi looked at the green mountain, but her heart sank.

She originally thought that the mountain behind was a natural treasure trove, but when she really wanted to use it, she found that there were very few things she could use.

"This...this won't do, Brother Wang." She frowned, looking worried, like a poor student who didn't review before the exam.

The breeze blew by, and the leaves made a rustling sound, making the back mountain seem even quieter and more depressing at this moment.

Collector Wang stood there at a loss, like a child who had done something wrong.

"Forget it, Brother Wang, you go back first. I'll go to the town to ask around." Shen Qiqi sighed. She decided to change her approach and start directly from the source.

In the town's grocery store, a strong smell of spices hits your nose.

Mr. Li, the grocery store owner, was sitting behind the counter, squinting his eyes as he calculated today's accounts.

Seeing Shen Qiqi coming in, his shrewd face was immediately filled with smiles, but this smile was tinged with a bit of businessman's cunning.

"Hey, isn't this the third daughter-in-law of the Lu family? What do you want to buy from me today?" There was a hint of teasing in Boss Li's voice, as if he was looking at a little rabbit that had fallen into a trap.

"Boss Li, I'd like to ask, do you have any raw materials for making handmade soap? For example, some natural oils, flowers and plants, etc." Shen Qiqi got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

When Boss Li heard this, his eyes lit up.

He cleared his throat pretentiously and then quoted a series of prices that were so ridiculously high that they were almost like robbery.

"These things are rare goods. Look at the price, they are definitely worth the money!" Boss Li said while deliberately raising his tone, trying to make the price sound justified.

Shen Qiqi's face darkened instantly, and she felt like a fat sheep being slaughtered.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her anger.

This Boss Li is simply treating her as a sucker!

In the grocery store, the air seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Boss Li was still fiddling with the abacus nonchalantly, making crisp sounds, as if mocking Shen Qiqi's helplessness.

"This price is too outrageous!" Shen Qiqi stared at Boss Li coldly.

Boss Li spread his hands, with a hint of disdain in his tone: "Think it's too expensive? Then don't buy it." After that, he slowly picked up a candy from the counter, peeled off the candy wrapper and put it in his mouth. His leisurely movements were like a cat playing with a mouse.

Shen Qiqi gritted her teeth, took out a few wrinkled bills from her pocket, and bought only a small amount of raw materials.

This amount of stuff is only enough to make a few bars of handmade soap, which is far from the mass production she wants.

After walking out of the grocery store, Shen Qiqi's face fell, like an eggplant hit by frost - wilted.

"Oh, these raw materials are too expensive, it's simply a rip-off!" Shen Qiqi couldn't help but complain as she walked, "I've only bought a few things, and my money is almost gone. What am I going to do in the future?"

Lu Qing followed her silently, and seeing her depressed look, he felt uncomfortable too.

He patted Shen Qiqi's shoulder gently and comforted her: "Qiqi, don't be discouraged, there will always be a way."

Shen Qiqi raised her head and looked into Lu Qing's eyes full of encouragement, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

She took a deep breath and tried to cheer herself up.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. Her eyes lit up and she said excitedly, "I got it! We can go deeper into the back mountain and take a look! Maybe we can find a new place to collect raw materials!"

This idea surprised collector Wang. He widened his eyes and opened his mouth so wide that it seemed as if an egg could be stuffed in.

He stammered, "Deeper...deeper? That...that's inside..."

Lu Qing was also a little worried. He frowned and said, "Qiqi, it's very dangerous deep in the back mountain. We should..."

"What are you afraid of!" Shen Qiqi interrupted him, "Wealth and honor are sought in danger! No risk, no gain!" Her eyes flashed with determination, as if she had seen the dawn of victory.

Collector Wang wanted to persuade him again, but was shocked by Shen Qiqi's unquestionable look.

He swallowed hard, finally nodded, and said, "Well... well, I... I'll go with you."

Shen Qiqi smiled slightly, patted Collector Wang on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Wang, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

The next morning, Shen Qiqi and Collector Wang arrived at the foot of the back mountain early.

They walked along a rugged path deep into the mountains.

The surrounding trees became increasingly dense, blocking out the sun. The sunlight could only shine through the gaps between the leaves, creating mottled shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with a damp scent, mixed with various unknown floral and herbal scents.

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