Chapter 92

Fifth Concubine? Could the Fifth Concubine of the Grand Protectorate be a girl from the Wu family?

Ye Jia felt a little uneasy. The men before him looked ferocious and fierce, and it looked like they wouldn't leave easily. Ye Jia's brows furrowed in thought. Some of the bewildered diners were startled by their sudden appearance, while others who hadn't entered yet, fearing trouble, retreated. Seeing that the diners were about to leave, Ye Jia made a decision: "Who is this Fifth Concubine in the mansion?"

"The fifth concubine is naturally the fifth concubine of the Protectorate." The burly man in the lead said loudly.

This statement frightened the onlookers into silence. While the status of wives and concubines was vastly different in ancient times, the difference between officials and commoners was even greater. Even though she was just a concubine, the Grand Protector's concubine was more prestigious than anyone else.

"Let's go." The strong man said without any politeness, "Madam, please hurry up and don't make Fifth Aunt wait anxiously."

Xiaoli and Huanpei silently moved closer to Ye Jia, their eyes fixed on the newcomer. They were the maidens Zhou Jingchen had requested, and their martial arts prowess was unknown. However, the strength of those Zhou Jingchen had specially recruited was undoubtedly not to be underestimated. Huanpei whispered in Ye Jia's ear, "Master, Xiaoli and I are more than capable of handling these people."

Ye Simei, not hearing Huanpei's words, paled with fear. She was always timid, and would subconsciously freeze in the face of a major incident. After a long moment, she recovered and ran from behind the bar, knife in hand. Qiuyue, on the other hand, wiped her hands and came around, standing behind Ye Jia.

Ye Simei broke out in a cold sweat and stuttered, not knowing what to say: "Sister..."

"It's okay." No matter how favored the Fifth Concubine was in the Grand Protectorate, her status as a captain's wife was not something she could easily change. "You and Qiuyue take the child to the back room first. You two can keep an eye on the business here. When you have time, go home and send a message. I'll be right back."

Ye Simei couldn't leave her children alone, so she usually carried them with her when she got up early to go out to work. She had two small cradles set up behind the bar, and the children were still sleeping in them. They must have gotten used to the noise; no matter how noisy the shop got, the children would still sleep soundly. Qiuyue nodded, pulled Ye Simei behind the bar, and carried one child each to the backyard.

Ye Jia thanked the old doctor and asked Qiuyue to cut some meat for the old doctor to take back with the wine, then he took two maids and followed the man.

There were no restaurants in this town, and only two teahouses. One on East Street, and one on West Street. With this group barging in, Fifth Auntie naturally waited in the teahouse not far from East Street.

Ye Jia followed them and arrived in a few steps.

Teahouses in small towns are rather shabby and small. As soon as Ye Jia entered, he could see the entire place. He spotted a young woman sitting by the window with her back to the door. The usually bustling teahouse had been cleared out, leaving only a storyteller telling tales in the hall. Several servants attended to the woman. They didn't turn around when they heard the noise, but continued to whisper to the woman.

Seeing this arrogant posture, Ye Jia immediately understood.

In ancient times, women from the rich and powerful mansions rarely had the opportunity to travel far. It wasn't that they were forbidden, but rather that the journey was too long. Even the principal wife rarely had the time to travel, and those who married far away would rarely return to their parents' home. This, let alone the freedom afforded to concubines, was evident in the fact that the Fifth Concubine lived a comfortable life surrounded by her husband and could even return to her parents' home with her daughter. It goes without saying how much she was favored.

Ye Jia was led up to her, and the woman slowly raised her head and glanced at him.

Their eyes met, and the woman was surprised for a moment.

It seemed as if he had never expected that the wife of a mere lieutenant could be so beautiful. The woman before him wore no makeup, her hair as black as satin, her skin as white as jade. Her delicate features betrayed a dazzling radiance. She was slender and possessed a calm demeanor, even more so than her own, a touch of nobility. The woman's expression froze slightly, and she put down her tea cup with a click. She scrutinized Ye Jia critically.

Women who favor men with their beauty are used to competing for favors among a group of women. When they look at people, especially women, their first impression is appearance. When they find that the other person is younger and more beautiful than themselves, their first reaction is to reject and feel threatened.

Ye Jia naturally did not miss the hostility in her eyes, and immediately knew what was going on.

"Are you the wife of the Dongxiang Town Commandant? You look so young..."

The fifth concubine of the Grand Protectorate had round, almond-shaped eyes, and perhaps from having already given birth to two children, a slightly plump figure. She had a small, oval face and thin lips, looking around twenty-four or twenty-five. While not particularly beautiful, the corners of her eyes held an undeniable allure. Her voice, like honey, was almost cloying.

"It's me." Ye Jia nodded.

"I am a member of the Grand Protectorate's family, my surname is Wu. I am the eldest daughter of the Wu family in Dongxiang Town. I am here to visit my parents with my children." This fifth concubine of the Grand Protectorate was indeed a daughter of the Wu family. She pointed a finger, painted with bright red cardamom, at the empty seat in front of Ye Jia and gestured with her eyes for Ye Jia to sit across from her. "Please sit down. I asked you to come here because I have something I want to discuss with the captain's wife."

Ye Jia turned around to look at the storyteller who was still telling the story, then walked over to the opposite side of the table and sat down. "Nice to meet you."

Fifth Aunt was able to return to Dongxiang Town with her infant daughter thanks to the Grand Protector's grace. Within days of her return, she heard her brothers' cries. Wu Min, the eldest of the Wu family, was a ruthless person. Even after being repeatedly pressured by his father, he couldn't resist confronting his sister about the matter. He exaggerated how the Zhou family had recently troubled the Wu family and damaged their business.

Although Fifth Auntie wasn't one to believe everything she heard, she was also quite proud. She didn't completely trust her brother's words, but the fact that the Zhou family didn't take the Wu family seriously made her furious. "I heard the captain's wife is in the soap business?"

"Of course." Ye Jia guessed her identity and, naturally, her purpose in seeking her out. "I heard that the Wu family now has another source of goods, as Fifth Aunt pointed out. I wonder what Fifth Aunt wants to talk to me about?"

Wu Shan didn't beat around the bush. After a few pleasantries, she started asking about the fragrant pancreas business.

Ye Jia answered her politely, his attitude not appearing enthusiastic. The reason Ye Jia agreed to come was because the Fifth Aunt had sent so many people to invite her. Just because she agreed to go a step further to talk to avoid unnecessary conflict didn't mean Ye Jia would let the person in front of her manipulate her.

"Fifth Aunt, you're joking. The soap business is the foundation of our Zhou family's survival. Our Zhou family depends on this way of making a living in the future. How can we easily give it away to others just because of a word from Aunt?" Ye Jia said slowly.

No matter how favored the Fifth Concubine was, she was still only a concubine. In today's dynasty, a concubine's status was strictly speaking not much higher than that of a slave. Ye Jia, a modern soul, though not as deeply versed in the rules governing wives and concubines in official families as some of today's generation, could still discern the Wu family's timidity. Regardless of the woman's prestige, she didn't believe the Grand Protector would listen to the Fifth Concubine's sobbing and then throw herself into a rage for her beloved.

So when Wu Shan asked Ye Jia to sell her the recipe of fragrant pancreas, Ye Jia refused without thinking.

Wu Shan didn't expect Ye Jia to be so tough, and she felt a little embarrassed.

In fact, ever since she established herself, the women in the Grand Protectorate were afraid of her. Even the Grand Protectorate's wife often avoided her. So many people rushed to give her good things and ask for prescriptions, yet Ye Shi treated her with such an attitude. But even though she was unhappy, she still pretended to be doing the best for the Zhou family: "Madam Zhou, don't worry, I will definitely not let you down."

"The Zhou family is a small family with no business, no connections, and even very little business experience. You're not going to make much money by making some soap every month and sending it to other shops to sell. Why not sell the recipe to me? At least you can use the money to buy land and servants..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Fifth Aunt. My Zhou family is indeed a small family, unlike the Wu family, which is large and powerful."

Although what she said was true, Ye Jia still felt offended when someone pointed it out to her face. Considering their current status, Ye Jia was the captain's wife, so it was not wrong for her to ignore Wu Shan's politeness. Wu Shan's condescending attitude and demanding things were really too much. She spoke a little less politely: "However, when and to whom our Zhou family sells our son and to whomever we sell this prescription is our freedom. Fifth Aunt is an outsider, so I don't want you to worry about her."

"you!"

Wu Shan's expression turned grim, and her smile gradually faded. "It seems the Captain's wife doesn't take the Protectorate seriously?"

"Not really." When the negotiation failed, she began to use her power to pressure others. As expected, Ye Jia lost her patience with her. "It's just that the Fifth Concubine is not qualified to represent the Protectorate. After all, the Grand Protector admires my husband's talent and still values ​​him very much."

These words made Wu Shan's face change slightly and her heart skip a beat.

Although she claimed to be favored by the man, his favor was superficial. Suletu was a very strong-willed man and would definitely not tolerate his concubines interfering in the affairs of his outer court. "...Why don't you go back and think about it? Don't make a decision so hastily."

The Fifth Aunt's face was a little embarrassed. "Perhaps the Captain will feel sorry for the Madam's hard work in raising the family and agree to sell this recipe?"

"My husband never interferes with my decisions."

Ye Jia refused to relent, causing Fifth Aunt's face to instantly fall. She had seen many unkind people, but never one so unkind. Fifth Aunt thought she had given Ye Jia enough respect, yet she was still so ungrateful? Fifth Aunt plopped the half-eaten snack back onto the plate, and the servants standing behind her surrounded her.

The atmosphere was a little tense at the moment. Ye Jia did not give her any face, and the Fifth Aunt could not show her power.

Just as Fifth Aunt was about to lose her temper, a commotion erupted at the teahouse entrance. A group of border guards suddenly emerged from the entrance, weapons in hand, surrounding the teahouse. The leader, a loud, burly man at least nine feet tall, spoke with a voice like thunder. His presence frightened everyone back, and in a flash, the group burst in.

The group of people in the teahouse were on edge, ready for battle. The leader, Bazatu, walked over and thrust his weight beside Ye Jia, calling her "Madam." Even before he said anything else, his threat was clear.

The guards brought back by the Fifth Concubine were from the Grand Protectorate. They seemed highly skilled in martial arts, but they didn't dare to confront the garrison soldiers head-on. Firstly, the garrison soldiers were obviously officials, while the guards were merely household servants. Secondly, they had received orders to escort the Fifth Concubine and the Fourth Lady back for a visit, but that didn't mean they could act recklessly and start a fight with the garrison soldiers.

As soon as they retreated, Bazatu naturally decided to quit while he was ahead.

Ye Jia glanced at Bazatu, then stood up, said "Excuse me", and left the teahouse with everyone else in a dignified manner.

Wu Shan stared at Ye Jia's back, her face pale and blue, looking very ugly. She gritted her teeth in anger, but in Dongxiang Town, the powerful dragon could not defeat the local snake. If Ye Jia didn't give her face, she would have no way to deal with him.

Ye Jia emerged from the teahouse and glanced back in its direction. The people inside hadn't come out yet, but he could vaguely hear the sounds of dishes being thrown and smashed. A mule cart stopped outside the teahouse, and Ye Jia looked up to see it was his own. He lifted the curtain and saw Zhou Jingchen sitting inside, his face pale. Ye Jia boarded the cart and returned to the shop. Seeing that business hadn't been affected, he followed Zhou Jingchen back to the Shen residence.

Yu came over early to ask what happened, and only after the two of them came down one after another did they feel relieved.

Ye Jia was suddenly forcibly taken away. Ye Simei was worried that something might happen, so she immediately informed Yu Shi of the incident while sending the child home. Yu Shi hurriedly went to find Zhou Jingchen, which led to Bazatu's threat.

"What on earth are the Wu family up to? First, they've gone to great lengths to persuade the Liu family to add poppy shells to their food, and now their daughter is demanding the recipe for the fragrant soap..." While the fragrant soap is indeed very profitable, even lucrative, the Wu family doesn't need the money. They already run a rouge and powder business, which is only as profitable as the fragrant soap. And yet, they're still not satisfied?

Ye Jia was muttering in his heart, but Zhou Jingchen laughed when he heard it: "Do you think you have too many ways to make money?"

Ye Jia: "...No, people will only become greedier the more money they make."

"People's appetites always grow. The Wu family has been the richest family for so many years, and they value money the most. They will get involved in any way to make money. Besides, the more money they earn, the more they spend. If the Wu family wants to maintain the stability and growth of their family business, they will definitely spend a lot of money. When the superiors ask for money, it will not be a small amount of a thousand taels..."

Zhou Jingchen's forehead was covered in sweat, his wound still not healed. "But the Wu family doesn't have the guts to make a big fuss yet. No matter how much Suletu loves his daughter, he won't be blinded by lust for a woman. Besides, nothing lasts forever."

Zhou Jingchen said quietly, "People who are greedy for beauty always only hear the laughter of new people but not the tears of old ones. Jia Niang, what do you think?"

Ye Jia: “???”

What she said was that she was greedy for beauty, but she had no new or old lover.

Rolling his eyes, Ye Jia quickly stood up and fetched gauze and medicine. Just one trip out, and his wound, which had just healed, tore open again. Red blood oozed from beneath his right ribs, and Ye Jia simply untied his belt again.

Just by gently pulling his clothes, Zhou Jingchen's face turned pale again. Ye Jia hurried over to help him up and supported him to sit on the bed.

It was probably because the fabric had stuck to the wound, and tearing it off would have torn the flesh. Ye Jia's movements were already very gentle, but Zhou Jingchen's inner clothes were still soaked with cold sweat. Cold sweat continued to pour out of his forehead, but he didn't need Ye Jia to take it off for him. He carefully took off his outer clothes and gently wiped the sweat off his body: "Stand further away, it will fumigate you. I can do it myself."

...It is true that sweat will easily go bad if covered, but it is not too bad. However, she can understand Zhou Jingchen's concerns.

Considering his self-esteem, Ye Jia silently took a step back: "Oh, okay."

The person on the bed paused while wiping his body and turned his head to look at Ye Jia.

Ye Jia blinked, lowered her eyes, and met his gaze. Zhou Jingchen rested his hand, holding the towel, on his knees, his eyes fixed on Ye Jia. Ye Jia was somewhat puzzled by his stare, and silently lowered her hand from under her nose: "...What's wrong?"

Zhou Jingchen looked accusatory and incredulous: "...Why are you putting your hand under your nose?"

"No," Ye Jia sniffed, "My nose is itchy."

Zhou Jingchen: “…”

He silently lowered his head, slowly wiping his arm with his hands. Although he didn't say a word and had no expression, his whole body and every movement revealed an inexplicable sense of lethargy. Ye Jia scratched his cheek, trying to coax him: "...I don't think you're bad, it's really that my nose is a little itchy. If I thought you were bad, I wouldn't have helped you just now."

"...If you really don't mind my taste, why would you say the word 'stinky'?" Zhou Jingchen hit the nail on the head.

Ye Jia: "It's hot, and sweat smells bad, and you're not the only one."

"oh."

Ye Jia: “…”

Standing and sitting, the person on the bed lowered his eyes and looked calm, like a white lotus after a rainstorm. Ye Jia didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Zhou Jingchen was becoming more and more childish, and sometimes he was even picky about words.

"Do you want to apply medicine? If not, I'll leave. I have something else to do." Ye Jia changed the subject, "Alas, your wound is bleeding again."

Zhou Jingchen looked at her for a long time before he raised his lip and muttered softly, "Egative wolf."

Ye Jia: “…”

By the time he'd reapplied the medicine, it was almost noon. Xishi's shop was having a big sale today, with meat half-off. They'd sold out early and closed the shop. Fourth Sister Ye and Qiuyue had already bought ingredients for the next day. Back at the Chen residence, Fourth Sister Ye hurried over to check on Ye Jia. Knowing she was alright, she went back to the kitchen, feeling relieved.

Ye Jia felt that this matter had to be resolved once and for all. Otherwise, with the Wu family coming every few days and doing little things behind her back from time to time, would she still be able to continue her business?

After much deliberation, I came up with two solutions. One was to eliminate the root of the problem. I would quickly uncover the Wu family's business dealings and report them to resolve the issue once and for all. The other was to create trouble for the Wu family from time to time, keeping them occupied with dealing with others.

Throughout history, those who wanted to expand their business had to deal with some shameful things. In fact, looking for trouble was also troublesome, and you had to keep an eye on people at all times. In essence, the first option was more convenient. After careful consideration, Ye Jia chose the first option. It just so happened that the Wu family had a poppy field, a thing that was little known to the people of Dayan. From the common people to the nobles, everyone believed it was a tonic. If the harm of this thing were known to others, someone would take action to deal with it. Ye Jia didn't believe that the Wu family had been doing business for so many years without offending anyone.

While I was thinking about these things, Cherry suddenly came in hurriedly from outside.

"What is it?"

Yingtao immediately informed Yu that the batch of bottles she had ordered had been delivered. "Master, the craftsman is in the hall. The old lady wants you to come over and see the finished product."

The pear blossom cream couldn't be delayed any longer; the bottle had arrived just in time. Ye Jia nodded and hurried over.

After passing through the corridor and around a small garden, they arrived at the flower hall in the outer courtyard. Yu was talking to the craftsman in the flower hall. It was unclear what they were talking about, but Yu's voice unconsciously became louder. Ye Jia thought there was some quality problem and hurried in.

It’s not a quality issue. The quality of the bottle is pretty good, but the color is not what Yu wants.

Yu frowned, looking a little annoyed. Speaking of which, Ye Jia had originally preferred carved wooden bottles, saying they were more durable and durable. Later, considering that wood wasn't as smooth as porcelain and wouldn't seal as well, he switched to porcelain bottles. Porcelain bottles are much faster to fire; a batch can be fired in the kiln, and then decorated with patterns and ready to use.

"Let me take a look. Don't worry." Ye Jia took the porcelain vase from Yu's hand. The bottle, narrow at the bottom, wide in the middle, and closed at the top, looked a bit like a small wine jar. The flowers adorning it were scattered pear petals, a stark contrast to the floral clusters Yu had envisioned. But it was undeniably beautiful.

Ye Jia examined a vase for a long time, finding the blank space quite interesting, evoking a sense of drifting. However, Yu Shi had a different opinion. She frowned, "Although this pattern isn't out of place, noble ladies wouldn't appreciate such a flimsy, unassuming vase. Large families prioritize auspiciousness when buying things. A riot of colour brings joy to the eyes."

...I have to say, it makes a lot of sense. Ye Jia, a modern person, doesn't have the concept of auspiciousness, but people nowadays do.

Ye Jia thought for a moment, then turned to look at the bewildered craftsman and asked, "How many bottles did you produce?"

"One kiln produces over 2,000." The craftsman hadn't anticipated the dissatisfaction of his customers with the designs. Now that the bottles were finished, it was difficult to alter them. Returning them for rework would require yet another round of effort.

The pear blossom paste in the workshop had actually been stored for quite a while. Although it was tightly covered and not prone to spoilage, it would eventually go bad if it was left untreated. Even if Yu had originally made this batch of goods for trial production, the medicinal materials had already cost money. Time waited for no one, and the Luntai shop couldn't remain empty forever. "How about this, let's use this bottle this time, and I'll find a solution."

In fact, auspiciousness or inauspiciousness is often determined by a person's words. If the mouth can speak well and the person who speaks believes it, then it is auspicious. Besides, this thing has not been on the market yet, and Ye Jia is in the marketing business.

Yu Shi was a little worried when she heard Ye Jia say this: "Will this really work?"

"It takes people to come up with solutions," Ye Jia nodded, but still spoke sternly to the craftsmen. "This accident was caused by your artist making a mistake. Originally, I should have returned all the goods. But considering your hard work, we'll be more lenient. Let's put it this way. We can't pay you for this batch of goods until the trial sales show the results, and the originally agreed price will change."

The craftsman had expected the official's wife to be very demanding, but he hadn't expected the captain's wife to be so kind. Thinking of the peaceful days in Dongxiang Township these days, he couldn't help but feel grateful: "It's only natural, it's only natural. Even if I don't ask for my wages, it's what I deserve."

Ye Jia nodded, asked someone to send the craftsman out, and immediately went to the workshop with Yu.

Yu sighed, but felt relieved: "Jia Niang is kind and generous, and she is also Yun'an's blessing."

The two of them went to the Zhou family's workshop. The pear blossom paste, already made, was stored in two large jars in a dry, shaded warehouse. They were taken out and refilled, each small bottle only the size of a baby's fist. The two large jars held over a thousand bottles, leaving a thousand empty ones.

Ye Jia had recently tried Yu's pear blossom cream. Compared to the old doctor's regular moisturizing cream, Yu's was more effective. After all, she had specially added a skin-nourishing herb. While the ground cream had a slightly different flavor, Ye Jia could still feel the hydration on her skin even on a hot day.

"Things don't wait for anyone. Let's not delay any longer. I'll arrange for someone to deliver them to Luntai in the next two days." Ye Jia is decisive in his actions.

Someone will be arranged to deliver the goods, and Ye Jia himself will naturally go there as well.

She wouldn't be there for the new store's opening, and if anything went wrong, there would be no one to take responsibility. Mrs. Yu was somewhat reluctant to see Ye Jia go. It was rare for her son to return home to recuperate, and her daughter-in-law was leaving again. Such constant separation would surely strain the relationship between the young couple. However, Mrs. Yu also knew that business was urgent. Since the fragrant soap had just lost a channel, the pear blossom cream had to be replaced.

After hesitating for a moment, Yu said, "Jia Niang, how long will it take you to go this time?"

"It'll take at least 10 to 20 days." Ye Jia remembered Zhou Jingchen saying he had found a shopkeeper and a clerk for her. She would be there for half a month and would be able to come back once the situation stabilized. "My husband said he's arranged some staff for the shop."

Twenty days isn't too long, but it's not too short either. Yu pondered for a long time, then decided to just ask her son and daughter-in-law to go together. Since her son couldn't go to the garrison in his condition, it didn't matter where he recuperated.

Naturally, Ajiu was asked to escort the goods. Ajiu had gone out on business and had not returned yet, but he had left some of his men here.

Ye Jia arranged for someone to go ahead and transport the goods to Luntai. She would then go a few days later. Before going, she wanted to get the marketing right. Even after buying the old doctor's prescription, Ye Jia had already thought of a way to promote the product.

She used the style of later Thai commercials to create a melodramatic and poignant story about the pear blossom paste. It roughly resembles the story of a young woman whose face has aged prematurely from her busy work tending to household chores. Her husband, indulging in the gentle pleasures of a young woman, falls for another. The aging wife then works hard to strengthen herself, gathering traditional remedies for her health. Overcoming numerous obstacles, she finds a recipe for pear blossom paste, which restores her beauty, ultimately winning back her husband's heart and reconciling them.

While this story is somewhat melodramatic and frivolous, it does align with the current female aesthetic. Throughout the story, Ye Jia repeatedly mentions "Pear Blossom Cream." This is similar to the advertising model of later generations, integrating the product into the story to create an atmosphere of trust.

Before Ye Jia arrived in Luntai, the people who controlled Ajiu bribed the storytellers in major restaurants to tell this story vividly.

Today's storytellers have their own ways, adding numerous touches to the synopsis Ye Jia provided. After all, they're being paid, so they emphasize, to varying degrees, the benefits and affordability of the pear blossom paste. This story and the pear blossom paste have already gained fame in Luntai. She had originally thought it would take at least ten days to half a month to see results, but she'd underestimated the current dearth of stories about women.

Once the story spread, it quickly spread throughout the city.

This kind of clichéd plot seems old-fashioned to later generations, but in the feudal society where men were dominant, it unexpectedly touched the hearts of many women.

Before the shop even opened, many people were already asking when Qingxuexuan would open and when the pear blossom cream would be available. When Ye Jia's shop officially opened, the pear blossom cream became an instant hit.