Chapter 188: Mixing with the upper class
In today’s Xiangzhou, who doesn’t know about Yuyantang’s goat milk soap?
Previously, Yuyantang was unknown and didn't even have a shop. However, in the big market of Xiangzhou, it quickly became popular in just two months. People in this dental business also keep up with the trend and must have goat milk soap in every home.
Su Wan rented the workshop from them, and any business he did had to be registered.
Therefore, they all knew that Su Wan was the owner of Yuyan Hall and might be listed on the Xiangzhou rich list in the future, so they must curry favor with him.
Before going to Suzhou and Yanzhou, Su Wan had to help his aunt find a husband for his cousin.
She first asked Su Yi to draw a picture of a beauty for Yang Qingqing, and then found the most famous matchmaker in Xiangzhou City and asked her to select a young man of marriageable age who met the requirements of her aunt and Yang Qingqing.
With the support of a rising star like the Su family, the Yang family naturally has no trouble finding a good family.
At the same time, Su Wan also wanted to make friends with the upper class circles in Xiangzhou.
Their aristocratic families have their own circles. Although they look down on businessmen, due to conflicts of interest, they will also make friends in the business world to make profits.
And these businessmen will also curry favor with these aristocratic families and seek their support.
There are two famous noble families in Xiangzhou. Their ancestors were either famous generals or high-ranking officials who were enshrined in the Taimiao. However, in later years, the family gradually faded out of the court and spread among various states.
Basically, there are a few families in name only in every province. The imperial court gave them titles. Although they are in name only, they have the right to speak in these provinces because of the title of family.
The first-class title is Duke, the second-class title is Marquis, the third-class title is Earl, the fourth-class title is Viscount, and the fifth-class title is Baron.
In Xiangzhou Prefecture alone, there were two earl families.
One is the Ningyuan Earl's Mansion of the Ning family, and the other is the Changlong Earl's Mansion of the Zhou family.
Although they seemed to be noble and enjoyed a fief, they were far away in Xiangzhou and were basically forgotten by the emperor. They had titles but no real power. The younger generations in their family could only rely on their own abilities to take the imperial examinations and fight for their own official careers like ordinary students.
However, how many of these children from aristocratic families can make a name for themselves? They have been living a life of luxury since childhood, and they have won since they were born. There are only disputes over titles in the backyard, and no one relies on imperial examinations at all. So the late emperor ordered that titles below the marquisate would no longer be hereditary, but would be passed down for three generations, unless there was a capable person in the family who made contributions to the court. Maybe the emperor would order that the title be passed down for three more generations. At this point, these aristocratic families began to fight inward.
There's no way. The imperial court can't support idle people like you for generations.
But the dukes and marquises are different. These families are controlled in Kyoto, and those who are capable have real power.
For example, Duke Jiang led troops to fight, Duke Tang was the brother of the current queen, and his nephew was the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Among the aristocratic families in Kyoto, they were the most important and the most powerful.
However, Duke Jiang's ancestors had the merit of following the emperor, and several generations later were famous generals. Their status was unshakable, and they also had military power in their hands. The two dukes were evenly matched.
There is also a Marquis of Loyalty, who is also a military general. Unfortunately, he is very old and has no outstanding younger generations in his family, so now he is only a famous figure, and his limelight is far overshadowed by the up-and-coming Marquis of Yongchang.
Compared with these, the earls in Kyoto are nothing, not to mention those in Xiangzhou.
Madam Xie was not an important figure in the circle of noble ladies in Xiangzhou, but her husband's family was also in the antique business, and she opened a rouge shop out of her interest.
Rouge is an indispensable item for women, so she has a say in the circle of wealthy ladies. Getting to know her is equivalent to grasping the trends in the beauty circle. If there are any new rouges, wealthy ladies always like to look for her.
Recently, the wife of the Earl of Ningyuan was celebrating her birthday and invited the wives of officials from Xiangzhou and the ladies and young ladies from merchant families to attend a tea party, which was very lively.
The scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, these officials and merchants, although they look down on each other in private, they are still very harmonious on the surface. Unless they have a grudge against each other, they will be sarcastic when they meet.
Su Wan's goat milk soap is now a popular product in Xiangzhou, so naturally she cannot avoid integrating into this circle.
It was Madam Xie who brought it up at the last gathering, because at that time these noble ladies were asking her who was the boss behind the goat milk soap. She took the opportunity to promote Su Wan and spread the name of Yuyan Hall and Su Wan.
So, Su Wan also received an invitation from the Earl's Mansion.
Su Wan thought, this is a good opportunity. There are people doing big business and small business here. She can go there to make some acquaintances so that she won’t offend anyone when she meets them in the future just because she doesn’t know them.
She and Madam Xie became good friends naturally. She knew that receiving the invitation from the Earl's Mansion was definitely due to Madam Xie's publicity in front of others.
Su Wan was a very worldly-wise man, so he bought a few pounds of good tea that day and had someone send it to Madam Xie.
When going to the Earl's Mansion, Su Wan planned to take Yang Qingqing with him and let her see the world.
However, since it was the Countess's birthday, she had to prepare a gift and definitely couldn't be stingy.
Even if it doesn't stand out among all the gifts, at least it can't be at the bottom.
Su Wan had never dealt with people in this circle, so she was unsure. Giving them rouge and powder was not something she could do, and giving them gold and silver jewelry would be tacky unless it was something particularly good.
So what to give?
When Su Wan was at a loss, he thought of Jiang Yu. With his status, he grew up in the world of fame and fortune. This kind of thing should be a piece of cake for him!
When Jiang Yu heard that she was going to the Earl's Mansion to attend a tea party and was worried about what gift to give, he also thought carefully for her:
"If it were a wealthy lady, I would have only given her some exceptional jewelry. However, this Countess is a special lady. She comes from a third-class earl family, so she has no shortage of gold, silver, jewelry, or silk."
"Yeah, with my current abilities, what other special gifts can I give besides these? This is my first time appearing at such an occasion, and I can't lose face. If I make a fool of myself, how will I survive in Xiangzhou in the future?"
It was because of this that she came to find Jiang Yu.
"I know you are knowledgeable, so can you please give me some advice? If you help me choose a gift, I will give you money and I will never refuse to pay you." Su Wan looked at him very sincerely.
Jiang Yu was amused by her. Why did she ask him for help?
However, he really enjoyed the little girl's attitude.
"Since Sixth Miss is so sincere, I will do you a favor. Since this is your first time attending such an event, and you are meeting the Countess, the gift you give will be very thoughtful. I will prepare it for you, and you can just bring it with you when the time comes."
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