Because the people peeling the skin varied greatly, and there was still a lot of meat stuck to the skin, Mu Wanting would then remove the meat.
The next step of degreasing was carried out in warm water, and the officials cooperated by boiling water. Mu Wanting attached great importance to this step.
Then the process of removing the meat and defatting was repeated. Next came the addition of the tanning liquid from the small wooden jar.
After multiple processes, the originally dull gray wolf pelts became free of any fishy smell, and the fur became soft and shiny, making them a far cry from their previous quality.
If it were further processed into a men's cape, the price would undoubtedly be even higher.
However, the tanning time was already very tight, so it was impractical to process them all into capes.
The night before, Mu Wanting and Shen Mingjiao still made two gray cloaks with needle and thread.
These two capes alone are enough to guarantee the price.
Before setting off, Mu Wanting asked the people from the third branch of the family to make a list of the things they wanted to buy, and she also took out five thousand taels of silver notes to formalize the purchase.
The three families contributed a total of two thousand taels, and the list was given to Mu Wanting.
The collateral branch also sent Lin to find her, giving her money and a list, asking her to help carry things.
People from the first and second wives' families, as well as the Song and Zhao families, all came, but Su Yu called Mu Wanting instead.
"I'm off. I'll be back soon."
Mu Wanting didn't want to help others with their childcare. If she did, how would she earn money in the future?
Moreover, this opportunity was so hard-won, and those who were hostile to her in the past wanted to reap the benefits without sowing.
Along the way, they traveled by horse-drawn carriage to Qinghe County.
The officials wanted to take Mu Wanting to a fur shop to sell wolf pelts, but Mu Wanting shook her head.
"Go to the wealthiest family in the area."
Li Song and Su Yu didn't know what Mu Wanting was up to, but they still took her there anyway.
However, on the way, Li Song couldn't help but remind him.
"The Mu family has a very discerning head of the Xu family; he himself comes from a merchant background."
Mu Wanting smiled and said, "Sir, don't worry, I have a way."
Su Yu leisurely ate wolf jerky on the side.
"Listen to Mu's suggestion."
Upon arriving at the Xu family's gate, Mu Wanting had barely explained her purpose when the gatekeeper impatiently ushered her away.
“Our Xu family has dedicated procurement channels.”
Mu Wanting took out the wolf fur cloak and showed it to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper only smelled a faint fragrance, and the soft fur brushed against his cheek.
Mu Wanting took out five taels of silver and handed it to the gatekeeper with a radiant smile.
"Please trouble your brother to have the person in charge of purchasing in your household come and take a look. If he misses out on such a fine fur, I'm sure he'll regret it."
The gatekeeper, bribed with silver and captivated by Mu Wanting's smile, happily went to call for help.
The man who arrived was a portly man, but his eyes were full of shrewdness.
"I am Master Xu. I heard you want to sell wolf pelts?"
Since the person in charge had arrived, Mu Wanting showed him the wolf skin.
“Master Xu, this fur of mine is one of a kind. Wolf fur is coarse and difficult to tan, and it doesn’t have much of a smell. It’s both majestic and unique when used to make a cloak.”
As she spoke, she took out the cloak and handed it to Master Xu.
"Why don't you try it?"
Mr. Xu tried it and found it to be exactly as Mu Wanting had said. He immediately asked with a stern face.
"How much silver for a wolf pelt?"
Mu Wanting said, "Eight taels of silver."
Su Yu's smile deepened; the price offered by the Mu family was truly ruthless.
Master Xu frowned: "It's too expensive. If we buy it ourselves, it will cost at most four taels of silver."
Mu Wanting shook her head: "But Mr. Xu, can you buy wolf pelts of such high quality?"
"Such wolf pelts, even if made into cloaks and sold to high-ranking officials, would be readily accepted. But inferior wolf pelts, let alone high-ranking officials looking down on them, would make even wealthy merchants hesitate to buy them."
“Mr. Xu, you are a businessman, and I trust your judgment.”
Mu Wanting complimented him.
Mr. Xu shook his head: "No, no, it's too expensive."
That's what she said, but she couldn't bear to take off the cloak on her shoulders.
Mu Wanting was well aware that the price negotiation had already begun.
"This cloak is made from three wolf pelts, and we also made a luxurious lining and the needlework is quite exquisite. If it were to be sold, it would definitely fetch one hundred taels of silver."
"We cannot compromise on the wolf pelt; it took us a month to produce, and the labor costs alone were very high. As for the cloak, if Master Xu likes it, we can make a slight concession."
Mr. Xu waved his hand: "Too expensive."
Mu Wanting smiled and said, "In that case, let's go ask at other residences."
Having been in business for so many years, Mr. Xu knew this was the bottom line, and he genuinely needed the wolf pelt.
"This cloak costs fifty."
Mu Wanting shook her head: "Eighty taels, no less. The lining is made of luxurious Shu brocade."
After Mr. Xu tried to lower the price several more times, Mu Wanting still refused to lower it, so she had no choice but to pay for it.
He handed over 632 taels of silver to Mu Wanting in one go, and Mu Wanting accepted it with a smile.
Li Song and Su Yu exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with surprise. The wolf pelt, which could have been sold for 130 taels of silver, had almost increased in price fivefold. Their boss would be overjoyed if he found out.
Immediately afterwards, Mu Wanting grabbed a large handful of dried wolf meat from her basket and gave it to Master Xu.
"Mr. Xu, this is a complimentary gift, dried wolf meat. Please have a taste. We'll come back to you if we find a suitable source of goods in the future."
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