Li Xiang'an looked at Yan Qingqing and stammered, "Mother, isn't this too expensive?"
When we were in Canghe Town, these handmade soaps only sold for a few hundred taels of silver. Even if those merchants took them out to sell, they would only get one or two taels of silver.
Although we've upgraded the packaging and increased the quantity per box, it shouldn't be selling for 168 taels.
Li Xiang'an has been in business for so long that he knows how businessmen make money. But he has always adhered to being an "honest and kind" businessman.
He always felt that outsiders misunderstood the saying "no merchant is honest," at least he and his mother were not like that.
But looking at it today, his mother was really ruthless.
Yan Qingqing couldn't help but roll her eyes at Li Xiang'an's naive and unworldly demeanor.
Then he said, "Second brother, we're in the capital now. Not only is land incredibly valuable here, but the cost of living is also extremely high."
Our current assets are simply not enough to cover this.
Why doesn't Mother want to go out? Because going out means money.
Those ladies would spend at least tens or even hundreds of taels of silver on a piece of jewelry.
Some pieces, even those made by renowned artisans, can cost over a thousand taels.
Those things only address their superficial needs, but the things we produce can help slow down their aging process and solve their problems at their root.
These handmade soaps are not only time-consuming and laborious to make, but the mother also puts a lot of good ingredients into them, all of which can make the skin white, tender and delicate.
Add to that the exquisite packaging and the included foaming net, and the cost alone is over ten taels of silver. This set only sells for one hundred and sixty-eight taels of silver—it's practically a bargain! I don't think it's expensive at all.
Li Xiang'an felt something was off about Yan Qingqing's words, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. However, the whitening, spot-fading, and moisturizing set below cost 288 taels.
There are also small items like lip balm, eyebrow pencil, blush, and eyeliner. The expensive ones cost tens of taels, and the cheap ones still cost more than ten taels.
Li Xiang'an felt that what they were selling now was not toiletries, but gold and silver jewelry.
However, he dared not say it aloud, for fear that his mother would say he was ignorant.
Yan Qingqing didn't care what Li Xiang'an thought. She had worked hard for several years, only to have it all come back to square one.
Once they arrived in the capital, there were places where money was needed everywhere.
Their family's current wealth is simply not enough; if she doesn't make a fortune, she'll have wasted her trip to the capital.
The reason she had Ruyi place a bet of 50,000 taels was also for investment purposes.
She would be heartbroken if she lost money. But at least it showed the people of the capital that she was not short of money. The things she sold at Canghe Li Ji were truly for the good of everyone.
If you win the bet, that would be even better.
Now I just hope that Han Yu will live up to expectations.
Just as Yan Qingqing was thinking this, Ruyi rushed in like a whirlwind, not caring about etiquette or manners at all.
He immediately said, "Madam has struck it rich! Young Master Han has become the top scholar in the imperial examination."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing jumped to her feet and excitedly asked, "Really?"
Ruyi nodded vigorously and said, "It's true, the waiter at the gambling den said it himself."
"Madam has struck it rich! And I've made a fortune too!"
Li Xiang'an, standing to the side, was somewhat puzzled. Although Han Yu was an old acquaintance of theirs, they were certainly happy that he had become the top scholar.
But his mother's joy is a bit excessive; it's not like Li Xiangkang became the top scholar in the imperial examination.
Li Xiang'an didn't even bother to think carefully about what Ruyi said.
So he said directly, "You're getting more and more reckless, girl. Now that Young Master Han has passed the imperial examination with top honors, just prepare a congratulatory gift and send it over."
When Yan Qingqing and her group first arrived in Beijing, Han Yu did not come, but he did send someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.
Yan Qingqing had been thinking of inviting him to her residence for a chat when she had time, but she was afraid of disturbing his studies, so she hadn't seen him yet.
Upon hearing Li Xiang'an's reprimand, Ruyi quickly composed herself and stammered, "Yes."
Li Xiang'an was always very authoritative at home, and many of the maids and servants were afraid of him.
Even head maids like Ruyi and Ruxue were somewhat intimidated by Li Xiang'an.
Yan Qingqing was in a good mood. If Han Yu became the top scholar, she would suddenly have 500,000 taels of silver in her account.
With this 500,000 taels of silver, you can't exactly walk around the capital with impunity, but you won't be held back from doing anything you want.
Yan Qingqing rolled her eyes at Li Xiang'an, looking at how frightened her little maid with his expressionless face.
However, she still had to maintain Li Xiang'an's dignity in front of the servants.
So she smiled and looked at Ruyi, asking, "Is it really Han Yu who passed the exam? Does that mean I'll have 500,000 taels of silver coming in?"
Upon hearing this number, Li Xiang'an gasped. What had his mother just said?
Five hundred thousand taels of silver! That's their entire family's income for a year.
Li Xiang'an only then realized that his mother had placed a bet that Han Yu would become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
He had heard from two friends that the gambling dens were betting on who would become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
I heard that the grandson of that Grand Secretary Ji is the most popular candidate.
How did Han Yu suddenly become the top scholar in the imperial examination?
But thinking about it carefully, it's not surprising. After all, how could someone his mother had chosen be bad?
Thinking about this, Li Xiang'an secretly regretted it. If he had placed bets with his mother, he might have made a small fortune.
He could save up some money for Mu Xi then, even though he was in charge of the family business and his mother never restricted his spending, he still wanted to have his own little savings.
After all, he's about to get married.
Just as Li Xiang'an was lost in thought, Ruyi chimed in from the side, "I also placed a bet with Madam, and now this servant is rich too."
Yan Qingqing asked, "How much did you bet?"
Ruyi laughed and said, "Fifty taels, that's all the money I have left. Ruxue also bet ten taels."
Yan Qingqing tapped her head and said, "What, aren't you afraid of losing everything?"
Ruyi scratched her head and replied, "If Madam isn't afraid to bet 50,000 taels, what's 50 taels to me?"
Besides, I don't need to spend money on food and drink at the manor. The lady's monthly allowance is high, so it won't be long before I can save it all back.”
Yan Qingqing chuckled softly upon hearing this; this girl is quite open-minded.
Before the master and servant had finished their conversation, Steward Yu came to report that the gambling den had sent silver notes to Yan Qingqing.
That's 500,000 taels of silver. Actually, Yan Qingqing would prefer them to exchange it for pure white silver, so that it would look more impressive when displayed there.
However, Yan Qingqing also knew that this was too conspicuous and troublesome.
Even if the gambling den gives out silver notes, that's still real money.
No one had ever made so much money from betting before. In no time, the news that Lady Mingzhao had made 500,000 taels of silver from becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination spread like wildfire throughout the capital. She was even more famous than the newly graduated scholars.
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