Gu Lili thought that when the time came, they would hand over the first batch of mother-of-pearl inlay to Li Ershu.
However, that's all for later; we need to learn how to make mother-of-pearl first.
It's not too late to tell him then.
"Let's stick to the original plan. You can also promote your maltose and soap. If anyone places an order with you, I'll give you a commission!" Gu Lili said with a smile.
Li Ershu waved his hands repeatedly when he heard Gu Lili say that.
“Selling these things is just a side thing, why would I need you to take a cut? Lili, you're being too polite,” Li Ershu quickly refused.
He already had a plan in mind: if this batch of fabric sold well, he would drive his cart all over the country, selling goods from various places.
Gu Lili smiled and said, "Second Uncle, you're being too polite. If this task were given to someone else, I would still take a cut. Besides, I'd rather give you a cut than give it to an outsider. This is what you deserve, so don't refuse."
The Liu and Han families certainly wouldn't just buy up all her soaps and candies like that.
Gu Lili could certainly find other merchants in Jiangdu, but she preferred to entrust this task to Li Ershu.
This was a solution Gu Lili had come up with that would help Li Ershu without hurting his pride.
In the future, if he becomes wealthy and insightful and wants to start his own business, Gu Lili will not stop him.
Li Ershu nodded gratefully and said, "Okay! Lili, I'll go to Jiangdu City tomorrow and if all goes well, I might go back the day after tomorrow."
Gu Lili shook her head, indicating her disagreement.
"Second Uncle, didn't you just say you promised to help me sell maltose and soap? Jiangdu is a place where merchants gather. If you go back the day after tomorrow, you will miss such a good opportunity."
Li Ershu frowned slightly. Wasn't Gu Lili herself in Jiangdu?
If Gu Lili were to personally promote it, wouldn't they be exempt from taking a cut?
“Lili, why don’t you go and sell it yourself?” Li Ershu asked.
Gu Lili shook her head and explained, "I'm more interested in mother-of-pearl inlay now. If it works out, I'm sure I can make more money from it!"
Li Ershu nodded, feeling great admiration for Gu Lili.
Gu Lili is so much younger than me, but she's very quick-witted.
Always able to sense what money could be made, Li Ershu secretly vowed to learn more from Gu Lili.
If Gu Lili knew what Li Ershu was thinking, she would definitely feel ashamed.
If I hadn't lived one more lifetime than Li Ershu, I would definitely be worse off than Li Ershu.
The next day, after breakfast, Gu Lili and Chang'an set off for Yu Yirou's house.
Li Ershu took the soap and maltose that Gu Lili had prepared for him and went out.
Li Ershu also brought his sugar painting tools with him on this trip.
So he planned to use sugar painting to attract people.
Arriving at the bustling market, Li Ershu set up his stall and brought out the syrup and marble slabs he had prepared earlier.
Li Ershu has now mastered sugar painting to a level that can be described as consummate skill.
In addition, with the unique patterns Gu Lili gave him, once drawn and displayed in front of him, people soon gathered around out of curiosity.
"Young man, what kind of novel thing is this?" an older woman asked, staring at a sugar painting of a little duck in front of Li Ershu.
In Li Ershu's hands, the little duck became incredibly lifelike.
It's so realistic, as if it could open its mouth and start squeaking any second.
Li Ershu originally planned to paint more and stick them on the bundles of straw he had prepared in front of him before he started hawking his wares.
Unexpectedly, it attracted people so quickly.
Li Ershu laughed, "Auntie, this is sugar painting, made with maltose! It's so sweet, wouldn't you like to try some?"
Upon hearing that it was made of maltose, the auntie unconsciously swallowed.
Sweets are her absolute favorite.
"How much is one?" the auntie asked with a smile.
Li Ershu thought for a moment and said, "I'm giving away these sugar paintings for free, but I'll start giving them away after I finish them."
When the aunt heard that the candy was being given away for free, her eyes lit up.
Although the woman was dressed quite well, who wouldn't be happy to get something for free?
This is something Li Ershu learned from Gu Lili.
"Hey! Everyone come and see! This guy is giving away candy for free!" The auntie enthusiastically called out to the people around her.
Upon hearing that there was such a bargain to be had, the people around quickly surrounded Li Ershu's stall.
Fortunately, the location Li Ershu chose for his stall was not surrounded by other vendors, otherwise he would have offended them.
After Li Ershu finished the last sugar painting, he raised his head.
There are so many people gathered around.
He had originally planned to bang the gong, but now it seemed that the aunt's voice was more useful than the gong.
Li Ershu immediately and generously handed the duck-shaped sugar painting in front of him to the auntie, saying, "Auntie, thank you for helping me gather everyone here!"
The auntie was surprised that the sugar plum tree was really giving it away for free. She happily accepted it and took a bite.
"You're welcome, you're welcome! Oh my, this is the sweetest candy I've ever eaten!" he exclaimed loudly and exaggeratedly.
When the people around saw that only this aunt had candy and they didn't, some of them immediately became unhappy.
"Weren't they supposed to be giving away candy for free? Why did they only give it to this old lady? What about ours?!"
"That's right! Where's ours!"
Some people in the crowd grumbled, saying that if it weren't for the laws of the Southern Yue Kingdom restraining them, they might have resorted to robbery.
Li Ershu waved his hand, signaling everyone to calm down.
"This candy is free, but only to those who help me! I have a small favor to ask, and I need everyone's help. If you help me, I will give you this candy for free."
Li Ershu deliberately raised his voice to ensure that everyone in the crowd could hear what he was saying.
"What kind of help?"
"You're not going to help me get money, are you?"
"Ha ha ha ha"
The people around burst into laughter, all thinking that Li Ershu had been bluffing for a long time and was still trying to sell his sugar paintings in a roundabout way.
Li Ershu smiled and shook his head.
"No, no, this favor is very easy for me to do, and I don't need your money. In fact, we're helping each other out!" Li Ershu said mysteriously.
Only by piquing the curiosity of this group can you keep them here.
As Li Ershu had expected, someone in the crowd soon asked a question out of curiosity.
"What kind of help?"
"Yeah! Just tell us already, stop keeping us in suspense!"
Seeing that the atmosphere was already set, Li Ershu looked at everyone with a smile.
"I need five people with the dirtiest hands and feet! And five people with the dirtiest clothes!"
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