For half a month, Yunxiang Pavilion's business was booming at an astonishing rate.
Every morning, before the shop even opens, a long queue forms in front of it, winding all the way to the street corner.
At first, the owners of the other rouge shops in the city were able to maintain their composure, but as time went on, their expressions grew increasingly grim.
No, we're all in business.
Is what you're doing reasonable?
The shopkeeper Zhang, who lived diagonally opposite, was even more restless. Every day, he stood at the entrance of his shop, watching helplessly as customers flocked to Yunxiang Pavilion like a tide, while his own shop remained deserted.
"What magic does this rouge possess?" Manager Zhang muttered through gritted teeth.
Finally, he couldn't resist any longer. He called over a servant and whispered, "Go, secretly buy a set of rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion. I want to see what kind of magical stuff it is!"
The servant quickly brought back a set of rouge for a sunset makeup look.
Shopkeeper Zhang opened the box with some skepticism, then dipped his finger in the mixture and smeared it on the back of his hand.
The delicate texture startled him, and he gently applied the product to his face while looking in the bronze mirror.
A moment later, he was shocked to find that his skin appeared smoother and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had faded.
"This...this is impossible!" Manager Zhang muttered to himself.
The shopkeepers of other shops also took the same action, sending people to secretly buy back Yunxiang Pavilion's rouge for trial use.
As a result, I got angry after using it.
It's true what they say, you have to compare prices before you can throw something away.
Compared to the rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion, the rouge we sell is utter garbage!
Left with no other choice, they had to swallow their pride and approach Lin Yun.
That day, not long after Yunxiang Pavilion opened, Manager Zhang and several colleagues came to visit.
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback when she saw them, then politely asked, "What brings you gentlemen here?"
Manager Zhang forced a smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Miss Lin, we've come today to discuss a business deal."
Your rouge is really good; we'd like to purchase it from you. Would you be so kind as to do us that?
Lin Yun understood, but didn't show it on her face. She simply smiled and said, "Purchasing is fine, but the price will be the same as the shop's selling price. No discounts will be offered."
The competitors looked at each other in bewilderment. If they bought the goods at the original price and then resold them, wouldn't they make no profit?
But when they thought about the effects of Yunxiang Pavilion's rouge, they hesitated again. Finally, someone gritted their teeth and said, "Alright! We are willing to buy at the original price, but please, Miss Lin, guarantee that the supply will be sufficient."
Lin Yun nodded: "The supply of goods is not a problem."
We're counting on you guys to open up sales channels, my brothers.
And so, their competitors placed orders to transport Yunxiang Pavilion's rouge to other counties and prefectures for resale.
Although the profit per set was only one or two taels of silver, the sales volume was amazing, and in a short time, they made a fortune.
Currently, the wives and daughters of wealthy merchants and officials in Shangyang County possess at least five sets of Yunxiang Pavilion rouge.
Sometimes you even have to pay extra to buy from other shops.
In addition, almost all the original members of the clothing store bought Yunxiang Pavilion's rouge.
They not only used them themselves, but also gave them as gifts to relatives and friends.
For a time, everyone in the streets and alleys of Shangyang County was talking about the rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion.
Madam Liu became a living advertisement, praising to everyone she met: "After using this rouge, my husband said I look ten years younger!" Word spread quickly, and even the important figures in the prefecture heard that the rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion was excellent.
On this day, Lady Wei, the wife of the prefect of Guangping Prefecture, was dressing up in her residence.
She was over forty years old and had given birth to two sons and a daughter. Although she held a prestigious position, it was an undeniable fact that her appearance was gradually aging.
Women are all afraid that young, alluring women outside will steal their husbands' hearts.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I noticed fine lines around my eyes and my skin no longer had the radiance of my youth.
She sighed and said to the maid beside her, "It seems there's no difference whether we use these cosmetics or not."
The maidservant said cautiously, "Madam, you haven't tried the set of rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion that Madam Zhao sent the other day."
Madam Wei glanced at the exquisite box on the dressing table, her interest waning: "Leave it there, we'll talk about it another day."
The maidservant advised, "I've heard that this rouge is extremely effective; even the noble ladies in the capital are scrambling to buy it."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wei finally showed some interest: "Oh? Then let's give it a try."
She opened the box and gently applied a small amount of rouge to her face.
A moment later, she looked closely at herself in the bronze mirror and was surprised to find that her skin had become smooth and radiant, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had faded considerably.
Madam Wei stood up in surprise and asked repeatedly, "Where did this rouge come from?"
The maid replied, "It was bought by Madam Zhao from a shop called Yunxiang Pavilion, which is said to be in Shangyang County."
Madam Wei recalled Madam Zhao from her memory, paused for a moment, then her eyes flashed with urgency: "Oh? Is Madam Zhao still in the prefectural city? Please ask her to come and continue our conversation."
"Yes, I'll go right away." The maidservant hurriedly accepted the order and left.
---
Madam Zhao arrived at the prefect's residence quickly.
Madam Wei took her hand and said warmly, "The rouge my sister gave me is truly magical! I loved it after just one use! Does Yunxiang Pavilion have a branch in the prefectural city?"
Madam Zhao shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Madam, you don't know this, but the rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion is in short supply every day. The shops in Shangyang County close before dusk, so how can we have the resources to open branch stores?"
Madam Wei frowned slightly: "What should we do? I can't possibly go all the way to Shangyang County to buy it myself, can I?"
Madam Zhao's eyes darted around, and she smiled, "No need for that. If you don't mind, I can bring back a few more sets for you next time I go to buy supplies."
Only then did Madam Wei smile and say, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sister!"
When she left, Madam Wei gave her a jade bracelet.
With the help of the rouge from Yunxiang Pavilion, Madam Zhao's "sisterly relationship" with Madam Wei took another step forward.
For a time, Madam Zhao walked with an air of confidence throughout the house.
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