Looking at the menthol balm in Jiang Ling's hand, she pouted and said, "Aunt Jiang, I think you're selling it way too cheaply!"
"A box of perfume balm like this would cost at least twenty copper coins in a cosmetics shop. Not to mention that a box of that would cost less than half the price of yours. Yours has a very unique scent, feels cool when you use it, and most importantly, it can prevent mosquito bites. I think it should cost at least thirty copper coins a box."
The servant's words made Jiang Ling secretly pleased. The process and difficulty of making peppermint balm were much easier than that of peppermint water, and it was also more convenient to store, so there was no need to worry about stockpiling goods. It was also suitable for a wider range of people.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling's eyes darted around and she hinted, "Young man, I'm currently struggling to find a market for my peppermint balm. You're knowledgeable and experienced, could you help me find a sales channel? Of course, I certainly won't let you work for nothing. I'll give you five copper coins for every box sold."
As Jiang Ling spoke, she poured the servant another bowl of mint water. The servant quickly waved his hand and said politely, "Oh, Aunt Jiang, you're being too polite. Don't worry, I'll take care of this, but you..."
As he spoke, the servant's gaze fell on the peppermint balm in Jiang Ling's hand. Jiang Ling immediately understood what the servant meant. She placed the peppermint balm on the table, pushed it in front of the servant, and said to him, "Then, please take this back with you, sir!"
The servant smiled, unable to contain his joy. He carefully put away the peppermint balm, looked up at the sky, and said, "Sister Jiang, I won't keep you from your work any longer. Please deliver the peppermint water to her early tomorrow."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.
Jiang Ling wasn't idle either. She started making mint syrup and worked until sunset before she finished making four bowls of syrup. She then placed them in a cool place to cool. After that, she started making mint paste and worked until late afternoon before finally finishing her work.
Jiang Ling yawned widely, rubbing her sore arms as she began to ponder whether she should hire a few people to do some time-consuming but unskilled work for her.
The next morning, Jiang Ling felt an intense soreness in her arm with the slightest movement. She gritted her teeth, poured the syrup into a bamboo tube, and, with the ten portions of mint balm she had made, boarded Uncle Lu's oxcart with her three children.
The oxcart stopped in front of Li Shan's house. Jiang Ling tidied up the bamboo tube and, with the three children, knocked on the door.
The girl who opened the door was about thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a yellow jacket and looking very capable.
"Who are you?" The little girl looked at Jiang Ling, who was dressed in coarse linen clothes, without showing any disdain. Instead, she asked in a calm tone.
“I am Jiang from Lujia Village. Your master sent me to deliver mint water!” Jiang Ling said.
"Ah, you must be Jiang! Please come in quickly." The little maid opened her mouth in surprise and hurriedly opened the door to let Jiang Ling in.
Following the little maid all the way to the inner courtyard hall, Jiang Ling finally sat down. The little maid quickly poured Jiang Ling a cup of tea, bowed, and left.
About two or three minutes later, an elderly man in his fifties appeared in front of Jiang Ling. He had gray hair and was dressed respectably, and it was clear at a glance that he was Li Shanren.
"Hello, Mr. Li!" Jiang Ling stood up and said.
Li Shan was wealthy but kind and generous. He quickly waved his hand and said in a friendly tone, "Please sit down, please sit down. I've heard the men who work in my house mention you these past few days, and seeing you today, I can confirm that you are indeed extraordinary."
Jiang Ling smiled and placed a bamboo tube on the table, saying to Li Shanren, "Li Shanren, this is the mint water you requested."
Upon seeing the bamboo tube, Li Shanren's expression showed slight surprise. He stroked his beard and said meaningfully, "This water seems a bit off, doesn't it? I had my servant reserve a whole bucket with you."
“Mr. Li, you don’t know this, but this is my improved mint water. You just need to bring a basin of water over. If you have ice at home, you can add a few ice cubes to make it taste even better,” Jiang Ling said.
Li Shanren gave instructions to his servant with some skepticism, and soon a basin of water with a few ice cubes appeared in front of Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling opened the bamboo tube and poured all the prepared mint syrup into a basin of water, then stirred the water in the basin.
“Mr. Li, you can try it. If you don’t like the taste, I can give you a refund!” Jiang Ling said with a smile.
Li Shanren did not take any action. He called over the servant who had gone to Jiang Ling's house yesterday and said to him, "Afu, you give it a try!"
The servant Afu nodded, filled a bowl, and this time he didn't drink it all at once. He began to savor it slowly. After finishing the bowl, he gave Li Shanren a thumbs up and whispered something in his ear.
"Ah Fu, is what you're saying true?" Li Shanren was slightly taken aback, and his voice even rose a few octaves.
Afu nodded without saying anything more. Li Shanren waved for Afu to leave, and Afu quickly disappeared from Jiang Ling's sight.
"I heard you have some rare stuff called peppermint balm?" Li Shanren asked, looking at Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling nodded, took a piece of peppermint balm from her bosom and placed it on the table, saying, "This is it. However, my family's conditions are simple, and we cannot decorate it very elaborately. I hope Mr. Li will forgive us."
"Of course, of course. Is this thing really as miraculous as you say?" Li Shanren continued to inquire.
Jiang Ling nodded without speaking. Seeing this, Li Shanren picked up the peppermint balm on the table, smelled it first, and then rubbed it on his forehead.
"Mmm...that feels good," Li Shanren murmured.
"Ms. Jiang, how many pieces of this peppermint balm do you have in total?" Li Shanren continued to ask.
"I only have a limited number of hands, so I only made ten pieces of peppermint balm," Jiang Ling said, placing all the peppermint balm on the table.
"A-Fu, go to Steward Wang and fetch one tael of silver," Li Shanren whispered towards the door.
Then, looking at Jiang Ling, he said, "Jiang, I'll take all ten of these peppermint balms!"
“You don’t need to give me any more copper coins. Didn’t you already have Afu give me a piece of silver yesterday?” Jiang Ling said.
After hearing this, Li Shanren shook his head and said, "No need to refuse, just continue to send the peppermint water tomorrow! But I need three buckets tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling forced a smile. She really couldn't finish the large quantity of work, and now she had to start making peppermint balm. Even if Jiang Ling were split in two, she probably still wouldn't be able to finish. Thinking of this, Jiang Ling shook her head and refused, saying, "Mr. Li, I'm afraid I can't grant your request for the time being."
After hearing this, Li Shanren frowned slightly and asked, "Why? Jiang, if you feel the money is not enough, I can double it!"
After hearing this, Jiang Ling shook her head again and said, "I didn't say that just because you have money, I'm trying to extort you. I'm all alone with just my two hands. My eldest son has been borrowed by Magistrate Duan. I'm really too busy right now."
"What? Jiang Yaojie is your son?" Li Shanren's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this, his previous calm expression vanished, replaced by pure astonishment.
Jiang Ling tilted her head back with a hint of pride and said, "Yes."
“Well, then it’s not surprising at all. What do you think, Jiang?” Li Shanren said, his gaze falling on Jiang Ling once again.
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