On the other side, Tang Shen and Yao San went to the Liang Manor, but unfortunately they did not come at the right time.

Liang daru had gone to a poetry gathering on the outskirts of the city. He just left in the morning and had not returned at noon. Tang Shen handed the gift to the steward and went home with Yao San. As soon as the two entered the house, they saw someone who shouldn’t be here. Yao San was shocked, but Tang Shen had a certain idea in his heart.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen said: “Why has Eldest Aunt come?”

The visitor was none other than Madam Tang.

Madam Tang did not come alone, she also brought her personal maid and the housekeeper. Madam Tang gestured at the maid, who immediately brought over the small box Tang Shen had given her earlier.

Madam Tang said: “We are all a family, and eldest aunt will be honest with you. You said you made these two things with your own hands before, is this true? If you made them with your own hands, how much did it cost? How much is the production cost of the soap? And the scented soap? Also  the scent on your letter paper, was it scented with aromatherapy?”

Tang Shen smiled slightly: “Eldest Aunt, please come with me. The tools are still in the yard. I will demonstrate it to you. You will understand after seeing it.”

The several people walked into the yard, and Tang Shen made Madam Tang a basin of soap, a basin of scented soap, and a small bottle of essential oil in person.

Madam Tang asked the housekeeper to try it, and the effect was exactly the same as what Tang Shen had given her before.

Madam Tang had some concerns in heart, and the look in her eyes when looking at Tang Shen was no longer the same as before. She thought about it for a while and said seriously: “Nephew, this thing of yours can be sold for a lot of money.”

In many webnovels, once the time traveler traveled through time, it was given they would make soap. What was even more amazing was that some could also make glass, and even discover penicillin. Tang Shen felt that his golden finger was not that big yet.. He could not even make chocolate, let alone penicillin. After all, cocoa beans were still growing freely on the land of South Africa at this time, and Columbus had not yet discovered the New World.

But there was something in the webnovels that was not false. The reason why time travelers made soap and glass was because they could really make these things and make a lot of money.

Madam Tang asked the housekeeper to calculate the approximate production cost of a basin of soap and a basin of scented soap, and also calculated the cost of making essential oils.

Madam Tang frowned and said: “This essential oil smells very fragrant. It could also be mixed into soap to make the soap fragrant. But the cost is too high. Such a small bottle requires five or six kilograms of petals. It is fine to use it to make soap, but selling it alone is not possible.”

Tang Shen said: “Eldest Aunt, do you think the function of this is just to make things smell better?”

“No?”

Tang Shen smiled and said: “It is actually a beauty product.”

In the modern world, essential oils were often used by women to beautify their skin. The essential oils made by Tang Shen could certainly not be compared with the assembly lines of large factories, but this thing was absolutely impossible to disfigure, and it should also have certain beauty effects, though he didn’t know just how effective it would be.

Tang Shen thought for a moment and said, “Eldest Aunt, have you ever heard of a kind of pearl called mermaid tears?”

Madam Tang was surprised and said: “Mermaid tears, what is that?”

Tang Shen said: “I read it in an ancient book. The book records that the mermaid tears were originally just an ordinary type of pearl. They were not much more precious than ordinary pearls, let alone the one-in-a-thousand eastern pearl. In the past dynasty, there was a rich businessman who got many mermaid tears, but he couldn’t sell them no matter what, and was about to become a total loss in his hands. So he came up with an idea and named the pearl “mermaid tears”, and claimed that only if one loves a woman could you give her the one and only ‘mermaid tears’ in this life.”

Madam Tang’s eyes lit up, and the housekeeper beside her also understood the underlying meaning.

“How were the mermaid tears at the end?”

“Of course they were all sold out.”

If there were any time travelers present and hearing Tang Shen’s words, they would probably roll their eyes at him.

What mermaid tears! I might as well call myself the Little Mermaid and The White-Eyed Wolf Prince!

This was clearly diamond marketing!

That’s right, this was the famous diamond marketing that caused a global sensation in the early 20th century and remained influential even after a hundred years. Diamonds were not originally such precious gems, at least not so expensive. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, a major diamond merchant in the United States cooked up what could be called the most powerful scam in history, linking diamonds with eternal love. From then on, diamonds became an eternal luxury product.

Tang Shen smiled and said: “Eldest Aunt, it’s not that the essential oils can’t be sold, but it depends on… how we sell them.”

Madam Tang said: “Nephew…” After a pause, she said in a serious tone: “Tang Shen, you must’ve already figured out the reason why eldest aunt is here. The cost of soap is not high, you may be able to afford it. But if you want to do that essential oil business on your own, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven. Moreover, you are new here, and have yet to learn the ways of Gusu City. To be honest, Tang Manor has three shops on Suijin Street, one jewelry shop and two powder shops.”

Tang Shen: “Eldest Aunt, I gifted you the soap and scented soap for this very purpose.”

Madam Tang breathed a sigh of relief and said, “What do you intend?”

Tang Shen said without hesitation: “We are family, 50-50 split, you contribute the capital.”

As soon as this was said, the Tang Manor’s housekeeper and maid frowned. 

What Tang Shen meant was that he wouldn’t have to pay a coin, Madam Tang paid all the money, and in the end he got to share half of the dividends. Even if this soap and scented soap were good things that he made, he couldn’t be so greedy.

Madam Tang also hesitated.

After a long while, she asked: “Are there any more stories like the mermaid tears?”

Tang Shen looked at the woman seriously.

Although Madam Tang had a son who was older than Tang Shen, in fact she was only in her early thirties this year, so her womanly charm was still present. In the modern world, she was not much older than Dr. Tang Shen. That an ancient feudal family could raise such a smart lady, Tang Shen had a deeper understanding of this era, and he did not dare to look down on any ancient person.

“Of course there are stories like the mermaid tears, and there can also be more stories in the future.”

“Alright!”

Madam Tang was generous and after agreeing to pay the capital, she had the housekeeper stay and discuss with Tang Shen the making of soap and scented soap and selling them in the Tang family’s powder shops. Originally, Madam Tang wanted the big shopkeepers of several shops in the Tang family to come over and directly assign Tang Shen a soap-making workshop, but Tang Shen refused.

The separation of investors and business operators must be established from the beginning, otherwise there would be endless troubles.

Tang Shen first needed to find a bookkeeper.

Yao San thought for a while: “Little boss, Lin xiucai from Linglong Lane, just left Qianji Pawnshop a few days ago and have been looking for a job as an accountant. But he is already old, in his late fifties. Of course, you can trust his character.”

“Age is not a problem, you can ask him to come over to have a talk.”

Soon, Yao San went to Linglong Lane to find Lin xiucai.

Lin xiucai had gray hair and was said to have gotten the scholar rank three years ago. It was supposed to be a happy event for him to finally become a xiucai at his old age, but he was too old and had no hope of passing the provincial examination and becoming a gongsheng (TN: candidate for the Imperial Examination proposed by a tributary state). Gusu City’s xiucai were not as valuable as those in Zhao Family Village, and Lin xiucai lived in poverty. Previously, he found a job as an accountant at Qianji Pawnshop, but unfortunately he was getting older and the pawnshop fired him when a better accountant became available.

Tang Shen looked at him and asked, “What books have you read?”

“I have read the Four Books and Five Classics, I have also studied mathematics, and I have read Zuo Zhuan and the Book of Changes.”

Tang Shen asked a few simple math questions. Lin xiucai did not calculate quickly but he used the abacus steadily and did not make any mistakes.

“It’s you. Uncle Lin, are you willing to be my accountant?”

“Yes, yes!”

In the next few days, Tang Shen and Yao San began to look for a suitable workshop in Gusu City.

If he wanted to sell soap and essential oils, a shop was not a problem. The Tang family’s shop on Suijin Street sold women’s items, so there was no need to worry about the lack of a market. This was also the reason why Tang Shen specially visited Madam Tang and gave her the gift. He had already found out what kind of shop the Tang family opened and what kind of business they did.

After searching for four or five days, Yao San and Accountant Lin each found a workshop.

Yao San: “This workshop is located in the west of the city. It was originally a winery. The owner is eager to sell and offers a low price. He also said that all the workers in the workshop can stay. They are skilled winemakers.”

Accountant Lin: “The shop I found is also in the west of the city. It was originally a dyeing workshop. The price is a bit higher than the one Yao San found, but the owner is an old Gusu resident and is trustworthy. This workshop also had one more room than the one Yao San found.”

Tang Shen thought about it for a while, and the three of them went to two workshops for field inspections.

Tang Shen: “Let’s use this dyeing workshop. It’s a big place and will be convenient for making things in the future.”

Yao San was a blockhead and he only repeatedly said good before taking his mother to bargain with the owner of the dyeing workshop. However, Accountant Lin heard the underlying meaning: “Little boss, do you plan to sell other things in the future? Soap, scented soap and essential oil are not going to be sold?”

Tang Shen said: “Of course we will sell them, but what else we will sell is another matter.”

Accountant Lin didn’t ask anymore.

After all, they were not related, so Tang Shen had not completely let go of his guard against Accountant Lin.

Another half month later, Tang Shen bought the dyeing shop. During this period, Tang Shen went to Liang Manor again, and this time he met Liang daru. Liang daru invited him to stay for dinner. During the meal, Liang daru said: “That soap is very useful. Do you have any more, I will also send some to some old friends.”

Tang Shen’s eyes lit up. The reason why he brought the things over was to borrow Liang daru‘s reputation to gain free publicity for the soap.

“Of course I have more. I’ll deliver it to sir as soon as possible tomorrow.”

Before leaving, Liang daru asked: “Do you still remember that half a year ago, I met you in Zhao Family Village? At that time, you recited the entire The Analects of Confucius backwards. Zeng fuzi said that you are a child prodigy, proficient in The Analects of Confucius and The Doctrine of the Mean. Now that half a year has passed, what books have you read?”

How could Tang Shen dare say that he hadn’t read a book in the past six months and had been busy doing business. He said: “If we just talk about it superficially and don’t talk about understanding its meaning, I have read Great Learning and Mencius, and I have also finished reading all the Five Classics.”

Liang daru laughed and said, “Young man, you really dare to say that. You have read all the Four Books and Five Classics. Even an old scholar in his sixties would not dare to talk so big.”

Tang Shen blinked. As a thirteen-year-old child, he could confidently pretend to be innocent. “Sir only asked what I read. I didn’t say I understood everything, I just read it.”

“And by the way recite it fluently?”

Tang Shen nodded.

Liang daru shook his head: “You little rascal!” The implication was not that he didn’t believe that Tang Shen did not have the ability to memorize everything, but that he didn’t believe that Tang Shen had studied in the past six months.

Suppose Liang daru asked Tang Shen to recite the Four Books and Five Classics backwards on the spot, he would not panic. After hearing Liang daru’s answer on the Double Ninth Festival “be concerned, worried for the country and forget one’s own family”, Tang Shen went back and read all the Four Books and Five Classics. Thanks to his golden finger, he had a photographic memory, and could really memorize the Four Books and Five Classics.

However, since then, Tang Shen had never touched a book again.

After leaving Liang Manor, Tang Shen returned home. He found the invitation card stuck in the book Spring and Autumn Annals. Tang Shen looked at the words on it carefully and read softly: “The sky is clear, the sun and the moon are fixed, and the fragrance of fruit is blowing from the wind. After entering the room and looking up, raise the wine cup and drink to the chrysanthemums outside the window… en, drink to the chrysanthemums outside the window…”

Tang Shen looked at it for a long time, but still didn’t see anything particular in the invitation poem.

At this time, Accountant Lin entered the room and saw Tang Shen looking at something: “What are you looking at, little boss?”

Tang Shen put down the invitation card, raised his head and said, “This is an invitation card from Liang daren.”

Accountant Lin’s eyes shone with excitement and his body trembled. He came over and said, “I have heard from Young Lady Ah Huang and Yao San that little boss and Liang daren know each other a long time ago. I never expected that to be true. Little boss, this invitation was written by Liang daru himself?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Can I have a look?”

Tang Shen handed the invitation card to Lin Accountant.

Accountant Lin took the invitation card with trembling fingers, as if he was seeing a holy object, and he held it to the utmost respect. He looked at the invitation card carefully and read the poem on it: “The sky is clear, the sun and the moon are fixed, and the fragrance of fruit is blowing from the wind. After entering the room and looking up, raise the wine cup and drink to the chrysanthemums outside the window. Eh, this poem is a little strange.”

Tang Shen was surprised: “What’s strange?”

“I can’t be sure at the moment. Please wait a moment, little boss, and let me take a closer look.”

After looking at it for an hour, Accountant Lin smiled and said, “It turns out to be a poem with hidden words.”

“Hidden words?”

“Yes. Little master should be able to tell. This invitation is about the Double Ninth Festival, inviting little boss over. ‘Drink to the chrysanthemums outside the window’ is an invitation for you to enjoy the chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival. But this is only the first layer of this poem.”

Tang Shen: “First layer?”

Accountant Lin: “That’s right. Look at the first sentence, the sky is clear, the sun and the moon are fixed. On the surface, it means that the weather is good to meet up. In fact, the clear sky means ‘yang’, and where the sun and the moon converge together is ‘yao’. Yang Yao, comes Yi Zhuan (TN: commentary on the Book of Changes), also known as ‘Qi Yao’, which is the ninth hexagram. Look at the third sentence, ‘after entering the room and looking up’. On the surface, it means that after entering the house, we shall enjoy it to the extreme. In fact, to the extreme refers to the ninth.”

Accountant Lin took the invitation card and looked at it carefully. Tang Shen on the side was shocked and speechless.

Accountant Lin: “Yang Yao is nine, and the extreme is nine. Yang is nine, and nine is Yang. And this double nine points to the Double Ninth Festival. It’s strange, why would Liang daru write such a poem with hidden words. He had already said ‘drink to the chrysanthemums outside the window’, so why hide the word Double Ninth Festival in the poem.”

Tang Shen was stunned in place, unable to make a sound for a long time. Suddenly, he said to Accountant Lin: “Mr. Lin, there is a saying that I have looked for in the Four Books and Five Classics, but I couldn’t find it. I wonder if you know it?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Accountant Lin: “What saying?”

Tang Shen: “Be concerned, worried for the country and forget one’s own family.”

“Haha, what little boss said, ‘be concerned, worried for the country and forget one’s own family.’ This comes from “Zuo Zhuan·The 24th Year of Zhaogong”. Zuo Zhuan does not belong to the Four Books and Five Classics. So it’s normal for little boss to have never heard of it.”

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