Gusu City had 23 lanes and 16 streets, criss-crossing each other. There were more than 100,000 households living on the 23 lanes, and most of these lanes were built along the moat. There were more than 300 small winding rivers on the lanes to make up an authentic Jiangnan water town. Most of the 16 streets were located at the intersection of the lanes.

The restrictions on lanes and streets in the Song Dynasty were not as strict as those in the previous dynasty. Stalls could also be set up on the lanes, but they had to obtain special approval from the yamen and pay more taxes. (TN: government office in feudal China)

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If Tang Shen wanted to get approval from the yamen, all he had to do was go to his teacher and cry a few words, and he didn’t even have to wait in line. As for the extra taxes paid, Accountant Lin nearly went bald from anxiety yet still didn’t manage to dissuade Tang Shen.

“Little boss, you’re going to lose all your money!”

“No rush, we can take our time.”

Overnight, Tang’s Logistics had its own stalls on 23 lanes and 16 streets. The stalls were not big with only a wooden table to support a shelf and a wooden stick to support a banner. On the banner were black characters written on a red background: Tang’s Logistics. Behind each stall, there was a scholarly looking man sitting calmly, as steady as a mountain.

After ten days, the people of Gusu City have already become accustomed to the delivery business of the logistics employees. Finally, Tang’s Logistics was open for business again. In Zhaimen Alley, a scholar found a logistics employee and said, “Please help me deliver these two books to Suijin Street.”

The employee said: “Okay, sir, please go to the stall with us to fill in the order and the things to be delivered.”

The scholar was surprised and said: “Order? What does this mean?”

“Sir, haven’t you seen the notice that our Tang’s Logistics posted a few days ago? From now on, every customer must indicate the place to be sent and what is delivered. Sir, don’t worry, we also have a stall in Zhaimen Alley, specially set up for customers like you to fill in such orders. It’s just ten meters away, I’ll take you there.”

The same situation also occurred in various places in Gusu City.

At first, people felt that Tang’s Logistics’ approach was too cumbersome and annoying. But within a few days, they discovered that with the order form in hand, if they lost something and wanted to settle the account with Tang’s Logistics, they would have proof. This order form was more like a reassurance and guarantee. Although it was a little more troublesome than before, it was also more rigorous and reassuring than before.

Tang’s Logistics had more and more business every day, and people who like to use logistics were using it more often. After a while, they have even become familiar with several of the employees.

That day on Suijin Street, a shopkeeper of a tailor shop asked a Tang’s Logistics employee to deliver the goods to the buyer who had reserved the goods. The two of them were very familiar with each other, so the employee said: “Shopkeeper Wang, the price of our logistics will increase next month. You are also an old customer and you take care of my business every day so I wanted to let you know in advance.”

Shopkeeper Wang was stunned for a moment and asked, “A price increase? Will it become very expensive?”

“Don’t worry, our little boss said it won’t go up too much. I heard it will only go up by one copper coin. Tang’s Logistics is mainly for the convenience of the people, and also to give refugees like us from other places a place to settle down and make a living. The little boss kept us fed and clothed, and gave us a chance to survive. Making a profit comes second to saving lives.”

“Very true, your boss seems to be related to Tang juren‘s family in the west of the city, and seems to be a student of Liang daren. I use your Tang’s Logistics because I trust your boss. A copper coin increase is not expensive, but a truly good deal.”

The employee said a few more words, smiled and said goodbye to Shopkeeper Wang.

Shopkeeper Wang didn’t think two copper coins were too expensive, in fact it was too cheap.

In the entire Gusu City, apart from ordinary people, the only people who use Tang’s Logistics were merchants with small shops like them. Although Shopkeeper Wang’s tailor shop was located on Suijin Street and seemed very impressive, there was only one employee in the shop. One person was obviously not enough to deliver the goods, so Shopkeeper Wang often used Tang’s Logistics.

A copper coin paid each day to Tang’s Logistics was much less than hiring an employee.

And of course he didn’t know, how could this employee develop a good relationship with him for no reason?

Three days ago, Tang Shen personally came to the dormitory of Tang’s Logistics and talked to all the logistics employees.

Tang Shen: “Next month, I will recruit fifty more employees, so there will be a hundred total in Gusu City. The snow will stop soon and if any of you want to go back to your hometown, I won’t stop you. Having known each other for a while, when each employee leaves, you can go to Accountant Lin’s accounting office to withdraw a sum of money, which will be used as travel expenses for your return home.”

One of the employees shouted loudly: “We have no way to make a living back home, so I’ll just stay in Gusu City and work for the little boss.”

Tang Shen said: “Okay, staying or going is up to you all. But I want to make it clear first that I will increase the price next month and at the same time give out dividends.”

The employees looked at each other.

Tang Shen: “Starting from next month, each logistics order will be increased to two copper coins. At the same time, depending on the distance and the size and weight of the goods transported, additional fees will be charged. Accountant Lin will explain the specific situation to you later. Once this happens, some customers will probably not ask us to send things. But at the same time, I will give you dividends. Starting next month, in addition to covering food, drink and accommodation, for every five logistics orders you send, you will get a 10% share of the profit.”

Accountant Lin explained: “In other words, if you send five orders each worth two copper coins, you can get one copper coin. The more you work, the more you get.”

So how was it that that employee simply had a good relationship with Shopkeeper Wang and told him about the price increase?

He was just trying to please Shopkeeper Wang in advance and pull their relationship closer, hoping to do more business with Shopkeeper Wang in the future!

The logistics business was going smoothly, except for the fact that Accountant Lin came to Tang Shen every day and told him how much he had lost today with a bitter look on his face.

At the end of the first lunar month, the logistics business had been in business for nearly a month.

Tang Shen: “No loss?”

Accountant Lin looked discouraged: “If we don’t count the big courtyard bought by the little boss, and we don’t count the taxes we have to pay to the yamen every month. Just the food and drink for these guys, and the monthly income of the clerk at the stalls, yes, no loss, but no profit either!”

Tang Shen sighed with emotion: “It only took less than a month to break even! The people of Gusu are wealthier than I thought. They sure are rich!”

Accountant Lin: “Huh?”

Tang Shen touched his chin: “The people of Gusu are quite rich. No, I have to think of another way to have them continue to help my finances out.”

Accountant Lin was confused. At this time, he suddenly remembered something Yao San often said to him in private.

“Our little boss’s brain sometimes… work strangely.”

Indeed this was so!

Others don’t know, but Accountant Lin knew just how rich Tang Shen was now!

Although it was not at the level of an extremely wealthy family, there was only one self-made young man of Tang Shen’s age in the entire Gusu City!

Tang Shen: “When will the soap begin selling?”

Accountant Lin gathered himself and said: “I heard from the shopkeeper that in five days, Madam Tang will invite several ladies from influential families to Zhenbao Pavilion to watch the ceremony. She says that they will hold a special product ceremony for the introduction of soap.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a while and said in amusement: “My aunt is truly something. I just said 123, and she actually connected the following 456. And a product ceremony? I didn’t even think about it.”

Talents like Madam Tang would at least be a marketing director or corporate executive in the modern world!

Five days later, Tang Shen also came to Zhenbao Pavilion, and saw several ladies and gentlemen in rich clothes.

Sun Yue followed behind Madam Sun, and when he saw Tang Shen he ran over in surprise: “So Madam Tang is really your relative? I only heard someone in the academy mention it, but I didn’t expect it to be true. Hey, when we first met, I bragged to you about how good this Golden Wisp was. Why didn’t you say that you are Madam Tang’s nephew? You are from the Tang family, how could you not have a bottle of the Golden Wisp?”

Tang Shen said naturally: “Have I ever said that Madam Tang and I don’t know each other?”

Sun Yue: “Ah, no.”

“Then have you ever asked about my relationship with Madam Tang?”

“…Also no.”

“Then what else do you want from me? My surname is clearly Tang.” 

Sun Yue: “…”

After a while, the little chubby came to his senses, grabbed Tang Shen and said, “Hey! Tang Shen, you are tricking me again. So what if your surname is Tang? Are all surnamed Tang Madam Tang’s nephews? Then if your surname is Liang, wouldn’t you be the dear nephew of Liang Bowen, Living daren?”

Tang Shen thought to himself: I am not Liang Bowen’s dear nephew, I am his dear student.

Sun Yue just scolded Tang Shen briefly, but he was not really angry. The two gathered together to watch the product ceremony. Unexpectedly, after a high shelf covered with red cloth was moved to the lobby of Zhenbao Pavilion, Madam Tang looked around and waved over Tang Shen. Tang Shen walked over in confusion, but Sun Yue had a bad feeling in his heart and muttered: “What else did Tang Shen hide from me?”

Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, today we will reveal the true appearance of this soap together.”

Tang Shen was stunned. But he quickly recovered and understood that Madam Tang was admitting to the entire Gusu City that Tang Shen was from the Tang family, giving him another Tang family as a backer. At the same time, it was also to inform the entire Gusu City that Tang Shen’s status in the Tang family was not simple.

Tang Shen and Madam Tang unveiled the red cloth together. Everyone thought it was an object as rare as the Golden Wisp, but unexpectedly it was something similar to scented soap, and not even as delicate and fragrant as scented soap.

Madam Tang said: “This item is soap. It has the same function as scented soaps. It sells for five copper coins and lasts an ordinary person for more than half a month.”

As soon as these words were spoken, several wealthy ladies widened their eyes and stared at the soap in disbelief.

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It only sold for five copper coins!

Only then did they understand why Madam Tang would specially design a product ceremony. If the Golden Wisp was the treasure of the Tang family’s Zhenbao Pavilion on the surface, this soap was the true treasure of the Zhenbao Pavilion!

In Gusu City, the Tang family’s Zhenbao Pavilion had truly become unparalleled this time!

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