CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 80: LANDLORD TO THE BIG BOSS

When Yu Xiaolian returned home, she was sitting on a handcart, naturally pushed by Su Jingchen.

She never thought that not only could she hug the big thigh of this influential person, but she could also be the landlord of this big shot.

Just one word—awesome!

When Sun and Yu Changhe heard that Su Jingchen wanted to rent the vacant rooms in the second courtyard, they agreed without hesitation.

After all, in the past few days, from Yu Xiaolian, they already learned that Su Jingchen was an even bigger deal than Zheng Yuanfeng.

An unchanging truth: having money doesn’t necessarily mean having power, but those with power definitely aren’t short on cash.

So compared to Zheng Yuanfeng, Su Jingchen was obviously the bigger deal.

The rent, Yu Xiaolian told Su Jingchen to give whatever he saw fit, just some token amount.

Now that they had agreed with the Yu Family, Su Jingchen decided to take a leave in the middle of the month to return to Lower River Bend and bring Su Jingyue over.

After Su Jingchen left, Yu Xiaolian and Sun began to tally up the day’s earnings.

"Soap is three taels of silver per piece, sold twenty-five pieces, shampoo ten taels of silver a jar, sold ten jars, body wash ten jars..."

The more Yu Xiaolian tallied, the more elated she became; this was much more profitable than selling shortbread.

Shortbread brought in ten wen, just ten wen income, but these daily necessities directly changed the unit from wen to taels.

"Mom, today we made a total of four hundred twenty-three taels in silver, not counting the pre-orders for items we didn’t sell. If we count those pre-orders, we made about a thousand taels today."

"What?" Sun exclaimed, "So much? Does that mean we’ll earn a thousand taels every day from now on?"

"Mom, these are not daily consumables. Once people buy them, they’ll last for several months at least.

Although we’re not doing a one-off sale, such expensive items can probably only be afforded by the wealthy at the Women’s Virtue Academy, and might not sell elsewhere."

Sun tentatively asked, "How about...we sell them cheaper?"

She always felt Yu Xiaolian set the prices too high.

Like that little box of lipstick, Yu Xiaolian actually priced it at ten taels a box, the cheapest one.

And some so-called branded lipstick claimed by Yu Xiaolian sold for even more.

The perfume prices were even more outrageous, ordinary perfume starting at a hundred taels, branded ones costing two or three hundred taels per bottle.

"Mom, just talking about this little box of lipstick, it only needs a tiny bit at a time, used sparingly, it can last a year. I’m really not selling it expensive."

This was just the temporary price set in Yangcheng. Maybe, in the future, the prices would increase again in the big cities!

After all, there must be more fat sheep in big cities; missing out on the opportunity to fleece them would be a waste.

If she doesn’t fleece them, someone else will, so be quick and ruthless, don’t be soft-hearted, that’s the way.

Yu Xiaolian picked up a bottle of perfume again, "Mom, don’t underestimate this small bottle. It’s made of colored glaze, very rare. Without even considering whether the perfume inside is valuable, just the bottle itself is worth a few hundred taels."

She always thought the price for perfume was set too low, plus she found the bottle couldn’t be opened for refilling, while colored glaze in ancient times drew too much attention, so Yu Xiaolian wasn’t planning to sell the perfume yet.

Sun also thought such an eye-catching thing shouldn’t be taken out, although it truly smelled good, desired by every woman, but if it was too noticeable, it might bring trouble.

"Lian’er, although Su Jingchen rented our second courtyard, you’re a girl, you should not go over to that courtyard without reason, understand?"

Sun, although believing that Su Jingchen was a good boy, couldn’t help but repeatedly remind Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian nodded continuously, indicating she understood.

Yu Changhe, standing at the doorway, also couldn’t help saying, "In my view, let them use the small back door in normal times. Though we live in the same courtyard, we are still two different families. It’s better to keep to ourselves."

Yu Xiaolian agreed, "Actually, our home is quite far from Qingquan Academy, him renting our house is solely for his younger brother. He doesn’t feel at ease leaving his brother alone in the countryside."

Sun, puzzled, asked, "So when he’s attending school, his brother is alone at home?"

This was something Yu Xiaolian hadn’t asked Su Jingchen, "He might bring a servant."

Sun, uneasy, said, "Even though it’s two courtyards, we have many secrets, the fewer people, the better. How about letting your dad build a wall at the archway in the second courtyard?"

Yu Xiaolian frowned, building a wall seemed like she was deliberately guarding against Su Jingchen, somewhat impolite.

But Sun and Yu Changhe felt building a wall was necessary, firstly because the Yu family had many secrets, secondly because the Su brothers were outsiders, frequent interactions might damage Yu Xiaolian’s reputation.

In ancient times, the separation of sexes maintained the foundation of feudal ethics, Yu Xiaolian didn’t dare argue with them, ultimately the family decided to let Yu Changhe make a wooden door at the archway of the second courtyard. The Su brothers could then enter and exit through the rear door while their family used the front door.

Yu Changhe recently didn’t need to use a cane to walk, though his walking was uneven, one side higher and the other lower, but he walked much more smoothly than before.

Having made the decision, Sun gave Yu Changhe a piece of broken silver, letting him buy iron saws, small axes, and nails.

A while ago they bought a big axe for chopping wood, but it was too large for precise work, so they needed to buy a smaller one.

After Yu Changhe went out, Sun and Yu Xiaolian started working in the store again, Sun packaging snacks and preserves individually, and Yu Xiaolian filling the newly bought white porcelain jars with shampoo and body wash.

"Lian’er, Shopkeeper Hai said to ask you to go to Mingxiang Pavilion tomorrow, it seems like it’s been a month, he wants you to settle accounts and get the money!"

Sun skillfully cut the packaging of a waffle and rewrapped it with wax paper.

"Shopkeeper Hai also said those snacks sell out every day, he asked us to send more."

Yu Xiaolian paused her work, walked to the snack section, pointed at the bread-like items on the shelf, "Mom, this egg tart, pineapple bun, red date cake, you should also unpack them, deliver them to Mingxiang Pavilion tomorrow."

It’s about time to introduce some new products, no matter how tasty cream rolls are, those rich ladies would eventually tire of them. Variety is the key to a flourishing business.

Sun responded energetically, smiling, "I wonder how much money we’ll settle for tomorrow. Should be at least a hundred silver taels, right?"

Yu Xiaolian chuckled, her mom did everything quickly and efficiently but had no concept of money.

The pastries, preserves, and tea they delivered daily brought in over twenty taels a day, that’s two hundred taels in ten days, making over six hundred taels a month.

Aside from tea which didn’t earn much, other items often sold out everyday.

Indeed, delicious things, throughout history, never worry about not selling.