Chapter 22: The Sundry Goods Hall

After the couple left the clothing shop, Xu Mo hired a carriage at the street corner.

“To the Old Temple Market,” he instructed the driver, then helped Chen Miaoyi onto the carriage.

The carriage rolled slowly toward the Old Temple Market.

Old Temple Market was the largest in Xinzhu City, offering not only fish, meat, vegetables, and grains, but also exotic dried goods, seafood, cosmetics, and daily necessities.

On the way, Chen Miaoyi couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, you’re going to negotiate business. I don’t know anything about such matters. Isn’t it inappropriate for me to accompany you?”

Xu Mo countered, “Why would it be inappropriate? Miaoyi, tell me, do I look like a wealthy man?”

She nodded, “You do.”

Xu Mo replied at once, “Looking like one isn’t enough! That’s why you must be with me. You help me keep up appearances. When people see I have such a beautiful, elegant wife, my status as a man of means will be confirmed!”

Chen Miaoyi’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Soon, the carriage arrived at Old Temple Market and stopped in front of a shop called “Miscellany Emporium.”

The driver placed a low stool by the carriage and respectfully said, “Sir, we’ve arrived at your destination!”

Xu Mo stepped out, carrying the rosewood box, and used the stool to alight. Then he helped Chen Miaoyi down carefully.

He glanced at the shop’s façade, then, still holding the rosewood box, led Chen Miaoyi inside.

No sooner had they entered than a young clerk approached with a smile. “Sir, Madam, you’ve come at just the right time. We recently received a batch of new goods. Would you care to browse?”

Seeing the clerk’s reaction, Chen Miaoyi thought Xu Mo truly had foresight; indeed, smart attire made others regard you differently.

Xu Mo, still holding the rosewood box, declared boldly, “I wish to speak to your proprietor!”

The clerk was about to ask their purpose when a woman’s voice sounded from behind, “I am Liu Rushi, the proprietor of this establishment. May I ask what business brings you here?”

The clerk turned at once to greet her, “Madam, these two are here to see you.”

Liu Rushi appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, not striking in looks, but her dress and manner were refined and inviting.

As Xu Mo and Chen Miaoyi sized her up, Liu Rushi did likewise, and when she drew near, she offered them a gentle smile. “May I know your name, sir?”

Xu Mo smiled in return, “My surname is Xu, and this is my wife.”

“So it is Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu. Pardon my ignorance,” Liu Rushi replied with a smile.

Xu Mo laughed, “Madam Liu, as we wandered Old Temple Market, we found your Miscellany Emporium the grandest and most impressive. Upon entering, it’s exactly as we expected—your wares are dazzling and abundant.”

Liu Rushi demurred, “You flatter me, Mr. Xu. It’s just a small business, nothing remarkable.”

After the formalities, Xu Mo went straight to the point: “Madam Liu, to manage such a grand shop, you must be well-traveled and knowledgeable. I happen to possess a rare item and wonder if you’ve ever seen its like?”

As soon as Xu Mo spoke, Liu Rushi’s gaze settled on the rosewood box in his hands.

“Mr. Xu, Mrs. Xu, you must be tired from your journey. Why not come upstairs for some tea?” Liu Rushi invited.

Xu Mo readily accepted, and led Chen Miaoyi up the stairs.

In the reception room, beside a table, Xu Mo set down the rosewood box and he and Chen Miaoyi took their seats.

Liu Rushi instructed the clerk to prepare tea and refreshments, then turned to them with a smile. “Mr. Xu, is the rare item you mentioned inside that box?”

“It is,” Xu Mo replied, gently patting the rosewood box.

Liu Rushi smiled, “Why not open it, Mr. Xu, so I may see it for myself?”

Xu Mo nodded, and unhurriedly opened the box.

Liu Rushi soon saw the soap within, though she did not recognize it.

To her eyes, it was merely a peculiar white-and-yellow block.

She examined it for a while, then asked, “Mr. Xu, may I take it out for a closer look?”

“By all means,” Xu Mo said generously.

Liu Rushi thanked him, picked up the soap, and found it cool and smooth to the touch, rather pleasant.

After inspecting it, she placed it back in the box. “Mr. Xu, I confess my ignorance—I do not know what this is.”

Xu Mo did not keep her in suspense. “Madam Liu, this item is called soap.”

“Soap?” Liu Rushi was hearing the term for the first time, and eyed the soap with curiosity and doubt.

Xu Mo said, “Madam Liu, the character ‘soap’ might hint at its purpose.”

Liu Rushi thought quickly and soon made the connection, “Mr. Xu, is the ‘soap’ here the same as the soapberry used for cleaning?”

Xu Mo nodded, “Madam Liu, you are indeed clever. This soap not only shares the properties of soapberry, but surpasses it by far!”

“Surpasses soapberry?” Liu Rushi was startled, though skepticism prevailed.

Seeing her disbelief, Xu Mo promptly explained the soap’s method of use and its powerful cleaning abilities.

The more Liu Rushi listened, the more amazed she became. In her experience, soapberry was the best cleanser known. Could this unremarkable yellow block really be superior?

Liu Rushi said, “Mr. Xu, forgive my narrow experience. Though I would not claim to be widely learned, I know a little. To this day, I have never heard of anything better than soapberry.”

Xu Mo glanced at Chen Miaoyi and smiled, “In that case, Madam Liu, why not try it for yourself? I believe once you do, your opinion will change.”

Liu Rushi furrowed her brow in thought.

After a moment, she nodded. “Very well, I am curious to see for myself. Let us proceed.”

She instructed the clerk to bring a basin of clean water and fetched from the kitchen an old rag covered in grease.

Liu Rushi explained to Xu Mo that the rag had been washed with soapberry, yet the greasy feel stubbornly remained.

Xu Mo smiled confidently, “Madam Liu, soap excels at removing grease. Once it’s washed, you’ll be satisfied.”

Liu Rushi said nothing and instructed her clerk to clean the rag with the soap.

With Xu Mo guiding him, the clerk applied the soap generously to the rag and began to scrub.

At first, Liu Rushi was unimpressed, doubting the soap could outperform soapberry.

But after a short while, surprise flashed in her eyes.

The water in the basin was now covered with grease and foam.

Examining the rag, the grease was noticeably reduced.

The clerk wrung out the rag and felt it.

The next moment, he exclaimed with delight, “Madam, it’s so clean! Much cleaner than with soapberry!”

Liu Rushi took the rag herself to confirm.

Sure enough, the greasy feel was gone, and the grease removal was astonishing.

She was overjoyed and turned to Xu Mo.

Xu Mo smiled, “Madam Liu, if you rinse it with clean water two more times, it will be even cleaner.”

Liu Rushi immediately had another basin brought, and scrubbed the rag herself.

After wringing it out again, she was excited. “Mr. Xu, it’s truly clean! It feels as if all the grease is gone!”

“How miraculous!” Liu Rushi couldn’t help but marvel at the soap’s remarkable power.

Xu Mo smiled slightly, glancing at Chen Miaoyi as if to say: everything is under control.

Chen Miaoyi was satisfied as well, a smile curling at her lips.

“Mr. Xu, you brought soap to us—are you hoping Miscellany Emporium will help you sell it?”

As the largest and most upscale seller of sundries in Xinzhu City, Liu Rushi understood the value of soap very well.

Though she wore a gentle smile and seemed calm, inside she was already brimming with excitement.

She had made up her mind: this marvelous soap, she would sell it without fail!