Chapter 65 Increasing Production

With the rapid rise of the Fragrant Skin Specialty Store in Xinzhou City, sales of scented and regular soap soared, soon outstripping supply. At first, they managed to keep up, but the store’s business was simply too brisk; within days of opening, all stock was sold out, and Xu Mo had to deliver fresh batches to the city every day.

Now, as soon as the goods arrived each day, people would snatch them up before the wagon could even be unloaded, creating a scene of astonishing frenzy.

Because of this, Ning Yaxin had visited Gushan Village twice to talk with Xu Mo about increasing production.

So, one evening as they sat down to dinner, Xu Mo raised the matter with his family.

“Uncle,” Xu Mo said, “this can’t go on. With only a few of us, our output will never rise, and over time we’ll just wear ourselves out. We need to hire help!”

“Absolutely,” Xu Tieshu agreed. “These past days have been exhausting, we’re busier than ever. Looks like hiring is the only way.”

He and his son had been working themselves sore, collapsing into bed at night and sleeping so deeply they couldn’t be roused.

Suddenly, Qin Mutou spoke up, “Uncle Xu, I’m still alright. If you’re too tired, take a couple of days off. I’ll do your work.”

Before Xu Tieshu could reply, Xu Hui elbowed Qin Mutou. “Are you daft, Wood? We’re talking about the workshop not having enough hands. If you don’t understand, don’t interrupt.”

Qin Mutou nodded hastily and fell silent.

Xu Hui looked at Xu Mo, worry in her eyes. “Cousin, aren’t you afraid that if we hire people, they’ll learn our soap-making methods and steal them?”

Xu Mo answered seriously, “Huihui, I’ve said before, the technique for making soap isn’t difficult. Sooner or later, others will learn it—it’s only a matter of time. It’s impossible to keep the method completely secret.”

He continued, “All we can do now is delay the spread of the technique as long as possible. The longer we keep it, the better for us.”

He’d emphasized this many times, so everyone accepted it without protest.

Chen Miaoyi then asked, “Husband, how many people do you plan to hire?”

Xu Mo thought for a moment. “Let’s start with twenty for the first batch. If it’s not enough, we’ll hire more.”

He then turned to Xu Tieshu. “Uncle, after dinner, let’s go see the village head. Ask him to recommend a group of honest, hardworking villagers. We’ll pay them well and remind them to keep everything confidential.”

Xu Tieshu readily agreed. “Alright!”

He sped up his meal, and as soon as they finished, the two went to the village head’s house.

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Hearing that Xu Mo wanted to hire twenty villagers to work at the workshop, the village head was instantly delighted.

He promised to personally bring twenty villagers to the workshop before noon the next day.

Time quickly passed. Just after the hour of Si, the village head arrived at the soap workshop with a large group in tow.

There were twenty in all, chosen last night and fetched from their homes early that morning.

Upon learning they had arrived, Xu Mo and Xu Tieshu’s family hurried out to greet them.

The village head beamed at Xu Mo. “Young Master Xu, these twenty are the most honest and diligent folks in our village. They won’t slack off!”

He added, “If any of them dare shirk their work, just tell me—I’ll deal with them!”

Xu Mo smiled and began to observe the villagers.

Among the twenty were both men and women, aged between twenty and forty. Several had helped build the workshop before. Overall, they seemed honest and reliable, giving a good first impression.

“What do you think, Uncle?” Xu Mo asked Xu Tieshu.

Xu Tieshu replied, “Xu Mo, if you approve, that’s good enough for me. I’ll follow your lead!”

Xu Mo smiled, stepped forward, and spoke loudly, “Good neighbors, starting today, you have a three-day trial period. If, after three days, someone still can’t adapt to the workshop’s work, I’m afraid I’ll have to let them go.”

“Does anyone object?” Xu Mo asked.

The villagers all nodded, saying they had no objections.

Xu Mo continued, “As for wages, during the trial there’s no pay, but we’ll provide lunch. After the trial, each will earn three strings of coins a month, plus lunch!”

“Three strings? Did I hear that right?”

“And they’ll feed us lunch too!”

“Heavens, that’s amazing!”

The villagers were astounded. They’d known the pay would be good, but hadn’t expected it to be this high—one hundred wen a day, plus lunch.

Such generous terms couldn’t be found even in Xinzhou City!

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At that moment, all twenty villagers were jubilant, many grinning so wide their mouths wouldn’t close, grateful for such a fine job.

Xu Mo then explained the workshop’s rules and procedures, and had Xu Tieshu and Xu Ping’an lead everyone inside.

Xu Mo sought out the village head, thanking him before saying, “There’s one more thing I’d like your help with. Could you ask Aunt Five to come see me? With so many people working now, lunch is a real concern.”

The village head nodded eagerly. “Certainly, I’ll get her right away!”

He hurried off, and soon Aunt Five arrived, almost running, as if afraid the job would be snatched away if she was late.

Xu Mo quickly came to an agreement with her: she would recruit three capable women to help with the cooking.

Aunt Five would remain head of logistics, earning three strings a month, while the others would earn slightly less—two strings each.

The day passed quickly.

At dinner, Xu Tieshu happily reported to Xu Mo that the twenty villagers worked hard and learned fast.

Xu Mo nodded, then suggested to Xu Tieshu that they split the villagers into two groups—one to burn plant ash and extract alkali, the other to mix lard and produce soap and scented soap.

As for the ratio of dried petals and fragrances, Xu Mo would still handle that himself.

The next morning, as the workshop opened, more than thirty villagers arrived, asking to see Xu Mo.

Initially baffled, Xu Mo feared something bad had happened.

He soon learned that these villagers, envious of the twenty earning three strings a month, had come hoping Xu Mo would hire them as well.

Xu Mo was immediately put in a difficult position—yesterday’s hires had only just started and hadn’t even finished their trial period. There was no way to recruit more so soon.

But his explanation didn’t convince the villagers, who persisted in pleading with him to hire more workers for the workshop.