Chapter 216: Xu Shaoyin’s Wages (Part Two)
Xu Shaoyin felt the glass cups were far too precious and didn’t dare accept them.
Jian Xingxia didn’t waste words arguing with her. Together with Lin Sanniang, she wrapped the glass cups directly in straw and packed them tightly.
“All four of these cups combined cost around ten yuan.”
Jian Xingxia wasn’t lying. Giving the ancient workers items that were too expensive wasn’t cost-effective, and if the cheap glass cups had minor flaws, it didn’t really matter. The probability of these ancient people coming into contact with various glass or plastic chemical additives was drastically lower than that of modern people anyway.
Furthermore, temporary workers were restricted to a maximum of thirty-six hours of work per month. It was a stroke of luck that Jian Xingxia had returned to her hometown in mid-July, so her time here now spanned across July and August. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even have been able to summon several of her employees.
Because temporary workers only had thirty-six hours’ worth of wages and their employment was spaced out, many days or even months might pass in their respective worlds between shifts.
Jian Xingxia gave them no room to be polite.
Four cups for ten yuan.
She also gave her a razor blade for self-defense, which cost one yuan.
Shaoyin’s injuries were still rather severe, so the medicine used up another fifteen yuan.
Shaoyin had no use for seeds or grain. She lived in the city, possessed no farmland, and relied entirely on money for her food, clothing, housing, and travel.
Jian Xingxia felt this was likely a common trait among the “professionals.”
From the Scholar to Shaoyin, they clearly came from families that were well-off or had once been well-off. It was presumably because of this that they had access to more resources for learning.
Jian Xingxia felt as though the system’s rewards always stayed one step ahead of her.
She hadn’t yet gone to take a closer look at the academy given by the system, but it was likely related to the “professional skills” of her ancient employees.
For Shaoyin’s remaining twelve-yuan allowance, Lin Sanniang made the executive decision for her.
She had been the first to comfort Shaoyin and get her to lower her guard, so she naturally understood the girl’s circumstances best.
After a moment’s reflection, Lin Sanniang selected a few bars of scented soap from the storeroom for Shaoyin. “Take these back and either slice them up or melt them down to make small bath pods or scented soaps. They will be very easy to sell off.”
Listening from the side, Tao Ya asked Lin Sanniang in a low voice, “Mother, is Sister Shaoyin not taking any salt or brown sugar?”
Their family, as well as Ah Feng, Old Man Xu, and the others, had all taken those items.
Lin Sanniang never hid her dealings from Tao Ya. She could tell that the young Manor Owner was very fond of Tao Ya; she never looked down on her just because of her young age, but instead intentionally kept her close to observe and learn.
Lin Sanniang then explained, “Our family’s hardship lies in having no food to eat and no way to treat illnesses, and the people around us are also struggling. That’s why we take brown sugar and salt back, so we can easily exchange them for money or medicine.”
Lin Sanniang gave a gentle nod to Shaoyin as an apology, and only after receiving Shaoyin’s consenting look did she speak about her situation.
“But Miss Shaoyin is different from us. Her family lives in the city, and the people around them don’t lack food. They can all afford rice, flour, grain, oil, and salt.”
“Brown sugar may be precious, but think about it: with Sister Shaoyin’s status, where would she find out which households are lacking brown sugar, and how would she sell it to them?”
Tao Ya took the words to heart. “So that’s how it is. It’s easy for our family to know because households similar to ours don’t have brown sugar. If we come across a family where someone is giving birth or has a weak constitution and needs nourishment, we can ask them if they want some.”
“Wealthy families should already have it all, but Mother knows the purchasing stewards, so perhaps the stewards will want it.”
With these two channels, it was much easier for Lin Sanniang to sell her brown sugar.
But for someone like Shaoyin who lived in a Jiangnan city, day-to-day sustenance wasn’t the issue; the challenge was how to maintain a decent, respectable life.
If she went around peddling brown sugar, it would look incredibly bizarre.
Scented soap, however, was a different story. Most of the people Shaoyin knew were associated with wine houses or entertainment venues, and she encountered many high-ranking officials and nobles. Her sisters at Feiyue Pavilion in particular naturally cared deeply about refinement and appearances.
To them, scented soap would be a highly coveted commodity.
Yet at this moment, Xu Shaoyin raised a doubt: “Madame Lin, I tried it earlier when I was washing my hands, and that scented soap could not be carried back.”
Lin Sanniang smiled. “They are not the same.”
Jian Xingxia came out with a bright smile. “The scented soap you use here at the manor isn’t this kind. Give this one a try; it should be fine to take back.”
Xu Shaoyin took it, gripping the soap in her hand, and looked toward the teacup in front of her. Sure enough, the rippling of the tea indicated that it could be carried back.
Shaoyin was bewildered. “Why is that?”
They were both scented soaps, both stripped of all packaging and held bare in her hand. Why could one be carried back while the other could not?
Jian Xingxia said proudly, “The one you use at the manor is… well, mass-produced. The kind you’re taking back now is completely natural.”
The soap provided for the temporary workers’ use at the manor was cheap, industrial-grade stock, costing only one or two yuan a bar—nothing expensive.
But the soap she was letting Xu Shaoyin take back this time was something Jian Xingxia had specially selected. It was “natural, additive-free soap” made from purely natural oils and lye, infused with milk, goat’s milk, essential oils, or floral hydrosols.
The process of making soap wasn’t difficult, but handmade variants carried a high labor cost.
A single bar of handmade soap could sell for dozens or even over a hundred yuan.
These few bars were actually cheap goods Jian Xingxia had managed to snag—items liquidated at a discount due to cosmetic flaws or scent issues, the kind of bargain you couldn’t just find anytime you wanted.
Otherwise, based on Shaoyin’s wage standard, she wouldn’t have been able to carry away more than a couple of bars.
Clutching the soap in her hand, Xu Shaoyin realized that the young Manor Owner had specifically picked these out for her.
Another wave of emotion touched Shaoyin’s heart.
The Dayong Dynasty, a residence in Jiangnan.
Xu Shaoyin took all the items out of her bundle to show her wet nurse.
“I have a total of four cups here, all given to me by Sister Manor Owner.”
“There are also three bars of scented soap and some medicine.”
Xu Shaoyin refrained from mentioning the razor blade to her wet nurse to save her from worrying.
The wet nurse stared incredulously at the four cups resting on the straw, utterly astounded. “This… how much must this cost? Why did the owner of that manor give you so many things?”
One shouldn’t accept rewards without merit, child.
But Xu Shaoyin, who had already received medical treatment at the manor and spent six hours interacting with Jian Xingxia and the others, possessed absolute trust and reliance on Jian Xingxia.
“Because Sister Manor Owner is a good person!”
Xu Shaoyin said innocently. The wet nurse felt deeply uneasy. “Oh, my child! This… how am I even supposed to respond to this!”
Seeing her wet nurse grow anxious, Xu Shaoyin stopped teasing her.
“Nurse, don’t worry. The Manor Owner said that once my matters here are resolved, I can go to the manor to dance in the future. The manor has an inn, and there are guests who wish to watch music and dance performances.”
Shaoyin’s heart was filled with anticipation. She loved that manor; everyone there was kind, and there were no uncomfortable stares or vulgar words.
There were occasional offenses, but she could tell everyone meant well.
Seeing Xu Shaoyin talk about the manor without stopping, gesturing excitedly as if she were once again the innocent young miss from before their family’s downfall, the wet nurse didn’t say anything more despite the lingering worry in her heart.
Ever since the family fell into ruin—especially after the young miss became a dancing girl at Feiyue Pavilion—the wet nurse hadn’t seen her this happy in a very long time.
At this moment, she couldn’t bear to shatter Shaoyin’s beautiful dream.
