Chapter 25

Mu Wanqing glanced over lightly. Her red lips parted and she recited a string of figures with fluent ease.
“Today we sold a total of 42,000 pieces. Twenty-one thousand were scented soap and twenty-one thousand were laundry soap. The buy-twenty-get-one deal means that should be three thousand taels. Subtracting costs, the profit is two thousand five hundred taels, since there’s no labor cost.”
The room fell silent; everyone looked stunned.
She’d been selling all day, how could she know exactly how many pieces had been sold? And sorted by category?
How did she instantly calculate the whole sum like that?
She even worked out the profit!
Bear in mind, it had taken the group a long time to count the money from just a few boxes.
Deputy Captain Li was full of admiration, giving a thumb-up. “That’s three thousand taels. Third Miss, you’re incredible.”
Before she had been called Third Miss Mu; now people simply called her “Third Miss.” Only one word had changed, but it carried a different meaning.
Mu Wanqing replied coolly, as if brushing it aside, “Mere parlor tricks.”
She wasn’t one for grandstanding, but only something dazzling and powerful could silence everyone.
She’d been waiting for this chance for a long time; success or failure would be decided in this moment, so of course she was going to play it big.
Her show of confidence worked perfectly; everyone stood in respectful awe.
The more mysterious someone was, the more reverence they inspired.
She’d been busy for two days, her mind razor-focused, turning over every detail and managing every step. She was utterly exhausted.
“By the agreement I should get four hundred and fifty taels, but there’s no rush to pay me. There should be another wave of business tomorrow…”
A constable cried out, “What? More? There’s no market tomorrow, there’s no fair.”
Mu Wanqing brushed the damp hair from her forehead and spoke calmly, “I’ve put the word out. Barring any mishaps, merchants from farther away are on their way. A trader’s nose is a sensitive thing.”
People listened with only half-belief, but Officer Zeng had seen her methods for himself and chose to trust her without hesitation.
“Why are you all sitting there? Go eat quickly. After dinner, pull an all-nighter, whatever you can get done, get it done.”
Three thousand taels flowed into the coffers as if by magic. Those who had never seen so much money asked, “Why sleep?” They would work non-stop, without food or rest, for days on end.
He had no other hobby, he loved money!
The men answered with a roar of enthusiasm, invigorated.
Mu Wanqing only wanted to rest; she rubbed her temples. “At my age I’m still growing. I can’t pull all-nighters.”
Seeing the exhaustion etched on her face, Officer Zeng became unusually solicitous. “You don’t need to command this in person. Go back and rest; we’ll handle it.”
The constables, having tasted the sweet payoff, were fired up. Each of them could pocket tens of taels.
Who could refuse a ready-made money-making opportunity?
Get to it! Don’t let it go to waste!
Mu Wanqing didn’t care how they made it happen. She went back to her room and slept beautifully.
Sure enough, the next day merchants kept arriving in trickles, all from the prefectural city, waving silver notes and placing large orders: take as many as you can produce.
Soaps that had barely finished molding were dragged out and sold.
For the first time Officer Zeng understood the meaning of money pouring in from every direction.
The question remained: why had he always thought making money was so difficult before? Was he simply foolish?
What was supposed to be a three-day stopover had, with this delay, turned into several extra days of residence.
They were busy every day, but everyone was in high spirits.
The convicts were fed three meals a day, with meat dishes and rice.
The constables were bringing in steady income and were as excited as if injected with adrenaline.
Mu Wanqing was the big winner, she walked away with over a thousand taels from the split.
Each constable got a few hundred taels. It wasn’t as much as Mu Wanqing, but everyone accepted it.
She had the skill, she’d earned it.
The recipe was hers. Every procedure and every station had been arranged by her. She opened the market. She handled the entire process.
In short, she’d single-handedly lifted everyone’s fortunes.
They respected a competent, capable powerhouse, and she was powerful, truly powerful.
“If only we could make this kind of money every day,” business was addictive; everyone wished they could keep making money forever.
Officer Zeng had already decided they needed to leave the next day. “What daydreaming are you on about? We can’t delay the journey. Business aside, the mission matters.”
The constables were disappointed. Someone suddenly asked, “Third Miss, do you have a way to have the best of both worlds?”
He asked on a whim, not expecting much.
Mu Wanqing had over a thousand taels of silver tucked in her bosom, sipping the clerk's brewed tea, picking at the salted peanuts the cook had brought, and said lazily, "Yes."
Everyone turned to look at her at once, eyes unusually bright. "Please, Third Miss, enlighten us."
"Well…" Mu Wanqing shelled a peanut and popped it into her mouth, teasing them.
They were nearly frantic, practically ready to fawn over her, hurry up and tell us!
"Third Miss, we're on your side. If you have any good ideas, you must tell us."
"Yes, yes, Third Miss, you're brilliant and quick-witted, decisive and commanding, I've always admired you. Anyone who dares bully you, I'll be the first to object," Old Zhao said admiringly.
"Third Miss, I'm your most devoted friend; I'd gladly lay down my life for you."
Officer Zeng felt his subordinates were unreliable, each one had turned traitor, all fawning over Mu Wanqing.
But he was more eager than anyone, personally shelling a few peanuts and passing them over. "Third Miss, tell us what's on your mind; we'll discuss it together. I trust no one matches your wisdom."
Whoever could bring him benefit he treated like a treasure, no surprise there.
Mu Wanqing took the peanuts casually but didn't eat them.
"Right now, Officer Zeng worries that doing business will delay the journey. But what if they had horse-drawn carriages or mule-wagons to travel faster?"
Deputy Captain Li stirred. "You mean, buy them carriages and mule-wagons? That's not allowed, they don't deserve them, and it wouldn't be proper."
"Carriages are too expensive. For over three hundred people, how many would we need? We don't have that kind of money."
That was a rotten idea, hardly the product of a clever mind.
Mu Wanqing sighed; the gulf between her and them was as wide as the Pacific.
"Let them take out loans to buy them, won't cost you a single coin."
Deputy Captain Li flashed an ingratiating smile. "What? I didn't get that. Third Miss, please go on, be detailed. We're simple folk, a bit slow-witted."
If they'd been clever, they'd have climbed higher long ago, not remain low-level clerks, escorting exiles a thousand miles for a pittance.
Mu Wanqing was pleased with his tone. "Exactly, lend them the money to buy the carts first…"
A clerk couldn't help interrupting, "Lend them money? How would they ever repay?"
Mu Wanqing rolled her eyes. "Could you let me finish?"
The others shot their companion looks, why interrupt? Does your mind compare to the Third Miss's?
The clerk sheepishly rubbed his nose. "You're right. I was wrong to interrupt."
Mu Wanqing's position had already shifted, she now carried a certain authority and had won the clerks' respect, though she was still some way from her goal.
"You buy the carts and let them sign IOUs to repay in installments. With carts they can travel faster; when we pass lively towns we'll stop for a few days and sell a batch of soap, make some money and move on. That way there's always a fresh market and new customers; sales won't be a worry."
Hit one market, then move on.
"The most important thing is it won't delay our journey."
Everyone was stunned, could it really be done that way?
It sounded solid and very much to their advantage, let's do it!
Officer Zeng, more level-headed, asked bluntly, "And how will they repay? Are we supposed to pay their wages?"
Mu Wanqing smiled. "Pay them a little, piecework. The more they do, the more they earn. Let them earn by their own skill; it'll motivate them."
"Of course we won't let them sit comfortably in the carts doing nothing. After all, they're convicts; they should undergo hardship, that way we can report properly to our superiors and leave no room for criticism."
She spoke with righteous conviction, "I propose reform through labor."
Officer Zeng blinked. "How so?"
"Use labor to reform them, make them clearly understand their crimes, reflect properly, and become loyal, patriotic citizens again."
"The women can put their skills to use doing sewing and needlework. The men can copy texts or do crafts. You can take a cut of the money they earn. In short, no idlers. Idleness breeds trouble."
Officer Zeng was dumbfounded. My word!
Having others work to earn money under the noble guise of reform sounded both powerful and dignified.
Even better, the plan was a case of killing several birds with one stone, it benefited everyone.
The clerks would get a cut, and wouldn't have to fear accusations of neglecting their duties.
The exiles wouldn't have to trudge in wind and rain or walk on foot, they'd work less hard, reducing injury and death.
Moreover, they could legitimately earn money to prepare for life at the border.
The men cheered. "Brilliant plan, boss, let's do it."
They could make a tidy sum from it, too.
"Third Miss, I always thought women just cried and were good for nothing. You showed me there are women like you, clever and resourceful. Remarkable."
"Third Miss, you're truly a female Zhuge, coming up with such ideas."
Mu Wanqing asked, puzzled, "What's so difficult? It came to me in a moment."
The clerks: ...
Not worth provoking her.
Do not offend Third Miss Mu, she could ruin you in no time, and you might not even realize you've been wronged.
A clerk timidly raised his hand. "But what if someone reaches the border without having earned enough to pay for the cart? What then?"
Mu Wanqing fell silent, took Second Young Master Mu, who was lost in thought, by the hand and headed out. "It's getting late, we should go back."
The clerks watched the father and daughter fade from view, puzzled. "Why did she just leave? She didn't answer me..."
Deputy Captain Li covered his face and sighed. He thought himself foolish, but his men were worse. "If they haven't earned enough, take the cart back, it's that simple. Why even ask? Don't they have a brain? They just make us look bad in front of the Third Miss."
Rejected by everyone, really?
The constable didn't even get angry; he beamed goofily, "So... that means it's a sure profit for us?"
"Yes." Deputy Captain Li couldn't be bothered to reply.
"Chief, should we hire a maid to attend to Third Miss's daily needs? Letting her fuss over household chores would be a waste of talent. She could spend that time thinking of ways to earn more, I'm sure she can do more than this."
Officer Zeng agreed, "I'll ask her first."
He instructed the constable who handled logistics, "Jiang, Third Miss likes fresh fruits and vegetables, buy some when you see them."
"Got it."
Officer Zeng looked at the cook, "Xiao Han, you'll be cooking these days. Let Third Miss rest, she's been working too hard lately."
You have to dote on those with talent.
"Yes." The cook was bursting with pride; his master was truly remarkable!
Well, even if "master" was a title he'd given himself.
The Mu family stared blankly at the silver notes on the bed, their eyes nearly popping out.
"You earned this much? Didn't you say soap didn't fetch much?"
Mu Wanqing, pleased with the earnings, said this money would be enough for them to reach the border safely. "In bulk, cheaper price, more sales."
Madam Qian suddenly froze, bewilderment in her eyes. "Qing'er, your cooking talents suddenly improving I can understand, but when did you learn to make soap? None of us knew. Your changes... are too great..."
Is this really her daughter?
The atmosphere in the room grew stiff.