Pure handicrafts like these would have fetched a high price in her previous life, but here, they were only worth three-tenths of a cent.
Even then, it couldn't be helped. Earning money was difficult nowadays, especially for those who relied on their craftsmanship for a living; their prices would never be too high.
Two days later, Shen Xiaoyan saw the completed wooden box.
It was a small wooden box, about the size of her palm.
The wood was not the typical red, but green, giving it a refreshingly clean look.
On the lid, two cats, one black and one white, were depicted with lifelike realism. The cats were positioned towards the top, and directly below them were three characters: "Shuang Shen Fen" (爽身粉 - Body Powder).
"It's truly wonderful, I like it very much." Shen Xiaoyan held it in her hands, turning it over and examining it for a moment, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Mmm, I think it looks good too," Zheng Wei said softly.
"Yes, but I still prefer the one you made; it's elegant, grand, and stylish. Our child likes the one you made too." Shen Xiaoyan put down the wooden box and scurried over to Zheng Wei's side, baring her teeth in a fawning smile.
Seeing her like this, Zheng Wei felt a sense of helplessness.
She was already the mother of three children, yet she still had the demeanor of a child. She actually thought he would be angry because she praised another's wooden box for being beautiful. Was he such a petty person?
"I'm being sincere," Shen Xiaoyan said, raising her hand and making a vow when Zheng Wei didn't react for a long time.
"I know. In Mimi's heart, I am the best. And in my heart, Mimi is too," Zheng Wei said, looking directly into Shen Xiaoyan's eyes, his voice slightly husky.
Shen Xiaoyan stared at Zheng Wei, stunned. Every time Zheng Wei looked at her with such seriousness and spoke sweet nothings, she always felt he was incredibly handsome.
They looked at each other, and slowly, their breathing quickened.
Zheng Wei cupped Shen Xiaoyan's face with both hands and leaned in towards her lips.
"Wah..."
Just then, a deafening cry suddenly pierced the air, startling them both.
They turned their heads in unison and saw Zheng He lying on the ground, wailing loudly. Beside him, their soft little one, who was head-to-head with him, was gnawing contentedly on a green wooden box.
Shen Xiaoyan understood what was happening in an instant. It must have been the wooden box she had put down earlier that Zheng He had gotten his hands on, and then Ruan Ruan, seeing Zheng He having fun, had snatched it away.
Don't ask Shen Xiaoyan why she was so certain. It was because little Ruan Ruan often did things like this.
Every time she saw Zheng Jiang and Zheng He having fun with something, she would unhesitatingly snatch it away.
And Zheng Jiang and Zheng He would always cry for a while, and then, with a grin, they would watch Ruan Ruan play, showing no signs of unwillingness.
Shen Xiaoyan shook her head and walked over to pick Zheng He up. "You're the older brother, yet you're always bullied by your sister. I get it, you'll definitely be a doting sister's man when you grow up."
"Mimi, I've noticed. With these three, you don't love me anymore."
"What?" Shen Xiaoyan felt her ears must be playing tricks on her.
Otherwise, how could she hear Zheng Wei say with a wronged tone that she didn't love him anymore?
Was this something Zheng Wei would say? Clearly not.
But when Shen Xiaoyan turned to look at Zheng Wei, she saw his eyes filled with grievance, looking at her as if he were deeply hurt.
...
"Even if you're unsatisfied, you don't have to act like this?" Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but laugh.
In return, she received a big eye-roll from Zheng Wei. "What are you saying in front of the children? Mimi should be punished."
"If anyone should be punished, it's you, you're the one who said it first." Shen Xiaoyan glanced at Zheng Wei, then looked down at Zheng He in her arms and said softly, "Little He He, tell me, am I right?"
"Ya ya..."
"Good boy, you think the same as Mommy. Your Daddy is the most improper, even saying he wants to punish Mommy. Shall we go punish him?"
"Ya ya..."
Zheng Wei watched the mother and son, speechless.
He wasn't really jealous, he wasn't so childish as to be jealous of his own children.
It was just that he also hoped Shen Xiaoyan would pay a little more attention to him, not putting all her focus on the children.
Although Shen Xiaoyan didn't say anything more, she also privately reminded herself not to forget to pay attention to Zheng Wei because of the children.
As someone in her previous life had said, many men were actually more like children, and they would compete with their own children for attention.
Another couple of days passed, and the 200 boxes of body powder and 100 trial packs were all completed.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the stacks of round boxes on the table, feeling exceptionally happy.
"Should we send it to Lu Taobao, or should we have him pick it up?" Shen Xiaoyan asked Zheng Wei.
"I'll go over there. It's a good opportunity to explain things clearly to the shop assistants," Zheng Wei said.
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. It was indeed necessary to explain things clearly to those assistants, as they were the ones who would be selling it. If they weren't clear about it, it would affect sales.
Looking at Zheng Wei like this, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but smile.
He was truly a diligent and studious Zheng Wei. All those books in the space hadn't been read in vain.
When Zheng Wei returned in the afternoon, he reported that everything had been arranged. The pharmacy had specially cleared out a cabinet to display the body powder.
He had even written a large sign with red paper and black ink, which he pasted on the cabinet.
The red paper and black ink were very conspicuous, guaranteed to catch anyone's eye at a glance.
Everything that could be done had been done. Now, they could only wait for news at home.
Although Shen Xiaoyan was confident in the efficacy of the body powder, this was their first time engaging in this kind of business, unlike selling fruit before.
People were mostly driven by their appetites, so food, especially fresh food, was never a problem to sell.
But body powder was different. It wasn't exactly a necessity.
Before body powder existed, people still got through the summer, didn't they?
A few days later, Lu Taobao arrived again, bringing good news.
Shen Xiaoyan's worries were all in vain. Although people had managed through the summer without body powder before, most had endured it, or used some crude methods.
Now that body powder was available, not only was it effective, but the price was also affordable. How could anyone resist such a good thing?
Therefore, two days after the trial packs were distributed, people began to proactively buy the body powder.
In ancient times, without entertainment, people's favorite pastime was sitting around and chatting.
Under such circumstances, within two days, the efficacy of the body powder had spread to the ears of everyone in the town.
Although more people were driven by curiosity about new things, some who had tried the trial packs, or had witnessed the effects firsthand, came specifically to the pharmacy, heading straight for the counter to buy body powder.
Thus, after an initial four-day promotional period, 150 out of the 200 boxes of body powder were sold in the following three days.
Lu Taobao's visit this time was to share this good news with Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, and to ask Shen Xiaoyan to quickly prepare the next batch, bringing all the necessary Chinese medicinal materials with him.
Hearing about the brisk sales of the body powder, Shen Xiaoyan was also very happy.
Whether in her past life or this one, this was her first time engaging in business, and it had not only succeeded, but succeeded magnificently. This sense of psychological fulfillment was something others could not truly comprehend.
After Shen Xiaoyan invited Lu Taobao to stay for lunch and saw him off, she quickly asked Fan Yong to lead his men to expedite the production of the next batch. As for the wooden boxes needed, Zheng Wei went to town to have them custom-made, ordering a thousand this time.
Fearing that Lu Taobao's stock might run out, Shen Xiaoyan had Fan Yong and the others spend two days producing 100 boxes to send over. The rest could be done slowly.
And so, seven days later, when the remaining 900 boxes were completed and delivered, there were only about ten boxes left on the pharmacy's cabinet.
This was because the efficacy of the body powder had spread to the surrounding villages. Some wealthy families who doted on their children, wanting to spare them discomfort, heard about the body powder and rushed to town to buy it.
Lu Taobao's father initially thought this was just a small venture and didn't consider selling the body powder in pharmacies in other towns. However, upon seeing the market potential, he was immediately tempted.
He called Lu Taobao into his study and discussed it for half a day before rushing Lu Taobao out the door.
Lu Taobao shook his head and chuckled in the carriage. His father was truly impatient, unable to wait a moment longer. He had rushed him out like this, and it was already lunchtime.
Oh well, he could conveniently go to Zheng Wei's place for a meal, and perhaps even some fruit afterward.
Thinking of this, Lu Taobao's lips moved, and he urged Wu Yong, who was driving the carriage, to speed up.
Just as Shen Xiaoyan and the others sat down to prepare for lunch, Huo Cheng came to report that Lu Taobao had arrived.