Chapter 190: The Daughter Has Made Progress

The Old Madam of the Lu family was still indulging in her sweet dreams.

Little did she know that, in just a few days, the steward would return with news that would make her spit blood.

Meanwhile, over in Yun Bian Village…

Ye Xin Ran’s face wash soap workshop was progressing smoothly.

Half a month later, the workshop was fully built.

There were a total of ten rooms.

One was a warehouse.

It was used to store various raw materials and medicinal herbs.

Eight of the rooms were used for the soap-making process.

And the last one, at the farthest end, was dedicated to making the Xue Yan Ointment.

The Xue Yan Ointment workshop had only one key and was not open to the public.

The other eight rooms, however, were open for anyone to enter.

The basic materials for making the face wash soap were lard and plant ash.

The first three rooms were used for rendering lard and burning the plant ash.

Rendering the lard took most of the day, from morning to evening.

The plant ash produced was just right for making lye.

The fourth room was used for boiling the lye and filtering it.

Once the lard and lye were of proper quality, they would be moved to the fifth room for blending and processing.

This was the most complex and crucial part of the entire process.

The correct ratio of lard to lye was essential, and there was also a mysterious ingredient prepared by Ye Xin Ran.

In addition, fragrant spices would be added during the blending process.

Ye Xin Ran had currently prepared three scents: osmanthus, orange, and wood.

After a period of time, she could adjust the scents based on the feedback from the users.

Once the boiling was complete, the liquid face wash soap would be moved to the sixth room.

This room was used for molding the soap.

Ye Xin Ran had commissioned someone to create molds, but they were not ready yet.

Once the molds were finished, the liquid soap would be poured into the molds, and after being placed to dry in the shade, it would solidify.

The seventh room was where the molded soaps were packed.

Most soaps on the market were sold without packaging.

To enhance the quality, Ye Xin Ran had ordered appropriately sized wooden boxes from a carpenter’s workshop.

The wooden boxes had patterns on them, as well as the name of the face wash soap.

Once the packing was complete, the eighth room would serve as the storage warehouse for the soaps.

Ye Xin Ran took everyone on a tour, room by room.

She gave a brief introduction to each step of the process.

While doing so, she also checked the configuration of each workshop.

“This is basically the process I’ve outlined,” Ye Xin Ran said.

“For the initial production, we’ll need twenty people. If anyone is interested, go and sign up with Uncle Li, and he’ll help me oversee the process!”

“Once the business picks up, I might need more people to help me,” Ye Xin Ran said.

“I’ll sign up!”

“Me too!”

As soon as the villagers heard there was more work available and that it didn’t look too tiring, everyone was interested.

Uncle Li was also present, so they gathered around him.

“Uncle Li, you mentioned before that you would consider people’s performance when assigning work. I’ve been doing well lately, so I should be included this time, right?” said Zhang Zong, one of the villagers.

“Count me in too!” Da Zhu added, “I think it’s my turn this time!”

Uncle Li pulled out a notebook from his pocket.

Flipping through it, he said, “Don’t rush. I’ve been keeping track of everyone’s performance. Who’s been doing a good job and who hasn’t, I’ve noted it all down!”

As soon as the villagers saw Uncle Li’s notebook, they all crowded forward.

“Am I on the list?”

“Am I on it?”

However, after crowding around, they all looked at each other, then stepped back.

It wasn’t out of modesty.

It was because none of them could read.

The dense writing in Uncle Li’s notebook was completely illegible to them.

“Little niece, how many men and how many women do you need for these twenty people?” Uncle Li asked after reading through his notebook.

Ye Xin Ran thought for a moment.

Cutting wood, splitting firewood, rendering lard, and filtering materials required stronger men.

However, when it came to pressing the molds and packing, women would be more suitable.

“Let’s start with fourteen men and six women,” Ye Xin Ran said.

“Got it!”

Uncle Li looked at his notebook and called out the names of twenty people.

This list included Da Zhu and Zhang Zong, who had asked earlier.

Although those who weren’t chosen felt a bit disappointed, they could see that those who were chosen were indeed more capable.

They had all worked hard during the house-building process, so they couldn’t argue.

Everyone remained silent, hoping that they would have a chance next time.

Zhang Da Shan and Er Zhu were not on the list this time.

Both of them understood.

Uncle Li was just being fair.

For the past six months, they had earned a few taels of silver from growing medicinal herbs and building houses for the Xiao family.

Now, with more opportunities to earn money, Uncle Li was bound to give others a chance.

However, that evening, Ye Xin Ran went to visit Zhang Da Li’s family.

“Sister-in-law, I need to discuss something with you.”

Ye Xin Ran got straight to the point.

“What is it?”

Chen Shi was washing clothes when she saw Ye Xin Ran enter and quickly wiped her hands.

“Didn’t you tell me before that Tao Hua and Xiao Hua went to study at the academy? How are they doing?”

Chen Shi was a bit embarrassed upon hearing Ye Xin Ran’s concern. “They’re just learning a few characters. I can’t really say they’re doing well.”

“My soap workshop is about to open,” Ye Xin Ran said. “I need two people to help manage the warehouse. If Tao Hua and Xiao Hua are willing, they can come and help me!”

“Eh, can they do it?”

Chen Shi was skeptical.

“They’ve only learned a little, can they really handle it?”

“Just knowing how to read is enough,” Ye Xin Ran replied. “As for the rest, I can teach them slowly.”

Ye Xin Ran had thought this over for a long time before making up her mind.

Once the goods arrive at the warehouse, they must be carefully managed.

She didn’t have enough time to do it herself.

The other family members couldn’t take on this responsibility either.

Hiring someone from outside wasn’t an option, as she didn’t feel comfortable with people she didn’t know well.

Coincidentally, Sister Zhang had mentioned sending her two children to study at the academy.

In this day and age, girls couldn’t take the imperial exams, so the best thing they could do after learning to read was to manage accounts in a shop.

Ye Xin Ran thought it would be good to have them work in her own shop, where they could learn as they went. She was familiar with the two children, so she felt more at ease.

Chen Shi immediately agreed, “If you don’t mind, I’ll have them come over tomorrow to help you. You don’t need to pay them, just let them learn some skills.”

Ye Xin Ran smiled, “How could I do that? Work is work, and if they help me, I’ll definitely pay them.

But at first, it won’t be much, just 600 wen a month, like the other female workers.

Once they’re skilled and really suited for the job, I’ll increase their pay!”

“What? 600 wen?”

Chen Shi thought she misheard and asked again, “I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”

“You didn’t hear wrong!” Ye Xin Ran nodded. “If your daughters work well, they can earn even more in the future.”

“Mm!”

Chen Shi didn’t know what to say. Her nose felt sour, and tears started flowing down her face.