After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Fang Jiyue raised an eyebrow. The combined monthly profits from soap and bar soap production in the capital and Jiangnan were no small sum; the amount was enormous, enough to equal 20% of the Fang family's annual income.

This is just the profit from soap and bar soap in the capital and Jiangnan. A year later, the Fang family will sell soap and bar soap to major cities in the Great Qian Dynasty. At that time, the profit from soap and bar soap will definitely be an astronomical figure.

Although Fang Jiyue had not told Gu Lin how much profit the Fang family made from soap and bar soap, the latter should be able to guess how lucrative the soap and bar soap business was just by looking at the dividends he received.

But now the other party confidently stated that there was a new product that could surpass the benefits brought by soap and bar soap. The young man's ingenious ideas always aroused Fang Jiyue's curiosity.

"What kind of shower gel is Mr. Gu talking about?" Fang Jiyue looked at Gu Lin in front of him, and then asked thoughtfully, "The name 'shower gel' contains the word 'dew,' so it must be a liquid. And since it also contains the word 'shower,' could it be something like soap that people can use to bathe?"

Gu Lin wasn't surprised that Fang Jiyue could so astutely deduce the purpose of the shower gel from his few words. If the other party didn't even have this keen awareness, how could he have taken over the vast Fang family and spread their businesses all over the country?

Gu Lin smiled slightly, and Fang Jiyue said, "Young Master Fang guessed correctly. Although soap is better than bath powder, it is a solid. After each use, if it is not dried in time, it will always be damp and easily melt. Shower gel is different. It is a liquid that can be put into a bottle. People can just pour the shower gel out of the bottle when they take a shower. In this way, shower gel is not as difficult to preserve as soap."

Fang Jiyue tapped his fingers on the table and asked, "People love soap because it has a long-lasting fragrance and produces rich lather, making it more effective at cleaning than bath powder. Does shower gel have these characteristics?"

When the topic of business came up, Fang Jiyue completely transformed. If he was Gu Lin's friend just now, they were now parties involved in a business transaction, with Fang Jiyue, as the party in charge, assessing whether Gu Lin's new formula could bring him sufficient profits.

The other party's question went straight to the point, and Gu Lin liked this kind of straightforward approach.

He explained, "As for the longevity of the fragrance after bathing, Mr. Fang, you can rest assured that the fragrance retention of both is equally good. As for the cleansing effect, although the shower gel is slightly inferior to the soap, the correspondingly gentle cleansing effect of the shower gel is very suitable for young children and women with sensitive skin. Compared to the soap, the shower gel is more suitable for daily bathing."

Gu Lin explained the pros and cons of the shower gel to Fang Jiyue one by one.

I originally thought the other party would have some ideas after listening, such as asking if he could solve the shortcomings of the shower gel, but unexpectedly the other party did not raise any questions related to the shower gel.

Fang Jiyue raised his head slightly and smiled at Gu Lin, saying, "If I didn't know that Boss Gu doesn't have eyes and ears everywhere, I would suspect that you sent people to the capital and Jiangnan to inspect the soap business."

Gu Lin raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this, looking at him with a puzzled expression, clearly not understanding what he was talking about.

Fang Jiyue shook his head, completely abandoning his previous businesslike attitude.

A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes as he explained to Gu Lin, "Since we started selling the soap, some customers in Beijing and Jiangnan have indeed reported that their skin becomes tight and dry after using it for a long time. If we could launch the shower gel that you mentioned, Mr. Gu, then this problem could be solved."

"Mr. Gu really delivered a pillow just when I was about to fall asleep!"

Gu Lin shook his head slightly in his heart. This was nothing. It wasn't autumn or winter yet, so the drawbacks of using shower gel and soap for a long time hadn't become apparent. Although switching from soap to shower gel was gentler, this was only true in spring and summer. In the dry autumn and winter, even if you didn't use soap and only used shower gel every day, your skin would still get dry and flaky. Ultimately, you still needed to apply body lotion to moisturize after showering.

Gu Lin knew these things, not because he was particularly knowledgeable about skincare, but because in the modern world, although it didn't snow where he lived, the winters were still extremely dry. Gu Lin couldn't afford body lotions that cost tens or hundreds of yuan, so he could only buy round boxes of purple and red lotions to moisturize his body and get through each winter.

Thinking of this, Gu Lin didn't hide anything and told Fang Jiyue truthfully, "When Young Master Fang sells shower gel and soap, you can also sell some perfume balm. The former removes dirt and leaves fragrance, while the latter moisturizes and nourishes the skin. You can't see the effect if you use them separately, but you'll be pleasantly surprised if you use them together."

Although Fang Jiyue didn't understand the art of women applying makeup, he quickly grasped the meaning behind the young man's words.

Fang Jiyue sighed inwardly.

His experience selling soap over the past two months has made him realize that, as a man, he is no match for women when it comes to understanding their thoughts. In this kind of business involving women and men, it is still necessary to let women or men be in charge. Look at how Gu Lin has suddenly figured it out.

Fang Jiyue's gaze involuntarily fell once again on the young man in front of him.

He had traveled all over the Great Qian Dynasty, and he had seen all kinds of women and men, from plump and slender beauties to stunningly beautiful women. In fact, he had even lost his virginity when he was fifteen.

Logically speaking, although Gu Lin is handsome and pure-hearted, a rare find among young men, his appearance alone is not enough to make Fang Jiyue so interested.

He truly took the young man in front of him seriously. From the time when the man had nothing but dared to discuss food recipes with him as a mere young man, to the years they spent together, Fang Jiyue became increasingly attracted to Gu Lin.

Fang Jiyue never saw any negative emotions in the other person. The young man always had a smiling face, sincere and joyful. Whenever he was in a bad mood after dealing with his good-for-nothing brothers at home, seeing the other person would make Fang Jiyue feel that all his unhappiness would disappear.

He used to be reluctant to get married, feeling that he would lose his freedom once he was married. But looking at the young man in front of him, Fang Jiyue thought that it might be possible to marry Gu Lin.

A few days ago, after making up his mind, he went back and dismissed those girls and boys. Originally, he came back this time to propose marriage to Gu Lin, but the other party still dared not accept the jade and tonic he sent. Fang Jiyue thought he should wait a little longer and not be too eager, otherwise it would be bad if he scared the person away.

After discussing the shower gel, Gu Lin wrote down the formula for Fang Jiyue. The banquet hosted by the Chamber of Commerce was drawing to a close, but the banquet was not over yet. In fact, the end of the banquet was the real purpose of the event, and the events before were just appetizers.

Gu Lin looked around and saw Du Dahai facing the guests, saying, "Since its establishment thirty years ago, our Chamber of Commerce has made many contributions to maintaining friendships among industry peers, resolving conflicts among industry peers, and building communication between industry peers and officials."

These words may not resonate with the rising stars of recent years, but they are deeply felt by the businessmen around fifty years old in the audience.

Thirty years ago, this prefecture was even more backward than it is now, a typical example of how poverty and hardship breed unruly people.

As merchants, they were exploited by the government above and bullied by local bullies below, living in dire straits. In the end, a few daring merchants took the lead in establishing a chamber of commerce with the aim of building good relations with the government and fighting against the local bullies. They organized merchants of all sizes in the prefecture to join, and only then did the merchants in the prefecture gradually have a better life.

Therefore, many of the older people present said to the younger generation around them, "It wasn't easy for us to venture out back then. We not only had to be good at talking and persuade customers, partners, and officials, but we also had to be good at fighting. Back then, it wasn't small-scale fighting. When bullies came to collect protection money, if we didn't fight them with real knives and sticks, they could empty your entire shop. Young people like you, thin and weak, even have to ride in sedan chairs to go out. In our time, let alone doing business, we couldn't even feed ourselves by farming in the village."

Seeing how Du Dahai's words resonated with many guests, Gu Lin felt that the other party was not simply reminiscing about the past.

Sure enough, Du Dahai continued, "The Chamber of Commerce has worked tirelessly for many years, with its presidents always working tirelessly to secure numerous benefits for the merchants of this prefecture. However, if this continues, it will inevitably discourage those who have made contributions. Therefore, the Chamber of Commerce has decided that all merchants of this prefecture must contribute one percent of their profits each year as funds for the operation of the Chamber."

As soon as Du Dahai finished speaking, the businessmen who had been reminiscing about the past immediately lost their composure.

Businessmen prioritize profit. If their interests are not harmed, and they adhere to the principle of making money through harmony and avoiding offending others, they can give Du Dahai and the Chamber of Commerce a helping hand.

But if it involves cutting off their flesh and blood, that's a different story.

Seeing the sudden silence from the crowd, as expected, Du Dahai said, "Please don't reject this matter. The Chamber of Commerce is doing this for everyone's benefit. Before, because of the refugees outside the city, you didn't donate money or food, but instead indulged in lavish feasts at home, which angered the Prefect. If it weren't for the Chamber of Commerce presidents speaking up for you in front of the Prefect, you would probably be in a lot of trouble when the yamen runners patrolled your shops at the end of the year."

Upon hearing this, the guests at the banquet did not show gratitude on their faces; on the contrary, their expressions darkened.

Du Dahai's words not only made them grateful to the Chamber of Commerce for speaking well of them to the Prefect and helping them escape disaster, but also threatened them that if they did not pay the Chamber of Commerce, they should expect problems with their shops when the yamen runners inspected them in the future.

Du Dahai spoke again: "Everyone here is a person of considerable wealth in this manor. You are only handing over one percent of the profits to the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce will use this money where it is needed. During the bidding just now, everyone was spending money generously. Don't try to plead poverty to the Chamber of Commerce again, otherwise it will be embarrassing for everyone."

Fang Jiyue clicked his tongue lightly. Gu Lin looked over, and Fang Jiyue asked with a hint of sarcasm, "What does Mr. Gu think our Chamber of Commerce is like?"

……

robber.

Gu Lin thought that of course, the Chamber of Commerce was slightly more respectable than bandits. Bandits were completely unreasonable and directly robbed other people's things, but the Chamber of Commerce would put on a respectable facade, insisting on having a legitimate reason to rob other people's money openly and honestly.

Thinking this, Gu Lin said to Fang Jiyue, "He's like a hypocrite, but his imitation is not up to par."

Upon hearing this, Fang Jiyue paused for a moment and then burst into laughter. "Isn't that just like a hypocrite?"

Wanting to steal other people's money but afraid of attracting criticism, they hurriedly try to give themselves a legitimate reason, which is really ridiculous!

Fang Jiyue laughed until tears welled up in his eyes. He wiped his eyes, then looked up at the young man in front of him and said, "Boss Gu is truly a wonderful person with wonderful words."

He turned his head to look down, and the laughter in his voice gradually subsided as he said, "Since the previous presidents stepped down, the Chamber of Commerce has stopped doing anything practical. They only know how to extort money from their peers and flatter the officials above. In the past, they would often ask merchants in the prefectural city to pay money. Because the amount was not large, most people adhered to the principle of 'it's better to do less trouble.'"

"But I didn't expect the Chamber of Commerce to become so greedy. Small-scale operations are no longer enough to satisfy them. Now it's time for everyone to cut their own flesh and bleed," Gu Lin said calmly.

“Yes,” Fang Jiyue sighed, his eyes slightly narrowed. Suddenly, he changed the subject and asked Gu Lin, “If the Chamber of Commerce forced you to pay money, would you, Boss Gu, pay?”

He slightly raised his head to look at Gu Lin, and Gu Lin also raised his eyes to look at him.

After a moment, Gu Lin opened his mouth and said something that surprised Fang Jiyue.

"What does Young Master Fang want me to say? Is it that I will firmly state that I will not pay any money to the Chamber of Commerce?" Gu Lin countered.

Fang Jiyue spoke up: "You don't want to pay, do you?"

"Does my wish matter?" Seeing Fang Jiyue's stunned expression, Gu Lin calmly said, "I don't want to pay. I work hard all year to earn a meager living, and I'm reluctant to spend even a penny on myself, so how could I possibly give it away to others? But the people behind the Chamber of Commerce are people I can't afford to offend. Since I can't fight them or avoid them, and I still need to live in the city, I have no choice but to pay. Otherwise, I'm just an ordinary citizen with nothing, while they have powerful backers. If I go looking for trouble, wouldn't I be courting death?"

Gu Lin has backbone, but backbone doesn't put food on the table most of the time. The saying "a wise man submits to circumstances" is more applicable to ordinary people like them.

“Currently, the Chamber of Commerce only takes one percent of the profits. What if it becomes one-fiftieth, one-tenth, or one-fifth in the future? What will you do then?” Fang Jiyue asked.

Gu Lin looked at him with a strange expression. Instead of answering, he asked, "Does Young Master Fang need to pay money to the Chamber of Commerce?"

"I will not hand it over," Fang Jiyue said firmly.

Gu Lin continued slowly, "That's it then. You don't have to pay any money, so why do you always ask what we who have to pay think?"

Eat carrots and worry less.

Fang Jiyue was speechless for a moment. He looked at the young man in front of him in surprise, not expecting that the other party would talk back to him.

Moreover, if he wasn't mistaken, Gu Lin had just shown a hint of impatience in his eyes.