Chapter 501 - 190: Salt Transport Judge
Chapter 501: Chapter 190: Salt Transport Judge
Even with the addition of a special imperial examination, the Provincial Examination was still scheduled for August, and the Imperial Examination for March of the following year.
It simply meant that instead of one examination cycle every three years, there were now two, increasing the scholars’ opportunities to make a name for themselves.
The examinations were still six or seven months away, but the atmosphere in the Prefecture was already white-hot.
Chen Wanqing believed that as the weather grew hotter, the city’s atmosphere would become a powder keg, bound to explode one day.
Demand for Moonlight Fragrance in the Prefecture surged once more.
Scholars were running to Moxiang Pavilion three times a day, but the shop had no stock.
Xie Ming was at his wit’s end with anxiety and had no choice but to seek out Chen Wanqing.
He felt helpless about going back on his word. "I originally thought that since there were no prefectural or county exams this year, and the Provincial Examination was still two years away, the demand for Moonlight Fragrance wouldn’t be very high," he explained, frustrated. "So I figured reducing the supply wouldn’t be a problem. But now they’ve added this special examination! The scholars are all studying day and night. You have to get me more Moonlight Fragrance, and fast. Otherwise, my shop is going to get torn apart by angry customers."
But where was Chen Wanqing supposed to get the stock for Xie Ming?
Her maids and servants were already working through the night, and the small amount of incense they produced wasn’t even enough to supply the Capital City.
The female manager from the capital was pressing her daily as well. If Mr. Xie had arrived just a little later, he would have run right into her.
Just as the female manager crossed her mind, her maid CuiYa rushed in to announce, "Ma’am, the female manager from Kangning Fragrance Workshop is here."
The female manager clearly knew that as soon as news of the special examination broke, Moxiang Pavilion in the Prefecture would start demanding more stock.
But Chen Wanqing’s daily production was limited. If she supplied Moxiang Pavilion, she wouldn’t be able to supply Kangning Fragrance Workshop in the Capital City. That was simply not feasible.
The female manager spoke calmly. "A lucrative opportunity is right in front of us; it would be a real shame to miss it. As I see it, there are two solutions. First, you could buy a hundred or so more workers. Mr. Xie and I can be responsible for procuring the raw ingredients, and you can focus solely on making the incense. Second, you could transfer the recipe for Moonlight Fragrance to me. You can treat the recipe as your share in the business, and I’ll give you a percentage of the profits. I guarantee you won’t be at a disadvantage. I would even continue to honor the contract you signed with Mr. Xie and Mr. Chen, so it wouldn’t damage your relationships."
Hearing this, Chen Wanqing knew she had to choose one of these two paths.
But she hadn’t decided which one to take.
She could only brace herself and say, "Please give me two days to consider. I will definitely have an answer for you both by then."
"You must be quick, then. An opportunity like this can’t be wasted."
"It won’t be. For now, please continue to help me purchase the raw ingredients. As for everything else, let’s talk again in two days."
After seeing the female manager and Mr. Xie out, Chen Wanqing returned to her courtyard.
Zhao Jing wasn’t home, so she had no one to discuss the matter with. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.
Mrs. Zhao came over with a plate of dark purple mulberries.
She had gone shopping with Xiang’er earlier that day.
In the six months since Xiang’er had come to the Prefecture, she had shot up in height. Her clothes were all getting a little short, so with the changing of the seasons, Mrs. Zhao had taken her out to buy some fabric for new spring outfits.
"I bought some fabric for you, too. I’ll bring the dress over for you once it’s made. On our way back, I saw a vendor selling mulberries. They looked so big and ripe, so I bought some. Qing’er, dear, come have some to sweeten your palate."
"Thank you, Mother."
Chen Wanqing sat down and ate a mulberry absentmindedly.
The fruit was sweet and fresh, but her mind was too troubled to enjoy it. She stopped after just two.
Mrs. Zhao could see that something was on her mind and had a vague idea of what was troubling her.
But she wasn’t good with words and, fearing she might say the wrong thing, she held her tongue.
When Chen Wanqing saw her mother-in-law hesitate, she quickly realized she had been so lost in thought that she was neglecting her.
She quickly apologized, her tone softening. "Please don’t be upset with me, Mother. It’s just... this is a huge decision, and I’m torn. I can’t bear the thought of handing over the recipe for Moonlight Fragrance. But if I don’t, I’ll have to hire more people to make incense, and I’m worried about expanding the business so quickly. I’m afraid I’ll spread myself too thin and won’t be able to manage it all. And deep down, I just love the simple act of creating and blending incense."
Mrs. Zhao had no solution to offer and could only sigh. "I’m not a clever woman, and I don’t have any good ideas. All my life, I’ve just listened to my parents, then to your father-in-law, and now I follow the path Jing lays out for me. I’m not capable enough to meddle in these things. Qing’er, if you’re truly undecided, why don’t you go find Jing at the academy tomorrow?"
In truth, she didn’t need to find Zhao Jing at the academy. In her heart, Chen Wanqing had already made her decision.