Chapter 69
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After spending a day viewing collections, before heading home, Shen You found evaluation videos for comparison and ordered some cold-weather clothing and sleeping bags.
When she arrived home dragging her luggage, the express delivery had just arrived as well.
She rested for half a day to recover her energy before starting to unpack the deliveries.
This batch was prepared to show Liu Zheng first. She had selected high-quality, expensive brands as well as some cost-effective options at different price points for selling in the shop.
As for the batch Li Heng wanted, she was still in the process of contacting factories.
She lay in her rocking chair, playing music, leisurely organizing the photos she had taken over the past two days.
Thanks to Master Jiang’s connections, she had even seen collections and areas not open for public exhibition.
**
Liu Zheng came the next day, which happened to be the first day of the lunar month. There were many people outside the temple, so he was delayed on the road.
Shen You brought out the items. When Liu Zheng first saw the down inner liner, he was somewhat puzzled.
Holding it in his hands, it had almost no weight and felt thin to the touch. The filling inside didn’t seem very substantial either.
While it was certainly lightweight to wear, could it really have such good insulation effects?
The other type of thermal underwear and pants were indeed substantial, with a fleece layer inside made of quite special material he had never seen before.
The style was also strange. It was put on directly over the head, yet despite all this pulling and stretching, it didn’t tear.
Shen You answered in her mind: Of course you haven’t seen it before. These are all technological materials, polyester fiber.
The more expensive sets had a little cashmere added.
She hadn’t prepared convenient rubber hot water bottles, as wealthy ancient families had more exquisite hand warmers.
For common people, hot water wasn’t available on demand, and even firewood had to be conserved for burning, so having them use these things wasn’t realistic.
“Take a few sets back to try first. There’s still some time before you’ll need to wear these anyway.” Shen You suggested.
“Okay.” Liu Zheng agreed with joy on his face. Then, as if remembering something, he said seriously:
“Shopkeeper Shen, how many of these garments can you provide?”
Shen You replied: “Once I make the connections here, you don’t need to worry about quantity.”
Without being picky about styles, just taking the most ordinary goods, there was plenty of last year’s overstock, plus prison-made goods were incredibly cost-effective.
Liu Zheng nodded repeatedly.
Nothing that came out of this shop had ever been substandard. According to Shopkeeper Shen, the cheapest thermal clothing set cost five taels, and the down inner liner was also five taels – they could still make substantial profits.
The better ones could be sold directly for fifty or one hundred taels, with even greater profit margins.
This way, they made money while also ensuring many common people could afford cold-weather clothing.
Last winter, the prices of woolen and cotton garments had risen again and again.
The hemp and kudzu-filled clothing worn by commoners had also become extremely expensive, yet provided poor insulation.
In the capital area, being at the foot of the emperor, the people’s conditions were relatively good. As they could at least afford to buy such items.
However, in places where resources weren’t abundant and the economy wasn’t prosperous, even a worn cotton coat covered in patches and impossible to clean properly could sell for fifteen taels of silver.
New ones were even more expensive, resulting in many people freezing to death.
Now that Shopkeeper Shen said there would be sufficient quantities of cold-weather clothing available, wasn’t this wonderful news?
His Highness would surely be delighted to hear this!
“There are also these.” Shen You moved a cardboard box onto the table, filled with carefully selected skincare products.
All were major brands, suitable even for sensitive skin. She had tested them herself and certainly wouldn’t provide cheap, unbranded products to deceive people.
The samples obtained through points served as trial products, while those two boxes of full-size and medium-size products were for sale.
“This is facial cleanser, this is moisturizing toner, and this snow cream prevents dry face in winter and can also be used on hands.”
“Goose egg powder can be used for setting makeup.”
Goose egg powder was the century-old shop’s treasure – even the Empress Dowager had praised it back in the day.
Shen You took out items one by one, preparing paper and pen for Liu Zheng to take notes, since he probably couldn’t remember or understand these things otherwise.
Shen You hadn’t bought shampoo. The shampoo made by boiling tea seed cake and traditional Chinese medicine in ancient times was actually better.
Modern technological additives were more likely to cause hair loss.
She had tried it and found it effective, but brewing it herself was too energy-consuming.
There was also soap. People in the late Shang Dynasty already knew how to use oils and plant ash lye for saponification reactions. Later, wealthy families used natural, healthy, and refined products.
Rather than modern soap being able to amaze ancient people, these were things ancestors had already perfected.
She couldn’t undermine her own reputation. She had done considerable preparatory work to select items suitable for selling in Great Qi.
“I’ve noted everything down. Rest assured, Shopkeeper Shen. I’ll arrange for people to handle this as soon as I return.
Miss Zhao and the Madam from the Marquis Manor are major customers of the shop. Knowing new items have arrived, they’ll definitely be the first to buy.”
After hearing Liu Zheng describe the wealth of the Marquis Manor, Shen You’s smile couldn’t be suppressed even by an AK rifle.
This was definitely Great Qi’s number one wealthy woman.
Her power was truly formidable.
Shen You: “I need to go procure the items you’ve ordered. The next time I open shop might be in ten days to half a month. If there’s anything urgent, try to mention it in these two days.”
Hearing this, Liu Zheng paused briefly. “Can I still leave messages outside the door during that time?”
“Not during this period.”
She needed to unlock the next map location.
“Alright, I’ll remember that.”
Liu Zheng left the shop carrying large and small packages, heading straight to the Crown Prince’s residence to present the cold-weather clothing and sleeping bags to Li Heng.
“Shopkeeper Shen said the goods delivered to us will be approximately like these.”
Zhong Jing held the substantial thermal clothing, examining it from all angles, somewhat incredulous:
“Such substantial clothing, and Shopkeeper Shen’s pricing is really only five taels?”
“Exactly, even commoners can afford it.” Liu Zheng nodded emphatically. “These here are the expensive ones, with more comfortable material. Yes, the one you’re holding now costs one hundred taels.”
After hearing this, Zhong Jing looked at the thermal clothing, then at the sleeping bag and down inner liner, too delighted to speak.
After a long pause, he sighed with genuine emotion: “Shopkeeper Shen deserves to be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!”
Li Heng’s lips curved in a smile as he looked at these items with uncontainable joy.
Seeing them on the tablet was one thing, but having identical items right before his eyes felt completely different.
Only he had seen the usage of sleeping bags on the tablet. Thinking of this, Li Heng’s smile deepened.
However, he then heard Liu Zheng say that the shop would be closed for a period, with even the door disappearing completely.
His breathing stopped for a moment.
Last time, Liu Zheng could still leave messages at the door.
Miss Shen said she was going to prepare goods, but he felt somewhat uneasy in his heart, as if something was missing.
He worried that Miss Shen might leave Great Qi. Once this thought appeared, it lingered in his mind.
“What else did Miss Shen say?” He suppressed the urgency in his voice.
“When the goods are ready, we’ll know by seeing the sign on the door.” Liu Zheng replied.
Li Heng only responded with a sound.
He was actually asking whether Miss Shen had any message for him, but apparently there wasn’t one.
“Perfect, these past two days have been rainy and cold! I’ll take a set back and let you all try the effects.”
Zhong Jing said to Liu Zheng while hugging the set he had just been examining.
“Shopkeeper Shen mentioned that wearing these now would be very hot, so you’d better take it easy.” Liu Zheng reminded him.
Zhong Jing nodded, his gaze falling on what looked like the thinnest down inner liner. Wearing this now should be fine.