Chapter 2991 - 2992: Incognito Investigation

Chapter 2991: Chapter 2992: Incognito Investigation

At this time, bottles didn’t have sealed designs or spray heads, so carrying Fragrance Dew wasn’t as convenient as modern perfumes. It was hard to bring along for quick touch-ups. If the scent didn’t last long, women might buy it out of curiosity at first, but would soon return to longer-lasting incense.

"Then, what should we do?" Meng Jinse became nervous; this was a rare burst of enthusiasm and motivation for her.

Bai Ruozhu saw that she misunderstood and quickly held her hand, saying, "Don’t worry, I’ve seen formulas before. By purifying alcohol and adding it to the Fragrance Dew, the scent can last longer."

While speaking, she handed a small bottle of alcohol to Meng Jinse, "You go and figure out how to mix it, and I’ll think of a solution too. If we can’t figure it out, let’s sell the current Fragrance Dew for now and slowly improve it later."

She didn’t expect Meng Jinse, being from ancient times, to solve this problem right away. Taking things step by step is all that’s needed to be prepared for the future.

"Okay, I’ve got it," Meng Jinse said.

"Alright, don’t worry for now. Let’s head out, take a look around, and find a suitable location for the shop," Bai Ruozhu suggested.

"I’ll accompany you as well," said Luo Family.

Bai Ruozhu smiled and linked arms with the two of them, "Let’s change our clothes, put on our hoods, and check out the spice shops around the city for some market research."

Meng Jinse laughed, "I’ll grab some plain outfits."

Luo Family also laughed, "I don’t need to change; I prefer a simple look."

Bai Ruozhu changed into a set of cotton clothes she got from Meng Jinse, and the three of them donned their hoods before heading to the bustling market in Beiyu City.

"Ruozhu, do you think we should open in the busiest area where there’s a lot of foot traffic, or choose a quieter spot?" Meng Jinse asked.

"A quieter place. The Xianglu Shop is also about volume. Those Noblewomen and Noble Ladies tend to prefer elegant and serene shops," Bai Ruozhu said.

Luo Family added, "Too many people, and the scents from nearby shops might affect the fragrance of our Fragrance Dew."

Meng Jinse nodded, "That makes sense. Let’s find a location that’s not too remote but has a good environment."

As expected, being an officer’s daughter, she caught on quickly. If the shop’s location is too remote, fewer women would come personally, which would decrease sales significantly.

The horse carriage stopped at the street corner, and the three of them got off. Bai Ruozhu instructed Jianqi and the coachman to wait in place as they would be out later.

Hand in hand, the three of them went to the largest spice shop in Beiyu City, Yi Pin Xiang.

"Ladies, what kind of spices are you looking for?" The shopkeeper greeted them proactively.

"Let me see the cheapest ones," Bai Ruozhu said deliberately in a timid voice.

The shopkeeper’s smile vanished upon hearing this, and he casually placed some roughly packaged incense on the counter.

"Five silver a bundle."

"What are the features of this incense?" Bai Ruozhu asked again.

Meng Jinse and Luo Family didn’t know her intentions and quietly listened by her side.

The shopkeeper seemed somewhat impatient, "It’s just the most ordinary incense. You get what you pay for, and it smokes a bit more."

"Oh, then can I see the most expensive one?" Bai Ruozhu said again.

The shopkeeper looked at her again, but unfortunately, the hood blocked her face, so he couldn’t see her expression.

"The most expensive one is our store treasure. It’s generally not for sale, and I can’t show it to you," the shopkeeper said.

Meng Jinse was displeased upon hearing this, saying, "I saw you show it to a lady a few days ago. Are you looking down on us because we can’t afford it?"

"I didn’t mean it that way, but it’s very valuable, and any damage would devalue it." The shopkeeper, perhaps afraid of causing a scene, adopted a much friendlier tone.

Bai Ruozhu tugged on Meng Jinse’s sleeve and said, "If we can’t see it, then we can’t see it. Is there anything slightly cheaper than the store treasure that we can look at?"

The shopkeeper assessed their attire and became even more convinced they couldn’t afford it, but he still brought out the spices.

Bai Ruozhu looked closely; Yi Pin Xiang’s spices were indeed quite good, but unfortunately, they wouldn’t show her the store treasure.

"I’ll take a small pack of this," she said as she put a silver banknote on the table.

The shopkeeper was taken aback; he thought these three couldn’t afford it, not expecting them to spend so readily.

Upon leaving Yi Pin Xiang, Meng Jinse was still a bit angry and whispered, "Why did we buy their incense? They looked down on us."

"That’s precisely their flaw. We need to avoid this," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile, handing the incense to Luo Family, "Aunt, you can take this home to burn."

Luo Family felt a bit embarrassed, "You use it yourself."

Bai Ruozhu pouted, "Don’t be polite with me. As a doctor, I can’t burn incense."

If a doctor went to see patients with a body full of fragrance, if the patient was sensitive to scents, wouldn’t it worsen their condition?

Luo Family didn’t refuse after hearing this and carefully stored it in her sleeve.

"Are there any other spice shops in town?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

"There are a few small ones, but their products can’t compare to Yi Pin Xiang, although they’re cheaper and some people do shop there." Meng Jinse had people check them out.

"Let’s go and take a look."

Then, the three of them went to see a few other spice shops. The products were indeed not as good as Yi Pin Xiang, but the prices were much lower.

After walking until they were tired, they found a Tea House to rest and have a cup of tea. Bai Ruozhu started talking.

"Yi Pin Xiang’s cheapest spice is identical to Qi Family’s medium-grade spice, made by the same workshop, but generally people wouldn’t notice that. Yi Pin Xiang sells it for five silver, while Qi Family sells it for four. But with Yi Pin Xiang’s reputation, customers subconsciously think Yi Pin Xiang’s is better."

"Moreover, it’s not that Yi Pin Xiang bullies customers because they’re a big store, but they’re indeed not as friendly as those smaller shops, and there’s no real reason to hide the store treasure. Who knows what’s so store-stabilizing about it?"

Bai Ruozhu recalled going to a jewelry store in her previous life, where their store treasure was a jade bracelet worth millions, an icy green that was vibrant and lively, captivating anyone who saw it.

It’s because of this store treasure that many people wanted to see it even if they didn’t plan to buy anything, which significantly increased the store’s customer flow.

Additionally, having such a great store treasure raises the store’s level, making everything else seem more valuable for the price.

"I have a few ideas, just talking casually. If you have good ideas, feel free to share," Bai Ruozhu started, "First, we don’t need a shopkeeper in our shop—only women to do sales, which is what a shop clerk does. It’s more convenient for women to talk to one another, especially for trying fragrances, where it’s inconvenient for men to be involved."

Meng Jinse nodded eagerly, "If it’s an old shopkeeper like the one just now, probably no one would want to try fragrances in the store, especially being watched by a man."

"Exactly, so we don’t use men in our shop."