"You intend to use this method to quickly make everyone aware of the soap's fame, and thus rapidly open up sales of soap in other countries, correct?"
Chu Chen gave Shao Lili a look of admiration: "That's right, precisely."
...
The popularity of the soap business far exceeded everyone's imagination.
The goods Chu Chen had originally planned to sell for five days didn't even last for one.
He quickly ordered people to work overtime, ramp up production, and accelerate manufacturing.
At the same time, the sales statistics for the first day were also fresh out of the oven.
Besides soap, the specialty store also offered milk tea in different grades.
Those who could afford to buy soap generally wouldn't be short of money, and most would choose to buy a cup of milk tea to try it out.
Upon tasting it, they were immediately deeply attracted to the milk tea!
It was fragrant and sweet, and most importantly, it was sold so cheaply!
Even those who couldn't afford soap could buy a cup to try.
As for the wealthy, there were even higher-priced milk teas waiting for them, so it wouldn't be beneath their status.
"How much? Thirteen hundred taels of silver?" Shao Lili stood up abruptly, her voice filled with disbelief.
The net profit from the soap store in just one day was almost equivalent to the profit of her neighboring restaurant for over ten days!
"The bulk of this is still from the soap; the milk tea's contribution is relatively small," Chu Chen said with a slight shake of his head. "A bar of soap can be used for a long time, so you don't need to be too surprised."
"In my opinion, the daily profit will at most be around fifteen hundred taels."
"As time goes by, this figure might even decrease."
Shao Lili looked at Chu Chen with a strange expression: "Fifteen hundred taels, you say?"
"Do you know what fifteen hundred taels means?"
Shao Lili said excitedly, "The net profit for a year is over fifty thousand taels!"
"And this is just the profit from one store. If the soap business were to be sold nationwide, the profit for the year would be at least tens of millions of taels!"
"Rich enough to rival a nation, this is truly rich enough to rival a nation!" Shao Lili was so excited that she was almost incoherent.
Chu Chen immediately refuted her assessment.
"One Yunyue Kingdom alone cannot achieve this level," Chu Chen shook his head. "Soap is still a luxury item that most people cannot afford."
"Those who can afford soap are still a minority, and the further away from Shuangyue City, the lower the profit that can be earned."
"It will take a long way to reach a profit of tens of millions of taels."
Shao Lili didn't know whether to be angry or amused.
Chu Chen's words made sense, but his calm and casual analytical demeanor made Shao Lili grit her teeth in frustration.
"...You're impressive," Shao Lili sighed slightly.
"When will you give me the recipe? I can't wait to sell soap to the neighboring countries."
"I'll tell you after I enter the palace today and get instructions from His Majesty," Chu Chen said indifferently, taking a sip of milk tea.
"You're tricking me!" Shao Lili slammed the table, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You actually didn't inform His Majesty about this!"
Shao Lili gritted her teeth and said, "I've already given you the money, and now you're telling me this?"
"Calm down, calm down," Chu Chen smiled gently. "I'm still here. The monk may leave, but the temple remains. You don't need to worry about me tricking you."
"You better not be," Shao Lili snorted. "Otherwise, even if you're a favored person by His Majesty, I'll still demand an explanation from His Majesty!"
"Don't worry, I'll stand up for you!" Princess Xinyue said with a giggle, putting her arm around Shao Lili's neck.
On the other side, Chen Shengnan seemed to be enjoying Shao Lili's predicament.
"I never thought you, Shao Lili, so clever all your life, would be fooled one day!"
"I told you I didn't lie or cheat anyone," Chu Chen said helplessly. "I just haven't informed His Majesty yet."
"Fine, since Sister Lili is so impatient, I'll go to the palace to report to His Majesty now."
"That's not necessary," Shao Lili said with an embarrassed expression. "It's getting late. If you go to the palace now, you'll surely get scolded."
"For Sister Lili, even getting scolded is worth it." Chu Chen shook his head helplessly, ordered a carriage and horses to be prepared, and headed directly towards the imperial palace.
Shao Lili tried to stop him several times but failed, feeling quite awkward.
"Now look, you've angered Little Chenzi," Chen Shengnan chuckled. "Next time you come for milk tea, he'll charge you for it."
Shao Lili glared at Chen Shengnan. "I always pay for my milk tea, unlike you, you poor thing, who can't even afford milk tea."
"Nonsense, milk tea is so expensive. I only have twenty taels of silver for expenses each month. Who can afford to drink it every day!" Chen Shengnan mumbled softly.
"And you still want to drink the most expensive one. In my opinion, the one for twenty-five copper coins is more suitable for you!" Shao Lili mocked mercilessly.
"You're asking for it!" Chen Shengnan's expression changed. She leaped over the table and pinned Shao Lili against the wall, playfully manhandling her.
Princess Xinyue was already accustomed to their bickering and teasing. Instead of intervening, she cheered them on loudly from the side.
...
When Chu Chen met the Empress, she was still dealing with official business.
In fact, meeting the Empress today to report the earnings was already planned. Regardless of Shao Lili's questioning, Chu Chen would have entered the palace at this time.
The previous remarks were just to boost his favorability.
Chu Chen didn't consider himself despicable; he was merely making reasonable use of the resources around him.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is today's earnings. Please review it."
Upon receiving the ledger from Chu Chen, the Empress carefully examined it.
"What is this milk tea? I've never heard of such a beverage in the palace?" The Empress looked at Chu Chen with a half-smile.
"This..." Chu Chen was slightly embarrassed. "This is a new beverage that I've recently concocted. It's not really presentable."
"However, I know Your Majesty would be curious, so I specifically brought some for Your Majesty to taste."
With that, Chu Chen had the milk tea he had prepared earlier served.
The Empress, not fearing any poison, drank it directly.
Her eyes lit up: "Not bad, not bad. You do have some imaginative ideas."
"I like it very much. Remember to give the recipe to the Imperial Kitchen later."
Suddenly, the Empress's breathing hitched.
She saw the final profit figure on the ledger.
"Thirteen hundred taels?"
Even as the Emperor, she couldn't help but be shocked by this number.
With just one store, the annual profit could reach fifty thousand taels. If several more were opened, Yunyue Kingdom's annual revenue would double!
"Is this ledger not falsified?" The Empress's breathing quickened.