20
Making Three Times the Money in One Trip: Three-in-One
Tang Yicheng thought Wang Xiao would first pretend to be a hotel guest and chat up the front desk staff—after all, they had just arrived from Xin County and were carrying luggage.
But she had her own methods. The moment she entered, she directly asked to see the manager.
The hotel Wang Xiao approached was one where she had previously sold recipes. The Salt-baked Shrimp recipe she provided had sold quite well and was gradually becoming a new signature dish for the food and beverage department. Hence, the hotel’s duty manager that evening graciously agreed to meet with her.
Wang Xiao didn’t engage in much small talk and got straight to the point, emphasizing that Jin Ning Grand Hotel had long been providing guests with Scented Soap.
“This is an international trend—a must for hotel services. In the past, our country’s chemical industry couldn’t keep up, and raw materials were scarce. The daily chemical sector was underdeveloped; even buying soap required ration coupons, so no one bothered about these details. But now things are different. What should be supplied must be supplied.”
Wang Xiao analyzed for her, “Those who stay in hotels nowadays are respectable people, here in the provincial capital on official business for their units. A clean and tidy appearance is very important to them. Otherwise, showing up unkempt in front of clients would lower their standing. Moreover, since most business travelers are men, expecting them to bring Scented Soap with them is unrealistic—they’re rarely that meticulous.”
The deputy manager on duty couldn’t help but laugh at Wang Xiao’s words.
It was well-known that men were rough around the edges. Without proper bathing facilities, they’d just rinse off quickly. As for washing their faces? Hah! They’d do a cat’s wash, as if the areas behind their ears and around their necks didn’t belong to them.
Holding the small Scented Soap sample, she did some mental calculations and asked about the price: “How much is this Scented Soap?”
“It’s cheap—just fifty cents per bar. If the hotel orders in bulk, say over 1,000 bars, it can be as low as forty-five cents. Our Scented Soap sells for two yuan per bar elsewhere.”
The deputy manager immediately shook her head and, with the meticulousness typical of women, insisted, “A two-yuan Scented Soap should weigh at least 100g. Yours is less than 20g—at most 15g. Thirty cents per bar, no, twenty cents at most. This is wholesale, not retail.”
Afraid Wang Xiao might disagree, she added pretentiously, “Besides, I can only report this to the management. If the price is too high, they won’t even consider it. Giving away Scented Soap for free would add a significant operational cost to our hotel.”
“Your management will definitely agree,” Wang Xiao grabbed the deputy manager’s hand earnestly. “Sister, listen to me. You’re not just giving away Scented Soap for free—you’re placing free advertisements for our Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel. Every bar of Scented Soap you give out is a mobile billboard. There’s no worry that people won’t know about Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel.”
The deputy manager laughed and shook her head: “Scented Soap isn’t like promotional T-shirts. What kind of advertisement is that?”
The provincial capital was abundant in supplies, and the general public was naturally well-informed. After the failed price reform two years ago, many factories had severe inventory buildup. It was common to see buyers of home appliances receiving free promotional T-shirts—everyone was familiar with this advertising model that pleased both buyers and sellers.
But how could Scented Soap be compared to promotional T-shirts? The latter could be worn directly on the street, but the former? Only a lunatic would carry a bar of soap around promoting it to people. Hotel guests weren’t crazy.
“Absolutely!” Wang Xiao beamed with a smile, gesturing for the vice president to see. “Scented soap can’t be used up in just one or two washes, especially for men. A piece like this might last them a whole month. After use, the soap doesn’t dry immediately—it needs to air out. But when you’re traveling and pressed for time, you can’t always manage that. So, the soap needs to be wrapped in plastic, don’t you agree?”
The vice president nodded without arguing. Whether it was scented soap or regular soap, it needed a container. In the past, even buying a soap dish required a coupon, but now things are less strict. Still, a soap dish costs several dimes.
“We wrap the soap in plastic printed with the name, address, and contact information of Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel. When guests check out and haven’t finished the soap, they won’t just throw it away—they’ll take it with them to continue using it, right?”
The vice president kept nodding; it made sense. Although people’s material living standards had improved significantly since the reform and opening up, they weren’t yet at the point of being overly indulgent.
In fact, their hotel had previously provided hand soap, but if they put out a piece, someone would take it, and the hotel couldn’t afford that.
Wang Xiao’s smile widened. “Business travelers, whether salespeople or technicians, are constantly on the road, spending more time on trains than at home. Don’t they need to wash up on the train? Our scented soap is perfect for that. When others see it, hey, the Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel’s name gets exposure. Guests need the plastic bag to carry the soap, so they won’t discard the printed plastic wrap. Wherever they go, the hotel’s advertisement travels with them.”
Whether the vice president was convinced, Tang Yicheng didn’t know—businesspeople are good at hiding their emotions. But he was stunned; he hadn’t thought a small bar of soap could double as an advertisement.
Wang Xiao continued persuading the vice president: “Moreover, people have their circles. Those in supply and sales form one group, technical support staff another. Frequent travelers don’t need introductions—they can strike up conversations easily. Once they start talking and mention Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel, and the circle learns that staying there comes with free soap to take away, it’s hard not to be tempted. Once tempted, they’ll come stay at our hotel, won’t they?”
It sounded unusual—were business travelers really that easily swayed?
But in reality, seizing small advantages is human nature.
When Wang Xiao was in university, her teacher mentioned a minor but shocking corruption case involving Japanese civil servants.
The case started because although Japanese civil servants had average benefits, if they worked overtime beyond a certain point, they could take a taxi home with the fare reimbursed. Taxis in Japan are quite expensive, and competition among companies is fierce. One clever company started offering free beer, peanuts, and other snacks in their taxis for civil servants to enjoy during rides.
Incredibly, these insignificant little treats won over the civil servants in that area. Many even worked unnecessary overtime late into the night just to get the free snacks.
When Wang Xiao did live streams, she also noticed that fans loved saving even just one yuan.
In 1990, she estimated the situation was similar. Or, since resources were scarcer than thirty years later, people might love free soap even more.
She smiled at the deputy director: “Director Cao, our scented soap is meant for advertising, so we definitely can’t price it by weight alone. Soon, business travelers nationwide will know about our Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel. When they come to the provincial capital, Si Ji Chun will be their first choice for accommodation. I’m only worried the hotel might be overwhelmed.”
Director Cao was swayed by the point about “word-of-mouth among business travelers.”
Given the limitations of the era, fewer than one in ten people had the means to travel for leisure. In business, you had to prioritize the main customer base to ensure steady inflow.
She finally made up her mind: “Forty cents, that’s the highest I can go. Otherwise, I won’t be able to report it up the chain.”
Wang Xiao pressed for a guarantee: “Then you’ll need to order at least 2,000 bars of soap.”
Director Cao instinctively refused: “We don’t need that many. We focus mainly on dining, and we only have 218 guest rooms in total. 2,000 bars would take forever to use up.”
After all, even half occupancy was considered good at the moment—full capacity was out of the question.
Wang Xiao’s smile widened: “That’s exactly why you should stock up. Look, it’s almost December, and soon every company will be closing their books. Right now, everyone’s busy collecting debts to balance their accounts. With so many companies in the provincial capital, who doesn’t have piles of debt? Which company’s entrance isn’t crowded with people waiting to be paid? All these people need somewhere to stay. By then, your hotel might not have enough rooms—you might even have to lay out bedding in the lobby.”
Director Cao was amused: “Not possible now. It’s freezing cold—if someone got sick, it’d be a disaster. In summer, maybe.”
Two summers ago, during the price reform panic, many people rushed to the provincial capital to buy appliances and gold, fearing their money would rapidly depreciate. Their hotel had indeed cleared out the lobby and rented out mats for people to sleep on the floor—three yuan a night, almost zero cost, earning tens of thousands over the summer.
But now? No such conditions.
Thinking about it, it was a shame.
She could only hope the free soap would have the miraculous advertising effect the girl claimed.
The two went back and forth haggling for a long time.
Wang Xiao stood firm: unless the hotel ordered 5,000 bars, the price wouldn’t drop to thirty-five cents. After all, the soap was customized for the hotel, and printing the hotel’s name and information on the plastic wrappers required a separate plate.
Still, Wang Xiao was considerate enough to provide five different wrapper ad templates on the spot for Director Cao to choose from. Overwhelmed by the options, Director Cao said she’d need to consult her superiors before finalizing.
This time, Wang Xiao didn’t linger. Instead, she smiled and declared: “Alright, I’ll come by tomorrow to pick up the template and take it straight to the factory. I’ll make sure you have the goods by this week—we won’t hold up your hotel’s business.”
Director Cao agreed without thinking, completely forgetting her original plan to push for a lower price.
Oh well. It was a state-owned hotel, not her own business. Squabbling over a few cents wouldn’t earn her any recognition.
The time spent at Si Ji Chun Grand Hotel had dragged on too long—the city clock was about to strike ten.
Wang Xiao wasn’t tired. As a hustler, she could stay awake for 72 hours if it meant making money, transforming into a bundle of energy in seconds.
Unfortunately, at this hour, even night-shift staff at hotels and guesthouses were winding down, entering their “sage mode” and refusing all disturbances. She had no choice but to call it an early night.
Tang Yicheng had been playing the role of the bag-carrying junior all along, but now he finally had another use: “Engineer Wang, let me walk you home. It’s getting late.”
Wang Xiao didn’t bother with false courtesy.
Not to mention the precarious public safety of the 1990s, even back in her pre-transmigration days, it wasn’t safe for a young woman to walk alone at night. Tsk, when the economy slumps, all sorts of violent crimes surge.
She gave him an exceptionally warm smile: “Then I’ll trouble you. Later, you can stay at our steel plant’s guesthouse. They’ll definitely have rooms.”
Even if there weren’t any rooms available, connections could make rooms appear.
The steel plant, that colossal entity, was like a small kingdom—complete with schools, hospitals, markets, and shops. If Wang Xiao hadn’t tested into university, studied elsewhere, and later been assigned to the chemical research institute, she could have stayed within its confines without any contact with the outside world.
Tang Yicheng also responded politely: “No problem, I can sleep anywhere.”
He wasn’t boasting, because when they arrived at the steel plant’s residential area and knocked on the Wang family’s door, Comrade Wang Tiejun—for some inexplicable reason—upon hearing that his daughter’s new colleague had come from Xin County and needed a place to sleep, enthusiastically recommended he spend the night at the steel plant’s bathhouse.
“Comfortable, really. Our plant never skimps on heating. In the bathhouse, you take a soak, then lie down on a bed—warm and cozy. You can sleep comfortably without even covering up. And it’s cheap—just one yuan for both bathing and overnight stay. Isn’t that a great deal?”
So don’t judge him by his usual timidity; when the weather turns cold, he even musters the courage to argue with his wife. At worst, he could run away from home and rough it for a night in the bathhouse for one yuan.
Hmph! Who’s afraid of whom?
Though in hot weather, forget it—staying in the bathhouse would be unbearable. Couldn’t handle that.
Surprisingly, Tang Yicheng agreed too, quite cheerfully asking Wang Tiejun to show him the way.
Watching the two men quickly become buddies and walk off together, Wang Xiao was utterly speechless.
Meanwhile, Ms. Chen Yanqiu stared intently at the young man’s retreating figure until he completely disappeared from view, then meaningfully asked her daughter: “Xiao Xiao, that young man is quite considerate, isn’t he?”
“Of course he has to be,” Wang Xiao declared without shame. “Whether their soap factory survives depends entirely on me.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she grew wary. “Mom, what are you implying?”
“Nothing much, just that I think he seems quite spirited.”
“He’s a demobilized soldier. Never went to college.”
Aunt Chen instantly deflated.
Ever since Ruan Rui condescendingly declared “don’t regret it if you don’t get married,” she’d been holding a grudge, determined to find her daughter someone with better qualifications than Ruan Rui.
If not a Ph.D., then at least a master’s degree like Ruan Rui.
Wang Xiao genuinely thought Ms. Chen Yanqiu was overthinking it.
The marriage market is brutal—well-qualified men are truly scarce resources. To put it bluntly, if last year’s incident hadn’t happened, and Ruan Rui had steadily climbed from lecturer to professor at a prestigious provincial university, he would hardly have crossed paths with the original host. They simply moved in different circles.
Forget ancient traditions of snatching grooms from the exam rankings—how many modern big shots initially advanced through their fathers-in-law’s connections? Heh! In this regard, men with development potential are real hot commodities.
Faced with such a harsh marriage market, how should women break through?
Wang Xiao didn’t know others’ thirty-six stratagems, but her approach was extremely simple: never attack the enemy’s stronghold with your own weakness. She just wouldn’t play their game.
The world is vast, markets are plentiful—why must one enter the marriage market?
Isn’t earning money properly satisfying enough?
Dr. Chen Yanqiu was still muttering: “He won’t even spend money staying at a guesthouse, which shows his family circumstances aren’t great. Those who still choose to join the military nowadays must be poor students who couldn’t get into college.”
Wang Xiao remained deaf to these comments, showing no intention of defending the soldier.
Because in her view, she held no idealized perceptions about any profession.
So what if he’s a soldier? Aren’t they just ordinary male creatures anyway?
Before transmigrating into this novel, she had a girlfriend who was the epitome of virtue – the type wholly devoted to pursuing domestic bliss. This friend had dated soldiers, policemen, and firefighters successively. Each had genuinely participated in rescue operations and disaster relief, risking their lives – veritable heroes. Yet without exception, they all cheated. The most outrageous one was simultaneously flirting with five women.
This proved professional ethics truly had no connection with personal character. Saving lives one moment didn’t prevent someone from having affairs the next.
This earned her friend the nickname “Emerald Queen” in their circle, with anyone currently investing or planning to invest in stocks giving her a wide berth.
Eventually, this friend dated another soldier. This time, she retreated before he could cheat.
Why? Because the military had started encouraging soldiers to have three children.
What she yearned for was a warm family life, not becoming a single mother raising three children alone. She simply lacked the courage to sacrifice her own life to support some general’s career ambitions. Knowing her limits, she made a swift exit.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chen had already reached her verdict: “This one won’t do – his circumstances are too poor. One shouldn’t marry into hardship.”
Wang Xiao nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, mentally pumping her fist: Go! Dr. Chen, maintain this spirit of absolutely no poverty-alleviation marriages!
Your daughter’s happy life depends on your pickiness standing guard.
After visiting seven stores in the provincial capital and securing orders for twelve thousand scented soaps, Wang Xiao returned to Xin County.
Truthfully, in her opinion, this return trip was completely unnecessary – such a waste of time.
But 1990 was truly lacking in everything. Never mind digital cameras – she couldn’t even find a fax machine. There was simply no way to finalize the plastic packaging for the soaps without meeting with the factory. Besides, contracts required official seals – her signature alone as a temporary staff member wouldn’t suffice.
In the end, only repeated trips by her and Tang Yicheng would work.
She had considered having Tang Yicheng make the trips alone while she remained in the provincial capital negotiating with other guesthouses.
But communication was far too underdeveloped now – even pagers were rare luxuries. She worried Tang Yicheng might miscommunicate, resulting in the soap factory producing goods that didn’t match what the clients wanted, wasting everyone’s time.
Better to waste money on round-trip tickets and first report the good news at the factory.
Her parents complained verbally: “How did our technical specialist become a salesperson?” but still packed her luggage.
Wang Tiejun even queued before dawn outside the Jinning Hotel service center to buy his daughter several large meat buns. Worried she might have no appetite for breakfast early in the morning, he wanted her to have something to eat if she got hungry during the journey.
The ungrateful Wang Xiao mentally grumbled that bringing cookies for the road would have been better.
Anyone who’s ridden long-distance buses knows the environment – sealed tight in winter, eating meat buns on board? Tsk tsk, utterly soul-crushing.
After taking a long-distance bus and transferring to public transport, they finally reached the soap factory just before lunchtime, heading straight for the director’s office.
Coincidentally, the director had gone to welcome officials from the Light Industry Bureau who were inspecting the factory, currently accompanying them on a workshop tour.
The young woman from the factory office kept urging Wang Xiao, “Engineer Wang, why don’t you go over and give us an introduction about our factory?”
Wang Xiao thought to herself: Introduce what? All I remember is that soap is made from oil and vinegar (I think), and I know nothing else about it.
Facing the bright-eyed, pretty young woman, she made an excuse to refuse directly: “No, I need to grab a bite to eat, otherwise I’ll get hypoglycemia.”
As she spoke, she quickly pulled out the thermal lunch container Comrade Wang Tiejun had given her from her bag. Tsk, the quality was really good—it was still warm even after being tucked in her bag.
Wang Xiao offered one to Tang Yicheng and gestured for the factory office girl to have one too.
The girl politely declined, “No, no, I’ll have lunch soon.”
But when Wang Xiao took a bite, the young woman subconsciously swallowed and cautiously asked, “Is this the Jinning Big Meat Bun? It smells amazing.”
Wang Xiao chewed and swallowed a mouthful of the bun, smiling as she replied, “Yes, my dad queued up early to buy them.”
The young woman’s face began to flush, and she stammered, “So it really is.”
Wang Xiao quickly caught on and offered again, “Try one. Look, there are several here—it’d be a shame if they went to waste cold.”
“Well… thank you, Engineer Wang.” The girl stopped pretending to be polite, picked up a big meat bun, and carefully took a bite. Instantly, her expression of pure happiness made Wang Xiao feel that Jinning Grand Hotel was wasting an opportunity by not hiring this girl for their advertisements.
Was it really that exaggerated?
She admitted that the bun in her hand had a thin, fluffy skin, with a filling of well-balanced lean and fatty meat steamed to a firm texture, and the savory juices had soaked into the wrapper. With one bite, the meat broth filled her mouth—it was indeed delicious.
But… that was about it.
She had tasted too many delicacies, and this body had never lacked for rich food, so it was hard for her to treat a meat bun as something only heaven could provide.
However, the factory office girl’s eating expression easily added at least 20 points to the bun’s appeal.
Just then, an older sister came to the office to get a stamp and, smelling the meat buns, remarked curiously, “It’s almost lunchtime—why are you just having breakfast now?”
The factory office girl quickly swallowed her food and exclaimed excitedly, “Sister Tao, it’s true! The Jinning Big Meat Bun is really as delicious as you said. It’s truly amazing.”
Sister Tao’s eyes fell on the table, and she subconsciously swallowed too.
Did Wang Xiao have any choice? She immediately gestured, “Sister Tao, don’t stand on ceremony. Try one—it won’t taste right if it gets cold.”
In no time, within less than five minutes, the office was crowded with several young women, girls, aunts, and even an uncle. The remaining buns weren’t enough to go around, so everyone tore them apart to share, exclaiming, “The soup, the soup is dripping!”
With more monks than meat, some only got a bit of the bun skin, but that didn’t stop them from affirming the big meat bun’s quality: after all, it’s from Jinning Grand Hotel!
Wang Xiao found it particularly amusing—so now the Jinning Big Meat Bun was considered a luxury item.
How simple and honest that was. After all, a meat bun only cost fifty cents without requiring any coupons, a small affordable pleasure for everyone.
Wait, no—it was basically a luxury enjoyed only by provincial capital residents and those on business trips there.
Because although the bun itself wasn’t expensive, the transportation cost was. A one-way bus ticket from the provincial capital to Xin County cost 7.6 yuan, and a round trip was over 15 yuan—just to buy a bun to eat? That was completely out of the question.
Tsk, for the people of Xin County in this era, Jinning Big Meat Bun is like what Sam’s Club in a big city is to folks from a prefecture-level city—there’s a definite market for purchasing requests.
Wang Xiao’s eyes darted, his face etched with guilt: “Sorry, I didn’t know Jinning Big Meat Buns were so popular. If I’d known earlier, I’d have asked my dad to queue up and buy more. Really, my apologies.”
Those who had eaten the buns hardly dared accept the apology.
Although material living conditions had improved these days, with no worries about food or drink, everyone was still far from wealthy. Here was a researcher from a provincial chemical institute, who’d traveled all the way to their county’s soap factory to offer guidance and solve their problems—and he was even treating them to big meat buns for free? How could they have the nerve!
“No, no, Engineer Wang, you’re too kind. We’re the ones who should be sorry. Come on, let’s go. It’s almost mealtime—to the cafeteria. Sister will treat you to braised pork with radish.”
Others chimed in one after another, insisting on treating him to a proper meal with hearty dishes.
Wang Xiao broke into a smile. “Well, here’s what I’m thinking. If everyone likes the big meat buns, I’ll bring more next time. My dad has a contact at Jinning Grand Hotel, so we can get freshly steamed buns straight from the pot.”
Wow! Sister Tao was the first to get excited.
She’d once bought buns from Jinning Grand Hotel while on a business trip—good heavens, she’d queued for a full two hours, her legs swollen from standing. Their business was so booming that if you went late, you’d miss out entirely.
Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, Wang Xiao sweetened the deal: “But the hotel’s meat buns are rationed. If we want extra, we’ll need to ask them to make a separate batch, which might cost a bit more. My dad mentioned the usual surcharge is ten cents—he’s bought them for his factory before.”
Those who’d lived through the planned economy era were used to paying extra for premium goods. A fifty-cent big meat bun with a ten-cent surcharge was a bit of a luxury, but not something they’d eat every day. Besides, Jinning Big Meat Buns were substantial—one bun could fill up a young woman for a whole meal. Totally worth it.
Immediately, someone signed up: “I want some, Engineer Wang! I’ll take ten buns—I’ll bring them home for my family to try.”
Others perked up too: some wanted five, some ten, and the most extravagant order was for twenty—not just for his own family, but also to impress his future in-laws.
In no time, Wang Xiao had tallied up a demand for 148 buns.
Someone added, “Engineer Wang, hold on—let us check with others. I bet lots of people will want to buy.”
Wang Xiao nodded with a smile. “Then ask soon. My dad once brought up to 500 big meat buns to his factory. Besides, the hotel is swamped and might refuse if we ask for too much.”
Soap factory employees assured him, “No problem, no problem. If we can’t manage it this time, we’ll trouble you again next time.”
Someone nearby laughed, “Yeah, yeah, 500 buns would weigh over a hundred jin—any more than that and you wouldn’t be able to carry them!”
Tang Yicheng nodded in agreement. “True, and with luggage too, it really would be hard to manage.”
He said it so seriously, yet somehow it struck everyone’s funny bone, and the whole room burst into laughter.
The factory director, having just seen off the light industry bureau leaders, was brooding over why they hadn’t even stayed for a simple meal. Returning to find everyone in stitches, he felt a pang of irritation. “What’s so funny? You all seem thrilled.”
Wang Xiao beamed. “I was saying I’ll bring buns for everyone next time I come from the provincial capital. Director, would you like some? Jinning Big Meat Buns. Even though we didn’t land a deal with Jinning Grand Hotel this time, we did visit several other hotels and inns.”
She took out the notebook and showed it to the other party, “There are seven establishments in total, amounting to 12,000 pieces of scented soap. The contract has been drafted, and here are the packaging requirements…”
As serious business discussions began, the leaders arrived, and the employees quickly exchanged glances, grabbing their lunchboxes to head to the cafeteria.
The factory director had already heard about it from Wang Xiao over the phone earlier, but seeing the contract and order now, he still couldn’t hide his excitement. He immediately called out to everyone, “Let’s go, let’s go to the cafeteria. We can talk while we eat.”
Wang Xiao had just finished a large meat bun and was far from feeling hungry. At the cafeteria, she only ordered a bowl of oyster mushroom and tofu soup to sip slowly while explaining to the factory leaders, “Currently, hotels and inns are mainly taking a wait-and-see approach, wanting to gauge customer feedback. If the response is positive, they’ll likely place long-term orders. Let’s break down the soap bars in the warehouse into smaller pieces to clear out the inventory first.”
The leaders studied the order for a long time.
12,000 small soap bars, with a total value of just 4,800 yuan, was hardly a noteworthy business deal. Its significance lay in opening up a new sales channel—a stable, fast-moving one at that.
An ordinary person might use a single bar of soap for a year, but hotels need to replace the soap for every new guest, making the turnover rate exponentially faster.
The factory office director couldn’t contain his excitement, “Engineer Wang, you really are our soap factory’s savior.”
The factory director chimed in, “That’s right! For our Xin County Soap Factory to encounter a living bodhisattva like you is truly a blessing! Come, let’s toast to you. We’ll finish our drinks—you can take it easy.”
Wang Xiao grinned, “Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to substitute tea for wine.”
Another round of flattery followed.
Unfortunately, as a major internet celebrity, Wang Xiao was used to endless praise from her fans and was no longer easily swayed by compliments. She simply smiled and said, “No need for formalities. I earn a commission from selling soap, so of course I’ll give it my all.”
The factory office director’s smile stiffened slightly, “Um, Engineer Wang, weren’t you here to provide technical guidance?”
“Exactly,” Wang Xiao replied, her smile unwavering. “I advised the factory to cut the large soap bars into smaller ones. My technical guidance is done. Sales are a separate matter.”
Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she added with a hint of sarcasm, “Surely the factory isn’t thinking of reneging, right?”
Not that she was worried—there were plenty of soap factories with ties to the chemical research institute. For instance, Chemical Plant No. 2 would surely welcome another best-selling product.
“Of course not!” The factory director wasn’t foolish and understood the implication behind her words.
Besides, it was common for salespeople to earn commissions—many relied on them for their income. It was only natural for her to ask for one.
Moreover, to be frank, people die for wealth as birds die for food. If Engineer Wang had acted with lofty integrity and refused any payment from the factory, they would have been suspicious, wondering what tricks this young woman was up to.
“Commissions will be paid, of course,” the factory director exchanged glances with the leadership team and made the decision outright. “How about a three percent commission? Our factory’s soap uses high-quality ingredients, so the profit margin is already slim.”
Three percent meant 1.2 cents per 40-cent soap bar, totaling 144 yuan for the 4,800 yuan order. Considering the general income level of the population at the time, this amount was quite impressive.
Of course, Wang Xiao didn’t feel undeserving—144 yuan really wasn’t enough to catch her eye.
But she had a demand: “Since I secured these stores, the clients naturally belong to me. When they restock in the future, my commission can’t be reduced.”
This was easy to agree to. The factory leadership didn’t even haggle and readily accepted. It was standard practice, nothing out of the ordinary.
Wang Xiao felt somewhat better then. Though the amount was small, a steady stream of income wasn’t bad. Slowly saving up would still amount to a stable return.
Besides, she could also seize the opportunity to earn some extra pocket money.
She smiled brightly at the soap factory leadership: “Boss, on this trip back to the provincial capital, I’m bringing Jinning Big Meat Buns for the factory workers. Do you want some? If so, each bun will cost an extra ten cents.”
Aha! Bringing 500 meat buns in one trip would mean 50 yuan in earnings.
Since she was making the round trip anyway, of course she had to seize the chance to do business—why waste such a great opportunity?
But when it came down to it, Wang Xiao wasn’t satisfied with just earning an extra fifty yuan; she wanted to make even more.
Naturally, this extra profit couldn’t come from bringing more meat buns.
Given that one big meat bun weighed 150g, or three liang, 500 buns would amount to 150 jin. Any more than that, and who would carry them onto the bus? Certainly not Wang Xiao—she still had her own bag to carry.
With the quantity fixed and the selling price set, her only option was to negotiate the purchase price.
Five hundred big meat buns—such a bulk order should count as wholesale, right? Surely she could haggle a bit.
Unfortunately, the person in charge of the breakfast section in the catering department wouldn’t hear of it. Despite the current decline in hotel guests at Jinning Hotel due to the international situation, the big meat buns had never struggled with sales. Since the 1950s and 60s, they had been a hot commodity with long queues. By 1990, they remained top-tier, with daily lines forming at the service counter just to buy them.
They had only agreed to make an extra 500 buns because Master Fang put in a word. Even if she backed out now, they wouldn’t have any trouble selling them.
Why should they lower the price when the buns were selling just fine? Even a five-cent reduction would be an insult to their premium status!
Wang Xiao tried to reason with them: “It’s not the same. Selling 500 buns at the service counter only reaches the same customers—it doesn’t expand your market. By taking them to Xin County, I’m introducing your buns to at least 500 new people, effectively advertising your hotel to them.”
She counted on her fingers as she explained, “If any of them come to the provincial capital for business, school, or just for fun in the future, the impression left by the buns will give them a natural affinity for Jinning Grand Hotel. When it comes to lodging or dining, as long as circumstances allow, they’ll naturally consider our hotel.”
If she had said this two years ago, the entire staff of Jinning Grand Hotel would have rolled their eyes at her. As a foreign guest reception hotel, they had never worried about business.
Were they concerned about guests not staying at their hotel? No! The guests themselves were the ones who should worry—without a certain status, ordinary citizens weren’t even eligible to stay at a foreign guest reception hotel.
Unfortunately, the winds of change have shifted, and times are different now. Almost all the foreign guests who had been staying at the hotel vanished overnight, and the remaining few were far from enough to sustain the hotel’s operations. With all profit-making units now required to be self-sufficient and no longer able to rely solely on government funding, the hotel had no choice but to shift its focus from external to internal markets.
Under these circumstances, the hotel couldn’t afford to ignore the power of advertising.
True, tiny Xin County might send fewer than ten people to stay at provincial hotels in a year. But creating the right atmosphere turns every mouth into a living loudspeaker, and these people have friends and relatives living and working elsewhere. As the saying goes, public praise is worth more than gold or silver trophies. Such word-of-mouth recommendations are incredibly valuable for expanding the hotel’s influence.
The hotel had been thoroughly shaken by over a year of bleak business, and the pressure was immense. Before Wang Xiao could further emphasize the importance of expanding sales channels, the manager directly agreed: “Alright then, forty-five cents it is. Make sure you take good care of our meat buns during transport. We can’t have them tasting wrong when customers eat them and thinking our skills are lacking.”
Wang Xiao immediately brightened up, nodding repeatedly with assurance: “No problem, I definitely won’t ruin my own reputation. I’m from the provincial capital myself – Jinning Big Meat Buns are our local specialty, and I take great pride in them.”
Ah, this meant a clear profit of 75 yuan from five hundred big meat buns.
Honestly, she was only doing this as a side business because she was so busy. If she could regularly ship meat buns from the hotel to surrounding counties just once a week, even after deducting bus fare expenses, she’d earn equivalent to an average dual-income family’s monthly wages.
After finalizing the delivery business with the hotel, Wang Xiao turned back to find Master Fang and thank him.
Master Fang quickly called out to her: “Come here, perfect timing. Taste this – is this the Honey Glazed Lotus Root flavor you wanted?”
Last time Wang Xiao had returned to the provincial capital, she’d only briefly mentioned the recipe before rushing off to promote her business at various hotels, never finding time to come back and sample the results. Now that there was freshly made Honey Glazed Lotus Root available, Master Fang naturally wanted her to verify if they’d gotten it right.
Wang Xiao obligingly picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of Glutinous Rice Lotus Root in her mouth. Mmm, the honey glazed lotus root colored with red dates looked delightfully sweet and tasted even sweeter, both crispy and glutinous.
Whether it was because the lotus root was more authentic now or the master chef’s skills were superior, Wang Xiao felt this Honey Glazed Lotus Root tasted even better than what she remembered from before she transmigrated into this book.
She immediately gave a thumbs up.
Master Fang showed visible relief – wonderful, this meant they hadn’t messed it up.
Indeed, customers’ palates were the best judges. Over the past couple days, at least half the tables had specifically ordered this Honey Glazed Lotus Root, with some customers even recommending it to their companions while ordering: “The hotel’s Honey Glazed Lotus Root is absolutely incredible – you’ll regret it if you don’t try it.”
He generously stated his position: “This is a dessert, not a main dish. We’ll price it at seven hundred yuan, what do you think?”
Wang Xiao responded readily: “Sure, seven hundred it is.”
The benefits she’d already gained from Master Fang’s connections far exceeded seven hundred yuan. There was no need to damage their relationship over such a small amount.
She said cheerfully: “Uncle Fang, just wait. When I remember how to cook other dishes, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
After bidding farewell, she went out to find Tang Yicheng waiting at the entrance.
The kitchen is a restricted area, not just anyone can casually enter.
Tang Yicheng, unaware that she had already secured two deals, worried: “Will they really make five hundred buns? Maybe we should ask for fewer.”
Wang Xiao felt like facepalming.
Ah, young people, don’t be blinded by the restaurant’s prestigious reputation. The world hustles for profit, the world bustles for fame. Well, that’s roughly how the saying goes anyway. The essence of merchants is profit-seeking. If there’s money to be made, why wouldn’t they sell?
“No problem.” She couldn’t be bothered to explain the intricacies. “My dad’s acquaintance put in a word. We’ll come pick up the buns early the day after tomorrow. Let’s go, no time to waste. Today we need to visit all the guesthouses in the city, tomorrow we’ll hit the hotels in the surrounding counties.”
Wang Xiao glanced at him. “You know how to pitch now, right? We’ll split up. For any shops you secure, we’ll split the commission fifty-fifty. Since the method was my idea, I’m charging intellectual property fees.”
Tang Yicheng froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to object.
Lately, rather than actually selling alongside Wang Xiao, he’d mostly been acting as a silent accessory – simultaneously deterring potential troublemakers by showing the girl wasn’t alone and vulnerable.
Wang Xiao didn’t give him a chance to refuse: “While your factory’s salespeople are still out on the road and can’t return yet, quickly develop some long-term clients for yourself. Even an extra hundred or two hundred yuan every month is still income. Later, when you need to marry, raise children, support your parents, or rent a bigger place if your home gets too crowded – where won’t you need money? Hurry up, better early than late. Opportunities don’t wait. Relax, it’s just sales. It’s mutually beneficial, nothing to be afraid of.”
The remaining guesthouses didn’t have the rapport she’d built through selling recipes. Theoretically speaking, she had no particular competitive advantage there, and bringing Tang Yicheng along wouldn’t teach him anything new.
So go for it, Pikachu!
Better finish the provincial capital quickly – there are still surrounding cities to cover.
With you as my free bodyguard, big sister can conveniently sell another wave of recipes along the way.
Wang Xiao kept running around until complete darkness fell before returning home, inevitably earning a scolding from Chen Yanqiu.
Roaming around so late at night! If you want to have fun, at least stay within the factory compound – aren’t the skating rink and dance hall enough for you?
Wang Xiao was utterly speechless. She could only turn to Old Wang: “Dad, be honest – are you a Sunday Engineer?”
Comrade Wang Tiejun jumped in fright, his eyebrows shooting up: “What are you trying to do?”
This damn girl wouldn’t actually try to turn in her own family, would she? It’s not like he’s really undermining socialism by selling factory supplies to private buyers.
“Nothing!” Wang Xiao rolled her eyes impatiently. “I just want to say – since you’re already going to the countryside on Sundays to earn money working at factories, why not make some extra while you’re at it?”
She reminded Old Wang about her own venture buying meat buns wholesale at forty-five fen and selling them for sixty fen. “Since you’re traveling between places anyway, you could help people bring meat buns or other scarce goods only available in the provincial capital. They save on travel costs, you earn delivery fees – everyone wins.”
Wang Tiejun instinctively objected: “Our family doesn’t need this money. Don’t go stirring up trouble for no reason.”
Wang Xiao sneered, “If you don’t need money, why are you working as a Sunday Engineer? Wouldn’t it be better for you and Mom to stroll in the park on Sundays?”
Wang Tiejun replied without hesitation, “Your mom still has to go out and give IV drips on Sundays. What park stroll are you talking about?”
Well, here’s another person making extra money in their spare time.
The richer they are, the richer they get. These two’s income already places them firmly in the middle class nationwide, yet they still insist on finding opportunities to earn more.
Wang Xiao emphasized again, “So why not make some easy money? You worry about damaging other people’s equipment as a Sunday Engineer, and Mom worries about making mistakes when giving IV drips. What’s the risk in reselling some big meat buns? The profit isn’t small either.”
Wang Tiejun found it strange, “It’s not like we’re short of money for your expenses. How did you become so money-obsessed, girl? Alright, alright, I’ll have your mom give you another hundred yuan in pocket money.”
Wang Xiao couldn’t hold back and rolled her eyes right in front of him, “What can a hundred yuan do? A million would be more like it.”
A father naturally sees his daughter through rose-colored glasses. Even when she rolled her eyes at him, he wasn’t angry but instead chuckled, “What do you need a million for?”
Wang Xiao paused for a minute before declaring seriously, “To buy property! To buy courtyard houses and Western-style buildings, then wait for them to appreciate.”
That’s right—she already had her second ten-year plan: capitalizing on the real estate boom.
She knew her limits, aware that only those with strong connections could acquire land, so she had no intention of diving into those muddy waters. She’d be content following behind to sip the soup.
Hoarding land was out of the question, but hoarding properties before purchase restrictions were imposed—waiting for appreciation—was perfectly feasible.
Then came her third ten-year plan: making money through the internet. Start with an online store and build a personal brand, then transition into live streaming, leveraging her status as a major influencer to earn.
In short, she could never have too much money.
As for cryptocurrency speculation—forget it. The waters were too deep, and she personally had no interest anyway.
Wang Tiejun, however, thought her property-buying idea was just stirring up trouble. It wasn’t like she didn’t have a room at home—why buy property? Those houses were built by the government to sell to overseas Chinese; what did they have to do with ordinary folks?
Unable to persuade his daughter, he could only complain to his wife in bed, “This child, really! She used to not care about money at all, and now it’s all she thinks about!”
Chen Yanqiu, already enjoying the Miqi skincare her daughter had gifted her, immediately took her side, “What’s wrong with her wanting our family to earn more? It’s just asking you to bring back some buns to sell—why are you making such a fuss? If you won’t do it, I will! Dozens of yuan per trip for something so simple—what’s there to refuse?”
She hadn’t thought of it before, otherwise she would have done it long ago.
Not needing money doesn’t mean rejecting extra income. Earning an additional two or three hundred yuan a month adds up—by year’s end, that’s several new outfits.
Honestly, you can’t count on men to manage household finances properly.
Wang Tiejun didn’t dare say another word, turning to face the wall to console himself. Maybe earning more wasn’t so bad—at least it would keep his daughter from complaining and neglecting her proper job to sell her Phoenix Claws.