Chapter 113: Just Fifty Copper Coins (Third Update—Please Vote)

The next morning, after a long absence, the bitter cold of winter was accompanied by a rare, lazy morning light, as if reminding everyone that something good was about to happen today.

Perhaps because of this, the streets of Chang’an were bustling with more merchants and travelers than in the previous days.

Meanwhile, the Zheng family made a bold move today.

In both the East and West markets of Chang’an, every shop owned by the Zheng family launched a new product—soap.

A large sign bearing the four prominent characters "Cleans Dirt and Stains" was displayed conspicuously at every shop entrance, drawing the gazes of passersby.

“Soap? Cleans dirt and stains? What kind of newfangled thing is this?”

Passersby whispered among themselves, eyes scanning around curiously. Their steps involuntarily slowed, and some turned to enter the shops, eager to see for themselves.

At this moment, a vegetable vendor returning from the market, basket in arm, also drawn by curiosity, stepped into one of the shops.

Inside, people stared repeatedly at the shelves lined with simply packaged soaps, displayed in great variety. They were dumbfounded.

“The Zheng family’s stunt today seems... a bit too bold, doesn’t it?” they muttered in disbelief.

The vegetable vendor was equally stunned, staring blankly for a long while before slowly regaining composure.

“May I ask, young sir, does this soap really clean dirt and stains?” she asked the shop assistant with a puzzled expression.

The assistant bowed slightly, then donned a standard professional smile.

“Madam, this soap is a new everyday product just launched today by our Zheng family shops. It truly does ‘clean dirt and stains’!”

“Moreover, our soap isn’t just much cheaper than grease; its effect rivals that of grease!” he emphasized, glancing at the vendor and then the crowd, proudly smiling.

“Oh? This soap is actually better than grease?” The vendor shook her head in disbelief, then rolled her eyes toward the assistant.

The others in the shop also shook their heads, expressing doubt and joining the vendor in scoffing.

After all, without seeing it with their own eyes, they believed the assistant was just blowing smoke.

Like the old saying, the melon seller praises her own melons—how much more so a merchant?

Though the Zheng family was the emperor’s favored merchant house of the Tang dynasty, suspicion lingered among the crowd that this might be mere hype.

However, the assistant had anticipated their doubts and showed no displeasure. Instead, he smiled gently, shaking his head.

“Dear guests,” he said confidently, raising his hand slowly, “if you don’t believe my words, why not come see for yourselves whether I am lying?”

With a light gesture, a maid carrying a basin of water appeared before the crowd.

“Everyone, watch closely!” the assistant called out, then gave the maid a subtle signal.

The maid nodded, placed the basin before the spectators, then took out a prepared small gray cloth.

“This is cooking oil,” she said softly, sprinkling oil over the cloth and shaking it until every inch was stained with grease. She then submerged the cloth in the basin.

After rinsing the cloth twice with clean water and wringing it out, she lathered it with the soap and gently scrubbed it a few times before placing it back into the basin for rinsing.

“Watch closely, the moment of the miracle is upon us!” the assistant reminded them.

Hearing this, and seeing the maid’s actions, everyone inside the shop watched intently, their expressions a mixture of belief and skepticism.

In no time, the maid lifted the cloth. Everyone looked closely and was astonished to find the once heavily stained cloth now completely clean.

Apart from being wet, it appeared almost as good as new, with no trace of grease anywhere.

“This...”

For a moment, the crowd was speechless, mouths agape, utterly dumbfounded.

None of them had expected the soap to truly clean dirt and stains as the assistant claimed.

Seizing the moment, the assistant took the wet cloth from the maid and held it up before the crowd.

“Dear guests, if you still don’t believe, feel free to try it yourselves,” he said with a smile, bowing politely to invite them.

“No... no...” the crowd shook their heads in unison, declining.

If even what they saw with their own eyes left them in disbelief, their eyes might as well be useless.

At this moment, all doubts vanished from their hearts.

Their curiosity now fully aroused, several voices rose in unison: “Young sir, may we know the price of this soap?”

“Yes, young sir, I clearly remember you said the soap was cheaper than grease. You must not deceive us!”

“Everyone, stop interrupting. Let the young sir tell us the price of the soap!”

The chattering ceased instantly as all eyes turned to the assistant, faces filled with eager anticipation.

“Of course,” the assistant nodded with satisfaction as the crowd quieted, then smiled and spoke slowly and clearly, “the price of this soap is only fifty wen!”

“What? Fifty wen!!!”

Upon hearing the price, everyone in the shop was stunned into silence, then burst out in shocked exclamations.

They could hardly believe such a good soap, capable of cleaning dirt and stains, was sold for just fifty wen!

Compared to grease, this soap was not just cheaper by a little—it was far more affordable!

“This... how can this be possible?”

“Am I dreaming?”

“Only fifty wen, heavens!”

Faces full of astonishment, they stared blankly at the assistant, unable to utter a word.

The assistant nodded seriously and confirmed, “You heard correctly. This price was personally set by our shopkeeper.”

“Each bar of soap is sold for only fifty wen in any of our Zheng family shops!”

Hearing this again, everyone felt as if waking from a dream.

Finally done for the day. Time to rest and continue tomorrow. Good night, everyone. QAQ...

(End of chapter)