Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 146 - 71: Favoritism

"That’s enough! We can’t meddle too much in others’ affairs. Let’s talk about the soap business, I warn you all, you’ve seen how soap is made, it’s not that hard, but don’t you dare let it slip. If you do, and people find out, we won’t be able to sell this soap for silver. Especially for the eldest and second branches, you mustn’t tell your family. If I find out you’ve not listened to me, don’t blame me for being harsh."

Mr. Gu looked at Mrs. Fang and He, stern-faced, warning them. With Mrs. Fang, he felt somewhat assured, but with He, who was prone to careless blunders, when her mother came around with a few sweet words, she might let it slip. Mr. Gu glanced at Gu Chengyi, motioning towards He, and Gu Chengyi immediately understood, nodding in acknowledgment.

This time, it was only adults who came to see the soap-making in the kitchen. Children were not allowed in for fear they might talk indiscreetly. Even Gu Wan wasn’t let in, and Gu Chenglian and Gu Chengchi, being old enough, were not sent out.

"Dad! Come on now? We’re not fools! We wouldn’t do something like that! And who knows how much this soap can sell for? I heard mom’s bath beans sell for three hundred Copper Coins a box! So this soap should definitely be more expensive than bath beans, right?" He, full of Copper Coins and Silver, would never foolishly divulge the money-making business to outsiders, though she subconsciously overlooked her mom and brother.

"Yeah! Dad! Don’t worry! I surely won’t mention it to others," Mrs. Fang quickly chimed in.

Her brother from her maiden family was fourteen this year. Actually, their family also did this business, so there was no worry about her brother’s marriage, and her mother could breathe easy. Unfortunately, such a good business, Mr. Gu wouldn’t allow it. Next year, her brother Huai Shan would be fifteen and at conscription age. Where will the family get that much Silver? If there’s no way out, he can only labor in corvée, but at least it’s not riverbank construction, just tiring! Life would still be intact.

Mrs. Lv, pondering her maiden family’s matters, paused in her motions.

"Eldest branch, aren’t you pouring? Loafing around here? It’ll set if you keep this up, and you won’t be able to pour!" Mrs. Lv turned, finding Mrs. Fang holding a spoon lost in thought, and immediately flared up.

Mrs. Fang, startled by the scolding from Mrs. Lv, snapped back to reality and transferred the soap liquid into molds.

"Xiao Bao! How do you know how to make this soap? Did you also learn it from books?" On the other side, Gu Chengyi focused on the yellow soap liquid and asked. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Yeah! Xiao Bao picked up reading and loves books. He saw it in a bookstore," Mr. Gu, hearing Gu Chengyi’s question, hurriedly explained.

Xiao Bao dreamt of Immortals, a matter he didn’t want to share with other family members because the children were grown, each harboring their own calculations. Once married, it’s challenging to have unity with parents and siblings. He planned to keep this between him and Mrs. Lv alone, not telling anyone in the family.

Gu Chengyu smirked. What’s dad so anxious about? Isn’t this as clear as saying there’s "no three hundred silver left"?

Gu Chengyi looked doubtfully at the jumping-to-answer Mr. Gu. He casually inquired, surprised by such a strong reaction. Was there something he didn’t know? Wasn’t the soap recipe found in the fifth son’s book? It couldn’t be anything else! Where did it come from?

Could it be an ancestral secret? No, couldn’t be! If they had this recipe, wouldn’t the family have already utilized it to make silver? No reason to keep it hidden? Gu Chengyi pondered, shook his head, deciding not to dwell further. What does it matter where it came from? As long as this brings silver to the family.

Gu Chengyu wouldn’t worry; his second brother would never guess his secret, so what’s there to rush?

"Dad! Once our house is built, we’ll have a dedicated room for soap-making and must prepare a separate large pot just for this," Gu Chengyu envisioned turning a room into a small soap workshop; otherwise, sharing the stove for cooking and soap-making wouldn’t work.

"Hmm! That’ll have to wait until we’ve sold some soap, to see if it’s worth the silver." Although Mr. Gu trusted his youngest son, business remained uncertain.

Gu Chengyu had great confidence in his soap, as long as its stain-removing power was strong, the affluent would surely buy it. In the future, adding essential oils, petals, even herbs, would finesse it for selling at a good price, but this needed to progress step by step.

He deliberated for a long time, hesitant to speak. Sneaking a glance at Gu Chengyi, she finally spoke.

"Dad! Our family builds the house, needing workers, why not invite my brother over? He could help, right?" She’s considering her home meals, certainly simple, but satisfying, not fancy, yet filling and energizing for work. Better invite her brother, her father died early, leaving just an old mother and brother’s family, and her lazy brother wouldn’t work properly, why not bring him to help, maybe Mr. Gu would pay some wages.

"Your brother? Do you even know what you’re saying? Look at your brother, he can’t lift or carry, what can he do? His bulging belly makes turning difficult, you better drop that thought!" Mrs. Lv sneered at He’s intention to bring her brother. Such a person would expect everyone to serve him.

Mrs. Lv previously paid much attention to the He Family’s affairs, having seen He’s brother, who looked just like He, slack and lazy, with a bulkier stature than He.

Mrs. Fang thought if He’s brother came, she’d invite her brother too. Huai Shan progressed health-wise over the past two years, willing to work diligently, not asking wages, just hoping her brother could have some hearty meals, but with her mother-in-law refusing, it seemed hopeless.

"Forget your brother, his health can’t endure hardship. But the eldest’s Huai Shan, he’s grown now, right? If there’s no pressing chores at home, let him come help! We’re short-handed, but if home’s busy, forget it."

Mr. Gu disregarded his frail nephew; with that physique, who dared let him work? He might collapse before starting. His eldest son’s family was earnest, and he’d met Mrs. Fang’s brother Huai Shan, a solid lad, albeit slightly young. Asking him to assist was just lending a hand.

Mrs. Fang, having lost hope earlier, hadn’t even dared to ask, unexpectedly finding Mr. Gu proposed it first, was overjoyed. Her family’s short on food, Huai Shan working there couldn’t be kept unfed, though wages weren’t her wish.

"Old man, her family brother, a small physique, what can he do? He’s still a kid!" Mrs. Lv protested, not pleased at the idea; might not give wages, but a half-grown lad could eat voraciously.

"Yeah! Dad! Why can sister-in-law’s Huai Shan come, but not my brother, who’s your nephew?" He was irritated by Mr. Gu’s favoritism; why was he biased towards the eldest daughter-in-law?