Chapter 246: The Rumored

Chapter 246: Chapter 246: The Rumored

The people gathering around were villagers who currently had no work on their hands and were relatively idle. Coincidentally, they were also the most gossip-prone demographic in the village—the older men, elderly women, and matrons. When they saw the situation before them, their faces first filled with surprise, but soon, unable to suppress their curiosity, they bombarded the pair with questions, all talking at once.

An older man was the first to speak up. "Is your soap really the same kind they’ve been selling in town lately? Don’t try to scam us! There’s only one family in town selling this type of soap. How come you have it here?" As he spoke, he stared intently at the soap displayed before them, as if trying to spot some flaw.

An elderly woman standing nearby nodded in hasty agreement. "Exactly, exactly! This soap isn’t cheap. Could it be a fake?" A trace of doubt and worry showed on her face as well.

Hearing their remarks, many in the crowd nodded unconsciously in agreement. After all, for these villagers, buying an expensive bar of soap wasn’t a decision made lightly.

When they had recently visited the town, they had already heard all sorts of rumors about rain boots, gloves, and soap. Naturally, everyone was filled with yearning and desire for these novel yet practical items. Who wouldn’t want a pair of waterproof, slip-resistant rain boots or a pair of gloves to protect their hands? As for the soap that could supposedly wash clothes spotlessly clean while leaving a faint fragrance, it tempted many even more.

However, despite their desires, they hesitated at the thought of spending so much money on such things. In their eyes, having a bit of body odor wasn’t a big deal, and whether they used soap or not didn’t seem to make much difference. Besides, rather than spending money on these non-essentials, it felt much more practical to buy some good food.

Just then, a middle-aged woman finally couldn’t hold back her curiosity and doubts. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and asked, "I say, could you two wash your hands with this soap right in front of everyone? That way, we can see for ourselves if it actually works well! And don’t forget to check if it’s solid all the way through. If it’s just a hollow shell, we’d be getting ripped off!"

As soon as she finished speaking, another woman stepped out from the crowd. With a solemn expression, she said, "Never mind whether it works well or if it’s solid for now. The main issue is the price! Is it the exact same price as the ones sold in town? Or can you make it a bit cheaper?"

Her words acted like a key, instantly unlocking everyone’s mouths. The surrounding crowd immediately chimed in, shouting over one another in hopes that Ling Qianjun and Xu Panqing would lower the price.

"That’s right! Exactly! We’ll be living in the same village from now on, so we’re basically family! Since that’s the case, shouldn’t you give us a discount on this soap?" someone echoed.