Chapter 528: Chapter 515: Soap

“If you want to eat it, I can stew a pot for you,” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, “However, I didn’t buy this lard for cooking.”

“Then what did you buy it for?” Zhuang Qingsui asked with some confusion.

Isn’t lard just for eating?

“I plan to make some soap with it,” Zhuang Qingning replied with a smile.

“What… is soap?”

“Soap is a small square or round piece that you rub when washing your hands or face. It produces some foam that cleans the dirt off your hands and face,” Zhuang Qingning explained broadly.

“Oh…” Zhuang Qingsui blinked thoughtfully, “I understand what you’re saying sister, but isn’t lard an oily substance that is hard to wash off? Are you sure this soap you’re making can clean our hands and faces?”

“Well…”

Zhuang Qingning couldn’t explain the chemical reactions involved to Zhuang Qingsui, so instead she said, “One has to see to believe. We’ll know by tomorrow, won’t we?”

“Indeed, I’m eager to see this amazing soap you’re making tomorrow…”

And so, the next day, Zhuang Qingning followed a soap recipe, step by step, cooking and stirring lard, wood ash, and table salt, before allowing it to cool and settle, finally resulting in a large chunk of pale yellow solid.

“Is this soap?” Zhuang Qingsui examined it closely for a while, poking it to gauge its texture. After determining that it had a good texture, she stroked it with her hand.

“It feels smooth and quite comfortable to touch.”

Zhuang Qingsui looked up at Zhuang Qingning with a smile, “I wonder if it’s as magical as you say it is, able to wash off dirt.”

“That’s easy to know, just try it,” Zhuang Qingning said, then went into the kitchen. When she came back out, her hands were coated in black soot and some grease.

After rinsing her hands in a basin of clean water, she was able to clean the soot off her palms, but they still looked oily and dirty.

Zhuang Qingning, however, took a small piece of soap she had cut from the large chunk, wetted it slightly, and rubbed it.

Gradually, small soft white bubbles started forming on her initially black hands.

Zhuang Qingsui gave a surprised “Ah”, and before she could express her astonishment for long, Zhuang Qingning had already rinsed the soap away in the basin, leaving her hands clean and white.

“It indeed washes very clean,” Zhuang Qingsui marveled, gripping Zhuang Qingning’s hand in surprise, “Not only is it clean, but it isn’t oily at all.”

“But it’s strange that the soap was made from lard, which is very oily. How can it clean so well and not be oily at all after it’s been made?”

“Well, in layman’s terms, it’s because the soap undergoes a change when mixed with other materials. Just like medicine, it has one effect when used alone, but another when mixed with something else. Just like how doctors often say certain things shouldn’t be eaten together because they conflict, it’s the same principle,” Zhuang Qingning explained.

Before Zhuang Qingning finished speaking, Zhuang Qingsui patted her head and laughed, “I understand now. It’s like the meaning of a word depends on the sentence it’s in. Lard is greasy and oily on its own, but when mixed with other things, it changes.”

“Exactly,” praised Zhuang Qingning, nodding her head, “And this soap is not only good for washing hands and faces, but also clothes. It can clean them thoroughly.”

“It was just an experiment this time to see if it could be made and if it was useful. Later on, we can add some flower juice or dried petals to the soap to make it aromatic and cleansing. We can then call it scented soap. Some soap can also be infused with mugwort juice or sulfur to make it medicated, or mixed with pearl powder to make whitening soap…”

If a soap workshop is set up, the product range will definitely be diverse and appealing in both quality and appearance. They will surely be well-received.”

At that time, the phrase ‘making a golden profit every day’ will certainly ring true.

Zhuang Qingning’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she daydreamed about the prospect, but soon her expression dimmed and she let out a sigh.

She had many recipes and ideas, but making them a reality…

If even setting up a dried noodle workshop was full of twists and turns, starting a soap workshop wouldn’t be any easier.

Moreover, since soap requires expensive lard, the initial consumers will inevitably be from the middle or high class. Thinking about making a good profit from the soap and adhering to the basic investment principle of not putting all eggs in one basket, Zhuang Qingning felt she would need a well-established business partner besides the Cheng family…

“Sister, could you cut this soap into small pieces? I’d like to send some to Jinzhou and Mr. Fan,” Zhuang Qingsui’s voice interrupted Zhuang Qingning’s thoughts.

“Sure,” Zhuang Qingning replied, stroking Zhuang Qingsui’s head, “You’re constantly writing and reading, your hands and sleeves get easily stained with ink. This soap could be very useful.”

“That’s not quite it…” Zhuang Qingsui said earnestly, “Mr. Fan and Jinzhou often make bets, and the loser has to let the other draw a turtle on their arm. It’s hard to wash off, Mr. Fan is often afraid to play. With the soap, which can wash off the drawings completely, he won’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Zhuang Qingning: “…”

Why did she have a vague feeling that her little sister was being led astray by that old mischief-maker Fan Wenxuan?

However, inspired by Zhuang Qingsui’s talking, she got an idea…

Zhuang Qingning concealed the thoughts beneath her calm bearing and joined Zhuang Qingsui in cutting the big piece of soap into smaller ones. The soap pieces were then wrapped in oil paper and prepared for distribution as trial samples.

After they finish cutting, Mrs. Wang came to visit.

She had a large bamboo basket hanging from her arm, heavy enough to make her walk slightly tilted to one side.

“Busy as a bee, aren’t you, Miss Ning?” Mrs. Wang’s face was wreathed in obsequious smiles.

“Not really, I’m fairly free. What brings you here, Auntie? Is there something you need?” Zhuang Qingning replied, surprised.