In Nanjing in the sixth year of Wanli, soap was probably the most popular product in Nanjing. Soap, which is sought after by women, has also attracted the attention of merchants of all sizes in Nanjing while selling well in the market. Many merchants are trying every means to buy more goods, and some are also eyeing the production of soap.

Everyone knows what it means to make soap.

But how do soap be made?

This is obviously a secret. Even though he knows it is a secret, it is inevitable that some businessmen will try every means to see the secret.

Spotted bamboos and other trees are planted on both sides of the stone path. Many unknown flowers and plants are planted in the flower ponds under the trees. Various flowers are dotted among the grass, and butterflies dance in the bushes. Further forward is a small clear lake with rockery built in the lake, and a few weeping willows linger on the lakeside, dancing slightly in the wind.

The elegant scenery is locked behind the door by the towering courtyard wall. Behind the door is a small building with angular eaves opposite the small lake. An old man with white beard walked to the front of the building and said to the maid standing at the door.

"Xing'er, is the young lady included? Can you tell me about it?"

Xing'er frowned slightly, looked upstairs and said.

"Butler Tang, the young lady is reading a book in the room, and it is not convenient to go in and disturb me now."

"Yes, yes, then wait a little longer."

Tang Runze nodded slightly and then stood in front of the door. He knew that no one was allowed to disturb the young lady when reading a book.

"What book is the lady reading?"

"It's the books brought by the Western monk, and they are written like ghost paintings."

Xiaoping next to Xing'er also said.

"No, I really don't know why the lady is so interested in foreigners' knowledge. She writes like ghost-painted talismans, which makes people unable to understand. Butler Tang, do you think so?"

When the little maid asked this, Tang Runze smiled.

"There are also some of the best things about Westerners. When the lady reads foreigners' books, she also chooses good things to learn!" "Butler Tang, look at what you said, the Westerners are just a group of barbarians who look like monsters. What knowledge can they learn?"

"That's right, they all have red hair and blue eyes, and their skin is as white as dead. At first glance, they are unlearning. I really don't know why the lady cares about those..."

As the two little maids chirped, a clear and crisp voice came from the building. The soft voice had a unique charm, touching the softest string in people's hearts.

"Xiao Xing, Xiao Ping, you two usually ask you to read more books, but you are unwilling to read. Even barbarians have some advantages. Not to mention the "Hu Clothing and Casual Shooting" in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it is Songjiang Bu, which is famous all over the world. Of course, it was also learned from local natives when Huang Daopo was in Hainan..."

"Ah, Miss!"

The two shouted.

"You heard it all?"

"Of course, you two chirping, like two sparrows, which made me unable to read the book."

The woman in the building said.

"Sorry, Miss, we didn't mean it..."

The two of them urgently defended.

A giggle came from the building again.

"Okay, I didn't say what to do to you. Butler Tang should be anxious. Come in..."

"Yes, Miss."

The two responded in unison, and Tang Runze followed the two maids into the house.

After entering the door, what caught my eye were two rows of huge bookshelf, covering the walls on both sides. There were neatly placed various books on it, afraid that there were thousands of them. In the center was a wide and long mahogany desk, and the Zhengde stove on the table emitted a faint sandalwood fragrance.

Straws of sunshine reflected into the study from the sunny window. On the beauty couch under the sunny window, a woman in a pink Confucian dress was sitting lazily on the couch. The sun shone on her long satin-like hair, emitting a dazzling luster.

Tang Ziqi, who was lying on the beauty couch, held a book in her hand. When she saw Tang Runze come in, she asked with a smile.

"Butler Tang, what's wrong?"

"When I say it to the young lady, it's like this. Recently, Nanjing has become a new thing. I wonder if the young lady has heard of soap."

"Soap?"

Seeing that the eldest lady had suspicious expression on her face, Tang Runze said.

"It is the things women use to wash clothes, similar to soap beans, which can be washed very cleanly. Now it is very popular among women in Nanjing, and even in short supply."

While talking, Tang Runze took out a piece of soap and handed it to the maid beside him.

"Oh? Is it?"

Tang Ziqi raised her eyebrows slightly, put the book on the table, took the soap, and said in confusion.

“Is this soap?”

"Yes, Miss, this item is used to wash clothes very cleanly. Just rub it gently to wash clothes. If your hands are covered with oil, you can wash them easily..."

I looked at the soap in my hand. The soap turned yellow and weighed about half a pound. I took it to my nose and smelled it. The slightly stimulating smell made Tang Ziqi frown slightly.

"...This soap is produced by Tuanjie Soap Factory. This workshop is in the outer city. I have asked about it. Although the factory is under the name of a Fengyang man named Shi Yiwen, the place was bought by the Song family before, so it is estimated that this factory is still the Song family."

"Song Family."

Looking at Butler Tang, Tang Ziqi said again.

"You mean the soap was made by the Song family? When did they take such a worthless gadget?"

"If you go back to the eldest lady, it should be the Song family. This soap is worthless. If there are more people available, it will naturally be a big business."

"Soap?"

Tang Ziqi said.

"You mean, this soap is very popular now?"

"That's true, Miss. Although every piece of soap is still priceless but not in the market, it is still popular among women. I told people to inquire that the things Song family sent to the factory are mostly grease, including lard, butter, soybean oil, cotton oil and other oils, which are less than 10,000 kilograms a day, so I guess this should be made of oil, but how does this oil make soap? It really makes me wonder."

“It’s made of oil?”

Looking at Tang Runze's thoughtful look, Tang Ziqi seemed to remember something, got up and walked to the bookshelf, pointing at the bookshelf with her fingers. After a moment, she found the book from it. After turning dozens of pages, she smiled.

"Have it!"

Tang Ziqi smiled proudly with a book.

"I originally thought it was something fresh, but after a long time, it was just "soap", made of oil and burnt wood ash."

"Miss, do you mean that in this Western book, remember there is a way to make soap?"

Tang Runze looked at the book in the lady's hand in surprise.

"Yes, yes, but it's certain that the Song family must have modified the prescription. Look at this soap..."

Picking up the soap, Tang Ziqi said.

"It's pale yellow and white, and there's no trace of gray, so it's definitely not grass gray..."

Once again, putting the soap on the nose and enduring the stimulating smell, Tang Ziqi sniffed it for a while, then handed it to Tang Runze and said.

"Butler Tang, what does it smell like? What is it except that strange fragrance?"

Take the soap from the eldest lady's hand, Tang Runze sniffed it carefully, then frowned and said.

"Miss, this taste is a bit cooked... Yes, yes..."

Suddenly, Tang Runze's eyes suddenly lit up and he looked at the eldest lady and said.

"There must be alkali added to this soap!"
Chapter completed!