"Princess Mutong, Miss Yang, Doctor Mo, what can I do for you?" Mo Yan put down his work and ran over upon hearing Lixia call him.
"Oh, it's nothing major. I need a shop space. Do you know if there are any good locations for rent nearby?"
"For rent?" Mo Yan scratched his head. "I'm not sure about rentals... but the shop next to ours is up for sale. They used to sell spices and incense, but something happened in their family and they need money urgently. I don't know if they would rent it."
"That works too! Go ask if they are in and how much they want for it," Mutong urged anxiously.
"Right away!"
"You want to buy a shop?" Yufu asked.
"Buying is better. The location is good. If the price is right, it's a worthy investment," Lixia agreed.
The two girls nodded, looking as if they had encountered something thrilling. They were full of anticipation.
Not long after, Mo Yan returned with a smile. "Doctor Mo, the shopkeeper is in. He says two storefronts plus the backyard for a total of 5,000 taels."
"Is 5,000 taels too expensive?" The girls had never done business and didn't know the market rates.
"Doctor Mo, this price is actually quite good for the Capital. It's mainly because his old mother back home is critically ill, and he's in a rush to leave."
"Let's go take a look," Lixia said, standing up.
The structure was identical to the pharmacy. Since it was previously a spice shop, the interior design wouldn't need much changing.
Lixia found it amusing watching Mo Yan haggle relentlessly with the shopkeeper. In the end, he managed to knock off 500 taels. Buying this shop for 4,500 taels felt very worthwhile to Lixia.
Once settled, Mo Yan went with the shopkeeper to the government office to transfer the deed. The transaction was swift—like a few rich second-generation kids buying an apartment with cash without blinking an eye.
Since it was a partnership involving money, Lixia believed that "even brothers should keep clear accounts." She drafted three contracts and had Mo Yan notarize them.
"Li'er, isn't this a bit too formal?"
Lixia smiled. "It's not about mistrust; it's about being prepared. We don't care now, but if this shop becomes huge and passes to the next generation, we can't guarantee they will feel the same way."
"Li'er has a point. We'll listen to you. Besides, we just invested money; we won't manage anything. We'll just wait for the dividends. We know you don't lack these few thousand taels; you're just letting us earn some pocket money for our dowries. We think you should take 60%, and we'll take 20% each. It's only fair."
"Yes," Mutong agreed.
"That's not reasonable. You guys are taking a loss," Lixia laughed.
"Oh, this Princess doesn't lack money! It's for fun!"
"Exactly. And while you weren't looking, we already changed the numbers on the contract," Yufu smiled cleverly.
Lixia was helpless. Fine, I won't argue. I'll just give them more dividends later.
The Shampoo Experiment
With the sudden acquisition of a shop, preparations began. The shopkeeper moved out that afternoon. Lixia instructed Mo Yan to do some simple renovations and start stocking goods, as well as hiring staff.
Before Mutong and Yufu left, Lixia reminded Yufu that the plasters were for the navel.
Back at the manor, it was late. Lixia paid her respects to her mother and shared the day's amusing events. Madam Mo was happy that her daughter finally had close friends.
For the next few days, Lixia stayed home, researching traditional soap (Yi Zi) and shampoo.
Making soap required lye. Lixia had Hongshang fetch wood ash from the kitchen. She sifted it to remove large debris, leaving clean white ash.
"Miss, what do we do with this sifted ash?"
"Soak it in water in a clean basin and put it in a cool place."
Dissolving ash in water created alkaline water (lye), which could then be mixed with oil to make soap. Cold water soaking took ten days for maximum strength. Boiling water was faster but resulted in cloudy lye, making the soap opaque.
As the New Year approached, Mochen was about to start his break, but her father and brother were busy.
It had been snowing since last night. Lixia was too lazy to go to the shop, so she holed up in her medicine room making pills and researching shampoo.
Most traditional shampoos used saponins (Gleditsia sinensis) and soapberries as the main ingredients because they foamed. However, perhaps due to the formula, the resulting mixture was always thin and watery.
"Miss, we've dumped out several pots today," Xiqiu said, her hair wet from testing the failed batches.
On the other side, Hongshang was washing her hair with the watery mixture. "Miss, actually, this water is much better than just using raw saponins. It smells a bit bad when using it, but there's no smell after rinsing."
Lixia was focused on adjusting the formula. "No, it won't do. A successful shampoo should be thick and fragrant... Xiqiu, go to Mother's garden and pick some flowers. We'll boil them into juice."
"I'm on it."
"Wrap your hair in a towel so it doesn't freeze into ice," Lixia laughed at Xiqiu's wet head.
"Yes, Miss."
Lixia added more saponins, along with 30g each of Dong Quai, Almonds, Ephedra, Angelica Dahurica, Ligusticum, 20g of Gypsum, 40g of Raw Coix Seed, one Ginseng root, and some Black Sesame. She ground them into powder and boiled them.
"Miss, you're putting Coix Seed and Sesame in shampoo?" Hongshang asked, drying her hair.
"They prevent hair loss and nourish the hair. Once we add the flower juice, it will smell good too." Lixia rummaged through the medicine cabinet.
"What are you looking for, Miss? Let me get it. Look, you got cinnabar on your hands."
"Cinnabar?" Lixia looked at her sleeve. "No, I didn't." She rubbed her cheek with her hand.
"Miss! Don't touch your face! It was on your hand, now it's on your face!" Hongshang grabbed her hand.
Lixia looked in the mirror. Because her hand was wet, the red cinnabar had smeared all over her right eye and cheek.
Hongshang giggled. "Miss, what now?"
"It's fine, it will wash off." Lixia sighed. Being a scientist is hard work.
The "Mud Monster" Incident
After over an hour of slow simmering, the mixture looked like a pot of porridge or volcanic mud, but at least it was thick. She added the flower juice Xiqiu brought and let it cool.
"Miss," Hongshang said, "I passed Madam's courtyard and saw Nanny Guirong. She asked me to tell you to change into nicer clothes. The General and Madam are coming to see you."
"Did she say why?"
"No. I guess the General is free today and misses you. Maybe they want to take you out? Nanny probably feared you were still in bed."
"Ignore them. If they come, they can see the effect of my shampoo." Lixia asked Hongshang to prepare hot water.
Xiqiu looked at the color of the mixture in the pot and grimaced. She wanted to say it looked like dog poo, but seeing her mistress's excitement, she kept her mouth shut.
Lixia, still wearing her white lab coat stained with various powders, wet her hair. When the water hit the powders, they turned brownish-black. She looked like a mud mason.
"Miss, water is ready."
Lixia scooped a large glob of the... substance... onto her head. It actually foamed!
"Xiqiu, Hongshang, try it later. I think this one is a winner," Lixia said, straightening up.
"Miss... it's just that the color is a bit ugly," Xiqiu said tactfully.
"Miss? Are you there?" Nanny Guirong's voice came from the courtyard.
"We're here!" Xiqiu answered.
Lixia, eager to show off her creation, ran out with the poo-like substance piled high on her head.
"Father! Mother! What brings you here?"
Lixia rushed out, only to freeze. Standing next to her father was a burly, handsome stranger.
Lixia frowned. She looked like she had just crawled out of a mud pit, causing anyone who saw her to want to keep their distance. This is humiliating. Who is this stranger?
Mo Wushang and Ye Qingwan were also shocked by their daughter's appearance.
"Li'er, what... what is on your hair?" Ye Qingwan quickly stood up, pulling her daughter behind her. She turned to the man. "Captain Wu, please forgive my daughter's unruliness." She then dragged Lixia into the inner room.
Mo Wushang coughed dryly. "Captain Wu just returned from the camp. I heard Julong Zhai has a new chef, so I thought I'd invite you and my daughter for a simple meal... My daughter just likes to... tinker with things. Perhaps we should go to the outer courtyard. The snow is heavy; why not stay for dinner?"
"As you command, General," Captain Wu said, lowering his eyes respectfully.
"Please."
Once they left, Lixia let out a breath. She glanced at her mother innocently. "Mother?"
Madam Mo smiled, unbothered. "What did Li'er think of Captain Wu?"
What could I think? I didn't even look at him closely. "Mother, sit for a moment. I need to wash my hair."
"Go on. What on earth is that stuff?"
Lixia chuckled and ran back to the study.
Outside, Nanny Guirong knelt. "It is my fault for not warning the Miss properly."
Madam Mo pulled her up. "That is just Li'er's nature. If she knew it was a matchmaking setup, she would have hidden away."
"The Miss has been wild and free for so many years; she resists these arranged matters," Nanny Guirong said softly.
Madam Mo sighed. "As a mother, I can't bear to let her go either. But I can't be selfish and keep her here, delaying her life, just because I missed her."