Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Inferiority Complex

Moreover, because the villagers spent so much time immersed in their daily catch, they reeked of a strong fishy odor that left them harboring a deep-seated sense of inferiority. They hardly dared to cross the thresholds of wealthy households, much less look directly at those who dressed in glamorous clothes and exuded subtle fragrances. Whenever they encountered such people, they would unconsciously lower their heads, feeling inherently inferior. Therefore, if a product could appear right now to remedy this flaw, it would undoubtedly be met with an enthusiastic welcome from the vast majority of the villagers. And this miraculous product was soap.

This time, before Hua Buwan went out to sell the soap, she had specifically handpicked several different scents. Among them were captivating floral fragrances that made one feel as if they were standing in a blooming meadow; elegant vanilla scents that brought a sense of peace and tranquility; and sweet, refreshing fruity notes that evoked thoughts of fresh, juicy fruits. Every single one of these fragrances was pleasant and deeply refreshing.

More importantly, the soap Hua Buwan made had an exceptionally rich and long-lasting fragrance. Just a light application on the body could quickly mask the original fishy odor, replacing it with waves of sweet perfume. Whether for a fisherman returning from the sea covered in stench, or a villager handling various seafood daily, this soap was an absolute lifesaver. It ensured they would never again feel inferior or embarrassed by their body odor.

In this ancient and mysterious land, soap had undoubtedly become an incredibly rare treasure. Looking back a thousand years at Dongxuan Country, the only cleaning product people knew of was the soap pod. The technological level of the time was far from sufficient to develop a miraculous good like soap. Because of this, its scarcity multiplied its value, perfectly embodying the principle that things are prized for their rarity.

If it were anyone else, they would have likely sold the soap at an exorbitant price without hesitation to make a massive fortune. However, Hua Buwan had a completely different idea. After all, she had the Any Door, and she had her own little personal ambitions for earning money. Upholding the belief of ”taking from the people to serve the people,” Hua Buwan decided to initiate a unique trade with the local villagers. Of course, the majority of the money she earned would be channeled back into modern public welfare projects—doing good deeds and contributing to the future of her motherland.

She was willing to use her soap to barter for various goods. If a villager truly couldn’t produce suitable items for exchange, accepting some Copper Coins or Silver was also perfectly fine. However, the items that seemed ordinary and worthless in the eyes of others were invaluable antiques to Hua Buwan. Through this method, not only could she fulfill her own needs, but she could also earn a substantial profit. It was a guaranteed win.

However, if Hua Buwan planned to step out of the Lingnan Region in the future and introduce her goods to a broader market, the situation would be entirely different. By then, she would inevitably make appropriate adjustments to her prices, as factors like transportation costs and market demand would change. At the same time, the quality of her goods would significantly improve. Take soap, for example: what was currently selling in Lingnan was merely the most basic version. Once she set foot outside this land, she would launch premium versions that were smoother, produced a richer lather, and offered a wider variety of captivating scents to choose from.