After the Sheng family moved to Bianjing, Sheng Hong became a moderately senior official in the Ministry of Rites.
This official has no rights and belongs to the Qingxian Yamen, but he has the qualifications to go to court and listen to government affairs.
Sheng Hong didn't value power. He came to Bianjing to avoid trouble. The less power he had, the safer he was.
After all, King Yong is in Bianjing.
Maybe Sheng Hong was too irrelevant and King Yong didn't care much about him.
Sheng Hong lived his life peacefully and immediately started to arrange the studies of Sheng Changbai and Wang Gang.
Because they missed the academy examination, Wang Gang and Sheng Changbai had to wait a year to take the scholar examination again.
It was impossible for them to be idle this year. Sheng Hong dragged on the relationship and spent a lot of money to invite a scholar Zhuang to give lectures in the government.
Zhuang Xuexue is not an unknown person. He is a great Confucian of the time and is very famous in the academic world. He has taught many Jinshi scholars and has gained great accolades all over the world.
Sheng Hong could invite Zhuang Xuexue into the house, but he still lost the face of Mrs. Wang when she was alive.
After Zhuang Xuexue entered the mansion, Sheng Hong spent money to build a garden specifically for him to live in.
Zhuang Xuexue set up a private school in Sheng Mansion, and soon word spread throughout Bianjing. Many dignitaries approached Sheng Hong, hoping to send their children to Zhuang Xuexue's private school.
As a scholar, Sheng Hong spent a lot of energy in sending those people away.
However, there were two families among them that Sheng Hong could not refuse.
One is the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, and the other is the Duke of Qi's Mansion.
The reason why he could not refuse Marquis Ningyuan was because Gu Tingye had an old relationship with the Sheng Mansion. The Marquis personally came forward to send his son Gu Tingye to study, but Sheng Hong could not refuse.
On the other side, Qi Heng, the Duke of Qi, was also sent to the Sheng Mansion because he was related to Gu Tingye.
Qi Heng's mother was the only daughter of the Marquis of Xiangyang and was granted the title of Princess Pingning.
The Marquis of Xiangyang and the Marquis of Ningyuan were related, so Qi Heng had to call Gu Tingye his second uncle.
After Qi Heng and Gu Tingye entered the private school, Sheng Hong simply handed over all the children of the Sheng family to Zhuang Xuexue.
Gu Tingye and Qi Heng came to Shengfu to study every morning and went back after lunch.
Wang Gang could only adjust his studies. He would study literature at Zhuang Xuexue in the morning and go to Master Liao to learn martial arts in the afternoon.
In the evening, I reconciled accounts with Lin Sushuang and watched the sales of soap.
When soap first appeared in Bianjing, it did not attract much attention. The retail price of one hundred yuan was destined to be beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Fortunately, as the capital of the Song Dynasty, Bianjing had no shortage of wealthy people.
The effect of the soap was much better than that of the soap locust at that time, and it also had its own floral fragrance. It soon became popular among the ladies of Bianjing.
Lin Sushuang saw the sales of soap rising every day, and boxes and boxes of copper coins were shipped to Lin Qige, and she couldn't open her mouth from ear to ear with joy.
In the end, Sheng Hong found out that his own store sold a kind of soap, which led the trend in Bianjing.
Sheng Hong didn't care at first, just thinking that Lin Sushuang was doing a small business and let her go.
But when the money in Lin Sushuang's yard became more and more abundant, Sheng Hong finally couldn't sit still.
"Shuang'er, how much money did you make from selling soap?" Sheng Hong Xingshi asked.
"Master, this is my private money." Lin Sushuang said protectively.
Sheng Hong said helplessly: "I don't want to take your money, but your soap is selling more and more. Many people have come to me to inquire. Those people are all royal family members, we can't afford to offend!"
Lin Sushuang was shocked. She didn't expect that selling soap could cause so many troubles.
"I don't make much money. I just made ten thousand taels of silver recently."
Sheng Hong took a breath and said in surprise: "You have only been selling for a few months and you have already made ten thousand taels of silver. Doesn't it mean that you can make fifty thousand taels of silver in a year?"
No wonder Sheng Hong was surprised. The Sheng family spent less than ten thousand taels of silver a year.
The purchasing power of silver and gold in the Song Dynasty was extremely strong. Common people generally used copper coins. One tael of silver could be exchanged for one tael of silver, and 10,000 taels of silver was equivalent to 10,000 guan.
That’s a huge fortune!
"Feng'er said that the rarest of things is the most valuable, so I sell a certain amount of soap every month, otherwise I can make more." Lin Sushuang said.
"What are you talking about? Feng'er made the soap?" Sheng Hong said in shock again.
Lin Sushuang said proudly: "Yes! Our son made the soap."
Sheng Hong suddenly became furious and shouted: "Nonsense."
When Lin Sushuang saw Sheng Hong getting angry, she immediately didn't dare to speak.
"Go and call that traitor here." Sheng Hong said angrily.
Lin Sushuang didn't understand why Sheng Hong was angry, but she didn't dare to disobey him and quickly called someone to call Wang Gang.
Wang Gang also came to see Sheng Hong confused.
"You traitor, why don't you kneel down?" Sheng Hong said angrily as soon as he saw Wang Gang.
Wang Gang didn't know why, and looked at Lin Sushuang with confusion.
"Gui Zi, let me ask you, you made the soap." Sheng Hong asked.
Wang Gang was puzzled and said: "Why is my father angry? I did research the soap accidentally and then asked my mother to sell it outside."
Sheng Hong was furious and accused his son: "Everything is low-grade, but reading is a good thing. You usually practice martial arts, and I let you do it. But why do you study strange and skillful skills, learn the skills of merchants, and waste your studies?"
Wang Gang finally understood that Sheng Hong was blaming him for not being able to study at ease.
Sheng Hong always paid attention to his sons' studies and did not want them to touch other things.
This is also related to the origin of the Sheng family.
The previous three generations of the Sheng family were all businessmen who made a living by doing business. It was not until Sheng Hong's father succeeded in winning the exam that the Sheng family transformed from a family of merchants to a family of officials.
However, the transformation time of the Sheng family was too short, so Mr. Sheng separated the first and second bedrooms.
The first house continued to engage in business, while the second house concentrated on learning and preparing for the scientific examination.
Sheng Hong also strived for success. He became a Jinshi in his twenties, and his second wife was firmly established in the official family. Then he broke off the relationship with the first family and only kept friends with the noble and first-rate to maintain his reputation.
Wang Gang's business in soap seems to Sheng Hong to be putting the cart before the horse and going back to the old ways of the Sheng family.
"Father, I know I was wrong." Wang Gang could only lower his head and admit his mistake.
Sheng Hong said in a deep voice: "Do you know that the soap you tinkered with has now fallen into the eyes of the nobles of the imperial court, and they all want a piece of the pie?"
Wang Gang raised his head in surprise.
"Alas, you are still too young. In Bianjing City, any profitable business has the support of noble people. Your soap came out of nowhere and became popular in the capital. In fact, it has blocked many people's financial paths." Sheng Hong explained.
:
"If you pick any one of those people, it's not something our Sheng family can afford to offend."
Wang Gang still overlooked one thing. He ignored the status of merchants in this era.
Among scholars, peasants, and merchants, merchants had the lowest status, which is not unreasonable.
That was a way for the gentry to control businessmen. It was almost impossible in this era to make a fortune without a background.
"Father, did someone ask you for the soap formula?" Wang Gang raised his head and asked.
"More than one person, even my superior asked me for the formula." Sheng Hong said with a bitter smile.
Wang Gang said: "Then get them all out!"
Sheng Hong looked at his son in surprise, wondering why he said such a thing.
Wang Gang said calmly: "Actually, the formula of soap is not complicated. Since we can't keep it, we might as well hand it over. Then everyone will have the formula and everyone will produce soap. The profits of soap will naturally plummet, and no one will care.
"
Sheng Hong looked complicated and said: "Are you willing to give it up? This is a profit of fifty thousand taels a year."
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "If you don't want to let it go, you have to let it go. The Sheng family is still weak now. It is better to give up as soon as possible than to keep it as a source of trouble."
Sheng Hong sighed and said, "It would be great if you could figure it out."
Lin Sushuang said with some reluctance: "If you really hand it over for nothing, even if you sell it for a good price, it's okay!"
Wang Gang said: "Mom, just leave it when it's time to leave it. Besides, it's not that soap won't be sold in the future, it's just that it won't be as profitable as it is now."
After speaking, Wang Gang took out a pen and paper, wrote down the soap making process, and handed it to Sheng Hong.
"Dad, give this recipe to your Shangguan first, as a favor, and then give it to others."
Sheng Hong held a thin piece of paper, but it felt heavier than a stone.
"Feng'er, my father knows that asking you to hand over the formula is too much. I will make it up to you in the future." Sheng Hong said guiltily.
"As a son of man, I should share my father's worries. Besides, I'm just a soap." Wang Gang said sincerely.
Sheng Hong solemnly put the formula away, and then said to Lin Sushuang: "I will repair another shop for you and pass it on to Feng'er in the future."
What else could Lin Sushuang say, she could only hold her nose and admit it.
After Sheng Hong left, Wang Gang immediately said to Lin Sushuang: "Starting tomorrow, we will increase the production of soap, stock up on more raw materials, and cut the retail price by half. We will make a profit first."
Lin Sushuang said puzzledly: "Doing this won't cause trouble to your father, right?"
Wang Gang sneered and said: "It's okay. When other soaps appear, it will not be easy for us to make big money. Now let's mess up the market. If I can't eat it, others can't eat it either."
Lin Sushuang had no opinion and could only listen to her son.
The next day, the soaps sold in Bianjing were half the price, and sales were also rising.
But soon other similar products appeared, and Shengjia's soap could only be sold at a reduced price again.
The original price of soap was fifty cents a piece, but in the end it was reduced to six cents a piece, and anyone could afford it.
But those who insist on soap recipes are at a huge loss.