Chapter 300 - 286 Ji Qin
When Tian Sangsang was about to leave, Ji Qin finally couldn’t help but step forward to make small talk: "Miss, I’ve been watching you for a while. You’ve got skills. You’re almost sold out in no time."
Looks like someone with ideas. She was looking for exactly this kind of sales channel.
Tian Sangsang pursed her lips in a smile: "It’s mostly thanks to the quality of the product."
"It’s also inseparable from your eloquence, Miss," Ji Qin praised, sizing her up closely. She looked like someone who knew how to dress—her attire was simple and understated, yet it had an appealing charm when worn on her. Ji Qin had been living in the countryside for a while. It was only recently that she started imitating city folks’ way of dressing, and the comparison made her feel embarrassed, like a clown standing before Tian Sangsang. But no matter—if she kept learning, she could master the nuances of fashion and integrate herself into urban life. And this young woman? She was exactly the ideal she had dreamed of becoming.
She didn’t seem impatient and was willing to talk to her. Ji Qin pressed on and said, "Miss, you must be from the city, right? Living here and making a living like us—it’s not easy at all."
"I’m not from the city; I’m from the countryside."
Ji Qin was surprised: "Miss, where are you from? Funny, I’m also from the countryside." She slapped her thigh in excitement and said, "Maybe we’re even from the same place!"
Tian Sangsang noted her expression but feigned cautiousness, "From Tian Family Village in Xiakou Town, Sangren County."
Ji Qin felt even luckier and quickly said, "So you’re from Tian Family Village in Xiakou Town? I’ve heard of it. One of my cousins married into Xiakou Town years ago. But there was an earthquake in your area, and now their whole family has moved to Nan’an to start anew."
"Yes." Hearing her mention the earthquake, Tian Sangsang thought of Chen Ying and Aunt Zhong—they must have also moved to Nan’an. It had been two months since the earthquake, and she hadn’t heard anything from Chen Ying. She didn’t know Chen Ying’s exact address, and their connection had understandably faded. "What a coincidence! Maybe I even met your cousin."
Ji Qin said, "Her name is Qiu Ying. Have you heard of her? She had a son, eight years old, but sadly he was lost in the earthquake. She’s been fortunate, though—she’s expecting another child now."
Qiu Ying, Sister Qiu? She had been a regular at Tian Sangsang’s little shop back in the day. Tian Sangsang finally allowed herself to show familiarity: "I’ve heard of her. I worked in town running a small business before." Relationships among people truly were interconnected. You could bump into someone on the street and find ties to your past. Familial and social connections seemed to be the fabric of society.
"That’s such a coincidence!" Ji Qin said excitedly. "We’re practically connected now. I noticed your moisturizer sells really well—it’s even more popular than the face cream sold at department store counters. Where do you source your products from?"
Tian Sangsang smiled subtly: "To be honest, I make it myself. It’s made with rose petals combined with my family’s ancestral formula. It’s different from what’s on the market, so the skincare effect is better. I let people try it for free. Once they realize what a great product it is, they’ll definitely buy it." She was confident that these customers would become repeat buyers. For example, last time she sold her products near the ballroom and department store. A month later, those customers had gone back there waiting for her to buy again. She had promised them different skincare products for each season.
It made sense: summertime for oil control and sun protection, fall, winter, and spring for hydration and protection against dryness—all tailored to be either refreshing or nourishing.
Ji Qin could tell she wasn’t bluffing and looked at her basket with genuine admiration.
"I’ve got some sample sizes here. You can try them and see the difference for yourself." Tian Sangsang offered her basket.
Ji Qin accepted it and eagerly applied the moisturizer. Instantly, she realized this was something great! Her yellowed hands, prone to dryness in autumn and winter, now felt noticeably moisturized with the cream’s application. Her hands looked whiter, softer, and smelled faintly of roses—a fragrance that wasn’t overpowering but rather pleasant.
As she applied more, she felt increasingly tempted. Such a perfect product clearly represented an opportunity to make money. She said, "This is truly amazing—no wonder so many people buy your products!"
She wanted to ask outright if she could buy the formula, but something this good wouldn’t come cheap. Ji Qin’s village was poor, and most of its residents had never amounted to much. Only a distant female cousin in her uncle’s family had managed to join the military’s entertainment troupe, and even luckier was that cousin’s sister who married an officer in Beijing.
From then on, that "wild chicken turned into a phoenix," elevating not just herself but even Ji Qin’s cousin. Sadly, Ji Qin wouldn’t benefit from that connection, nor did she plan to curry favor.
Still, she believed she could carve out her own success.
At age twenty-nine, divorced, Ji Qin had been the first to dare leave the village to run a small business.
She was determined to buy this formula. Just having it would guarantee she made a fortune. For now, she settled for compromise: "I’m like you, running a business. You’ve been promoting alone, haven’t you? It’s definitely faster with two people than alone. I’d like to buy some of your moisturizer wholesale, if that’s okay. We can negotiate prices—it’d also help you expand your market."
"Well..." Tian Sangsang hesitated. In matters of mutual interest, when others sought you out, responding too quickly could seem overly eager. A little delay could make for better results.
Ji Qin saw her pause and knew she was deliberating. She immediately continued, "Look at you—all young and beautiful. This kind of grind isn’t suitable for someone like you. It’s getting colder these days, and winter will be freezing. If you sell some to me for resale, you won’t have to run around as much and still make money. I’ve got a sturdy body, used to hard work, and can manage the traveling. This way, both of us win. Don’t you think so, Miss?"
Tian Sangsang furrowed her brows, acting conflicted. "Sis, you make a good point. It’s just that I’ve got a business partner—the formula was taught to me by her. So even though I’m selling the product, I can’t make decisions entirely on my own. It depends on her opinion too."
"Not an issue." Ji Qin nodded and said, "You go back and discuss with her. Explain it well—it’s a profitable deal for sure. If she agrees, you can come find me, or I’ll come find you. I live in West Slope Ji Family Mansion. My name is Ji Qin—you can come anytime."
"Alright." Tian Sangsang lowered her eyes and replied softly.
Although Ji Qin spoke nonchalantly to avoid seeming anxious, internally, her nerves were tense. After all, this was a golden opportunity paved with money. She asked for Tian Sangsang’s address as reassurance, all the while thinking that if her offer were rejected, she’d resort to pleading with them.
**
Guan Kunling was now more leisurely than ever, spending his time helping people with medical check-ups. Tian Sangsang prepared him lunch but didn’t stay long, as she had to head home to cook. She preferred to get home before Jiang Jinghuai returned, to avoid any possible conflicts.
Before leaving, however, she told Guan Kunling about the gist of the situation, giving him a heads-up to prepare himself.