Chapter 301 - 287 partnership
Guan Kunling asked, "Do you need me to go find Ji Qin?"
Tian Sangsang shook her head, signaling it wasn’t necessary. Back then, Ji Qin had asked them to seek her out, but Sangsang decided to wait for Ji Qin to come to her instead—if Ji Qin was genuinely interested.
On her end, Ji Qin waited and waited, becoming increasingly restless. While waiting, she didn’t forget her business and kept attending to her daily trades, but she hadn’t crossed paths with Tian Sangsang even once.
One time, Ji Qin sneaked over to the address Tian Sangsang had given her to take a look. She didn’t find Sangsang there, but instead saw an elegant woman in white diagnosing patients.
After observing for three days straight, Ji Qin guessed this must be the partner that Sangsang had mentioned. No wonder this woman provided the secret recipe—her appearance was pure and unblemished, and while she didn’t seem like someone who would handle mundane matters, there was an undeniable air of capability about her that commanded respect. Still, Tian Sangsang apparently didn’t live here; she showed up only once a day and brought along a young boy, possibly a relative’s child.
Eventually, five days later, Ji Qin, unable to wait any longer, took the initiative to visit.
Tian Sangsang wasn’t in the store—only Guan Kunling was there.
Ji Qin enthusiastically greeted her, "Hello, miss, I’m Ji Qin."
Guan Kunling replied, "Mm."
"Has Sangsang mentioned me to you?" Ji Qin asked with a smile.
Over the past few days, Guan Kunling had already noticed a suspicious woman sneaking around the front and had reported this to Tian Sangsang, who then informed her that the person was Ji Qin.
So, as soon as Ji Qin walked in, Guan Kunling discreetly sized her up. This woman was polite in speech, with a light smile always on her lips and eyes narrowed like a cunning fox—clearly, a shrewd character.
"She has. I respect Sangsang’s decision," Guan Kunling said coolly, "She hasn’t returned yet. You’ll need to wait and speak with her."
"Alright." Ji Qin didn’t mind her detached tone; she wasn’t offended. She knew that people like this often had an aloof, ethereal demeanor, and she respected that. Still, Ji Qin hadn’t expected her to defer all decision-making power to Tian Sangsang.
Later that day, when Tian Sangsang came back to the shop with Meng Shuyan, she immediately noticed Ji Qin sitting in the hall, waiting. She had gone out with her son today.
"Sangsang, there you are!" Ji Qin greeted her brightly. Upon seeing the adorable little boy she was holding hands with, Ji Qin remarked, "Oh wow, what a handsome child!"
"This is my son."
"Hello, Auntie," Meng Shuyan greeted politely.
Ji Qin was taken aback! While she knew rural folks often married early, Sangsang had always struck her as a single girl—the realization that she had a child, and such a young one at that, left Ji Qin stunned.
You wouldn’t have guessed... She’s really taking care of herself well.
"He’s adorable—so radiant! Just like you!"
"Not at all, he takes after his father more," Tian Sangsang replied, instructing Meng Shuyan to go upstairs and play on his own.
Ji Qin had never seen such a beautiful child in the village before. A wave of curiosity welled up in her—if the child was so charming, what kind of man would his father be? Could there really be such a person? Then again, Tian Sangsang herself is proof that extraordinary people exist.
Once the boy left, Ji Qin quickly got to the point, "Sangsang, I came here specifically to ask if you’ve thought over what we discussed the other day?"
"Sister Qin, please sit." Tian Sangsang took a seat, placed the basket she was carrying onto the table, and apologized lightly, "I’m really sorry to have delayed everything for so long. After that day, I immediately discussed it with Kunling. Kunling told me that since the formula was entrusted to me, the decision should rest with me. To be honest, I’m just a housewife—I’ve never dealt with situations like the one you’re proposing before. It took me a long time to figure it all out."
Ji Qin hurried to reassure her, "It’s good that you took your time—you’re new to this, after all. I can understand your concerns. You don’t have to worry; I’ve managed small businesses before, so I know the rules. If you could just give me a portion of the lotion to sell, I’ll take full responsibility for any issues that arise with my share."
This was precisely the response Tian Sangsang had been waiting for, yet she still hesitated. "Honestly, I also consulted my husband about it when I got home. He’s not keen on me getting involved in this type of sales. He says policies keep changing unpredictably, and he’s worried I might get into trouble and end up in hot water."
"True, but we can’t let policy uncertainty stop us from trying new things." Ji Qin encouraged, "Sangsang, I can see you’re someone with a mind of your own—you wouldn’t have started producing and selling lotion if you weren’t. This venture involves mutual effort and mutual benefits—what could be better? I genuinely want to find a path forward through you; just name your price."
"Sister Qin, you make a good point—it seems I’ve been overly cautious," Tian Sangsang reflected before admitting, "Honestly, I’m not as carefree as you are. The truth is, this lotion is handmade and the process is incredibly tedious—I can only produce about a dozen bottles every two to three days. It’s quite labor-intensive. So, at most, I can supply you with twenty bottles a week—no more than that."
"What?" Ji Qin asked, confused. "But wouldn’t you earn more if you made more? Why restrict yourself?" She couldn’t understand how anyone would pass up an opportunity to make more money. Even if the process was arduous, producing more would still yield greater profits.
"The materials are limited. I grow the roses at home myself, and my supply is small. By the way, since you sell rose tea, could you provide me with roses? If you can, that would be perfect. I’ll charge you just two yuan per bottle for handmade labor instead of the usual three yuan I sell per bottle."
Producing the lotion was indeed challenging—she had to process the materials herself and source additional ingredients elsewhere. Craftsmanship is, after all, the most valuable skill; if it were easy, the formula wouldn’t be so precious.
Ji Qin began calculating in her head. The better face creams on the market cost about two yuan per bottle, which she’d have to pay if she sourced elsewhere, avoiding the need for additional materials. With Tian Sangsang’s lotion, she’d also pay two yuan but provide raw materials herself. Still, Ji Qin was aware of the value of Sangsang’s lotion; she could sell it at a higher price and turn a profit. All things considered, it was a worthwhile deal.
"Deal! Let’s finalize it this way," Ji Qin agreed. "How much rose do you need per bottle? Write me a list, and I’ll have it delivered to you. I have a flower field full of roses that thrive year-round."
"I need them sun-dried."
Ji Qin gave it some thought—no problem; sun-drying was simple enough. "Alright!"
Tian Sangsang smiled, "If you have other flowers, Sister Qin, feel free to send them my way too. I can make other skincare products in addition to this Rose Water Moisturizing Lotion."
Ultimately, steady flower supplies were essential. This way, it was almost like she had secured an exclusive flower field as her supplier. Though her operation wasn’t large-scale yet, she’d eventually need to set up a factory—a prospect rife with its own challenges. For now, she counted any roses provided by Ji Qin as expendable, sticking to her own roses for actual production. In her unique space, there were plenty of flower variety options; if Ji Qin offered something she didn’t already have, that would be ideal.
Ji Qin’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes lighting up with fervor. "What other kinds do you need?"
"Jasmine, chrysanthemums, lilies, peach blossoms, orchids... As long as you can supply them, I can make the products."
Contemporary skincare products often boasted ingredients drawn from nature, such as flowers and fruits, supposedly for their enhanced beauty benefits. Lately, Tian Sangsang had been experimenting with fruits rich in skin-enhancing properties for her products.
Ji Qin hesitated to agree right away, choosing to test the waters by selling one batch first before fully committing. Nonetheless, the two came to an agreement and even formalized it in writing.