Chapter 318: 304 Ji Qin’s Fox Tail
Recently, Tian Sangsang often wandered around the city but hadn’t seen Ji Qin. She thought that Ji Qin must have gone somewhere else in the big East Sea to sell things.
That day, Tian Sangsang met an old customer.
The old customer was surprised and said, "Why did you change the name of this product? A colleague of mine is also using it. I’m using the same thing, but the name is different."
Tian Sangsang didn’t understand, so she just asked with a smile, "What is the name of your colleague’s product?"
"It’s called Huayan, and it’s also the rose moisturizing lotion."
"That definitely isn’t mine. My brand has always been Yan’s, it won’t change. Anything else isn’t from me." Tian Sangsang frowned, "Does it really have the same effect when you used it?"
"Yes, it’s the same product."
After the conversation with this old customer, a warning bell started ringing in Tian Sangsang’s heart. She spent a few days conducting a secret investigation and discovered that Ji Qin had changed the names of the products she sourced from her. The name was changed to "Huayan." Not only that, but Ji Qin also had a business mind. She repackaged these products and sold them at a higher price than Tian Sangsang originally did. However, some products were deliberately sold cheaper, broadening the consumer base.
The name change was enough to anger Tian Sangsang, but what made her even angrier was that Ji Qin had been telling people it was her family’s secret formula!
However, when she signed the contract with Ji Qin, Tian Sangsang hadn’t realized the issue of ownership; they only discussed price collaboration. Now that the problem had arisen, it was too late for regret.
If Ji Qin simply wanted to make money, that wouldn’t be too serious. But if she had other intentions, the issue was much more serious...
It’s necessary to guard against others, so from then on, Tian Sangsang became more wary of Ji Qin.
Coincidentally, the next day, Ji Qin came to Guan Kunling’s house.
When Ji Qin arrived, Guan Kunling was treating patients on the first floor, which was empty and quiet. She glanced upstairs, and with a thought in mind, Ji Qin cheerfully went upstairs.
At that time, Tian Sangsang was upstairs making products. The second floor was a place she specifically used for making products; it could be considered private. Usually, Meng Shuyan also came up, but only to play in the room next to hers.
"Sangsang, you’re here! I was just looking for you." It was Ji Qin’s first time seeing such a scene and she was a bit stunned. The room was filled with various glass instruments, bottles, and jars, with a floral fragrance lingering in the air. Tian Sangsang, with a gentle and focused look, was handling a test tube with white gloves on her hands.
"Sister Qin." Because Ji Qin was older, Tian Sangsang always addressed her as Sister Qin. She smiled and said, "Are you here to restock? I’m barely keeping up with demand."
She was waiting, waiting to see if Ji Qin would bring up the topic of rebranding and claiming the secret formula. But Ji Qin wasn’t there to talk about that; she said joyfully, "Exactly, I just landed a big deal. I have a friend, she’s from Hong Kong, who thinks your product works well and wants to buy some to sell in Hong Kong."
"Sister Qin, you want to sell to her?"
"Of course, if it sells well, we can have a long-term partnership with her."
"But will it pass customs inspections?"
"Don’t worry, she has her ways."
"How much does she want?"
Ji Qin gestured with her hand, "100 of each product type, I’ve noted all the quantities in my notebook. She’s willing to pay a price higher than the original, as long as we can sell to her. I’m discussing it with you, and we can split the extra profit fifty-fifty."
After Ji Qin finished speaking, she watched her expression. Honestly, she didn’t want to share half with Tian Sangsang, but she thought she needed to gain her trust by offering a taste of the profit.
"How can that be okay?" Tian Sangsang demurely shook her head, "The partner in Hong Kong is someone you found, Sister Qin, so the earnings should be yours. I’m just providing the stock, I really can’t take it."
"Sangsang, don’t be so formal with me. Without you, what would it matter if I found more partners?" Ji Qin said, "By working together, we can win and grow bigger in the future."
Tian Sangsang insisted, "I appreciate your kindness, but it’s my principle. What’s yours is yours, and what’s mine is mine. I can’t take advantage of you."
Her tone was gentle and soft, but Ji Qin detected a sign of something unusual. She paused, "You really are straightforward, not taking any advantage."
"Naturally." Not willing to suffer any losses either.
Tian Sangsang looked at her with a smile and only then noticed how much Ji Qin had changed over the month. Change built up over time; she was no longer the rustic woman trying to fit into the fashion scene from the streets. Ji Qin was inherently attractive and was the kind of person elders liked, someone who seemed capable of bearing children, with an even more agile temperament. She used the products herself while selling them, and after some time, her skin became fairer and more hydrated, making her appear naturally more beautiful. In terms of style, she had met some wealthy women who were willing to buy her products, and as they became familiar with each other, she learned some fashion tips.
Ji Qin was someone who liked to learn.
Indeed. It’s important for people to learn. Adapting to society and keeping up with the times. Tian Sangsang had always understood this, but Ji Qin gave her the most direct impression.
"Sangsang, you’re really amazing with all these bottles." Ji Qin curiously looked at the bottles and jars, "I don’t understand any of it, it seems so complicated. I used to hear you say how difficult it was, and I didn’t think much of it, but seeing it now, it really is difficult. Just these bottles alone could make me dizzy."
Tian Sangsang smiled slightly, "It’s actually not that hard. I’m just extracting essential oils here. Anyone from this field could do it, it’s quite simple. Just like how we look at pastry chefs making pastries; outsiders don’t understand, but call in a pastry chef and it’s all second nature to them."
"You’re right." Ji Qin nodded thoughtfully, "But making essential oils isn’t as simple as just knowing how to extract them."
"It’s true that you need to do more than just extract the oils; you have to add other ingredients. But the essential oil is the main component, and once you have it, everything else is just supplementary." Tian Sangsang embarrassedly gave her a smile with her eyes, "Sister Qin, please sit wherever, I’m just finishing up here."
"Alright, go ahead and work, I didn’t mean to interrupt you." Ji Qin said, but she didn’t leave, instead standing quietly to watch.
After about an hour, Tian Sangsang took off her gloves and checked the inventory with Ji Qin face to face. After sorting out the quantities, she noticed it was time to pick up her son from kindergarten.
Ji Qin went downstairs with her, glanced at the sky, and for some reason casually asked, "Haven’t brought your son around these days?"
Speaking of her son, she smiled lightly, "Sent him to kindergarten."
"No wonder, I haven’t seen Yanyan’s dad either, or Yanyan," Ji Qin said, nearly holding her breath.
"His father doesn’t come often, he’s in the military."
Ji Qin exclaimed abruptly, "In the military? The troops have been recruiting over the years, and many strong men from our village have joined. I didn’t expect to encounter a military family member."
"Military families are also just people." Tian Sangsang said. "It’s not that unusual."