This was good for the Lu family, and good for them too, so Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei were both very happy.
"Okay."
Shen Xiaoyan and the two agreed, as Lu Taobao had expected. It was a good thing, so there was no reason not to agree.
"However, our Lu family has over 20 family recipes. If we start supplying all of them, can you produce them?" Lu Taobao asked with some concern.
In fact, this was also a problem that Shen Xiaoyan was worried about. With the current staff at home, they couldn't meet such a large demand.
"Don't worry about that, there won't be a shortage of goods."
Although it was difficult, she still promised Lu Taobao.
"Then, when can we pick up the goods? How much can we get?" Lu Taobao continued to ask.
"Did your father say when he needs it by the latest?" Shen Xiaoyan asked after thinking for a while.
"He didn't say, but the sooner the better. After all, this thing is only used when it's hot," Lu Taobao said with a smile.
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. That was true. If it was too late, they wouldn't be able to sell much.
"Alright, have someone send over all the Chinese medicinal herbs you need. The more you send, the better. I'll have someone order wooden boxes. Within 5 days at the latest, you'll definitely get the first batch." Shen Xiaoyan promised.
"Do you need me to find some people to help?" Lu Taobao still asked with some worry. After speaking, he felt he had said something inappropriate and quickly explained, "Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand. I don't have any other intentions. I'm just afraid you'll be too busy."
"I understand. You're too cautious." Shen Xiaoyan then smiled.
Although Lu Taobao's words could indeed be misunderstood, Shen Xiaoyan understood that he had no other intentions, he just wanted to help.
Lu Taobao just smiled when he heard this and didn't say anything more.
After discussing it, when Lu Taobao left, Zheng Wei went with him, traveling in their own carriage.
One was to order another wooden box, and the other was to pick up a batch of Chinese medicinal herbs.
Shen Xiaoyan, on the other hand, called Fan Yong and the girls over.
"You all know that Young Master Lu came today. He told me that our body powder will be sold in all the pharmacies of the Lu family. Therefore, your workload will increase in the future." Shen Xiaoyan said slowly as she looked at the people standing with their hands at their sides.
When everyone heard Shen Xiaoyan's words, different expressions appeared on their faces.
Fan Yong was happy. This meant that the things he and his son made were popular, so he was naturally overjoyed.
Among the girls, some were excited, and some were worried.
Shen Xiaoyan knew what they were worried about without asking. Although the quantity of body powder to be made would increase, their workload would also increase. In addition, there would be other trivial matters that they would have to do, so it would be much more tiring than before.
"Given the increased workload in the future, your monthly salary will also double compared to before. We will definitely not treat you unfairly." Shen Xiaoyan directly stated her plan, without intending to keep them guessing.
As the old saying goes, if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it well.
Now, if she wanted these people to do more work without complaint, she had to be willing to pay them.
Another point was that they had to be free from worries.
"The eight of you will only be responsible for making medicine in the future. As for other matters, I will arrange for others to do them. You don't have to worry about them." Shen Xiaoyan added.
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words this time, all eight of them showed joy on their faces. This meant they didn't have to do those miscellaneous chores anymore? That was great.
Looking at their happy faces, Shen Xiaoyan also smiled.
After arranging a few more things, Shen Xiaoyan sent them back to work.
Although the Chinese medicinal herbs transported last time were not a lot, after making those 1,000 boxes, the remaining herbs were enough to make another 1,000 boxes.
When only Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin were left in the room, Shen Xiaoyan said to Yue Qingxin again, "I was thinking, should we buy some more people? Girls for miscellaneous chores, and also train more useful people. That way, when we need them in the future, we won't be in a difficult situation. Sister, don't you think so?" Shen Xiaoyan said, looking at Yue Qingxin to get her opinion.
Yue Qingxin came from a large family. After marrying Sima Han, she was waited on by servants.
When Sima Han was still a prince, he had 8 personal maids, not to mention second-class, third-class, those who did rough work, and the wet nurses. She alone was served by more than 20 people.
However, when she left the imperial capital with Sima Han and came here, she went from ordering others around, to doing everything herself, and now having someone serve her. She had experienced a lot.
However, she still agreed with Shen Xiaoyan's words. After all, they had to take care of the children most of the time and worry about various things. They could no longer do everything themselves. Buying more servants was a necessity.
"What my sister-in-law thought is not wrong. We still need to prepare early. Otherwise, when we need people, it will really delay things." Yue Qingxin said.
When they had dinner that evening, Shen Xiaoyan told Zheng Wei and Sima Han about this matter. Both of them naturally supported it.
Therefore, the next morning, the two of them hurried to the county town to buy some servants from the slave trader.
As for why they didn't buy them in the town, it was because they had to buy a lot of people this time. Although they could buy them in the town, they might not be able to meet their needs. Therefore, even though going to the county town was a bit farther, it was more efficient and of higher quality to get things done.
At home, apart from the 4 wet nurses who were taking care of the children, all the remaining idle people were sent by Shen Xiaoyan to help Fan Yong in the medicinal garden.
Only during lunchtime when cooking, would Qu Shi, Zhou Shi, and 4 other women quickly cook. After everyone ate in a hurry, they would immediately return to the medicinal garden to help.
In this way, after two days, when Zheng Wei and Sima Han returned with 30 people before dusk the next day, they had already made 1,000 boxes of body powder.
The wooden boxes were brought back by Shen Xiaoyan herself from the town. She also bought a pig that had just been butchered and cleaned to reward everyone that evening.
After assigning the cooking tasks and telling the Huo sisters to take the new servants to wash and change, Shen Xiaoyan and the others sat down to talk.
"These 30 people this time have all been trained. Not only do they know how to serve people, but 20 of them also understand some medicine," Zheng Wei said after taking a sip of tea.
"Of course, understanding medicine means recognizing some Chinese medicinal herbs and knowing their medicinal properties," Sima Han added.
Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin nodded upon hearing this. They didn't expect all of them to be doctors like Fan Yong, so it was good enough that they could recognize some Chinese medicinal herbs.
Before dinner, Shen Xiaoyan met these 30 people.
There were 30 people, both men and women. There were 10 men, all 16 or 17 years old. Although they were a bit thin, they were all very energetic, and they looked very smart.