Eldest Master Ji.

Shen Yuan stood in front of the piles of soap, each bar neatly wrapped in rough paper and tied with twine. They had worked tirelessly for two weeks, and now the 400 bars were ready for trade. He had divided the soap into four parts: 50 bars were set aside for his family's use, while the rest—150 bars for each of two caravans—were packed and ready for the trading mission.

"Are you sure about this, Brother Yuan?" Shen Zhen asked, his eyes full of curiosity as he helped Shen Yuan pack the remaining bundles. "We're giving away half of our soap for free?"

Shen Yuan smiled and nodded. "It's an investment, Zhen. The first batch is free to show them the quality. Once they realize how good it is, they'll come back to buy more, and that's when we'll make real money."

Shen Jiuyuan, standing nearby with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. If we impress them now, they'll spread the word."

Shen Yuan glanced at his older brother and younger brother, both of whom would be accompanying him to the trading point. "Exactly. Now, let's head out. The caravan should be arriving soon."

As they made their way to the trading point, Shen Yuan's mind raced. It wasn't just about selling soap; it was about making connections, building relationships with the right people. The caravans were the lifeblood of trade in the Yun Dynasty, and if he could establish a rapport with the traders, he could ensure a steady income for his family.

When they arrived at the trading point, it was already buzzing with activity. Merchants were setting up their stalls, and the air was filled with the sounds of haggling, the clatter of wheels, and the occasional neigh of horses.

Shen Yuan's eyes scanned the area, quickly identifying two caravans that seemed less crowded. He nudged Shen Jiuyuan and Shen Zhen. "We're going to target the smaller caravans first. The bigger ones already have plenty of traders vying for their attention. We need to stand out."

Shen Zhen nodded enthusiastically, while Shen Jiuyuan gave a small grunt of approval. They followed Shen Yuan through the maze of tents and wagons until they reached the first caravan.

It was the Ji family's caravan, a noble family from the Yun Dynasty, their red-and-gold banners fluttering in the breeze. The Ji family was known for their wealth and status, though Shen Yuan had heard they were also pragmatic traders. If anyone would appreciate quality soap, it would be them.

Shen Yuan approached one of the guards, who eyed him with suspicion. "What do you want?"

"I'm here to speak with your caravan leader," Shen Yuan said confidently, holding up a neatly wrapped bundle of soap. "I have a gift for him. It's free of charge."

The guard frowned but didn't immediately refuse. "Wait here." He disappeared into one of the larger tents, leaving Shen Yuan, Shen Jiuyuan, and Shen Zhen standing near the entrance.

After a few moments, the guard returned with a middle-aged man dressed in fine, albeit practical, clothing. His sharp eyes took in Shen Yuan and the bundle of soap with measured interest.

"I am Ji Zhiyu, the eldest son of the Ji family. What is this gift you bring?" His voice was calm but held an undercurrent of authority.

Shen Yuan smiled, stepping forward and handing over one of the bundles. "My name is Shen Yuan. I've come to offer you these 25 bars of soap, free of charge. My siblings and I made it ourselves."

Ji Zhiyu's eyebrows rose slightly. He inspected one of the bars, turning it over in his hands. "Soap, you say? There's plenty of soap to be found. What makes yours special?"

"It's natural and made with local ingredients," Shen Yuan explained, keeping his voice steady. "It's gentle on the skin, but it cleans well. I believe once you try it, you'll see the difference."

Ji Zhiyu gave a small nod, his interest clearly piqued. He turned to one of his attendants. "Prepare a bath with this soap. Let's see if young Shen's product is as good as he claims."

The attendant scurried off, and there was a brief, awkward silence. Shen Zhen shifted nervously beside his brother, but Shen Yuan remained calm, knowing that the quality of their soap would speak for itself.

After what felt like an eternity, the attendant returned, looking slightly awed. "Master, the soap… it lathers wonderfully. It left my skin feeling clean and soft."

Ji Zhiyu's expression softened into one of approval. He glanced at Shen Yuan, a hint of a smile on his lips. "It seems you were right. This soap is… impressive."

Shen Yuan smiled but didn't gloat. "I'm glad you think so, Master Ji. As I said, this batch is free. But if you'd like more, I'll have another batch ready next month, and the price will reflect the quality."

Ji Zhiyu nodded thoughtfully. "I'm impressed. I'll reserve your next batch for my caravan. Make sure it's just as good as this one."

Shen Yuan bowed slightly. "You have my word, Master Ji."

As they left the Ji family's caravan, Shen Zhen couldn't contain his excitement. "Brother Yuan, that went perfectly!"

Shen Yuan smiled but kept his focus. "We still have one more caravan to visit. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

The second caravan they approached was smaller, more modest, but still respectable. It belonged to the Li family, a business-oriented family in the Yun Dynasty, though not as famous or influential as the Ji family. Still, they were known for their shrewdness in trade, and Shen Yuan knew that winning them over could also be beneficial.

As they approached, a young man emerged from one of the tents, wiping his hands on a cloth. He was dressed plainly but carried himself with the confidence of someone used to handling business. His sharp eyes immediately noticed the bundle in Shen Yuan's hands.

"Can I help you?" the man asked, his tone polite but guarded.

Shen Yuan gave a slight bow. "My name is Shen Yuan, and I've brought a gift for your caravan. It's a batch of soap my siblings and I made ourselves. I'd like to offer it to you free of charge."

The man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Free, you say? Why?"

"I believe in the quality of my product," Shen Yuan explained. "If you're satisfied with it, I'll have more available next month for purchase."

The young man chuckled, his interest clearly piqued. "A bold strategy. I'm Li Cang, by the way. Let's see what you've got."

Li Cang took one of the bars of soap, unwrapped it, and gave it a sniff. "It smells good, I'll give you that. But how does it work?"

Shen Yuan smiled. "Try it for yourself."

Li Cang nodded and called for one of his attendants to test the soap, much like Ji Zhiyu had done earlier. Within minutes, the attendant returned, looking impressed.

"Master Li, the soap works beautifully. It lathers well, and my skin feels much cleaner."

Li Cang grinned, clearly pleased. "Alright."

To Shen Yuan's surprise, Li Cang reached into his robe and pulled out a small pouch of coins. He handed it to Shen Yuan. "Consider this an advance payment for your next batch. I want 200 bars next month. Can you do it?"

Shen Yuan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head gently. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll stick to my original deal. This batch is free, and next month I'll sell the soap at the proper price."

Li Cang looked surprised but then smiled approvingly. "You're a smart businessman, Shen Yuan. I'll be waiting for that next batch, then. Don't keep me waiting too long."

Shen Yuan gave a respectful bow. "You have my word, Master Li."

As they made their way back to camp, Shen Jiuyuan clapped his younger brother on the back. "You handled that well, Yuan."

Shen Zhen, practically skipping beside them, grinned widely. "We're going to be rich! Both Master Ji and Master Li want more soap!"

Shen Yuan smiled, but his mind was already racing with plans for the future. "It's a good start, Zhen, but we have a long way to go. This was just the first step."

As they reached the camp, Shen Yuan looked at his siblings, their faces filled with excitement and hope. They had proven that they could create something valuable, something that could change their future. But this was just the beginning. The real work was still ahead.

"We'll need to make more soap, better soap," Shen Yuan said, his voice filled with determination. "And who knows? Maybe soap is just the beginning."