Chapter 209 – No Longer Family
"Wait!"
"I… I want it!"
Body wash, shampoo, perfume, face masks, body lotion?
The women had no idea what the latter items were, but they knew "body wash." They had even used it.
When Sage Ruler Yao Guang held her sermon in Peng City, all women seeking enlightenment were instructed to bathe and burn incense beforehand. Coincidentally, it was at this time that Duke Jin of the Great Chu ordered his servants to deliver a jar of body wash to every household.
The captivating fragrance and smooth texture of the body wash left the women wanting more. After experiencing its luxurious feel, they could no longer tolerate the crude "soap" made from animal fat.
As for shampoo, perfume, face masks, and body lotion, although the women were unfamiliar with these products, their names hinted at their uses, sparking their curiosity.
"General Fan… Is what you said true?" a woman asked cautiously.
Fan Chun smiled, letting actions speak louder than words.
"Open a crate. Bring me one bottle each of shampoo, perfume, face mask, and body lotion."
Moments later, four exquisitely crafted glass bottles were displayed atop the gatehouse for the women below to admire.
"Such beautiful bottles. Are they from the imperial kilns?"
"Only the imperial kilns could produce glass this clear, rivalling natural crystal."
"The bottle alone is probably worth half a year's expenses for an ordinary family."
"Heavens! Truly a gift worthy of Duke Jin!"
As the women below buzzed with excitement, Fan Chun calmly uncorked the four bottles. He then channeled his spiritual energy, creating a gentle breeze with a wave of his hand, carrying the bottles' fragrance towards the crowd.
"Heavens! What is that divine fragrance?"
"June Snow? It smells like June Snow blossoms!"
"And Golden Acacia, Jade Lotus?!"
"These rare and expensive flowers have been used to make… what? Something like body wash?"
"You mean I could smell like June Snow blossoms?"
The women grew restless, their eyes fixated on the carts, longing to tear them open and claim their treasures.
"Zhang Erniu!" Fan Chun called out.
"Here, sir!"
A burly soldier with tanned skin and weathered, stepped forward.
"Hold out your hand."
"Yes, sir!"
Without hesitation, Zhang Erniu extended his right arm, palm up.
Fan Chun channeled a drop of body lotion, letting it fall onto the back of Zhang Erniu’s hand like a raindrop.
"Wash your hand," Fan Chun ordered.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhang Erniu retrieved a waterskin and carefully washed the lotion off his hand.
"Let them smell it," Fan Chun said.
"Yes, sir!"
Zhang Erniu marched towards the women, extending his hand, palm facing them.
The women instinctively recoiled, wrinkling their noses. He was a rough and unrefined soldier, a mere foot soldier. These noble ladies wouldn't normally allow someone so crude near them.
However, the faint fragrance emanating from Zhang Erniu’s hand drew them closer.
"Heavens!"
"I saw him wash his hand. Why does he still smell like Golden Acacia?"
"Does the fragrance last that long?"
"What a waste! He has the hands of a laborer, and he used a drop of that precious lotion…"
Fan Chun observed their reactions with amusement.
"Ladies," he announced. "I will repeat myself. These 'Great Chu Emigration Gift Packages' are gifts from Duke Jin. Any woman who acknowledges her status as a Great Chu emigrant is eligible to receive one.
If you choose to renounce your citizenship, that is also acceptable. I will arrange for the distribution of the packages, and in one hour, the gate will be opened, allowing you to travel west."
As Fan Chun finished speaking, the supply troops began unpacking the crates. The women watched as beautifully wrapped gift packages, identical to the samples Fan Chun had displayed, were revealed.
"It seems… Duke Jin is sincere in his generosity," a woman murmured.
"We were born and raised in the Great Chu. Acknowledging our status as emigrants shouldn't be a problem," another woman added.
"As citizens of the Great Chu, we could barely afford these luxury items. Now, as emigrants, we receive them for free? Hmm, being an emigrant isn't so bad."
The women readily accepted their new status.
"Very well! General Fan, please distribute the gift packages!" the woman who had been the most vocal in her demands shouted, unable to resist the allure of the gifts.
"Of course," Fan Chun replied. "Please form an orderly queue."
As he directed the distribution of the supplies, Fan Chun continued his announcement.
"Fellow emigrants, please take note. The supply of these luxury items in the gift packages will last for one month. The products have a shelf life of one year."
His words sparked another wave of unrest among the women.
"What?"
"Only one month's supply?"
"What does Duke Jin mean? Why didn't he give us more?"
Fan Chun, unfazed by their ungrateful response, chuckled.
"My apologies, fellow emigrants. It's not that Duke Jin is stingy. These are all new products from the Fan Clan Trading Company. Production is limited, and this is all we could provide for now."
He paused, adding, "However, starting next month, production will increase, and all these products will be readily available. They will be sold throughout the Great Chu."
"Oh, that's wonderful… Wait, only available in the Great Chu?"
The women’s relief turned to panic.
"Indeed," Fan Chun replied matter-of-factly. "International trade requires lengthy negotiations. We also need to establish transportation routes, retail outlets, and after-sales service frameworks. These things take time. The Great Chu is allied with Wei, Han, and Wu, but it will be at least six months before these products become available in those kingdoms."
"What about the Brahma Sound Pure Land? Can we get them there sooner?" a woman asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Fan Chun shook his head.
"The Pure Land is a newly founded nation. Its infrastructure is incomplete. Especially its legal system. The Great Chu has established commercial laws and taxes. The Pure Land lacks these.
For the Great Chu to engage in trade with the Pure Land, we need a legal framework to determine prices and tax rates.
There are also issues with transportation routes, shop construction, after-sales service, local talent training, trademark and copyright protection..."
As Fan Chun spoke, delving into the intricacies of international trade, the women grew confused. They understood one thing: acquiring Fan Clan Trading Company products in the Pure Land would be difficult.
"Shampoo, body wash, perfume… things available to the women of the Great Chu, but not to me in the Pure Land?"
"General Fan, once our supplies run out, can we return to the Great Chu to replenish them?" a woman asked anxiously.
"That would be problematic," Fan Chun replied, shaking his head. "You are no longer citizens of the Great Chu. You are emigrants residing abroad."
"Emotionally, I will always consider you my fellow countrymen. However, according to the laws of the Great Chu, even foreign visitors must possess official documents from their respective nations and submit their travel plans in advance to enter our kingdom for tourism, family visits, or studies.
Otherwise, you will be considered illegal immigrants. The Great Chu reserves the right to take all necessary measures against illegal entry!"
As Fan Chun spoke, a surge of killing intent emanated from him.
The women stared at him, speechless.
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