Lin Xuan Qi looked around at the servants that were in the hall and then he glanced back at Sima Long.
Sima Long nodded back at him and waved at the servants, gesturing for them to leave.
"Iām here to propose a business deal with you. That is if you can make the decision." He said and unwrapped the oil layered paper.
Lin Xuan Qi then passed the soap to Sima Long.
"Whatās this?" Sima Long picked up the soap and inspected it.
He brought it up near his face and he could smell the nice jasmine smell.
"Is it a dessert?" Sima Long asked.
Lin Xuan Qi shook his head and said, "No. Itās soap and you can use it to clean your body.
"Feel free to let your wife or concubines try it out.
"We can cooperate together to produce and sell them in Dan Qian."
"Really?" Sima Long furrowed his eyebrows and said, "I donāt have concubines though, so I can only ask my wife to try it.
"In case you didnāt know, Iām already in lots of trouble with her for having a tong fang servant."
Lin Xuan Qi gave him a smile and said, "Iām so sorry to hear that. But first, feel free to let your wife try it out."
He could never understand how these young masters had energy for more than one wife, so he didnāt want to comment on it.
It was best to focus on the business deal instead.
"I shall check with my wife."
Sima Long stood up and went into the back of the house.
Lin Xuan Qi had a sip from his teacup and glanced around in the hall while he waited.
There were some paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls.
Which wasnāt too surprising considering the interest in it by the Da Qian emperor.
His sight stopped at the center of the hall next, which had a portrait hanging in the middle.
An incense burner was placed on the tabletop.
"Who is that?" Lin Xuan Qi glanced at Lee He Song, pointed at the portrait and asked.
Lee He Song didnāt need to think much to have the answer.
"Master Lin, that is one of the Sima Familyās ancestors, Sima Liang.
"Alive around six hundred years ago.
"He was in the Qing Feng Sect, the most powerful sect with cultivators in Da Qian, but he left after some time.
"From then on, he managed to make the Sima Family prosper with the help from his friend in Qing Feng Sect."
"I see... Thanks for the information." Lin Xuan Qi nodded and thanked Lee He Song.
These clans had a long and rich history spanning decades, he thought.
It started to make him think about his own clan.
For now, it was only him and his servant girls and employees.
Maybe he would need to consider having other family members when everything got stable.
Right now, he needed to get Su Chen and Wu Tong off his back first.
Clank.
There was suddenly some commotion coming from the back of the house.
Lin Xuan Qi glanced at Lee He Song, but Lee He Song also didnāt have a clue.
He sighed and could only wait.
"Ahem. I had a fall, nothing serious."
Sima Long came into the hall and said.
Lin Xuan Qi saw that Sima Longās clothes were now wet.
He didnāt want to say much and got back to his point again.
"So, how was it? I hope your wife is satisfied with it." Lin Xuan Qi asked.
"Is this young master Lin that Iāve heard so much about?" A womanās voice came from behind Sima Long, before Sima Long could say anything.
She got to the front of Sima Long and bowed to Lin Xuan Qi.
"Here, let me introduce her to you. She is my wife, Zhang Jie." Sima Long stepped forward to stand beside her and introduced Zhang Jie.
"Pleased to meet you." Lin Xuan Qi bowed back at her.
Zhang Jie was just as plump as Sima Long.
She was wearing a dress made with fine silk and had jewelry on her neck, wrist and fingers.
"Iāve never felt so clean and smelled so nice before. Do you have more of it?" Zhang Jie lifted her hand, brought it to her nose, took a whiff of it, and said.
"Iām glad to hear that." Lin Xuan Qi gave her a smile, gestured at the other bar of soap that was on the table.
"However, I only have a few, and it might not be enough to share it with your sisters and friends." He said with a sorry look.
The best way to trigger these young mistresses was to make them compare among themselves.
He wasnāt shy to give such a hint to Zhang Jie.
"Young master Lin is kind, just like what my husband had said about you." Zhang Jie covered her mouth with her sleeve, and she gave out a chuckle.
"Young master Sima Long is just flattering me." Lin Xuan Qi said, and he tried to pass some of the soap he had to Zhang Jie.
Zhang Jie pretended to refuse but took the bar of soap from him.
"Thank you so much for your gift. I shall not intrude on your meeting." She glanced over at Sima Long and said, "Spend more time with young master Lin here, rather than wasting it in the brothels."
Sima Long slapped the back of his head and nodded.
Zhang Jie bowed again at Lin Xuan Qi and left the hall.
"Letās sit and discuss." Sima Long said, and everyone took their seats.
"Iām more than impressed with what the soap can do. But I must be frank with you..." Sima Long gave out a long sigh, looked at Lin Xuan Qi and said, "If you havenāt noticed, my branch of the Sima family isnāt really in favor with the family head.
"There is only so much I can do."
Lin Xuan Qi frowned when he heard Sima Long.
His hunch earlier was right.
He wasnāt knowledgeable about these internal struggles in the clan, but he knew that he might be able to help Sima Long if their venture was successful.
And when it was successful enough, there would be no reason for the Sima familyās head to go against it.