Since the arrival of Ziqing and Ziyu, Lin He’s household, though only adding two people, had become far more lively. In fact, everyone else hardly had anything left to do, mainly because these two girls were so capable—quick, efficient, and diligent, they took over all the housework. Even the usually busy Madam Huang had nothing much to occupy her, spending her days on embroidery; if it weren't for Madam Huang insisting, the girls would likely have snatched even that task away.

Everyone was thoroughly pleased with the two maids. Through her observations, Lin He felt that these two were not only skilled workers but also sufficiently loyal. The sisters each had their own strengths, and Lin He considered them to be her future personal attendants, who would likely manage many affairs for her. Furthermore, Hongyun’s “belly” was gradually growing larger, making physical labor inconvenient. The primary concern was that once Hongxia’s pregnancy advanced, and especially after the baby arrived in a few months, Hongyun would need to care for the child, likely meaning she couldn't come to work for a while. This made the timing perfect for Ziqing and Ziyu to step in.

The last time Lin He smelled a bar of fragrant soap on Wen Ningxuan’s clothing, it sparked the idea of creating a dedicated soap specifically for washing clothes. At this time, people used soap beans to clean laundry. Lin He had used them before; while soap beans did lather, their stain-removing ability was far inferior to actual soap, and they were less convenient. Later, Lin He succeeded in making her own scented soap and began using it for washing. Though perhaps a bit extravagant, since it was produced in-house, it wasn't a major concern.

The soap she originally created, though called soap, was actually a cosmetic soap infused with skin-conditioning ingredients. This soap was certainly superior for washing the face and body, as it wouldn't damage the skin and carried a faint fragrance. However, when it came to washing clothes, its stain-removing capability certainly wouldn't match that of laundry soap. Moreover, using it for laundry made it quite expensive; only someone like Wen Ningxuan, who lacked for nothing, could afford to use it for clothes.

Therefore, Lin He intended this time to produce a cheaper soap specifically designed for laundry. She planned to price it even lower so that ordinary people could afford it for washing clothes, which would surely be much better than using soap beans. In truth, the principle behind making this soap was similar to the scented soap, but the process and raw materials differed slightly. Scented soap prioritized skin maintenance, thus containing less lye. Laundry soap, conversely, focused on powerful stain removal and required a higher lye content. For the sole purpose of cleaning clothes, this laundry soap would be far more effective.

Lin He began this venture in the experimental phase, bringing Ziqing and Ziyu into her ointment preparation room. This was the first time the sisters had been inside; they were delighted. Previously, whenever Lin He made her preparations, she would ask Ziqing and Ziyu to take care of little Bao or handle chores in the front yard. They understood the situation well enough but did exactly as their mistress instructed without question.

Now that Lin He had brought them into the preparation room, it signaled her genuine trust, seeing them as her intimate personal maids. Since arriving at Lin He’s home, Ziqing and Ziyu had grown very fond of the family. Although this home wasn't as grand as the Wen residence, and the location was merely a common countryside spot, the family was wonderfully easy to get along with.

Er Niu and Madam Huang had never treated them as mere servants, consistently addressing them as 'Qing Yatou' and 'Yu Yatou' with genuine warmth. Chen’er and little Bao carried no airs of entitlement; they never lost their tempers with the maids, nor did they act like young masters and ladies, nor did they treat them as subordinates.

As for their young mistress, Lin He, it was even simpler. Seeing them busy, she would often smile and tell them to rest, saying these tasks weren't urgent. Everyone in this household was simple and kind, making them feel truly at home—relaxed and unconstrained.

Furthermore, there wasn't excessive work. Unlike at the Wen residence, they weren't required to keep night watch; they could sleep soundly until morning. For a maid, the best aspiration was finding a kind master, ensuring they were fed, clothed, and received a decent wage. Here, those requirements were far exceeded. How could a maid not love this life? Now that Lin He was entrusting them with such an important task, it only deepened their sense of belonging.

Lin He worked alongside them, explaining the process in detail as they created the soap. She intended for herself to handle only the experiments in the future; when mass production began, she would let Ziqing and Ziyu manage the process, requiring only her occasional oversight. Ziqing and Ziyu learned diligently, asking questions whenever they didn't understand, showing genuine interest.

Although this was an experimental batch, it was much better than the first attempt. After just one afternoon of work, they produced a batch of soap. While it wasn't as crystal clear as the transparent soaps from her past life, it was perfectly suitable for washing clothes.

Little raw material was used, keeping the cost low. This batch could yield about a hundred bars when cut. The cost of ingredients was only about five hundred wen. Furthermore, each bar of this laundry soap was quite large, nearly double the size of the scented soap. Once cooled, they required no fancy packaging, just a simple wrapping in oiled paper. Lin He planned to price this laundry soap at fifty wen per bar. People at this time didn't change clothes daily; one bar would last a family more than a month, making it affordable for the majority.

Moreover, the clothes wouldn't carry the strong smell of soap beans but rather a light, refreshing soapy scent. Lin He was pleased with the successful experiment today. She planned to make a batch every few days, aiming for five hundred bars each time, intending this as a long-term, high-volume product. Her scented soap already sold over a thousand bars a month in this town, so this laundry soap would certainly sell even more widely.

The day after the soap was made, Lin He brought Ziqing and Ziyu to the Cai Die Xuan shop. Lin He first checked inside; fortunately, only Uncle Wen was present, and the other two were absent. Uncle Wen seemed surprised to see Lin He enter with Ziqing and Ziyu. Ziqing and Ziyu bowed to Uncle Wen and greeted him: "Master Wen."

Uncle Wen nodded, smiling at Lin He. "When I asked Xuan'er last time, he only told me he had found suitable people to help you, he didn't mention giving you these two maids. These girls are certainly sharp; they are perfectly suited for He’er to use."

"Yes, speaking of which, I must thank Uncle Wen and the Second Young Master. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't have found such capable girls. They have done so much in my home; now our household can't do without them," Lin He replied with a smile.

"As long as He Lin finds them useful, that's what matters," Uncle Wen stated.

After a few pleasantries, Lin He spoke to Uncle Wen. "Uncle Wen, you mentioned needing more variety last time. Yesterday, I made a new batch of soap, but this one is a bit different from the one I gave you before. This one is specifically for washing clothes; I'm calling it Laundry Soap. It’s still in the production stage and won't be ready for sale for a while."

"Oh? Then what is the difference between this Laundry Soap and the previous soap?" Uncle Wen inquired.