Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 202 - 201: Fashion Is a Cycle

Qin Yao waved her hand, not bothered to step inside and exchange pleasantries.

"Could you please help me deliver these two book boxes to Miss Ding, one for her and one for Young Master Ding, to thank them for taking care of our four children."

Qin Yao put down the book boxes and told Zhang Ba about the added shoulder strap. Zhang Ba nodded in acknowledgment, then snapped the whip to the horse, driving off briskly and deftly.

Zhang Ba curiously eyed the two book boxes with four wheels at his feet, pondering how Miss Qin always seemed to create these peculiar yet practical items.

The last time it was soap that foamed up easily, and this time she directly gifted two boxes that could be pushed and pulled on the ground.

Afraid of damaging these curious Divine Power Book Boxes, Zhang Ba cautiously lifted one box in each hand and delivered them to Miss Ding’s courtyard.

Aunt Qiao, Dou’er, and Cao’er gathered around, murmuring, "Why does this book box look so strange? And it has four wheels, what’s it for? To hitch it to a goat like a cart?"

Ding Xiang looked admiringly at Aunt Qiao, who suggested such an ’ingenious idea.’ Perhaps it was a direction even Qin Yao hadn’t considered, something beyond the average person’s imagination.

However, the book box had a handle, clearly not meant to be pulled by livestock.

Ding Xiang asked Zhang Ba if Qin Yao had left instructions on how to use it. Zhang Ba nodded but didn’t dare tamper with the master’s belongings. Therefore, he verbally described the instructions while Ding Xiang carried them out, pulling out the hidden retractable handle.

Dou’er exclaimed, "Miss, this book box even has mechanisms!"

Ding Xiang’s eyes lit up, and following Zhang Ba’s description, she began pushing the Divine Power Book Box. The wooden wheels rolled smoothly, requiring almost no effort.

Even if pulled at an angle, it was not difficult, and upon closer inspection, there were no visible joints on the entire book box, as if it was a single piece, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship.

Ding Xiang played with it in the courtyard for quite some time before she remembered her brother’s book box had not been delivered. Quickly stopping, she instructed Aunt Qiao to carefully place her book box in her study.

Then, without hesitation, she dragged the other one intended for Ding Shi through the entire Ding Mansion, to the front yard study.

The noise of the wooden wheels rolling on the ground caught Ding Shi’s attention inside the study. Curious, he peeked outside to see his sister dragging a wooden box with delight.

Ding Shi frowned, "What’s this thing?"

Crossing the threshold, Ding Xiang exerted a little effort to lift the heavy book box into the study, then sat on it, using her legs to glide over, laughing heartily at her escapade.

With no outsiders in the study, she fully indulged herself, spinning several times on the Divine Power Book Box until finally coming to a stop in front of Ding Shi, who watched her incredulously.

The young lady patted the book box beneath her, wearing a mysterious expression, "Brother, can you guess what this is?"

Ding Shi: "Something to store luggage? Another gift from Miss Qin?"

Ding Xiang made a helpless face, "Ah, there’s nothing you can’t figure out. Yes, it’s just delivered by Miss Qin, two of them, just enough for one each. But it’s not for storing luggage."

Ding Shi grew interested, pulled Ding Xiang off the box, squatted to examine it and asked in surprise, "Is this a book box?"

Ding Xiang nodded, finally he guessed right, and told him about the shoulder strap addition Zhang Ba had mentioned.

Initially, Ding Shi felt it was somewhat impractical as it couldn’t be carried on the back, but hearing Ding Xiang’s explanation, he suddenly found it quite appealing.

In the academy and the county, the roads were paved with bluestone slabs, making dragging convenient, but when leaving the town and encountering uneven paths, carrying it on the back was more comfortable.

But anyway, it was more convenient and stylish than hand-held types and the old-fashioned designs.

Ding Shi repeatedly extended and retracted the handle, finding it smooth and easy, with no sticking. Curious, he crouched before the book box to study it for a while.

Yet he couldn’t figure out how the mechanism was crafted and tentatively asked, "These book boxes must be expensive, right?"

Ding Xiang shook her head, "I’m not sure, but something this intricate could only be conceived by Miss Qin."

"Oh, by the way, brother." After her excitement subsided, Ding Xiang remembered something important and tentatively asked, "Is the candidate list for the county’s first trial out?"

Ding Shi nodded, instructing his attendant to take the Divine Power Book Box to the embroideress at home to have a nice shoulder strap made.

As he watched the attendant leave, he turned back to Ding Xiang, "You’re trying to ask on behalf of Miss Qin about Liu Ji’s results, right?"

Ding Xiang gave a foolish grin, praising, "Truly, nothing escapes your keen eyes, brother."

Looking at the courtyard outside where the flowerbed’s sprouting greenery, Ding Shi clicked his tongue with a sigh, making Ding Xiang nervous enough to press on, "Didn’t he make it on the list?"

"Not exactly." Ding Shi didn’t know how to explain and could only state it plainly, "He made it, but not completely."

Ding Xiang was confused, was it a success or not?

Ding Shi furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Let’s just say he was a bit unlucky."

Ding Xiang: Huh?

....

Qin Yao brought the remaining three Divine Power Book Boxes to the town’s street.

Today was a small market day, and under usual circumstances, the crowd would be large, but it coincided with a critical harvest period, and everyone was busy in the fields, resulting in fewer people than usual attending the market.

Qin Yao parked the carriage in front of a noodle shop, known for its exceptional taste but only open on market days, necessitating a visit to the market to get a taste.

Qin Yao ordered three bowls of noodles, then took the book boxes from the carriage and placed them beside the shop’s entrance. With people coming and going from the noodle shop, Qin Yao ate her meal while calling out for sales, attracting quite a few inquiries about the price.

But upon hearing it was 588 coins, they all gasped in unison, waved their hands, and walked away.

In Jinshi Town, there were several scholar families. Seeing no sales at the noodle shop, Qin Yao, after finishing her meal, took the book boxes to those courtyards to market them.

For poor people, the Divine Power Book Box seemed pricey and impractical, but for the wealthy, it was an interesting gadget, especially with the eye-catching push-and-pull design.

All three Divine Power Book Boxes were sold by Qin Yao, albeit with a discount, for 568 each.

However, based on this market trial and feedback, Qin Yao decided to return and further optimize the Divine Power Book Box with Liu the carpenter.

The demand for shoulder straps was considerable, as she initially focused on convenience for children, nearly overlooking that the largest demographic among scholars were actually adult males.

They had much more strength than children, carrying a book box posed no problem, and many had attendants, so they didn’t prioritize energy saving; they sought uniqueness and exclusivity.

With this significant feedback, Qin Yao realized the book box’s design could be improved towards personalized customization.

For instance, adding various ornamental accessories to the book box, requiring the addition of slots for shoulder strap attachments and decorative hangings.

At this thought, Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh; fashion truly is cyclical.

These elaborate accessories were essentially the same as the various patterns and decorations on modern backpacks!