In the bookstore, the bearded man finally snatched up the first chapter. He eagerly squatted by the fireplace and read eagerly. When he reached the emotional part, he couldn't help but burst into tears. The noblewoman leaned lazily against the back of her chair, letting her maid hold the book while she applied Su Qingyao's newly mixed "Chasing Red" rouge in front of the mirror, muttering to herself, "What color are the courtesan's embroidered shoes?"

The snow was falling heavier, flakes drifting down like goose feathers. However, the swirling snow couldn't dampen the clamor inside the bookstore. Su Jinli looked at the endless queue outside, her thoughts drifting back to her past life in the prime minister's residence. Back then, she'd carefully budgeted even the charcoal, a life filled with hardship and frustration.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a confident and satisfied smile. Then she grabbed the wolf-hair brush and solemnly wrote on the title page of the account book: "Chapter 1 sold out, profit of 372 taels. Jiang Yan's wages: 20 wen."

Outside the window, Jiang Yan methodically distributed sugar-roasted chestnuts to the queue. The pure white light of snow gently fell on his hair, like a sprinkle of fine silver powder, making him look even more gentle and graceful. Su Jinli rested her chin on her hand, watching the scene quietly. Suddenly, it seemed as if the blizzard had become the backdrop for her to make money. And those who once looked down on her could only watch helplessly in the biting cold as she lived her life as sweet as honey.

As time went on, the rush to buy the serialized chapters of "The Oil Seller" grew stronger. Throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, the topic of conversation revolved almost exclusively around this story and Jinyun Bookstore. Whether in bustling teahouses, quiet study rooms, or bustling marketplaces, one could hear people enthusiastically discussing the plot of "The Oil Seller."

Even those who didn't usually pay much attention to books were drawn to the craze and joined the queues to buy. Jinyun Bookstore's reputation spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the capital and even the surrounding towns.

Inside Jinyun Bookstore, Su Jinli, Jiang Yan, and others were busy yet orderly managing the booming business. Su Jinli was not only responsible for managing book sales, but also for communicating with authors based on reader feedback, adjusting and optimizing the plots of subsequent chapters to ensure the story remained captivating. Jiang Yan assisted her with various tasks, managing the bookstore's finances and staffing with his intelligence and composure.

Young Marquis Su also played a full role in this process. Like a little adult, he ran around the bookstore, maintaining order, helping to pass books and collect copper coins. His conscientiousness and responsibility earned him praise from everyone. Meanwhile, Lingge kept the bookstore warm by constantly adding charcoal to the stove, while also helping to tidy up the shelves left messy by customers.

Among the people queuing outside the bookstore was a young scholar named Ah Fu. He had come to the capital to take the imperial examination when he stumbled upon the story of "The Oil Seller" and was immediately captivated. Determined to be among the first to read the new chapters, he arrived early, shivering in the cold wind, unwavering in his determination.

"This story is so exciting. Every plot is so gripping that one can't help but want to know what happens next." Ah Fu said to the person next to him while stamping his feet to keep warm.

"Yes, Miss Su's serialization method is also very novel. Although one tael of silver per chapter is not cheap, everyone thinks it is worth the money." Another person echoed.

As the rush to buy continued, Jinyun Bookstore's inventory gradually dwindled. Su Jinli realized she had to print the next batch of chapters as soon as possible to meet readers' demand. So, she immediately contacted a printing workshop to expedite the printing of the subsequent chapters of "The Oil Seller."

However, when Shopkeeper Qian saw how popular Jinyun Bookstore was, his jealousy grew stronger and stronger. He was unwilling to just watch Su Jinli dominate the cultural market in Beijing, so he began to plot new conspiracies and schemes, trying to destroy the reputation and business of Jinyun Bookstore again.

First, Shopkeeper Qian bribed a few street thugs to spread rumors, claiming that Jinyun Bookstore's "The Oil Seller" was plagiarized and that Su Jinli was treacherous, deliberately inflating the price and deceiving readers. These rumors spread like a cancer throughout the capital, and those who didn't know the truth began to doubt Jinyun Bookstore. The once bustling queues were affected, and the number of people buying the serial chapters decreased significantly.

Su Jinli didn't panic when she heard the news. She knew that facing such malicious slander, she had to remain calm and prove everything with facts. So, on the one hand, she arranged for Jiang Yan to collect evidence of the originality of "The Oil Seller," including the author's manuscripts, his conception process, and correspondence with the author. On the other hand, she posted a notice at the entrance of Jinyun Bookstore, inviting the capital's literati, scholars, and readers to attend an open debate to clarify the truth.

On the day of the debate, Jinyun Bookstore was packed with people, all curious and eager to see how Su Jinli would handle this crisis. Standing on the stage, she remained calm and composed. She first detailed the background and process of the creation of "The Oil Seller," showing the author's manuscript and various relevant evidence, and then sharply refuted the rumors.

"Dear fellow villagers, our Jinyun Bookstore has always adhered to the principle of honest business operations and is committed to bringing you excellent works. "The Oil Seller" was created with the author's painstaking efforts, and every word is full of the author's hard work. In order to suppress us, Manager Qian spread rumors by any means necessary, which is really despicable." Su Jinli's voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the crowd.

Subsequently, several scholars and intellectuals who supported Jinyun Bookstore came forward to testify in Su Jinli's defense. They analyzed the uniqueness of "The Oil Seller" from a literary perspective, stating that it could not possibly be plagiarized. Faced with this ironclad evidence, the rumors collapsed, and the onlookers expressed their disdain for Qian's actions, rekindling their trust in Jinyun Bookstore.

Despite this incident, Jinyun Bookstore's reputation remained intact and, in fact, even more deeply rooted in people's hearts. People, having witnessed Su Jinli's wisdom and courage, became even more resolute in their support for Jinyun Bookstore. The serialization of "The Oil Seller" continued with great enthusiasm, and Jinyun Bookstore's business flourished, becoming a shining pearl in the Beijing cultural world.

After experiencing this series of challenges, Su Jinli has become even more confident in her choice. She knows the road ahead may still be fraught with hardship, but with the support of her family and the love of her readers, she is confident that Jinyun Bookstore will continue to thrive and make a greater contribution to Beijing's cultural endeavors. In this era filled with both opportunities and challenges, under her leadership, Jinyun Bookstore will continue to write its own glorious chapter.