"Shut up!" Shopkeeper Qian's eyes widened as he kicked over the charcoal basin, sending sparks flying and landing on his cotton-padded shoes. He roared in frustration, "Go! Burn all the remaining pirated books!"
The snow was falling harder and harder, with large flakes drifting down like goose feathers. However, the counter at Jinyun Bookstore was bustling with activity. Su Jinli was concentrating on counting copper coins when she heard a "Oops!" behind her. She turned around and saw that Jiang Yan had miscalculated the half-price discount and was being ridiculed by several servants. She walked over with a smile, handed over a piece of sesame candy, and teased, "Mr. Accountant, would you like me to hire an arithmetician for you?"
Jiang Yan bit the candy, the tips of his ears slightly reddened, and he said in a feigned resignation, "Madam is quite good at calculating."
At this moment, a bearded man came trotting over, holding silver. His coarse cloth jacket still smelled of hot pot. He said excitedly, "Miss Su! I've never made so much money in my life!"
Su Jinli watched the glint in his eyes, her thoughts drifting back to her past life in the Prime Minister's Residence. Back then, she had to be frugal with even a decent brush, and life was filled with hardship and embarrassment. Her lips curled up slightly, revealing a gratified smile. Then, she pushed the abacus toward Jiang Yan and said, "Remember this, give each author a 50% bonus on their royalties."
Snowflakes outside the window fell onto Jiang Yan's hair, sparkling like a handful of diamonds. Su Jinli rested her chin on her hand, watching Jiang Yan's profile as he settled accounts. A surge of warmth and satisfaction welled up in her heart. She suddenly felt as if the blizzard had become the perfect backdrop for her and Jiang Yan's journey to make money. Those who tried to cross her line would ultimately be like Shopkeeper Qian's pirated books, burned to ashes, leaving not even a trace.
In the days that followed, Jinyun Bookstore's business flourished. Every morning, a long line snaked out the door, stretching from the entrance to the end of the street. Readers eager to buy authentic books and answer the puzzles arrived early, creating a bustling scene.
Su Jinli and Jiang Yan became increasingly busy. Jiang Yan not only helped with the bookstore's financial affairs, but also meticulously polished the puzzles created by the authors, ensuring they were both engaging and relevant to the story. Meanwhile, Su Jinli, while communicating and coordinating with the authors, closely monitored market trends, constantly on the lookout for any further moves by Shopkeeper Qian.
As the story of "The Oil Seller" progresses, the puzzles gradually become more difficult, but this hasn't dampened readers' enthusiasm. To answer the puzzles correctly, they repeatedly pored over the original edition, becoming intimately familiar with the story's details. This interactive experience not only deepened readers' love for the book but also boosted Jinyun Bookstore's reputation.
Based on reader feedback, Jinyun Bookstore also launched some peripheral products, such as handkerchiefs and fans printed with characters from The Oil Seller. These peripheral products were immediately popular with readers, further enhancing Jinyun Bookstore's reputation and influence.
However, Shopkeeper Qian was unwilling to accept defeat. He racked his brains all day, trying to come up with a new way to suppress Jinyun Bookstore. He gathered a few cronies and conspired in a dark room to plot a new conspiracy.
"We can't just let this go. We have to find a way to let that girl Su Jinli know how powerful we are." Shopkeeper Qian said gritting his teeth.
"But boss, none of our previous methods work. She is too shrewd." Someone said helplessly.
"Hmph, this time we're going to cut off the source of her trouble." A fierce glint flashed in Shopkeeper Qian's eyes. "Let's bribe the author at Jinyun Bookstore and ask them to stop writing. Then we'll see how she can continue to serialize!"
So, Qian sent people to inquire around and found several authors who usually cooperated with Jinyun Bookstore. He promised them a large sum of money and tried to persuade them to give up their cooperation with Jinyun Bookstore.
At first, some authors were indeed tempted. Lured by the money, they wavered and were ready to agree to Qian's request. However, when they thought of Su Jinli's daily respect and support for them, and the excellent creative environment provided by Jinyun Bookstore, they hesitated again.
One of the authors, Li Xiucai, decided to tell Su Jinli about Qian's conspiracy after a painful struggle. He knew that everything Jinyun Bookstore did was to promote cultural development and to protect the rights of authors and readers.
Su Jinli didn't panic after hearing the news. She decided to take this opportunity to expose the ugly face of Qian Guangui once again. She invited all the major bookstore owners, scholars, and some influential officials in the capital to hold a grand cultural symposium.
At the forum, Su Jinli detailed the series of unfair tactics employed by Shopkeeper Qian to suppress Jinyun Bookstore, including pirating books, spreading rumors, and attempting to bribe authors. She produced irrefutable evidence, leaving everyone present with contempt for Shopkeeper Qian's actions.
"We are engaged in cultural undertakings and should uphold integrity and justice to provide readers with excellent works. However, Shopkeeper Qian used all means to pursue his own selfish interests. This behavior seriously disrupted the order of the cultural market." Su Jinli said righteously.
Everyone present nodded in agreement and severely condemned Qian's behavior. The authors who had been bribed by Qian felt ashamed after seeing this scene and expressed their willingness to continue cooperating with Jinyun Bookstore.
After this incident, Shopkeeper Qian's reputation in Beijing's cultural circles plummeted. His bookstore's business declined, and he was eventually forced to close. Meanwhile, Jinyun Bookstore, through this turmoil, strengthened its resolve and continued its steady progress on the path of culture.
Su Jinli and Jiang Yan watched Jinyun Bookstore grow with emotion. They knew they might face challenges in the future, but as long as they worked together and upheld justice, they would overcome all difficulties. Jinyun Bookstore would continue to contribute to the cultural prosperity of the capital, becoming a vital force for cultural inheritance and innovation. In this city full of stories, the legend of Jinyun Bookstore continues to be written, inspiring generations to pursue knowledge and cherish culture.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
