The serialization had already lasted over half a month, and Jinyun Bookstore felt like a treasure trove overflowing with treasures. The sandalwood cabinets were crammed with mulberry paper packages, each one heavy as if carrying countless years of hard work and hope. Silver coins clashed against each other, creating a crisp, melodious sound like a joyful melody, startling swallows busy nesting in the beams. Sunlight, like golden threads, filtered through the carved window lattices, cascading down onto the mountain of banknotes, flowing freely. The vermilion seals bearing the inscription "Ministry of Revenue Official Notes" on the banknotes shone with an alluring sheen, their vibrant colors seeming to tell a story of wealth. Meanwhile, the air lingered with the faint scent of ink and copper rust, interwoven into a unique aroma that permeated every corner of the bookstore.
"Jiang Yan," Su Jinli raised her chin slightly and gestured towards the back of the accounting office. There was a camphorwood box with its lid open, revealing the neatly stacked ten-liang silver notes. "Bring the abacus over. It's time to pay everyone."
Jiang Yan emerged from a mountain of books. His glasses still had a smudge of ink from last night's account checking, creating a unique "decoration." He was cradling a copy of "Dajing Commercial Tax Regulations." The red string bookmark between the pages slipped away, revealing a detailed list of Su Jinli's snack expenses. He said, "Madam, this month's royalties have just been settled, and Lingge has already sent the money to the authors."
"What about yours?" Su Jinli slapped a stack of banknotes onto the rosewood table. The edges of the notes seemed to still carry the warmth of the Ministry of Revenue. The top note, delicately printed with a lotus flower pattern, drew a fingertips across the words "10 taels," and her thoughts drifted back to her past life in the Prime Minister's residence. Back then, even a mere ten taels of silver would be tightly gripped in her hands until she sweated, and every penny seemed so precious.
Jiang Yan slowly put down the book in his hands. The moment his fingertips touched the banknotes, he trembled slightly. His mind couldn't help but reflect on his years of hard study. Back then, his family was poor, and his mother had to reluctantly sell her jewelry to raise his tuition. But now, the heavy weight of the banknotes in his hand gave him not only material satisfaction, but also an indescribable peace of mind, a peace of mind that even surpassed the imperial edict he received when he was the top scorer in the imperial examination. He was slightly moved and said softly, "Madam, I..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Su Jinli pretended to be stern and stuffed the banknote into his sleeve pocket without saying anything. "Ten taels of salary, twenty taels of bonus, this money is enough to buy ten boxes of Su Qingyao's new rouge."
Jiang Yan clutched the banknote tightly, a smirk suddenly spreading across his face, his ears red as ripe cherries. He couldn't help but think of the time he first met Su Jinli. Back then, she'd even fought with him for a candy painting, yet now, she'd so casually handed him thirty taels of silver. He muttered to himself, "Buy all for my wife. Buy the best 'Yi Zhang Hong'. I'm going to make my wife look even prettier than that courtesan."
"Who wants your money!" With a loud "bang", the door was flung open, and Su Qingyao, wrapped in a gorgeous fox fur coat, rushed in. The coral bead hairpin she had just inserted in her hair swayed with her movements, and the glittering light was dazzling. She threw an exquisite mother-of-pearl dressing box heavily on the table. The "Zhuigeng Rouge" in the dressing box shone with a soft pearl-like luster on the brocade lining. "Jinli, look! The rouge co-branded with you is selling like hotcakes. All the fabrics in the silk shop have been snapped up by the girls!"
Su Jinli gently lifted the rouge box. She saw the lid meticulously inlaid with mother-of-pearl, depicting the "Oil Seller." The courtesan's embroidered shoes were the pomegranate red she had specifically requested, a vibrant, eye-catching color. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Eldest sister, your craftsmanship is truly remarkable. You should open a rouge shop."
"If it weren't for you serializing it," Su Qingyao rolled her eyes and poked Jiang Yan's forehead with her fingertips, "I would have opened rouge shops all over the capital!"
Amidst the laughter, the door slammed open with a clang. Young Marquis Su rushed in, carrying an abacus taller than he was. The beads clattered with a deafening clatter. "Sister! Brother Jiang Yan!" The young man, his mink hat askew, looked a bit comical. He held up a crumpled piece of rice paper and shouted excitedly, "I've figured it out! From the time the series started until now, we've made a profit... a profit..." He spoke, counting earnestly on his fingers. In his panic, he dropped three beads.
Seeing this, Jiang Yan smiled and took the rice paper. On it, he saw the words "10,000 taels" written crookedly in cinnabar. Next to it was a naive, drooling copper coin figurine, full of childish fun. "Young Marquis, you've made quite a progress. You even know how to use capital numbers."
"That's right!" Young Marquis Su proudly put his hands on his hips, but accidentally slammed the abacus heavily on Jiang Yan's foot. "I also calculated for my sister that this money can buy me a hundred strings of candied haws!"
The laughter of the crowd echoed through the room. At this moment, a servant from the Prime Minister's residence walked in with a brisk pace, carrying a food box. The ebony food box was engraved with the Su Mansion's unique Vermillion Bird pattern, and the craftsmanship was exquisite, highlighting the Su Mansion's nobility. The servant said respectfully, "Miss, the Prime Minister sent you some snacks with a note."
苏锦璃轻轻打开食盒，里面摆放着她平日里最爱吃的豌豆黄，每一块都被精心切成了算盘珠的形状，小巧玲珑，十分可爱。纸条上是苏相难得工整的字迹：“女儿赚大钱，爹很高兴。但要记得给江砚发够工钱，别累着他。”
小主，这个章节后面还有哦，请点击下一页继续阅读，后面更精彩！
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