Time slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, five days had flown by like a fleeting horse. On this day, Literati Street, the capital's busiest street, seemed enveloped in a uniquely festive atmosphere. Shops lined the streets, and pedestrians streamed in. But at that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to a brand-new plaque: "Jinyun Bookstore."
The plaque was made of high-quality materials with delicate textures. The four characters "Jinyun Bookstore" were written on it with strong and powerful strokes, yet graceful and agile, as if every stroke contained endless cultural heritage. Su Jinli was wearing a light blue silk dress, the hem of which fluttered in the wind like rippling green waves. She stepped on the bench with great interest, concentrating on hanging the signboard that condensed her efforts. Jiang Yan was holding the ladder steadily below, his expression focused and slightly nervous. Fine beads of sweat had already oozed from the tip of his nose, and he kept muttering, "Be careful, Jinli, don't worry."
"You're so long-winded," Su Jinli replied playfully, her lips curling slightly. Then, she casually picked up an orange from the nearby fruit bowl and threw it in the direction they had just arrived. "Ouch!" A soft cry rang out as the orange hit the hurriedly approaching Young Marquis Su squarely.
Young Marquis Su's outfit today was particularly eye-catching. He carried a large, exaggerated sword on his shoulder (although it was a toy, it was still lifelike), and a small, exquisite abacus hung around his neck. He rushed over, shouting, "Sister! I'm here! I want to be an accountant!"
Su Jinli looked at her brother and couldn't help but chuckle, "You, all you know is how to count the snacks."
Just then, Su Qingyao approached with graceful steps, gently waving a round fan in her hand. She was dressed meticulously today, and the newly inserted pearl hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her movements, reflecting a soft light and adding a touch of charm. She smiled and said, "Jinli, this is the 'Ink Scented Rouge' I specially mixed for the bookstore. Consider it a gift for its opening."
"Thank you, sister." Su Jinli took it, her eyes full of gratitude.
At that moment, there was a commotion in the crowd outside the bookstore. Boss Wang, beaming, rubbed his hands together as he finally squeezed out of the crowd. He excitedly said, "Miss Su! Your 'Jiang Hu Xiao Sequel' is incredibly popular. The five thousand copies we just printed were sold out within a short time of being put on display!"
However, amidst this lively and festive atmosphere, a few scoundrels emerged from the crowd. They deliberately rushed around, knocking over the neatly arranged books in front of the bookstore. One of the scoundrels, with a ferocious face, shouted, "What a rubbish book! It's not even as interesting as the erotic paintings in the brothels!"
This sudden change brought the once bustling bookstore entrance to a sudden silence. Everyone's eyes turned to the ruffians, expressions of surprise and dissatisfaction on their faces. Su Jinli saw this, and a flash of anger flashed in her eyes. Without a word, she quickly jumped down the ladder, reached out and grabbed the account book on the table, and threw it forcefully at the ruffians, saying coldly, "Oh? This account book records your spending records at the 'gold-spending den'. Do you want me to read it to everyone in public?"
When the hooligans heard this, their faces turned pale as paper, and a hint of panic appeared in their eyes. The crowd around them was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter and cast contemptuous glances at these hooligans.
At this moment, Jiang Yan had already changed into a majestic official uniform and stood tall in front of Su Jinli. He looked stern, staring at the ruffians with a sharp gaze, and said slowly, "The people from Jingzhao Yinfu are at the corner of the street. Would you like to go in for a cup of tea and a chat?"
When those ruffians heard this, they were so frightened that their legs went weak. How could they dare to say anything more? They lowered their heads, squeezed out of the crowd in disgrace, and fled. Everyone looked at their embarrassed backs and burst into laughter again.
Su Jinli looked at Jiang Yan, her eyes filled with relief and gratitude, and said softly, "Thank goodness I have you."
Jiang Yan smiled slightly and said gently, "I'm here, I won't let you suffer any injustice."
After this brief incident, the bookstore's opening ceremony continued in full swing. Literary Street already attracted numerous scholars and writers, and upon hearing of the bookstore's opening and witnessing the spectacular event, they all became deeply interested in Jinyun Bookstore. Entering the bookstore, they were greeted by an elegant and refined interior, shelves filled with a wide variety of books, from poetry and songs to legendary stories.
Su Jinli stood in the center of the bookstore, watching the customers come and go, her heart filled with joy and pride. She knew that this bookstore was more than just a place to buy and sell books; it was also the place where her dreams were realized. Today's opening was undoubtedly a major step forward in fulfilling her dreams.
"Jinli, look, this bookstore will definitely become a gathering place for literati in the capital in the future." Jiang Yan looked at Su Jinli, his eyes flashing with expectation.
"Well, I believe it will." Su Jinli said firmly.
Young Marquis Su was busy and blissful. Although his accounting skills weren't great, his enthusiasm was infectious. He would help customers find books, then tidy up the piles of books messed up by scoundrels, muttering to himself, "Sister, I'll learn to count well and not embarrass you."
Su Qingyao was chatting with several ladies on the side, gently waving the round fan in her hand. She smiled and introduced the "Ink Scented Rouge" she had mixed: "This rouge is carefully blended by me. It incorporates a faint scent of ink, which complements the atmosphere of this bookstore." After hearing this, the ladies nodded in praise and became very interested in this unique rouge.
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