On the day of Frost's Descent, the capital seemed to be painted a unique shade of autumn, with a slight chill permeating the streets and alleys. However, inside Jinyun Bookstore, the scene was bustling with activity, the door nearly breaking down with the endless stream of people.
Su Jinli, dressed in a plain brocade robe, was bent over the counter, concentrating on counting copper coins. The beads on her abacus clattered, as if playing a cheerful melody. Just then, there was a loud thud. A coarse cloth bundle slammed heavily onto the counter. The sudden noise startled her, and the tip of her pen scratched a long mark on the account book.
"Miss Su! I want to submit my manuscript!" With a resounding shout, a bearded man appeared before the crowd. He was a burly man with dark skin, but his eyes shone with eagerness. He quickly untied his bundle, revealing a pile of crumpled manuscript paper. He proudly declared, "My story is about the oil seller and the courtesan!"
Seeing this, Lingge was about to step forward to stop him, worried that his reckless behavior would disturb Su Jinli. However, Su Jinli's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered a rare treasure. She quickly took the manuscript and quickly scanned the opening sentence: "Yue Niang's embroidered shoes were stained with morning dew, just like the heart of the oil seller Chen Ahqi." In an instant, she slammed the table and shouted, "Great! I'll take this story!"
Su Jinli's shout was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. Word spread like wildfire, and soon a line stretched out in front of the bookstore, stretching as far as the eye could see. The crowd was diverse: peasant women carrying bamboo baskets, their faces brimming with simple smiles, perhaps crafting stories full of life while working in the fields; elegant scholars waving folding fans, their talents overflowing, hoping their works would shine here; and even graceful ladies, adorned with exquisite veils and graceful figures, usually pampered, came to submit their works out of a love for literature.
Su Qingyao finally squeezed through the throng to the front of the stage. She frowned slightly, rolled her eyes, and placed her rouge box on the table. She said with a hint of annoyance, "Jinli, look at these people! The stories they write are even more confusing than my rouge formula! What should I do?"
"Chaos is what makes things interesting." Su Jinli said with a smile. She stuffed the manuscript of "Hunter and Fox Fairy" she had just received into Su Qingyao's arms, her eyes full of anticipation. "Eldest sister, you are so talented. Can you help me revise these words?"
As they were talking, Jiang Yan returned from court. He was dressed in a formal official robe, the hem of which was inadvertently stained with the red lacquer of the palace walls, clearly having hurried all the way here. He walked into the bookstore and looked at the bustling crowd in the room. He shook his head helplessly, but with a doting smile on his face, he said, "Madam, are you going to convert the bookstore into a teahouse to accommodate all these guests?"
"Almost!" Su Jinli winked playfully. She slapped the manuscript of "The Oil Seller" on Jiang Yan's chest and said excitedly, "Master Jiang, please take a look at this story. If it were adapted into a script..." As she spoke, she suddenly lowered her voice, a sly glint in her eyes, "How about having the top scholar dress up as a woman to play the role of the courtesan?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's ears instantly turned red, like ripe cherries. However, the readers around him erupted in applause at this novel proposal, and a chorus of applause ensued. Just then, Young Marquis Su stormed in, carrying his iconic toy sword. He shouted, "I want to see Brother Jiang Yan wearing a bellyband!" This shout set off laughter, and the atmosphere in the bookstore became even more lively.
Jiang Yan looked at the bustling scene before him, feeling both helpless and relieved. He felt helpless because Su Jinli's quirky ideas always caught him off guard, but he felt relieved because, under her management, Jinyun Bookstore was becoming increasingly vibrant, becoming a gathering place for Beijing's literati and literary enthusiasts.
Su Jinli looked at Jiang Yan's shy expression and couldn't help but burst out laughing. She took Jiang Yan's hand and said, "Jiang Yan, look how enthusiastic everyone is. If the story of "The Oil Seller and the Oiran" were adapted into a play, it would definitely be very popular. We can hold a drama performance in the bookstore so that everyone can not only read the wonderful story but also enjoy the lively performance. What do you think?"
Jiang Yan watched the glint in Su Jinli's eyes, a glint of passion and dedication to literature and the bookstore business. He nodded gently and said, "Madam, your ideas are always so novel and interesting. Since everyone is so excited, we might as well give it a try. However, there are still many other things to worry about, such as adapting the script and preparing for the performance."
Su Jinli smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, with so many enthusiastic readers helping us, as well as my elder sister and younger brother, plus you, we will definitely be able to make this performance a wonderful one."
At Su Jinli's call, everyone in the bookstore responded enthusiastically, offering suggestions for adapting the script and preparing for the performance. Those who submitted their works, whether peasant women, scholars, or noble ladies, enthusiastically participated. Some helped organize the storyline, others polished the text with their literary skills, and Su Qingyao, with her talent, meticulously crafted the script's details.
During the script adaptation process, everyone gave full play to their imagination and creativity. For the story of "The Oil Seller and the Courtesan," they retained the original story's honest and kindhearted character, Chen Ah-qi, and the beautiful and intelligent courtesan, Yue Niang, while also adding many interesting twists. For example, when Yue Niang was harassed by a bully, Chen Ah-qi stepped in and used the money he had saved from selling oil to redeem her, which ultimately landed him in trouble. To repay Chen Ah-qi's kindness, Yue Niang disguised herself as a man and went out to earn money, working with him through the difficult times and ultimately marrying him. These added twists and turns imbued the story with even more drama.
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