The night in Beijing was blanketed by a heavy, falling snow, and the entire world seemed to be plunged into a silvery silence. Inside Jinyun Bookstore, candlelight flickered, and the warm stove radiated a gentle warmth, dispelling the chill from the room. Su Jinli sat at her desk, writing intently. The rustling sound of her wolf-hair brush against the delicate rice paper seemed to express her inner determination and perseverance.
Jiang Yan sat quietly across from her, slowly turning the inkstone in his hands. He looked at Su Jinli's furrowed brow, his eyes filled with heartache and concern. The scent of ink filled the air, blending with the faint scent of snow drifting in from the window. Finally, Jiang Yan couldn't help but whisper, "Madam, take a break. It's already late. It's not too late to continue writing tomorrow."
"No." Su Jinli didn't even look up, her gaze fixed on the manuscript before her. "The word 'copyright' that scholar mentioned today really gave me a wake-up call." As she spoke, the bold, powerful characters "On the Importance of Copyright Protection" gradually appeared on the rice paper. "If we don't establish a rule now, everyone will be vying for manuscripts. The entire bookstore, and even the cultural order of Dajing, will be thrown into chaos."
The snow outside the window fell more and more recklessly, as if burying the entire capital in its pure whiteness. Just then, the door creaked open, and Su Qingyao walked in with light steps. In her hands, she held a delicate porcelain box containing a freshly brewed "Warm Ink Fragrance." She carried a faint scent of snowflakes, as graceful as a fairy in the snow.
"Jinli, this rouge can prevent ink stains. Try it." Su Qingyao said softly. Her eyes swept over the manuscript, and a glint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Well written! We should let those shady booksellers see what the rules are!"
Su Jinli nodded slightly and cast a grateful look at Su Qingyao, but did not stop writing. She just said, "Thank you, elder sister. This matter is urgent, I have to finish it as soon as possible."
Time slipped by quietly as the pen slid, and before they knew it, it was already five o'clock in the morning. Su Jinli finally put down her pen, breathed a sigh of relief, and rubbed her aching wrist. Jiang Yan quickly stood up, walked over to her, and took the manuscript that embodied Su Jinli's painstaking efforts. He carefully examined the clearly listed terms and conditions, such as "the author has the right to be named, the bookstore has the right to print, and the reader has the right to purchase." He couldn't help but smile in admiration, and said, "Madam, with this writing, are you going to set a standard for writing books for the entire Dajing?"
"Exactly." Su Jinli raised her head, her eyes firm and bright. "The cultural market is in chaos these days. We must have clear rules to protect the rights of authors, bookstores, and readers. Please help me make ten copies of this article and post them on the doors of bookstores in Beijing after daybreak."
Jiang Yan looked at Su Jinli, his heart filled with admiration and love. He nodded and said, "Okay, Madam, don't worry. I'll do it right away."
The first rays of dawn were breaking, their first rays cautiously piercing the thick snow covering the capital. At that moment, Su Jinli's manifesto had been posted outside the doors of various bookstores in the capital. Passersby gathered around, pointing and whispering to each other.
The storyteller, Old Li, had sharp eyes and spotted this novel thing at a glance. He immediately became excited and shouted in his loud voice: "Come and listen! Miss Su wrote an article to protect storytellers! Come and take a look!" This voice, like the morning bell, instantly attracted more people's attention, and the crowd grew larger and larger.
Elsewhere, Shopkeeper Qian looked at the proclamation posted on the entrance to the bookstore, his face livid with rage. His eyes widened as if on fire, and he slammed the abacus to the ground. The beads scattering, making a crackling sound that echoed his shattered heart.
"It's a rebellion!" Shopkeeper Qian roared in anger, "How dare a woman try to interfere in the affairs of us booksellers!" He paced back and forth in the room like a trapped beast, with anger burning in his heart.
He quickly made up his mind and immediately summoned the members of the Jiangnan Booksellers Alliance. Once everyone was present, he gritted his teeth and said, "Go! Do whatever it takes to control all the authors. Anyone who dares to submit a work to Su Jinli will forget about publishing a book in the capital! I want to see what tricks Su Jinli can pull off!"
The alliance members looked at each other in bewilderment, but under the coercion of Shopkeeper Qian, they could only nod and obey his orders. A hidden battle over copyright and the cultural market quietly unfolded on this seemingly peaceful morning.
As time went on, news of Su Jinli's copyright manifesto spread throughout the capital. The public discussed the matter widely, with most applauding her actions, believing her support for the author was a significant contribution to the cultural community. However, some, influenced by Qian and others, were skeptical. They felt that Su Jinli, a woman, should not interfere in the affairs of booksellers, posing a threat to market order.
Su Jinli and Jiang Yan naturally heard these discussions, but they were not shaken. They knew that everything they did was for the long-term development of Dajing's cultural undertakings and to protect the rights of the authors who created their works with great care.
In the days that followed, Jiang Yan used his connections and influence in the court to travel extensively, explaining the importance of copyright protection to knowledgeable individuals and garnering their support. Meanwhile, Su Jinli remained at the bookstore, continuing to compile and publish outstanding works while also closely monitoring the authors' activities, fearing that the threats from Manager Qian and others would have an impact on them.
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