Chapter 82 Jiang Tanhua, your hands are so white...
Lian Shu coughed lightly and lowered his voice: "Brother Chen, I'll talk to you in detail later."
Shen Ming'an realized his mistake and hurriedly began to enthusiastically promote the product to Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi.
"If you want to buy the Lian family's study, then this is the best choice. In the past, all of us classmates from the Imperial Academy came here to buy books. Uncle Lian's engraving and printing skills are excellent, and he never cuts corners on paper and ink. His books are sturdy and durable, and they even have a unique insect-proofing technique."
Shen Lingyue listened attentively, realizing that opening a bookstore wasn't such an easy task. These bookstores in the capital were like publishing houses in later generations; even for the same content like the Four Books and Five Classics, each bookstore had its own version, each with its own unique characteristics.
Lianji Bookstore was quite well-known among the students of the Imperial College because of its excellent book-making skills and the kind and honest owner who often sold books to students from poor families at half price or even gave them away. He also provided them with part-time jobs copying books and exchanging them for books.
She whispered to Yan Yi, "It seems I was too naive before. Buying the shop isn't enough; we also need to hire professional and technical personnel."
Yan Yi thought for a moment and asked Lian Shu, "If we buy Lianji Study, what are your plans for the future, young master? Will you still go back to study at the Imperial Academy?"
Lian Shu was a clever man. He understood the implied meaning from the song and immediately said, "If the two ladies don't mind, I would be so kind as to recommend myself to stay and be the manager."
He glanced around the study, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "This is a family business passed down from my ancestors. I grew up here, and I really don't want to leave."
Selling the shop would certainly pay off some of the debt, but what would become of him and his father without the livelihood of their study? It would be better to stay and rely on his skills, at least he could have a fixed income every month.
Shen Lingyue was somewhat tempted and gently tugged at Yan Yi's sleeve, "That's a great idea!"
When the time comes, they will provide the funds, and Lian Shu will manage the business; it will be equivalent to investing in an industry.
Yan Yi did not immediately agree, remaining calm. "Excuse my boldness, but may I ask what the specifics of the Lian family's debt are? Who is the creditor? Will they come to the shop to cause trouble? Please forgive us, Mr. Lian, but we are buying this shop to do business and make money, not to clean up other people's messes."
Shen Lingyue then realized, "Oh right, what if they buy the shop, but the Lian family's creditors keep coming to cause trouble every few days?"
She looked at Yan Yan with admiration; Yan Yan was still the most reliable!
Shen Ming'an cleared his throat and stood next to Shen Lingyue. "That's right. Although we are classmates, as her older brother, I still have to keep a close eye on my younger sister."
Lian Shu sighed softly, her smile tinged with bitterness. "I understand your concerns, but please rest assured, this debt is a family matter for the Lian family. Once the shop is sold, no one will cause any more trouble..."
Lianji Bookstore was thriving, but the reason it suddenly incurred a huge debt was because Lian Shu's second uncle had caused trouble outside and injured someone. The other party demanded a large sum of money in compensation, or they would report him to the authorities and have him imprisoned.
“My father was the eldest son. He learned woodblock printing from his grandfather from a young age, and it was only natural that he would inherit the family business when he grew up. My second uncle… he was spoiled too much by his grandmother. He was good-for-nothing and idle. Every time he got into trouble outside, his grandmother would come to his father crying. Over the years, she has helped him get rid of countless problems.”
As the eldest son and elder brother, and having inherited the Lian family business, it was only right for Lian's father to take care of his elderly mother and younger brother. As a result, he indulged his second uncle more and more unruly, which eventually led to a disaster.
"The victim's family found out that my study was in a good location and had good business. They were obviously after the shop. In addition, they had connections with the local government and deliberately imposed a high fine, and even hinted that we could use the shop to pay off the debt."
Even the kind-hearted Lian Shu couldn't help but clench her fists, saying unwillingly, "It's true that Second Uncle was wrong to hit someone, but does that mean the other party is justified in making such an exorbitant demand? Rather than handing over our ancestral property, I'd rather sell it to outsiders than let them benefit from it."
Seeing that Yan Yi still had concerns, he quickly added, "Please rest assured, as long as we go to the yamen to sign the contract, this study will be yours. The transaction is legal and legitimate, and the other party will definitely not dare to cause any more trouble."
Shen Ming'an chimed in, "That's right, even if that creditor is incredibly audacious, would they dare to cause trouble for the Marquis's residence?"
Shen Lingyue pretended to be angry, "Big brother, whose side are you on?"
Why are you speaking well of Lian Shu again?
Shen Ming'an put his arm around Lian Shu's shoulder and laughed, "I'm doing this to help both the right and the family. Lianji Study is a cherished memory for many students of the Imperial Academy. Rather than watching it fall into the hands of an unknown outsider, why not hand it over to my clever little sister and make it bigger and stronger?"
Shen Lingyue was flattered and became quite arrogant. "Hehe, big brother, you really have good taste! That's what I thought too!"
Turning back, she whispered to Yan Yi, "What do you think? How about we buy this one?"
Buying Lianji Study means getting two skilled craftsmen and managers from the Lian family, father and son, for free. What a bargain!
Throughout the entire process, Yan Yi remained very rational and reserved, as if he did not treat Lian Shu differently because of his honesty.
When Shen Ming'an pointed out that Lianji Study held a special place in the hearts of the students at the Imperial Academy, a glimmer of light seemed to flash in his clear, cold eyes.
She spoke calmly and slowly: "Since Young Master Lian and Young Master Shen are classmates and friends, we naturally trust your character. But business is business. We are buying the shop to make money and do business, and any potential risks should be nipped in the bud."
She smiled faintly at Lian Shu: "The Changning Marquis's mansion is a large and lush tree, but not just anyone can come and shelter from the wind and rain."
Meeting her all-knowing gaze, Lian Shu awkwardly touched her nose, feeling embarrassed that her little thoughts had been seen through.
He used to be close to Shen Ming'an, so he naturally knew that his younger sister had been betrothed by the emperor to the Changning Marquis's mansion, which was favored by the emperor.
From the moment Shen Ming'an entered and revealed Shen Lingyue's identity, Lian Shu made up her mind to sell her study to the two of them.
This is the most suitable new owner he could find for his study.
"So... what does Mrs. Zhou mean?"
The boy's wheat-colored skin flushed slightly, and he dared not meet Yan Yi's probing gaze.
After a moment's thought, Yan Yi gave her her target price.
“Reduce the price by 20% from what we’re offering now, and you and your son will have to sign a three-year employment contract to stay and manage the study as the manager and chief craftsman.”
Lian Shu frowned. He had already made a big concession on the price in order to get rid of the shop as soon as possible, so why did he still want to bargain?
But Yan Yi then added, "If the new book that the study is about to publish sells well, you can participate in the profit sharing. The specific distribution ratio can be discussed in detail when signing the contract."
Lian Shu seemed to understand; this meant that they, father and son, were to remain bound to this large ship and advance and retreat together.
"Don't worry, Young Master Lian, we won't let you suffer any losses."
Shen Lingyue confidently declared, "The discounted prices you're offering now will definitely be earned back tenfold or even a hundredfold in the near future!"
Lian Shu chuckled at her words, then quickly cleared her throat to cover it up, and said in a serious tone, "Then I'll have to look forward to seeing what kind of masterpiece you're going to publish."
Having already made up her mind, Lian Shu decided to take a gamble.
Since the shop was destined to be sold anyway, what did he have to fear losing?
...
"Ta-da!"
Shen Lingyue proudly presented the land deed to Dong Lanyi, asking, "Cousin, look what this is!"
Dong Lanyi picked it up and looked at it, her eyes widening like a startled deer. "Sister-in-law, you...you really bought me a bookstore?"
She suddenly felt immense pressure, unconsciously biting her lip and shaking her head, saying, "This is too risky. I'm not even sure if the storybook I'm writing will sell..."
With such a large investment, what if my two cousins-in-law lose money?
Dong Lanyi was both moved and guilty. Her heart felt heavy, yet also filled with something warm. She wanted to say something, but tears fell uncontrollably before she could speak.
"Oh my, I'm so moved I'm crying."
Shen Lingyue quickly took a handkerchief to wipe her face, coaxing her, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Buying the shop was a decision my sister-in-law and I made after careful consideration. Just think of it as acquiring another business. Selling books can be very profitable."
Dong Lanyi looked up with a pitiful expression: "Really? You're not just trying to comfort me?"
“Of course! The shop we bought is in a great location and has great business. It was carefully selected by the Imperial Academy!” Shen Lingyue gave a thumbs up, exaggerating on purpose. “If the previous owner hadn’t been in dire need of money, we wouldn’t have been able to snag this bargain.”
Dong Lanyi was relieved, and looked at the two of them with bright eyes, full of admiration: "You two know so much, and you're so good at making money, no wonder..."
Her voice gradually lowered, as if she were lost in thought, with a hint of melancholy.
My mother used to complain that my uncle's family was biased and didn't really love her, their niece. Otherwise, why wouldn't they agree to let her marry my cousin?
However, ever since my eldest cousin's wife entered the family, she has been managing the household affairs with my aunt every day, keeping the huge Marquis's mansion in an orderly manner, with proper conduct and strict rules.
She gradually realized the gap between herself and Yan Yi, and seriously considered whether she had the ability to support a large family.
It's too difficult, really too difficult. She can't even be bothered to manage the daily expenses in her own room. Just looking at the account book gives her a headache.
She would rather spend that time writing more poems or reading more stories.
Dong Lanyi composed herself and sincerely thanked the two of them.
"I remember all the kindness my two sisters-in-law have shown me."
Yan Yi gently comforted her, "Everyone has their own expertise. Cousin, you have your strengths. All we can do is give you space to fully utilize your talents. A family should support each other like this so that we can go the distance."
"Big Cousin..."
Dong Lanyi felt like crying again, partly from being moved and partly from feeling ashamed.
Her older cousin's wife is so kind to her, how could she have the nerve to interfere in her relationship with her older cousin?
She couldn't help but throw herself into Yan Yi's arms, and suddenly blurted out what was on her mind, "I wish you were my older sister."
There were no other girls in the Marquis's mansion; she had been alone since childhood, without even a close sister.
Yan Yi gently patted her back and said with a smile, "We're family now too."
Shen Lingyue glared at him, hands on her hips, looking furious.
Zhou Yanling just left, and now another one is trying to steal Yan Yan from her!
She coughed twice, subtly pulling Dong Lanyi from Yan Yi's arms, and said with a smile, "Cousin, how about we give our study a new name?"
Since it has changed owners, it can no longer be called Lianji Study.
Dong Lanyi lowered her eyes in thought, and after a moment she raised her head, a glow spreading across her delicate and beautiful face.
"Let's call it Langhuan Pavilion."
Legend has it that the Heavenly Emperor's library was named Langhuan Garden. The characters Lang and Huan are more commonly used in women's names, signifying purity and beauty, and symbolizing precious pearls and jade.
My second cousin said that they want to write more stories that women all over the world will love to read.
From then on, they would stamp the Langhuan Pavilion's seal on the title page of every storybook they published, and sell them far and wide.
...
A few days later, the Lianji Study in the back alley of the Imperial College quietly changed its signboard to "Langhuan Pavilion".
Holding a long bamboo pole, Shen Lingyue lifted a string of firecrackers, and amidst the crackling sounds, their new bookstore opened!
The newly appointed manager, Lian Shu, coughed lightly and tactfully reminded him, "Manager Shen, is our new book ready for publication?"
He hasn't forgotten the promises of profit sharing his two employers made for him.
"Of course, the first draft of the first volume has been completed."
Shen Lingyue solemnly took out a stack of bound manuscripts from the wooden box and handed them over, "Manager Lian, please give your comments."
Having learned from her mistakes, in this era without copyright patent applications, to prevent Dong Lanyi's new book from being plagiarized again, Shen Lingyue contacted Lü Chong in advance and filed a plot synopsis with the Shuntian Prefecture.
If new books that "imitate" or "borrow" from these books appear on the market in the future, they can use this record to claim compensation.
This was the first time the officials of the Shuntian Prefecture's Household Registration Office had received such a filing request. While they were intrigued, they also felt that this matter had great potential, and perhaps they could even generate revenue for the government through this business in the future.
Lian Shu took the manuscript with both hands, and the first thing that caught her eye was a line of elegant small regular script on the cover—"Jade Hall Hairpin".
He opened the manuscript and was quickly captivated by the novel and daring story, reading it with rapt attention.
Shen Lingyue observed from the side and saw that Lian Shu sometimes frowned with worry and sometimes had a strange light in her eyes. She was obviously immersed in it and couldn't help but secretly swing her fist.
My cousin should have come and seen this with her own eyes; she said her stories are absolutely amazing!
Lian Shu read extremely fast, and soon turned to the last page. She looked up anxiously and asked, "Whose masterpiece is this? What's the sequel? Miss Xie is a woman. If she's chosen as a prince consort, won't her secret be exposed?"
Shen Lingyue covered her mouth and chuckled. She had said that the timing of the ending was perfect. Who could resist wanting to see what happened next?
She cleared her throat and corrected her earnestly: "You're wrong. This isn't some gentleman's masterpiece, but rather..."
"Second cousin-in-law, I'm late. The road here is so hard to find."
Accompanied by a light and gentle voice, the girl's graceful figure slowly walked in.
Lian Shu looked up at the sound, and was immediately rooted to the spot. Everything around him lost its sound and color, and only that beautiful figure, like a secluded orchid in a valley, was deeply imprinted in his eyes and heart.
Not long ago, he was still captivated by the dramatic plot of the storybook, and the delicate calligraphy on the paper further enchanted him. Unconsciously, he had come to regard the author behind the manuscript as a confidant and looked forward to meeting him.
But to his utter surprise, the owner of this storybook was actually a young woman.
...No, he should have realized it sooner. The one who could write about Miss Xie's inner journey with such delicate and graceful strokes must be a girl as light and ethereal as a fairy flower.
Lian Shu couldn't explain the emotions and impulses she felt at that moment. She wanted to ask about the plot, but when she looked at Dong Lanyi's face, her mind went blank, and she couldn't remember what she wanted to say.
For a moment, Mumu stood there like a silly goose, blush spreading from her neck to her ears.
Dong Lanyi didn't notice his strange behavior at all, only glancing over curiously when Shen Lingyue introduced him, "You're Manager Lian, the one who sold the shop to my sister-in-law?"
Lian Shu suddenly came to her senses, as if hearing celestial music. She became even more flustered, her face quickly turning red. She hurriedly turned her back and stammered, "Yes, it was me."
He was both ashamed and angry, and wished he could slap himself twice to wake himself up.
What's wrong with him today? He used to be so confident and at ease when entertaining female customers, how come he suddenly turned into a jerk?
Dong Lanyi was confused by his sudden turn. Was she really that scary?
"Second cousin-in-law," she walked up to Shen Lingyue and muttered softly, "can someone so shy be a good manager?"
Shen Lingyue's eyes darted around, glancing at her bewildered cousin and then at the shopkeeper, whose every hair on the back of his head seemed to scream "love at first sight." She secretly pinched her thigh twice to stop herself from bursting into a strange laugh.
Oh ho ho ho, could it be that my cousin's perfect match has landed here?
No, she had to make sure her cousin was properly vetted!
Shen Lingyue cleared her throat and explained in a serious tone, "Manager Lian was captivated by the story you wrote, and his emotions were so stirred that he couldn't control himself for a long time!"
Dong Lanyi smiled brightly. "Really? He really likes my story?"
On the other side, Lian Shu finally received the way out from Shen Lingyue and was about to adjust her emotions when she turned around and saw Dong Lanyi's bright smile and joyful expression. She immediately felt dizzy again and quickly raised her hand to cover her nose.
Oh no, it feels like something hot is about to come out...
"I'm going to wash my face!"
Lian Shu quickly dropped those words and rushed to the backyard as if fleeing, where she drank three large bowls of well water to cool down her fever a little.
After he finally calmed down and mentally rehearsed their conversation several times, he returned to the shop and found that Dong Lanyi had already left.
Lian Shu's face showed visible disappointment, and she asked anxiously, "That girl...why did she leave? Wasn't she going to stay and discuss the publishing matters with us?"
Shen Lingyue chuckled inwardly, raised a finger and shook it, saying mysteriously, "My cousin is a pure intellectual. She only takes care of writing the book; how to sell it is our job."
"I see..." Lian Shu's tone lowered a bit, but she quickly perked up and said confidently, "I think this book is exceptionally well-written. Both its writing style and concept are in no way inferior to that recently popular 'Young Master Xiaoxiang.' It's sure to be a bestseller."
"Don't even mention that shrimp-headed young master." Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "He's not even as good as a single hair on my cousin's head, and he even secretly copied our stories!"
Anyway, Lian Shu is no outsider now, and Shen Lingyue doesn't need to save face for Young Master Xiaoxiang, so she just rambled on and on.
Lian Shu was shocked. "So 'The Romance in the Mirror' was Miss Dong's idea? No wonder it's so different from Young Master Xiaoxiang's usual style, and the ending was also rather disappointing..."
Shen Lingyue clenched her fist. "So our new book must absolutely defeat him! Manager Lian, do you have any good suggestions?"
“Master, it’s not that I’m trying to dampen your spirits, but Young Master Xiaoxiang has been famous in the capital for a long time. Whenever he releases a new book, it’s sure to be snapped up by thousands of people, with a constant stream of buyers. There are even people reselling it at high prices. It has become a trend.”
Lian Shu said seriously, "But Miss Dong is just a newcomer with no works and no fame. If she wants to make a name for herself as quickly as possible, we should try to leverage existing influences. For example... ask a celebrity to write a preface for her new book and give it a public recommendation."
"What kind of celebrity?" Shen Lingyue blinked. "How about the imperial concubine in the palace?"
Lian Shu: ...
Shen Lingyue waved her hand, "I was just kidding, hahaha, our family isn't that close to the Imperial Concubine, hahaha..."
He coughed lightly, offering a tactful reminder: "It would be best if she were someone with a small reputation and influence in the literary world. Although the Imperial Concubine is of noble status,..." the readers might not be interested.
Another point is that most readers of "Yu Tang Chai" are destined to be women, so the famous person in question cannot be an elderly scholar; he must be young.
"Scholars, celebrities, popular young people..."
Shen Lingyue pondered deeply, then suddenly snapped her fingers, "I've got it!"
...
Shen Lingyue asked Shen Ming'an for help, and Shen Ming'an then found Qi Xiuyuan. Through Qi Xiuyuan's introduction, the three of them went to the home of Jiang Yunlin, the third-ranked scholar.
"Madam Shen would like me to write a preface for your cousin's new book?"
Jiang Yunlin was somewhat surprised and puzzled when he learned of her purpose. "Why did you think of me?"
Shen Lingyue's success cannot be attributed to his good looks, which made him the dream man of countless young women in the capital. Moreover, Jiang Yunlin was destined to be a "wife-killer," meaning he would never belong to anyone and was everyone's shared third-place scholar. How perfect!
"Because I think Jiang Tanhua is a good person."
Shen Lingyue argued vehemently, "If you're a good person, you'll definitely like my cousin's story!"
She pushed a wooden box in front of Jiang Yunlin, which was filled with neatly arranged silver ingots.
"This is a fee for your writing; please accept it generously, Scholar Jiang."
Jiang Yunlin chuckled and shook his head. "You still haven't told me what kind of story your cousin is writing. Do you have a copy of the manuscript?"
Shen Lingyue handed over the prepared manuscript, saying, "It's the story of a young woman who, to avenge her family, disguises herself as a man, takes the imperial examination, becomes the top scholar, and rises to the highest ranks of officialdom..."
Jiang Yunlin's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his face turning deathly pale, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
Shen Lingyue stared at him curiously and couldn't help but exclaim, "Jiang Tanhua, your hands are so white and beautiful!"
Although there are many handsome men with feminine features, the bone structure of men and women is inherently different, and even the most handsome man may not have Jiang Tanhua's fair and slender hands.
If it weren't for the slightly unsightly calluses on the index finger joints from years of holding a pen, these would practically look like a girl's hands...
Um? ? ?
Shen Lingyue suddenly realized what was happening and stared intently at Jiang Yunlin.
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Moon Boy: ! The female lead of the new book is actually right beside me! [doge][doge]]
//Dear Zhanbo: By the time you see this update, I'll already be... sitting in the theater breathing the same air as Yang Li [sprinkling flowers][sprinkling flowers]—your Dou Wanyu [let me see][let me see]
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