Chapter 50
What Aunt Qiao said makes sense. The fact that Shuhang came to visit her in person shows how much he values the picture book.
But Jian Xinyi still felt strange for no reason.
She walked home in a daze, consciously isolating herself from the bustling crowd around her.
The sunlight in winter is never very strong, and the bookstore is getting darker and darker, but more and more people come to study.
The orange-yellow side light outlines Lao Lin’s bent waist and casts a long shadow.
The stalls filled with old books were covered in dust, through which beams of light of varying depths shone.
Until the sun sets.
Old Lin lit the oil lamp on the table of the last guest. Just as he was about to turn around and go back, he saw Jian Xinyi standing at the door and had not come in for a long time.
"Come in, it's time for dinner."
Lao Lin walked to the counter and pulled out a basket of vegetables from the ground. "Old Xu sent it to me. We'll have meat for the festival."
Seeing Jian Xinyi's face suddenly darken, he hurried to explain.
"This time it was a real gift. I told him I was moving out, and he said to take it and eat it. It was a double blessing."
When Jian Xinyi heard that they were going to move out, she completely forgot everything that happened before and asked.
"Didn't you say that houses on the north side are not good?"
"It's almost there. I'll ask the landlord to look for more for me. I'll move out once I find a good one."
"I see."
Jian Xinyi quickly washed and cut the vegetables that Lao Lin had bought. "Do I need to tidy up things in advance?"
"The formalities haven't been completed yet. Let's talk about it later."
The stove fire began to burn brightly, and the aroma of onions, ginger, and garlic began to rise, gradually emitting a large amount of white smoke. It was difficult to see clearly. In the white smoke, she could vaguely see Lao Lin throwing the pickled pork directly into the pot, and the steam was boiling.
This whole pot of food made Jian Xinyi dance with joy while eating, and she was completely stuffed.
After everything was swept away, Jian Xinyi was still savoring the moment.
Lao Lin stood up and washed the remaining dishes. Suddenly, he remembered what happened before and asked her, "Go ask Yuanyuan's mother what she told you."
Jian Xinyi paused, stood up and cleared the table.
"She was quite supportive and didn't say much."
"OK."
Lao Lin didn't say much, but continued to clean the kitchen silently, walking back and forth several times, rubbing his hands on the apron.
"I'm going to look at houses with Fang Yazi tomorrow, so I won't go with you."
"Uh-huh."
Jian Xinyi nodded twice, then came to her senses after a while and asked, "Where is that bookstore?"
"It's on the East Street facing the Heqing Hotel. There's a big plaque there that you can see right away."
The next day, Jian Xinyi followed what Lao Lin said and went east from North Street.
As soon as I went out, I saw a scholar carrying a basket of books and saying goodbye to Lao Lin.
As the end of the year approaches, many students living close to the capital have returned home.
Those who lived far away from the capital stayed in nearby inns.
She said goodbye to Lao Lin and went out. The aroma of smoked bacon wafted through the air along the way, and people of all kinds were rushing home to buy New Year's goods.
The already bustling capital city seems even more lively now.
Jian Xinyi walked to the intersection of two streets. From a distance, she could only hear the bustling noise. She looked to the east and saw the Heqing Hotel that Lao Lin had mentioned.
Just a few steps further in, you can see the ebony and gold-painted signboard with the words "Mingyuan Bookstore" written in a flamboyant style.
Although they had arrived at their destination, Jian Xinyi was still a little scared.
Looking at the people hurrying around her, she felt a little overwhelmed for a moment. She lingered at the door for a long time before she mustered up the courage to come in.
"Sir, would you like to read a book?"
The waiter wearing gold-painted brocade at the door saw her and hurried forward to ask questions.
"I'm just taking a look."
Jian Xinyi casually picked up the book in front of her and flipped through it twice. She felt relieved when she saw the man walking away, and then she looked carefully at the neatly arranged bookshelf in the distance.
The five-story bookshelves in the large bookstore are arranged in rows, stretching all the way to the back of the house.
The second floor is an elegant seat facing south, where the sound of stringed instruments and bamboo music can be heard constantly.
It is indeed the leading bookstore among the major bookstores in the capital.
She walked around the bookstore and found that not only classics, history, and literature were available, but also various unpopular and obscure books.
There are even various kinds of autumn palace pictures, but they are packaged in the style of storybooks.
The fact that they can make such a big business by selling this kind of stuff shows how powerful they are.
Jian Xinyi curled her lips helplessly and put the Autumn Palace Picture Book back solemnly.
Afterwards, he was no longer timid and went straight to the shopkeeper, saying that he wanted to see the head of the bookstore.
The shopkeeper was a little surprised when he heard this, but then he calmed down and took her into the backyard.
As soon as you enter the backyard, the scenery immediately opens up. Two tall pine trees stand on both sides, with snow that has not melted for a few days dotted on them.
Entering the inner wing, the back room was also a duplex style. Jian Xinyi followed the shopkeeper into the second floor. When she looked up, she saw two light wooden floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the gurgling stream outside the window.
As the two walked, the wind chimes hanging on the window sill rang softly.
The people inside knew who was coming, so they opened the door outwards and welcomed the person in.
"Sit down."
President Zhao handed the cushion behind him to Jian Xinyi and asked her to sit down.
The cushion was a little uncomfortable, but looking around, the people inside were all sitting upright.
There was no choice but for her to learn to sit down.
After Jian Xinyi sat down, the maid poured her another cup of warming black tea from the side.
"Have you made up your mind to come this time?"
Jian Xinyi nodded without saying anything.
But my knees were still hurting, so I rubbed them back a little.
President Zhao didn't waste any time. He waved his hand and took the deed.
"If you've made up your mind, put your fingerprint on it."
The maid brought over a gilded round box with a plum blossom carved on the lid.
As the lid was lifted, the red mud inside shook out and dripped onto the table.
The maid seemed a little surprised and knelt down hurriedly to tidy up the table.
"It's okay, I'll clean it up later."
President Zhao slowly pushed the golden plum red clay box forward and said, "Close it first."
Jian Xinyi took the box and was about to put her handprint on it when she heard the low, gentle crying of the maid next to her.
At this moment, a sharp glance flashed across her face, and the maid suddenly stopped sobbing.
Jian Xinyi accidentally caught a glimpse of this scene and became a little timid.
"Miss Lin, do you have any concerns?"
President Zhao smiled faintly and spoke in a low voice.
Two crows outside the window cawed twice, followed by a long silence.
Jian Xinyi calmed herself down.
Now that you are here, you should resolve this matter as soon as possible.
"fine."
She made up her mind and pressed down hard with her fingertips, leaving a bright red mark on the contract.
"It's a pleasure to work with you, Miss Lin."
President Zhao gently picked up a corner of the token with smooth movements, then quickly folded it up and put it close to his chest.
Afterwards, he asked the maid to take Jian Xinyi back the same way.
Before leaving, Jian Xinyi still asked her doubts.
"President, may I ask why you chose my work?"
President Zhao frowned inadvertently, as if he didn't want to answer this question.
When he reached the door, he spoke softly.
"God's help is not as good as man's help. Miss Lin should know this truth."
After hearing this, Jian Xinyi was stunned for a moment.
The streets were still bustling with activity, but the bank president's words were still ringing in her ears.
Is it him?
Jian Xinyi bit her lower lip and was about to walk back when she was stopped by an old man selling charcoal on the street.
"Girl, would you like to buy some charcoal?" He took out a paper bag with a smile and carefully wrapped the charcoal.
Some dust accidentally fell on his gray beard, but he was not in a hurry and combed it carefully.
"I see you've been standing there for quite some time. It's really getting colder as the year draws to a close."
The old man stuffed the cloth bag into Jian Xinyi's hands and looked at her with a smile.
"How much?"
Jian Xinyi hurriedly took out her wallet and gave him the money.
Never mind, it’s not expensive anyway.
The north wind blew towards her, and she looked even more miserable as she was holding a handful of gray charcoal.
She should have rejected the old man earlier, but she couldn't bear to do it.
Jian Xinyi is always like this.
Will everyone who gets close to her become so indecisive?
She had obviously made a big deal, but she was not happy at all.
Instead, he went home sighing.
As soon as he entered the room, Lao Lin saw her gloomy face and began to ask her, "Didn't you reach an agreement?"
"It's settled."
Jian Xinyi answered stiffly.
Old Lin saw her staring blankly, and was also puzzled. Then he saw her coming back with a large bag. He asked, "What are you holding in your arms?"
"carbon."
"Don't we have charcoal at home? Why buy more?"
“I just bought it when I wanted to, without thinking too much.”
The conversation between the two ended there, but they could both feel the other's impatience.
Old Lin, with a clear mind, pressed the issue, "Did Boss Zhao not pay enough?"
"It's not about the money. He gave me a lot. It's a full year's contract, and the money he paid to me is two hundred yuan."
Jian Xinyi handed the charcoal in her hand to Lao Lin, washed her hands in the backyard, and added.
"He also told me that the more I sold, the more I earned, and that the profit would be split 70%."
Old Lin breathed a sigh of relief, his mouth grinning from ear to ear. He hurriedly put the two hundred coins and the charcoal behind the house, talking as he walked.
"Then you looked like this, I thought you were being tricked."
"About the same."
Jian Xinyi muttered softly, but when she turned around, she saw Lao Lin whistling cheerfully as he went to the back room, and she couldn't help but sigh again.
Why don't you ask him about this?
As soon as this thought came to his mind, he recalled his cold attitude when he was in the Dali Temple.
Those cold eyes took advantage of the fancy clothes he had not been interested in wearing before.
The only indecisive person would be herself.
It won't be him, for sure.
Maybe it was just an opportunity for someone to know about my sketchbook.
I can’t think about that anymore, I need to think about the future marketing of the picture book.
Jian Xinyi looked at the four men on the title page and drew a few portraits.
One trick is enough to make you successful.
Since she has signed contracts with several other bookstores to expand sales, but if she wants to keep Lao Lin's bookstore, she needs to come up with something new.
For example, the small card that was released before.
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