Chapter 362: Chapter 363: Entering the Door

Jin Qianqian was in a very cheerful mood. She had vented her frustrations and was even turning a profit. Just thinking about it made her feel wonderful.

"Madam, this business is truly a success," Qing Lan said, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she looked at the tallied figures. ’This is way more rewarding than finding some husband.’

Jin Qianqian said, "Once we get their shops, we’ll have to change our business model."

’She loved money, but she’d never intended to throw the entire industry into chaos.’

’Once the time comes, I’ll raise the prices slightly and do some marketing. Everyone will gradually calm down and stop focusing on a single shop.’

"That won’t really happen. We’re only operating in a fixed location, so the impact on shops in other areas won’t be that big," Qing Lan said. She felt that with Shangjing being so large, people wouldn’t always go out of their way, and that her madam was worrying too much.

Jin Qianqian waved her hand, her mind made up. ’If I want to earn Silver Taels, I’ll just create a new industry. That way, I can promote societal development without conflicting with other people’s interests.’

She was, however, quite interested in bookstores now. Life in this dynasty was too monotonous. ’If I can provide more intellectual nourishment for everyone, that would be a good thing.’

She ran her hand over the manuscripts she had collected these past few days. Aside from some profound and obscure articles, some of the stories were quite captivating.

But the speed of transcription was just too slow. Compiling these into books would be a long and drawn-out process.

’However, it seems this dynasty doesn’t have movable type printing yet. No wonder books are so expensive.’

She stroked her chin, lost in thought, only snapping out of it when Gu Benluo climbed onto her lap.

"Mama, I was calling you just now, but you didn’t answer." Gu Benluo wrapped his arms around her waist. "Is it because I’m studying with Mr. Cen that you don’t miss me anymore?"

Cen Junren, whom Ancient Wen Heng had found, had already moved his entire family over. Jin Qianqian had partitioned off the courtyard facing the street and added a separate gate, turning it into a small, independent yard. Gu Benluo usually went over to study by going directly through a side door.

Jin Qianqian affectionately rested her cheek against his small one. "Of course Mama misses you. Mama was just thinking about something and didn’t hear you..."

After coaxing the child into a happy mood, she had a maid take him out, and then she fell back into her thoughts.

＆

Xiao Wanyu was finally carried into the Ning Family in a small sedan chair one evening after nightfall.

Although it was under the title of a noble concubine, she actually entered with the ceremony befitting a lowly concubine.

Looking at the remote and cramped room, Xiao Wanyu felt a wave of dizziness. ’Even though I know the Ning Family is only renting this courtyard, they could have at least tidied it up!’

"Little Jue, go and bring the Master here."

Xiao Wanyu had actually wanted to use the situation to get out of this marriage, but someone with a big mouth had spread the word to the Niu Family. Her stepson and stepdaughter then gathered a large group of Niu Clan Members, who half-pushed and half-chased her out of the Niu Family home that very day.

In recent days, the affair between her and Ning Yuchen had also been widely circulated, leaving her with no way out.

She had gone to her legal mother, hoping to be taken in, but was instead met with a lecture. With nowhere else to turn, she could only brace herself and be brought from the inn to the Ning Family.

’No wedding attire, no banquet, just a silent, unnoticed entry. I, Xiao Wanyu, will remember this.’

Soon, Yu Xiaoju, who had gone out, ran back in, clutching her face.

"Madam," Yu Xiaoju stammered, holding her already red and swollen cheek, "no, Aunt Xiao, the Master doesn’t have time to come over right now. He said you should rest first."

The moment Xiao Wanyu heard the title "Aunt," her face flushed red with anger. Although she knew it was a normal way to address someone of her current status, she just couldn’t accept it in her heart.

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"Who hit you?"

"The Old Madam had her servant woman hit me. She said this servant doesn’t know the rules, that in this residence there is only the Old Madam and the Madam, and a mere concubine doesn’t deserve..." Noticing Xiao Wanyu’s expression, Yu Xiaoju’s voice grew softer and softer until she didn’t dare to speak anymore.

In truth, there were even nastier things said, but she was afraid she’d get another beating if she repeated them.

"How wonderful," Xiao Wanyu said, a vicious glint in her eyes. "This residence can indeed only have one Madam."

Yu Xiaoju tried to shrink into a corner, but what was coming was inevitable. Filled with hatred, Xiao Wanyu vented all her fury on her.

＆

"Mr. Gu," Cao Xiangqian called out, riding his horse to catch up with Ancient Wen Heng’s carriage.

Ancient Wen Heng lifted the window curtain to look, then quickly told Hong Da to stop the carriage. "Minister Cao."

Cao Xiangqian reined in his horse. "I have some business with you, Mr. Gu. Let’s meet at the teahouse up ahead."

Ancient Wen Heng naturally agreed. After the other man spurred his horse and left, he told Hong Da to drive the carriage over.

As soon as the carriage stopped at the teahouse entrance, a waiter came over and led him to a private room.

He was just about to bow when Cao Xiangqian stopped him. "This isn’t the imperial court, and there are no outsiders here. You don’t need to be so formal. Come, sit."

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t know what this Minister of War had up his sleeve. Logically, their paths shouldn’t have crossed.

He had just sat down when he saw the other man pour him a cup of tea, which startled him even more. He quickly stood up again to express his thanks.

"You scholars are such a hassle, always with so many formalities. Do you feel comfortable with all these rules and restrictions weighing you down?"

Hearing Cao Xiangqian’s disdain-filled words, Ancient Wen Heng relaxed a little. With such a frank and open person, it was best to be direct.

"May I ask why Minister Cao stopped me today?"

"Now that’s more like it! I won’t beat around the bush with you. I have a few unworthy grandsons in my household who do nothing but fool around all day. I was hoping you could find some time to teach them that... arithmetic. It might give them a way to make a living.

"Otherwise, if I, their old man, am no longer the Minister, I’m truly afraid these little bastards will starve to death one by one."

Having been in this ancient era for so long, this was the first time Ancient Wen Heng had heard someone so shamelessly curse their own descendants. "They would all learn the same thing?"

"I’d love for them to be jacks-of-all-trades, but those little bastards are hopeless. They’re useless in both scholarly and martial pursuits. I even made them work as waiters, but those brats just ended up causing trouble for me."

Cao Xiangqian had come from a poor background in his early years, so he understood better than anyone the importance of having a means to support oneself.

The glory and wealth he now possessed were as fleeting as passing smoke. He was the only one worrying about it, which was why seeing Ancient Wen Heng was like grasping at a lifeline.

Hearing that he even made them work as waiters, Ancient Wen Heng gained a clearer understanding of the Minister’s personality.

"So, you’d prefer them to learn a practical skill, Minister?" Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up in his mind. ’Now this is a good parent, truly planning for his descendants’ future.’

"As long as they don’t starve to death," Cao Xiangqian said. He had so many children and grandchildren. Although some had joined the army, the others needed to have a path to fall back on.

"It’s just that I, your subordinate, have to report for duty at the Hanlin Academy on a daily basis and don’t have that much free time."

Just as Cao Xiangqian thought this was Ancient Wen Heng’s way of refusing and was about to get up and leave, the other man spoke again.

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