The Marquis doesn't support his beloved wife's ambitions, so I'll take the imperial e

"It's all thanks to Sister Jiang's excellent guidance." Shen Yu lowered his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I don't want any red envelopes. Being able to help Sister Jiang is more important than anything else."

He was no longer as apprehensive and hesitant as before; his attitude was much more relaxed.

Jiang Zhenxue closed the account book: "The situation in Yunyang County is complicated. Did you encounter any trouble while you were running errands these past few days?"

"No," Shen Yu replied. "The Kang family said they have a share in this shop. Those thugs and bullies don't dare to cause trouble. But..."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "The young master of the 'Sihai Bookstore' on the next street has been sending invitations every day for the past few days, wanting to invite you to tea, sister. Today's invitation also included a fine piece of mutton-fat jade."

Jiang Zhenxue frowned, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes.

This young master, surnamed Wu, was quite arrogant because his family monopolized more than half of the book business in Yunyang County.

A few days ago, when Kang Mingyan introduced her, the way he looked at her made her very uncomfortable.

That sticky, condescending scrutiny was as if they were looking at a commodity with a price tag.

"Return it," Jiang Zhenxue said decisively. "Just say I'm busy with the opening and don't have time for you. I feel unworthy to accept such a valuable item."

"He's already turned it down three times." A cold glint flashed in Shen Yu's eyes as he clenched his fist. "He came in person today. He's in the lobby downstairs."

Jiang Zhenxue looked down.

In the center of the hall stood a young man dressed in gold and silver, fanning himself with a folding fan, commenting on the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.

When Wu Shaodong looked up, he happened to see Jiang Zhenxue on the second floor.

He immediately put away his folding fan, strode up the stairs, and pulled out a chair to sit down.

"Manager Jiang is truly a busy man; getting to see you is harder than climbing to heaven." Young Master Wu's gaze lingered unabashedly on her face, his eyes sliding over her slender neck. "I've seen all the women in Yunyang County, but none possess Manager Jiang's elegance. Is this jade hairpin truly unworthy of you?"

Jiang Zhenxue ignored his sarcastic remarks and sat down opposite him.

"Young Master Wu, what brings you here?"

"I heard that Manager Jiang plans to sell some notes on the imperial examinations at Qingyun Pavilion?" Young Master Wu leaned forward, tapping his folding fan on the table. "The book business in Yunyang County has always been monopolized by our Sihai Bookstore. Manager Jiang is new here and doesn't know the rules. I can teach you. It's too hard for a weak woman like you to show your face in public. Why not find a backer?"

He pulled a silver note from his sleeve and slapped it on the table.

"One thousand taels. I'll take a 50% stake in this shop. From now on, those notes will be printed by our Sihai Bookstore. You just need to count the money, and in your spare time, you can keep me company while I drink tea and listen to opera. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Jiang Zhenxue didn't even glance at the silver note, but picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Is this person mentally ill?

He wants to buy half of Qingyun Pavilion's shares and its most important notes for a thousand taels of silver, and also wants to take advantage of her.

"Young Master Wu is too kind," Jiang Zhenxue said calmly, setting down her teacup. "Qingyun Pavilion doesn't sell notes. We only give them away."

Young Master Wu was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Give it away? Manager Jiang, are you doing charity? There are tens of thousands of students in this prefecture city, can you afford to give them all away? Or are you planning to sacrifice yourself as well?"

"Of course we can afford it." Jiang Zhenxue leaned back in her chair, ignoring his vulgar words. "Anyone who deposits 100 taels of silver at Qingyun Pavilion will receive a copy of our internal reference book. If Young Master Wu is interested, he may also deposit a copy."

Wu Shaodong's smile froze.

One hundred taels per serving?

Has this woman gone mad?!

"Manager Jiang, you're cutting off your own source of income!" Young Master Wu's face darkened. "Believe it or not, with just a word from my Sihai Bookstore, Qingyun Pavilion won't be able to buy a single sheet of paper! At that point, you'll be begging me to take you in, and I'll have to think twice!"

"As you wish." Jiang Zhenxue stood up and gestured for the guest to leave. "Xiao Yu, see the guest out."

Shen Yu immediately stepped forward, blocking Wu Shaodong's path, his eyes cold: "Young Master Wu, please."

Wu Shaodong was forced back half a step by the murderous aura in Shen Yu's eyes.

He glared fiercely at Shen Yu, then looked at Jiang Zhenxue and sneered, "Fine! Very well! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! I'd like to see how long this run-down shop can last! When you're cornered, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He turned and left, his footsteps echoing loudly on the stairs.

Watching his retreating figure, Shen Yu whispered, "Sister Jiang, Sihai Bookstore has considerable influence in the prefectural city. Are we really going to break ties with them? What if they really try to sabotage us behind our backs..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Jiang Zhenxue sat down again, opened the account book, and said nonchalantly, "He monopolizes ordinary books, while we sell exclusive secret manuals. Students care who supplies the paper when it comes to their future. Besides, the Kang family has already agreed to supply the books, so he can't cut off our supply."

"Xiao Yu, you can't just look at the petty profits in business." Jiang Zhenxue pointed to the numbers in the ledger. "Yunyang County is a prefectural city, full of high-ranking officials and nobles. What they want is not cheapness, but prestige and uniqueness. By setting the threshold at one hundred taels, we are telling them that Qingyun Pavilion's products are not something that just anyone can use. This is the price."

Shen Yu nodded thoughtfully: "That's why my sister set the rule that the private rooms aren't charged by the hour, but by the number of people. As long as you enter this room, even if you don't drink tea, you still have to pay a tea fee of ten taels of silver."

"That's right. This ten taels of silver isn't for tea, it's for tranquility, it's for status." Jiang Zhenxue's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Just you wait and see, the more it's like this, the more they'll rush to give you money."

Shen Yu's heart skipped a beat as he looked at her radiant profile.

He had never seen a woman as shrewd as Sister Jiang, who could calculate people's hearts so precisely and act with such domineering power.

She was like a flame, illuminating his otherwise dark and gloomy life.

He clenched his fists secretly, vowing to protect her and never let anyone bully her.

She had no desire to associate with arrogant playboys like Wu Shaodong.

Arguing with this kind of person is a complete waste of time.

All she can think about now is making money.

As soon as Qingyun Pavilion opens, with a threshold of one hundred taels of silver, wealthy and powerful young men will flock to it.

The world is full of people who want to take shortcuts.

With money, she could hire the best guards, take over more shops, and expand her business empire throughout the Jiangnan region.

At that time, the sky will be high enough for birds to fly freely.

"The auspicious day will be in a few days." Jiang Zhenxue flipped through the almanac, pointing to the eighth day of the month. "Go and finalize the signboard. Qingyun Pavilion will open on time three days from now."

Shen Yu acknowledged and noted it down, then turned to make the arrangements.

Jiang Zhenxue walked to the window and pushed it open halfway.

The streets were bustling with people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air.

Yunyang County is much more prosperous than Pu County, and it's easier to make money here.

She could almost see countless gleaming silver coins flowing into her money box.

She is determined to build her own skyscraper here.

Just as she was envisioning the future.

At the end of the street, a black carriage slowly approached.

Two pure black horses pulled the carriage, and dark gold copper bells hanging from the four corners of the carriage gleamed coldly in the sunlight.