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

Young Master Liang came from a wealthy family and was quite studious. He walked to the counter, took out a fifty-tael silver note from his sleeve, and slapped it on the table.

"Shopkeeper, give me the highest tier."

Kang Mingyan watched from the side, and was also amazed.

Xue'er's move was absolutely brilliant! She first lured people in with small gains, then used a valuable treasure to hook them, completely controlling these proud and arrogant scholars!

He had initially thought Jiang Zhenxue only possessed some cleverness in business, but now it seemed that this was clearly a great wisdom of strategic planning!

Young Master Liang's actions became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

"I'm upgrading too! I just deposited ten taels, I'll deposit another ten taels!"

"I'll pay too! Shopkeeper, calculate it for me!"

"Don't push! Don't push! I was here first! I need to pay fifty taels!"

The queue, which had just calmed down, lined up again with even more frenzy than before. This time, everyone's goal was exceptionally clear—the book "Notes on Personal Experiences".

The clatter of money and the rustling of accounting tools became the most beautiful symphony in the study room.

……

Across the street is Zhiyuan Bookstore.

Manager Chen stroked his goatee, squinted at the bustling scene across the street that was almost bursting through the door, and looked disdainful.

A waiter came running over, panting.

"Shopkeeper, look! That shop over there...that shop has gone mad! I heard they've started some kind of pre-deposit scheme, where you deposit twenty taels of silver and they'll let you see a tattered notebook!"

Manager Chen snorted coldly and slammed the account book shut.

"A broken notebook? I think it's a love potion! A bunch of greenhorns who've never seen the world have been completely fooled by a woman."

He had run a bookstore in Puxian for twenty years and believed he had a clear understanding of the minds of scholars.

In his view, doing business with scholars relies on depth, reputation, and rare, unique books. The fancy tricks used by the other side are nothing more than pandering to the masses.

"Boss, should we...should we learn from them? I think their method is a quick way to make money!" the waiter suggested in a low voice.

"Learn my ass!" Manager Chen glared. "Lowering your status! Zhiyuan Bookstore is a refined place, not a street performer's stall! Just you wait and see, the popularity gathered by such opportunism will dissipate quickly. Once their novelty wears off and they've spent all their money, won't they still come back to buy books honestly? We, on the other hand, are sitting back and enjoying the benefits."

He stared intently at the person opposite him, his eyes filled with the stubbornness and arrogance of an old-fashioned businessman.

How long can you pull off a scheme to get something for nothing? Once you've collected all the money, let's see how you manage to keep going!

……

As the sun began to set, the last rays of its light disappeared behind the eaves.

Jiang Zhenxue saw off the last customer who was still reluctant to leave, and then closed the shop door with Shen Yu.

"call……"

Shen Yu let out a long sigh of relief and slumped into the chair, feeling as if his legs no longer belonged to him.

But his face was full of excitement.

Jiang Zhenxue wasn't much better off; she had been smiling all day, and her cheeks were a little stiff. But inside, she was burning with passion.

Neither of them spoke; they simply stared silently at the overflowing cash box on the counter and the two densely filled account books.

After a long while, Shen Yu finally found his voice, which trembled slightly.

"Sister Jiang...how much money did we...how much did we receive today?"

"Just count them and you'll know," Jiang Zhenxue said with a smile in her voice.

The two men poured all the silver and banknotes from the money box onto the table and began to count them.

Copper coins, broken silver, silver ingots, silver notes... piled up into a small mountain.

When the last number was checked, Shen Yu gasped.

"Three hundred...three hundred and sixty-seven taels!!"

This is just the advance deposit! In just one day! In just one day! More than three hundred taels were collected!

This amount of money is enough to buy this shop!

Looking at the number, Jiang Zhenxue finally felt a huge weight lifted from her heart.

Xiao Qingyan, you see, I can live a good life, even better, without you.

Her determination to break free from the plot and that man was stronger than ever before.

Just as the two were about to put the money away, the shop door, which had already been closed, was suddenly knocked on.

The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat wary.

"Who is it?" Jiang Zhenxue asked loudly.

A slightly tired middle-aged man's voice came from outside the door: "Excuse me, is this the 'Top Scholar' study room?"

Jiang Zhenxue walked to the door and peeked out through the crack.

Standing outside the door was a man around forty years old, dressed in a respectable silk robe, though the hem was dusty and his face showed signs of weariness from a long journey. In his hand, he was clutching a crumpled flyer.

They don't seem to be here to cause trouble.

Jiang Zhenxue felt a little relieved and opened the door a crack.

"We've already closed. If you wish to study, please come again tomorrow."

The man shook his head, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Zhenxue, then around the room before finally settling on her.

"Young lady, you misunderstand. I am not a scholar."

He handed over the flyer, his expression quite solemn.

"I have come here without permission to discuss a business deal with you, young lady."

"Cooperation?" Jiang Zhenxue raised an eyebrow, but did not immediately step aside.

Knocking on the door in the middle of the night and immediately talking about cooperation doesn't sound very reliable.

She sized up the man before her. Though he looked weary, his eyes shone brightly, unlike any ordinary person. His silk robe was of fine quality, though it was slightly dusty, as if he had traveled a long way.

"Indeed." The man put on the usual businessman's smile, cupped his hands and said, "My name is Qian De, I come from Yongzhou, and I am a merchant who travels all over the country. Today I happened to see this flyer of yours, and I was so impressed by your beauty that I took the liberty of disturbing you."

As he spoke, his gaze kept glancing into the room, and when he saw the half-full money box, his pupils involuntarily contracted.

Jiang Zhenxue understood immediately. She opened the door completely, stepped aside, and said, "Boss Qian, please come in. Xiao Yu, serve tea."

She remained outwardly calm, but a hundred thoughts raced through her mind. Yongzhou was an even more prosperous prefecture than Lizhou. This person had clearly taken a liking to her business model and wanted a piece of the pie.

"I'm flattered, I'm flattered." Qian De rubbed his hands together as he walked in, casually looking around the study room with an air of familiarity, clicking his tongue in amazement, "Wonderful, truly wonderful. These individual cubicles, these comfortable cushions, and even the pre-stored methods... This young lady is a true business genius!"

Shen Yu brought over the tea, glanced at Qian De warily, and placed the teacup heavily on the table in front of him.

Qian De didn't mind, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and got straight to the point: "Manager Jiang, let's not beat around the bush. I'm thinking of opening one of your study rooms in Yongzhou as well."

Jiang Zhenxue sat opposite him, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic sound. "If Boss Qian is so interested, why not open your own business? Why bother coming to me to discuss cooperation?"