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

"Hey!" Qian De put down his teacup, leaned forward, and lowered his voice. "Manager Jiang, you're mistaken. This business, though seemingly simple, is actually all about what's in your mind, young lady. For example, the pre-deposited discount tiers, and for example..." He glanced at the "Notes on Insights" that Shen Yu had carefully put away, "and for example, those unique techniques that can empty students' pockets. I can't think of any of those."

He's a sensible person, though.

Jiang Zhenxue sneered inwardly. There was never a shortage of clever people in this world. Once someone saw through the core of her method, it wouldn't be difficult for them to imitate it.

Chandler's purpose in coming here was less to collaborate and more to seize the initiative, hoping to acquire her core ideas at minimal cost.

"So, how does Mr. Qian want to cooperate?" she asked slowly, picking up her teacup.

"I'll provide the money, the manpower, and the location. I'll take over the best shop in Yongzhou and use the 'Golden List Success' brand. You don't need to do anything, just teach me this business method and any new ideas that follow." Qian De held up three fingers. "In return, 30% of the Yongzhou branch's annual net profit will belong to you."

Shen Yu, who was listening nearby, almost burst out laughing in anger. Although he didn't understand business, he could tell how harsh the conditions were.

Why should Sister Jiang only get 30% of the idea she came up with with all her hard work, and have to give up all the subsequent methods?

He was about to speak when Jiang Zhenxue stopped him with a look.

"Thirty percent?" Jiang Zhenxue repeated, her tone unreadable. "Boss Qian's calculations are truly ingenious."

Qian De, thinking she was interested, quickly pressed his advantage: "Manager Jiang, it's already quite an achievement for a young woman like you to run a shop like this in Pu County. Yongzhou is a place teeming with all sorts of people; if you went there alone, you'd probably be swallowed whole before the shop even opened. With me looking after you, you can just sit here peacefully and have a large sum of money coming in every year. Why not?"

These words sound well-intentioned, but they actually contain a hidden threat.

Jiang Zhenxue put down her teacup and suddenly smiled, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Boss Qian, do you know how much pre-deposit my shop has collected today?"

Qian De was taken aback and subconsciously looked at the money box.

Jiang Zhenxue didn't wait for his reply and continued, "Three hundred and sixty-seven taels, and this is just in Pu County, a small county town teeming with scholars. Do you think I could earn a lot of money in Yongzhou, which is ten times more prosperous than here, using my method? And I would only get 30%?"

She stood up, walked over to Chandler, looked down at him, and her aura suddenly became sharp.

"Boss Qian, you've come all the way from Yongzhou, dusty and weary from your journey, and you've stumbled upon this business opportunity. That's why you're knocking on my door in the dead of night—not because you're particularly sincere, but because you're afraid. You're afraid that if you're a step too late, this huge deal will fall into someone else's hands. You're eager to buy out my idea at the lowest possible price and then rest easy, aren't you?"

Chandler's smile froze, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He hadn't expected this seemingly gentle young woman to be so sharp, able to dissect his deepest schemes with just a few words.

"I..." He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

Jiang Zhenxue sat back down, her tone softening but still carrying an undeniable force. "Cooperation is possible, but not in the way you're doing it. The prestigious 'Top Scholar' brand is my livelihood, and I won't easily delegate authority. As for management methods, I certainly won't share them all."

She paused for a moment, then offered her solution: "I can give you a set of operating articles and allow you to use the 'Golden List Success' brand in Yongzhou for three years. Our relationship is not that of owner and manager, but a partnership. I will own 70% of the shares in the Yongzhou branch and have the final decision-making power. You will be responsible for the daily operations and management, and in return, you can take 30% of the net profit."

"Seventy percent?! Girl, you're robbing me!" Qian De exclaimed, standing up abruptly.

He puts in the money, the manpower, and the connections, and only gets 30% in the end? What's the difference between that and working for him?

"Robbery?" Jiang Zhenxue chuckled. "Boss Qian, this is called technology-based investment. Without my 'technology,' your shop would just be another Zhiyuan Bookstore, destined to close down sooner or later. You're a smart man; you should be able to figure this out."

Shen Yu stood aside, watching Sister Jiang effortlessly force a cunning and shrewd merchant into retreat, his eyes practically overflowing with admiration. So this was how business could be done; a few words could determine the fate of thousands of taels of silver.

Qian De's expression shifted rapidly, his chest heaving violently. He knew Jiang Zhenxue was right.

The core of this model is her intellect. But he was really unwilling to give up 70% of the profits.

Jiang Zhenxue didn't urge him; she simply picked up her teacup and gently blew on the foam. She knew she had seized absolute control.

After a long silence, Qian Decai slumped down and asked in a hoarse voice, "How can I trust you? What if I open the shop, but you don't offer any new solutions? Wouldn't I have been doing all the work for you?"

"Therefore, we need to draw up a contract." Jiang Zhenxue looked at Shen Yu, "Xiao Yu, go and get the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

She looked at Chandler and said, word by word, "We can make it clear in black and white: in the first year, I will provide at least three new marketing plans to ensure the Yongzhou branch is a resounding success. If I fail to deliver, the contract is void, and you won't have to pay me a single penny. How about it?"

These words are both a guarantee and a statement of confidence.

Qian De stared intently at Jiang Zhenxue, as if trying to discern from her calm, unwavering eyes just how many shocking thoughts she still harbored.

Then, Qian De looked at the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone that Shen Yu brought over and gritted his teeth.

"Manager Jiang, your heart is even harder than the most ruthless black market broker in Yongzhou." Qian De picked up his pen, his hand trembling.

Jiang Zhenxue smiled slightly, her eyes gentle, but her words were perfectly measured: "Boss Qian, you flatter me. I provide the ideas, you provide the labor, we each get what we need. Yongzhou is a large territory, and I feel perfectly justified in taking 70% of the profits."

Chandler scoffed, "If you can't come up with those three new ideas in the first year, this contract will be worthless. I, Chandler, am not one to be trifled with."

"Of course." Jiang Zhenxue pushed the drafted contract over. "It's all in black and white, Boss Qian, please read it carefully."

Qian De read it word by word, and after confirming that it was correct, he pressed his fingerprint heavily.

Jiang Zhenxue put away her own copy, her smile becoming more sincere: "Boss Qian, it's been a pleasure doing business with you. Tomorrow I will give you the preliminary decoration drawings for the Yongzhou branch and the first step in attracting customers. You can go back and prepare for it now."