When He Qingxiao came back, he found that there were several more travel notes on the row of bookshelves.
He is a perceptive person, and after a little thought he understood that this was Miss Kou's gratitude for lending these books.
He Qingxiao silently accepted the thank you gift, then turned around and told his subordinates to speed up the search for the mastermind behind the scenes.
At this time, the printed "Peony Story" was finally completed and put on the bookshelf.
When Gu shopkeeper of Yaxin Bookstore heard about it, he laughed a few times and said to the clerk: "Don't pay any more attention to it."
He thought it might be possible to revive the book after changing to a new owner, but it turned out to be a fool's errand. As there was no new book to be released, he reprinted "The Story of Peony". It's a pity that he paid attention to it for so many days.
If Shopkeeper Gu had disdain for Qingsong Bookstore before, he is now dismissive of it.
Mr. Ping An's new "Butterfly Fairy" has been sold out, and more copies are being printed later, but he does not plan to sell them immediately after printing. According to the arrangement of shopkeeper Gu, after waiting for another two or three months, there will be another hot sale.
As for Qingsong Bookstore, it’s hard to say whether it can survive until then, in the opinion of shopkeeper Gu.
At this moment, Qingsong Bookstore posted another notice. Due to the buzz caused by the previous notice, a group of people quickly gathered to read the notice.
"Ah, I have already bought it!"
"What? Did you buy it? Did you really spend five hundred taels?"
"Yes, the notice says that I bought Mr. Songling's manuscript."
"Mr. Songling? Never heard of it."
…
Shopkeeper Gu stood at the door of Yaxin Bookstore, looked at it, sneered, and turned around to enter the bookstore.
Shopkeeper Hu was a little puzzled: "Boss, why don't you wait until the day when the new book is sold before posting a notice? By then, many of these people will be curious to buy it."
"The time between the first announcement and the launch of new books is too long. If people say too much, it will give the impression that our bookstore does not keep its word. It is just right to put such an announcement in the middle."
"The boss is still thoughtful."
The news that Qingsong Bookstore spent five hundred taels on a story about an unknown book writer once again spread quickly.
I don't know how many people who wanted to make this money sighed. There was an impatient scholar who saw the down-and-out scholar who had been spreading the story of Qingsong Bookstore buying five hundred taels for 500 taels as a scam. He raised his fist and gave it a few times.
It's all my fault for making money!
When the waiter Liu Zhou heard about it, he smiled happily and told shopkeeper Hu.
"What a relief!"
Shopkeeper Hu touched his beard calmly: "I have told you a long time ago that my boss is not an ordinary person. We were not allowed to compete with that poor scholar before, and it is today that we should have done so."
Duan Yunlang, who was studying in the Imperial College, heard the comments from his classmates, and his first reaction was worry.
My cousin actually spent five hundred taels to buy a story, and the bookstore's business was not doing well, so wouldn't the two thousand taels have to be spent?
Feeling uneasy about it, Duan Yunlang slipped out during lunch.
"Second cousin isn't studying?" Xin You asked when seeing Duan Yunlang.
"I'm on my lunch break. Cousin Qing, did you really spend five hundred taels to buy a story?"
"Um."
"I know all the gentlemen who write good stories about the capital, but I haven't heard of Mr. Songling. Cousin, don't be deceived."
"Second cousin, don't worry, it's a good story and worth the price."
"That's fine. Cousin, are you running out of money?"
Xin You told the truth: "It's still in the beginning stages, and we really can't make ends meet."
"I knew it. The first year of junior high school won't be here soon. You can ask grandma to get some when you get back."
Xin You couldn't help but laugh: "My second cousin said it simply. I only took two thousand taels. Grandma will not give me any more."
Duan Yunlang grinned: "I'll help you. Cousin, you can see it. Grandma still needs face in front of the younger generation. When the time comes, we will cooperate. If there is more, we should be able to get a thousand taels."
"Forget it, I always ask for money. Grandma will think I'm ignorant." Xin You rejected Duan Yunlang's proposal.
If you keep asking for one thousand taels or two thousand taels like this, you may not be able to finish it until you are old. She had better wait and wait until the time comes, one big one at a time.
"It's your money originally. But cousin, you haven't left the government yet, so it's normal for grandma to be worried about leaving it to you."
"Second cousin is right." Xin You could see that Duan Yunlang was a simple-minded man, so naturally he wouldn't say anything more, "Cousin, go back to study quickly."
"Okay, then I'll go back to the Imperial College." Duan Yunlang was about to go out when he saw He Qingxiao walking in.
"Master He is here." Xin You greeted.
He Qingxiao nodded in response and walked towards the bookshelf. The clear voice of the young man behind him came: "Cousin Qing, please give it to me."
Seeing Duan Yunlang's wink, Xin You understood that he had something to say and silently sent him out of the bookstore.
Duan Yunlang quickly glanced at the door of the bookstore and whispered: "That Mr. He, cousin, please don't get close to him."
"how?"
"He is a Jinlin Guard, he can't afford to offend, and his reputation is not good."
Xin You could have dealt with it, but she didn't: "But my frightened horse was saved by Master He."
Duan Yunlang was surprised: "It was Mr. He who saved my cousin? Why didn't you hear it mentioned at home?"
Xin You curled her lips, half-smiling but not smiling: "Probably because Master He is a Jinlin Guard, he can't afford to offend, and his reputation is not good."
No matter how slow Duan Yunlang was, he still came to his senses: "Cousin, are you still angry with your family?"
"Second cousin, you are thinking too much. Go back to school and be careful not to repeat the grade this year."
When Duan Yunlang mentioned his studies, he immediately forgot about everything else and left with a grimace.
Xin You returned to the bookstore and was about to go to the east courtyard, but was stopped by He Qingxiao.
"What I talked about with Miss Kou a few days ago has become clearer."
Xin You once again asked He Qingxiao to go to the side room to talk.
"Have you found the person who instigated Li Li?"
He Qingxiao nodded, remaining silent for a while to give Xin You time to mentally prepare, and revealed a completely unexpected person: "It's Mrs. Qiao's niece, Qiao Ruozhu."
Xin You was completely surprised.
This girl Qiao, whom Xiaolian had only heard of so far, turned out to be the one who ordered Li Li to set the fire. This was so unexpected.
"The person who bribed Li Li was Qiao Ruozhu's maid, because she disguised herself as a man, which made the investigation quite difficult."
"Miss Qiao and I haven't interacted for a long time. Is she doing this to vent her anger on my aunt?"
He Qingxiao said bluntly: "Rather than venting my anger on my aunt, I think the other party's purpose is more likely to prevent Miss Kou's bookstore from opening. In fact, without Miss Kou knowing, Qiao Ruozhu has been near Qingsong Bookstore many times."
It was also like this that he came into Jin Linwei's sight. Otherwise, Jin Linwei was not a god, and it would not be so easy to find him when Li Li couldn't tell him his identity.
"I was negligent and didn't pay attention." Xin You looked calm, "Master He, does Miss Qiao know that she is under investigation?"
"Because it was a girl, there was no alarm after the investigation, and the relevant people were only asked to put their fingerprints on the confession. If it is inconvenient for Jinlin Guard to intervene after that, Miss Kou will decide on her own."
He Qingxiao said and handed a confession to Xin You.
(End of chapter)
