The wind was getting louder and louder, and the smell of burning paper filled the streets. There was even news that a fire broke out somewhere because someone was burning books.
Shopkeeper Hu had a gloomy look on his face: "My boss, if we allow these rumors to spread, what will our bookstore do?"
Compared to Shopkeeper Hu who was worried, Xin You was much calmer: "Shopkeeper, don't worry, at most it's just that "Painted Skin" is slow to sell, so we'll just make less money."
"If the book is so popular, how much money will be lost!" Shopkeeper Hu subconsciously dialed the abacus beads, with a look of joy on his face, "Fortunately, as of today, "Painted Skin" has been sold out, and there are no copies being printed. It is missing. Many losses—"
Xin You saw the sudden change in shopkeeper Hu's expression and shouted: "He's from the shopkeeper?"
Shopkeeper Hu suddenly came back to his senses, forgetting the difference between men and women for a moment, and grabbed Xin You's wrist: "Master, you, you -"
"how?"
Shopkeeper Hu took a deep breath and spoke clearly: "How did you know about today!"
If we print books around the clock like at the beginning, the losses will be huge.
Xin You patted the old shopkeeper's arm and said with a smile: "It's not that I knew this happened. A few days ago, I saw that everyone in the bookstore looked like they were going to lose money. After thinking about it, I think everyone will lose money. I'm afraid I can't do without it. "Painted Skin" was selling like hotcakes, so we stopped the printing house just to be on the safe side."
Shopkeeper Hu slapped his forehead in annoyance: "Why did you forget the master's skills?"
After the annoyance, there is excitement.
"Boss, do you think we can get through this crisis smoothly?"
"Everything is changing all the time. It's hard to say. We have done what we can. Let the soldiers come and cover up the water and the earth." Xin You said easily, but in her heart she didn't think this storm could be easily resolved.
A murder occurred in the Imperial College, and even if it had nothing to do with Concubine Shu, the other party might use it to make a fuss. Of course, it is also possible not to intervene, in which case the bookstore will just lose some money. These days, she has made a lot of money from "Painted Skin". Even if the business is deserted for a period of time, she can afford this loss.
Xin You has always known that her real goal was never to open a bookstore to make money, but to use the bookstore to let the person who harmed her mother get the punishment she deserves.
"The shopkeeper's."
"exist."
"Let's take stock of this month's accounts and distribute the rewards to everyone in the bookstore so that everyone can feel at ease. Don't forget to those who work in the east courtyard."
Shopkeeper Hu responded quickly.
Because of the rumors, the bookstore suddenly became deserted. Liu Zhou ran outside to inquire about the news. Suddenly he saw many people walking this way. He hurriedly ran back to report: "My boss, there are many people who are looking for our bookstore. No. Do you know if he is causing trouble!"
Xinyou walked to the door, took a look, and told Shitou: "Wait at the back door of the library. If the people who come are causing trouble, go to the printing shop and call some people immediately."
Although the library usually only has one shopkeeper and two assistants, there are dozens of strong men in the printing shop. Those who usually come to cause trouble are really not easy to get.
Xin You's calmness calmed everyone in the library. Seeing those people approaching, Liu Zhou went up to them with a smile.
"Dear guests, please come in. What books do you want to buy?"
One of them said: "Buy "Painted Skin"."
There were cracks in the young man's polite smile.
He was already prepared for these people to cause trouble, so why did he come to buy books?
Wait, don't worry too early, the other party will definitely use buying books as an excuse to find another opportunity to attack.
"I'm really sorry, the store "Painted Skin" has been sold out." Liu Zhou said politely, thinking that the other party's opportunity would come now!
"Are they sold?"
"yes."
Several people looked at each other with disappointment on their faces.
Someone muttered: "Why can't it be sold? Didn't it mean that evil spirits can escape from this book, which scared many people and burned the book."
Xin You had been observing these people silently since they came in. By now she could tell that these people did not look like troublemakers, so she answered with a smile: "It's only sold out, please, why don't you look at something else."
The person who spoke first asked unwillingly: "Then we still need to seal it?"
Xin You looked helpless: "Now that the news is like this, how can anyone buy it if it is reprinted?"
"Why is no one buying it? Don't we just want to buy it?"
Seeing Xin You's doubts, the man smiled sheepishly: "We just wanted to buy it after hearing those rumors."
Xin You looked at these young faces and understood.
There are indeed people who like novelty and excitement, mainly teenage boys.
"Forget it, come on, just take a look."
So this group of young men strolled around, bought a book, and left in a hurry.
Liu Zhou breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm really here to buy books."
Shopkeeper Hu felt extremely complicated when he thought about how his boss had comforted him earlier by saying that when "Painted Skin" was sold out, the customers who came to visit might take another book with them.
"Liu Zhou, go and inquire more outside to see if there is any progress in the case or any other news."
The death condition of the deceased made people think of "Painted Skin" at once, and it was destined that Qingsong Bookstore would be involved in numerous rumors. As the owner of a bookstore, Xin You has to pay attention to the follow-up of this murder case.
Liu Zhou went out for a while and came back with the news he had learned.
"Boss, the deceased was not a student of the Imperial College!" This news obviously surprised the boy, and he couldn't hide his excitement. "It is said that the Imperial College has been checking from top to bottom in the past two days, and the absent teachers and students have been checked one by one. , the deceased is not any of them..."
Xin You nodded calmly: "Thank you for your hard work. Let's drink some water and take a rest."
Liu Zhou was puzzled: "My boss, aren't you surprised?"
Xinyou smiled and said, "Many things cannot be taken at face value."
She had already felt this truth when she lived in the Shaoqing Mansion as Kou Qingqing.
After that, the bookstore was quiet. After all, there were still a small number of young people who liked to take risks and even commit suicide. Shopkeeper Hu finished the calculation and handed out the reward money. Everyone who got real money was smiling happily, and the haze hanging over the bookstore because of the rumors was swept away.
This joy lasted until early the next morning, when it was broken by the arrival of a group of officers and soldiers.
"Tell the person who can call the shots in your bookstore to come out!" the leading official shouted.
In the study hall, shopkeeper Hu advised Xin You with a pale face: "These officers and soldiers are here with bad intentions. You'd better not stand out. If anything goes wrong, go back to Shaoqing's Mansion first and let me deal with them."
Xin You patted Shopkeeper Hu's arm comfortingly and strode out.
"Are you the one who can make the decision?" The leading officer looked at the girl who came out.
Xin You also looked at the other party and said calmly: "I am the owner of Qingsong Bookstore. I wonder which yamen Mr. Chai is from?"
The leading officer said coldly: "We are from the Dongcheng Military and Horse Division. Since you can make the decision, let your people clean up all the "Painted Skin", which will save us the effort."
(End of chapter)
