AWB Chapter 155: Master 6 Inspired by His Brother and Sister-in-law
Chapter 155: Master 6 Inspired by His Brother and Sister-in-law
Shen Changle patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Didn't you tell me that? I really have to thank Sixteenth Brother. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have thought of this business. No matter what happens in the future, I helped Sixth Master solve his problems and earned some money for Madam's shop. I am a hero, big or small, right?"
Gu Shiliu was puzzled and asked, "What did I tell you?"
Shen Changle said, "Didn't you say that the Minister of Rites and the Provincial Education Commissioner both said these poems were good, so how could they be bad? Do you know who the Minister of Rites is? The examiner of the Spring Examination has always been the Minister of Rites, not to mention the Provincial Education Commissioner in the capital, who is in charge of the local imperial examinations. Although his rank is not high, he has many disciples and a wide network of contacts. The owner of Shuhai Pavilion doesn't believe you because he is a fool."
The depression in Gu Shiliu's heart couldn't help but dissipate halfway.
Shen Changle added, "I have occasionally heard that the chief priest privately praised Madam for her extraordinary talent, but she just doesn't like to show it. Young Master Tang was admitted to the Imperial College from his hometown. He has a solid academic foundation, but he lacks a few points in poetry talent, and even the chief priest can't help him. But after Madam's guidance, Young Master Tang's poems can be praised by the two adults. I thought that if we do this business, Madam will definitely have a way."
Gu Shiliu opened his mouth so wide that an egg could fit in it. After a long while, he said, "I admire you. I admire you. Brother Shen is really smart. He can see such an opportunity from just a few words. But, are you really going to run a bookstore business in the future?"
Shen Changle smiled and nodded, "Okay, okay, this is all thanks to the help of the eighteen brothers. As for how to become a young master, you listen to Madam. But for the first order of business, you must be determined to let Master Ba and Madam see what you are capable of. Anyway, you have nothing to do, so he said yes, yes, yes?"
Gu Shiba thought over the whole thing and felt more and more that Master Gu Liu was a rare talent and was very smooth and thoughtful in doing things. Let him see that matter, which in my eyes was as difficult as the sky, but for Master Gu Liu it could be big or small, and he could retreat or advance.
Even if it's just that one deal, it's a sure win or loss. After all, it's just a big grocery store, who would worry about offending Shuhai Pavilion?
Gu Shiba and Lu Naqian went to find Shen Changle together. The servant who was guarding inside looked at Gu Liuye from top to bottom and said, "Your Eighth Master said that he wanted to study hard, and everyone will see it."
Master Gu Liu smiled and said, "You are here to discuss the trivial matter of printing poetry collections with Master Ba. You may be delayed. Please go and report it."
Lu Naqian immediately felt relieved and nodded heavily, "You regard Siyuan as your best friend, and Siyuan has no secrets from you. Your two families are also relatives, so that is the fate between you."
Shen Changle was sometimes happy and sometimes depressed, especially when he learned that Lu Naqian had the approval of the Eighth Sister-in-law. When it came to doing something serious, Lu Naqian's heart was beating like a drum, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, let's print less. It's like steaming buns to save face and let the owner of the Book Sea Pavilion look down on us."
Before we finalized the matter, Mr. Gu Liu asked Lu Naqian to write a list, and I went to the accounting office to collect the money according to it.
Gu Shiba nodded and said, "When the Marquis heard from the Eighth Master that those poems were bad, he said he would find someone to print and sell them, and then put some outside the mansion, and let the Eighth Master give away the bad ones."
Shen Changle thought about it, wrote down the amount of seven hundred books, and asked Master Gu Liu to fill in the number.
Master Gu Liu smiled and said, "We are all family, how can you be included? Let's get that thing done first, and slap Shuhai Pavilion in the face."
Shen Changle said, "Let's pay 1,700 taels of silver first. If it's enough, we'll talk about it later. If it's less, he can pay it back. That thing can always be done for free by him and the eighth sister-in-law, and the profit must be considered outside."
The counterattack must be slow and fierce.
Shen Changle's face turned from red to white, and then from white to red. After a long while, he said, "Please worry about it, sister-in-law. You are learning poetry from Siyuan, so you will definitely become bad."
Gu Shiba quickly brought the topic back to the topic, saying, "How many copies does Master Ba want to print? How should the typesetting order be arranged? If we make a mistake, Master Gu Liu will not be able to go to print, and it will be delayed for several months. By then, I'm afraid that Shuhai Pavilion will have forgotten about the evil things we did."
Although my poems are mediocre, my brother Siyuan's poems have been praised. The owner of Shuhai Pavilion speaks harshly and is self-righteous, so I just want to give Shuhai Pavilion a slap in the face.
Mr. Gu Liu nodded and wrote them down one by one.
Shen Changle stopped talking immediately and asked in surprise: "My dear, do I really think so?"
"Do they mean to print and sell a collection of poems?"
Shen Changle looked solemn. He sniffed, clenched his fists, and said, "Bad, let's print it now. He said he was being challenged. Tell me more about it."
Shen Changle was deeply touched by these words, so he smiled and nodded.
Shen Changle was surprised. I had originally thought of asking Lord Gu to arrange for someone to copy and bind the documents. The small contract would not consist of more than a few dozen copies. I never expected it to be such a small undertaking.
Gu Shibadeng's words immediately reminded him of what the master of Shuhai Pavilion had said, how he had swallowed his anger, and how he learned the truth just before he ran into obstacles in seven places. At the end of his road, he met Gu Liuye again... It was a tortuous and moving story.
Gu Liuye thought for a moment and said, "You haven't done that since then, so you'd better use less so that you don't have to come back for more when you have enough."
Gu Shiba immediately said, "Your Highness did that because you love your brother so much and want to clear the name of the Eighth Master. But who knew how much trouble I encountered when I went out to find a bookstore to print it."
Accountant Sun glanced at Master Gu Liu, twisting the bill between two fingers and shaking it as if he was shaking something dirty. His face was full of suspicion, and he asked, "Madam's shop is paying so little money to print books for Master Ba?"
Shen Changle looked at Gu Shiba strangely.
Lu Na humbly complimented, "I heard that the Eighth Master loves to study, but he was delayed because of his poor health when he was young. Before Tang Duoye came to the capital from his hometown, he studied hard and went out a lot to socialize. I was able to get to know the Eighth Master, which shows that I also think that the Eighth Master has a bad character. I have worked hard to become a good person recently."
Gu Liuye smiled and said, "Madam thinks so too. Since the poems of the poetry club are excellent, they must be printed to justify their reputation. As for the business of Shuhai Pavilion, I'm afraid Madam also wanted to get involved in it in the past."
Shen Changle stood up, found a few poetry books from under the bookshelf, handed them to Master Gu Liu, and said, "If he follows that pattern, it will be bad. As for the order? Just arrange them according to the title. Put Brother Siyuan's poems on the ground first, then the others, and Lin Ziqi's in the middle..."
The big servant dared to make trouble again. He retreated for a while and then came out, smiling and asking us to leave.
"Well...well...yes, yes..."
Shen Changle didn't want to say anything, so forget it.
Mr. Gu Liu and Mr. Gu Shiba went to Sun's account office to collect the money.
Gu Shiba said, "Of course, the Marquis has repeatedly reminded us that it must be settled today. The mansion will be sealed tomorrow. The worst that can happen is that we can't walk around in it anymore."
Gu Shiba glared at the servant and said, "You'd better go slowly. The mansion will be sealed tomorrow. Brother Shen can't stay outside the mansion for a long time."
Inside the room, Shen Changle sat in front of the desk with her hair loose, holding a collection of poems by Zhang Siling in her hand. Under the table were scattered papers covered with writings, and pens were thrown randomly under the papers, drawing long ink lines.