Xue Letian: “Easier said than done. Why don’t you take action?”
“Then what’s the use of your brain?” Xu Tingfeng said, “You’ve been away for three years and come back still so impetuous. Have you found any clues about who was behind Young Master Shu’s incident?”
Three years ago, he had sent Xue Letian to Baojiang District to take over the clean money-making routes of Noble Lady Chu’s family, one of which was the shipping route for transporting tribute goods from Baojiang to the capital.
They had spent considerable effort to successfully join this business.
Xue Letian had brought back many southern specialties to sell in the north, including the collections of southern scholars and literati sold in the bookstore.
On his first trip with the team, transporting river delicacies from southern Baojiang to the capital, he returned just in time for the incident of the Vice Minister’s son’s unnatural death.
Xue Letian: “When I was transporting the person, I examined the fatal wound on Young Master Shu’s body. I couldn’t tell what weapon was used, but the wound was peculiar, not like the common swords and knives used in the capital, more like southern methods.”
He lowered his voice: “But are we still investigating? Those with the capability, aren’t they just the Second Prince and Third Prince?”
Xu Tingfeng pondered: “If even you think this way… ninety-nine percent of people would basically think the same. I feel something’s not quite right. You should continue investigating along this line. There might be unexpected findings.”
“Alright,” Xue Letian said, “I’ll listen to you. Oh? You’ve planted a spy in the palace? You value him so much that you gave him the communication jade pendant.”
Xu Tingfeng smiled: “Recommended by my uncle before he left. I’ve observed him for two years. He’s not bad.”
Xue Letian: “Does he know your identity?”
Xu Tingfeng: “No, but he can probably guess that I’m someone arranged by my uncle.”
He didn’t say more, reaching out to tap Xue Letian’s head, “As for the bookstore matter, Cangwen Bookstore’s near-monopolistic stealing of customers has already offended quite a few people. All we need to do is add fuel to the fire.”
His hand was quite strong. Xue Letian covered his forehead: “Xu Tingfeng!”
–
Paper prices in the capital began to rise.
Along with this, book prices also started to increase.
The cost of printing books soared, and even the batch of artists that Xia Fuyang had found to draw character portraits began to demand higher prices.
Under normal circumstances with ample time, he could naturally find cheaper options, but now, firstly, customers had already grown accustomed to the original artists’ style, and any difference would certainly cause dissatisfaction.
Secondly, there wasn’t enough time. Many orders had already been placed, and there was no time to switch to others.
To avoid losing money, the bookstore’s book prices started to increase as well. After all, everyone was raising prices, so no one could say anything.
However, on the afternoon of the price increase, customers came to make trouble, pointing at the shopkeeper’s nose and cursing:
“What kind of business are you running? As soon as you get more customers, you start raising prices. I finally saved enough money to buy, and you expect me to cover the five-wen difference? Huh?”
The shopkeeper hurriedly explained: “Other bookstores are also raising prices.”
The customer cursed again: “Others are raising prices, but they offer discounts! After the discount, the price is still the same as before, with no change! Only your store has raised prices so much.”
“Pfft, you swindlers. I’m not buying anymore. Whoever sells is a sucker.”
These indignant accusations stirred up many customers.
Yes, why should only your store raise prices?
Another day passed, and street vendors selling pirated copies began to appear.
Xia Fuyang’s Cangwen Bookstore saw its business plummet.
–
“Wuwuwu, we barely made money for a couple of days, and now we’re losing it.”
Xia Fuyang climbed over the wall of the Sword-Holding Marquis’s residence, skillfully slipping into Qu Dubian’s small courtyard, and started fake wailing as soon as they met.
Qu Dubian fanned himself with a bamboo fan, lying in a rocking chair, with ice cream made by his grandmother placed beside him.
“Little Xia, why do you always avoid the main gate? There’s a bowl for you here too,” Wu Siwan said with a smile, preparing a portion for Xia Fuyang as well.
Xia Fuyang: “Thank you, Grandmother!”
Qu Dubian kicked him: “She’s MY grandmother.”
Xia Fuyang slurped several mouthfuls, the icy sensation rushing straight to the top of his head, “Aiya, it’s all the same.”
Qu Dubian was both envious and jealous. His ice cream was only slightly cool; his grandmother never gave him much crushed ice.
Wu Siwan smiled: “Then play with Xiao Guai for a while. Stay for dinner tonight.”
Xia Fuyang: “Mm, mm, okay.”
His appearance was unbearable to look at. Qu Dubian covered his face with the fan—out of sight, out of mind. After a while, he said: “Since paper prices have risen throughout the capital, how can other bookstores still offer discounts? Won’t they lose money?”
Xia Fuyang pondered: “I don’t know if they’re losing money or how much, but we’re definitely losing. I think this is a targeted attack.”
Good, this child’s reaction wasn’t too slow.
In business competition, the more gentlemanly approach is to produce better quality products to compete; the more underhanded approach is to smear the competitor.
And what they were facing now was a situation where someone could instigate paper price increases in the capital and control the prices of paper and books in bookstores.
Either there was a powerful figure behind it, or the other bookstore owners had united, displeased with them stealing customers, wanting to teach them a lesson.
The most important thing now was to find allies on their side. Qu Dubian pondered: “Are there any other bookstores that also raised prices but didn’t offer discounts?”
Xia Fuyang thought for a moment, “Only one small bookstore. That one seems to have existed for quite a few years.”
Qu Dubian stretched lazily, secretly glancing at the super-iced version of ice cream on Xia Fuyang’s table. When he wasn’t paying attention, Qu Dubian quickly grabbed an ice cube and popped it into his mouth.
“Let’s go, let’s go see that small unfortunate bookstore that’s been affected.”
Xia Fuyang slapped the table and stood up: “Fine! I’m going to tell Grandmother you stole food!”
Qu Dubian covered his ears and ran away.
–
The small unfortunate bookstore was called Nian’an Bookstore.
It looked dilapidated from the outside, but was actually quite spacious inside.
At least a size larger than Xia Fuyang’s store.
At this time, the bookstore was quiet with few people. The shopkeeper was worriedly fidgeting with an abacus.
Qu Dubian and Ye Xiaoyuan both entered wearing bamboo hats.
Xia Fuyang walked up to the shopkeeper, tapped the table, and said, “I wonder if we could meet your owner for a moment?”
The shopkeeper looked him up and down, casually replying: “The owner isn’t here.”
Xia Fuyang glanced at the hidden compartment inside the bookstore.
“There’s a carriage stopped outside, and you have no customers in your store. Who else could it be besides the owner coming to inspect? Nian’an Bookstore has been impacted, and I imagine the owner in that back room can’t sit still anymore.”
Shopkeeper: “What’s wrong with you? When I say there’s no one, there’s no one. If you’re not buying books, please leave quickly.”
A laugh came from the compartment inside, sounding like a young man with a clear voice: “Interesting. Old Li, let them in.”
The shopkeeper changed his demeanor, “Please come in, everyone.”
The three of them entered the compartment.
The compartment was also quite simple, but kept very clean.
The layout and arrangement had a Taoist sense of spontaneity.
The owner of Nian’an Bookstore was sitting upright by the window. He looked about the same age as Xia Fuyang, at most twelve or thirteen years old, dressed as a scholar. The clothes he wore were all inexpensive ready-made garments, somewhat ill-fitting.
“I am Xi Zixing, the owner of Nian’an Bookstore.”
Qu Dubian marveled that although he knew in ancient times, with an average lifespan of forty or fifty years, being eleven or twelve was already not young, he still found it quite uncomfortable.
He really wanted to send them all to elementary school or middle school.
Xia Fuyang got straight to the point: “I am the young owner of Cangwen Bookstore, managing it on behalf of my mother. I’ve come to discuss some business.”
Xi Zixing: “Sit.”
There was only one chair opposite him. Xia Fuyang looked around, first lifted Qu Dubian onto it, then brought over another stool for himself.
Xi Zixing’s eyebrows moved slightly, his gaze involuntarily falling on the small child wearing a bamboo hat across from him. So the leader wasn’t Xia Fuyang, but this little bean.
…Perhaps he was a dwarf, who could say for sure.
After all, he had never seen a child who could sit at a table to discuss business.
With a testing intention, he pushed forward the snacks on the table and smiled: “Please help yourself. These are homemade.”
Qu Dubian reached out, took a piece and ate it, “Thank you.”
Hearing the soft, childish voice, Xi Zixing was slightly surprised—it really was a child.
He secretly observed Qu Dubian, and Qu Dubian secretly observed him.
When Xi Zixing introduced himself, the simulator had already popped up a prompt:
[Character: Xi Zixing
Favorability: 0]
Qu Dubian pushed the snack plate back to him: “It’s really delicious, thank you, big brother.”
Xia Fuyang, who had just sat down: “?”
He couldn’t believe it: “What did you call him?”
Qu Dubian: “It’s polite language.”
Xia Fuyang wouldn’t let it go, feeling aggrieved: “You’ve never called me that!” He turned his head away, looking at the handsome, scholarly Xi Zixing beside him, and suddenly found him disagreeable.
Xi Zixing took in their interaction, “Are you two brothers?”
Xia Fuyang vaguely replied: “I suppose so.”
Qu Dubian: “Today we’ve come to discuss the paper price issue. Master Xi, my brother and I have investigated and found that only our two stores raised prices without offering discounts, losing customers. This must be a targeted attack.”
Xi Zixing smiled: “Actually, it’s mainly targeting you, isn’t it? I’m just collateral damage. When immortals fight, the little ghosts suffer.”
“Cangwen Bookstore sells the ‘Chivalry Fragrance’ storybooks, drawing away other customers. My store suffered the first blow. Then, paper prices rose, books became more expensive, but other bookstore owners could maintain overall prices through discounts. Presumably, their supply channels didn’t change their wholesale prices, only the prices provided to your Cangwen Bookstore became more expensive.”
“Someone wants to crush you.”
Xia Fuyang: “You’re also about to go under. Why don’t we join hands and form an alliance? Your bookstore must also have a stock of paper.”
Xi Zixing stood up and walked to a painting. The painting depicted still, deep waters, with the words—”Water benefits all things without contention.”
“To be frank, someone has approached me, asking me to join in suppressing you. I didn’t want to get involved. Now that you’ve come to find me, I have the same response: I don’t want to get involved.”
His words were resolute. Xia Fuyang wasn’t yet the type to be thick-skinned. He glanced at the painting of still, deep waters, cupped his hands and said: “Brother Xi is not one who loves to contend. We’ve disturbed you.”
Qu Dubian tugged at his clothes, “Carry me for a moment, I want to look at that painting.”
Being short was truly a handicap.
Xia Fuyang did as told and lifted him up. Qu Dubian observed for a moment, feeling that there was something strange about the painting, “May I touch it?”
Xi Zixing: “It’s just a doodle. Young master, feel free.”
Qu Dubian directly turned the painting upside down and rehung it on the wall.
The ink painting of still, deep waters that didn’t contend with others instantly transformed into a raging river rushing down from the sky, joining the world’s torrents with thunderous momentum.
Xia Fuyang’s eyes brightened: “What powerful momentum.”
Qu Dubian was straightforward: “The painting has changed. Has Master Xi’s mindset also changed?”
Xi Zixing stood in front of the painting for a long time.
“This painting has hung here for more than two years. I never thought…” He shook his head and smiled. The painting seemed to have opened some switch, and a youthful sharpness faintly emerged from him.
“Very well, it’s all fate. I’ll join you.”
Xi Zixing invited them to sit down again.
He personally poured two cups of tea: “To win this battle, we need more storybooks, purchase a large amount of cheap quality paper, and expand our audience.”
Qu Dubian rubbed his chin: “Lower costs, sell more at smaller profits.”
“Well summarized,” Xi Zixing smiled and said, “I have channels for low-quality paper. How many similar storybooks do you have?”
Qu Dubian: “Plenty.”
Xia Fuyang raised his cup, his blood boiling with excitement: “Good, let’s show those adults what it means when three cobblers surpass Zhuge Liang!”
Xi Zixing: “…”
Qu Dubian: “…”
He said: “You can be the cobbler yourself. I don’t want to be one.”
Xi Zixing nodded: “Neither do I.”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
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