Chapter 56: Too Many Admirers

After lunch, Wei Lan returned to the bookstore, preparing to start the afternoon signing session.

As soon as she went back, she saw that a long line had already formed in the shop.

Sitting on the chairs at the front were Lu Shihuai and her little group of friends.

Those few hadn’t gone home for lunch at noon but had eaten at a nearby tavern, then came back early to queue up.

At first, Qu Qiushui had been quite reluctant to let Lu Shihuai wait in line, offering to have a shop assistant stand in for her.

Once Wei Lan returned, Lu Shihuai could then take the assistant’s place.

After all, she was the City Lord’s daughter, and proper courtesy had to be observed.

But Lu Shihuai said she herself was willing to queue and didn’t need anyone to take her place.

She and her friends wanted to be the first group to support the signing event in the afternoon.

However, Lu Shihuai and the others hadn’t expected that quite a few people had the same idea.

Before long, the line grew longer and longer.

So when Wei Lan and her two companions returned, Wei Lan saw two long lines stretching almost to the door.

Wei Lan pressed her lips together, feeling it was time to stop letting people in.

Otherwise, her hand would fall off.

She beckoned to Xi Ye and instructed, “Go tell the manager not to let any more people in for the signing event.

With this many people, I’ll be signing until the afternoon.”

“Yes, master.”

Xi Ye quickly acknowledged, then went off to find the manager with her large ring-pommel sword on her back.

Qu Qiushui had already prepared, having someone write on a wooden board that today’s signing quotas were full and posting it at the door.

She had servant boys stand guard at the entrance to explain to those who still wanted to participate.

By then, Wei Lan had already walked to the desk with Si Yun.

As Wei Lan walked over, a stir rippled through the crowd, as if everyone in line was discussing her.

Wei Lan sat down with a smile and looked at Lu Shihuai.

“So early?

Have you been waiting long?”

“Not that long.

We came over after lunch.

Quite a few people arrived after us.”

Lu Shihuai said, very happy.

“Mm.

Which volumes would you like to buy this afternoon?”

Wei Lan asked.

“Could I get ten copies of each?”

Lu Shihuai’s face reddened as she spoke; she also wanted to chat with Wei Lan a little longer.

“Of course.

I’ll just write whatever, then.”

Wei Lan had Si Yun bring over the books and began signing them one by one.

“Besides this set of storybooks, do you have any others for sale?”

Lu Shihuai had actually wanted to ask this for a while.

“Not for now.

Writing these is just a hobby of mine in my spare time.

I have other things to do normally.”

Wei Lan replied with a smile.

“Ah?

So you don’t manage the business?”

Lu Shihuai was instantly disappointed at the thought of having no other storybooks to read.

“No.

My wife handles all the business matters.

I usually like to carve jade for fun.”

Wei Lan explained.

Lu Shihuai was shocked.

She hadn’t expected Wei Lan’s hobby to be somewhat similar to her father’s.

Her father loved collecting all kinds of jade carvings.

“Is that so?

What a coincidence.

My father usually likes to collect various jade carvings.

If you’d like, I could show you sometime.”

“Thank you.”

Wei Lan smiled politely, thinking the young girl was just saying it casually and not taking it too seriously.

Besides, what kind of jade carvings hadn’t she seen?

The carvers in Panyang City were still not as skilled as her.

“Do you usually like to go out?

Or do you have any other hobbies?”

Lu Shihuai continued to ask.

“I generally don’t go out if I have nothing to do.

Isn’t staying in my own courtyard better than being outside?”

Wei Lan chatted with Lu Shihuai as she signed.

Lu Shihuai then remembered the gossip she had heard before.

Unable to help herself, she asked, “Is it that your wife doesn’t like you going out?”

After all, the gossip version she had heard was that Lu Zijin and Wei Lan didn’t have a good relationship, and Wei Lan was just a decoration Lu Zijin had married into the residence.

Wei Lan was amused by the question.

“Of course not.

She treats me very well.

She supports me in whatever I want to do.”

As Wei Lan spoke of Lu Zijin, her expression unconsciously softened a few degrees.

“Our relationship is very good.

Don’t believe the rumors going around.”

“Sorry.”

Lu Shihuai had naturally seen Wei Lan’s expression just now when she mentioned Lu Zijin.

It seemed their relationship really was quite good.

After that, Lu Shihuai chatted with Wei Lan for a good while longer.

They talked about favorite foods, then moved on to other topics.

Only when all thirty books were signed did Lu Shihuai stand up.

But she waited not far away for her friends.

Her little group of friends were all not short of silver either.

Each of them ordered at least ten copies.

Wei Lan’s hand was practically smoking from writing.

Of course, she also had to chat.

The young girls’ topics were varied and strange.

Fortunately, Wei Lan could chat a little about anything, so it wasn’t too boring.

Among the people that afternoon, many had already come once in the morning.

And most of them ordered at least a few copies.

So Wei Lan’s workload in the afternoon was greater than in the morning.

Soon, it was Zhou Yufu’s turn again.

Seeing Zhou Yufu, Wei Lan breathed a deep sigh of relief.

This sister wasn’t here for her.

But Xi Ye beside her directly gasped.

Zhou Yufu smiled politely at Wei Lan.

“I really like the storybooks you wrote, so I want to collect them.

Give me another thirty copies of each volume.”

Wei Lan gave her an awkward smile.

This woman didn’t like her storybooks at all; she had clearly taken a fancy to her delicate-featured little guard.

Wei Lan bent her head and wrote the personalized signatures.

When she looked up, she sure enough saw Zhou Yufu smiling at Xi Ye.

Good.

She wasn’t here for her, so she didn’t have to awkwardly chat.

Xi Ye, just being stared at by Zhou Yufu, started sweating.

She was a bit scared and tugged at Wei Lan, wanting the master to save her.

Wei Lan blinked at her, pretended not to see, and continued writing with her head down.

“What does the young Qiankun usually like to do?

Would you be interested in going on an outing to the countryside with me?

The weather has been perfect these past few days.”

Zhou Yufu asked with a smile.

Xi Ye quickly refused, “Oh, no need.

I don’t really like going out.

Besides, I’m the master’s personal guard.

I still have to protect her.”

“Oh, quite responsible.”

As if remembering something, Zhou Yufu had the young maidservant beside her bring over a brocade box.

Zhou Yufu opened the brocade box, which contained four boxes of high-end rouge.

Even the boxes themselves were very beautiful, clearly expensive.

She brought the brocade box to Xi Ye.

“Young Qiankun, these are for you.

They’re the most popular rouges right now.

Take them back and try them.

See which kind you like.”

“No need.

I don’t usually use these things.

Please don’t go to such expense.”

Xi Ye spoke truthfully.

In the northern border, she never had access to such things.

Every day in the military camp was rough and dirty.

Sometimes, returning to her tent at night, she was too tired even to wash up, let alone have time to groom herself.

“You have a beautiful face.

Using these will only make you look better.

What’s wrong?

Don’t know how to apply them?

Do you want your sister to help you?”

Zhou Yufu blinked her beautiful fox-like eyes.

Xi Ye’s cheeks burned red.

“No… no need.”

Xi Ye didn’t dare look Zhou Yufu in the eyes.

She tugged at Wei Lan with one hand, wishing her master would speed up.

She couldn’t handle this.

Wei Lan, however, was signing unhurriedly.

She was already being fed dog food and hadn’t said anything yet.

“Almost done.

You two chat a little longer.”

As she spoke, Wei Lan continued signing on the books.

“If you won’t let me help you, at least accept them.

Otherwise, your sister will be very sad when she goes back.”

Zhou Yufu had an expression that said she wouldn’t give up unless Xi Ye accepted.

Xi Ye was sweating.

Afraid Zhou Yufu would keep pestering her, she quickly said, “Alright, I’ll take them.”

“That’s better.

The young Qiankun is so cute.”

Zhou Yufu smiled.

She then pulled Xi Ye into chatting for a good while longer.

Wei Lan signed for over half an hour before finishing those books.

There were still many people behind them.

Wei Lan continued signing for each of them politely.

But around four in the afternoon, all the books were sold out.

Wei Lan could only give each of the remaining people who hadn’t bought a book a bookmark as consolation.

***

On the other side, Chen Ji Bookstore had had almost no customers all day.

Everyone had been drawn to the Lu family bookstore.

Their business was getting worse by the day.

What used to be a day’s revenue now took ten days or half a month to earn.

The shop assistants were all afraid of being laid off.

“Manager, what can we do?

Our business has been stolen.”

“Ah, what else can we do?

We just have to wait for the young master to recover a bit, then think of something.”

The manager was also quite helpless.

At the Chen residence, after several consecutive ritual ceremonies, Chen Zhou’s spirit had improved slightly.

But he still didn’t dare sleep alone at night.

He had two simple single beds set up in his room, with two servant boys to keep him company.

Chen Zhou was now sitting at the desk in his study.

He hadn’t managed the household’s affairs for many days.

Today, his spirits were slightly better, so he had the manager of the main branch of Chen Ji Bookstore called over to inquire about recent business.

When that manager entered the Chen residence, his whole body was trembling.

He hadn’t expected Chen Zhou to call for him at this time.

When he entered Chen Zhou’s bedroom, Chen Zhou was sitting behind the desk.

Two servant boys were also in the room.

The manager quickly bowed to Chen Zhou.

“Young master, have you recovered a bit?”

Chen Zhou’s face was still somewhat pale, but he nodded.

“A bit.

How is the business at the shop lately?”

Hearing this, the manager was so scared he didn’t dare lift his head.
“Not… not very good.”

Chen Zhou frowned and asked, “Haven’t the storybooks written by Liu Wenyuan been copied yet?

How can it not be good?”

“The Lu family bookstore has stolen our business.

They’ve started selling storybooks too.

Today, Wei Lan of the Lu family bookstore held a signing event at their main branch.

Most of the people went there.

Hardly anyone came to our shop to buy storybooks.”

The manager said cautiously.

Chen Zhou was stunned for a moment.

“Wei Lan?

Since when does she manage the Lu residence’s business?

And aren’t the two good storybook writers in Panyang City both with us?

Since when does the Lu residence have someone who can write storybooks?”

“The storybooks the Lu family bookstore sells were written by Wei Lan herself.

And their copying speed is very fast.

They sell a few hundred copies at a time, stealing all our customers.”

The manager quickly explained.

“Wei Lan?

How is that possible?

She’s just a live-in wife of the Lu residence.

How could she have such talent?

Go buy a set of the storybooks.

I want to see what this Wei Lan is capable of.”

Chen Zhou’s already pale face turned even whiter.

“Yes, I’ll send someone to buy them tomorrow.”

The manager quickly agreed.

Chen Zhou thought for a moment, then asked coldly, “What about the other books?

The ones for the imperial examinations?

Surely those sell?”

“No one is buying those either.

The Lu family bookstore lowered the price of the Four Books and Five Classics to six hundred wen each.

All the students are going to the Lu family bookstore to buy cheap books.

No one has bought our Four Books for a long time.”

After speaking, the manager was sweating profusely, not daring to look Chen Zhou in the eyes.

Chen Zhou was completely enraged by these words.

“What?

They lowered the price to six hundred wen, and Wei Lan is writing storybooks?

The Lu residence is deliberately trying to make my life difficult.”

Then he looked coldly at the manager and demanded, “Why didn’t you report such important matters to me earlier?”

“You… you were unwell a few days ago.

I reported the matter to the old madam.

She instructed that I could only tell you after you had recovered.”

The manager’s forehead was dripping with cold sweat.

“Ah!

You’ve ruined my plans.

Go immediately and have someone keep a close watch on the Lu family bookstore.

I want to see exactly what they’re up to.”

Chen Zhou said coldly.

As if remembering something, Chen Zhou asked, “And what is this ‘signing event’ you mentioned?”

“Today, Wei Lan sold those storybooks at their shop and signed her name on the title page.

Many people went to support her.

Those participating in the signing event need to purchase the books.

They actually sold a single volume for five taels of silver, yet there were still many people waiting in line.”

The manager had had no business all day, so he had naturally sent people to gather information about the Lu family bookstore.

Chen Zhou said coldly, “A signing event?

Interesting.

If they can do it, so can we.

And we have more writers.

Call all the managers from the various branches here tomorrow morning.

We’ll plan out this signing event properly.”

“Yes, young master.”

Seeing that Chen Zhou wasn’t taking his anger out on him, the manager quickly bowed in agreement.

Chen Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose and waved the manager out.

He gritted his teeth and muttered, “Wei Lan, I’ll make sure you never get away with this!”

Because there were still people in the room, Chen Zhou didn’t want the servants to see him lose control or break down.

He forcibly suppressed the urge to smash things.

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself slightly.

He had recovered a bit these past few days anyway.

If Wei Lan wanted to play, then he would play along.

***

At the same time, Lu Zijin had just finished handling various matters.

Thinking of Wei Lan, she asked, “Has the master returned?

Did the signing event go smoothly?”

Qianxue quickly replied with a smile, “She should be back soon.

I heard that many people queued up to participate in the signing event.

Some young girls came in the morning and went back to see the master in the afternoon.

They bought many copies.

It seems the master is quite popular with these young girls.”

“Is that so?

How popular is the master?

Tell me more.”

Lu Zijin’s expression didn’t change, but her gaze grew deeper.

Qianxue, thinking the young lady was happy for the master, continued with a smile.

“The shadow guard who came back said most of the people who went were very young Kunzes.

The master chatted and laughed with them as she signed.

Because of the master, those young girls will probably be regulars at our bookstore from now on.”

“Is that so?

So Wei Lan had a pretty good day today?”

Lu Zijin’s gaze was deep and dark, like a pool whose bottom couldn’t be seen.

Her little Qiankun seemed to be misbehaving again.