By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

"I heard you say before that if a bookstore wants to do well, it should either collaborate with famous scholars and sell their autobiographies and poetry collections, or collaborate with storytelling authors to sell their most popular stories. How many storytelling authors does Ruijintang have signed contracts with?"

Mao Zheng said, "Reporting to the master, there are five people."

Wen Zongji nodded: "Find the storybooks written by those five people, and I'll see how well they've written them."

Mao Zheng immediately took care of it.

After Mao Zheng left, Lu Nian'an, who had been waiting nearby, came over upon learning that Wen Zongji had arrived: "Brother Wen."

After the imperial examination, Lu Nian'an took the initiative to do all the work for a whole day, just like the other servants at Ruijintang.

When Wen Zongji arrived, he was organizing books in the backyard storeroom. He only found out that Wen Zongji had arrived when he returned to the shop.

After the provincial examination, there is the palace examination!

Lu Nian'an still needs to work to make a living.

For a scholar like Lu Nian'an, copying books was a respectable and time-efficient activity.

However, since the popularization of woodblock printing, many bookstores have cooperated with printing workshops, and fewer and fewer people need to copy books.

Even if such places existed, they would be in remote areas, whereas a prosperous city like the capital would obviously not need them.

Otherwise, Lu Nian'an wouldn't have sought Wen Zongji's help.

Wen Zongji asked, "Brother Lu, are you getting used to being here?"

Lu Nian'an nodded: "Manager Mao has taken good care of me. Thank you, Brother Wen."

Wen Zongji laughed and said, "The results will be released in a few days. With Brother Lu's talent, he will surely be among the top. There is a Wenquxing who used to work odd jobs at Ruijintang. Once this gets out, many people will surely come to seek him out. In fact, Ruijintang has benefited the most."

Although Lu Nian'an was straightforward, he wasn't uninteresting. Hearing this, he jokingly replied, "Then should I write a few words to leave behind?"

Wen Zongji clapped his hands: "Yes, yes, yes. Brother Lu should indeed leave behind a piece of his calligraphy."

Lu Nian'an was stunned: "Really coming?"

"How could this be fake!"

Wen Zongji instructed his servant to bring over writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and then gave his seat to Lu Nian'an.

Lu Nian'an did not refuse. Standing behind the table, he pondered for a moment and then wrote down four large characters: "Literature carries the Way."

After finishing writing, Lu Nian'an put down his brush and stamped his seal on one corner.

Wen Zongji immediately instructed, "Keep it safe. Once Brother Lu passes the imperial examination, this calligraphy will be very valuable."

"What's valuable?"

Pei Rujing came out from the back room.

Lu Nian'an glanced at Pei Rujing out of the corner of his eye, immediately guessed her identity, lowered his eyes, and did not look at her again: "This humble student greets the County Princess."

Pei Rujing walked past Lu Nian'an without giving him a single glance.

It stopped next to Wen Zongji.

Wen Zongji said, "This is Brother Lu Nian'an. He is learned and talented. He ranked second in the provincial examination and is sure to pass the imperial examination. I asked him for a piece of calligraphy. After he passes the imperial examination, I will hang it in the bookstore so that all the scholars who come and go can be touched by the literary aura of the God of Literature."

Hearing him praise himself like that in front of Pei Rujing, Lu Nian'an felt a little embarrassed and quickly said, "Brother Wen, you flatter me."

Pei Rujing lost interest upon hearing this and showed little enthusiasm.

Wen Zongji asked her, "Isn't the county princess reading a storybook?"

Pei Rujing pouted: "Those storybooks are too awful to read."

She had been spoiled by Wen Zongji and had seen the finest things, so naturally she couldn't stand the rest of the trash.

Then he blinked and looked at Wen Zongji with anticipation.

The previous book, "Zhenyue Sword," was already finished by Wen Zongji. Pei Rujing read it many times and found it more and more enjoyable each time. She even began to look forward to Wen Zongji's next book.

Wen Zongji raised an eyebrow: "Does the county princess seem to have forgotten what I do for a living?"

That storybook was written as a gift for Pei Rujing. Wen Zongji would be entering officialdom in the future and wouldn't have the energy to write storybooks all day.

"I remember."

Pei Rujing lowered her head in disappointment.

"However," Wen Zongji paused deliberately, successfully attracting Pei Rujing's attention, before saying, "if all goes well, the county princess will soon be able to see some wonderful stories."

Pei Rujing asked doubtfully, "Really?"

At this moment, Mao Zheng walked over: "Master, here is the storybook you requested."

Wen Zongji nodded: "You continue with your work."

Then he looked at Lu Nian'an.

Lu Nian'an tactfully replied, "Brother Wen, please go ahead. I still have work to do."

Wen Zongji nodded and went to the quiet room with Pei Rujing.

Mao Zheng's mind was in a mess. He had suddenly met his new employer, who clearly had designs on Ruijintang's operations, leaving Mao Zheng unsure of what to do.

He had a deep affection for Ruijintang and was afraid that Wen Zongji would ruin it.

For Wen Zongji, Ruijintang was just a shop under his name. If the shop failed, he could open a new one or rent it out to earn rent.

But for Mao Zheng, Ruijintang is like family, and he hopes that Ruijintang can exist for a long time.

It would be even better if it could become a long-established bookstore like Cuiwenzhai.

……

Back to the quiet room

Pei Rujing asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Wen Zongji waved the storybook in his hand: "Once I finish reading these storybooks, the county princess will know."

Pei Rujing frowned: "How long will it take to see that?"

"No rush," Wen Zongji said, opening the storybook. "If you can't finish reading it today, you can continue tomorrow."

Then he stopped talking.

Pei Rujing got bored and couldn't help but pout, "We might as well go shopping."

"The county princess can go now as well."

Pei Rujing shook her head, picked up one of the storybooks, and started reading it.

I'm bored anyway, so I'll just use this to kill time.

After that, no one spoke in the quiet room, only the rustling sound of turning pages.

In fact, Wen Zongji read storybooks very quickly; before Aunt Chen and the other woman even arrived, he had already finished reading all five storybooks.

Pei Rujing had already fallen asleep leaning against him out of boredom.

Wen Zongji put down his storybook and pondered his next plan.

After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock on the door: "Young Master, Aunt Chen and the Second Miss have arrived."

Chang Dong's voice startled Pei Rujing awake.

Pei Rujing, still half asleep, leaned against Wen Zongji and rubbed her eyes, asking, "What time is it?"

Wen Zongji helped her up, saying, "It's time to go back to the manor."

"oh."

Pei Rujing nodded blankly, clearly not having fully regained her senses.

He subconsciously stood up with Wen Zongji.

Qinghe went to open the door, while the others restyled Pei Rujing's hair.

Aunt Chen and Wen Shuyu walked in, and both of them paused at the same time as they looked at Pei Rujing, who was fixing her hair and clothes.

What's going on?

But no one asked the question.

An eerie silence fell over the room.

After Pei Rujing finished tidying up.

Wen Zongji said, "Let's go back to the manor."

Mao Zheng respectfully saw them off.

Wen Zongji turned his head and said, "Tomorrow, summon these five authors to Ruijin Hall. I want to see them."

"Yes."