My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Just kidding!"

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai's strange gaze, Jiang Jingcheng first chuckled dryly, then straightened his face and snorted coldly.

"Are you kidding? How could I, the dignified Marquis of Zhenbei, possibly be interested in such petty things as yours!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai looked helpless.

He wanted to say something, but in the end, he gave his father some face.

"Come on, let's go to the study!"

Jiang Jingcheng said, "I happen to have something... small that I want to talk to you about!"

"A small matter?"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow slightly and immediately followed.

The two re-entered the Marquis's residence and headed towards the study.

But as Jiang Xiaobai walked, he noticed that Jiang Jingcheng would glance at him every now and then.

That look in her eyes... something's not right!

Jiang Xiaobai took a few steps, then finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Dad."

"Um?"

Jiang Jingcheng immediately looked away and said calmly, "What's wrong? Do you have something to say to me?"

With that, Jiang Jingcheng sneered, "You brat, you absolutely, positively, don't give me any of that petty stuff!"

"I really have absolutely no interest!!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched, and he said helplessly, "You can ask my mother."

Jiang Jingcheng paused, "Why are you asking about your mother?"

Jiang Xiaobai said seriously, "Just say that I changed my look. My mom will definitely ask what kind of look it is. You can say that I can't live without you."

"hiss!"

Jiang Jingcheng gasped, his eyes wide with shock.

Is this even possible?

"Is there anything else?"

Jiang Jingcheng instinctively asked a question, but before he could finish, he angrily retorted, "No, you unfilial son, shut up right now and don't say another word!"

"I have absolutely no interest in that kind of talk!"

"Why!"

Looking at Jiang Jingcheng's expression, Jiang Xiaobai was too lazy to expose him and continued to speak casually.

Jiang Jingcheng kept a straight face and didn't say a word the whole time.

Soon, the two arrived at the study. Jiang Jingcheng pushed open the door and gestured for Jiang Xiaobai to sit down.

As soon as Jiang Xiaobai sat down, Jiang Jingcheng cut to the chase and asked directly, "I heard you obtained half of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's contract?"

Ok?

Jiang Xiaobai looked up at Jiang Jingcheng: "Dad, just say what you want to say. Are we short of money?"

Jiang Jingcheng was taken aback.

This brat, his mind is too fast these days!

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Jiang Jingcheng's face as he coughed lightly. "Our family isn't short of money, but the Northern Army is a bit lacking."

"Sigh, provisions, weapons, and pensions—each of these requires money. You should know how much of what the court allocates will actually reach your hands."

At this point, Jiang Jingcheng glanced at Jiang Xiaobai: "So, I was thinking, could you perhaps lend a hand to your Tianji Tower business?"

"The turnover is possible."

Jiang Xiaobai pondered for a moment and said, "But this is ultimately not a long-term solution."

The military's expenses are ultimately not small.

Even if Tianji Tower could actually provide some, it would only be a temporary solution.

We can't go to Tianji Tower every time we're short of money.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai looked at Jiang Jingcheng seriously and asked, "Dad, have we ever thought about going into business?"

"Business?"

Upon hearing those two words, Jiang Jingcheng shook his head rapidly: "No way!"

"The commercial sector in the capital is already saturated. Our Jiang family is an outsider and can't get involved at all."

"and……"

Jiang Jingcheng's expression became visibly awkward as he said this: "Besides, it's not like we haven't tried."

"Back then, your mother said that the Marquis's mansion couldn't rely solely on the imperial court and the silver from its fiefdom; it needed some income as well."

"So I sent someone to try it out."

At this point, Jiang Jingcheng shook his head and said, "In the end, we tried one line and failed at it."

"Some people come to support me because of my reputation."

"But for the sake of appearances, it's just a one-time thing; there's no such thing as a long-term, steady income. The longest they've persisted is a cloth shop! But at the end of the year, they've only earned a few hundred taels!"

"Sigh, they're all here because of me..."

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched involuntarily as he listened.

This business experience was indeed quite disastrous.

No wonder Jiang Jingcheng shook his head like a rattle drum when he heard about doing business.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Xiaobai said, "How about this, let me think of a way first."

"I'll talk to Tianji Tower about it, but... I can't guarantee how much they can help us out right now."

"Also, I'll give it a try in the business world!"

"you?"

Jiang Jingcheng slightly raised his head, glanced at Jiang Xiaobai, and said, "You're not good enough, you're even worse!"

Indeed, he admitted that Jiang Xiaobai's writing style was quite surprising.

But doing business is different; it requires absolute intelligence.

Moreover, their family really doesn't have any business background.

"What if it works?"

Jiang Xiaobai said helplessly.

"If it works out, I'll call you Dad!"

Jiang Jingcheng said something in an annoyed tone.

"This...isn't appropriate!"

Jiang Xiaobai coughed dryly.

"That's fine, since you're not going to succeed anyway!"

Jiang Jingcheng chuckled twice.

The business market is now almost saturated; it's virtually impossible to break into it.

"Okay, that's settled for now!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "Father, is there anything else?"

That's all.

Jiang Jingcheng shook his head.

"Then I shall take my leave!"

After hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai stood up and prepared to leave.

But just as he turned around, Jiang Jingcheng suddenly remembered something: "Wait!"

Jiang Xiaobai stopped and turned around, looking at Jiang Jingcheng with a puzzled expression: "Father, is there anything else?"

Jiang Jingcheng did not respond, but turned around and walked to the desk, took out a clean piece of paper from the side and placed it on the table.

Then, he gently pushed the paper next to Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai looked at the paper and raised his eyebrows.

Then, he looked at Jiang Jingcheng with a strange expression: "Father, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing!"

Jiang Jingcheng didn't look at Jiang Xiaobai. He walked slowly to the window with his hands behind his back and said, "As your father, I just... simply wanted to see how your calligraphy practice has been lately."

"Just write whatever you want, but remember this: whatever you write, don't write about petty romance; I really dislike that!"

"In addition, you should write more characters so that your father can better judge the quality of your calligraphy."

"Okay, I'll write it!"

Looking at Jiang Jingcheng's serious expression, Jiang Xiaobai was both amused and exasperated. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write.

After writing the entire page, Jiang Xiaobai looked up and said, "Father, I'm finished!"

"Hmm, just leave it there. Dad will look at it when he has time!"

Jiang Jingcheng said calmly, "There's no rush!"

"good!"

Jiang Xiaobai responded and walked outside.

As the door slammed shut, Jiang Jingcheng turned around and walked straight to the table. Just as he picked up the paper, the door opened again.

"Dad, I suddenly remembered... Oh, it's nothing, you can take a look!"

Jiang Xiaobai shrank back and closed the door behind him.

Yes, he suddenly remembered the Hidden Edge Token and wanted to talk to Jiang Jingcheng about it again.

But seeing Jiang Jingcheng's attitude, he decided to wait until next time to discuss this matter.

"Nonsense, you brat! I'm just... eager to see your calligraphy, that's all!"

Jiang Jingcheng's angry voice came from inside the door.

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai shrugged helplessly as he listened to what followed.

This old man... is quite stubborn about saving face, but he was too lazy to point it out, so he shook his head and left.

Inside the room, Jiang Jingcheng heard the footsteps fade away and his gaze returned to the paper.

After reading for a moment, Jiang Jingcheng smiled and said, "Hehe, good, it's very well written!"

"This brat's got some skills!"

"Hmm, this one is even better, hahaha..."