Chapter 166: Chapter 166: "This bookstore is so classless! To even get involved with that scoundrel Li Yun...

"What? The Emperor’s private seal? Can common folk like us even get a look at the Emperor’s private seal?"

"Exactly! That official gazette they’re selling at Liufang Bookstore doesn’t just have the Emperor’s private seal, but the seal of the Lord Governor of Jingzhao Mansion, too!"

"What! You can buy and sell things like that?"

"Of course! From what I’ve heard, they even have the private seal of the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Anyone who hears about this would want to buy a copy to display at home! Even if it doesn’t do anything else, both Lord Shaoqing and the Lord Governor of Jingzhao Mansion are men of extraordinary talent and literary genius. It’d be great if some of that genius would rub off on my bratty son!"

This was how the rumor started to spread.

It was gradually exaggerated, drawing more and more people to Liufang Bookstore.

Before long, Ming Lingyi and Feng Shuyu, who were sitting on the open-air rooftop, could hear the clamor coming from downstairs.

A faint smile involuntarily touched the corners of Ming Lingyi’s lips.

"I think my gamble on partnering with you, Boss Feng, was the right one," Ming Lingyi said.

Feng Shuyu raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you say that, Boss Ming?"

Ming Lingyi replied, "Since you have such a flair for promotion, Boss Feng, I must admit I’m no match for you. If I had known earlier how capable you are, I would have certainly paid you a visit and shamelessly insisted on a partnership. Looking at things today, it seems I’m the one who’s gotten the better end of the deal."

She hadn’t expected Feng Shuyu to be this capable.

Feng Shuyu chuckled. "You’re flattering me, Boss Ming. If you hadn’t come up with the idea of using the private seals of those three gentlemen yesterday, I would never have thought of today’s little spectacle."

Of course, this kind of promotion relied on word-of-mouth, but to ensure everyone in Shangjing City knew about it in the shortest time possible, Feng Shuyu had clearly sent out quite a few people to spread the word.

Otherwise, how could so many people have shown up in such a short amount of time?

Ming Lingyi raised the teacup before her. "Why so modest, Miss Feng?"

Feng Shuyu smiled. "Miss Ming."

After finishing her tea, Ming Lingyi suddenly seemed to remember something and slapped her own forehead. "Oh no!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Ming Lingyi had truly forgotten someone...

She had originally thought that discussing business with Feng Shuyu today wouldn’t take much time. But now, sitting here and drinking tea, she had forgotten everything—including her own brother, who was still waiting for her in the bookstore downstairs!

"What’s wrong?" Feng Shuyu asked.

Ming Lingyi gave an embarrassed smile. "My brother actually came with me today, but I think I forgot he’s still downstairs."

At this, Ming Lingyi added, "I’ve very much enjoyed our tea today. I must invite you to our restaurant sometime in the future, Miss Feng. I’ll cook a meal for you myself, how does that sound?"

Feng Shuyu stood up and walked her to the edge of the rooftop terrace. "Then I shall await good news from you at the workshop, Miss Ming. On a normal day, if you need to find me, I’m usually in the workshop. If I’m not in the workshop, I’ll be in the bookstore."

Ming Lingyi: "Please, don’t see me out, Miss Feng. If you’re looking for me, just come to Ming’s Restaurant."

Although neither said anything more, they both understood clearly from this exchange that they now considered each other friends they could visit on any given day.

When Ming Lingyi went downstairs and found Ming Chengyu, he was surprisingly holding a large stack of books.

Ming Lingyi said in surprise, "Brother, are you really planning to buy me so many books?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ming Chengyu’s face as he stood by the bookshelf. He lowered his head and whispered to Ming Lingyi, "Little Sister, how about I buy you books from another bookstore instead?"

As Ming Chengyu spoke, Ming Lingyi realized that her brother was actually putting the books he had just selected back on the shelf.

Ming Lingyi: "Huh?"

The scene before her was even more surprising than seeing her brother holding a stack of books when she first came downstairs. "But why?"

Ming Chengyu recalled that Ming Lingyi had mentioned going to talk business with the boss of Liufang Bookstore. He cleared his throat. "Are you very familiar with the shopkeeper of this place? What kind of business would a restaurant owner have to discuss?"

"I’ve actually only known Miss Feng for a short time..."

"That settles it!" Ming Chengyu said immediately upon hearing this. "If you ask me, this shop has no class. If you’ve only just met, you’d best cut your losses now."

Ming Lingyi: "Huh?"

’Why do I feel more and more confused the more I listen?’

Ming Chengyu glanced at the bookstore, which was now nearly packed to the brim, and frowned. He spoke quickly, "Do you see all these people around us? Do you know what they’re here for? They’re all here for that rumored official gazette—the one with *his* private seal printed on it. How shallow! I was over by the counter just now and heard one of the bookstore clerks say that for the next three days, anyone who spends five taels of Silver on books will get a free copy of that so-called official gazette. Many people are buying things just for the private seal on it. I refuse to be one of them!"

His last sentence was tinged with considerable resentment.

"It’s as if I’m only buying these things for that man’s private seal. Do I look like I care about it? It’s just bad luck! So, Yuan Niang, you see? The boss of this bookstore is far too shrewd. You’d be better off avoiding people like this in the future. You’re so simple-minded. What if you get tricked? You’d probably still be happily counting their Silver for them!"

Ming Chengyu tried to persuade her with earnest gravity. He truly felt that any bookstore that would use Li Yun’s private seal as a selling point was utterly classless!

He refused to be mistaken for someone who was buying so many books at this bookstore just to get Li Yun’s private seal. That being the case, he would rather buy from another shop. Since this bookstore was now associated with Li Yun, he never wanted to set foot in it again.

After hearing her brother’s reasoning, Ming Lingyi’s expression went blank for a moment.

This was a reason she had never considered.

Seeing her brother about to storm out, Ming Lingyi quickly reached out and grabbed him.

"Brother, please wait..."

Ming Lingyi didn’t know if what she was about to say would be a blow to Ming Chengyu.

After all, she was something of a "mastermind" behind this affair that her brother considered so "classless."

"This official gazette... I was actually the one who started it, to promote our family’s restaurant..."

"Also, the idea to use the private seals was mine, too. The boss of Liufang Bookstore, Miss Feng, was just following my suggestion. As for the promotion, that was a mutual agreement between us... So, what you were saying, Brother, ahem, it doesn’t really have much to do with Miss Feng. We’re both just trying to earn some Silver..."

After saying this, Ming Lingyi hardly dared to look up and see the expression on her brother’s face.