There is a god in the sky

Chapter 158 Jifeng Study 1

"Is he the top scorer in the high school exam three years ago?"

"Besides him, who else? Back then, he became the top scholar at the age of sixteen, with a promising future. Who knew that he would request to be transferred to a post outside the capital? The emperor was so angry that he was demoted to Lingnan. Now that his three-year term is over, he has finally returned to the capital."

"It's not quite right to call it a demotion. He went to Lingnan to handle cases properly. I heard he solved countless cases in the past three years and his reputation has soared. From now on, the Provincial Judicial Commission will be his."

"That's not necessarily true! He was ambushed on his way to the capital and is now seriously injured. It's uncertain whether he will survive."

Shen Lan's hand trembled, and the hot tea spilled onto the back of her hand.

She recalled what Sui Feng had told her last night and secretly wondered if Xiao Ji was planning to use his injury to avoid risks.

"I heard that the Zhao family sent someone to visit yesterday, and when they left, they were both angry and anxious, and almost broke off the engagement."

"The Zhao family and the Xiao family were betrothed when they were children. Young Master Xiao has waited all these years without mentioning breaking off the engagement. How dare the Zhao family bring up breaking off the engagement?"

"That's right. That Xiao Dalang is almost of age, but he doesn't even have a concubine or a child. At Zhao's age, who can she marry after breaking off her engagement?"

"The Xiao family is truly kind!"

Shen Lan heard many stories about the Zhao and Xiao families.

Some people say that Xiao Ji was deeply in love with Zhao's wife, which is why he waited for her for so many years.

If Shen Lan hadn't known Xiao Ji, she too would have believed them.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Sui Feng arrived with a servant, and the group went to the bookstore together.

"His name is Xiao Ding. He used to work as a shop assistant at the bookstore. After the manager was fired, the bookstore closed for a few days. Miss Shen can ask him any questions she may have."

Xiao Ding was not young at all, looking to be in his mid-twenties, and he was so reserved that he didn't dare to look at Shen Lan.

He had been told before he arrived that he would listen to the new manager from now on, but no one told him that the new manager was a young and beautiful girl!

Upon arriving at the destination, Shen Lan looked around.

This street isn't the most bustling, but it still has a fair amount of foot traffic.

The bookstore was located in the middle of the street, with a large storefront and a statue of the Sage of Literature in front of it.

Shen Lan could never have imagined that a bookstore of this size would suffer continuous losses.

Xiao Ding unlocked the door with his key, and a scholar immediately came up to him and asked, "Brother, is Jifeng Study going to stay open?"

Xiao Ding turned and nodded to the man: "It will be soon, Young Master Qiu, please wait a few more days."

Qiu Yi asked shyly, "Will there be any more copying work to do then?"

"This..." Xiao Ding couldn't make a decision either, so he turned his gaze to Shen Lan.

Shen Lan knew that some scholars made money by copying books, so she nodded to Xiao Ding.

He immediately replied with a smile, "It will happen, Young Master Qiu, come and take a look then."

"it is good."

Shen Lan pushed open the door and was stunned by the enormous bookshelf in front of her.

This three-story building is connected from the first to the third floor. There are no stairs or attics, only a large hall and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that surrounds it on three sides.

It's astonishing that such a design would appear in an era of low productivity.

Perhaps Shen Lan grew up in the south and was unaware of the advanced technology of this era.

"That's truly amazing," Xuan'er exclaimed in my ear.

Yes, it was a truly breathtaking scene.

Shen Lan suddenly couldn't believe that a bookstore like this could lose money.

She turned to Xiao Ding and asked, "How did bookstores mainly make money in the past? Were there many people buying books?"

Xiao Ding scratched his head, his face slightly red, and stammered, "Because the young master instructed that we must not drive away the scholars who come to read, although there are many customers in the bookstore, not many people buy books."

Shen Lan instantly understood that Xiao Ji had turned the bookstore into a library.

It would be strange if you could make money that way.

She asked Sui Feng, "Did the master say that I should be allowed to change?"

Sui Feng nodded, "Since it's entrusted to Miss Shen, we'll naturally follow Miss Shen's lead. The rest of the manpower will be delivered tomorrow."

"Okay, let's go check out the backyard first."

The backyard and the study are not connected; you have to go through a side alley to get there.

Shen Lan had assumed this place would be a warehouse or something similar, but it turned out to be a small, detached house.

A row of three-room brick houses, with a few dying maple trees growing sparsely in the courtyard, and the ground covered with fallen leaves.

Shen Lan opened each room to take a look. They were large and spacious, but there was nothing there.

"The furniture will be delivered soon. Miss Shen, please arrange it as you see fit. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Thank you, this place is already very good."

It's better than all the houses she looked at yesterday.

Xuan'er picked up the broom and started cleaning. She had just finished cleaning one room when the furniture delivery person arrived.

Shen Lan thought it would be some old furniture, but to her surprise, everything was brand new.

"These are all unused furniture pieces from the storeroom at home. I just picked out two sets and sent them over."

Even the unused items of a family like the Xiao family are far better than those of ordinary families.

With two sets of furniture, she and Xuan'er can each have their own room. The remaining room will be used as a bathroom and toilet. As for the kitchen, she plans to build a shed in the yard for the time being.

With the help of Sui Feng and Xiao Ding, the work was quickly finished.

Shen Lan checked out of the inn, brought her luggage over, and moved into the new house tonight.

She even bought firecrackers and set them off at the entrance of the study, then opened the door and hung up a sign that read "Reopening for Business."

Xiao Ding was dumbfounded: "Shopkeeper, our study is opening for business like this?"

"Ah."

"No...why not rearrange things, hire a lion dancer, and find some scholars to inscribe a plaque or unveil a new one?"

"No need. Jifeng Study should be quite well-known in Bianjing, right?"

"good."

"Then there's no need to waste money. The changes that need to be made are not external, but internal."

Xiao Ding was puzzled.

Then Shen Lan instructed him: "Find ten poor scholars tomorrow, I need them."

Seeing that it was getting dark, Shen Lan told Xiao Ding to go back first, and then she closed the door and went back to the backyard.

The night was exceptionally quiet, even the moonlight seemed peaceful.

She had a dream.

She dreamed of a huge garden, where she lay among the flowers, basking in the sun.

Then four people walked towards her, calling out as they went, "Little Lan'er... get up and play..."

They were clearly four teenagers, but their voices sounded like children's voices.

"Little Lan'er, I brought your favorite candied hawthorns..."

"My little Lan'er is a natural-born healer, and she will carry forward the Shen family's medical skills in the future."

"When I grow up, I want to marry Xiao Lan'er. I will definitely pass the imperial examinations and make Xiao Lan'er an official's wife!"

"As long as Xiao Lan'er is happy."

She sat up, trying to see their faces clearly, but the scorching sun made it impossible for her to open her eyes.

When she opened her eyes again, there was no one around. She ran frantically, searching, only to find that the garden behind her was gradually turning into a graveyard.

The tombstones exuded a cold aura, and four skeletons lay on the ground—three men and one woman.