There are two major markets in the capital, the east and the west, which are specially designed for merchants to sell goods. In addition, there is an inner market in the inner city that specializes in selling treasures, antiques and famous calligraphy and paintings.

The East Market is where residents in the city purchase daily necessities, and most of the people who come and go are middle- and low-level officials and ordinary people.

The West Market sells mostly luxury goods such as gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins, and is designed to serve wealthy officials and gentry. Perfume, as a high-end spice, is the most suitable place to sell it.

Because the Spring Festival is approaching, the West Market is particularly lively. Powerful merchants specially invite dragon and lion dance artists to perform outside their stores to gain popularity, as if they are advertising.

…

The carriage was driving on the spacious street, and several little girls leaned in front of the carriage windows, lifted the curtains, and looked outside. They could not take their eyes off the performers performing tricks.

Lin Yun smiled on the horse and said: "If you have any gadgets that you like, ask Xiao Mo to buy them for you, and I will pay for them."

The few maids were coyly condescending to each other, but they were too embarrassed to take the initiative to speak.

In the end, Daiyu reached out and pointed in the direction of a little colored clay man, "Brother, I want that little colored clay man. I want one of all kinds."

Xiao Mo jumped off the horse without asking, ran over, bought a few colorful clay figures carried on bamboo sticks, came back, and handed them to Dai Yu.

With Daiyu at the beginning, several little maids bravely picked out the small items they liked.

Xiao Mo ran a few times and then complained to Lin Yun: "Third Master, please let Brother Zhong Yi go. I'm exhausted from running."

When Jia Lian heard this, he asked his servant Xing'er to come over and help. This man was much more diligent than Xiao Mo and ran around without complaining. Lin Yun secretly sighed in his heart that Xiao Mo was spoiled by him.

…

When everyone arrived at the perfume shop, Jia Yun, who had already heard the news, stood at the door with a few boys to greet them.

Lin Yun stood up and dismounted, looked up and saw that the shop was a three-story building with a large area. Except for the sign hanging outside, it had everything else in place and was ready to open.

Jia Yun came forward, smiled at Jia Lian and Lin Yun and said: "Second uncle Lian, young nephew, we have everything ready and we are just waiting for the opening."

Jia Lian hurriedly asked: "Why haven't you hung up that sign yet?"

Jia Yun: "Reporting to my second uncle, I think you don't have to rush to hang it up. It's better to wait until the first night to hang it up to avoid someone sabotaging it."

Lin Yun hurriedly asked: "Didn't you make a backup card?"

"I made one. However, this is a card given by the emperor, so you'd better be careful."

"That makes sense."

Lin Yun nodded and praised, then walked towards the building.

Daiyu led several little maids and followed Lin Yun into the store.

When he walked in, Lin Yun immediately frowned, because the layout of the store was not distinctive at all. It was still like selling cloth, and the perfumes were placed directly on the shelves.

Jia Lian saw that Lin Yun's expression was wrong and quickly asked: "Brother Yun, is there something wrong?"

Lin Yun didn't say much, but walked down the stairs to the second floor.

When I went upstairs, I saw that it was much the same as downstairs, except that the shelves were full of high-end perfumes.

Lin Yun walked to the window, reached out and pushed open the window, glanced across the street, and found that there was a silk and satin shop opposite.

Jia Lian introduced at the side: "Brother Yun, opposite is the shop of the former Zhenguo Niu Niu's family. Zhenguo Niu Qing was a subordinate of our ancestors, and his grandson Niu Jizong is now the commander of the former military guards of the Beijing camp."

Lin Yun asked curiously: "Since the two families are so close, why do they also open a silk and satin shop opposite?"

Jia Lian smiled bitterly and said: "The friendship between the older generation is now only a nod of acquaintance. As long as there is money to be made, who cares about this."

Lin Yun nodded, and then climbed up the stairs to the third floor. The decoration here was much more exquisite, and it must have been reserved for those distinguished guests.

After walking around the room twice, Lin Yunchong said to Jia Yun: "Have someone remove all the shelves on the first floor, put some tables and tables, and turn it into a place for guests to rest and drink tea."

Jia Yun widened her eyes and said, "It's a pity that such a big venue is empty."

Lin Yun scolded: "You idiot, what we sell is high-end goods. Without good courtesy, who would believe what you are selling?"

Jia Yun smiled coquettishly and said: "My nephew, please calm down. I'll have someone rearrange the arrangements when I get back."

Lin Yun: "One more thing, the waiters in the store need to be replaced. Find a few good-looking and well-spoken boys to be the waiters. Tell them that if each person sells a box of perfume, they will be given a commission of ten cents.

No cap.”

Jia Yun hurriedly asked: "Will the wages be returned?"

Lin Yun said speechlessly: "Aren't you talking nonsense? If you don't pay wages, who will do the work for you?"

Jia Lian: "Brother Yun, should we send someone to publicize the emperor's gift to Bian?"

Lin Yun waved his hand and said: "No, I have my own way to increase your popularity."

Jia Lian: "What can we do?"

"Is there pen, ink and paper here?"

Jia Yun: "Yes, I'll get it right away."

When Jia Yun brought in pen, ink, paper and inkstone, Lin Yun lay on the counter and wrote a sentence with a pen, "The moon shines on the screen window, everyone is Kongming and Zhuge Liang."

Jia Lian asked curiously: "Brother Yun, why are you writing this?"

Lin Yun wrote in his signature that anyone who could figure out this couplet would be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver.

After finishing writing, Lin Yun handed the rice paper to Jia Yun and said, "I will ask someone to hang it out tomorrow. Anyone who can answer this couplet will be rewarded."

Jia Yun looked confused and said: "I haven't read many books and I don't understand this couplet."

Lin Yun: "You're so stupid. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. You can find someone who understands to take charge of this matter."

Jia Yun said hurriedly: "I'll look for you when I get back."

Jia Lian said worriedly: "Brother Yun, if you answer this question, will you really give me money?"

Lin Yun smiled and said: "Of course I have to give you money. If it's not just one hundred taels of silver, let's just treat it as advertising."

"Advertising?"

"Well, it's like dragon and lion dance, to liven up the atmosphere."

Daiyu heard that Jia Lan said that Lin Yun had produced a couplet and answered that there were one hundred taels of silver available. She hurried over and asked: "Brother, what kind of couplet is it? Let me see it quickly."

When she took the rice paper from Jia Yun's hand and looked at it for a few times, she immediately said happily: "I can figure out such an easy couplet."

Lin Yun smiled and said: "Really? If you take a closer look, Kong Ming and Zhuge Liang are the famous Zhuge Wuhou. In addition, if you contact Wenyuezhao on the screen window, Kong Ming will be bright. This is not a good idea."

Daiyu was dumbfounded when she heard it. Not to mention her, even Jia Lian and Jia Yun had already understood the mystery of this sentence.

Jia Lian clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Yun is indeed a scholar. If this couplet is posted, it will be difficult for our perfume shop to become famous."

Jia Yun said happily: "I'll have someone hang out tomorrow to make our perfume shop famous."

Lin Yun warned Jia Yun again: "Find some stronger guards to help you guard the shop in case someone comes to cause damage."

Jia Yun hurriedly said: "Okay."

Daiyu thought for a while and felt that she had no clue at all. She couldn't help but said in frustration: "Brother, have you finished talking? It's finished, let's go have a meal. We are all hungry."

"Okay, let your second brother Lian treat us, and let's go have a big meal."

Jia Lian said cheerfully: "Okay, you can order whatever you want to eat. I'll treat you today."

Lin Yun added: "Brother Lian must also have paid for the bounty for this couplet."
Chapter completed!