She was both curious and scared, and did not notice any murderous aura around her. She was looking forward to what the man would say next.
"I don't know the identity of the empress, but the empress's attire must not be disguised unless she is ordered to do so. Even if she is ordered to do so, she must be first-class, but a first-grade imperial edict may not lead to a golden phoenix hairpin. How dare you!"
Among the headdresses I wore today, there was indeed an inconspicuous golden phoenix. If I didn't look carefully, how would I know that this man in rags could identify him at just one glance?
The man's voice was weak, but his conversation was clear and had a scholarly air, allowing people to hear his words word for word.
She remained silent, neither denying nor admitting, just waiting for the man to speak again.
"I'm not a thief. I'm really desperate. I was a student who wanted to get a good name, but I was cheated out of money by Li Laosan just now. Unexpectedly, my parents were killed at that time and I couldn't go home. I finally found a silk shop.
I only worked for less than three months, and the silk and satin shop changed its business, and I was sent out..."
Satin shop? It's probably her store. Because of the big shopkeeper's affairs, a few clerks who were close to the big shopkeeper were sent out. The clerks who work with the big shopkeeper may not be of any rank.
"Si Yu, go and ask Sun De to bring some guys over!"
She sent Si Yu to call for help. Si Yu was usually weak and not as fierce as Qian Guanguan. If there was something fishy about this man, Qian Guanguan could still stop him.
Si Yu trotted all the way into the back door. After a while, Sun De brought two guys out. She motioned to several people to carry the man inside.
A group of people entered the owner's main house through the back door. Chu Yunjing took the main seat, and the waiter threw the man below.
The man looked around weakly first, then chuckled: "So you are the owner of this store. I actually met my old owner. I hope you can take Gu Sheng in!"
After Gu Sheng finished speaking, he bowed devoutly again.
At this moment, only Sun De, Si Yu, and Qian Guanguan were waiting in the main room. The waiter had served tea and left the room in a sensible manner. She was not very interested in Gu Sheng who suddenly appeared.
She stared intently, took two sips of tea before speaking: "You said you were a student taking the scientific examination, so why did you get defrauded of money by that Li Laosan? Why didn't you go for the scientific examination and then come to work in my shop? Will you?
Just tell me your story."
"This little man is considered a country squire, and he has some reputation in his hometown. I have studied hard since I was a child. Last year, my family sent me to Kyoto to prepare for the exam. I was looking forward to it. Unexpectedly, my uncle wanted to occupy my father's position as chief executive, so he found him.
Bandits kidnapped my mother, and...and..."
His voice trembled, he gritted his teeth and looked fiercely. He hit the ground with both fists regardless of the pain. It seemed like a past event that he couldn't bear to recall. When he calmed down, he slowly said: "My mother couldn't bear the humiliation and jumped off the cliff. My father
I couldn't afford to fall ill, and my uncle showed no mercy and directly seized power. He even wrote me a letter with added jealousy, slandering my mother for having an affair and killing my father."
"Why don't you work hard and continue to take the exams for meritorious service, so that you can avenge your parents by joining the ranks?"
"I didn't want to think about it. I was very heartbroken at the time and wanted to go back to attend the funeral for my parents. When my uncle learned that I was coming back, he found someone to chase me and kill me. All my relatives' families were bribed by my uncle, and I had nowhere to escape. Fortunately, I had someone with me in Kyoto.
I'll prepare for the exam together
I was a classmate of mine, and I wanted to join them. Those students all belonged to noble families. I had no tokens and was in a very embarrassed state. The concierge refused to pass the message for me. I had no friends and could only find an inn to stay before making plans.
I met Mr. Li by chance
Third, he has always bullied men and women. He defrauded me of all the money I had left with his clever words. I had no choice but to sleep on the street. Li Laosan came to see me again. He said that I owed him money and threatened that I would not pay back within ten days.
Just kill me, I can read and write
I knew how to settle accounts again, so the old shopkeeper allowed me to come to work, but the good times didn't last long. After the old shopkeeper went back to retire, we were also dismissed. Li Laosan came to threaten me again. I was forced to steal his money.
What’s more, he also defrauded me of my money.”
Gu Sheng narrated his experience, with many emotional words and tears several times.
Chu Yunjing considered the information he said in her heart. She caught Gu Sheng's eyes twinkling when he spoke, and she knew that Gu Sheng had lied in some places.
"I learned about the noble status of the empress because I followed my classmates to a banquet hosted by the Marquis of the Wen family and saw several people's orders. Even though Mrs. Wen Hou was a first-class person, she never dressed like the empress. I have some understanding of this. As a civilian student, if I want to enter the official banquet, I must... think more..." He explained, clearing Chu Yunjing's doubts.
This Gu Sheng really has an exquisite heart. It is really not easy for a student from a poor family to sneak into the ranks of nobles from a high family and enter Wenhou's house! Watch his explanation of how to be classmates with high-class students. He didn't look like he wanted to lie.
She became interested, leaned forward, and met Gu Sheng's firm eyes: "My store is about to open now and it is short of manpower. Where do you think I should put you?"
She wanted to deceive Gu Sheng and see what he wanted?
When Gu Sheng heard this, he raised his head in surprise and thanked her repeatedly: "Thank you for your appreciation! If your Majesty is willing to give Gu Sheng a chance, Gu Sheng would like to be the shopkeeper!"
After saying that, there was a burst of laughter in the room, and Sun De couldn't help laughing. Chu Yunjing gave him a sharp look, and Sun De covered his mouth in panic. Not only him, but Si Yu and Qian Guanguan also found it funny.
Chu Yunjing looked back at him with confusion in his eyes, and saw Gu Sheng's firm words.
"If your Majesty is willing to give Gu Sheng a chance, Gu Sheng will definitely not disappoint you. The old shopkeeper made the false accounts here."
Gu Sheng's abrupt words meant that no one would easily give him the position of shopkeeper. He now had to show some skills that could convince his employer of his ability.
She raised her eyebrows and said in a playful tone: "Does admitting to false accounts show your ability?"
"Of course not. I have helped my father do some land income accounting since I was a child. I have long known how to do the accounting that the master wants. It can be done clearly or vaguely, as long as the boss needs it."
After saying that, he forced himself to wipe the blood on the corner of his lips to make himself look decent, and then held his hand towards Chu Yunjing with a firm gaze.
Chu Yunjing has been accustomed to some of the tricks of merchants since he was a child. He naturally knows how these gentry and landlords exploit the people to obtain oil and water, and also understands how businessmen make huge profits.
In Gu Sheng's story, he describes himself and his family so beautifully, as if the whole world owes them, but all beautiful lies are flawed.
What she needs is not treacherous and cunning subordinates, but loyal slaves, such as Sun De. But when it comes to this way of doing business, Sun De may not be able to do it with ease, and may have to use a risky move...
But at this moment, she knew nothing about Gu Sheng, who was full of lies, and would not use him so easily. She would always investigate and give him no hope to see what he should do.
She regained her composure and did not want to sound arrogant: "Just go back! I won't use you."
Hearing this, Gu Sheng was stunned in surprise at first, and then he kowtowed heavily: "Gu Sheng believes that the queen will come to me again. Gu Sheng is waiting for the queen."
After saying that, he stood up in pain and walked out with great confidence without looking back. It was obvious that Gu Sheng made the right bet. He guessed Chu Yunjing's thoughts. He indeed had no background and was from a completely poor family. He was just proficient in calculation and good at calculations. Only by pondering people's hearts can we get to this point.
When he was about to go out, Chu Yunjing's gloomy words came: "I don't like what you said. Being too smart may not be a good thing!"
She used the word "this palace", which shows that she does not need to pretend in front of this person, and there will be no more intersections in the future. According to her temperament, no matter who she uses, no matter how smart she is, she must be obedient and not just come up to her. In terms of conditions, this is a threat to her.
People have to learn to pretend to be stupid, but Gu Sheng can't. His purpose of lying is to arouse Chu Yunjing's curiosity, so that he can investigate him, get to know him a little, and make Chu Yunjing admire his calculation. Miscalculation! This woman is not A person who is at the mercy of others.
There is no doubt that Chu Yunjing won this confrontation.
In fact, she wanted to use Gu Sheng from the bottom of her heart, but she wanted to catch him off guard, to dampen his spirit, to make him understand that he would have to learn to be stupid when working under her in the future, and to frighten him.
Gu Sheng held on to the door frame and was about to go out. Hearing this, he paused and panicked. He didn't want anyone to see his current expression, so he continued to go out.
Sun De just thought he was a clown and wasted everyone for half an hour. He bowed to Chu Yunjing festively and began to report on the current situation of the bookstore.
"Everything in our bookstore is going according to the plan of the queen. During the days when you are not here, both the decoration and the books have been prepared. We are waiting for the queen to nominate the bookstore and choose a date to open it!"
She was finally able to feel a trace of heartfelt joy. There were too many bad things today. She stood up and walked towards the front store with a lingering look: "Let's go! Come and have a look with me!"
Stepping into the lobby on the first floor from the back door, you will see a very elegant and elegant atmosphere. The decoration is mostly made of dark wood. There are dozens of desks separated by the wall. On the desks are placed incense, pens, inks, paper and inkstones, pen stands, bookcases, etc. It is indeed She nodded frequently to get the effect she wanted.
There are hundreds of large bookshelves standing, with folded books and bamboo slips placed neatly and clearly classified on each shelf. There are about tens of thousands of books on the first floor. It can be seen that Sun De has made great efforts to visit various places to find various collections of books. , the first floor alone can accommodate nearly a hundred people.
The second floor is about the same size, and the furnishings in the private rooms are also very light, luxurious and bright. She is the first to do academy business in the name of a bookstore!
She walked into an upper room and walked slowly to the desk. The three people who served had a clear division of labor. Qian Guanguan hurriedly ran out and poured some warm water into the pen washer. Sun De took out a cup from the bookcase. A piece of rice paper half the size of a desk was spread out, and Si Yu immediately ground it for her. She pointed at the large sandalwood wolf hair on the pen holder, and Qian Guanguan immediately opened the pen for her. She covered the wolf hair with thick-colored ink and wrote large characters. With a wave of his hand, he wrote down the four words "Xuezi Library". This was the name of the bookstore, and it was a title for scholars all over the world to learn from.