Chapter 47 Even the Books Were Grabbed

Fascinated onlookers stepped onto the stage one after another to flip through the books, and were instantly captivated at a single glance.

"What exquisite craftsmanship!" an onlooker exclaimed in amazement.

Surrounding spectators immediately crowded onto the performance stage, carefully picking up the books to admire them. Soon, expressions of wonder bloomed across their faces.

In this world, people held the utmost reverence for the written word and for knowledge. Books were considered heirlooms to be passed down through generations.

As the saying goes: Better a thousand acres of fertile land than a single house filled with paper.

Zhan Duo rushed forward, yanked a book from the crate to inspect it closely, and then rudely tossed it aside.

Such boorish behavior—akin to a wild boar trampling a vegetable patch—immediately drew public indignation. Guan Shitou sent him flying with a single kick, rolling him aside like a ball.

"Master Jingjie entrusted his manuscript to me. How could I possibly not give it my absolute best?" Gu Dao spoke up at this moment.

Earlier, the Jiangnan Bookstore had fanned the flames behind the scenes, aided by Yuan Cong's covert maneuvering.

This had orchestrated such a grand spectacle that nearly all of the capital's gossip enthusiasts and many prominent figures in the literary world were in attendance.

Opportunities like this came only once in a millennium; how could Gu Dao possibly let it slip by? The time to promote his bookstore was right now.

"Master Jingjie's books were crafted using the finest paper and ink the capital has to offer, and I personally hired the most skilled master bookbinders. Every effort was made to ensure this set becomes a collector's masterpiece."

"A set of four volumes is priced at sixty taels."

Gu Dao spoke fluently and loudly.

By this time, an increasing number of people had climbed onto the stage to examine the books, and upon hearing the price, they nodded in approval. Given the stellar quality of the paper and the exquisite printing, sixty taels a set could only be considered the standard market rate. But because these were Master Jingjie's personal works, the price was actually set too low.

Some people began to ponder whether the cash they had on hand was sufficient, wondering if they should run and fetch more to buy a set. After all, once missed, Master Jingjie's books would be gone forever.

Gu Dao was accustomed to the enthusiastic scenes during shopping mall discount sales from his own era.

Perhaps he felt that the atmosphere here was still a bit too lukewarm.

And so, heedless of the consequences, he casually blurted out a promotional slogan:

"I originally intended for the first ten purchasers of this book to have the privilege of asking Master Jingjie to personally autograph their copies."

The scene fell silent for a moment.

"Master Jingjie's autograph? The first ten?" someone asked.

Gu Dao nodded reflexively.

With a loud buzz, the entire scene erupted into chaos...

The crowd surged toward the stage like a tidal wave. Those who had been hesitating suddenly found themselves filled with boundless motivation.

In an instant, they swarmed the book crates and began frantically grabbing books. The tall and sturdy Guan Shitou was directly squeezed off the edge of the stage.

Startled, Gu Dao hurriedly stepped backward. What on earth was wrong with these people?

With a sharp crack, one of the crates buckled under the immense pressure and shattered. The books inside were instantly snatched away in a flurry of hands.

One quick-eyed fellow managed to hug three sets to his chest. Just as he turned around, he took a fist straight to the eye, resulting in two sets being violently snatched away.

Consider it fortunate for him that his reflexes were quick enough to protect the final set.

"Damn it all! How dare you snatch my book!"

"Step aside! I was here first!" Dou Tuo roared, charging straight into the thick of the crowd.

To hell with dignity or safety; grabbing a book was what mattered most!

Having rigorously trained his body day after day, his temper was currently running hot; he brute-forced his way through the crowd, snatched two sets, and fought his way back out.

Master Jingjie and Duanmu Ruoyu were still engrossed in admiring their own books.

Suddenly, they felt the light around them dim as countless people swarmed around them, glaring like ravenous wolves.

Startled, Master Jingjie thought to himself: What on earth is happening here?

Right then, someone respectfully offered an ink brush with trembling hands and spoke in a quivering voice:

"Master, Gu Xiuzhi made a promise. Anyone who buys the book gets your personal signature. The two of you are close friends, surely he wouldn't go back on his word, right?"

Master Jingjie's autograph! And moreover, to have him personally sign such an exquisitely crafted volume—

It went without saying how deeply those who revered Master Jingjie cherished this.

Even if one were to walk right out this door, there were plenty of people waiting to scramble for it at double the sixty-tael price.

Reflexively, Master Jingjie picked up the brush.

"Did Xiuzhi really say that? Then..." Before he could finish his sentence, piles of books had already accumulated before him.

Master Jingjie offered a wry smile and began signing.

As a man of noble character, he felt that since people had paid hard cash for the books and asked for his signature, he couldn't simply scribble his name; he ought to pen a few words of encouragement as well.

Those who received the autographed volumes found their eyes welling with tears as they squeezed their way out of the crowd, shouting at the top of their lungs:

"Gu Xiuzhi! Someone come collect the money over here!"

As it turned out, Gu Dao didn't come over to collect the money; instead, that person was immediately tackled to the ground by a mob of people who hadn't managed to get a book.

"Brother, eighty taels—let me have this set," someone urged anxiously.

"One hundred taels..." another person outbid him.

"One hundred and twenty taels, final price, brother! Give me the book, and I'll pay Gu Xiuzhi for you," a third person declared domineeringly.

Master Jingjie's wrist ached from signing.

Gu Dao had said the first ten, but once the signing started, how could anyone keep track? Master Jingjie was an honest man, and he didn't skip a single one of the two hundred-plus sets.

Upon witnessing this scene, Mei Zisu and Zhan Duo instantly knew they had lost—utterly and comprehensively defeated.

Though they couldn't figure out how Gu Dao had pulled it off, they had lost the wager.

Was the Jiangnan Bookstore's branch in Yuandu really going to be handed over to Gu Dao? Dealing with a matter of such magnitude left both of them completely paralyzed.

The two repeatedly urged their master artisans to find a flaw in the operation.

Yet, after searching for a long time, while there were plenty of doubts, they simply could not find any actual loopholes.

Fortunately, everyone was currently busy scrambling for books, so no one paid attention to their humiliation.

Mei Zisu and Zhan Duo turned to slip away quietly, only to be blocked by several guards.

"His Highness says: a bet is a bet, and since the agents from the property agency are all here, you had better finalize the transfer contract for the Jiangnan Bookstore right now."

"Additionally, that set of books in your possession hasn't been paid for. His Highness has settled the bill for you."

The guards' words were cold, hard, and laced with killing intent.

With ashen faces, Mei Zisu and Zhan Duo had no choice but to hand over the books and return to the stage.

Gu Dao was waiting for them with a beaming smile.

"Mei Zisu, have you ever heard a Buddhist parable? Never mind, given your shallow knowledge, you probably haven't. Let me give you the conclusion directly."

"Those who have Buddha in their hearts see Buddha in everything. Those who have filth in their hearts see filth in everything."

"With your dark and twisted mindset, the only reason you assumed I would resort to underhanded and despicable villainy is because you yourself are an underhanded and despicable villain."

"In short, you, Mei Zisu, are full of shit through and through."

Gu Dao's cursing was vicious, yet because it was prefaced with the word 'Buddha', many people felt it carried profound Zen wisdom.

If you, Mei Zisu, didn't harbor dark schemes in your own heart, how could you possibly think of Gu Dao that way, or say such things about him?

Mei Zisu trembled all over with rage, while Zhan Duo broke out in a cold sweat of sheer terror.

Under the coercion of the guards, Zhan Duo signed the contract. Once Gu Dao also signed, the property agency officials would head straight to the magistrate's office to process the paperwork.

From that moment on, the Jiangnan Bookstore would belong entirely to Gu Dao.

Yet, just as Gu Dao picked up his brush, he paused and set it down again, beckoning toward a nearby spot. Jin Se trotted over.

"Elder Brother Xiuzhi, are you looking for me?" Jin Se's pretty face was slightly flushed; she was still thrilled by Gu Dao's miraculous comeback.

"Come here. This Jiangnan Bookstore is gifted to you—sign your name right here," Gu Dao said, pointing at the contract.

"Ah... this..." Jin Se was dressed in male attire today, but her delicate, porcelain-like face flushed crimson in an instant.

She felt her entire body burning, her hands and limbs trembling as she didn't know where to put them. *Elder Brother Xiuzhi, what does this mean? Is he starting to trick me now? I... I...*

Under Gu Dao's urging, Jin Se—whose mind was reduced to scrambled mush—shiveringly signed her real name onto the document.

Gu Dao was dumbfounded as well. He thought to himself: *I told you to sign as Fang Xu; how on earth did you end up writing Li Jin Se?*

He wanted to stop her, but it was already too late as the property agents had already scooped up the contract.

"I say..." Gu Dao wanted to scold Jin Se.

"Elder Brother Xiuzhi..." Jin Se lowered her head, spun around, and sprinted away. Had Wei Qingmei not grabbed her in time, she would have tumbled headfirst off the stage.

What on earth was going on? Gu Dao felt utterly bewildered.

The reason he asked Jin Se to sign was because his own ties to the Gu family were too deep, and untangling those relationships in the future would likely prove troublesome.

Jin Se was the granddaughter of his grand-teacher Yuan Cong, and her relationship with him was quite good. Having the Jiangnan Bookstore's property registered under her name was practically no different from having it under his own.

More importantly, Jin Se held the status of a princess; anyone wishing to make a move against the property would have to carefully weigh the consequences.

It had to be said that the people who bought the books were individuals of their word. Not a single person attempted to sneak away.

Even those who couldn't pay on the spot left behind promissory notes, promising to have the funds delivered to Yuan Cong's residence the next day.

At that moment, Dou Tuo walked over hugging two sets of books, flashing a grim smile at Gu Dao.

"Gu Dao, did you see that? Master Jingjie's autographed books—two sets, I have two sets."

Gu Dao thought to himself: *Does this guy have mental issues? What do a few sets of books have to do with me? I run the printing house.*

Then it dawned on him—this fellow hadn't paid for them!

"I don't care how many sets you have, pay me for them right now!"

Who would have thought that upon hearing this, Dou Tuo would burst into loud laughter.

"Gu Dao, you vicious dog-stealing thief! You stole my dog and ate it, fine, I'll chalk it up to paying respects to an elder."

"But you shameless bastard went and whispered slanders in the palace, getting all my dogs confiscated! Want money? Not a chance..."

With that, he turned and bolted away hugging his two sets of books, letting out triumphant laughs as he went.

Gu Dao figured that was one hundred and twenty taels; how could he let that slide? He immediately gave chase.

"Dou the Toad, you're being unreasonable! If I stole your dog, you should have just stolen mine back. What's the meaning of snatching books?"

"Is anyone going to do something about this? Guards! Hey, guard, grab him quickly!"

Gu Dao chased after him, but the two guards merely glanced at the commotion and silently stepped aside. Dou Tuo vanished into the distance in a cloud of dust.

Prince Chu, Yuan Cong, and the rest of the group simply watched the spectacle as if it were a good play.

Affairs among the younger generation, as long as no major disaster occurred, were best left for them to fight out themselves.

Besides, Gu Dao had indeed played a rather cruel trick on Dou Tuo. Considering how much Dou Tuo loved his dogs, he didn't have a single one left now.

The moment Gu Dao returned, he was grabbed by Master Jingjie, whose arms were trembling uncontrollably.

Dunmu Ruoyu's chubby face was contorted with heartache as he frantically massaged his master's arms.

"Xiuzhi, you went too far. You're trying to work me to death! Over two hundred sets! Even my own personal set got swiped by who knows who."

Master Jingjie was suffering yet joyful at the same time.

Seeing his books receive such an overwhelming welcome warmed his old heart deeply. When he scolded Gu Dao, there was undeniably a hint of showing off mixed in.

"Still, Xiuzhi, you've gone to great expense. Printing so many books must have cost a pretty penny. This old man never expected you could actually pull it off, and I have nothing of comparable value to repay you with," Master Jingjie said apologetically.

He was happy that the books sold well, but he owed far too great a favor.

"Master, don't worry. Today I took in over ten thousand taels. That money is more than enough to cover our costs, with plenty left over."

"With the remaining profits, I'll print another batch. Not only will I reserve a few sets for you, but continuing to sell them will also turn a profit. Not only will you not have to spend a cent, but I'll even give you a generous author's royalty."

Upon hearing that printing books could actually turn a profit, Master Jingjie found it hard to believe.

"Xiuzhi, I know you're just trying to comfort me. Since ancient times, printing books has never been profitable. I'll be more than satisfied if you don't lose too much."

Gu Dao told the truth, but naturally, no one believed him.

Since Gu Dao had made money today, Prince Chu took charge and treated everyone to a feast at Chujiang Tower, specifically demanding the potent liquor Gu Dao had previously concocted.

As for the dishes, Gu Dao simply had to head to the kitchen and direct the preparation.

Prince Chu was utterly convinced that Gu Dao's culinary creations came in endless varieties; though the dishes weren't particularly refined, every single time they left people craving more.

To this day, Chujiang Tower's braised dog meat remained the best in the capital.

By the end of the banquet, Master Jingjie was thoroughly drunk, yet he still pulled people over to raise their cups and drink heartily.

Taking advantage of the day Gu Dao had proven his worth, Yuan Cong secured several large orders for him on the spot. Gu Dao no longer had to worry about running out of books to print.