Chapter 132: Thriving Business

Chen Xiao Cai's business in the capital was flourishing, the three volumes of Journey to the West were widely acclaimed.

After releasing the three volumes of Journey to the West, Ji Yun An also launched the hardback edition, he and Chen Xiao Cai had even invited artists to do the illustration.

They printed 100 copies of the hardback edition and each was sold for eight taels of silver.

Of course people scrambled to buy the hardback edition, even those who had purchased before wanted to add the new edition to their collection.

Chen Xiao Cai heard that this book seemed to be very popular among the rich young ladies. Many young ladies had asked their servant girls to come out to buy books.

Chen Xiao Cai once again exclaimed that how wealthy people in the capital city were! They were willing to spend 8 tales of silver on books.

Because the hardback editions were limited took pride in being able to snatch one set.

Chen Xiao Cai thought hesitated a while when Ji Yun An suggested pricing the book as 8 taels, he wasn't confident that anyone was willing to spend that much money on a set of books. But to his surprise, the books were sold out as soon as they were launched.

Chen Xiao Cai's eyes sparkled as he checked the account book, "We've made so much money!"

Ji Yun An nodded and said, "Yeah!"

Ji Yun An thought to himself that most of his uncle's money was used to help out the veterans, and his uncle had been struggling to find an academy for him, he felt like it was time he should support his uncle.

Chen Xiao Cai balanced the accounts with great excitement, he had made more than 1,000 taels of silver within a month since arrived at the capital city. And that was after he shared half with Ji Yun An.

Chen Xiao Cai shared the money with Ji Yun An without a fuss. He was well aware network was more important than anything in a place like the capital city, the reason their business went so smoothly was due to the Jis. He shared the money with Ji Yun An, it actually meant he was sharing the money with giving Ji Cheng Kang.

If he came to the capital city alone to sell his books, he might have been targeted by others.

Chen Xiao Cai found that he seemed to have become a celebrity now, there were so many people dying to meet him.

Ji Cheng Kang arranged several bodyguards for him in case people with an ulterior motive pestered him.

......

Chen Xiao Mai came back home with sugarcoated haws on a stick and exclaimed, "Second Brother, Second Brother."

Chen Xiao Cai looked at Chen Xiao Mai with a gentle look in his eyes, "Hey, Mai, were you out?"

Chen Xiao Mai nodded, "Yeah! Brother Ji took me to the market just now. We saw a monkey show!"

Chen Xiao Cai murmured, "Monkey show?"

During this period of time, there was a new trend in the capital city, rich families liked to raise monkeys as pets. Especially after he and Ji Yun An started to sell the book Journey to the West, people were more interested in raising monkeys.

Chen Xiao Cai couldn't help but feel he had become a trendsetter.

"Where's Ji Yun An?" Chen Xiao Cai asked casually.

Chen Xiao Mai shook his head and said, "He went to see the guests. He doesn't seem happy though."

"What guests?"

Chen Xiao Mai shrugged, "It seems to be his father and mother."

Chen Xiao Cai squinted his eyes. Ji Yun An's mother had long died. The guests must be his father and stepmother. Ji Yun An almost died when his stepmother 'took care of' him back then.

Chen Xiao Mai and Chen Xiao Cai were chatting about Sha County when Ji Yun An walked in with a long face.

Chen Xiao Cai glanced at Ji Yun An and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Ji Yun An nodded and said, "I'm fine, I'm just uncle is back."

Ji Yun An clenched his fists. His father never bothered to check on him since his uncle took him under his wings. His uncle had been busy finding him the perfect academy since they were back in the capital city, his father made it clear that he didn't want to get involved. And now his father showed up uninvited, wanting to get a cut from the book sales.

Ji Yun An let out a sigh of relief when his uncle was back home, he knew his father feared his uncle, he was glad that he didn't have to deal with his father.

Chen Xiao Cai looked at Ji Yun An and thought to himself, 'Never judge a person solely by his appearance, who would think such a young master like actually had a tough childhood!'

Just as Ji Yun An had expected, his father Zhao Heng who had put on airs in front of him had fled in dejection not long after Ji Cheng Kang came back.

Ji Cheng Kang was resentful towards Zhao Heng, he didn't even bother to stand on ceremony with him and his wife, he just showed them the way out.

"Uncle, are they gone?" Ji Yun An walked over to Ji Cheng Kang and asked.

Ji Cheng Kang nodded and said, "Yeah! They are here for you, you and Cai's business is really a hit.

Ji Cheng Kang originally thought that their book was just another story-teller's script to help people pass time, however, rumor had it that even the members of the imperial house were addicted in the story. And Ji Yun An had gained some repute in the imperial palace.

Fame plus money, of course that scum Zhao Heng wanted to patch things up with Ji Yun An.

"You've earned a lot recently, haven't you?"

Ji Yun An nodded and said, "We've earned another800 taels recently."

Ji Cheng Kang smiled. Many people in the capital city loved to mingle with men of letters and pose as a lover of culture, Zhao Heng was one of them. But he was from an ordinary family background, he actually couldn't afford that lifestyle.

Zhao Heng had an official post with very little to do, and he couldn't pick up any profit on the side, however, he married several concubines over the past few years. Ji Cheng Kang thought that bastard had been using his sister's dowry money for that vanity, and he thought chances were the Zhao family was already an empty shell with Zhao Heng's extravagant lifestyle.

Of course Zhao Heng would love to patch things up with Ji Yun An who was a golden goose now.

The more Ji Cheng Kang thought about it, the more disgusted he was by Zhao Heng. He couldn't figure out why his late sister would be so determined to marry that bastard.

......

Zhao Heng and his wife Liu Qingmei were chased out by Ji Cheng Kang.

"Yun An is just as unruly as his uncle, I cannot believe he talked to me like that, so disrespectful towards his own father." Zhao Heng always felt inferior in front of Ji Cheng Kang due to his ordinary family background.

"Heng, don't be angry. No need to lower yourself to their level. " Liu Qingmei comforted him gently.

Zhao Heng said sullenly, "Yun An starts to do business when he is supposed to study at school, I was so mad at first, but he has actually accomplished something! Everyone in the capital city is taking about that book!"

Zhao Heng was furious when he first heard Ji Yun An was doing business, he blamed Ji Cheng Kang for that.

To his surprise, the book Ji Yun An had launched had swept the whole city within days, even the members of the imperial house were talking about the story.

Zhao Heng was a sinecurist in Hanlin Academy, he wished he could have a promotion for years. Therefore, he visited Ji Yun An in the hope of patching things up and using Ji Yun An to get his promotion.

Zhao Heng felt so frustrated after this visit, neither Ji Yun An or Ji Cheng Kang bothered to stand on ceremony with him.

Liu Qingmei pinched her handkerchief in hand and felt very unhappy.

She was one of Zhao Heng's concubines when Ji Yun An's mother Zhao Xue was still alive, Zhao Heng asked her to take care of Ji Yun An after Zhao Xue passed away, and she abused that poor boy almost to death if not for Ji Cheng Kang. Her heart was still fluttering with fear when she recalled the scene where Ji Cheng Kang almost strangled her on seeing dying Ji Yun An.

Liu Qingmei secretly hoped that Ji Yun An would die on the battlefield or become illiterate. However, never had she expected that Ji Yun An would make his name known by doing business. She went mad jealous on thinking about her son who persevered in his studies in spite of hardships yet still remained unknown.

......

In Sha County.

Chen Xiao Mi let out a sigh in the yard, "It's been a while since Cai and Mai had left!"

Lu Lin nodded. "It's been a while indeed. I wonder when they will be back."

Chen Xiao Mi said worriedly, "I've only heard good things about the capital city, what if the kids indulge in pleasure and forget to come back home."

Lu Lin rubbed his chin and said, "It shouldn't be. Cai is a determined person, Mai not so much, but I'm sure Cai will convince Mai."

Chen Xiao Mi suddenly put on a serious face, "I've heard a sad story."

"What sad story?"

"A poor Xiucai went to the capital city to attend the imperial examination, leaving the parents and kids to his wife in the village. He didn't write home for years, and it turned out he had passed the imperial examination and married a young lady in the capital city" Chen Xiao Mi said.

Lu Lin let out a sigh as he heard that, "I've heard a lot of similar stories, it's sad how fame and wealth can change a person, isn't it?"

Chen Xiao Mi narrowed his eyes and said, "What are you trying to say? Do you think Cai would fall in love with someone else in the capital city?"

Lu Lin shook his head and said, "Of course not! I'm very confident in our Cai. I'm just afraid that Chi will overthink about this, I just hope Cai and Mai come back soon."

Chen Xiao Mi couldn't help but think how popular Cai was before he was engaged to Shen Chi. There were still villagers who wanted to marry their daughters to Xiao Cai as concubines, but Chen Xiao Mi and Lu Lin had turned them down.

"You need to talk to Chi more! Chi is very shy and reserved, especially he is pregnant now, let's talk to him more often, a few reassuring words can set his mind at ease. We can even say Cai isn't the young ladies' type, how about that?"

Lu Lin burst into laughter, "In fact, our Cai is very gentle and well-cultivated. Of course the young ladies will fall in love with Cai."

Chen Xiao Mi glared at Lu Lin and said, "You are not helping!"

Lu Lin made a face and changed the subject.

"I hope everything goes well for them, I hope General Ji has found a good academy for Ji Yun An, and the book business is going great! " Chen Xiao Mi said worriedly.

Lu Lin comforted Chen Xiao Mi, "Don't worry, everything will be just fine. And I think they will be back soon, General Ji was just back to report on his work. Let's just wait patiently, they will be back safe and sound."

Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "That's right, you have a point."