135: Bai Family Book House

Huang Ying smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Jiang, although it's only a short distance, people who drink tea in your shop wouldn't go next door to buy stationery, would they?"

Li Minzhong, confident of victory, raised his head: "We only earn a little, succeeding through volume."

True merchants only earn limited profits!

Jiang Hanwen looked at the resourceful Huang Ying, then at Li Minzhong, whose eyes were practically spitting fire.

He retracted his previous speculation; perhaps this wasn't a marriage of convenience, but two young people fighting against their fate.

Huang Ying didn't want to spend her entire life simply confined to the inner chambers, and Li Minzhong had a reason to leave his home.

The two hit it off immediately, creating a new life together.

For him, this was a sure-win business. People with less money, knowing he had Cultivation Techniques and could provide direct guidance, would definitely be willing to come here.

Only Young Masters and Young Misses with more money, whether for Face or friendship, would be willing to spend money for better service.

Their positioning was very clear; from the beginning, they were aiming for the high-end market.

"I have no problem with this, but I have a condition: if you two acquire any other Cultivation Techniques, you cannot keep them secret. I'll buy them at their market price," Jiang Hanwen nodded in agreement.

"Shopkeeper, don't worry, what's mine will be yours from now on, feel free to look!" Li Minzhong grinned. He had personally experienced the dark fifteen minutes of being dominated by Shopkeeper Jiang.

In his opinion, even thousands of Qi Induction Realm cultivators from the Great Stronghold combined wouldn't be enough to fight this Senior.

Having him oversee and guide them was one of their selling points.

They were chatting about the specific arrangements.

"Sirs, your cool cakes."

Bai Youlan, in disguise, brought two plates of refreshments to the table.

After she left, Li Minzhong curiously watched Bai Youlan's retreating figure.

"Shopkeeper, is that the one who wore a mask before?"

"No, why?"

"Then why is she still so cold, not even a hint of a smile?"

What?

A smile?

If Miss Bai smiled at him, he would be in deep trouble.

Jiang Hanwen suppressed the laughter in his heart and egged him on:

"If you can make her smile, I'll treat you to tea for free next time." Jiang Hanwen pointed to the black ebony box behind him:

"The most expensive kind."

"Shopkeeper Jiang is joking, he just talks a lot." Huang Ying looked over gently, and Li Minzhong instantly became well-behaved, saying no more.

After all, his wife was there; otherwise, this kid would already be bragging non-stop.

"It seems he really likes you, which is why he talks so much."

When Jiang Hanwen said this, not only Li Minzhong but even Huang Ying blushed.

"Senior, the two of us—"

"Alright, alright, stop. Continue, how are you going to manage this?"

The air was filled with the stench of love. Jiang Hanwen didn't keep the two of them. After drinking a pot of tea, they dispersed.

This arena, for now, has average prospects; being able to support two people's Cultivation is already its limit.

Unless a large number of wealthy people migrate to the Great Stronghold, only then would there be enough fat sheep to slaughter.

However, that is too much of a pipe dream.

Over a hundred thousand people is already the limit. The current grain prices are double what they once were. If more people came, it would be almost like building a new city.

Turning his attention back, Jiang Hanwen continued to research his new lotus seeds.

He didn't even attend Li Minzhong's wedding. Two months passed in a hurry, and under his and Gong Qing's tireless efforts, three Medicinal Cuisines with lotus seeds as the main ingredient were successfully developed.

One was bland, one slightly spicy, and one savory, to prevent getting tired of them.

At the same time, a small shop called Tianyuan Residence, adjacent to the Bai Manor, officially opened. Gong Qing personally oversaw the branch, leaving the main store to Zhao Shuang.

Outside the Bai family's gate, Jiang Hanwen looked up at the heavily studded door.

With enough confidence, he had finally waited for this day.

He was confident that the Bai family would not refuse this business.

But similarly, he also couldn't refuse the Bai family.

As his familiarity with Spells deepened and his comprehension grew, the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian became increasingly viscous. Although his progress wasn't rapid, it was inevitable that it would eventually liquefy.

In fact, in recent days, Jiang Hanwen had almost given up on Cultivating Spells.

The further one walks down the wrong path, the harder it is to turn back.

People say that a prodigal son's return is invaluable, but a prodigal son's return is often because there is no other path, and he is forced to turn back.

By the time he turns back, it is too late.

Now the most important thing is to understand the difference between Condensing Spring, the crystallization after Condensing Spring, and even the Profound Connection Realm, to know the 'what' and even more so the 'why', and thus plan his own Dao.

After being announced, Jiang Hanwen followed the guard into the Bai Manor.

Unlike the Zhuang family, the Bai Manor was eerily quiet. Flowers bowed their heads, and leaves drooped.

There wasn't even the slightest sound of servants chatting; the silence held a hidden, stern pressure, an invisible weight on one's shoulders.

Living in such an environment, even a normal person would feel immense pressure, let alone the highly scrutinized Bai Youlan.

Following the stone-paved path, Jiang Hanwen walked into the neatly arranged flower garden.

As soon as he stepped into the house, he heard a sound, and it was quite loud, a completely different world from the silence just moments ago.

Jiang Hanwen's heart skipped a beat. The Bai family was much deeper than he had imagined.

If he wasn't mistaken, what had just isolated the sound was clearly a Formation!

In the air, the chaotic Spiritual Qi, though invisible, was like a dragonfly on a bald head in front of Jiang Hanwen's Flawless Body—completely exposed.

His destination was not a deep mansion, but a spacious training ground, neatly paved with black iron stones the size of millstones.

The training ground was solemn overall, forty zhang wide, circular in shape, with a pure black ground and red walls two zhang high, firmly blocking the view.

"Bang!"

A half-zhang ball of fire slammed onto the ground, and the flames splashed across the ground like spilled water.

"Again!"

In the middle of the training ground, two middle-aged men, appearing to be around thirty-five or thirty-six, were sparring.

One was skilled in fire Spells, shaking a red banner covered with incantations.

The other held a long spear, agile in his movements, with dozens of ice blades shooting out from the spear tip like bullets, colliding with the ground with heavy clanging sounds, shaking the ground beneath their feet like a Gatling gun.

The two were not Jiang Hanwen's objective.

Against the wall was a pavilion, where Bai Changkong was sitting and drinking tea.

Seeing Jiang Hanwen arrive, he waved to him warmly.

There were only two seats in the pavilion. Bai Changkong was brewing tea, looking quite leisurely.

"Shopkeeper Jiang, please comment, how are these two nephews of mine?" Bai Changkong's Face held a gentle smile like a spring breeze.

Jiang Hanwen looked over. The two were fighting fiercely, but to him, their level was simply too weak.

The fire Spell was flashy but not substantial, looking intimidating but lacking concentrated power, unable to unleash the explosive and burning nature of flames;

The spear technique had enough force, but it was mixed with Spell casting, also a bit like a half-full kettle rattling, broad but not refined, more like a clown throwing flying knives; apart from being fast and looking cool, it had no other use.

If this was the strength of others in the Qi Induction Realm, he could fight ten, no, a hundred of them, and remain unscathed himself!

Jiang Hanwen, lying through his teeth, gave a thumbs up:

"The Bai family truly produces heroes; in my opinion, they are all skilled practitioners."

"Hahahaha~" Bai Changkong laughed heartily.

"Shopkeeper Jiang, you wouldn't come to visit without a reason. What brings you to me today?"

After hearing his purpose, Bai Changkong picked up the medicinal powder Jiang Hanwen gave him and poured it into the nearby kettle.

It was viscous like silk, and a clear fragrance wafted with the steam.

Bai Changkong sniffed it, took a light sip, and closed his eyes.

Three breaths later, he opened his eyes and placed the celadon teacup down with a 'da' sound.

"Its effect is no less than that of the Heart Nurturing Pill. Ten thousand taels per jin. However much you have, our Bai family wants it.

Regarding the matter of reading books, although I am the Clan Chief, it is difficult for me, and I am powerless.

There is also the Elder Council in the family; it's impossible to pass!"

Bai Changkong was firm, rejecting it outright.

Jiang Hanwen was unhurried:

"I don't read Cultivation Techniques, nor Talismans; I only read leisure books."

"Although our Bai family is not a prominent one, it has some history. Even for leisure books, the Elder Council will not allow it," Bai Changkong continued to shake his head, showing no sign of relenting.

Are there cats that don't steal fish in this world?

All fear comes from insufficient firepower.

Similarly, all actions of adhering to principles stem from insufficient benefits.

In fact, 99% of things in this world are tradable.

"Eight thousand taels per jin." Jiang Hanwen waved his hand, directly and proactively dropping the price by two thousand silver taels, giving himself a sharp cut.

Bai Changkong's breathing hitched, but instantly returned to normal, and he continued to sigh:

"Shopkeeper Jiang, some things cannot be solved with money.

This formula—"

"Six thousand five hundred taels. My cost is five thousand eight hundred; I can't go any lower," Jiang Hanwen said sternly, cutting the price again!

Third time's the charm. Two cuts, and it was almost halved.

Bai Changkong was someone who wouldn't let go until he saw the rabbit. Hearing this, he paused slightly, not rejecting it outright, and continued to ponder the scent in his hand.

This medicinal powder, at ten thousand taels per jin, was only half the price of the Heart Nurturing Pill.

Now, with another three thousand five hundred taels off per jin, he could buy the same amount of Heart Nurturing Pills at roughly a quarter of the price.

For the Bai family, this would save a significant amount of money to buy other resources.

Moreover, from now on, there would be an alternative, breaking their Bai family's current situation of being bottlenecked by Medicinal Pills, which was of great significance.

"Six thousand, then. If it's six thousand, I'm confident I can persuade the Elder Council to let you read books in my Bai family's library."

As a businessman, Bai Changkong didn't let go just because Jiang Hanwen mentioned the cost price; he continued to press for a lower price.

"If that's the case, it's not impossible, but I want to copy some books to take with me!"

"Copying books is absolutely impossible." Bai Changkong firmly shook his head:

"Our Bai family's collection of books, even our own Juniors, can only read them, not copy them.

If it's six thousand five hundred, you'll only have one month to read. Can you accept that?"