Chapter Twenty-Five: Restraint

Master Zhu, his face full of resentment, asked the question.

Previously, he had respected him, believing him fearless in the face of power, capable even of turning fate on its head.

Yet now, confronted with the matter of the Bai family, it seemed he showed no resistance at all.

Could it be that he too was afraid?

“Even if I argue a few points, what would it change? The wounds inflicted by subtle means are often irreversible.”

Moreover, with Master Zhu stepping forward earlier, things had already been made much easier.

“But when it comes to demanding compensation from Old Master Bai, it can’t be as simple as paying the original price, as you just suggested. Without tripling or even quintupling the payment, it won’t suffice.”

Exactly!

The little shop still needed craftsmen to repair it; mere payment for the goods would never be enough.

Master Zhu had just thought he’d misjudged the man.

Looking at it now—

He had long since planned for this opportunity to extort compensation.

He truly had a knack for business.

“You wretched child, how did you cause such a calamity again?”

The old man wished he could throw his cane straight at Second Young Master Bai, trembling as he scolded him.

“Grandfather, last time the Han family deceived me. I only wanted to vent my anger. Who could have known I’d choose the wrong target?”

Still he tried to defend himself.

“Your uncle struggled through endless hardship to reach his position, and our Bai family has toiled for so many years to earn such reputation. In less than a month, you’ve already ruined most of it.”

In an instant, the old man was overwhelmed by sorrow.

If Second Young Master Bai wasn’t properly disciplined, the Bai family might truly be destroyed in his hands.

“I warned you: that Second Young Master Zhu is not someone to be trifled with. Why haven’t you hurried to find an opportunity to befriend him? Even Han Qing knows to curry favor with Second Young Master Zhu, but you remain oblivious?”

The old man’s words were a wake-up call.

He immediately ordered the servants to prepare money, planning to pay a visit soon.

*Cough, cough…*

Once Second Young Master Bai had settled the matter, he specifically sought out a few eloquent individuals to speak well of him at the appropriate time.

“Is that Second Young Master Bai? What brings you to visit this humble shop? My place can hardly accommodate a person of your stature. I certainly don’t wish to repair it a second time.”

Master Zhu spoke thoughtfully, but his words dripped with sarcasm.

The man before him could only force a bitter smile.

“The last incident was truly a misunderstanding. I’ve come especially to apologize. Here is all the compensation requested. If anything is missing, I’ll have my servants prepare more.”

He had become unexpectedly humble?

It couldn’t be so simple.

“I wonder, after this incident, could we resolve our differences and perhaps become friends?”

He finally revealed his true intent.

Master Zhu shook his head immediately.

He wanted nothing to do with such a local tyrant. Regardless of whether his deeds were good or bad, just his brazen temperament alone made him unworthy of admiration.

“No need. I am merely an honest merchant, and there is little business between us.”

Master Zhu once again clarified his position.

When persuasion failed, Second Young Master Bai became furious with shame.

“Do you even know what the Bai family is? We have countless officials and nobles eager to befriend us, yet I offer you respect and you refuse to accept it?”

He could only keep up the pretense for less than fifteen minutes before his true nature emerged.

Master Zhu remained calm, looking at him as though he were a performing clown, utterly indifferent to his loud quarrels.

Perhaps realizing the futility, Second Young Master Bai left the little shop.

He had truly disturbed their bookstore’s peace.

Yet he refused to give up.

Upon hearing about their bookstore’s membership system, he began pressuring the young nobles, commanding them not to purchase books from the store.

With old customers gone, how could the little bookstore survive?

“Big Brother, they’ve gone too far. I asked around and finally learned why our old customers have stopped coming—it’s because they were threatened!”

Er Zhuang spoke angrily.

Business was worsening by the day; soon, they might not even afford the rent.

“I already know. Most old customers are from official families, but ordinary folk aren’t affected.”

Now, they needed to shift their customer base, attracting more common people to make purchases.

Prices must be adjusted downward.

“But twenty copper coins per book is already very low. If we go any lower, we’ll hardly have any profit left.”

Er Zhuang was genuinely at a loss.

As the shopkeeper, he could only run the store, not devise strategies.

“In the beginning, we might lose some money, but small profits and quick turnover, coupled with novel business methods, will surely attract customers.”

Han Qing mused.

“A book at twenty coins; if a customer spends fifty coins, they get a ten-coin coupon; at a hundred coins, a thirty-coin coupon—so on and so forth. The coupons can only be used on their next visit.”

This way, they might seem like new customers, but to use the coupons, they’d have to return, becoming regulars.

Yet this method would only provide short-term business.

A greater innovation was needed.

“Let’s add a lottery. The grand prize winner gets a year’s free book borrowing and a new book from our store. There will also be ordinary prizes and consolation prizes…”

With both strategies, they would surely attract a crowd.

Still, for nearly half a month, profits would remain modest.

“Big Brother, I’ll arrange for someone to try it out.”

Han Qing nodded.

It was merely a simple customer attraction strategy; the real highlight had yet to come.

But the little bookstore did not disappoint him.

In just a week, their shop was bustling with customers.

Previous worries about slim profits proved unfounded.

The Bai family’s restrictions and interference became meaningless.

Ordinary folk simply paid no heed; they never dreamed of winning Bai family favor, nor felt obliged to preserve their reputation.

Instead, they enjoyed greater freedom.

Old Master Bai had warned that if Second Young Master Bai pressured the common people, the Bai family might never be able to establish themselves in North County.

In the end, they could only give up, watching helplessly as the little bookstore’s business flourished.

His expression grew darker by the day.

“What use is your investigation? All of you are worthless!”

Second Young Master Bai vented his anger on the servants, beating and scolding them without restraint.

This would only ruin his reputation further.