Brush brush brush!
Surprised glances turned towards Chen Nan.
Chen Nan smiled and shook his head, "This gentleman thinks too highly of me, Chen. Besides my love for reading, when have I ever frequented places of ill repute seeking pleasure?"
Everyone felt Chen Nan's words made sense.
This fellow, apart from being a seasoned pervert.
He hadn't been seen in such establishments.
"Give me five books, I'll give them as gifts," Chen Nan also paid out of his own pocket and bought five books.
Regardless.
He had to support his own business.
However.
Even with his support, only a little over thirty books were sold that day.
And that included the five he bought himself.
Of course.
He wasn't in a hurry.
Because he believed.
Word of mouth would ferment over time.
Especially at night, when those old perverts took out Teacher Bai's stories to read.
They would feel the terrifying power.
As expected.
The next day.
Sales doubled.
By the fourth day, the initial print run of a thousand books was completely sold out.
And there was even a shortage.
Wu Ning Shi was overjoyed.
Wu Shi Printing House had never had a book sell out in just four days.
At this point, she completely believed.
Bai Yu would become a bestseller.
So she immediately ordered more copies to be printed.
Although many people wanted to read the subsequent stories.
Clearly, it was not the time to release the second volume.
They had to wait until the market for the first volume was saturated before releasing the second.
At the same time.
Chen Nan and Wu Ning Shi had their first profit sharing.
Eight hundred taels of silver were distributed to Wu Shi Printing House.
After all, the contract clearly stated.
A four-six split.
After splitting with Wu Shi Printing House.
Chen Nan went directly to the money changer.
Exchanging all twelve hundred taels of silver for banknotes.
After all, carrying silver was far less convenient than carrying banknotes.
Having done that.
He arrived at the East City.
Finally finding the place Wu Ning Shi had mentioned.
It was a small house.
She had secretly bought it two years ago.
For future preparations.
Because she knew.
After her husband's death, the Wu family would surely offer her no sanctuary.
Dong!
Chen Nan knocked on the door first.
Then he knocked twice.
Then he switched to one knock.
Followed by three consecutive knocks.
This was their secret code.
A moment later, the door was opened.
Wu Ning Shi, dressed in a cyan long skirt, looked like she was hiding a guilty secret, her eyes filled with tension and unease. After Chen Nan entered the courtyard, she peeked her head out.
Confirming no one was around, she closed the door.
Indeed.
Chen Nan quite enjoyed this clandestine feeling.
Entering the room.
He took out two hundred taels of banknotes and smiled at Wu Ning Shi, "This is your share."
Wu Ning Shi eagerly took the two hundred taels of banknotes, inhaling their scent with great satisfaction.
Although she was the manager of Wu Shi Printing House.
And the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wu family.
However.
She rarely handled silver.
Even this courtyard was purchased with the wealth she had accumulated over ten years of frugal living.
Of course.
This courtyard was only worth five taels of silver.
And of those five taels, two were given by her mother when she visited home, to help with household expenses.
And now.
Chen Nan had given her two hundred taels.
She carefully put away the banknotes, her beautiful eyes filled with moving affection, "Young Master Chen, please sit. I will surely repay you well."
------
An hour later.
Chen Nan left Wu Ning Shi's house in high spirits.
Although the line had not been crossed explicitly.
But.
Wu Ning Shi had read many books.
And knew many tricks.
Although it was her first time trying them.
It couldn't be denied.
This young woman learned very quickly.
It made Chen Nan feel incredibly satisfied.
Having been in the underworld for so long.
He had finally relaxed.
He didn't go home.
Instead, he went to the pharmacy and spent five hundred taels of silver to buy five sets of medicinal herbs for a soak.
Then he bought some braised meat and pastries that Song Ziwei liked.
Happily returning to the Leng family.
"Young Master, why are you buying so many things? Is it a festival? No, how do you have money to buy so many things?" Song Ziwei was greatly surprised.
Chen Nan took out the remaining banknotes and lay on the recliner like an ancestor, playfully teasing the bird in the cage, and said with a smile, "I had a profit share with Wu Shi Printing House."
"It's not much, only a thousand taels."
"This money is what's left after buying the medicinal herbs."
Song Ziwei was ecstatic.
A thousand taels was an astronomical sum beyond her reach.
"I never imagined writing books could be so profitable," Song Ziwei's eyes were full of anticipation. "If this trend continues, when the next five volumes are released, we'll definitely earn even more silver."
Chen Nan: "Don't worry, young master will definitely make you a small rich woman. From now on, you can keep all the money we earn, just leave me some for buying medicine."
Song Ziwei nodded happily, but her expression immediately turned serious, "Young Master, is your body so weak that you need medicine every day?"
Speaking of this.
Tears welled up in her eyes, "Young Master, although I want to have money and make our lives better, if writing novels drains your body, then we don't need to earn this kind of money!"
Chen Nan felt so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. He said, "A man is like a well that never runs dry. Although I was quite indulgent before, I haven't exhausted my body."
"I'm buying medicine because I accidentally obtained an ancient prescription. Soaking in medicinal baths can improve physical strength."
"I don't believe you," Song Ziwei pursed her lips, her eyes filled with heartache.
Chen Nan was on the verge of tears, "I really didn't lie to you, I'm not weak at all."
Song Ziwei's voice choked, "If you want me to believe you, then let me test if you are weak."
Chen Nan looked aggrieved, "You're not testing if I'm weak, you're clearly trying to take advantage of me, aren't you?"
Hearing this.
Song Ziwei said indignantly, "I am your personal maid, your bedwarmer, and I don't know if you have a problem, but you've ignored me for so many years."
"Either you have a physical problem."
"Or you have a mental problem."
"Hurry and prepare dinner!" Chen Nan gave her a direct glare. This girl had truly become mischievous, always trying to initiate things with him.
The young master being reduced to this state was rather depressing.
After dinner.
Chen Nan had Song Ziwei heat a large tub of water, and while the water was heating, he added the purchased medicinal herbs.
Then.
When the water temperature cooled to around seventy degrees Celsius, he, like a slippery loach, naked, endured the heat and slowly entered the wooden tub.
But he only stood, not daring to sit down.
The seventy-degree water was very hot. If he sat down directly, his skin would likely scald off.
Song Ziwei pushed the door open and asked, "Young Master, do you need me to scrub your back?"
Chen Nan was startled and immediately sat down in the wooden tub, grimacing in pain, "No need. Also, can you knock next time you come in?"
"I never needed to knock when I came in before!" Song Ziwei mumbled, then walked to the edge of the tub and picked up Chen Nan's clothes, "I'll go wash your clothes."
As she spoke.
Her expression suddenly changed.
She picked up Chen Nan's clothes, sniffed them, and looked at Chen Nan with suspicion, "Why does Young Master's clothes have the scent of women's rouge?"