Chapter 168

After listening to the round-faced woman, Shen Cui thought to herself: It won’t take three years.

If this sells well, she’ll be able to continue writing in three months!

Afterward, she sat quietly for a while, and then Cui Wuniang came over to greet the guests.

Although Shen Cui’s status in the Cui family was not high, as the hostess, Cui Wuniang personally attending to her made the female guests feel respected.

Among the relatives present, many were not familiar with each other, but when Cui Wuniang approached, she greeted each one by name.

She even managed to match the faces of the relatives from the Sun family, whom she had never met, with the information she had previously obtained.

After a long round of graceful hospitality, both hosts and guests were delighted. Cui Wuniang took the opportunity to introduce Shen Cui to everyone.

Although people had spoken without avoiding Shen Cui before, they didn’t know her identity and saw that she wasn’t talking much, so they didn’t engage with her much.

Now that they knew her identity and heard Cui Wuniang mention the academy she ran, which was full of talented scholars, and that her own son had achieved high academic success, the attitude towards her changed significantly.

They suddenly became much more enthusiastic towards Shen Cui.

Some said she looked only twenty-five or twenty-six years old and asked about her skincare routine.

Many others asked for her advice on education and inquired about the marital status of other young people in her academy.

Shen Cui patiently answered their questions.

As for the marital matters, she said she was not sure, as the young people were currently focused on their studies, and it would depend on their own intentions.

“When it comes to others’ marriages, it’s not appropriate for me to interfere. How old is your son?”

As some people started to consider the idea of finding a match for their chubby son, Shen Cui interjected, “He’s only fourteen, still doesn’t understand these matters, no need to rush.”

“Already fourteen? It’s time to hurry,” they insisted.

“Yes, but I’m not saying you should arrange a marriage for your son immediately, just that it’s time to start looking around. Besides, you should also find out what kind of girl he likes, be prepared early!”

Their enthusiasm wasn’t malicious; it was all out of concern, not immediately thinking about matchmaking or anything like that.

Shen Cui had to refuse tactfully, not revealing that her son had shown remarkable progress in his studies but was still as clueless in matters of the heart as he was before.

Just then, another maid from Cui Wuniang’s side came over, saying Cui Wuniang wanted her.

This was her rescue.

Shen Cui breathed a sigh of relief, apologized to everyone, and then followed the maid.

Cui Wuniang was in a pavilion near the banquet hall, talking to someone.

When Shen Cui approached, they had just finished their conversation.

Shen Cui couldn’t help but take another look at the person Cui Wuniang was talking to, because it wasn’t someone else; it was the round-faced woman who had enthusiastically praised the storybook in public earlier.

The woman also returned her a friendly smile before heading back to the banquet hall.

Putting it all together, Shen Cui understood and chuckled, “So, the lady who was praising so enthusiastically was actually invited by you. I was getting quite flattered by her compliments.”

Cui Wuniang nodded with a smile, “Yes, I did invite her, but it wasn’t entirely deceptive. There was a reason behind it.”

It turned out that the woman was Sun Ruowei’s cousin, and the things she had talked about at the table were all true.

When they discussed the publication earlier, Sun Ruowei said she would give handkerchiefs to her sisters once it was published.

When it was actually published, she did just that—her cousin was only five or six years older than her and they were very close, like sisters.

Moreover, Sun’s cousin was also a fan of storybooks.

Earlier, when Sun Ruowei secretly read the storybook, it was her cousin who quietly handed it to her.

After Sun’s cousin finished reading the storybook, she was eager to read the sequel and sent someone to inquire about when it would be available.

Cui Wuniang made time to meet her because she genuinely valued “The Rouge Immortal Chronicles” and wanted to hear genuine customer feedback.

Additionally, she asked Sun’s cousin to recommend the book to her friends and family during social gatherings to help with promotion.

“You’re managing the household business, especially busy with Ah Fei’s wedding arrangements, and still have to take time to focus on promotion.”

Cui Wuniang was indeed tired, and there was no one else around.

She stretched lazily, “In business, many things have to be done personally. As for our storybook, don’t be fooled by the initial printing of just one hundred copies; I’m planning to print another hundred, or even a thousand. The beginning is always difficult. I know you might be a bit worried, but as I’ve said before, leave it all to me.”

Shen Cui asked again, “What about the promotion costs…”

Rich ladies like Sun’s cousin, who are worry-free in their daily lives, when they help with promotion, surely expect some meaningful compensation.

Shen Cui asked about this because if, as Cui Wuniang said, the first one hundred copies were sold out and they entered the profit phase, they should include these promotional costs in the bookstore’s expenses.

After deducting them, they would split the rest fifty-fifty.

From her understanding of Cui Wuniang, if she didn’t ask, Cui Wuniang would definitely try to give her more money.

“As for those costs, there aren’t any,” Cui Wuniang smiled, “That’s why I said it wasn’t entirely deceptive. Sun’s cousin didn’t ask for anything from me, just made me promise.

After these first hundred copies are sold, she’ll immediately urge ‘Fangcao Ke’ to write the sequel.

When it’s written, before it’s published, I have to show it to her first! Of course, she also expressed a desire to meet ‘Fangcao Ke,’ the remarkable woman in the world.

I promised her that if there’s an opportunity, I’ll arrange it.

Since you’ve met today, you’ve fulfilled that part, so I’ve already completed that. It’s just the previous part that’s left…”

Shen Cui immediately nodded, “I’ll start writing as soon as I get back today. It should be done in at most three months.

If the sales of our storybook aren’t good after I finish writing, we won’t print any sequel. I’ll just show it to Sun’s cousin alone, returning her favor.”

Although Shen Cui initially wrote storybooks to make money, when she encountered readers who really liked her work, since she didn’t have much to do during the day, she was willing to take the time to make these top readers happy.

Cui Wuniang nodded with a smile.

After a brief conversation, the midday banquet began.

Cui Wuniang and Shen Cui returned to their seats together.

With her by her side, Shen Cui effortlessly deflected overly enthusiastic questions from others.

Shen Cui no longer had to worry about socializing; she just enjoyed the delicious food at the banquet, feeling very content.

After the midday banquet, guests could go to the theater stage set up in the backyard to watch the play.

The play scripts were handed to the senior guests, who selected the plays.

Naturally, the first selections were classic plays like “The Peony Pavilion,”

“The Pillow Case,”

and “Begging for Skills.”

After a round of these, the troupe would also perform their new plays.

Shen Cui followed along to watch for a while, not understanding much, but she had a few new ideas—currently, wealthy families would invite theater troupes to their homes for celebrations or during festivals.

If they adapted their own storybook into a play script, wouldn’t it be like advertising on television in future times?

After all, women like Sun’s cousin, who had a wide social circle, had limited connections.

Relying on word of mouth would certainly be effective but slow.

Selling one hundred copies, the initial goal, would be relatively easy to achieve.

I’mBut if they wanted to sell hundreds or thousands, as Cui Wuniang said, that wouldn’t be very effective.

If this were promoted in a theater performance, it would attract a lot more potential customers!

With this idea in mind, Shen Cui prepared to find an opportunity to discuss it with Cui Wuniang.

As the head of the main household today, Cui Wuniang was naturally busy, but compared to her usual life, it was quite leisurely.

Without Shen Cui having to bring it up, when they listened to half of the play, Cui Wuniang made an excuse to change clothes and took Shen Cui for a walk in the garden.

“Your idea is indeed novel, but the script for a play is different from a storybook. We’ll need to hire someone else to adapt the script. Our bookstore hasn’t collaborated with theater troupes before. I’ll look for someone later to revise it into a script and then discuss cooperation with the theater troupe.”

In the evening, the singing on the stage ceased, and the main event of the day finally arrived—it was time for the newlyweds to pay respects to heaven and earth.

Both male and female guests went to the main hall to witness.

Xi Niang escorted Sun Ruowei out of the new room and handed a piece of red silk to her and Cui Fei.

The two stood side by side, first paying respects to heaven and earth, and then to the ancestral hall.

Shen Cui had been with Cui Wuniang all along, while Cui Wuniang was sitting on the other side with Cui Laoye.

Seeing the newlyweds about to bow in their direction, Shen Cui immediately prepared to move aside a few steps.

But before she could lift her foot, Cui Wuniang, who had noticed, reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“Second bow to the ancestral hall!” With the tune of the praise singers, Shen Cui received a very solid bow from the newlyweds.

After the couple’s bow, they were surrounded by guests and went to the new room.

Shen Cui looked at Cui Wuniang helplessly, and Cui Wuniang just smiled and said, “I had already talked to Afei and Ruowei about it beforehand. I was afraid you would refuse, so I didn’t tell you. Afei owes you a lot for your blessing, which led to such a good marriage now. You can definitely handle this bow.”