Stick With The Cold Female lead

Chapter 26 - More children bring more blessings

Facing Ji Qingchi's frequent suggestive glances, Su Yi felt her hands holding the money was sweating.

She quickly smiled and said, "The biggest credit goes to the husband, so he should take it."

She handed her a large sum of copper coins. "Husband, please accept it."

"Just now, the slave was just joking. We, the wife and husband, are one. How can I take the wife's money?" 

Saying that, she took out ten guan and gave them to Feng Ruoqing, "But Miss Feng helped just now, so this money is for her."

Taking another ten guan, she distributed it among the remaining maids and servants.

Her demeanor was just like a dutiful husband in an ordinary household running around for daily essentials.

This is what they call a clear distinction between insiders and outsiders.

Outsiders need a clear settlement, while for family members, there's no need to be calculative.

Taking the money, Feng Ruoqing found it somewhat amusing. Could it be that this Miss Chi had been dressing as a man for too long and forgot that she and Suyi are just fake husband and wife now.

After distributing the money, Ji Qingchi shyly smiled at her.

"Wife, did I do a good job?"

"Good, good," Su Yi felt a bit disgusted at her overly affectionate act but forced a smile.

"Whatever the husband does is right."

"Thank you for the praise, Wife," Ji Qingchi covered her smile.

"Wife, we still have a lot of silver left. Shall we continue selling paintings?"

Su Yi sold a total of fifty-eight guan, gave away twenty guan, and had thirty-eight guan left. After deducting the costs for paper, ink, and wood carving, she earned around thirty guan, which is thirty taels.

Su Yi, holding a pile of copper coins, pondered, chin in hand, "We need to think carefully about this matter."

She actually wanted to open a bookstore specifically for these items. However, thinking about having to rent someone else's shop, deal with rent, and negotiate with the officials responsible for the streets in the capital, it seemed too troublesome. After giving it some thought, she decided to abandon the idea.

Feng Ruoqing asked, "Miss, I've never seen the thing that Miss used to print. I wonder if it has a name? Can the wooden board be used for printing?"

If they could be used for printing pictures, then Ji Qingchi wouldn't have to work so hard painting so many.

"For printing pictures, it's more complex, I need to see if it can be done. As for the printing materials, that's called movable type printing..." 

Su Yi paused momentarily and then remembered, "Oh, I need to apply for copyright."

When she used movable type printing to mass-produce books, many people will saw it. This method would definitely spread in the future. She wasn't keeping it a secret, but with movable type printing, production could be expanded, and book prices could be lowered, allowing people throughout the dynasty to afford books. In fact, it was a good thing.

But this method originated from her bringing it to Yanxue. Though she didn't invent it, being a descendant of the Yan and Huang people, she thought it will be fair to apply for the copyright and inherit the copyright fee from her ancestors.

Feng Ruoqing was puzzled, "What are you talking about, Miss?"

Ji Qingchi also smiled and stared at her. She felt that Su Yi was like a puzzle, becoming more interesting as she unraveled it.

"I didn't understand what the wife have just said."

"Well... Actually, I read about this in an ancient book. It's called movable type printing. You know, I'm frail and sickly, so my mother collected all sorts of complicated books for me to read."

This is what they call there's no smoke without fire.

Ji Qingchi and Feng Ruoqing exchanged glances and nodded with smiles.

"Yes, that's what Miss Su said."

"Wife says so, and it is."

Su Yi felt inexplicably guilty, she cleared her throat, "Anyway, I'm afraid if this method is known by others, we won't earn much. I need to go talk to my great-grandmother."

There was no intellectual property rights office now, and discussing applying for copyrights was out of reach. Su Yi thought the best way was to share this method with the influential people, and then get a substantial sum of money from them—considering it a copyright fee.

After making up her mind, Su Yi had Yan Shen prepare everything and in the evening, she went to her great-grandmother's courtyard to pay her respects.

After moving into the residence of Pingyang Marquis, Su Yi did not see Su Ban for nearly half a month.

But fearing that the people in the mansion would look down on Su Yi and not take care of her properly, Su Ban gave her many things, granted her many servants, and specially allowed her to bring her own maids and servants. She also allowed her to go out freely.

This contradictory attitude left many people puzzled about her true intentions.

Su Yi was oblivious to court politics and palace struggles, but Ji Qingchi deeply understood this. When Su Ban left them hanging, Ji Qingchi guessed that Su Ban didn't fully believe Su Yi's words that day, and purposely did this to test them.

Therefore, she must have planted spies around them, observing their every move with keen eyes.

Ji Qingchi was very sharp and quickly identified which of the maids Su Ban gave Su Yi were spies. She deliberately gave more to those spies when Su Yi gave things to her maids, and those who received favors would unconsciously praise Su Yi in front of Su Ban.

Ji Qingchi's predictions were correct. With the spies working hard to report, Su Ban quickly learned about Su Yi's invention of movable type printing.

Listening to the spies' descriptions, she was somewhat surprised but maintained a calm expression on her face.

"This illegitimate great-granddaughter of mine is quite clever."

After hearing the report and receiving news of Su Yi coming to pay her respects, Su Ban thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Indeed, she is clever."

Without waiting for others to reveal the method, as soon as there were results, she knew to find her as a backer. Her mind was flexible.

"Let her come in."