Before Su Yan could open her mouth, Chu Tao stepped forward and introduced, “This is the eldest daughter of the Su family, Princess Consort of Guang Pingwang. She is your master.”
Zhang Sheng was shocked. Madam Su had informed him that she had followed Miss Su to Guang Residence as her dowry.
It was not that he was surprised by Su Yan’s identity, but that Su Yan had come to his shop.
Zhang Sheng cupped his hands and said, “Zhang Sheng greets Princess Consort.”
Su Yan nodded and looked at Zhang Sheng’s clothes. She asked in puzzlement, “Doesn’t the Su family give you money? Why is it so…”
She looked at them subtly and then at the dilapidated decoration of the shop.
Zhang Sheng smiled bitterly and said, “You may not know this, but this shop has been going downhill ever since the Imperial Pawnshop opened three years ago. Gradually, it can’t make ends meet.”
Su Yan asked, “Doesn’t the manager of the Su family have a subsidy?”
Zhang Sheng said, “The manager’s subsidy is for each of the eight shops in the capital. Each shop will take out a portion of the profit and each manager will divide it equally. However, this shop has a negative monthly figure, so they are not willing to share the profit with me.”
Su Yan frowned. “This is the Su family’s rule. How can they be unwilling?”
Zhang Sheng’s expression did not show any resentment. He calmly said, “My current wish is to protect this shop. It’s also a fact that the shop’s business is not good. I don’t want to take advantage of it.”
Su Yan did not speak again, but her expression did not become relaxed.
There were all kinds of appreciation books in this shop. Su Yan reached out to flip through two pages and said, “These are all your books?”
The boy said from the side, “These are the books that my teacher uses to teach me.”
Su Yan smiled and said, “It seems that you are still a connoisseur.”
Zhang Sheng smiled embarrassedly.
The boy said proudly, “My teacher is really amazing. He even worked as a judge in the underground gem market.”
Su Yan looked at him in surprise and asked curiously, “You were a judge in the underground gem market before. Why did you manage this small shop?”
This was simply a reckless waste of a god’s gift.
The underground gem market was the most authoritative gem market in the Imperial Kingdom. People who could be judges there were already famous figures in the gem world.
Zhang Sheng’s expression was slightly restrained. He did not answer. Instead, he said, “What instructions does Princess Consort have for me today?”
Su Yan saw that he did not want to say, so she did not ask.
She said, “Nothing. I just came to see if you have any difficulties.”
Zhang Sheng hesitated for a moment and said, “This shop hasn’t made any profit for a year. The rent is almost due.”
He was a little embarrassed as he said that. As a shopkeeper, he couldn’t even afford to pay the rent of the shop. It was really embarrassing.
Su Yan nodded in understanding and said, “Sure. Come to Guang Residence to see me in three days.”
Zhang Sheng said nervously, “Princess Consort, this shop has a different meaning to me. You lent me the rent first. I will definitely pay it back.”
Su Yan smiled and said, “Do you think I will let you close this shop?”
Zhang Sheng did not say anything, but that was what he meant.
No owner would keep such a shop. Therefore, all these years, he did not react to the unfair treatment of the joint efforts of those shops as the Su family did. He was afraid that the Su family would close this shop.
Su Yan said with a smile, “Don’t worry. I’m not ready to close this shop yet.”
After leaving the pawnshop, Su Yan went straight back to Guang Residence and asked Chu Tao to give her orders. Three days later, the shopkeepers of the eight shops would come to Guang Residence to see her.
When Su Yan returned to Guang Residence, she took out a piece of paper to write and draw on.
Chu Tao looked at her with a strange expression and asked, “Princess Consort, what are you doing?”
Su Yan put down the pen in her hand and said, “This is the location map of the eight shops.”
Chu Tao looked over and found that it really was.