The whole village is fleeing famine, fortunately I have a concubine system

Dabai caught Lupi when Xiaomi went to the mountains to play when they had just settled down in Fengcheng.

It is very windproof when I wear it. I don't feel cold at all.

"Uncle Yongye, have you and my father ever studied together before?"

Qian Yongye hummed and glanced at Xiaomi, as if he wanted to say something.

"It's okay, just tell me, I won't tell my dad."

"My dear, your father should tell you this."

"Okay, I'll go back and ask my dad. But, Uncle Yongye, what books should I buy for enlightenment?

Can you tell me this?"

The two chatted all the way on the donkey cart and soon arrived at the academy in the south of the city.

Qian Yongye got off the car with his luggage and said to Wang Zhuzi and the others, "Thank you, Zhuzi and Heguaibao. You arrived much earlier this time."

"It's just on the way, no need to thank me. We're leaving first."

After saying this, he drove away in his donkey cart, and as usual, left the cart in the teahouse.

Then the two of them walked towards the bookstore that Qian Yongye had mentioned.

In order to supplement his family income, Qian Yongye often copied books for money.

After going there a few times, I became familiar with all the bookstores nearby.

And this Shuxiangzhai is the bookstore with the most reasonable prices.

The two men walked to the door of Shuxiangzhai and saw that the shop was very quiet.

A shopkeeper with a mustache was standing in front of the counter, reading a book with great interest.

There was also a waiter who was cleaning everywhere with a rag.

Some people in blue shirts were standing or sitting, holding a book, reading with fascination on their faces.

Seeing the two people coming in, the waiter quickly put down the rag in his hand and went forward to greet them.

"Please feel free to look around. We have everything in our shop."

Xiaomi looked around and saw bookshelves filled with books.

The air is filled with the scent of books and ink.

"I want to get a few books: Thousand Character Classic, Three Character Classic, Augmented Collection of Wise Sayings, and Complete Collection of Ancient Chinese Literature. One copy each."

The waiter found the book quickly and put it on the counter.

The shopkeeper began to count the money: "These are all enlightenment books, eight cents each. The total is three taels and two cents."

Xiaomi nodded and accepted it.

"Please help us get some writing brushes and inkstones for beginners."

The shopkeeper asked the waiter to bring some brushes and papers and put them on the counter for Xiaomi to choose.

“Both are suitable for practice.

This is half-cooked Yuanshu paper, made from bamboo pulp, the cheapest. Three taels of silver per knife. "

He pointed to another type and said, "This one is also half-cooked, called tofu paper. This one is more expensive than Yuanshu paper, four taels of silver per knife."

Then he showed Xiaomi the brushes and said, "This kind of brush is fine, with a moderate hardness and softness. It costs four taels of silver each.

If there is an inkstone, this kind of clay inkstone will do. It is hard and wear-resistant, easy to produce ink, and does not consume ink. This one is very expensive, five taels of silver per square.

And this pine smoke ink, fine texture, black and shiny color. Two taels and one qian of silver per ingot. "

After hearing this, Xiaomi understood why Old Lady Wang said that she didn't have enough money.

It's just the beginning and there's already a lot of money.

"Then please pack it up for me. Two rolls of Yuanshu paper, three brushes, three inkstones and three ingots of pine soot ink.

Please check how much silver there is in total."

The shopkeeper counted on the abacus very quickly, and after a few clicks, he figured it out.

"42 taels and cents. If you buy more, I'll give you half a yuan of paper as a gift."

Xiaomi: "Thank you, shopkeeper."

After saying that, he was about to take out the silver and saw an inkstone placed behind the counter.

Pointing at it, he asked the shopkeeper: "This inkstone is so beautiful!"

The shopkeeper twirled his mustache and said with a smile, "Young girl, you have good taste. This is an authentic Sizhou stone inkstone. The ink is fine and does not stagnate.

Ink can be stored in the inkstone all day long. If there is no water, blow on the inkstone and liquid will come out for writing.

Xiaomi could see that the shopkeeper loved this inkstone very much and talked about it endlessly.

Not only the shopkeeper likes it, but Xiaomi also likes it.

Looking up, the inkstone has a simple and elegant shape, with strange rocks and pine and cypress carved into it.

Seeing Xiaomi staring at it, the shopkeeper joked, "Little girl, this inkstone is not cheap. It costs eighty taels."

Xiaomi gritted his teeth and said, "I'll buy it."

"Little girl, your words don't count. You should ask your parents."

After saying that, he looked at Wang Zhuzi.

When Wang Zhuzi came in and heard that four books would cost more than three taels of silver, he was stunned.

The shopkeeper looked at him, but he didn't react at all.

Xiaomi pretended to take out a gold ingot from the cloth bag, but actually took it out from the space, and placed it on the counter on tiptoe.

"I have money. Really."

The shopkeeper picked up the silver and weighed it. He said happily, "Okay, I'll pack it for you right away.

But, little girl, your money is not enough!"

Xiaomi took out another twenty-three taels of silver and put it on the counter.

The shopkeeper pushed back one tael of silver. "Little girl, since you have such good taste, I will give you another five taels of silver."

After Xiaomi said thank you, the things had already been packed by the waiter.

Wang Zhuzi mechanically took the things and followed Xiaomi out of Shuxiangzhai.

After leaving the house, Xiaomi touched her stomach and said to Wang Zhuzi, "Uncle, let's go eat. I'm hungry."

Wang Zhuzi came back to his senses when he heard Xiaomi calling him.

He was holding the things in his hand carefully, and when he saw someone walking by, he subconsciously stretched out a hand to block them.

I was afraid that others would break my things.

"Okay, let's go eat."

The two found a small roadside shop selling mutton soup.

Each person ordered a bowl of mutton soup and four sesame cakes.

Then sit in your seat and wait.

While waiting for dinner, Xiaomi began to ask Wang Zhuzi about Wang Chengzi.

This is also the reason why she insisted that Wang Zhuzi accompany her.

I originally wanted to ask Qian Yongye first to see if I could find out anything.

Who knew Qian Yongye said nothing.

Now I have no choice but to ask Wang Zhuzi.

"Uncle, I heard from Uncle Yongye today that my father was very good at studying. Why haven't I heard you say that?"

Wang Zhuzi didn't want to say anything, but couldn't stand Xiaomi's constant questioning. He said, "When your father was in private school, the teacher said that he had a great chance of passing the exam to become a scholar."

"And then? Did my dad take the exam?"

Wang Zhuzi shook his head and said, "No, your father was only a teenager at the time and had just gotten married.

Suddenly one day, he said he didn't want to go to school anymore, and because of this, he was beaten by your grandfather."

Xiaomi had never heard her family talk about the fact that her father had received education. She would have heard it if Qian Yongye hadn't talked to Wang Chengzi this time.

She probably will never know.

What happened that made her father give up studying?

Xiaomi guessed that it was because he was poor and had no money to go to school.

Or something happened. But what could it have happened?