Chapter 29: Reencounter

Chapter 29: Reencounter

The bookstore across the street was called Yaxin Bookstore, which Xin You had heard about from Aunt Fang yesterday. However, Aunt Fang wasn't here today; it was still Xiaolian accompanying Xin You.

Xin You instructed the coachman to park the carriage farther away and asked Xiaolian to gather some information.

After a short while, Xiaolian returned, wiping her sweat. "Yaxin Bookstore is releasing a new storybook by Mr. Ping'an today. The quantity is limited, which is why so many people are rushing to get one."

Xin You looked at the crowded crowd, her tone somewhat complicated. "So everyone in the capital loves reading storybooks."

Xiaolian, who had lived in the capital for four years, found this normal. "Yes, there are many literate people in the capital who enjoy reading storybooks to pass the time. Even those who can't read like to go to taverns and teahouses to listen to storytellers recount the latest tales."

As the young maid spoke, she suddenly stopped and tugged on Xin You's sleeve. "Miss, isn't that Second Master over there?"

Xin You followed Xiaolian's gaze and saw two youths sneaking over, one of whom was Duan Yunlang.

"Second Master actually came to buy storybooks during school hours!" Xiaolian exclaimed.

Xin You, however, wanted to avoid Duan Yunlang to prevent any trouble. So she squeezed through the crowd and entered Qingsong Bookstore.

Compared to the bustling Yaxin Bookstore, Qingsong Bookstore was eerily quiet, with the shopkeeper daydreaming and the clerk dozing off, barely noticing their arrival.

Xiaolian coughed lightly.

The clerk jumped up and blurted out, "Did you all squeeze into our store?"

Xiaolian replied crisply, "Our miss is here to buy books."

"Did you take a wrong turn—"

The shopkeeper pulled the clerk aside and smiled warmly. "What kind of books would the miss like to buy?"

"I'll just browse first."

"Please, browse as much as you like."

Xin You, with keen ears, heard the clerk whisper when she reached the back shelves, "Boss, your overly enthusiastic smile might scare the miss away."

"Out of my sight!"

Rows of books lined the shelves, their distinctive scent of paper and ink filling the air, growing stronger the deeper she went.

Xin You scanned the bookshelves and picked up a book at random. It was a travelogue, quite thick, and undoubtedly expensive.

Xin You's purpose wasn't to buy books but to gather more information about the bookstore. Buying a book would make it easier to talk.

She walked out with the book, but before she could speak, someone rushed in and knelt before the shopkeeper.

It was a thin boy around twelve or thirteen, his voice strained yet controlled. "Boss, please give me some advance pay again. My mother has run out of medicine."

The shopkeeper responded irritably, "You've already taken half a year's advance pay. Our bookstore isn't a charity, you know."

The boy knocked his head on the floor. "Please, I don't want to lose my mother."

"Hurry up, we have customers." The shopkeeper seemed unkind but fished out some copper coins from his pocket and handed them to the boy.

The boy thanked him repeatedly and ran off.

"Wait a moment," Xin You called out.

The boy looked over, confused.

The shopkeeper quickly apologized, "Did he disturb the miss? He's a bit ignorant. Please don't mind him—"

"Xiaolian, give this little brother two taels of silver."

"Yes." Xiaolian complied without hesitation, walking over to the boy and handing him the silver.

The boy was stunned, looking at the shopkeeper instinctively.

The shopkeeper wasn't foolish; with these two taels, the boy's mother might be saved, and he wouldn't have to keep advancing money from his own pocket.

"The miss gave it to you out of kindness. Don't forget to thank her!"

The boy snapped out of his daze and hurriedly knelt to thank Xin You.

"Go back and take care of your mother," Xin You said gently.

She wasn't being overly charitable; it was the boy's words, "I don't want to lose my mother," that made her unable to stand idly by.

The boy gave Xin You a deep look, bowed once more, and rushed off.

The shopkeeper now looked at Xin You with genuine warmth, starting to tell her the boy's story. "His mother used to work here too. They managed fine until she fell ill. It's been tough for them ever since. They came to the capital to find his father, but they haven't found him after all these years."

Xin You listened silently, nodding occasionally.

Perhaps bored from lack of conversation, the shopkeeper became increasingly animated, eventually telling Xin You even the boy's father's name.

She naturally brought up another topic. "I see the store has a wide variety of books, but why aren't there many customers?"

The clerk silently looked up at the sky.

This girl was indeed kind-hearted, but there weren't just few customers; she was the only customer.

At this mention, the shopkeeper sighed deeply, his tone tinged with anger. "If Mr. Ping'an hadn't been poached by them, things wouldn't be like this."

The two bookstores were close to each other. Both had classics and historical texts, but what mattered was who could publish the most popular storybooks in the capital.

Mr. Ping'an's storybooks were highly sought after, and people often bought other books while purchasing his works. As a result, Qingsong Bookstore was left deserted.

"Unable to find a good writer, the owner is considering selling the bookstore—” The shopkeeper, chatting enthusiastically with the young girl, inadvertently revealed the bookstore's difficult situation.

Pretending not to notice the shopkeeper's embarrassment after realizing his slip, Xin You asked, "Taking over the bookstore must require a considerable amount of money, right?"

"Of course. Our bookstore not only sells books but also has a printing house and a sizable courtyard at the back." Speaking of this, a hint of melancholy flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes.

To him, Qingsong Bookstore was more than just a place to make a living; it was like his home.

"Don't worry, shopkeeper. Business might pick up soon." Xin You placed the travelogue she had been browsing on the counter. "How much does this book cost?"

The shopkeeper pretended to hit himself. "Look at my big mouth, talking nonstop and wasting your time. This book—"

Seeing the travelogue clearly, the shopkeeper paused, his expression showing a hint of surprise.

Xin You asked curiously, "Shopkeeper, is there something wrong with this book?"

"Not really—" The shopkeeper hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

Just then, footsteps sounded at the door, and someone walked in.

Seeing the figure in vermilion, Xin You raised an eyebrow in surprise.

It was the righteous man who had helped during the horse incident—the Jinlin Guard's Zhenfu Commissioner, He Qingxiao.

"The esteemed sir has arrived," the clerk greeted him with respect, fully aware of He Qingxiao's identity.

The shopkeeper hurriedly greeted him as well.

Facing the shopkeeper and the clerk, He Qingxiao showed no arrogance, nodding gently and his gaze falling on Xin You.

Xin You clearly saw the surprise in his eyes and gracefully curtsied. "I didn't expect to meet you here again, righteous sir."

He Qingxiao's expression returned to calm as he asked, "Is Miss Kou doing well?"