Chapter 45: Full Moon

Chapter 45: Full Moon

Xin You knew the young man's name was Li Li, and he was an apprentice printer.

In the list compiled by Hu the Shopkeeper, all the craftsmen who possessed key skills had their indentures in hand. With the change of ownership, those indentures were now transferred to Xin You. There were also some ordinary craftsmen and apprentices who were not servants of the former owner Shen Ning but were merely hired.

Li Li was one of the latter.

Having found the perpetrator and the location of the incident, all that remained was to wait for the full moon.

Xin You was actually quite curious about why Hu the Shopkeeper had been outside the warehouse at that time, but it was clearly unwise to ask directly.

For someone like Li Li, simply dismissing him would be too lenient. The best solution was to catch him red-handed and then find out his motives.

Was it because of conflicts with coworkers, or was he being instructed by someone else due to the Bookstore's recent success?

Fortunately, tomorrow was the fourteenth day of the first month. By keeping a close watch on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth days, they could expose the culprit.

"Shopkeeper, who has keys to the door between the residence and the Printing House?" Xin You asked as they left the Printing House.

"Apart from you and me, there are two guards who have a key, and Zhao the Manager has one."

The Bookstore had two managers: Hu the Shopkeeper, who primarily managed the front, and Zhao the Manager, who oversaw the craftsmen at the Printing House.

Xin You's residence was divided into east and west courtyards, with the west courtyard designated for the craftsmen. The two guards patrolled both the residence and the Printing House.

"When do the two guards patrol the Printing House?"

The shopkeeper smiled, "During the day, the Printing House is full of people, so there's no need. They usually patrol once at night and again before bedtime."

"There are only two guards who must patrol both the residence and the Printing House; that must be quite demanding. Shopkeeper, you said the historical texts and classics are important, and since these boards are made of wood, shouldn't we be vigilant against pests and fire?"

"Certainly. The warehouses storing the printing blocks are built separately and do not connect. The floors are paved with stone slabs, and special measures are taken against pests. No one is allowed to enter or leave except when retrieving or storing the blocks."

"I noticed some of the printing blocks in the hall are covered with cloth. Is there a reason for this?"

Hu the Shopkeeper was impressed by the new owner's diligence and explained, "That's fireproof cloth, which helps prevent fires. During the busy times of carving and printing, there's a higher risk of fire, so we cover them with fireproof cloth."

"I see," Xin You mused, "Since the fireproof cloth can help prevent fires, is it used in the warehouses?"

The shopkeeper's expression was complicated. "No, it isn't."

Faced with the new owner's puzzled look, the old shopkeeper grimaced, "We don't have enough money for that."

Fireproof cloth is not cheap, and few printing houses use it to cover all the blocks stored in the warehouses.

"I understand," Xin You nodded.

The shopkeeper thought, "What else could it be?"

"In that case, let's buy some fireproof cloth for the warehouse I saw earlier. When our finances improve, we can extend its use to other warehouses."

The shopkeeper opened his mouth to dissuade her but remembered the twenty thousand taels she had spent and decided against it. "As you wish, Madam."

By afternoon, Hu the Shopkeeper reported to Xin You that the fireproof cloth had been purchased.

"Shopkeeper, arrange for two trustworthy individuals to move these cloths to the warehouse tonight."

The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned.

Xin You maintained a composed demeanor. "Our Bookstore has undergone significant changes recently. We should maintain normal operations here to avoid unsettling the workers."

"You think of everything, Madam."

That night, Hu the Shopkeeper found two reliable individuals to move the fireproof cloth to the warehouse and cover the printing blocks.

On the fourteenth day of the sixth month, Hu the Shopkeeper noticed fewer people coming to sell books at the Bookstore. Recalling the disgruntled scholar who had left angrily yesterday, he sent a clerk to gather information.

Soon, the clerk Liu Zhou returned, visibly upset.

"Shopkeeper, that poor scholar is telling everyone that our Bookstore spends five hundred taels on a story just to lure people in and sell other books!"

The shopkeeper hurried to report this to Xin You.

"Madam, if we let him spread such lies, I fear even genuine writers will be misled."

"Shopkeeper, don't worry. I have a plan."

Seeing Xin You unmoved, the shopkeeper sighed inwardly.

He felt that the new owner might be making a mistake this time.

Well, the new owner is still young, and some setbacks might help her grow faster. As the shopkeeper, he couldn't undermine her confidence.

Xin You returned to her quarters and locked herself in her room to continue writing her unfinished story.

Before long, night fell.

The bright moon illuminated the summer night, and a gentle breeze stirred the flowers and trees.

The courtyard was quiet, and even the guards responsible for patrolling had finished checking the locks and retired.

Only two figures walked under the moonlight: Xin You and Xiaolian.

"Miss, be careful where you step," Xiaolian whispered softly.

She didn't understand why her mistress was venturing out at this hour without a lantern, but Xin You's previous actions had instilled complete trust in her new mistress.

In Xiaolian's heart, her mistress was mysterious and powerful, perhaps even a celestial being come down to avenge her.

"Tonight, the moon is very bright." Xin You looked up at the full moon in the sky and said softly.

Xiaolian also glanced at the moon and echoed, "Yes, tomorrow is the fifteenth."

Thinking of this, Xiaolian couldn't help but remember that it would be Mid-Autumn Festival in two months.

By then, she would still be the only one accompanying the young lady.

Does the young lady have any other family?

The little maid was lost in thought, but Xin You walked with firm and composed steps straight to the Printing House.

Compared to the residential area where lanterns under the eaves provided illumination, the Printing House was much darker, even though a full moon hung in the sky, making everything appear pitch black.

Xin You stopped and gazed at the warehouse.

She could only deduce that the incident occurred after everyone had retired for the night, but the exact time remained unknown. She could only rely on the crude method of waiting like a rabbit by the tree.

She had considered handing it over to the guards, but thinking of the apprentice named Li Li, Xin You dismissed the idea.

She had just taken over the Bookstore, and she didn't know who truly could be trusted and who might have ulterior motives. Since she could handle the matter herself, there was no need to entrust it to someone uncertain.

Three nights, she could endure.

At that moment, there were suddenly faint footsteps approaching, and Xiaolian, startled, quickly tugged at Xin You's sleeve.

Xin You patted her arm to signal her not to be nervous, then hid in the darkness, watching the approaching figure.

Her luck was good; the scene she witnessed happened on the first night.

The person looked around, approached the warehouse door, lit a fire with a tinderbox, broke the lock, and threw the burning wood inside.

Just then, Manager Hu appeared and shouted angrily, "What are you doing!"

Li Li's face turned pale, and he pulled out a stone hidden in his sleeve and smashed it fiercely at Manager Hu's head.

Xiaolian couldn't help but let out a gasp.