The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 204 - 200: The Justifiably Proud Flower

Chapter 204: Chapter 200: The Justifiably Proud Flower

Shopkeeper Liu, having received a hint from the boss, quickly stepped forward and said to the crowd with a smile, "Today, as Wenyuan Bookstore celebrates its grand opening with special offers for our guests, for every purchase of books or stationery surpassing fifty taels, a brush will be gifted, and for a hundred taels, a big bottle of the ’Yanmo’ nootropic ink will be presented. Double that for two hundred taels, and so on. There are fifty portions of each gift available today only, until they run out."

"In addition, our bookstore’s grand opening features a lucky draw. Any customer who makes a purchase can draw a slip after checking out, and a gift that corresponds to the text on the slip will be theirs to claim. We welcome everyone in need to enter and select at their leisure!"

Following that, Shopkeeper Liu made a welcoming gesture with his hand.

As soon as Shopkeeper Liu’s voice faded, Zhang Qian led a group of classmates and was the first to rush inside.

The classmates of several brothers from the Ruo Family did the same, swiftly running into the bookstore, fearing that the books by Shui Yifang would be snatched away by others.

Some scholars heard from the Ruo brothers that the reason why a book by Shui Yifang could enlighten people upon reading was because a drop of that gifted nootropic ’Yanmo’ ink was added while grinding the ink.

Therefore, the scholars in the know were in a frenzy, weren’t they?

They feared that the hundred portions of the gifted nootropic ’Yanmo’ ink would be scooped up by others.

This was specially prepared for the grand opening of the bookstore, and there were only one hundred portions; once given out, they’d be gone.

Some scholars who were unaware of the situation heard the shopkeeper’s announcement and thought the bookstore was too stingy.

"A brush gifted only after spending fifty taels? How many are willing to buy so many books at once? Those fifty gifts must be too many."

"Won’t the prices of books and stationery inside be quite high?"

"What even is this ’Yanmo’ nootropic ink? Is it made of gold? Only given after spending a hundred taels? And they even prepared fifty portions; can they really be given away?"

"Can’t you see? The owner has no intention of giving them away, it’s obviously a reluctant stunt."

"Let’s go, let’s see what this ’Yanmo’ nootropic ink is. The name itself is quite peculiar; I wonder what kind of miraculous effect it has that warrants being gifted only after a purchase of a hundred taels."

Some scholars made snide remarks while they walked in to have a look.

Other scholars, seeing so many people cramming inside, didn’t want to join the hubbub and walked away, "It’s just a gimmick, it’s meaningless to jostle with the crowd. Better to check the bookstore on the next street to see if Master Su’s copied books are available. Master Su truly deserves to be the leading figure in the calligraphy world; his handwriting is superb!"

"But I still prefer the books by Shui Yifang. It’s a pity, the bookstore shopkeeper said Shui Yifang will no longer copy books."

Many felt that the new bookstore’s promotion of the nootropic ’Yanmo’ ink was just a ploy to attract attention and didn’t hold it in high regard, thus they left.

Those scholars who left would later regret their decisions deeply, pounding their chests in frustration every time they recalled it!

That’s because later the nootropic ’Yanmo’ ink was sold in the bookstore for fifty taels per small bottle, one hundred taels for a large one, and it was constantly out of stock, making it highly sought after.

Some scholars were willing to buy from their classmates at a high price, offering ten taels per drop.

After all, each time they ground the ink, only one drop was needed.

Zhang Qian and the classmates he brought along with the brothers from the Ruo Family were all in a rush to grab books, the wealthy students didn’t think twice upon seeing books that were not in their home collection, and they pulled them out at once.

They figured they’d snatch the books first, then see later whether they were written by Shui Yifang, and if they had the miraculous effect of quickening one’s thoughts. If not, they could always put them back on the shelf.

Suddenly, each person was holding a tall stack of books in their hands, almost too heavy to carry.

They each found a corner that wasn’t in the way and began to flip through and select the books they had picked out.

Smelling the familiar scent of ink, seeing the familiar handwriting and signatures, they then hurriedly went to the counter to pay.

Before long, a long line had formed at the checkout counter.

The whole process took less than half an hour!

This alarmed other students who were unacquainted with the situation, leading them to suspect that those scholars were actually shills hired by the bookstore.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think the books here don’t cost a thing!

Some scholars couldn’t help but think: the owner behind this bookstore must be very influential; these scholars scrambling for books probably received instructions from their elders to come here specifically to curry favor, or to offer diligent service, in order to gain the good graces of some noble.

Some scholars, upon opening a book and being greeted by the familiar scent of ink, felt invigorated and, thinking of something, flipped to the last page to glance at the signature, then became particularly excited, "This is by..."

Then they immediately shut their mouths, starting to frantically select books from the shelves!

They didn’t dare to make a sound for fear that other scholars would hear and all the books from Shui Yifang would be snatched away.

There were also scholars who noticed that the bookstore had many books that other bookstores did not. They picked up a book, flipped through it, and became so engrossed that by the time they realized this was the legendary book that could enlighten one’s mind and aid one’s literary thoughts, there weren’t many books left on the shelves—mostly common ones like the Four Books and Five Classics and various travelogues, unrelated to the imperial examinations.

The queue of scholars holding tall stacks of books in front of the counter had already reached the street outside.

Well over fifty people!

Ruo Xuan and Xuanyuan Que sat together outside the bookstore.

A long table was set up outside the bookstore doors, specifically for customers to draw lots and exchange them for gifts after paying.

A red paper was placed on the table, filled with the prizes corresponding to each lot.

Ruo Xuan, holding a bamboo container of lots, waited there with a beaming smile.

Xuanyuan Que sat next to her with an icy expression on his face.

He couldn’t understand why he was sitting there handing out gifts.

In thousands of years, he had never done such a foolish thing!

Zhang Qian was the first to finish paying and come over to draw a lot.

Ruo Xuan shook the container cheerfully and passed it over, sweetly saying, "Good luck to Brother Qian, I hope you draw the first lot, the gift for the first lot is the best!"

"Haha, may Sister Xuanbao’s auspicious words come true!" Zhang Qian laughed and patted Xuanbao’s little head.

Xuanyuan Que raised his gaze and gave him a cold look, "Doesn’t Young Master Zhang know that men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things?"

Zhang Qian was startled for a moment, then laughed, "Xuanbao is only four years old, not even seven, and she is like my little sister, just like my own at home."

Ruo Xuan nodded her little head, "Brother Qian is my brother, and Sister Jiejie is my sister."

Xuanyuan Que fell silent.

Zhang Qian reached out casually to draw a lot.

Ruo Xuan noticed that the lot he intended to draw was quite ordinary, and with a thought,

Xuanyuan Que looked at her expressionlessly.

Could this flower be any more shameless? Cheating?

Xuanyuan Que thought of switching the lot back.

Ruo Xuan sensed the fluctuation of Spiritual Power and glared at Xuanyuan Que.

Xuanyuan Que wore a dark expression, but in the end, he did not use his thought.

Hmph, to cheat so blatantly and then to act so righteous!

Zhang Qian, unaware that the lot he was about to draw had been switched, pulled out the lot and glanced at it, then passed it to Xuanbao with a smile, "Xuanbao’s words really are golden, I actually drew the first lot. What’s the good item?"

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