The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 544 - 533: Surprise

Chapter 544: Chapter 533: Surprise

Mr. Zhuang was mainly looking for collections of writings from recent years and had no interest in the bamboo scrolls at all.

However, the three children stood by the bamboo scrolls without moving, each searching for the books they liked.

But the content of books that were written or reproduced on bamboo scrolls were unlikely to be very amusing.

Hence, after searching for a long time, Bai Erlang only picked out two volumes and said while holding the bamboo scrolls, "I’ve decided, for the next few months, I just need to read these two books."

Bai Shanbao and Manbao both looked at him with contempt.

Manbao searched to the left while Bai Shanbao went right.

Bai Shanbao selected several volumes of bamboo scrolls, so an attendant brought over a basket for him to carry them.

Manbao squatted in the corner for a long time without moving, so Bai Shanbao walked over with his basket and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Manbao quickly waved him over and showed him the bamboo scroll in his hand, saying, "Look, ’Commentary on the Water Classic’."

Bai Shanbao immediately squatted down and took a look for himself before asking after a while, "There’s no title, how do you know it’s ’Commentary on the Water Classic’?"

"Isn’t there a catalogue of ’Commentary on the Water Classic’ in the ’Book of Sui’? Unfortunately, the ’Book of Sui’ in your house isn’t complete, and we’ve only seen fragments. This volume talks about river waters, so I think it’s the ’Commentary on the Water Classic’."

Bai Shanbao became excited and whispered, "Let’s keep looking."

Manbao nodded, and they began to search around that area. Soon enough, Manbao picked out another two volumes, her excitement barely contained as she said, "These two volumes are both about the Wei River."

Bai Shanbao also found two volumes, "These are about river waters."

Mr. Zhuang finished selecting his books and wanted to call the three children to go back with him, but he saw Manbao and the other engrossed in flipping through bamboo scrolls, and the basket beside them was already filled with quite a few scrolls.

He paused for a moment then shook his head with a chuckle. Well, after all, they are books, and they are not short of money. If they want to buy, let them buy.

So, he wasn’t in a hurry to leave either. He found a book, sat down with his hands behind his back, and started reading while waiting for them.

Bai Erlang sat opposite him, engrossed in a book he was holding.

Mr. Zhuang glanced at it and saw that it was Strange Tales. Since it wasn’t any other messy storybook, he didn’t bother with it.

The attendant placed the books they had chosen in the basket and put the basket at their feet, so they could just pick it up and pay when they were ready to leave.

Manbao and Bai Shanbao stayed in the bookshop until it was almost closing time, and the sky was getting dark outside before they finally massaged their sore waists and placed all the bamboo scrolls they found into the basket.

Since there were so many, one basket was not enough.

An attendant, delighted with their purchase, brought over another large basket, and considerately carried the baskets to the counter for the two young customers.

After all, a volume of bamboo scrolls was not light, not to mention a whole basket of them.

Mr. Zhuang finished his book, looked up, and could not help but fall silent upon seeing the two baskets of scrolls.

He had guessed that the two children would buy some, but he did not expect them to buy so many.

Mr. Zhuang cleared his throat and asked, "Manbao, Shanbao, don’t you want to think it over a bit more?"

Bai Erlang also looked up from his engrossing book and upon seeing the scrolls they had chosen, exclaimed in shock, "Have you gone mad?"

Bai Shanbao glanced at him, saw the book in his hands, and asked, "Are you buying it?"

Bai Erlang felt guilty and glanced sneakily at Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang gave him a look and then turned his gaze away, and Bai Erlang gestured to Bai Shanbao with his lips, "Buy!"

The attendant, fearing they might change their minds about the purchase, hurriedly said, "Young master, young mistress, shall I help you with the payment?"

Bai Shanbao nodded, "You first, sir."

Manbao went to pick up Mr. Zhuang’s book basket.

Mr. Zhuang looked at their book baskets and felt something was amiss. After settling his own payment, he suddenly remembered, "Shanbao, weren’t you supposed to buy books from the list today? Where are those books?"

Bai Shanbao’s mouth fell open in shock...

Manbao’s eyes bulged...

Bai Erlang, after a moment’s pause, burst into laughter uncontrollably.

Hearing this, the shopkeeper also understood and cheerfully said, "What books does the young master want to purchase? Just give me the list, and I, the old chap, will fetch them for you."

Bai Shanbao handed over his list, and in the end, his purchase was the largest and cost the most.

The ’Commentary on the Water Classic’ was taken out separately and paid for by Manbao, and afterwards, the two shared the cost of that part.

The shopkeeper flipped through and saw that every volume of bamboo scrolls had a serial number, and that number indicated the price.

To be honest, the price of a bamboo scroll was not higher than that of a paper book. Despite the hassle of carving bamboo scrolls, a bamboo scroll didn’t contain many characters.

And at that time, except for a few people, the vast majority of readers still preferred paper books.

It was only novices like Bai Shanbao who thought it looked very stylish to be seen with a bamboo scroll. In fact, most bamboo scrolls already had handwritten copies, it’s just those weren’t available in their bookshop.

Because truth be told, the price of a bamboo scroll was indeed lower than that of a book, but ten scrolls would certainly cost much more than one book.

And ten bamboo scrolls might not even contain an entire book, so selling bamboo scrolls was quite profitable. The bamboo scrolls displayed on that side of the shop were prepared for these young patrons.

The shopkeeper smiled gleefully as he tallied their bill, not minding at all that they had delayed his closing time. Customers as generous as them were more than welcomed every day.

The shopkeeper generously gave them the baskets for carrying books; Daji loaded the three large baskets into the carriage, but now there was no room for that many people.

Manbao looked around, seeing the evening sun setting and the stalls on both sides closing, except for the eateries. The shops were almost all closed as well, except those such as restaurants and taverns.

Manbao suggested, "Let’s walk back and buy some food to take home on the way."

Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang immediately nodded in agreement, "Good idea, good idea."

Daji flatly refused, "No way."

How could he possibly let three youngsters walk back by themselves?

Mr. Zhuang also lifted the curtain and said, "Stop this nonsense, let’s go home first."

Manbao: "Sir, you’ve been sitting in the bookshop all afternoon. It would be good for you to take a walk and relax. Why don’t we walk back together?"

Bai Shanbao, thinking it made sense, repeatedly expressed his agreement, "After so long in the bookshop, my back is sore. Sir, please come down for a walk, and let Daji drive the carriage alone."

Daji: ...

Mr. Zhuang: ...

Bai Erlang immediately climbed onto the carriage to help Mr. Zhuang down.

Feeling helpless in the face of his three disciples and looking at the street outside that was both familiar and strange, Mr. Zhuang felt a sudden wave of emotion and accepted Bai Erlang’s hand as he stepped out of the carriage.

He considered the long street ahead and nodded, "Alright, let’s walk back."

Daji watched them with a resigned look. Yizhou City was not Luojiang County; the streets here were wide, but busy with carriages. Leading a horse and a loaded carriage couldn’t be done at a leisurely pace here, and there weren’t even places to store them.