Lord of Earth Fiend

Chapter 120

No celebrities were invited to write plaques, and there was no fanfare. The opening of Sanwei Bookstore was doomed to be deserted.

In fact, the large and small shops on Confucian Temple Street are usually relatively deserted.

Therefore, it is not in the same style as the vegetable market.If you want to achieve that level of excitement, I'm afraid you have to wait until the temple fair.

The Confucian Temple also holds temple fairs, the so-called "spring and autumn sacrifices", one in autumn, around late August, and one in spring, early February.

Specific days vary from place to place.

The autumn festival of the Confucian Temple in Jiangzhou is on August 28, and there are still about ten days left to arrive.

At that time, the flow of people on Confucian Temple Street will surge, and business transactions will also flourish.

Many shops are already busy making preparations for the temple fair.Experienced vendors naturally know that the best sellers at temple fairs are not books, pens and ink, but ingots, incense sticks and the like.

Even the Confucian Temple fair is the same.

In this world, the cultural atmosphere is decreasing day by day, but the meaning of incense is rising.

After all, to acquire culture, you need to study hard in the cold window and work hard, and you can accumulate it through hard work; while praying for blessings and making wishes, you only need a handful of incense and kowtow to finish.

Which way is easier, needless to say.

No one doesn't like to take shortcuts, and those who can't get along with themselves will be called "fools".

Chen Jin was regarded as a fool, taking over a shop in a bad location was a loss-making business in itself, and now that it was a grand temple fair, he didn't buy ingots, incense candles and other in-demand items and sell them in the shop. slip away?

"Master Chen, is this your first time opening a shop for business?"

The person speaking was a sloppy, thin middle-aged man. He was over forty years old, and his robe had not been changed for several days, and it was already dirty.

It was because he only had such a long robe, and if he changed it, he could only wear a short robe.

Chu Xiucai, one of the few regular customers.He came to patronize, mainly to buy a kind of cheap hemp paper and rough ink.

Through the conversation, Chen Jin learned something about him.

Chu Xiucai was born in a poor family, a typical type who got poorer as he passed the exam. He was selected as a scholar until he was 40 years old, but his fate did not change.The family has a wife, a son and a daughter.On weekdays, I mainly make a living by writing letters for others, and I also do couplets and other jobs. Anyway, I do whatever I can.

Chen Jin asked inadvertently why he didn't wash his robe when it was dirty.

But Chu Xiucai said: "When I wear a long robe, I can pay a penny more for writing. If I take it off, the price will not be the same."

Hearing this, Chen Jin couldn't help thinking of Kong Yiji.

But Chu Xiucai is not as pedantic as Kong Yiji, he lives a more active life, and wants to save money, and then go to school and take the exam.

In the Qian Dynasty, the imperial examinations were not just for people to take part in. They had to go to the first level, and they had to enter school, and they had to pass the relevant examinations all the way before they could get the qualifications for the official imperial examinations.

All kinds of exams are not low in difficulty. They are not only about knowledge, but also human feelings and money.

Therefore, poor candidates often need to obtain various subsidies to go further.

When others support you, they are naturally interested in your potential prospects. Those who have no potential prospects, like Chu Xiucai, can only rely on personal efforts.

Unfortunately, hard work may not pay off.

Anyway, Chu Xiucai has worked hard for several years, but now he is heavily in debt.

Chen Jin replied: "It is indeed my first time to open a shop."

Chu Xiucai felt a little jealous. At such a young age, he was much better than himself at being able to manage such a job.

In his opinion, most of Chen Jin entered Jiangzhou from Lingnan with his ancestral shade. Otherwise, how could he have so much money?
After being jealous for a while, Chu Xiucai suggested sincerely: "Master Chen, the temple fair is coming soon, you should follow the example of others, buy more incense and sell it, it's very easy to sell, and the profit is quite high."

Chen Jin asked: "This seems to be against the rules."

"Hehe, everyone does this, the yamen doesn't care about it, the guards come to the door, just give him a letter of money."

"That's true... But I'm still not used to selling incense in bookstores. Let it go, each family does its own business."

Chu Xiucai couldn't say more, maybe he wasn't short of money at all, so the topic changed: "Who is this 'person in this way'? Why haven't I heard of it?"

Chen Jin smiled and asked, "What do you think of that word?"

"It's pretty good. It's well-organized. It's better than mine anyway. The key line is very interesting and rhyme-like, and I haven't seen it before. It's a pity that I don't have the full text."

As a scholar, he has a certain appreciation ability.

Chen Jin asked again: "This word is priced at one or two pictures, do you think it can be sold?"

Chu Xiucai stroked his beard: "If it were me, I would definitely be reluctant to buy it, but it would be different if I met someone who appreciates it. The main reason is that the author has never heard of it, so he must be a newcomer, but it is strange, as a newcomer, how can he write these things?" Come the words."

As he spoke, he looked at Chen Jin suspiciously.

Had it been discovered?
But I heard Chu Xiucai ask: "Master Chen, is this word written by your parents? And then hang it here for sale?"

Chen Jin: "..."

Chu Xiucai hurriedly said: "If you can't say it, then let it go. I'll start a stall."

"it is good."

Not a while after seeing Chu Xiu off, another person came into the store, a black and thin man in his early thirties, who looked like a deer-headed mouse.

This person is nicknamed "Mouse Xiang", hangs out in Confucian Temple Street all year round, brokers, dealers, black market business, there is nothing he doesn't do, and he has made a name for himself in this area.

Yesterday he heard that there was a new store opening, so he specially brought two servants here to see if he could make a fool of himself, but he didn't get any money, but instead saw a bronze medal representing the patrol department, he was startled and quickly changed his expression.

The brand of the Patrol Department is still very useful, especially for deterring the young people, and one can be sure of it.

"Master Chen, you asked me to inquire about the printing matter, and I have already asked some clues. They said that the inspection is tight and they dare not take on outside work. Except for the titles stipulated by the Ministry of Rites, the rest will not be printed."

For this result, Chen Jin was not surprised. The new emperor came to power and kept a close eye on many aspects, especially about books and ink.

Back then, he listened to his uncle's advice and burned books based on such considerations.

Now, when I come to do copywriting, I have thought it over and over again, for fear of copying the taboo of "Qingfeng is illiterate, so why flip books randomly".

It's hard.

Miscellaneous books are difficult to print, and now there is no hope. It seems that they can only be copied by hand.

Copying by hand requires someone to do it. Chen Jin can save a lot of time by writing out the original and then asking someone to copy it.

As for candidates, quickly think of a suitable one.

Shu Xiang asked again: "Does Master Chen have any other orders?"

Chen Jin glanced at him, and suddenly said: "You have good eyes and ears, so do you know where there are people who sell martial arts cheats? As long as they are about boxing and kicking."

Shu Xiang was taken aback, and hesitated, "It's rare to have powerful cheats..."

"It doesn't matter how powerful it is, as long as it is average."

"That's not a problem. As far as I know, there may be a sale in Shengwenzhai on the street."

Chen Jin asked: "Isn't Sheng Wenzhai selling antiques?"

He's been in there before.

Shu Xiang smiled and said, "Since bookstores can sell incense, it's not uncommon for antique shops to sell martial arts cheats. The boss has connections."

But he secretly felt strange in his heart, wondering why Chen Jin bought this.How can someone who can be a freelancer fall in love with those third-rate people?

Having said that, is Chen Jin really a wanderer?And or just bluffing people with a brand?
But no matter what, as long as the sign is real, Shuxiang will not dare to take advantage of Sanwei Bookstore. For a small character like him, even if he meets a guard, he has to bow his head, let alone the patrol department?

Who can be provoked and who cannot be provoked, the mind is clear.

Chen Jin said: "Take me to Shengwenzhai."

"no problem."

Mouse Xiang hastily agreed.

Soon, under his needlework, five martial arts cheat books were placed in front of Chen Jin, all of which were manuscripts, which looked rough.

"Five Elements Boxing", "Broken Palm", "Pearing Flower Legs"...

The title of the book looks good, but when you open it, you know it is third-rate stuff.

It's obvious, how can it be possible to buy high-level martial arts from outside?But those who have reached a higher level are basically secrets that are not passed on.

What kind of goods and what price, probably because the mouse Xiang blew the wind and opened his mouth to the convenience without the lion, which is quite affordable.

Chen Jin readily bought them all.

These low-level cheats can just make up for his lack of boxing skills, as long as he learns some moves, it is enough.

Go outside and throw a piece of broken silver: "This is your introduction fee."

Shu Xiang quickly caught it, and smiled: "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your generous reward."

Chen Jin said again: "There is one more thing."

"Master Chen, as long as you order, there is no problem with how many pieces."

"Take me to find Chu Xiucai."

Shu Xiang quickly realized: "Okay."

No extra questions.

The place where Chu Xiucai set up his stall was not on Confucian Temple Street. If his little work were placed on Confucian Temple Street, there would be no business, because many shops were doing both.

That's why Chen Jin asked Shu Xiang to lead the way.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Chen Jin saw Chu Xiucai again in an adjacent side street.

The so-called booth is a small wooden table on which paper, pens and ink are stacked.

Not long after the stall opened, there was no business, and this down-and-out scholar sat there bored, his eyes looking empty.

After sending Shuo Xiang away, Chen Jin walked over: "Chu Xiucai, so you are here to make a living."

Seeing him, Chu Xiucai hurriedly got up and said, "Master Chen, why are you here?"

"I came here specifically to find you."

"Find me?"

Chu Xiucai was at a loss, not knowing what was going on.Not long ago, I just left Sanwei Bookstore, but Chen Jin didn't say anything at that time.

Just as Chen Jin was about to say something, he saw a person rushing towards him, shouting: "Chu Xiucai, something happened to your family, hurry back."

Chu Xiucai was taken aback, tidied up in a hurry, and then hurried home.

Chen Jin followed, and not long after, they came to a dilapidated tile-roofed house.

There were mixed voices in the room, as well as the crying of children.

After running for a while, Chu Xiucai was exhausted, panting like a cow, couldn't even stabilize her figure, and rushed in staggeringly.

"Chu Xiucai, you came back just in time, pay back the money quickly."

In the room stood three men with fierce faces.

But Chu Xiucai's wife and children were trembling with fright, hiding in a corner.

"Brother Yuan, didn't you agree to allow three days?"

Chu Xiucai recognized the other party and said quickly.

Brother Yuan shook his head: "Shopkeeper Wu refuses to nod, I have no choice but to come and do things."

Chu Xiucai sighed: "But it's urgent, where can I get money?"

"Then I don't care about it. Shopkeeper Wu said that if you still can't make it, you have to take Xiuniang to pay off the debt."

Xiu Niang is the wife of Chu Xiucai.Although he is over [-] years old and has a miserable life, his appearance is quite beautiful.

"what?"

Chu Xiucai cried out: "You can't do this."

Brother Yuan smiled grimly: "It's just to pay off debts, even if you are a scholar, even if you go to the yamen to sue, you can't win this lawsuit."

"I won't let you take Xiuniang away, never!"

Chu Xiucai spoke loudly, and quickly stood in front of his wife and children, trying to protect the family.It's just that he, who is thin and small, looks so weak and helpless compared to the three burly men.

Brother Yuan rubbed his hands together, and there was a crackling sound between the joints: "Chu Xiucai, you'd better get out of the way to avoid the pain of flesh and blood."

Said, striding forward.

At this moment, Chu Xiucai was already in despair, turned around and hugged his wife and children, crying into a ball.

"How much does he owe you?"

Suddenly, a calm voice sounded.

Brother Yuan took a quick look, only to realize that there was a person in the room. He seemed to be a scholar, with a quiet appearance, a handsome appearance, and an air of elegance. He subconsciously replied, "Two are neat."

Two guan, that is, two taels of silver.

This number is not too much, but it is enough to bring disaster to Chu Xiucai's family.

"I paid him back."

Chen Jin took out a piece of silver and put it on an old wooden table in the hall: "There are as many as there are here."

Brother Yuan's eyes lit up, he hurried to pick it up, then weighed it to make sure it was correct.

Chen Jin said, "What about the proof of the IOU?"

Brother Yuan took a look at him, guessing where Chen Jin came from, hesitated for a moment, and took out the IOU.

Chen Jin shouted: "Chu Xiucai, read the IOU before you cry."

Chu Xiucai was overwhelmed by this sentence, so he hurried over and saw his handprint and signature on the IOU, his hands were trembling.

After receiving the money, the three Yuan brothers left quickly.

The home was restored to calm.

Chu Xiucai knelt down in front of Chen Jin with a plop, "Master Chen, thank you for saving your life, I will never forget it."

Sure enough, this is the form again.

Chen Jin sideways avoided: "I didn't help you for nothing."

Chu Xiucai gritted her teeth: "Just tell me, I will go through fire and water, and I will do my best."

Chen Jin chuckled: "It's not that serious, you should get up and talk first."

Chu Xiucai got up and asked his wife and children to go back to the room first.

Chen Jin went on to say: "These two taels of silver can be regarded as advance wages."

"Salary?"

Chu Xiucai was astonished.

"That's right. I'm looking for you today because I need you to do something. Copy books for me."

"Copy books?"

Chu Xiucai was full of surprises and surprises. To him, this was something he was good at.

"Would you like to?"

"Yes, of course."

Chen Jin smiled slightly: "I didn't say anything about the reward, so don't rush to agree."

Chu Xiucai hurriedly said: "Shop Chen saved my family, even if I have no money, I am willing to do it."

"For specific matters, come to the bookstore tomorrow morning, and I'll talk to you in detail, so I won't bother you now."

"Shop Chen, walk slowly."

Watching the slender figure go away, Chu Xiucai was in a trance, as if he was dreaming.

(End of this chapter)