Chapter 14 (1/2)

The books in the bookcase are new, old and hardcover, which are worth a lot at a glance. There are also thread-bound ,but they look a little rough. However, most of them are various transcripts. Generally speaking, if this book is not sure to be hot doubtlessly, the owner of this bookstore will ask someone to copy it. Because if it is opened, it is printed from thousands of copies.

Zhao’er is familiar with the boss, she enters the door and greets with a smile. The strange thing is that the boss recognizes her unexpectedly. When the boss sees her, smilingly asks about whether she came to buy paper for her younger brother.

When it comes to this, there are some old things.

At first, Zhao’er cared about Xue Tingxiang, then saved some money to buy paper for him to practise calligraphy. But this paper was more expensive than she thought. Even the most inferior yellow bamboo paper costed forty cents. However, Zhao’er collected all the money on her body that day, there are only thirty cents.

In order to let the boss sell the paper cheaper to her, Zhao’er spent a long time with the boss. The boss responded to sell the paper cheaper to her when she made a tragic story that her younger brother was diligent and eager to learn knowledge, but unfortunately her parents died and her family was poor. Later, she came to buy paper several times at the previous price. But she became familiar with Mr. Chen.

Mr. Chen praised her for her high moral character, earned money hard, but still offered her younger brother to study. Therefore, He almost sold the paper to her in very good deal.

When these words are used as usual, Zhao’er had a cheek to listen. But today Xue Tingxiang is here, she is a little cramped inevitably. She is afraid that Mr. Chen says something and those words would make the little man look down on her.

Zhao’er have suffered, so she knows the skills of survival. But the little man doesn’t understand, especially he is still a scholar who is pedantic excessive. Therefore, if there are conflicting views between the two people, she will always avoid these subconsciously.

Within a day, two people said that he was her younger brother, which made Xue Tingxiang very displeasure. He doesn’t find Zhao’er’s obscure thoughts naturally. When he recovered, Zhao’er had already talked to the boss, and showed him the copy of “Chinese Surnames” he copied last night specially.

“This is your younger brother? He looks handsome, but a little thinner.” Mr. Chen is a middle-aged man over forty years old, with a lock of goatee and full of elegance. He wears a scribe shirt, this makes him looks like a scholar, but not a businessman.

“He was sick the other day, and he has been better recently.”

“No wonder I haven’t seen you for a long time.” Mr. Chen is talking while takes the handwritten copy from Zhao’er which is very poor whether it is bound or paper.

He knows this kind of farmer’s children can’t write good words, but he really admires Zhao’er, so he plans not to criticize even if it is really bad, and just refuses to say something politely.

If the level is not too bad, the words are also still readable, giving him some temporary job is available, just as the help.

But when Mr. Chen see the words on the yellow bamboo paper, he is astonished.

“He wrote these words?” Mr. Chen looks at Xue Tingxiang in surprise, then looks through the handwritten copy again.

His expression is so weird, it makes Zhao’er has a bad feeling. She couldn’t help thinking whether the little man’s words are too bad. After all, no one has ever praised the words of the little man. Even Xue Qingshan had said that his writing was clumsy in calligraphy.

Although Zhao’er didn’t understand what was a clumsy in calligraphy, but she knew that it meant bad writing form the sad expression of the little man.

But she didn’t think it was the little man’s fault. Even the paper on which you practice your words had to be selected, can you write it well? Maybe in that time, she was angry. She collected the vegetables and sold them in town, and saved a sum of money to buy paper for Xue Tingxiang which is the first paper in his life.

A whole pile, instead of giving a few paper from Xue Qingshan or Xue Juncai.

Zhao’er’s head feels cold, and she couldn’t help thinking whether she was too unquestioning or she praises the little man too excessive. She is afraid of nothing, but is afraid of the bad words from Mr. Chen, that the little man would not be able to bear.

Thinking about it, she makes a gesture to Mr. Chen with her back, and led him aside. Then she whispers to him very quietly: “Uncle Chen, if my younger brother’s words are really not very well, can you …”

“Can what?” Soon, Mr. Chen understands. Then he laughs in spite of himself:” So are you. Even if you care about him, you should not deceive him. On the contrary, you should point out his shortcomings, so that he can make progress in the future. ”

His voice is a little loud, so Xue Tingxiang over there must have heard it. Zhao’er blushes, but she doesn’t know what to say.

Mr. Chen says again:” But your younger brother’s words are really good, and he must learn from a famous teacher.”

He walks to Xue Tingxiang in a few steps, makes a bow with hands folded in front and says: “I want to know who is your teacher in earnest?” As soon as he finishes speaking, he feels a little hesitation in his eyes. Because the poor young man in front of him has a rough cloth. It really doesn’t look like someone who can follow a famous teacher.

But his words…

Since Mr. Chen is running a bookstore, this is either his hobby or his ancestry. In fact, Mr. Chen has both, that is also a family history. When he was young, he also took a few exams, but he stopped at scholar. However, he is not enjoy to be an official, then he took care of his ancestry. It is also a great thing in life for him to meet a few literary friends, play chess and drink tea together.

From his point of view, although this handwriting is immature, it has a strong character.

Form is easy to get, but charm is hard to find. Master Yan and Master Liu are called “muacle of Yan style and bone of Liu style “, which is enough to see the characteristics of the Yan Zhenqing style. Xue Tingxiang’s words already has its roots. As long as it doesn’t go wrong, it will be a calligraphy master in the future.

He doesn’t know that in order to hide himself, Xue Tingxiang deliberately hid his writing style. It takes him half the night to finish it, which should be finished at most half an hour. If it is written in that kind of words, it will definitely make Mr. Chen think it is a master’s work.

When Mr. Chen is thinking, Xue Tingxiang asks:” I don’t have a teacher.”

” Just copy it?”

” I have copied Yan Qin Li Stele.”

Xue Tingxiang didn’t lie. He really only copied Yan Qin Li Stele. This set of copybooks is Xue Qingshan’s favourite, which is never touched commonly. The reason why he was lucky enough to see it and touch it is Xue Juncai, who was still young, took it before him at that time.

Because of this, he was extremely impressed with “Yan Qin Li Stele” and even became obsessive. Later, after having some money at home, Zhao’er bought a set for him. The first typeface he practiced is the Yan Zhenqing style.