Chapter 14 (2/2)

“Only Yan Qin Li Stele?”

Xue Tingxiang nods his head.

In the eyes of Mr. Chen, the light is more intense. He takes a long time to sigh: “Maybe you have a talent on this aspect that is difficult for others to catch up with. I hope you to practice hard, don’t be lazy. Anyway, let’s talk about the serious things. Your words are very good. It is passed by me.”

He goes to the counter and takes a book to Xue Tingxiang.

“One tael of silver? Uncle Chen, is this a bit too much?” Zhao’er wonders.

He laughs in spite of himself:” Do you know how many words there are in this book? Do you know how much money I sold this book? ”

After he finished, he continues to say to Xue Tingxiang: “It is reasonable to say that it should be copied in my bookstore. If you take the book back to copy it, you need to pay some silvers or other things. I know your brother well, so that is fine. How long can you finish it? ”

Xue Tingxiang hesitates and says, “Since Mr. Chen has the rules here, so could I copy here? But I have a small request and hope Mr. Chen can agree. Can I read the book here in the spare time? ”

Mr. Chen is stunned for a moment, and immediately understands. Then he takes a deep look at this thin but be neither humble nor pushy young man.

“I agree.”

“Then thank Mr. Chen first, you can rest assured that I will not damage the books here.”

Zhao’er keeps silent all the time. Until they talks here, she pulls Xue Tingxiang aside to speak.

“Are you really going to copy books here? How good it is to take home. If you are afraid that Mr. Chen will not allow it, I still have some silver to pledge. ”

“Don’t you think this is a good place?”

Xue Tingxiang looks back at the room full of books. The books he has read are limited, and in the memory of ‘Xue Tingxiang’, many memories in this respect are blurred.

But life is his, he has to go forward step by step. It does not mean that he had a dream, he will definitely be the first assistant in the future. It does not mean that he had a dream, he will definitely pass the highest imperial examination in the future. After all, even in the dream he has made a lot of efforts and walked many detours to reach the highest official rank step by step.

Zhao’er certainly understands what he means, but she feels very uneasy to left the little man alone outside. She is thinking about whether to find an excuse to accompany him here. Mr. Chen says: “Well, you don’t have to worry about your younger brother. Can he be lose in here? You don’t have to sell vegetables today? Go quickly. ”

In the eyes of Mr. Chen, Zhao’er is a hard-working brother who supported his younger brother by selling vegetables in the town.

“Uncle Chen, I’m leaving now.”

She quickly takes out a dozen copper coin from her arms and hands them to Xue Tingxiang: “I should come to you for lunch at noon, if I don’t come, you buy it by yourself in …”

“ If copy the book here, there are a lunch for him freely.” Mr. Chen interjects.

Zhao’er is still nagging: “You still hold the money to buy whatever you want. I will pick you up in the afternoon.”

“You still pick up your work first and rest assures that your brother will not lose here.”

This Uncle Chen!

Zhao’er couldn’t talk anymore, and runs out of the bookstore almost as rapidly as her feet would move.

When Zhao’er is leaving, Mr. Chen smiles and teases:”Your brother is very good to you.”

Xue Tingxiang responds a sigh, it is really very good, like a little hen who is worried about her children. Somehow, this sentence comes to his mind.

Later, under the guidance of the guys in the bookshop, he goes to a room behind the shop.

The layout of this room is simple, but the elegant also can be seen, and it can be seen that Mr. Chen is an elegant person form this. The most convenient place for this house is a large window facing the outside yard, and a set of tables and chairs, which is completely different from Xue Tingxiang’s imagination hidden in a dark room in the dark.

The man brings a pot of water for him to clean his hands, prepares writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones etc., says that he could call him if there are something , and then he leaves.

Xue Tingxiang comes to the basin, immerses his hands in the water, rubs it a few times gently, dries it with a towel next to it, then sits down after the desk.

He grinds the ink firstly. Grinding ink can adjust people’s emotions very well and reaches a “quiet” state.

After the ink is polished, at this moment his heart is clear. He holds his sleeves and be ready to write, but his hands are empty. Only then does he realize that he is wearing a short rough cloth . There are no sleeves. Naturally, he is not afraid of staining his sleeves.

All this is just a matter of time. He doesn’t care and writes quietly.

However, Mr. Chen, who is standing outside the door, is a little skeptical. He couldn’t help thinking whether this boy is a famous one not a poor one, but it is a pity that his family had fallen. His words, behaviors, and his temperament, does not seem to be a poor boy.

After thinking for a while, he can not think of it. Mr. Chen shakes his head and goes back to the front.