Chapter 428 One must maintain moral integrity

This bookstore has two floors and is quite spacious. There are three employees in total, two upstairs and one downstairs.

This was Song Chunxue's first time visiting the bookstore, and also the first time she had seen so many books. The neat, thick lines made her feel a sense of sacredness and solemnity.

This is the place that scholars love to come to, especially wealthy scholars.

In the past, the children's books were all bought from a small bookstore; there were no such grand bookstores in the village.

She could smell the fragrance of books mixed with incense, which was refreshing and invigorating. Just walking among the bookshelves felt like being on a cloud.

Song Chunxue couldn't help but reach out and stroke the smooth bookshelf, never expecting to end up in a place like this.

Her heart was surging with emotion, and she couldn't calm down for a long time; she couldn't even see the words on the title page clearly.

Since you can't get into reading them, then pick a few books.

At first, she wanted to pick two books to read, but then she saw more interesting titles, as if each one contained a world she had never explored before.

After much deliberation, accompanied by a strong heartbeat, she selected five books.

How wonderful it would be if I could read and understand all five books.

She walked to the counter, placed the book on it, and said, "Wrap it up for me."

Looking at the beautifully patterned bookshelf, Song Chunxue felt that speaking here would fill her with the fragrance of wood and books.

If she could save money by repairing the Taoist temple in the future, she would definitely buy a bookstore herself.

"Our manager is here," the waiter who had been standing at the door said with a smile to the man who entered. "Mr. Xie, this lady was looking for you. Do you know each other?"

Mr. Xie?

Song Chunxue turned to look at the man who had gone around to the back of the counter. His features were very similar to Lord Xie's, and he looked about the same age as the second son. His eyes and brows were sharper than Xie Zheng's.

Sharp and angular, unlike Xie Zheng's gentleness.

He glanced at Song Chunxue indifferently. "This is my wife. What business does she have with me?"

Song Chunxue snapped out of her reverie, "It's nothing, I just felt that the name of this bookstore was somewhat familiar."

The young shopkeeper raised his arm, straightened his exquisite and ornate cuffs, and frowned slightly.

"Is it tacky? This is the name my third uncle gave me. Logically speaking, he is well-read and should have chosen a nice-sounding name, but for some reason, he chose a name that sounds like a person's name but is not elegant enough. When I asked him why, he wouldn't tell me."

He complained with dissatisfaction, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. "He also said that he wanted me to temporarily manage this bookstore, since it belongs to someone else. I suspect he intends to give it to someone else."

At this point, he seemed to shake his head in disgust, "He probably has his eye on some woman and wants to win her favor."

Song Chunxue listened quietly, took out a copper coin from her pocket and handed it to the waiter, her mind racing with thoughts.

How dare you speak to me like that?

Before she knew it, the fourth brother was standing behind her.

"Fourth brother!" Song Chunxue looked at him with a stern face and said softly, "Behave yourself."

Then she nodded to the shopkeeper, "You're busy."

Clutching the books, she stepped out of the bookstore and nimbly climbed into the carriage.

"Fourth brother, come quickly and drive the horses. We need to buy some wine later. Is there anything else you need to buy?"

The fourth brother glanced back at the shopkeeper, then jumped onto the carriage with a long face.

"There's nothing I need to buy. The tavern up ahead has plenty of wine. I'll go get a few jars."

Song Chunxue sat inside the carriage, stroking the thick book cover, her expression calm.

The fourth brother must have noticed that the man bore a resemblance to Lord Xie.

She looked up and lifted the carriage curtain, glancing at the four characters "Spring Snow Bookstore." A slight smile played on her lips, a bittersweet expression tinged with satisfaction.

Indeed, ordinary bookstores wouldn't choose a name like that.

Spring snow, fleeting in an instant, followed by the words "bookshop," does indeed seem out of place.

She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but she felt that the shopkeeper was right.

He called Xie Zheng "Third Uncle," which means he is Xie Zheng's nephew.

He probably thought it was utterly absurd that his third uncle was so fond of a woman who farmed, and who was also an old woman with many children and grandchildren.

He had never mentioned his relatives before, and now that they had suddenly met, Song Chunxue felt that her previous worries and anxieties were unnecessary.

Despite the bitterness, she actually felt a sense of relief.

Perhaps Xie Zheng will understand things better when we talk things out next time.

At his age, he should be more practical.

He should go out more and visit the homes of officials in Jincheng. He shouldn't reject those who are trying to curry favor with him. Perhaps he could actually meet a young woman who is well-read and intelligent.

Before anyone knew it, the fourth brother had stuffed several jars of wine onto the carriage, and Song Chunxue moved aside.

The carriage swayed and wobbled as it climbed the mountain, struggling somewhat.

"Mother, are you alright?"

The fourth brother, sitting outside, stammered as he tried to comfort him, "Don't take what that person said to heart, perhaps it's just..."

Song Chunxue chuckled, "Fourth brother, you're not trying to comfort me by saying that what that person said was too harsh and telling me not to take it seriously?"

The fourth brother scratched his ear but didn't say anything.

"It's just the truth, do you find it harsh?" Song Chunxue said calmly and gently. "If you don't believe me, go ask other people. Anyone with eyes would think that there's a world of difference between me and Lord Xie."

"Moreover, you've all misunderstood something. Xie Zheng simply appreciates me; he doesn't look down on me like those vulgar, envious men. He's just well-mannered."

"But did he ever say he wanted to spend his whole life with me, or that he wanted to marry me as his second wife?"

"..." The fourth brother turned to look at Song Chunxue, "But isn't it obvious? He can't just be lying to you, only wanting to reap the benefits without taking responsibility, right... Ah!"

Song Chunxue raised her hand and tapped him, "You're an educated person, how can you speak so rudely? Believe me or not, I'll slap you."

The fourth brother covered his forehead, "I believe you, but..."

"These are all things you've come up with your own ideas, they're nothing." Song Chunxue's voice turned a little colder. "You tell the others clearly that they shouldn't talk about these baseless things anymore. If I hear them again, I'll just become a nun and leave you all alone."

"But……"

"Um?"

Her powerful, rising tone at the end of her voice sent a chill down Lao Si's spine.

"I know, I know, I won't say it again. Anyway, Mother is determined to abandon worldly affairs and see the world as indifferent, and we can't stop her." The fourth son said aggrievedly, "Since that's the case, then I have to hurry up with my marriage. I want to go to Ji County to explain things to her."

Is the fourth brother not planning to marry someone after going to Ji County?

"That's right. I feel like I've accomplished nothing right now, and since we're so far apart, it's best not to cause trouble for others."

"You know it yourself, but don't do something stupid like tricking them into a cornfield when you meet them, creating an unmanageable situation that I'll have to clean up. I don't have time for that."

The fourth son's face turned red and his neck thickened. "Mother, why do you think I'm that kind of person? I am a bit indecisive, and I think young girls are all very nice and beautiful, but I'm not like an animal... Besides, I'm not that popular. Would anyone risk ruining their reputation to mess around with me?"

Song Chunxue thought to herself that she hadn't taught men to be chaste when she was young, and now she needed to make up for it.

Besides, how could a hot-blooded young man not act impulsively?