Chapter 1 (Part 1)

Gan Ling ran into her former colleague, Shu Bing, at the Nanchan Temple Market. Shu Bing recognized her first and stopped her, delighted. "Gan Ling!" Gan Ling paused for a moment before coming to her senses. "Ah! Shu Bing, long time no see!" Shu Bing had lost a lot of weight, but her expression was filled with joy. She danced in her arms, hugging Gan Ling. "How many years have we last seen each other? Which company are you working for now?" "I don't work anymore." "Huh? A stay-at-home mom?" "No, I'm divorced." "Sorry!" Shu Bing was embarrassed. "Nothing. How about you?" Gan Ling asked, purely out of politeness. Shu Bing immediately talked about her current company, including several former colleagues she'd run into there. "It's such a small world!" they both exclaimed. "Is lunch free? Let's have lunch together?" Shu Bing invited. "Uh, sorry, I'm busy... maybe next time." "So what are you doing now?" "I opened a bookstore." Shu Bing's eyes lit up. "Wow! You're amazing! Where's it?" "Xiaoxi Lane." "Okay, I've got that in mind! I'll come visit you sometime!" Gan Ling smiled faintly. "I'll wait." The two hugged again and waved goodbye in the bustling square. Gan Ling didn't believe Shu Bing would actually visit her bookstore. These days, everyone knows that opening a bookstore is synonymous with losing money! She took a few steps in her direction when she heard Shu Bing calling her again. She turned and saw Shu Bing walking towards her, his face excited. "Congratulations, Gan Ling!" Gan Ling was a little confused. "I still remember at lunch one day, you said your childhood dream was to open a bookstore, and I said I wanted to go to Yixing to learn how to make teapots. Now your dream has come true, and I'm still struggling in the workplace. Gan Ling, you're so brave!" Gan Ling was confused as she hugged her tightly again. Shu Bing, with envy and admiration on his face, turned and left again, and Gan Ling felt a faint warmth in her heart. Gan Ling's used bookstore is located at 21 Xiaoxi Lane. She racked her brains for a name for the bookstore, filling an entire A4 page with names, but none satisfied her. After a while, she finally realized that "Used Bookstore" would be fine. After all, hers was the only bookstore in Xiaoxi Lane. The bookstore mainly sells secondhand books, antiques that Gan Ling has carefully selected from various used book stalls. There are first editions, out-of-print editions, hardcover editions, signed editions, and everything has its own unique style. She reads each book before putting it on the shelf. The process from buying a book to selling it is extremely long, which means that if you want to rely on...

Gan Ling met her former colleague Shu Bing at the Nanchan Temple Market. Shu Bing recognized her first and stopped her, exclaiming in surprise, "Gan Ling!"

Gan Ling was stunned for a moment before coming back to her senses, "Ah! Shu Bing, long time no see!"

Compared to the past, Shu Bing had lost a lot of weight, but her expression was filled with joy. She danced around in her arms while hugging Gan Ling. "How many years have we last seen each other? Which company are you working for now?"

"I no longer work at the company."

"Ah? Becoming a full-time housewife?"

"No, I'm divorced."

"I'm sorry!" Shu Bing was embarrassed.

"It's okay. How about you?" Gan Ling asked out of politeness.

Shu Bing immediately talked about her current company, including which colleagues she met in the company.

"It's such a small world!" they both exclaimed.

"Is lunch convenient for you? Let's have lunch together?" Shu Bing invited.

"Uh, sorry, I'm busy... maybe next time."

"So what do you do now?"

“I opened a bookstore.”

Shu Bing's eyes suddenly lit up, "Wow! You're amazing! Where did you open it?"

"Xiaoxi Lane."

"Okay, I've got that in mind! I'll come play with you when I have time!"

Gan Ling smiled faintly, "I'll wait for you."

The two hugged each other again and waved goodbye in the bustling square.

Gan Ling didn't believe that Shu Bing would really visit her bookstore. These days, everyone knows that opening a bookstore means losing money!

She took a few steps in the direction she was going and heard Shu Bing calling her again. She turned around and saw Shu Bing walking towards her with an excited look on her face.

"Congratulations, Gan Ling!"

Gan Ling was a little confused.

"I still remember one time at lunch, you said your childhood dream was to open a bookstore, and I said I wanted to go to Yixing to learn how to make teapots. Now your dream has come true, while I'm still struggling in the workplace. Gan Ling, you're still brave!"

Gan Ling was dazed as she was hugged tightly again. Shu Bing turned away again with envy and admiration on his face, and Gan Ling felt a vague warmth in her heart.

Gan Ling’s second-hand bookstore is located at No. 21 Xiaoxi Lane.

At first, she racked her brains for what to call the bookstore. She wrote down all kinds of store names on a page of A4 paper, but she was not satisfied with any of them. After she was dizzy, she finally came to her senses and decided to call it "Second-hand Bookstore". After all, hers was the only bookstore in the whole Xiaoxi Lane.

The bookstore mainly sells second-hand books, all of which are antiques that Gan Ling carefully selected from various second-hand book stalls. They include first editions, out-of-print editions, hardcover editions, and signed editions, all with their own unique features.

She would read the books she chose before putting them on the shelves for sale. The process from buying a book to selling it was extremely long, which meant that the idea of ​​making a living from selling books was pure fantasy. However, Gan Ling was prepared for this. She had worked in a large company for nearly ten years and saved a lot of money. She used most of it to open the bookstore. If she lived frugally, she should have no problem keeping it going for two years.

If you can have a beautiful dream for two years, you should be content.

Every morning at eight o'clock, Gan Ling leaves Changwang New Village and walks five minutes to the bookstore. As soon as she opens the door, her cat, Marco, shoots over like an arrow, rubbing eagerly at her feet and meowing for food.

The calico female cat Ma was a business opening gift from her best friend Kong Yu. Gan Ling was at a loss when she received this living creature, as she had never had a pet since she was a child.

"Strictly speaking, a calico isn't a pet! It's a skilled rat catcher. An old commercial street like this is bound to be overrun with rats. Giving you a cat would effectively eliminate the rat infestation in your store! You wouldn't want the books you worked so hard to find to be gnawed away by rats, would you?"

Cats are said to love sharing their mice with their owners. Gan Ling didn't want Marco to find his head on her desk, perhaps even tilting his head in anticipation of her reward. She fed the cat twice a day, always filling the cat tray to the brim. Marco was so fat and strong that he never needed to catch mice. Gan Ling had never encountered a mouse in the bookstore, let alone a single book damaged by a mouse.

"How is it? Are the three flowers I gave you useful?" Kong Yu asked Gan Ling.

Gan Ling said it worked. Marco doesn't catch mice, but it still has a deterrent effect on them!

After feeding the cats, Gan Ling began cleaning. She mopped the floor, wiped the tables, dusted the books, and then carefully wiped the milk tea bar and tea making countertops twice until no stains were visible. She liked the shop to be clean and bright.

After cleaning by nine o'clock, Gan Ling would make herself a cup of refreshing, dehumidifying tea and relax at her desk. Her office furniture consisted of a wooden table and chairs, set in the left corner of the bookstore, with its back against a white wall and facing the door. One corner of the table was tucked behind a side-by-side bookshelf. This layout pleased Gan Ling greatly, giving her a great sense of security.

Office workers occasionally hurried past on the pedestrian street outside the shop. No one would set foot in a bookstore this early, and Marco, having finished his meal, had long since disappeared. The shop was quiet, as if time had stopped. Gan Ling loved these frozen moments; she didn't have to think about anything, even as if she didn't exist.

The spell of stillness was broken at around 9:05 - Han Xi, the bookstore's chief employee, walked in with headphones in his ears and a backpack on his shoulder.

Gan Ling hadn't originally planned to hire anyone. The bookstore was small, business was slow, and she was more than capable of running it on her own. But one evening, Han Xi walked in and told Gan Ling she wanted to help out at the bookstore.

Gan Ling politely declined, but Han Xi was not discouraged.

"I noticed your shop is always closed at noon."

"Yes, I'm going home to have lunch and take a nap."

“What if a guest comes during this period?”

"During this period? Improbable, right?"

"What if? Besides, there will always be times when you can't leave, right? It will be much more convenient for you if there is someone guarding the store."

Gan Ling thought she had a point, but she was still hesitant. One more person meant more money. Han Xi seemed to understand what she was thinking and offered a salary, a figure so low that Gan Ling couldn't believe her ears.

"Is this the only salary you get at the cake shop?"

"Of course not! At least twice as much."

"and you……"

"I have a condition."

Gan Ling thought, there is no such thing as a free lunch, but she still asked out of curiosity.

Han Xi said she wanted to do handicrafts here.

"What kind of handicraft?"

"It's just a handmade product. But don't worry, it won't affect the business of the store. If there are customers coming, I will give them priority." Han Xi stared at Gan Ling with sharp eyes, and Gan Ling really couldn't say no.

"Then try it for a month. If it works out, you can stay. If not, we'll talk about it later."

Han Xi is a chubby girl with thick, long, dark hair. She washes it in the mornings, so it often drapes wetly over her shoulders. She wears thin, black-framed glasses. She claims her nearsightedness has nothing to do with studying, but rather with scrolling through her phone day and night. She loves traditional Chinese clothing and, whenever the weather permits, wears it to work, regardless of the bulk.

Despite her quick temper, Han Xi possesses remarkable patience when it comes to crafts, able to sit for long periods, immersed in her creations. Her handicrafts range from beads, corsages, and crocheted dolls to miniature garments, each delicate and lifelike, captivating Gan Ling.

"I have an account on Xiao Zi Shu, with thousands of fans! These handicrafts are custom-made for fans..."

Gan Ling bought Han Xi a set of similar wooden tables and chairs in the right corner of the bookstore for her crafting. Gan Ling's desk was always spotless, with a few books and a cup of tea. Han Xi's desk, on the other hand, was piled with various materials for her crafts from morning till night. Gan Ling, a moderate mysophobe, tried to avoid paying attention to what was going on at the table across from her, believing out of sight, out of mind.

One month passed quickly, followed by the second and third months.

Han Xi was right. Having one more person in the shop was indeed much more convenient. Gan Ling didn't have to put down her book to entertain customers, and she could go out whenever she wanted. Soon, Gan Ling also bought a set of milk tea making equipment, and Han Xi was also responsible for the milk tea supply.

As they spent more time together, they began to talk more. Though Han Xi was only 23, she possessed a wealth of work experience. However, she had nothing good to say about the supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, jewelry stores, milk tea shops, and bakeries she'd worked at. She complained about her boss being cunning or her coworkers being incompatible. Gan Ling couldn't help but worry about her mental state after all the complaints, but then she realized, how much better could she be?

At 9:20, when Han Xi had spread out her work desk full of things, the second employee, Tian Miao, walked in with his arms swaying.

Tian Miao was not an employee that Gan Ling wanted to recruit voluntarily. She was forced upon her by Tian Meiling, who opened a human resources company at No. 36.

"Look, there are only two girls in your shop. Who should we turn to if we need any heavy work? Don't look at Tian Miao's thin body, he's very strong! From now on, any physical work here will be given to him!"

Gan Ling gently advised, "I really don't need anyone anymore, or you can take him to ask someone else..."

"He likes it here! It's quiet!"

Quiet isn't a good word for anyone running a business, but Gan Ling understood what Tian Meiling meant. Twenty-four-year-old Tian Miao had just been released a month ago after serving two years in prison for fighting. Tian Meiling had announced in Xiaoxi Lane that she would help her nephew find a job there, a move that had frightened many of her familiar merchants, who were reluctant to take on the daunting task. Perhaps Tian Miao sensed the precariousness of the situation, and that was why she was seeking a quiet place.

Gan Ling had no problem with him personally. Although he had been convicted, he was handsome and didn't look like a street thug. He was also quite polite and seemed to have reformed well in prison. Her problem was money.

"I can't afford to pay two people's wages," she said to Tian Meiling. "Bookstore business is not good, you know."

“You don’t have to pay!”

"ah?!"

"There's a probation period! Let's finish the probation period first."

"What happens after the probation period?"

"You can give it to me when the time comes. If you don't do a good job, it's okay if I don't give it to you!"

"Isn't this... not good?"

"Xiao Ling, let me be honest with you. As long as you can make him stay in the store and not go out to cause trouble, you will be doing me a great favor. I will even give you money!"

Gan Ling was stunned.

Tian Meiling thought she was still hesitating, so she hugged her shoulders and whispered in her ear, "Sister, please! Don't forget that you still owe me a favor!"

Tian Miao's probationary period was set to be three months, longer than Han Xi's. As for salary, Gan Ling felt embarrassed to withhold it, so she offered him a salary, roughly half of Han Xi's.

As for after the probation period... Gan Ling hoped that she wouldn't have to ask Tian Miao to leave on his own initiative because he couldn't stand the salary or the loneliness and boredom here.

Recruiting people was really a helpless decision, but Gan Ling had to admit that after adding these two young people, the bookstore did become like a normal business.

So far, Tian Miao has been relatively worry-free. Although he's not the most proactive and enthusiastic type when it comes to work, as long as Gan Ling asks him to, he'll complete the work on time and won't slack off. Gan Ling doesn't expect much from anyone, so she's very satisfied that Tian Miao can do this. Tian Meiling is even happier.

"What did I say, Xiao Ling? Sanshui will definitely get along with you!"

But Tian Miao wasn't above trouble. Whenever he had a free moment, he'd find it in him to tease Han Xi, cracking jokes, scaring her with insects, forcing Marco onto her throne, only to have her squeal when she sat down, and sometimes even messing with her half-finished handicrafts. Han Xi couldn't stand this last bit, and every time, she'd lose her temper and scold Tian Miao. But it barely stopped him; he seemed to enjoy Han Xi's scolding; the more she scolded him, the more he messed up. Gan Ling had warned him several times, but to no avail; Tian Miao never tired of it.

Once, Tian Miao messed up the order of a long string of beads that Han Xi had spent a lot of time arranging. Han Xi's anger, which had been suppressed for a long time, finally erupted. He grabbed the loose pieces on the table and threw them at Tian Miao indiscriminately.

"Here you go! All of it, you bastard!"

Gan Ling was terrified, not because she was worried about Han Xi, but because she was afraid that Tian Miao would overreact. After all, this kid was a former fighting expert who had been in jail. What if he got angry and hurt Han Xi?

Fortunately, what she worried about did not happen. Tian Miao did not say a word, but honestly picked up all of Han Xi's production materials, sorted them neatly, and put them back on the table for Han Xi.

The shop was always quiet. Gan Ling felt no pressure when she was alone; she'd just pull a book from the shelf and read, and time would fly by. With Han Xi around, that was no problem either. Gan Ling read, Han Xi indulged in handicrafts, and time still flew by.

But Tian Miao is not like that. He neither reads nor does handicrafts. When he has nothing to do, he likes to walk around the store. Most of the time, he circles around Han Xi's table, sometimes far away or near, like a naughty cat staring at a mouse hole.

To prevent further arguments between them, Gan Ling had to find work for Tian Miao. Besides cleaning, she also had Tian Miao reorganize the books on the left shelf and move them to the right, then do the same with the books on the right, and then have Tian Miao switch back every few days. This activity was quite time-consuming; Gan Ling had heard that this was also how prisoners were sapped of their energy.

When Tian Miao was moving the books for the nth time, he finally stood on the escalator and muttered to Gan Ling, "Sister Ling, what's the point of doing this?"