Boss Chang led Jing Li into the inner hall of the bookstore.

The bookshop looked somewhat shabby from the outside, but inside it was a different world. A square courtyard connected to a two-story building. The warm winter sun streamed through the patio, illuminating the room brightly.

It’s not rich, but it’s still warm.

Jing Li looked around and asked, "Hey, Boss Chang, isn't your brother here?"

"He...he's not here." Boss Chang's face stiffened as he mentioned this. He quickly turned away to retrieve the teapot, as if trying to cover up something. "A while ago, I asked someone to find him a job. He's out doing business and delivering goods. He's not in the city right now."

Jing Li nodded: "Is that so."

This was not Jing Li's first time here, and he knew something about Boss Chang's situation.

Boss Chang is in his forties, thin, and dressed in an ordinary coarse cloth gown. His eyes and brows show the shrewdness of having been in the business world for many years.

However, this man has never married and had children. He has only one younger brother at home. Unfortunately, his younger brother has no future and always likes to hang out in brothels, casinos and restaurants. Boss Chang used to worry about him a lot.

As for the reason why he remembered that person, it was naturally because every time Jing Li came over, that person stared at him with lustful eyes.

It's better not to be here.

Boss Chang poured Jing Li a cup of tea: "Sir, please have some tea."

"Boss Chang, you don't have to be so polite to me." Jing Li took the teacup and said.

"Sir, you're a big shot now. I wouldn't dare offend you." Boss Chang glanced at the snacks Jing Li had placed on the table and said with a smile, "Zhenweizhai's walnut pastries? I didn't expect you to remember my preference."

With such a large bookshop, Mr. Chang naturally wouldn't be short of snack money. However, Jing Li would always bring him a gift whenever he came, as a way of building a good relationship.

If it were two years ago, Jing Li would definitely not understand this.

However, Jing Li has been following Qin Zhao for these years and has been intentionally learning how to deal with people and behave in society. Now he understands very well how to handle these matters.

He doesn't like it very much, but he still tries hard to learn it.

After all, he didn't want to be a silly little fish that could only be protected by Qin Zhao.

"You're welcome, Mr. Chang." Jing Li wasn't used to such small talk, so he quickly changed the subject, pointing to the book "Dream Talk Notes" spread out on the table. "How's the book selling lately?"

The book "Dream Talk" is completely different from the popular vernacular novels today.

The most popular stories on the market are either about ghosts and monsters, or about lovers in seclusion, or else they are full of romantic affairs that are disgusting to read.

This book, from the perspective of a girl named Shuang'er, tells the story of her and her husband's respectful and sweet rural life.

In this era when Shuang'er is not valued, the stories in it are so beautiful that they seem to transcend reality, half true and half false, like a dream but not a dream, which actually reflects the name "Dream Talk".

As for how much truth or falsehood there is in this story, Boss Chang has no idea.

"It's selling very well." Boss Chang couldn't stop laughing when he mentioned this. He said truthfully, "Since the reprint before the New Year, this is the only copy left in the store. I heard the ones we sent to other bookstores are also selling well."

Even Boss Chang did not expect this scene.

When he first received the manuscript of "Dream Talk Notes," he didn't think much of it. The story wasn't particularly remarkable, and in an era dominated by vernacular drama, it was rather bland and ordinary.

But the author's writing is delicate and realistic, and the whole story is told in a leisurely manner, which has a unique flavor.