Upon entering Yunxiang Bookstore, the aroma of paper and inkstone fills the air.
When Chen, the shopkeeper, who was dozing off by the table, heard footsteps, he hurriedly wiped the drool from his mouth, but when he saw that it was three young women, his eyelids drooped again.
These days, who reads and learns to read? I guess she just came in to join in the fun. As long as she doesn't touch anything, he won't kick her out.
In business, you can only make a fortune if you are friendly and harmonious.
The shop wasn't large, but the writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, calligraphy and paintings were all neatly categorized and placed without a speck of dust, indicating that it was regularly cleaned, making it a very comfortable place to look at.
"Chu-jie, are you going to learn to read?"
Just now at Ren'an Hall, Yun Ruoxia vaguely heard something about a female doctor and calligraphy practice books. She thought it was Yun Ling who wanted to practice calligraphy, but she didn't expect it to be Yun Chu.
It would have been better if she hadn't asked. The moment she did, Yun Chu couldn't help but panic. The composure she had shown at the embroidery shop had vanished, leaving her with nothing but a jumble of wild thoughts.
She was afraid that Yun Ruoxia would scold her for wasting money, she was afraid that her family would object, she was afraid that others would say she was overestimating herself, she was afraid of so many things, and in an instant she was like a withered flower bud, wilted!
Yunling replied, "Yes, elder sister wants to learn to read. What do you think, aunt?"
"Hmm...that's good. Embroidering handkerchiefs is too hard on the eyes, I can't do it. It's better to learn to read and find some fun. Besides, my older brother and father can read, so they can always help me out. Just don't bother me, my head will spin for three days when I see words."
Yunling pulled her hand away and instead encircled Yun Ruoxia, saying, "Auntie, there's no need for words. When you become the big boss in the future, just hire an accountant to count the copper coins."
Yun Ruoxia gently pinched Yun Ling's cheek and said with a smile, "You're so good at making people happy."
Yun Chu's heart immediately calmed down, and she mustered her courage to look at the items placed on the shelf.
The shopkeeper, Chen, naturally overheard their conversation. He opened his left eye and carefully examined the three women's clothing. The fabric was of medium quality, but the clothes were clean and tidy, unlike the patched and mended clothes worn by poor families. Moreover, there was a jingling sound as they walked.
What is that?
That's money!
If he has money, he'll have income!
He immediately perked up, squinting his eyes wide open, no longer sleepy or tired, and asked with a smile, "What would you three young ladies like to buy?"
I want to buy a pen.
"Okay, I wonder if it's meant to be a gift or something?"
Yun Chu clutched the hem of her clothes, took a breath, and replied, "I need it to learn to write. Do you have anything cheaper here?"
Shopkeeper Chen's eyes widened instantly, and if Yun Chu hadn't repeated them, he would have doubted that he had heard correctly. But this was a business opportunity, and he had no reason not to do it.
"Learning to write? You've never written anything before?"
Yun Chu nodded.
Shopkeeper Chen went straight to the mixed-hair brush section and picked out a medium-sized one. "This medium-sized mixed-hair brush is fine. You can write both large and small characters. There's no fixed way to hold it; it all depends on your preference."
Yun Chu didn't take it to look at it, but only looked at it closely. She didn't see anything different, only that it looked a bit like the one Yun Shenghua used, and that was all.
How much is this one?
"I'll give you a cheaper price, one hundred coins."
When Yun Ruoxia heard this, she almost bit her tongue. Such a small bamboo stick, with a pen tip that was nothing more than a few bristles, and it cost a hundred coins?
Yun Chu was equally surprised. This pen alone could cost her about half of her money. What about the rest of the paper? Wouldn't she have to empty her pockets before she could leave the bookstore?
Yunling, on the other hand, didn't feel much. In the apocalypse, resources were scarce, but newborns still had to read and learn to read. Perhaps this was a kind of support for new life and continued survival for children like her who were born with illnesses.
She still remembers that time when they were lying in hospital beds, enjoying the rare oxygen resources, and an old professor told them stories, from oracle bone script to simplified Chinese characters. Paper was very scarce, so they learned to write on the floor, boards, or walls.
"Is there anything cheaper?"
Yun Chu's voice pulled Yun Ling back to reality. She saw Shopkeeper Chen squat down, pull a small box from the bottom, and say:
"Then... charcoal pencils, ten coins each."
"Isn't this charcoal pencil just like a fire poker burning in a stove? You can just pick it up, put it on the ground, and wave it around to make a few black characters, right?"
Yun Ruoxia regretted her words as soon as she finished speaking. It was Yun Chu who wanted to buy things, but she had interrupted. She just hoped that Yun Chu was not affected.
Yun Chu was indeed affected; she stopped herself from squatting down to pick up a pen and looked at the shopkeeper again.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, his attitude no longer warm, but still polite. He pulled out another small box, revealing a jumbled mess of colors, "Then I'll have a feather brush, five coins each."
This really is just chicken feathers, nothing special. I might as well go up the mountain and catch a wild pheasant and cut a small piece of bamboo to make it.
Ke Yunruoxia only complained in her heart this time and did not say it out loud.
Yun Chu was somewhat troubled. She thought the feather pen was more formal than the charcoal pencil and wouldn't get her hands dirty, but the feathers were very soft, and she wasn't sure if it could write.
Yunling picked up the medium-sized regular script brush directly and said, "Shopkeeper, we'll buy this one. It's one hundred coins, right? I'll pay."
"Lingniang, you mustn't!" Yun Chu rushed over and pressed Yun Ling's hand down.
“Why not? This is an investment. When my sister has completed her studies, I will ask you to write for me. You can’t accept any money from me.”
Yun Chu gently poked Yun Ling's head, "You're so talkative."
Shopkeeper Chen hurriedly accepted Yunling's one hundred copper coins. He didn't care about whether it was acceptable or not; all he knew was how to make money selling pens.
Next comes the paper, which is far superior to the mixed-hair brush. The colors alone are dazzling.
"If you are learning to write, use bamboo paper. It is inexpensive and durable. After you have mastered the basics, you can move on to hemp paper, white hemp paper, mixed paper, or even bark paper."
Yun Chu clutched her purse. "How much is bamboo paper?"
"One knife costs thirty-five coins, and there are twenty-five sheets of paper."
Yun Ruoxia couldn't listen anymore. This knife wasn't paper, it was clearly flesh; and what was written on it wasn't words, it was clearly gold. No wonder everyone says that studying is expensive. Is this what you call expensive? This is expensive!
Yun Chu also felt a pang of regret. "Shopkeeper, this bamboo paper is a bit expensive. Do you have any cheaper options?"
"Where is it expensive? It's been this price for years. You're just a kid, don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. Making bamboo paper is very difficult. Have you ever gone up the mountain to cut bamboo? Have you ever tried to extract the fibers from it? Have you ever experimented repeatedly? It's very difficult, okay?"
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