Once the low couch is put on the wall, it is no longer a couch, but a fake window to decorate the wall, which instantly adds a touch of simplicity and elegance to the courtyard.
The taciturn Liang Mo couldn't help but admire him, "They say that a skilled craftsman is a master. Uncle Cao's grasp of the right balance is truly admirable."
I thought to myself, no wonder my master said I had to go out and see the world, only then did I realize my own shortcomings. Since I came to this bookstore and met all kinds of talents, I realized how arrogant I was in the past.
"After decades of work, if I don't have a good handle on my hands, I shouldn't be doing this job." Uncle Cao checked the wooden plug several times and was satisfied with himself. "Carpentry is like building a person. If you want it to take shape, you have to polish it day after day, constantly. Once the wood is shaped, you are also shaped."
Liang Mo bowed to Uncle Cao and said, "I am grateful for your guidance."
Uncle Cao smiled and said, "Young people, if you work hard and down-to-earth, you will have a bright future."
Shopkeeper Wang couldn't help but nod, "Brother Liang is much more ambitious than I was when I was young."
After all, when he was at this age, he was still running around, working as a helper to collect rice for others, and his monthly wages were less than a thousand coins, while Liang Mo, at such a young age, was earning five thousand coins a month.
I’m so envious.
Liang Mo scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly.
Seeing that the work was complete, Xu Jiang settled the wages with Uncle Cao. Uncle Cao only wanted to pay for the labor cost, but she persuaded him after much persuasion.
"Just think of it as a gift to Third Brother. This job has delayed you for so many days. You don't have to worry about money, but he still needs to raise the little one."
Only then did Uncle Cao accept it.
After this matter was settled, Shopkeeper Wang could not wait to drag Uncle Cao to his house to check the ground and measure the ground, anxiously wanting to make a couch for his daughter.
Seeing that the guests had left, Xu Jiang and Liang Mo began to put away the miscellaneous items, and then swept and cleaned the bookstore inside and out, sweeping away the dust and cobwebs on the door and eaves... and other dead corners.
After cleaning, the two stood in front of the door and looked around, feeling a sense of freshness.
Liang Mo looked at the small bookstore and asked, "Boss, if you make more money in the future, shouldn't you move to a bigger shop?"
The bookstore is too small to go around.
Xu Jiang thought about it, smiled, and shook his head. "No, we have to do everything ourselves. Anything bigger would be too much for us. Besides, this poetry collection has made me realize that a person's ability and energy are limited. Whether in terms of financial resources or influence, my bookstore can't be as big as Jisheng or Sandushan."
She couldn't do what they did, seeking profit by any means necessary. Excessive greed would only lead to a loss of mind and nature. The money she earned was enough for her to make a living.
When she first arrived in Beijing, she thought Huailiu Alley in Yonghefang was remote and her bookshop shabby. But day after day, she grew accustomed to it and loved it. It was her business, and even more so, her home. Now, she wanted nothing more than to run a down-to-earth business here, peacefully publish the books she wanted to publish, happily gather with friends and family, and spend peaceful time with her beloved.
It would be best if the days could pass more slowly.
Liang Mo was young and ambitious. He felt it was a pity to hear her say that. The bookstore had a bright future now. If he took the opportunity to try his luck, he would surely be able to rival Jisheng and Bandoushan.
But he is just an apprentice and it is not his turn to say anything. He should just do his own thing.
After packing up the bookstore, Xu Jiang found a runner to deliver the written invitations to various prefectures.
The book banquet was scheduled for the day after Grain Rain, three days from today. It wasn't that she was deliberately delaying, but rather that she had a gathering to attend during Grain Rain, and the gentlemen didn't have time to rest until after Grain Rain. Furthermore, this was her first time hosting so many people in a bookshop, and she had requested so many things. It would be awkward to rush and fail to prepare adequately, thus failing to behave properly.
In addition, she sent a note to Du Hui asking him to allow Zeng Zhui to help. Zeng Zhui was a good cook and shared her tastes, so they had many ideas that hit it off, making him a good partner.
The important thing is that he is the only one with the least time at this moment.
Xu Jiang had originally planned to invite Hu Xu, but she thought about how he was preparing for the Ministry of Rites exam and wanted to avoid any suspicion with Lou Jing, so she gave up the idea. She would invite him for dinner after he finished his work. She still owed him the share of the profits from the poetry collection, so she could give it to him then.
If she calculated, she had already owed him two meals since he went to high school. It wasn't that she didn't want to treat him, but they were both too busy and had never found a suitable opportunity.
Master Lin could not come either, firstly because he was busy teaching at the private school, and secondly because he was in mourning and could not participate in the banquet.
However, she had already shown Master Lin her master's set of "Tracing the Origins of Cultural Context". Master Lin praised it highly and asked her to leave him a copy after the book was published.
After sending the invitations, Xu Jiang and Liang Mo counted out the sixty volumes of the newly bound poetry collection and prepared to leave the city for the countryside early the next morning to deliver these books to the three village schools donated by Ji Shan.
You can also stop by to see if you can collect some local products and old items such as books, calligraphy and paintings, and seals.
Don't think that rural families don't have these things. Nowadays, the court values literature, and there are many farming and reading families in the countryside. Many of the books, calligraphy and paintings in her bookstore were obtained from rural families, just like the calligraphy and painting she first sold to Du Hui, which came from a farming and reading family.
"Boss, are you going alone tomorrow?" Liang Mo was a little worried. "You're going to travel through three towns, and you're unfamiliar with the place. I'm worried about that. Why don't I go with you?"
"Where are you going?" a voice interrupted. They turned around and saw that it was Lou Yunchun.
Has he already left office?
When Xu Jiang saw that it was getting dark outside, she realized that it was getting late and hurriedly urged Liang Mo to go back quickly so as not to miss the time.
When Liang Mo saw Lou Yunchun coming, he didn't want to stay any longer, so he packed up his things and ran home.
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