Xu Jiang watched Zhou Shancai casually discussing the publication of his collected works with Zeng Zhui, and she couldn't help but admire him. How thick-skinned must one be to pretend that what just happened never happened.
The owner of the first bookstore in the capital really lived up to his reputation.
Zeng Zhui frowned at Zhou Shancai, then collected the articles on his desk and said coldly, "Your bookstore is beyond my reach. Even if my articles were to rot in the mud, I wouldn't give them to you, lest they be tainted."
Zhou Shancai laughed and said, "You're right. Once you leave this building, your article will just rot in the mud. And not only this article will rot in the mud, but all your future articles will never be published in any bookstore in the capital."
"What do you mean?"
"That's exactly what it means." Zhou Shancai's eyes were piercing, but his face was full of smiles. "Mr. Zeng disrupted the Shiwen Yaji today, so naturally, you'll have to pay the price. Either leave your article in the Yaji and have the bookstore print and sell it for you, or, as you said, let it rot in the mud. It's your choice. But let me remind you, there's no medicine for regret in this world, so don't make the wrong choice."
"Are you threatening me?"
"yes."
He actually admitted it!
Zeng Zhui was so furious that he was about to overturn the table. Du Hui immediately stepped forward to stop him and advised Zhou Shancai, "Young people are full of arrogance. Why don't you be more tolerant and show your magnanimity?"
"If I don't take responsibility, I will let him be beaten to death or crippled by those scholars."
Lin Qinnian said coldly, "This is all because of your fraud. If the selection process was fair and impartial, this wouldn't have happened."
Zhou Shancai turned his gaze towards him, his expression slightly sarcastic, "If everything in this world were fair and just, how could you have ended up in this situation today?"
These words were so hurtful that Xu Jiang and the others couldn't help but show anger on their faces.
Zeng Zhui slammed the table and said arrogantly, "If you say you won't publish it, then don't publish it. I won't be in cahoots with you. When I pass the exam and make the list, am I still worried that no one will publish my book for me?"
Zhou Shancai snorted, "You're quite arrogant. Whether or not someone makes the list is not up to you."
Xu Jiang's brows jumped, and she felt that there was something else behind his words.
Zhou Shancai was very cautious and didn't continue. He just said, "Since you have made your decision, just wait and see how these articles of yours become waste paper."
"The boss is quite arrogant." Xu Jiang imitated him and put the words back into his mouth. "Whether his article will become waste paper or not is not up to you to decide."
Zhou Shancai stared at her gloomily.
Xu Jiang curled her lips, her eyes hard, "As long as Zhanchun Bookstore and I, Xu Jiang, remain in the capital, his articles will never become waste paper."
"Manager Xu, you're like a clay Buddha crossing a river, and you still want to protect others?"
"Thank you for your high regard. I am not some bodhisattva. A true bodhisattva sits high in the hall of honor and will naturally protect his people and prevent them from being invaded by evil spirits."
What's more, there is a living devil beside her, who is responsible for killing the rebellious little ghosts.
Zhou Shancai tore up the printing contract on the table and said in a deep voice, "Okay, then let's just ride on the donkey and look at the account book and see what happens."
Xu Jiang rode a donkey and watched Zeng Zhui's article walking in front, while Zeng Zhui walked behind, holding the rope for Lin Qinnian. Du Hui and others rode in a carriage to support the group, and the group went together from Quchi to Yonghefang.
Zeng Zhui's face was bruised and purple, his mouth almost stretched to the back of his head. He felt that participating in the Shiwen Yaji was worthwhile, and the beating was worth it. Otherwise, how could he have met Lin Qinnian, whom he had always admired?
Lin Qinnian didn't want him to lead the donkey, but he couldn't persuade him, so he had to let him do it.
Along the way, Zeng Zhui asked Lin Qinnian all kinds of questions, which made Lin Qinnian sigh with annoyance.
Xu Jiang couldn't stand it any longer, so she spoke up to help, "Master Zeng, I just heard you say in Xieyue Tower that you came from Shuzhou?"
Zeng Zhui had a fondness for Xu Jiang, who had rescued him, and he said eagerly, "Indeed, I hear your southern accent when you speak, so we're from the same hometown, right?"
"It counts as half." Xu Jiang returned the article to him and asked, "Is Zeng Yan your great-grandfather?"
Zeng Zhui stared at him with his swollen eyes, like a silly fish, "How did you know that, my lady?"
It really is his home.
Lin Qinnian also looked over when he heard this.
Xu Jiang spoke slowly, "The Zeng family of Shuzhou was once a prominent family in Shu. They had eight scholars, all renowned for their writing. Zeng Yan was the most gifted of all, excelling in all four subjects and eight disciplines. His writing adhered to the ancient sages' principle of applying knowledge to practical use, opposing the practice of idle talk and eliminating the superficial and mystical trends of the time. Many scholars followed his example." She smiled at Zeng Zhui. "After hearing you introduce yourself and reading your writing, I knew you were his descendant."
Seeing that he was still dumbfounded, he asked again, "Back then, Mr. Yunxiao was good friends with your grandfather and gave him a copy of 'Ziyun's Four Fu'. Is that correct?"
Zeng Zhui's eyes widened and he asked in surprise, "You know this too?"
Xu Jiang smiled but did not answer. She asked, "Do you know where the Four Fu of Ziyun is now?"
Zeng Zhui shook his head and said sadly, "Back then, my family was very poor. To make ends meet, we sold a lot of books, and that copy of 'Ziyun's Four Fu' was among them. I don't know where it is now."
"As far as the horizon, yet as close as the eye."
"What?"
When Lin Qinnian saw her shaking her head and teasing people in a mysterious way, a smile flashed in his eyes.
Zeng Zhui didn't care that he was still pulling the donkey, and hurried to Xu Jiang and asked, "Could it be that the collection is in your hands now?"
Xu Jiang shook his head.
Zeng Zhui was anxious, "Then why do you say it's far away and right in front of you? This is important, my lady, please don't tease me."
He hit the stubborn donkey's face with his elbow, and it pushed his head away, almost making him fall.
Xu Jiang chuckled, patted the stubborn donkey's head, and told him, "I originally had that collection, but later sold it to someone else."
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