Chapter 019 Found a job
The next morning, Li Jing was late again. Yuan Ming knew that he chose to run from home to school in order to save two cents on the oxcart fee.
After school, he took Li Jing to Qingshan Bookstore as promised. It happened that Zhao, the shopkeeper, was in the store. When he saw him, a hint of intimacy appeared in the shopkeeper's eyes. Seeing that he was not alone with Yuan Ming, he quickly took it back.
Yuan Ming had said long ago that he did not want to take off his vest, so when there were other people around, they just pretended not to know each other.
"Good afternoon, Manager Zhao. This is my classmate Li Jing. Thank you very much for letting me copy books in your store before. However, I am afraid that I don't have time to come this year because I am busy with my studies. Brother Li is a little short of money like me, so I shamelessly asked you if I could let him copy books here on my behalf?"
What Yuan Ming said was not a lie. Qingshan Bookstore had its own people to copy books, so there was really no need to find someone else. However, Yuan Ming's calligraphy was very good, so Manager Zhao set a precedent for him.
Now, from what Yuan Ming meant, he was not forcing him to accept Li Jing, but just giving Li Jing a chance.
Because of Yuan Ming's story, Manager Zhao had a great reputation in front of his boss, and he was not reluctant to give him a little face.
After a moment's thought, Shopkeeper Zhao said, "Mr. Yuan should know that I don't need people who can write to copy books here. What I need are people who write well."
Yuan Ming nodded, "Of course."
Shopkeeper Zhao called the waiter and took Li Jing to the back for a writing test. Shopkeeper Zhao then took Yuan Ming to the inner room. The space inside was not large, but it was fully furnished, with a soft couch. It looked like the shopkeeper's private resting place.
"I'm sorry for the last time, Mr. Yuan," Shopkeeper Zhao asked Yuan Ming to sit down on the tea table, and while pouring tea for him, he said, "The boss said that I was capable, so he specially gave me this Dongting Spring Tea. There is only this small pot, and I can't bear to pour it for ordinary people. How does Mr. Yuan taste it?"
Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The biggest feature of spring tea is its rich fragrance. This pot is obviously the same as the shopkeeper said, it is a top-grade product, and it feels refreshing as soon as you drink it.
However, Yuan Ming pretended not to understand and said in distress: "Good tea, but unfortunately I am ignorant and have no comparison, so I don't know where the preciousness of this tea lies. It's really a waste."
The shopkeeper did not get angry, but laughed: "Mr. Yuan is really a wonderful person."
Yuan Ming raised his lips slightly and took another sip.
"Mr. Yuan doesn't like to beat around the bush, so I'll just say it directly." The shopkeeper said: "Peach Blossom Wine is selling very well, and therefore many readers come to ask if the peach blossom wine mentioned in it is real, and some even spend a lot of money to buy it."
Yuan Ming pursed his lips.
The reason why the story is named Peach Blossom Wine is because it is the clue that runs through the whole story. The two protagonists met because of it, fell in love because of it, and broke up because of it.
The shopkeeper looked at Yuan Ming and asked, "Mr. Yuan, you wrote about the brewing process of peach blossom wine in the article. Is it because someone in your family was engaged in this business, or did you just write it casually?"
Yuan Ming understood what he meant.
It seems that Qingshan Bookstore not only wants to do the bookstore business, but also wants to make money from the winery.
With the power of the people behind Qingshan Bookstore, it is impossible that they can't find out anything. Now they are willing to ask him face to face, which at least proves that the other party is not a sinister villain.
Yuan Ming's identity is in doubt, and it is not allowed to let others know now. It is right to sell it well.
"No one in my family makes wine, so I don't know the recipe in the book. It's fine. If you want to use it, just use it."
Zhao, the shopkeeper, immediately smiled and praised Yuan Ming for his broad-mindedness and courage. He said a lot of compliments, and said seriously: "The boss means that Mr. Yuan is generous, but we are not the kind of people who take advantage of others. The profit will definitely be shared with Mr. Yuan."
In fact, the words of giving a profit should have been his trump card in the negotiation with Yuan Ming, but Yuan Ming didn't want anything, so Zhao, the shopkeeper, had to take the initiative to propose it.
Yuan Ming refused without thinking. He had never thought about making money with the recipe of peach blossom wine, otherwise he would not have written it in the book.
Shopkeeper Zhao was a little surprised: "This..."
"I appreciate your kindness, but peach blossom wine is not my original creation, so I can't use it to make money. As for how you do it, it's your business, but everything after that has nothing to do with me." Yuan Ming said.
Seeing his firm attitude, Shopkeeper Zhao did not mention it again, and asked: "I wonder if you have plans to write another book? Many readers have written to the store, hoping that Brother Jin can write a new book."
This time Yuan Ming did not answer immediately, stroking the rim of the teacup back and forth.
"Just one book has attracted so many readers, which has never happened since Qingshan Bookstore opened. I hope Mr. Yuan will think about it carefully. The road to imperial examinations is long, and there are many places where money is needed." Shopkeeper Zhao said with a smile.
Yuan Ming thanked him for his kindness and said that he would think about it carefully.
Then the two of them came out of the lounge, and not long after, Li Jing also came out with a piece of paper full of words in his hand.
Li Jing handed the paper to the shopkeeper with some trepidation, asking him to take a look.
The shopkeeper took it.
Li Jing wrote in standard regular script, although it was not as grand and stunning as Yuan Ming's, but it was very comfortable to read, vigorous and full of vitality.
The shopkeeper raised his head and glanced at Yuan Ming.
Although Yuan Ming's words when he came in did not mean to let him go through the back door, the fact that Yuan Ming could bring people here in person showed that he still wanted to help others, but he did not want to burden himself with favors.
After a brief thought, Manager Zhao said, "The handwriting is good, but it lacks any personal characteristics. It is not suitable for copying the words of experts, but it is more than enough for copying textbooks for the Enlightenment School. You can keep it."
On the way back, Li Jing could not believe his ears. He kept laughing with his mouth wide open, which made his big head look even more silly.
When he heard the thank you for the tenth time, Yuan Ming twitched his lips: "I've said it before, copying books doesn't make much money, don't count on it to make a living, and it's your own handwriting that has won the approval of the shopkeeper, it has nothing to do with me, don't thank me."
Li Jing nodded repeatedly: "I know, after the autumn harvest, we will have money when we sell food at home, but the work of copying books is not easy to come by, I will definitely keep doing it."