Chapter 414: Happy

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Forget it. They should continue to find people who needed someone to write letters for them or if the bookstore and academy needed someone to copy books.

Just as they turned around and were about to leave, they heard the manager say, “All the books in this bookhouse can be borrowed for free.”

The students suspected that they had woken up too early today and that there was something wrong with their hearing, but they could not move their feet anymore.

The manager said, “You only need 10 copper coins to stay in the bookhouse all day. Even if you stay from the opening of the shop until closing, no one will chase you away. If you want to go out to eat halfway, you only need to register. You don’t have to pay a second time when you come back.”

The more they talked about these requests, the more unreal they felt.

Ever since they went to the bookstore, they had no choice but to secretly read a few pages under the pretense of buying books because they were short of money. However, at that time, they were all thick-skinned and had to meet a good-natured shop owner. If they were unlucky, they would be chased out of the door with curses. Yet, they were actually allowed to read books for free here?

They ignored the cost of the 10 copper coins. What could 10 copper coins do? Buy five buns?

If they could read for a day just by eating five fewer buns, they would rather starve every day!

More and more people were waiting at the door, so the manager thoughtfully sped up. “Of course, there have to be rules.”

Here it comes. The students thought. They knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world. This rule was probably to make them spend money in different ways, right? For example, the guests who entered had to buy a few books and leave, or copy 10 books before they could read one…

The manager cleared his throat and said, “Although reading is free, everyone has to cherish the books. In order to let these books survive longer, please pay attention to the pages when reading. If anyone damages the books for no reason, they will pay the market price.”

The students waited for a long time but did not hear anything else—that was it?

Would a proper scholar bear to tear the pages? Was such a matter of course the only request the bookstore had for them?

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t we have to buy things in the shop?”

The manager clasped his hands and smiled until his brows were wrinkled. “I won’t make any requests. You have the freedom to buy and sell.”

Everyone was still skeptical. The manager opened the door. “Words are useless. Seeing is believing. If you’re curious, you can give it a try. After all, our fellow villagers are all here watching. Can I still make empty promises?”

The students really did not believe that such a good thing would happen, but they really could not resist the temptation of reading wantonly. Not long after, a few bold ones really probed forward. “This is 10 copper coins, so I’m in?”

The manager nodded. “Guest, please. The server will make the introduction after you enter.”

Just as he said, as soon as the student entered, a well-dressed server explained to him in detail, “This is the history of the world, here are the Four Books and Five Scriptures, here are the theory books, here are the storybooks…”

“Look up. Every row of bookshelves has a different type of label. Just follow this. The side of the book is marked with a serial number. Remember to put it back after reading it.”

He led the students in again. “This is a place specially for everyone to read books.”

Everyone widened their eyes. They thought that they could only stand or squat on the ground to read in such a shop. They did not expect there to be a tea table.

Could it be that this was the place that forced them to spend money?

The server brought him over. “My employer said that those who come to our ‘There’s a Book House’ must be book lovers. You all have the heart to learn. All of you definitely can’t bear to look up from your books for a while, so why don’t you sit down and read slowly? The lighting here is good and the seats are spacious.”

“Oh, right. We don’t sell the Four Treasures of the Study here, so if you have the habit of taking notes, please prepare your own brushes and ink. ‘There’s a diligent road on Book Mountain to work hard for the boundless sea of knowledge.’ I hope that you can fulfill your grand aspirations and have a bright future.”

With that, he left.

After carefully reading the books for the entire afternoon, they realized that no one was really urging them to leave or sell them things. The students could not focus completely before feeling hungry at noon. Moreover, many of the books’ information could not be kept by memory alone.

Why don’t I go out and eat something? Hl go home and get a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to try?

After all, it was only 10 copper coins. If he was cheated, he could just not come back next time.

To be honest, the books he read in the morning were already worth more than 10 copper coins. Even if they did not let him in after he went out or charged him, it was still worth it.

As soon as the students went out, they realized that there were many people waiting outside. They told them everything they had seen in the shop and rushed home to get their things.

The commoners, who had nothing to do, had already passed by the door several times. Seeing that the students were free to come and go without any reluctance on their faces, they all went home to tell their relatives and friends about the book house.

As expected, the students stayed until closing time. The server who came to remind them of the time was also very polite. “Young masters, it’s not that we don’t want you to stay any longer, but it’s already late. You’ve been concentrating for a long time. If you don’t rest, it’ll hurt your eyes and your bodies. Won’t the gains not make up for the losses?”

“It’s said that if you want to do a good job, you have to sharpen your tools first. Nothing can be done quickly. Our bookhouse is not just open for a day. Everyone, go back and eat your fill and rest early. Tomorrow morning, we’ll welcome you at the door, okay?”

The students were skeptical. It was still dawn, but they were already waiting outside the library.

Xiaoxiao and Rong Yan admired them when they saw them in the teahouse opposite. “Look, these are all future talents of Great Xia.”

Rong Yan poured her a cup of hot tea. “It’s all thanks to you that they have such an opportunity.”

Xiaoxiao took a sip and smiled calmly. “It’s nothing.”

She didn’t think that she had done anything extraordinary, so she didn’t know that after a few days, this bookhouse had already become very important to the students. They waited at the door of the bookhouse every morning under the bright sunlight. They couldn’t wait to enter the shop when the door opened.

Touching the books that they could not reach in the past, the students took a deep breath and blinked away the heat in their eyes. They hugged the books and sat beside the desk specially prepared for them.

This place was the reading area that Xiaoxiao had specially drawn out. Other than the tables and chairs, there was only a plaque hanging high. It was written—Diligence is the Way.

The students who came here all said that the efficiency of reading here was especially high. After reading for an entire morning, they could complete homework that they could not finish all day at home.

Everyone in Xijiang County knew that there was a shop in the county called ‘There’s a Book House’. The book house did not sell anything and only let people read books. As long as they did not break the rules, they could read quietly and comfortably for a day.

As there were no items for sale, Xiaoxiao could not get any points from opening this bookstore, but she did not care. Moreover, she had just obtained 500,000 points for the new rice seeds. She was very rich now.

Besides, what was the point of earning money? It was for happiness!

She was very happy now, and everyone was very happy.. Wasn’t that enough?