Chapter 444: Literary Gentility

Tan Fucheng hired more than a dozen rickshaws and took everyone to Yanshazhai.

Along the way, he didn't say another word. The accompanying escorts also kept silent. In front of these rickshaw pullers, Tan Fucheng and the others felt self-conscious about their own perceived vulgarity.

Li Banfeng was curious why there was anything to be self-conscious about. Tan Fucheng was usually quite carefree; why did he suddenly seem to dislike himself today?

Lu Chunying and Lu Yuanxin seemed unaffected.

"Alas."Li Banfeng heard another sigh.

The rickshaw puller lowered the shafts and said to Tan Fucheng, "The so-called destination is merely a brief pause in the journey. After the pause, people will eventually embark on a new one. The cycle of life is just a landscape along the way; only the footsteps taken during the journey are the unchanging eternal."

Tan Fucheng bowed deeply and instructed his subordinates, "From now on, don't mention that I've pulled a rickshaw. I truly don't deserve to."

Yanshazhai was a study, housing tens of thousands of books, and also functioning as an inn. Many scholars came here to read and, unable to put their books down, would take up residence in the study.

This accommodation was chosen by Xiao Yeci, who had longed to visit Yanshazhai for a long time. Upon seeing the stacked bookshelves in the book tower, Xiao Yeci's breathing quickened.

"Mom, your face is red and you're sweating.""Mommy loves it here!""Mom, let's arrange our rooms first. Brother Tan seems to be at a loss for words."

Tan Fucheng stood at the study's front desk, his face drenched in sweat from anxiety. Xiao Yeci walked up and politely said, "We'd like ten rooms."

Behind the front desk stood a young woman with the standard Puluozhou "schoolgirl bob," a short hairstyle unique to female students.

She wore a long, blue-green gown, similar in style to a qipao but looser, not emphasizing the waist. It was a women's student uniform unique to Puluozhou.

The woman looked at Xiao Yeci and asked in a low, profound voice, "Humans are merely transient guests in time. Why must you insist on staying here?"

Xiao Yeci replied frankly, "The books here deeply attract me. I've come with a devout mind to study and wish to stay here for a while."

The young woman nodded and said, "The study has superior, standard, and basic rooms. Which kind would you like to choose?"

Although no one revealed their identities on this trip to Moxiang Shop, they were all people of status, so the accommodation couldn't be too poor.

Xiao Yeci said, "We'd like to stay in a superior room."

The woman asked, "Is choosing a superior room for the sake of pleasure?"

"Indeed! I'm here to study; how can I be picky about accommodation?" Xiao Yeci felt very ashamed and quickly corrected herself, "Then a standard room will do."

The woman frowned, "Is changing to a standard room merely an act of feigned mediocrity?"

Xiao Yeci was put in a difficult position: "Are you suggesting I choose a basic room? Wouldn't that be... not ideal?"

The woman's brow furrowed even deeper: "Are you truly so covetous of vanity? If it's merely for pleasure and vanity, the outside world is so prosperous; why did you come to Moxiang Shop? Why do you even want to stay in a study?"

Xiao Yeci lowered her head, her face filled with shame: "I was indeed presumptuous..."

"Not presumptuous; your intention to study is impure."

Xiao Yeci felt even more ashamed, nodding repeatedly, "Then a basic room will be fine for us."

The woman looked at Xiao Yeci with disappointment: "Did you choose a basic room out of stinginess with money? Or is it an insult to the study?"

"I, I didn't!" At this point, even Xiao Yeci didn't know what to say.

"Alas."Li Banfeng heard another sigh.

Xiao Yeci stammered, unable to speak. Lu Yuanxin glanced at Lu Chunying, preparing to use unconventional methods.

Lu Chunying nodded.

Lu Yuanxin walked to the counter and said to the woman, "Open ten superior rooms, and have your staff come collect our luggage."

The woman looked at Lu Yuanxin and asked, "Are you choosing a superior room for pleasure or for vanity?"

Lu Yuanxin tapped the table, and a spherical object appeared on it.

The woman initially thought it was an egg, but after a moment, the "egg" suddenly unfolded, revealing numerous tiny legs.

It wasn't an egg; it was a coiled millipede.

The millipede uncoiled itself and slowly crawled across the counter.

The woman gasped and stepped back two paces, saying, "Is this a blasphemy against knowledge, or an insult to scholars?"

"This is my warning to you. I want ten superior rooms." Lu Yuanxin tapped the table again, and the millipede crawled onto the woman's face.

The woman quickly arranged the rooms, and everyone checked in. Xiao Yeci, however, felt a bit sad: "My dear, is Mommy's intention truly impure?" "Mommy, you are the purest. Don't mind that person!"

By noon, after everyone had eaten, Xiao Yeci took Lu Chunying to the study to read, while Li Banfeng went out alone to stroll around.

Moxiang Shop had a quiet prosperity, which was very different from Lushui City.

The streets weren't wide, and shops were lined up closely, but not a single one had staff shouting for business outside.

To buy something, you first needed to understand the signboard, then the quality of the goods, and only then discuss the price with the shopkeeper.

Bargaining also lacked disputes or loudness; it was all a poetic negotiation.

"This pen should have a suitable owner. Once you see my handwriting, you'll understand this truth: I am its owner." "I believe you and this pen shared a connection in a past life, but if you're still hesitating and deliberating over twenty yuan, I think your destiny in this life ends here."

These were still considered direct. There were other shops whose signboards Li Banfeng couldn't even understand.

For instance, "Footwear Workshop" might lead someone to think it was a place for foot washing, but it actually sold socks.

Or "Flower Blowing Pavilion," which someone might enter intending to "blow something," but it was actually a shop selling toothbrushes and toothpaste, where after brushing, even your breath would smell like flowers.

For example, "Lu Family Bookstore" looked like an ordinary bookshop, but it actually sold old newspapers.

That's odd. Moxiang Shop also has a Lu Family Bookstore? Was it a coincidence of names, or had a branch opened here?

Li Banfeng pushed the door and entered the bookstore, finding that although the shop wasn't large, its decor and layout were identical to the bookstores in Lushui City and Yaowanggou.

Shopkeeper Lu came forward to greet him: "Mr. Li, long time no see!"

The shopkeeper was also the same person.

Li Banfeng smiled, "Shopkeeper Lu, have you opened a new shop?"

Shopkeeper Lu shook his head, "This isn't a new shop. Moxiang Shop is my hometown, and this is my family's old establishment. It's Chinese New Year, so I came back to visit. Mr. Li, are you here to buy newspapers again?"

Li Banfeng shook his head, "Not newspapers, I want to look at books." "Please, this way!"

Li Banfeng was a regular customer, so he was free to browse books. Shopkeeper Lu specifically brought him a chair and poured him tea.

"Mr. Li, what kind of books would you like to see?"

"Local books."

Shopkeeper Lu pulled out over a dozen books from the shelf and placed them on the table. Li Banfeng flipped through them one by one and took a liking to a set of books titled "The Sagacious Scholar."

This was a two-volume biography, recounting anecdotes from the life of a gifted scholar whose destiny was intertwined with wisdom.

This "Sagacious Scholar" was born in Moxiang Shop. Li Banfeng looked through other books and found that this scholar frequently appeared in Moxiang Shop's local literature, absolutely qualifying as a legendary figure in the area.

This person was exceptionally intelligent, able to guess others' intentions in a few words and spot their flaws with a few probing questions. Not only was he extraordinarily talented, but he was also skilled in both scholarship and combat, carrying a "Judge's Brush" that he could use for writing and as a weapon.

Li Banfeng bought the first volume and folded a page in the second volume, leaving it at the bookstore.

When he went to pay at the door, Shopkeeper Lu saw that Li Banfeng had only bought the first volume and quickly told his assistant to bring the second one: "Mr. Li, how can you read a book halfway? I'll give you the second volume."

Li Banfeng stopped the assistant, saying, "No need to be polite. I'm not buying it because it's too expensive; it's just too troublesome to carry around. I'll come back to buy the second volume after I've finished the first."

Shopkeeper Lu said, "Allow me to ask one more question, Mr. Li. Among all these local books, why did you particularly fancy 'The Sagacious Scholar'?"

Li Banfeng replied, "Because this book truly captures the local flavor. I've just arrived at Moxiang Shop, and I'm not quite used to this place yet."

Shopkeeper Lu smiled, "Mr. Li, it's not just you. I was born in Moxiang Shop, and when I come back after doing business outside for a year or so, I also feel unaccustomed. Have you run into some trouble?"

"I actually have." Li Banfeng recounted the incident at Yanshazhai. "Shopkeeper Lu, does that woman at the study actually want to do business? Why does she make it so difficult for customers?"

Shopkeeper Lu said, "Of course, she wants to do business. If you all choose superior rooms, she'd make more money, and she'd certainly be happy. But happiness aside, she can't show it, or people would think she's obsessed with money and lacks the integrity of a scholar. When she asked if choosing superior rooms was out of vanity, you should have replied that it was out of reverence and respect for the study. That would have been the correct answer. But then you said you wanted to switch to a standard room, which meant less money for her, so she'd definitely be unhappy. And then you said you wanted a basic room, making it a very difficult business transaction for her."

Li Banfeng frowned, "If she wants to do business properly, why doesn't she just state things clearly from the start?"

Shopkeeper Lu shook his head and chuckled, "That's the rule in Moxiang Shop. If you speak too directly, people will consider it vulgar."

It seemed there was much to learn here. Li Banfeng left with his book. With no other customers in the shop, Shopkeeper Lu returned the books to the shelf and was about to take a nap when a man in a white long gown and a white top hat walked in.

"Sir, are you buying books?"

He Jiaqing shook his head and said, "I'd like a few newspapers."

"I don't sell new newspapers here."

"I naturally came here to buy old newspapers."

Shopkeeper Lu added, "What I sell isn't waste paper either."

He Jiaqing nodded, "I understand the pricing."

After buying a few newspapers, He Jiaqing left the bookstore. Seeing that it was still early, he hailed a rickshaw and went to Xiaoyao Dock; Jiang Mengting had a special performance that afternoon.

Li Banfeng walked the streets all afternoon, gaining a general understanding of Moxiang Shop's layout.

It was a sizable city with crisscrossing streets and distinct characteristics. The architecture was antique, the population considerable, and various industries were quite developed, offering numerous business opportunities. However, as Ma Wu had said, doing business here required understanding the temperament of scholars.

For example, if you wanted to sell general goods, the shop could be called "Exquisite Treasure Pavilion," but if it were named "X Store General Goods," it would surely have no business.

If one wished to open a pleasure house, the women needed talent and charm. Things should naturally progress when feelings deepened. If intimacy came before emotions were fully developed, it would be considered disrespectful to scholars.

There was a poetry society ahead.

Poetry societies existed elsewhere too; poets regularly gathered to form one, which wasn't unusual in Puluozhou.

However, the poetry society in Moxiang Shop was different. It was a type of commercial establishment, specifically a matchmaking business.

From the storefront alone, the poetry society resembled a teahouse, but the establishment provided the Four Treasures of the Study and arranged for men and women to sit opposite each other, "visiting friends through poetry."

A blond, blue-eyed man had just finished writing a poem and recited it with clear articulation: "I wish to gaze into your eyes, I wish to hold your arm, I wish to press close to your cheek, I wish to guard your heart. I truly love you, great Moxiang Shop!"

The young women present offered their critiques:"Vulgar phrasing!""Crude language!""Hoarse delivery!""Utterly unsophisticated!"

Amidst the young women's criticisms and disdainful looks, Cui Tik walked out of the poetry society in annoyance, coincidentally encountering Li Qi.

Cui Tik exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence, to run into you here!"

Li Banfeng also felt surprised: "What are you doing here?"

Cui Tik said, "I'm studying the culture of Puluozhou. Moxiang Shop is the pinnacle of Puluozhou culture. I love Moxiang Shop."

Li Banfeng asked, "Did you change your tattoo?"

Cui Tik pulled open his lapel, revealing five large characters: "That is inevitable."

"You just changed it so casually? Aren't you afraid your grandmaster will see it?"

Cui Tik re-tied his lapel and said, "When he arrives, I'll change it back."

Li Banfeng looked at the poetry society: "This seems to be a place for matchmaking. Do you want to settle down in Moxiang Shop?"

Cui Tik sighed, "I have that intention, but the young women of Puluozhou don't like foreigners."

As he spoke, a blister swelled on Cui Tik's face.

Li Banfeng stepped back half a pace. Cui Tik waved his hand, indicating he meant no harm.

The blister burst, and green fluid transformed into a tiny emerald-green figure with wings, flying to Li Banfeng's ear and whispering:

"I have a business matter I'd like to discuss with you." Cui Tik looked at Li Banfeng with genuine sincerity.

Li Banfeng pushed up his hat brim with a finger, revealing his eyes, and gestured for Cui Tik to continue.

Cui Tik, controlling the little green figure, slowly said, "Chu Shaoqiang is coming; he wants the territory of Moxiang Shop. The Grandmaster is also arriving soon; he wants Chu Shaoqiang's life. One of your good friends is also on his way, and I have some news about him."

PS: Why did Chu Shaoqiang choose Moxiang Shop? No matter how the world changes, I love my dear readers the most!