Chapter 2, Ancient Hall Bookstore

This ... ... fellow is somewhat in a difficult position

Tan Lingyin patted her chest and nodded

However, the man did not take the silver, but instead looked at Tan Lingyin and said, "Sister Lingyin, this young master is looking for Miao Miao Sheng. Do you... do you know where Miao Miao Sheng is now?"

The girl known as Lingyin has the surname Tan and is nineteen years old this year. Without raising her head, Tan Lingyin diligently scooped out the juice from the watermelon to drink, and then replied, "Not seen."

Tang Tianyuan was reluctant to leave, saying, "I haven't taken my book yet"

As he was speaking, the young man had already gathered the books he needed and placed them on the counter, counting them one by one: "One copy of 'The Grand View of Spring'; one copy of 'The Illustrated Edition of the Charming Wu Zetian'; one copy of 'Secrets from the Boudoir'; one copy of 'The Secret History of Longyang'..."

Tan Lingyin stood at the door, watching his receding figure, lost in thought

"Truly deserving of being a novelist, Sister Lingyin's storytelling skills are indeed remarkable!" Xiao Zhuang exclaimed in admiration

"Are you going to Tongling?" Elder Tang asked in surprise

Rest assured, I know how to exercise discretion

Foolish! Tan Lingyin shook her head in frustration, "I specifically inquired about this. When this county magistrate's house was raided, only silver was found, and there were less than a hundred taels of gold. As the mastermind or accomplice in the illegal gold mining, how could he not keep some for himself? Therefore, there is only one answer—"

Tan Lingyin rummaged through her pocket and took out a small object the size of a yellow soybean, opening her palm to show it to them

He hid the gold? Xiao Zhuang answered quickly

Another fellow chuckled, "Sister Lingyin has always been so unperturbed by praise or criticism, you know that well enough."

Although he did not understand, the man walked to the door and said to the scholar who was banging on the door outside, "Miao Miao Sheng never receives guests. Young master, please do not make it difficult for us. To speak frankly, your persistent insistence is likely to make her even less pleased."

Tan Lingyin was almost sick of hearing such talk. "It's not like I haven't seen money before," she said, rummaging through her purse and pulling out a handful of coins. "Take this money and buy yourself a new hat."

Tang Tianyuan feigned sincerity as he said, "I hold him in great admiration and have long been in spiritual communion with him. This time, passing through your esteemed place, I wish to meet him in person to fulfill a long-held desire." As he spoke, he took out a piece of gold.

Tang Tianyuan thought to himself that if he wanted to inquire about matters, he should buy some of the items from others. Without even looking, he swept his hand across the first half of the list and said, "Let me have one of each of these."

Tang Tianyuan, aside from wearing a crown, washed his face, yet his mood did not improve. In the capital, everyone treated him with courtesy; it was the first time in his life that someone had thrown a melon skin over his head. Looking at the culprit, a girl who could casually toss melon skins onto others' heads, she was certainly not someone easy to deal with. Seeing her approach with a grin, Tang Tianyuan snorted coldly and ignored her

The man finally moved. He raised his arm, as if removing a hat, and took off the large melon rind. Then, holding the rind and with his face covered in red juice, he looked expressionlessly at the three people in front of him

Xiao Zhuang exclaimed, "Are you saying that someone is illegally mining gold? This is a serious crime, and it could even lead to execution!" Once a gold mine is discovered, it will be mined and smelted by personnel dispatched from the Ministry of Revenue, and even local authorities cannot intervene.

Tan Lingyin realized that she had mistakenly reprimanded the wrong person and quickly put on a smile to apologize. The three of them welcomed Tang Tianyuan into the bookstore, and two assistants brought water, asking Tang Tianyuan to wash his face first

Tang Tianyuan supported his forehead and shook his head helplessly. The words of his brother, the second place in the imperial examination, made sense. In fact, regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, as long as there were many people wanting to read, the book would sell well. Given Miao Miao Sheng's limited integrity, he would probably write it without hesitation. He was originally a pervert who enjoyed engaging in same-sex relationships, so writing such a book would surely come easily to him.

Gold

Indeed, who has the ability and courage to privately mine gold?

Xiao Fang was indifferent, saying, "So what? People die for wealth, and birds die for food."

A fellow approached and said, "Sister Lingyin, since he admires you so much, why not meet him once?"

Another fellow brought a cup of tea, and Tang Tianyuan expressed his gratitude, saying, "I would like to inquire about a person."

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Fang both felt a bit dizzy. "According to your statement, the county magistrate is involved in the illegal mining of gold, but what does that have to do with us?"

What pushed Tang Tianyuan to the brink of tolerance was a rumor

Ling Yin pointed at her own eyes and said, "You all know that my eyes cannot see far; even a person two zhang away appears blurry to me. Whether someone is handsome or not has nothing to do with me"

The attendant busily explained from the side, "Young master, please do not take offense. Sister Lingyin's eyesight is not very good; she can only see things that are close by."

The murder case remains unsolved, and they are taking this opportunity to seal off the mountains. If one were to claim that the authorities are unaware, even a fool would not believe it. Moreover, the former county magistrate was recently impeached for corruption and has already been arrested. Such cases are generally handed over to the Ministry of Justice in the capital for interrogation; unfortunately, this corrupt official died unexpectedly while being transported to the capital.

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Fang hurriedly asked what the plan was

But it only stopped for a moment before it rang again

This is not difficult; the Gu Tang Bookstore is located in Tongling County, Chizhou Prefecture, and it can certainly be found.

Do you know where Miaomiao lives

In other words, to find Miao Miao Sheng, one should first look for Gu Tang Shu She

Tan Lingyin couldn't help but laugh out loud

Being pursued and teased all day by a group of young women has already made Tang Tianyuan quite uncomfortable. If he were to be followed by a group of断袖 (literally "broken sleeves", a term referring to homosexual men), the scene would be truly tragic, and he dares not imagine it

In summary, she is determined to infiltrate the county office, but she is unsure when the new county magistrate will arrive and what kind of person he will be

"Are you annoying or not? I have already said that Miao Miao never meets anyone! This time is just to teach you a lesson. If you dare to pester again, I will make you pay for it!" Tan Lingyin raised her voice and scolded.

Tang Tianyuan readily took out a piece of silver for him

Tang Tianyuan silently gazed at the meager copper coins. He truly did not want to pay any attention to this girl

The way your establishment welcomes guests is quite unique, he threw the melon rind on the ground, gritted his teeth, and said, "No wonder this is the place where Miao Miao published her book"

Everyone in the room felt somewhat irritable. With someone as persistent as a stubborn adhesive plaster, how could they possibly conduct business!

In the bookstore, a young woman is sitting at a table, with half a watermelon placed in front of her. She is using a small copper spoon to scoop out the watermelon. Much of the watermelon has already been eaten, leaving only the half-spherical rind, resembling a green gourd.

Tang Tianyuan fled in a panic

Tongling is nearly two thousand miles from the capital, and even the fastest horse would take three to four days to cover that distance. Tang Tianyuan requested a month off from Shangguan, telling his family that he wished to travel. He felt embarrassed to reveal his true purpose, but unfortunately, his servant was too talkative and accidentally let it slip.

Tan Lingyin touched her nose, her gaze wandering aimlessly

Old Tang did not expose him, merely saying, "Go ahead, it is time for you to gain some experience."

Have you heard? Miao Miao Sheng is going to write a Longyang novel! Early in the morning, Brother Bangyan dropped this news, leaving Tang Tianyuan feeling a bit dizzy.

"No matter who it is, they cannot be separated from the government," Tan Lingyin replied

First, the large-scale exchange of gold for silver will inevitably leave traces, making it easy to investigate; second, the value of one tael of gold is equivalent to ten taels of silver, and the same weight of silver is nearly twice the volume of gold... So, tell me, if one wishes to hide wealth, which is better for concealment, gold or silver

Two associates could not persuade her, so they had to bring up the boss. "Sister Lingyin, have you discussed this matter with the boss?" The owner of this bookstore is Tan Lingyin's younger brother, who is only one year younger than her

"Sister Lingyin, do you not like this young gentleman?" Xiao Zhuang inquired

However, he is quite handsome. Another fellow named Xiao Fang chimed in.

The attendant carefully brought over a list, saying, "Young master, what books would you like to purchase? These are all newly arrived at our store."

I am not sure about this; some say it is true while others say it is false. In any case, there are people who want to see it, and I hope Miao Miao Sheng writes it, as that must be true. At this point, Brother Bangyan could no longer contain himself, covering his mouth and laughing gleefully, while excitedly pounding the table.

Tan Lingyin nodded and said, "To be precise, this is a gold mine. This ore was found on Mount Tianmu."

Clever

Xiao Fang raised a question, "What if he exchanged all the gold for silver?"

It is imperative to prevent Miao Miao from being born

Is this ... ... gold? From its luster, it indeed resembles gold, but it is not pure gold; the surface is rough and contains quite a few impurities

A fellow gazed at the figure before him, filled with astonishment and uncertainty, "In just a short while, you have grown this tall?"

The person outside the door stood frozen as if struck by lightning, motionless and in shock. He wore a large straw hat that obscured his face, and his hand remained raised, maintaining the posture of knocking on the door

Two fellows suddenly opened the door, and Tan Lingyin, without even looking, raised the melon rind and aimed it at the person at the door.

Moreover, being fantasized about by a man with a broken sleeve and written into a Longyang novel is itself enough to make one feel as if sitting on pins and needles

Perhaps due to a guilty conscience, Tang Tianyuan always felt that his father's gaze was somewhat inscrutable

For the past two to three years, there have frequently been homicides occurring on Tianmu Mountain, and the authorities have been unable to solve these cases, leading them to temporarily close the mountain. Since then, human activity on Tianmu Mountain has ceased, and very few people visit.

Tan Lingyin was also quite impatient. Holding the melon rind, she exchanged glances with the two companions. The three of them moved in perfect harmony to the front of the door

After the surprise, Tang Tianyuan quickly regained his composure. He sat at his desk and calmly asked, "Really?"

The attendant packed the books and handed them to him, but Tang Tianyuan put down the money and did not take the books, saying, "You can keep them."

As soon as Cao Cao is mentioned, he arrives; this person is none other than the bookstore owner and the brother of Tan Lingyin, Tan Qingchen

I do not know, but in fact, I have a plan

Tan Lingyin saw Tan Qingchen and brought up this matter for discussion

Knock knock knock! This time it has changed from filming to knocking.

Tan Qingchen, upon hearing this, frowned and shook his head, then took up a pen and wrote on the paper: The water is deep, do not go.

The knocking at the door has indeed stopped

Chizhou, Tongling County

However, there is no other way; it seems that only she knows the whereabouts of Miaomiao. Just as Tang Tianyuan was about to sincerely express himself again, he was interrupted by the young lady, "There are many who admire him, and I will certainly convey your words. There is no need to meet. Xiao Zhuang, see our guest out."

Tan Qingchen was aware of his sister's stubborn temperament, so he ceased his persuasion and only reminded her to retreat immediately when the situation became unfavorable

The person being attacked before us is Tang Tianyuan. He has been hastily traveling south for two thousand miles over the past few days, and just arrived in Tongling to seek out this ancient Tang Bookstore, only to be unexpectedly welcomed in such a creative manner.

Tan Lingyin furrowed her brows and shook her head, stroking her chin as she said, "To be honest, I always feel that encountering him will bring me misfortune"

Tan Lingyin was just about to respond when a person happened to walk in from outside. The individual was tall and slender, dressed in a somewhat worn green Daoist robe, without a hat, only wearing a square scarf of the same color on his head. Although his attire was unremarkable, his appearance was striking; his face resembled a bright moon, with clear and handsome features, and a gentle smile habitually gracing the corners of his mouth

Xiao Zhuang responded with a sound, accompanying it with a smile, "Young Master, please go ahead"

Adjacent to the county office is a facade. In front stands a ginkgo tree, large enough for three or four people to embrace, with lush branches and leaves, gracefully providing shade. A plaque hangs above the door, inscribed with the words "Ancient Hall Book House." The inscription's origin is unknown, but it imitates the style of Huang Tingjian; however, in addition to Huang's concise and vigorous character, it also carries a hint of Su Dongpo's antiquity, making it quite intriguing.

The fellow, upon encountering such a straightforward client, hurried off to fetch the book

Of course, first, he must find this person

Another fellow said, "Could it be that they are not the same person?"

Tan Qingchen has been mute since childhood and cannot speak. Everyone who has met him feels regret for this, but he himself does not seem to care much about it

Upon hearing these words, Tan Lingyin seemed to recall something else, laughing even more heartily. Her laughter was crisp and melodious, truly reminiscent of the sound of bells.

Xiao Fang also means this

Once again, they are looking for Miao Miao Sheng! Tan Lingyin felt a bit of a headache; these people are truly something. It's just a script, and if you've seen it, you've seen it. Why must they insist on meeting the person in real life? For example, when dining at a restaurant, if the food is good, one can simply eat there a few more times; there is no need to meet the chef, right

Tan Lingyin squinted her eyes, slightly leaning her neck forward, looking at Tang Tianyuan with a forced smile

Tan Lingyin shook her head and sighed, "Summer insects cannot speak of ice"

Tan Lingyin tilted her head and sighed, saying softly, "You do not understand my difficulties." Her expression, reminiscent of a transcendent being, was perfectly portrayed; however, the watermelon juice at the corner of her mouth significantly diminished this aura.

This action, this expression, combined with that lewd and natural smile, seemed as if she would pounce on him to tease him at any moment. Tang Tianyuan was exceptionally vigilant in this regard; he took a small step back, looking at her, "What are you doing?"

"Stop, stop reading..." Tang Tianyuan's imposing manner immediately diminished as he quietly urged him to stop.

This ancient hall of books should be the time to welcome guests, yet the main door is tightly shut. At the entrance, a slender scholar persistently knocks on the door, saying, "Kind gentlemen, please allow me to meet with Miao Miao Sheng!"

Although Miao Miao Sheng conducts herself discreetly, making it difficult for others to grasp her whereabouts, Tang Tianyuan quickly discovered a clue: all of Miao Miao Sheng's books were printed and bound at a place called "Gu Tang Shu She." Therefore, this Gu Tang Shu She should be aware of her movements

Fortunately, Tang Tianyuan was wearing a crown today, so the watermelon juice only splashed on his hat and face, without getting on his hair

Please speak, young master

Xiao Zhuang nodded and asked, "Sister Lingyin, what do you want to write about recently?"

Tang Tianyuan felt increasingly embarrassed, his face slightly flushed. ... He could not explain it clearly now; who would have thought that at least half of the newly released books in a bookstore would be erotic novels? What kind of bookstore is this, after all?

The second place brother looked at him with sympathy, trying to suppress the smile that kept wanting to break through the corners of his mouth. Tang Tianyuan accurately captured his gloating from the twitching expression on his face: You have your day today, hahahaha!

Why did he die? It must be because he knew too much

Tang Tianyuan felt somewhat guilty, "I want to go south to take a look, not necessarily to any specific place"

Isn't Tianmu Mountain haunted

Young master, Miao Miao does not receive guests

"What a ghost story, it is merely a ruse to deceive others," Tan Lingyin scoffed, "If one wishes to privately mine for gold, naturally, one cannot allow idle people to come near.

"Indeed," Tan Lingyin snapped her fingers and summarized, "In short, the deceased county magistrate hid the gold, and this gold was not found during the confiscation. Now, our opportunity has come." After she finished speaking, she excitedly addressed them