Chapter 8, On the Shelf

Zhang Mingxuan raised his eyebrows and said to Zhang Jun: "Brother, as soon as you enter the bookstore, you look for the proprietress. Is your heart in turmoil?"

Li Qingya clapped her hands after putting all the books back in place and said to Zhang Mingxuan: "Take good care of the store!"

Zhang Jun was suddenly struck as if by a hammer, taking two steps back, and in a daze, he asked: "Has he left? Where has he gone?"

Before long, the entire bookshelf was left in disarray by him. In literature, there is "Zhu Xian"; in history, there is "Zhu Xian"; in poetry, there is "Zhu Xian"; in folklore, there is also "Zhu Xian"; and in the classic works of great scholars, there is still "Zhu Xian", all placed in the most prominent positions. Zhang Mingxuan clapped his hands in satisfaction, feeling extremely pleased with his arrangement, believing that good things should be displayed in the most conspicuous places. A pile of books he had cleared away was scattered haphazardly in the corner.

Zhang Mingxuan nodded repeatedly with a smile, as this is the beginning of his career and he must do it well

Zhang Mingxuan took the book "Zhu Xian" from the bookshelf and handed it to Zhang Jun, enticingly saying: "Look! There are fairies inside!"

Gao Shan respectfully said to Li Qingya, "I will take my leave now."

Zhang Jun's expression fluctuated twice, and upon hearing this, the fairy's eyes brightened by two degrees.

After Li Qingya entered the backyard, Zhang Mingxuan began to take action, swiftly untying the ropes. He removed all the books from the prominent position and replaced them with his own "Zhu Xian".

Went to the backyard

After a while, Li Qingya walked over with a tray, placed it on the counter, and said to Zhang Mingxuan: "Eat up"

Zhang Mingxuan immediately became anxious. Although he had only been here for two days, this place truly gave him a sense of home. Li Qingya was also very tolerant and generous. If he were to leave this place, Zhang Mingxuan really did not know what he would do

Zhang Jun's eyes flashed, "Good book?!" However, the other party refused, saying: "What good book? I only read the words of great scholars and timeless classics"

Li Qingya said: "As for the works displayed in the Wild Hearing District, that can be overlooked. However, in prominent locations of other districts, there are the masterpieces of great figures throughout history, such as Laozi's 'Tao Te Ching', Confucius's 'Analects', Guiguzi's 'Strategies of the Warring States', as well as the poetry collection of the Qinglian Recluse, 'Collection of Yuefu Poems', and many other significant and even timeless works, the words of the sages! Do you think that by removing them all or even tossing them into a corner and replacing them with your 'Zhu Xian', you are implying that 'Zhu Xian' is superior to all of them?"

Zhang Mingxuan urgently said: "Qingya, I was wrong, I truly realize my mistake. I will return those classic works of the sages to their original place right now"

Quietly said to Zhang Jun: "A new good book has arrived at the bookstore, would you like to take a look?"

Zhang Mingxuan noticed that Li Qingya seemed to no longer be angry, scratched his head, and chuckled, "It will be, it will be"

After Li Qingya entered the room, she said to Zhang Mingxuan: "I will go prepare dinner, you arrange the books."

Zhang Mingxuan happily said: "Alright! Let me go wash my face."

Zhang Jun's heart sank, and he quickly walked to the counter to ask Zhang Mingxuan inside: "Where is the original owner?"

Taking the "Zhu Xian" from Zhang Mingxuan's hands, he mocked, "What a bold claim, Zhu Xian! I would like to see how you intend to slay the immortals!"

As he spoke, Zhang Mingxuan ran towards the corner, anxiously taking down the stack of books, hastily replacing the one on the shelf titled "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

Zhang Mingxuan chuckled and said, "This is a rare, out-of-print book that I obtained through special channels! Follow me."

Zhang Mingxuan, however, did not feel the strength of his struggle and was unexpectedly pulled away by Zhang Mingxuan

Li Qingya looked at Zhang Mingxuan, who was sweating profusely with anxiety, and her expression softened as she said: "Alright, put down all the books, let me handle it! The positions are all wrong; the 'Tao Te Ching' is placed in the poetry section, and the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' is in the literature section. You really need to learn how to recognize characters."

Wait! Did you go to the backyard? It's just behind the bookstore

Zhang Jun glared at Zhang Mingxuan and said: "You are playing me!"

Zhang Mingxuan was also taken aback, and then he quickly realized that this was yet another suitor of the elegant sister. He immediately said irritably, "I'm leaving!"

Zhang Mingxuan took the initiative to jump down and open the door, Gao Shan also jumped down, taking out the small stool from under the cart and placing it at the exit. Li Qingya, holding Yaya, stepped down from the carriage using the stool, while Gao Shan immediately jumped onto the carriage, took two bundles of new books from inside, and followed Li Qingya inside.

Li Qingya gently brushed away the dust from the surface of the books and diligently returned each book to its rightful place. Zhang Mingxuan could only stand nearby, chuckling to himself, feeling utterly unhelpful. In the end, the remaining copies of "The Legend of the Immortals" were all taken down by Li Qingya. Fortunately, the copies of "The Legend of the Immortals" in the area of strange tales and wild monster legends were still placed prominently. Ultimately, Li Qingya acknowledged that "The Legend of the Immortals" is indeed a good novel.

Li Qingya said solemnly: "What the bookstore sells is not merely books, but knowledge; it is the Dao! And these cannot be measured by money. If you cannot understand this, then please leave!"

Zhang Mingxuan chuckled and walked out from behind the counter, embracing Zhang Jun's shoulders and saying: "Brother, don't be angry! Anger harms the body!"

What does it mean? Zhang Mingxuan looked at Li Qingya with confusion

Zhang Mingxuan watched Li Qingya walk into the backyard, let out a sigh, and threw himself into the chair behind the counter, of course, it was the old chair from before; he dared not sit in the new chair, as Li Qingya had already declared ownership of it

Looking at Li Qingya's serious expression, Zhang Mingxuan lowered his head and said softly, "I believe Zhu Xian can sell better."

Zhang Jun is a student at the academy, but his family is not particularly wealthy; they can be considered an ordinary family. He is a regular customer at Qingyun Bookstore, not only because the books there are inexpensive and can be read for free, but also because there is a beautiful proprietress. The thought of the bookstore's proprietress makes Zhang Jun involuntarily let out a laugh; being able to share a room with her is also a kind of happiness

Zhang Jun's face was flushed as he said, "Let go of me, let go of me."

As Zhang Jun approached the bookstore, he couldn't help but quicken his pace. Upon entering the bookstore, he looked towards the counter, but instead of the beautiful figure he had envisioned, he was met with a rough-looking man with short hair.

Zhang Mingxuan jogged into the backyard, while Li Qingya began to walk around the bookshelf. When Zhang Mingxuan returned from the backyard, he started to eat, and Li Qingya continued to gaze at the bookshelf.

Zhang Jun murmured, "I have gone to the backyard!"

Li Qingya nodded slightly, and Gao Shan slowly retreated, as this was the proper conduct for a servant. Zhang Mingxuan merely chuckled, as that fellow did not regard himself as a servant at all

Zhang Jun's face turned red as he said: "I did not!"

Zhang Mingxuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Understood, understood, we are all men!"

Zhang Mingxuan shrugged indifferently, saying that this is the good thing about online novels. The only fear is that you won't read them; once you do, there's no escaping! The works of great authors are not afraid of you not following them!

Once Zhang Mingxuan finished his meal, Li Qingya looked at him and said: "This is too much!"

The carriage moved slowly along the wide and tidy avenue, yet there was not the slightest sensation of vibration, even more stable than the automobiles of later generations. The distance from the bookstore to the bookshop was not far, and in just a moment, the carriage came to a stop in front of the bookstore.