nucmednet Chapter 483 Help! This is too delicious!
Chapter 483 Help! This is too delicious!
Lin Dasheng happened to meet a down-and-out scholar at the alley. Zhou Chengyan was squatting in the corner of the City God Temple, copying a letter from home on torn paper with residual ink.
"Sir!" Lin Dasheng shouted at the top of his voice, "Would you like to help me write a storybook? Fifty cents a day, and two meals of brown rice!"
Zhou Chengyan's hand holding the pen trembled violently, his Adam's apple moved as he asked, "Write... what to write?"
"Write what my niece says! If it's good, there's a reward!"
Zhou Chengyan sat at the wooden table, while Lin Zao Zao knelt on a low stool, his eyes bright and he kept talking:
"This scholar went to Beijing to take the imperial examination. While staying overnight in a deserted temple, he suddenly saw a woman in a white dress floating in the moonlight..."
Zhou Chengyan's pen tip moved quickly across the rice paper, and the ink soaked through the rough paper.
He had never written such a magnificent story, but the little girl's expression when describing it was as if she had really seen the scene in the painting.
The croaking of frogs began to rise outside the window, and the oil lamp had to be refilled three times. When Lin Zao Zao said, "The woman's fingertips touched the scholar's brow, and in an instant the temple turned into a jade building," he was shocked to realize that his wrist was sore and unbearable.
As the last stroke was made, it was already dark. Lin Dasheng took out fifty copper coins and pressed them hard on the back of his hand with his rough palm: "Good boy! This is a reward for you! Continue writing tomorrow!"
It took them five days to write two storybooks.
Lin Dasheng was holding two storybooks in his arms, and his coarse cloth collar was already soaked with sweat.
He clenched his fists and paced back and forth in the alley lined with bookstores.
The contemptuous looks of the previous shopkeepers when they glanced at the manuscript still stung his heart. Those people either thought the story was not interesting enough or the illustrations were too simple. The offer of ten taels of silver was not even a fraction of what he expected.
The gilded plaque of Juxian Bookstore glowed faintly in the twilight. Lin Dasheng gritted his teeth and pushed the door open as he walked in. The shopkeeper was looking at books behind the counter.
"Boss, take a look at these storybooks!" Lin Dasheng carefully unfolded the oil-paper wrapping, revealing two fresh volumes of manuscript paper. "They're all fresh stories I've never heard of before: a red-robed chivalrous woman stealing government silver at night, a poor scholar outsmarting a fox demon..."
The shopkeeper took it slowly and said, "Not bad, but the original book is only worth ten taels of silver. I'm afraid it would be difficult to get more."
Lin Dasheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "It's not easy for us either. How about fifteen taels?"
The shopkeeper looked at him and said, "This price is a bit high. How about this! I'll go upstairs and ask my young lady for instructions."
"That won't work. If you guys finish reading my manuscript, how can I make money?" Lin Dasheng was a little anxious.
The shopkeeper nodded and said, "Then wait here for me. I'll call my young lady down."
Lin Dasheng waited for a long time before he saw a woman in red slowly walking down. She flipped through a few pages and said:
"Manager Lin, go get us fifteen taels of silver. If you have any books like this in the future, please send them to us.
The price I offer is always higher than the market price.”
"Okay... okay!" Lin Dasheng felt like he was floating on air. They had earned fifteen taels in just two days. It was simply unbelievable.
The shopkeeper said, "Miss, I think these two books are really interesting. Can they make money?"
The woman in red smiled knowingly and said:
“The writing is admittedly not that great, but the story is quite original. Most importantly, there’s a new bookstore across the street.
I’m afraid our business will become increasingly difficult.”
"Siwan Bookstore?" The shopkeeper of Juxian Pavilion twirled his goatee and sneered, "It's just a small shop in a deep alley. What kind of waves can it make?"
The woman in red came closer to the counter and lowered her voice:
"Don't underestimate it! Every day, just after the hour of Mao, there are scholars with inkstones rushing there. Even Mr. Liu, who is obsessed with calligraphy and painting, has become a regular customer.
The most amazing thing is that you can browse the books in the store freely, and the owner never drives you away, and even gives you tea for free!
The shopkeeper frowned and said, "Ridiculous! How can we let a poor scholar waste paper and ink in vain? How long can we sustain such a loss-making business?"
Lin Wanwan was sitting on the third floor at this time and looked at Gu Sinian and said, "Brother Sinian, you are actually thinking of opening a bookstore?"
Gu Sinian patted her head and said, "Yes! I was thinking that I could come over and sit down when I have time. But this is my first time opening a bookstore, so I don't know if I can do well."
Lin Wanwan shook her head and said, "Of course it can't be done well. If books here are freely available, then no one will buy them, right?"
Gu Sinian sighed and said, "I've never done anything like this before, so I'm a bit overwhelmed."
Lin Wanwan chuckled and said, "Brother Si Nian, how about you let me manage the bookstore? I will definitely help you manage it."
"You? How old are you? This little girl is really...
"But it's not impossible if you want it. We can split the profits in half. I've already bought the bookstore." Gu Sinian looked at her and said.
Lin Wanwan nodded and said:
"Okay! I plan to rent books. If I need them, I can pay for them.
But we need to give us some rent, what do you think of this idea?"
"Hmm? You clever little thing. By the way, I brought you some pastries from the palace. I have eaten them all and tested them with silver needles. Do you want to try them?" Gu Sinian waved his hand.
Zhang Quande opened the lunch box with a "click" and found it was full of food.
The two exquisite pastries are very beautiful. One is called Jade Magnolia Pastry. The emerald green skin is crystal-clear, and when you bite it, you can see the sweet mung bean paste filling.
The other is the Rose Hibiscus Cake, which has a pink and white cake dotted with rose petals. It melts in your mouth and has a rich rose aroma.
A plate of Texas Braised Chicken is so fragrant that it makes you dizzy. The chicken skin has an amber glow and is so oily that it emits a fragrant aroma.
Lin Wanwan pulled gently, and the chicken came off the bones, and the golden chicken skin crackled in her mouth.
The chicken is so tender that it melts without chewing, and it’s salty and flavorful. The kids next door would cry with envy when they see it!
The most amazing thing is the Amber Buddha Jumps Over the Wall Jelly! A closer look reveals that it is filled with abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and soft and glutinous fish maw.
Lin Wanwan scooped a spoonful with a spoon. The jelly melted in her mouth, and the thick soup exploded on the tip of her tongue. The delicious flavors of various delicacies from land and sea mixed with the rich broth were so delicious that she almost swallowed her tongue!
Lin Wanwan took a bite of the rose hibiscus cake and her eyes lit up instantly: "Help! This is too delicious!"
She tore off another large piece of braised chicken and mumbled as she ate, "This chicken is amazing! The skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and it's juicy! This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is also delicious..."
As she spoke, the sauce touched the corner of her mouth, but she didn't bother to wipe it off and continued to attack the delicious food.
Gu Sinian couldn't help laughing when he saw her puffy cheeks.
He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of her mouth, his fingers accidentally touching her soft cheek.
Lin Wanwan tilted her little head up to look at him, her eyes full of stars.
Gu Sinian's heart melted, and he reached out and rubbed her head: "Do you like to eat? Next time, I'll empty out the imperial kitchen for you and prepare everything from snow yogurt to eight-treasure duck feet!"