nucmednet Chapter 315 Bookstore Opening
Chapter 315 Bookstore Opening
The King of Qin narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought for a moment. After a while, he turned to Ying Wuyou and said solemnly, "At present, the imperial examination is of paramount importance, concerning the future rise and fall of the Great Qin. Although printing technology has immeasurable value and is a good thing for the world, there are many complicated matters in the court that need to be considered in a coordinated manner. Let's put this matter aside for now, and after the imperial examination, we can convene the court to discuss it in detail and fully implement it, so as to maximize its effectiveness."
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou nodded obediently, his voice clear and respectful: "Your subject understands Father's considerations and will certainly do his best to prepare for the imperial examination, so as not to disappoint Father's expectations."
Then, Ying Wuyou, holding a newly printed classic text in both hands, slowly walked to the King of Qin. The text exuded a faint fragrance of ink, a unique aroma born from the fusion of knowledge and culture. The paper was clean and smooth, the pages neatly arranged, each line of text meticulously placed; the handwriting was clear and sharp, as if every stroke contained boundless wisdom and power.
The King of Qin reached out and took the classic text, his gaze instantly drawn to its exquisite layout. His eyes revealed undisguised satisfaction, and a subtle hint of gratification also appeared on his face. Before this, the King of Qin had harbored some concerns. He was determined to implement the imperial examination system, to recruit talented individuals from across the land, to inject new vitality into the development of Qin, and to lead the nation to prosperity through the advancement of its skilled people.
However, reality stood like an insurmountable wall before him. Those classic texts, historical records, philosophical works, and literary collections—essential materials for preparing for the imperial examinations—were mostly firmly controlled by powerful families and noble families. For ordinary people, life was hard; they toiled and struggled to make a living, having neither the means nor the resources to acquire these precious books. To obtain even a single copy was virtually impossible.
Those aristocratic families, relying on their vast accumulated wealth and high status, should have shouldered the social responsibility of spreading culture, benefiting the people, and leading social progress and development. However, they were selfish and self-serving, treating these precious cultural resources as their own private property, tightly guarding them, and unwilling to give even the slightest opportunity to those from poor backgrounds with no connections.
Under their manipulation, powerful families passed down their wealth and status from generation to generation, becoming increasingly secure, like deeply rooted trees firmly planted in the soil of society, unshakeable. Meanwhile, the vast majority of ordinary people could only struggle at the bottom of society, suffocated by the heavy burdens of life, with no hope of ever rising above their circumstances. Whenever he thought of this, the King of Qin felt deeply troubled, a lump in his throat, and a strong sense of mission and responsibility welled up within him.
The advent of printing was like a ray of dawn piercing the darkness, bringing new hope. With the continuous improvement and application of this technology, a vast number of books could be rapidly reproduced, springing up like mushrooms after rain; coupled with the continuous advancement of papermaking technology, paper became cheaper and more readily available. This revolution meant that ordinary people, as long as they were literate, could access a wealth of knowledge by purchasing or borrowing these printed scriptures, thus preparing themselves thoroughly for the imperial examinations. From then on, regardless of wealth or social status, everyone had the opportunity to shine on the stage of the imperial examinations through their own talent and hard work, changing their own and their family's destiny.
Thinking of this, how could the King of Qin not be filled with excitement? Before his eyes appeared a magnificent picture of prosperity and abundant talent: across the vast lands of Qin, countless scholars from humble backgrounds, harboring dreams, studied diligently, entered officialdom through the imperial examinations, and contributed their strength to the development of Qin; in the court, wise men gathered, each expressing their opinions and jointly devising strategies for the prosperity of Qin; the entire nation, driven by talent, enjoyed economic prosperity, cultural flourishing, and the people living in peace and contentment. And he himself had become one of the key architects of this grand blueprint, leading Qin towards an even more glorious future.
After finishing her conversation with the King of Qin, Ying Wuyou slowly rose, bowed to the King of Qin, and then left Zhangtai Palace with light steps.
From that day on, Ying Wuyou devoted most of her energy to preparing for the imperial examination. Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, she would already be busy.
Meanwhile, the bookstore she had previously commissioned to open also opened successfully. Located in a bustling area of Xianyang, the bookstore was spacious and bright, with bookshelves neatly arranged with all kinds of books. Since many students had recently been struggling to find books on classics, history, philosophy, mathematics, and law, they were overjoyed to hear that a new bookstore had opened in Xianyang and flocked there in groups.
The news spread like wildfire among the students. One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and before long, almost everyone in Xianyang knew that a bookstore called "Da Qin Bookstore" had opened in the west of the city. Excitement shone in people's eyes, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope to solve their immediate problems. So, everyone eagerly flocked there, wanting to see for themselves if the bookstore had the books they wanted. In no time, the streets were bustling with people, a lively scene, the sounds of footsteps and conversations mingling together.
The moment these students stepped into the bookstore, they were stunned by what they saw. The store was spacious and bright, with bookshelves neatly arranged, and stacks of thick classics and historical texts displayed in perfect order, as if a treasure trove of knowledge was laid out before them without reservation.
Many students, due to poverty, had endured hardship from a young age, unable to afford sufficient classics and historical texts for their studies. They often shared precious books, carefully turning the pages for fear of damaging them in the slightest. Now, seeing such a vast collection of books, so diverse and comprehensive, how could they not be overjoyed? Their faces beamed with happiness, their eyes glistening with tears of excitement, as if those who had long wandered in darkness had finally found the light.
However, an even bigger surprise was yet to come. Some sharp-eyed students noticed that, in addition to the usual classics and historical texts, the bookshelves also displayed a large number of books on mathematics and law. This was undoubtedly fantastic news for students with a strong interest in mathematics and law who had struggled to find relevant study materials. Their eyes lit up, and they excitedly wandered among the bookshelves, carefully selecting their favorite books. Students who had initially just come to join the fun were now also attracted by the rich collection and became extremely excited, joining in the book-selection process.
Before long, the reputation of Daqin Bookstore spread far and wide. Students whose homes lacked books, filled with a thirst for knowledge, flocked to the bookstore. Upon entering, they eagerly picked up books and began to peruse them. The bookstore was bustling with activity, yet remarkably quiet, save for the occasional rustling of pages turning and the soft exclamations of students. This small space was imbued with a profound atmosphere of learning, like a temple of knowledge, nurturing countless dreams and hopes.