RPAGF Chapter 275 Buying Pens, Ink, Paper and Inkstones for Little 9
Chapter 275 Buying Pens, Ink, Paper and Inkstones for Little 9
Chapter 275 Buying Pens, Ink, Paper and Inkstones for Xiao Jiu
With such rough paper, offering fifteen coins for a copy? Who are you trying to fool?
Presumably, the family that copied the book was poor and couldn't afford good paper, so they used such rough paper. Judging from the waiter's personality, he was the type to dictate prices to different people, so he must have tried to bargain down the price.
And when Xiao Jiu asked about the price just now, his first reaction was to hold up one hand and show five. Then he realized what he was doing and immediately used two fingers to show ten. It was obvious that he originally bought the books for five coins each.
Such beautiful characters, painstakingly copied out. The copyist must have been desperate for money and put in a lot of effort to copy them carefully, but they didn't even get a few copper coins in return.
She said, "These are indeed beautiful characters, but the paper is very rough. I suppose your study didn't cost much back then, right?"
The shop assistant paused slightly, his expression changing almost imperceptibly. He quickly said, "Young lady, you can't say that. Our bookstore is well-known throughout the county, and our prices are quite fair compared to others. The profit margin on books is very low; we don't earn more than a few copper coins. If you really want them, I'll give you nineteen copper coins per book."
Nineteen coins per book is quite expensive. Buying ten handwritten books would cost one hundred and ninety coins. If you also buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, it will cost even more. You can buy ordinary paper, but you need to buy better writing brushes and ink so that your handwriting will look good.
"Ten coins a copy. If that's acceptable, we'll buy a few more. If not, you can keep them in your shop and sell them slowly while we look for other ones."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's face suddenly turned very ugly. Who sells handwritten books for ten coins a copy?
This price is too low; the shopkeeper won't make much profit, and he certainly won't be willing to accept it!
He took a deep breath, his tone somewhat unpleasant, "Alright then, go look elsewhere."
Lin Xiaotang and Xiao Jiu were stunned for a moment, then immediately led Xiao Yu out of the study.
No wonder there are so few customers in this bookstore. So this is the attitude. Even if a deal doesn't go through, you can't treat your customers like this.
To put it bluntly, they still think they are poor and stingy, and feel that they can't make much money from them, so they don't care about the fate of their three children.
After the three of them left the study, Xiao Jiu said, "Xiao Tang, there's no rush to study. I can save some money first..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Xiaotang immediately objected, "No, you have to pick up the book again right away. Take advantage of your young age and sharp mind now, it will be easier to learn and remember. It will be difficult to learn when you get older."
Seeing how much she cared for her and thought of her, Xiao Jiu felt a warm current flowing through her heart and was inexplicably happy.
He silently relaxed his clenched fist, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. He nodded to Xiao Tang and said, "Okay, Xiao Tang said I should start learning now, so I'll pick it up and start learning."
Xiao Yu, looking up at him with a bewildered expression, asked, "Can I learn to read and write with Ninth Brother?"
Lin Xiaotang playfully pinched Xiaoyu's nose and said, "Okay, but it's better if your older sister teaches you personally."
After all, women here are not allowed to serve as officials in the imperial court. Xiao Jiu's studies are all about things that are helpful for the imperial examinations. These things are useful to students like them, but they are not so useful to Xiao Yu. She can teach Xiao Yu to read and write, so that she can become a wise woman in the future, a woman who does not depend on others, who can control her own destiny, and walk a different path.
Xiaoyu had always thought her older sister was very capable, unlike the other girls in the village. Many girls in the village who were older than her sister could only do their jobs honestly and dutifully according to their families' arrangements, and they didn't know anything else. But her sister was different. Her sister was smart and knew how to take her parents and her out to do business. Moreover, their family was the first to be able to afford a house in town and even opened a shop in the county. Her sister deserves the most credit for everything they have today!
She nodded obediently to her older sister, "Big sister, you're so much better. You can learn without even studying. I'd love to learn from you."
Xiao Jiu: "..."
So he's not smart, which is why she doesn't want to learn from him?
Having been bought into the Lin family for so long, and after spending these days together, he had to admit that Xiao Tang had extraordinary abilities. At such a young age, she had a business mind and sound judgment. It seemed that any matter became simple when it came to her. As long as she came up with an idea, everyone could make money by following it.
It must be admitted that he was a few years older than Xiaotang and was far inferior to her in many ways.
Looking at the outstanding Xiaotang, and then at himself who was several years older than her but inferior to her in every way, he was deeply discouraged by the contrast.
Alas, if I want to become outstanding and walk alongside Xiaotang now, I can only do my best in my current tasks and study hard to obtain official recognition.
He hopes that one day he can get back his indenture, regain his freedom, pass the imperial examinations, expose the true face of corrupt officials, punish his uncle and aunt who slandered his mother, ruined her reputation, caused her death, and sold him into slavery, and seek justice for himself and his deceased mother!
Lin Xiaotang held her sister's hand and walked through the market instead of taking the carriage.
Xiao Jiu led the carriage behind the two sisters. Seeing Xiao Tang wandering aimlessly, he couldn't help but remind her, "Xiao Tang, didn't you want to visit Miss Wang? It's already this late, why aren't you in a hurry at all?"
Lin Xiaotang sighed and said, "I don't know her preferences either. Her father is the richest man in town, Wang Dahu. I can't think of any gift to buy her as a greeting gift right now. What if she really is helping us behind the scenes? If I buy something cheap and unimpressive, it won't be presentable. Even if it's just a coincidence and she's not helping us, it's still a bit inadequate to give her a gift."
She couldn't afford jewelry, let alone antiques and jade. Then she checked her pockets and found she only had a little money, the result of her whole family's hard work and frugality. She couldn't possibly buy an expensive gift to show off without batting an eye.
After hearing Xiaotang's concerns, Xiao Jiu understood what was troubling her and offered her guidance.
"Xiao Tang, you don't need to worry about this at all. You and Miss Wang were kidnapped to the same place and escaped together. You have a bond of friendship that you went through thick and thin together. The fact that she is willing to associate with you proves that she doesn't care about your ordinary status. If she is secretly helping you, it proves that she is extremely kind. In that case, she won't care whether the gift you give is expensive or not, as long as the etiquette is appropriate."
Lin Xiaotang thought to herself, "That makes sense."
Wang Jiaojiao grew up in luxury and wouldn't care about material possessions. If she really wanted to be friends with me, she definitely wouldn't care that I came from the countryside.
Even Xiao Jiu understands this principle, so why is she, who has lived two lives, still struggling with it?
Once she understood, everything became clear. She smiled and said, "I know, but I still want to buy her a gift. Let's continue looking for a bookstore."
Perhaps she could buy two storybooks and give them to Wang Jiaojiao.
Rich girls usually stay at home all their lives and don't know much about the outside world. If you buy them a couple of books that can broaden their horizons and knowledge, they might really like them.
The key issue is that she spent too little time with Wang Jiaojiao and didn't really understand Wang Jiaojiao's preferences.