Chapter 143 Bookstore
There is a fresh scent in the air, which is the unique smell of spring rain.
The spring rain is continuous, and the fine raindrops, like silk threads, gently fall on the ground. The mountains in the distance are looming in the rain, as if covered by a layer of gauze.
People are coming and going on the streets, holding oil-paper umbrellas, some walking hurriedly, some walking slowly.
Lin Youcai drove his mule cart to take his family to the Qingshui store, and then hurriedly drove the mule cart to the Qingshui government. If he didn't get a temporary ID card today, he would have to come again tomorrow.
Lin Zisu: "The spring rain continues without end! I didn't expect there would be so many people on the streets even on a rainy day."
"It's just a drizzle, it won't have much impact. What's more, today is Saturday." Lin Xianwen said as he walked into the bookstore.
Shen Xianglan: "You two should stop wandering around. I'm going to the pharmacy to check it out."
Lin Zisu: “Okay.”
Qingshui Bookstore is composed of three connected storefronts, one selling stationery and two selling books. Many staff members walk around the store, serving customers.
Lin Zisu found Lin Xianwen next to the bookshelf, "What are you looking at? Did you find the story book?"
Lin Xianwen raised the storybook in his hand, "This is a local storybook," he pointed to the side and lowered his voice, "Over there are four famous novels and online novels."
Lin Zisu opened her eyes wide, "She doesn't still have internet, does she? That's impossible... Is there a system?"
Lin Xianwen leaned over and whispered, "...Only the person involved knows this, but printing these books can make money. She has already established the country, and printing books should just enrich everyone's life."
Lin Zisu: "Speaking of this, where did you tell us about Journey to the West?"
Lin Xianwen: "About one third. Let me tell you, I haven't seen the rest of Journey to the West yet."
"When they can read, they can read by themselves." Lin Zisu looked at the price on the book. "It's not cheap! There are three volumes of Journey to the West, upper, middle and lower. They print and sell them in three volumes. One volume costs 50 yuan, which is equivalent to a day's wages."
Lin Xianwen: "Three books for 150 yuan, that's not cheap even nowadays!"
Lin Zisu glanced at the clerk next to them, who looked at them from time to time. He thought they would not think that they were whispering together to steal something. "I have read these books, so you don't need to buy them. These local books are cheap, 3 yuan each, buy a few to kill time."
Lin Xianwen: "Go ask the boss where you can sell your novel. We need someone to buy our novel!"
"Why don't you go?" Lin Zisu walked towards the counter with three storybooks. The counter was the one that sold stationery.
Lin Xianwen: "Then let's go together. I didn't expect there would be so many people coming to the bookstore."
There was a long checkout line in front of the counter, most of whom were people buying paper and pens.
"You wait in line here, I'll get some paper and pens." Lin Zisu said as she stuffed the storybook into his hands and went to look at the pens and notebooks on the shelf. The bookstore was full of wooden bookcases and shelves, and the items on them were neatly arranged with prices clearly marked.
Shen Xianglan came over from the pharmacy and saw two people queuing to pay, so she went to other shops to have a look.
Lin Zisu looked over and saw brushes, ink pens, yellow notebooks bound in booklets, rice paper and rough-edged paper for writing calligraphy, inkstones, red ink, stone and wooden paperweights, and pencil sharpeners on the shelves.
The pencil sharpener is a small wooden box, two fingers wide, with a small opening on the side and a small blade inserted above the opening, just like the simplest style of modern pencil sharpeners.
There are not many styles of stationery, but the variety is complete.
Lin Zisu took a box of ink pens, which contained 20 pens, 10 small notebooks, and 10 pencil sharpeners. There were too many things to hold with both hands, so she could only hold them in her arms.
"Girl, please take a basket." The female clerk handed her a portable shopping basket.
Lin Zisu put the things in her arms into it and took the basket, "Thank you."
The female clerk smiled shyly, "You're welcome."
Lin Zisu thought of something, "Do you have calendars for sale here?"
"Yes, we have calendars for sale. They're on the shelf over there." The female clerk led her to the bookcase. "Here, the big ones are 10 yuan each, and the small ones are 5 yuan each. The contents are the same, but the paper and font sizes are different."
"Then give me three big ones and three small ones." Lin Zisu looked at the surprised look in the female employee's eyes and remembered that her body was not even 3 years old. She explained, "I brought them for other people. They were at work and didn't have time to buy them."
The female clerk smiled and said, "Oh, yes, I have to go to work so I don't have time to buy anything."
Lin Zisu: "Are there any newspapers for sale here?"
Female clerk: "Yes, they are available at the checkout counter. We have daily and weekly newspapers. Do you need anything else?"
"Thank you, I've bought everything. I'll go check out." Lin Zisu said as she walked towards Lin Xianwen carrying the basket.
She placed the basket at Lin Xianwen's feet and said, "Weekly and daily newspapers are available at the checkout counter. Remember to buy them when you check out. I'm going to look for my mother."
Lin Xianwen: "Okay, you guys wait for me outside! It will be my turn soon, there are only two people in front of me."
"Don't worry, I'll wait for you." Lin Zisu said and walked out of the store without looking back.
Shen Xianglan came over with two oil paper bags and saw Lin Zisu walking into the specialty store. "Didn't you just buy a bunch of snacks yesterday?"
Lin Zisu: "Since we are here, let's buy some more."
Shen Xianglan: "The mule cart is not here, you can pick it up yourself later!"
"There are public mule carts and donkey carts for one yuan!" Lin Zisu pointed to the large wooden carriages passing by on the street from time to time. The driver was driving in the front, and the carriage at the back could seat 7 or 8 people.
People walked in from the back of the carriage. There was a big number 7 written on one corner of the carriage, just like a modern bus, and the stops on the route were written below.
Shen Xianglan: “?”
Lin Zisu: "Haven't you seen it these days?"
Shen Xianglan: "You are not allowed to buy them. Buy them after you have finished eating. Snacks will go bad in a few days."
"What to buy?" Lin Xianwen came out with a bulging sack slung across his body.
"You also bought a bag?" Lin Zisu looked at him.
Lin Xianwen: "What else? Use your clothes pockets! Next time you go out shopping, remember to carry a backpack."
Shen Xianglan: "I just reminded you yesterday, don't take it to heart."
"Mom, what did you buy?" Lin Xianwen looked at the two oil paper bags his mother was holding.
"Medicine! We've used up all the medicine along the way and there's not much left." Shen Xianglan looked at the No. 3 mule cart approaching, "It says Qingshui Government on the carriage, stop the car quickly!"
The mule cart passed by three people and stopped at the public bus station a few meters away. The driver shouted, "We have arrived at the Qingshui store." The people in the carriage got off from the back of the carriage, and the driver got off and stood at the back of the carriage, waiting for people to get on so that he could collect the money.
The three of them carried their things and walked over quickly. Lin Zisu said, "Uncle, are we passing by Qingshui Government?"
The driver nodded and said, "Go to Qingshui Government Office, one yuan per person." He pointed to the height measuring tape painted on the outer wall of the carriage.
“孩子，1米以下免费，1米以上5角，1米4以上1元。”
Lin Zisu and Lin Xianwen didn't need to measure their height. Shen Xianglan directly handed over 3 yuan. The driver took the money and let the three of them get on the bus.
There were two rows of seats in the carriage, each of which could accommodate four adults. There were two people sitting in the carriage, an old lady with a boy. Lin Zisu and her two companions sat in another row.
The mule cart did not stop for long, about 2 minutes, and then drove the mules to the next stop.