The head of the Red Mansion

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the You family's Qianjia Bookstore on Furong Street had just opened when it was greeted by a surge of book buyers.

It's normal for scholars to come and buy books, so why would soldiers come and buy books?

"Sir, it's really not that I'm unwilling to sell."

The two scholars who entered saw the bookstore owner apologizing to three burly young men, "We really have nothing left. We only printed about three hundred sets of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' and our boss said that we can only release twenty sets a day now. How about... you take a look at something else?"

"Do you know who I am?"

Qiu Feng scoffed, "Don't try to fool me with that. Be honest, are you selling or not? You dare not sell..."

Before he finished speaking, the two burly men beside him had already placed their hands on the hilts of their knives, looking ready to smash up the shop at the slightest provocation.

Six months ago, the shopkeeper might have been afraid.

But now...

"Sir, we can't let the flood wash away the Dragon King's temple! Our master is Jia Zhen, a first-class general."

Jia Zhen?

Qiu Feng's heart skipped a beat.

Six months ago, Jia Zhen would have been nothing.

But now...

"So it's him?"

Qiu Feng's lips twitched, and he tossed out three silver ingots. "Since the flood can't wash away the Dragon King's temple, then consider this silver a deposit. I'll come back for it tomorrow, and if you dare say you don't have it then..."

"Don't dare!"

The shopkeeper repeatedly said he dared not.

He could tell that this person was someone important.

Fortunately, their master got promoted again.

Although it was still a nominal position, everyone knew that the Emperor was protecting their family.

The shopkeeper quickly took out three book collection slips and six taels of silver, saying, "Sir, bring these slips when you come, and you'll definitely get a book."

Qiu Feng took the item, gave him a deep look, and then turned and strode away.

"Shopkeeper, may I ask what book this 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' is?"

The older candidates couldn't help but inquire.

"Oh, it's a novel that looks like 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'."

It can also be called a storybook.

But storybooks are generally quite thin.

The shopkeeper himself read it and liked it very much; why would he want to tell it in a storybook?
"...It sounds like the novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'?"

The two candidates were shocked.

No wonder soldiers came to buy it.

When the Qing army's Eight Banners entered the pass and vied for control of the Central Plains, it is said that the Eight Banners generals learned various strategies and tactics from the Three Kingdoms period.

"I wonder how much this copy of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' is sold?"

"A complete set of three books costs eight taels of silver."

Eight taels?

Although it's quite expensive, it's not like I can't buy it and take a look.

"Shopkeeper, is this book really out of stock?"

"It's really gone."

The shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly, "If I had it, this old man simply couldn't bear to turn down money."

This?
It is true.

"This is eight taels of silver."

The young scholar took out eight taels of silver, saying, "I'll reserve it for tomorrow."

Shopkeeper: "..."

He felt that things couldn't continue like this.

Most of tomorrow's tickets are already booked.

"What? You can't make reservations now?"

"Ah~"

The shopkeeper could only sigh, "They've all pre-ordered, and if they come to buy again tomorrow... they'll definitely argue with me again!"

I never imagined that selling books would be so difficult.

"Alright, gentlemen, after you've read the book, please don't circulate it further."

Now I only ask that scholars not join in.

Otherwise, he would have to worry about his personal safety even when selling books.

"Hahaha~"

Hearing a bookseller speak like this for the first time, the two candidates were amused. "Now that we are about to take the imperial examination, we don't have much time to spread miscellaneous books."

They were just curious for a moment.

But this curiosity...

The next morning, he had a servant come and collect the book, and he couldn't resist flipping through it.

Unexpectedly, once I started flipping through it, I couldn't stop.

Qiu Feng took the book and began to read it with a critical attitude, but before he knew it, he was also engrossed in it.

At the same time, the storyteller at Qingfeng Tea House struck his gavel, officially beginning his narration of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

At this moment, the people sitting here drinking tea and discussing business have no idea that in the future, they will be troubled by not being able to get a seat because of this book.

……

At Ningguo Mansion, all preparations were complete, and several carriages were ready for the journey. Shen Ning looked forward to her first long trip since coming into this world.

Of course, we definitely have to bring along the master chef, Aunt Li.

She has already imitated the vegetarian eight treasures of Deshenglou quite well.

Although Shen Ning knew that Jia Jing had faked his death, as his wife, she still had to eat vegetarian food for forty-nine days.

In Ningguo Mansion, apart from the pregnant Lady You who received special care, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong accompanied her to eat vegetarian meals.

Although Shen Ning repeatedly said that Rong-ge'er was still growing and there was no need for such behavior, there was nothing she could do when he got stubborn.

"The vegetarian fish dish today is excellent, a treat!"

Jia Zhen rarely accompanied You Shi out, and they always sought out famous vegetarian restaurants. "We can make this dish more often from now on," he said.

"How could it not be good? This tofu was all ground by Aunt Li herself."

Madam You was slightly melancholy. Aunt Li was going to leave with her mother-in-law and husband, and for the next six months or so, she wouldn't be able to eat as well as she used to.

"She complained that the ones bought outside had a beany smell." "Oh, I see!"

Jia Zhen sighed, "Then it won't be easy to grind tofu on the road."

Without good tofu, you can't make good vegetarian fish.

He reluctantly poured all the soup over the rice and ate it all in a few bites. "Aunt Qin in the main kitchen is a good cook. You'll get used to it."

"I know."

Of course, Madam You wouldn't compete with her mother-in-law and husband for Aunt Li's affections. "I often eat Aunt Qin's cooking, so you don't need to worry about me. But what about Xiao Yue'er... do you really want to take her with you?"

In her opinion, her younger sister is too young and should stay at home.

"...Let's see what Mother has to say!"

Jia Zhen has no right to make this decision.

My younger sister has never met her father since she was born.

But he knew it wasn't that his father didn't love his sister.

"The commonly used medicinal herbs have already been prepared, and the family physician will also be coming along, so it's fine to bring her along as well."

“My mother’s health has deteriorated since that illness. Now she’s a vegetarian and has been traveling long distances…”

Mrs. You was very worried.

She genuinely wanted to be with him; "You need to be more careful."

"I know."

Jia Zhen sighed inwardly and nodded, "I won't rush on the way." If things went wrong, You Shi might already have given birth by the time they returned. "But you, we weren't even home..."

"Didn't we already invite Auntie San?"

Madam You wasn't worried about herself. "The midwife who delivered my mother-in-law's baby will be coming to the mansion in a couple of days. Even if you don't trust us, you have to trust them."

My mother-in-law is so old, and under such dangerous circumstances, she was able to give birth safely.

"...believing is one thing, worrying is another."

When Rong-ge was born, he was still young and didn't pay much attention to his wife and child.

But now...

Jia Zhen hugs his little sister every day.

When her father wasn't home, he would hug her more often and cherish her more.

Now that their father is gone, the eldest brother, acting as a father figure, has given his younger sister even more love on behalf of their father.

As I cared for it, I couldn't help but put more effort into it.

Regarding Ms. You's pregnancy...

Jia Zhen naturally took it more seriously.

But even though he valued her, he couldn't be home with her.

"I know, I know everything."

Madam You smiled in response, "Don't worry, I will take good care of myself and wait for you, Mother, and Rong-ge'er to come back."

Time is slowly slipping away.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Xue Pan, who had been forced by Baochai to study and practice diligently, went back to class.

With him was Lin Chang'an, the little bean sprout.

Xue Pan thought he was very capable, but he never expected that this little guy, who couldn't even reach the chair and had to be carried to sit, would use his strength to leave him behind and move up to the middle class in just half a day.

he……

There are quite a few characters in the Thousand Character Classic that he can't guarantee he'll write perfectly!
Fortunately, he did well on today's dictation.

Mr. Chen gave him a rare smile.

Although Xue Pan's handwriting was still ugly, he could see a rare improvement in it.

This kid didn't neglect his studies when he went home for the Chinese New Year.

The ink I grind now looks quite professional.

That's very difficult.

Mr. Chen originally thought that Xue Pan would always hold him back, and that he would even have to spend an extra year in the elementary school class compared to others.

"Study hard, you've made great progress!"

Finally, I don't have to beat up students anymore.

"You don't need to compare yourself with others. As long as you've improved even a little bit compared to yesterday, that's good enough."

You know, there are many geniuses in this world.

Not everyone is suited to reading.

Stranded in the capital, failing the imperial examinations several times, yet witnessing geniuses from all over the country, Mr. Chen reluctantly accepted his own mediocrity.

Of course, he had experienced several moments of despair and breakdown before accepting it.

But burdened by his family's expectations, he could only try to heal himself amidst despair and collapse.

He strives to be just a little bit better today than he was yesterday.

Fortunately, the Jia family gave him hope.

Because of Jia Zhu of the Rongguo Mansion, they could easily obtain the examination papers and required readings for the Imperial Academy.

Mr. Chen feels that if he plays again this year, as long as he doesn't perform too poorly, he will definitely have some different gains.

"Now turn to page thirty-two of the Great Zhao Code."

The Jia family required that one passage from the Great Zhao Code be told to the children every day.

He had never even considered this before.

He himself was not very familiar with the Great Zhao Law.

Unexpectedly, the Jia family also taught the Great Zhao Law to their children who were learning elementary school.

Over the past six months, Mr. Chen has been learning while teaching.

The gentlemen were all deeply moved in private.

Given the Jia family's strict discipline of their children, regardless of whether they can study hard and become successful in the future, they will at least become decent human beings.

Of the sons of noble families, few become talented, and even fewer become adults.

They were fortunate to witness the transformation of the Jia family, which was a great blessing in their lives.

Xue Pan had already purchased the Da Zhao Law from the list of books provided by his teacher.

He just didn't expect that this would be taught in class.

He listened, completely bewildered.

The door to life... seems to be slightly different now.

"Theft among relatives: If relatives steal each other's property, the punishment is reduced by five degrees compared to ordinary people. For those undergoing major mourning, the punishment is reduced by four degrees. For those undergoing minor mourning, the punishment is reduced by three degrees. For those undergoing hemp mourning, the punishment is reduced by two degrees. For relatives without mourning, the punishment is reduced by one degree. All are exempt from punishment. If theft occurs, if an elder steals from a younger person, the punishment is reduced accordingly. If a younger person steals from an elder, the punishment is the same as for ordinary people. If there is killing or injury, the punishment is more severe according to the original law for killing or injuring an elder or younger person." (End of Chapter)