Chapter 88: Chapter 41: Qingfeng Bookhouse_3
Yueyao looked at many books, but her eyes finally fixated on the medical texts. Previously, when she was at the Taoist temple, the Great Grandmaster was skilled in medical skills and often diagnosed and treated people. She not only earned money but also gained a lot of respect from others. Most importantly, it was a way to maintain good health.
Yueyao had no intention of learning medical skills, as each skill required focused specialization, and her strengths and talents were in painting. Painting was considered a refined activity for their kind of families, and the Lian family would encourage, not oppose it. However, studying medicine, which was regarded as a lower occupation, was certainly out of the question for them. Besides, learning medicine would also require finding a master, which was an impractical notion.
Nevertheless, Yueyao adopted an attitude of seeking to understand more about it. Practicing medicine to save people was definitely impossible for her, but learning a bit more about it could not do any harm. Yueyao swept through all the books on the medical shelf, planning to buy them all.
Mr. Lan looked at Yueyao in astonishment.
Yueyao explained, “This time I was able to come out because I was buying calligraphy books for my younger brother. The next time I get a chance to leave might be hard to come by. So, I want to buy more books to read slowly at home.” It was likely she would be criticized once she returned.
Mr. Lan, however, shook his head, “Miss, the bookhouse has rules. You can purchase a maximum of six books from each category. You can’t buy all the books. Miss, biting off more than you can chew is not advisable. It’s better to understand the books thoroughly first before buying more later.” Actually, Mr. Lan thought Yueyao wouldn’t really read those books; she was just buying them for the sake of collecting. Of course, the rule was real, not made up by him.
Yueyao widened her eyes in surprise. So there was such a rule. Owning enough money should have been enough. Upon confirming that truly only six books of one kind could be purchased, Yueyao compromised. She then selected six books including “Shennong’s Materia Medica,” “Classic of Internal Medicine,” “Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer,” and “Medical Canon.”
Yueyao was shocked by such strange regulations of the bookhouse, and suddenly had a thought, “Sir, do you have any books that provide a detailed introduction to painting? My painting skills have reached a bottleneck; I can’t advance any further. I’d like to find books that offer more insights into painting skills. I wonder if your bookhouse has any.” It’s good to speak honestly to such people, as this is how one finds satisfactory items.
Hearing Yueyao mention having reached a bottleneck, Mr. Lan’s mouth twitched. An eight-year-old claiming that her painting skills had hit a bottleneck was not shocking but rather too presumptuous. But every visitor was a customer, and he needed to cater to the customer’s needs as much as possible. Mr. Lan hesitated for a while and said, “When you come down later, draw whatever you like, and I will have a renowned person take a look and give you some advice.” Mr. Lan spoke so politely partly because Yueyao’s calligraphy she had written previously was quite good.
Yueyao smiled upon hearing this, “Sir, you have misunderstood me. I just wanted to buy books about painting. The advice is not necessary.” She did need guidance, but not from the reputed scholars of the bookhouse; she planned to write a letter to her teacher for instruction.
After some thought, Mr. Lan said, “Wait a moment, Miss.” After speaking, he also instructed a young servant on the side. The young servant immediately went out.
Yueyao browsed the second floor and picked out over a hundred books, even buying the “Great Yuan Geological Map.” Buying so many books made her a significant customer at the Qingfeng Bookhouse.
Mr. Lan was going to say something, but Yueyao hadn’t violated the regulations, as she had indeed bought only six books of each category. Besides, they had already mentioned it was a rare opportunity to come out. Preventing her further might not be good for business.
After finishing on the second floor, Yueyao went to the third floor. Mr. Lan could only shake his head at Yueyao’s range of selected books. Fortunately, Yueyao was a woman, and it wasn’t considered too inappropriate for her to read widely. If Yueyao were a man, Mr. Lan would have surely spoken out to stop her.
Upon reaching the third floor, Yueyao was no longer as casual as she had been on the second floor. Now she was buying books for Brother Zheng, so she could not be careless. She picked the books very carefully, so much so that Mr. Lan was surprised. He secretly mused that she was indeed a strange girl.
When Yueyao came down, the sun was about to set. Chengteng was waiting in the living room, and beside Chengteng were two young boys, around ten years old.
One wore a dark-colored python-patterned robe, and the other wore a precious blue brocade robe. The young master in the blue brocade robe saw the Attendant Student behind Yueyao holding a stack of books and couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.
Seeing the young boy sneer at her, Yueyao did not spare him an extra glance. She walked over to Chengteng. She hadn’t even begun to speak.