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Chapter 415 - 415: The Manager Has No Mustache
Chapter 415 - 415: The Manager Has No Mustache
Chapter 415: The Manager Has No Mustache
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After a few days, “There’s a Book House” became a holy land in the hearts of the students. At the same time, it was also a thorn in the side of many merchants.
They always felt that their business had been affected after ‘There’s a Book House’ opened. Although those poor students were poor in the past, they had to spend money to buy one or two books from their bookstore every once in a while even if they could not bear to. Now, that bookstore was free. Who would come to their bookstore to spend?
Hence, a few malicious shopkeepers decided to teach the book house a lesson.
The next day, there were a few unfamiliar faces among the students who came to the study room to read. The server did not notice them at first. When he patrolled, he glanced at them and realized that they were sneaking around and making small movements beside the bookshelf. The smart server had long been instructed by the manager. He immediately ran to the second floor to report.
The manager had been bored for a few days and was finally in high spirits. When he heard a cry from downstairs, his old arms and legs seemed to immediately become 10 years younger. He came to the first floor with a whoosh.
When Xiaoxiao and Rong Yan received the news and came, they happened to see a man in a student robe holding a book in his hand. His expression was heavy and his tone was unfriendly. “I was wondering how such a good thing could happen in the world. It turns out that opening a book house is fake. It’s true to incite civil unrest!”
He opened the book. It was a statement of his dissatisfaction with the current Emperor in black and white. Among them were comments that questioned his illegitimate claim to the throne. The timid ones hurriedly lowered their heads and did not dare to look again. They wished they could block their ears to prevent themselves from listening to those treasonous words.
Xiaoxiao wanted to applaud him. He didn’t have much brains but was quite bold.
The interest in the manager’s eyes dissipated, replaced by a cold and solemn look that was completely different from before.
“Guards, take down this troublemaker!”
That person did not expect such a development at all. “Wait, could it be that I discovered this treasonous act and you want to silence me?”
“Fellow villagers, they must be spies sent by Xiongnu!”
The real Xiongnu, Chernan, also came out to stroll around today. He happened to see this farce just after eating a big meat bun. He was still being explained by passersby what “There’s a Book House” was when he heard someone naming him.
That person was already prepared and said firmly, “That ferocious second prince just came to our Great Xia, and ‘There’s a Book House’ opened at the same time. You don’t charge for reading. It has never been heard since ancient times. It’s said that those who are unaccountably solicitous are up to no good. As expected!”
He raised the book in his hand. “You must be the helpers of the Xiongnu people to mess with our people’s hearts!”
“Everyone, quickly report this to the officials!”
“Who wants to report to the officials? Move aside, move aside. The officials are doing their job. Idle people, move away!”
The person who caused trouble had just taken a step forward when he heard the manager beside him say first, “I reported it. Someone is deliberately causing trouble here. Please take him away, so that it won’t affect my guests’ reading.”
Heh, why was he still complaining? The troublemaker was sure that the owner of the bookhouse was a little stupid. He did not know how to be afraid in such a situation. He showed the book to the bailiffs. “Look!”
The manager placed his hands behind his back. “I advise you to think carefully before you do anything, lest you regret it later.”
That person did not care. This was not the first time he had done such a thing. He was very familiar with it, so he placed it right in front of the officer’s face.
Unknowingly, Xiaoxiao had already taken out some snacks and gave half to Rong Yan. The two of them ate and watched with relish.
“The manager you found looks very confident.”
Rong Yan told her, “Eunuch Sun used to serve the concubines. Compared to the scheming in the harem, these tricks are nothing to him. He’s probably playing with them because he’s been bored recently.”
Xiaoxiao bit on the biscuit and said, “He should also be to make an example out of them.”
After all, it was time for them to return to the capital after they finished their work. The book house had to establish itself in Xijiang County. Otherwise, their good intentions would be wasted. Not only the students, but Xiaoxiao would also feel regretful.
The officials’ faces turned green. They did not dare to listen to these things! Where did this fool come from? He dared to say this in public!
They hurriedly got someone to cover this person’s mouth. Ignoring that he was still talking, they turned to the manager and asked, “What do you think we should say?”
A smart person had already noticed that his way of addressing the manager was different.
The manager did not put on airs. He cupped his hands and bowed like an ordinary person. “It’s like this. I was running the shop just now, and the customers were also quietly reading books. However, this person caused trouble for no reason and wanted to deliberately frame me.”
“We are all good citizens who abide by the law. Of course, we can only seek the help of the officials when we encounter such evil people.”
The official was a little flattered, but he still had to go through the necessary procedures. “Then how can you prove that this has nothing to do with the book house?”
The manager nodded. He pinched the rebellious book with his two fingers as if he was pinching something dirty. He then casually took a book from the bookshelf and unfolded both books under the sunlight. He said, “Everyone, please take a look.”
It was a sunny day today. The sunlight shone straight on the page, making it so dazzling that one could not even see the words clearly. However, under such a glaring light, a mark suddenly appeared on the foot of the page.
Afraid that no one would understand, the manager got someone to bring over a few more books. He realized that there was the same mark on the lower right corner of the page. No matter how stupid the person who caused trouble was, he knew that he had failed. He wanted to explain, but he was covered up.
The manager said slowly, “Every book here has a secret seal. Others can’t imitate it.”
“I might as well take this opportunity to explain in detail. All the books in ‘There’s a Book House’ have the same handwriting, the same hidden seal, and there are serial numbers. It’s impossible for anything of unknown origin to sneak in.”
“Not to mention that I have a secret seal here, even if I don’t, do you think you can pretend to have ‘There’s a Book House'”s collection just by writing a few numbers on the book?”
“You don’t even know the most basic rules. Why are you joining in the fun?”
Compared to the concubines in the harem, it was simply a joke.
After verifying that it was true, the official asked the manager, “How do you think we should deal with this person?”
The manager flicked his sleeves. “He dares to be disrespectful to the current emperor. I can tell that he’s bold and determined to kill us. In that case, let him have a taste of the bitter fruit he brewed. Official, please judge him according to the law. You must make him pay the price for what he did.”
If what happened today was not shocking enough for those with ill intentions, Shen Tianci, who was sent to study by the county magistrate with great fanfare the next day, would become another living signboard.
“I heard that the county magistrate officially sent his young master to ‘There’s a Book House’?”
“Does this mean that the county magistrate wants to protect that book house?” “Could it be that the county magistrate owns that shop?”
There were all kinds of guesses, but no one knew if they were true. However, some sharp-eyed people realizeda
“Did you notice that the manager of the bookhouse doesn’t have a moustachea J”
Who didn’t have a mustache? They were eunuchs in the palace!
To be able to use an eunuch as a manager, how could the identity of the person behind this book house be simple?