Chapter 154: Buying Books 2/2

While Li Qingzhi was busy, Jin Xiaoye was not idle either. She hired someone with good information to inquire about the shops, and then she started taking Li Damao and Li Ermao to see the shops in the provincial capital.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and on this day, the August issue of “Anjiang Collection” would be published.

Li Qingzhi woke up early every day, while Zhu Xunmiao liked to sleep in. But on this day… after Li Qingzhi got up, he found that Zhu Xunmiao had already gotten up and was neatly dressed.

Seeing Li Qingzhi, Zhu Xunmiao said, “Brother Li, you’re finally up, let’s go!”

“Where to?” Li Qingzhi asked.

“We’re going to buy ‘Anjiang Collection’! Brother Li, I heard that the scholars who come to the provincial capital all want to buy a copy of ‘Anjiang Collection’. That’s the whole point of this trip! It’s a pity we came late. If we had come a month earlier and bought the ‘Anjiang Collection’ featuring your article, it would have been perfect.”

Looking at the bookshop selling “Anjiang Collection,” does it seem like a popular tourist attraction? Li Qingzhi asked, “Do we need to go so early?”

“Everyone is going very early!” Zhu Xunmiao said, “Brother Li, I’ve already prepared some food. Let’s eat while we walk.”

Zhu Xunmiao handed a basket filled with food to Li Qingzhi, who glanced at it and nodded in agreement.

Anjiang Academy is located on a mountain, and the bookshop selling “Anjiang Collection” is operated by Anjiang Academy, situated at the foot of the mountain.

So while they went to buy the book, they could also visit the surroundings of Anjiang Academy.

“Brother Li, I heard some news that this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ is somewhat special, and we’ll regret it for a lifetime if we don’t buy it.” Along the way, Zhu Xunmiao kept talking.

Li Qingzhi responded while eating the food from the basket.

People in Jiang’an Province generally drink porridge in the morning, but porridge is not convenient to carry… Zhu Xunmiao prepared buns and rice dumplings for breakfast.

It took them half an hour to arrive, and Li Qingzhi had already finished all the food in the basket.

The basket was just right for carrying books.

Li Qingzhi didn’t know what was special about this month’s “Anjiang Collection,” but he really wanted to buy it—Governor Zhang had previously hinted that his article would still be featured in this month’s “Anjiang Collection.”

In the previous issue of “Anjiang Collection,” Director Zhou had given him several copies, and many people had asked for them, leaving him with only one copy. This time, he could buy more.

When Li Qingzhi and Zhu Xunmiao arrived at the bookshop, there were already people lining up outside.

Among these people were some who knew Li Qingzhi, and they greeted him with a smile.

After exchanging greetings with them, Li Qingzhi joined the back of the line.

Just as he settled in, he saw two strong men carrying a sedan chair.

After they set down the sedan chair, Du Yongning emerged from it.

Du Yongning was a bit unhappy to see such a long line and intended to pay to get a better position. But in the next moment, he saw Li Qingzhi at the end of the line.

He thought for a moment and also queued up behind them. “Brother Li, long time no see,” he said.

“Not too long, we just met a few days ago,” Li Qingzhi smiled.

Du Yongning’s smile froze a bit, and he said to Li Qingzhi, “Brother Li, I heard that your article is still in this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’?”

Although Li Qingzhi had heard about this, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t expect Du Yongning to already know. “Is that so?” he asked.

“It seems you don’t know,” Du Yongning said with a hint of pride. “Your article is indeed good, actually being included in consecutive ‘Anjiang Collections,’ but unfortunately…”

“What’s unfortunate?” Zhu Xunmiao asked immediately.

“Unfortunately, this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ is different from the others. Brother Li, I’m afraid you won’t shine this time!” Du Yongning initially gave a generous gift to an instructor at Anjiang Academy to ensure his articles were included in “Anjiang Collection.” But unfortunately, his articles didn’t make it, and because Li Qingzhi had sent many articles to Anjiang Academy… there was no chance for his articles to be included this year!

The instructor who received the gift felt somewhat embarrassed, but it was impossible for him to return the gift to Du Yongning. So he disclosed some insider information to Du Yongning.

For example, this month’s “Anjiang Collection” would include Li Qingzhi’s articles again, and also… there would be articles from a mysterious solitary writer.

This instructor also comforted Du Yongning: “Although Li Zixiao’s consecutive inclusion of articles in ‘Anjiang Collection’ is indeed remarkable, compared to the solitary writer, it’s nothing… After this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ is published, the scholars in the provincial capital will definitely pay attention to the solitary writer and ignore Li Qingzhi!”

This instructor was quite confident.

After all, anyone can write articles like Li Qingzhi’s, but the solitary writer’s articles were different!

Those who liked the solitary writer’s articles would love them, and those who didn’t would probably curse them. By then, everyone would be talking about him, and no one would care about Li Qingzhi.

Du Yongning, who knew the insider information, was very excited and came to show off to Li Qingzhi.

Li Qingzhi was just an ordinary commoner with no special abilities, but Du Yongning was different.

He even knew the internal news of Anjiang Academy!

“What’s so special about this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’?” Zhu Xunmiao asked, and the people in front of Zhu Xunmiao turned their heads, curious to hear what Du Yongning would say.

In fact, many people knew about the inclusion of the solitary writer’s articles in this month’s “Anjiang Collection,” as Director Fang had not kept the information secret.

Some people with connections had even read the several articles written by the solitary writer beforehand.

Du Yongning said, “This month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ includes articles from the solitary writer!”

Li Qingzhi was famous in the provincial capital, but during this period, the most famous person was definitely the solitary writer.

Previously, Du Yongning had organized a reading club, where they read articles by the solitary writer.

Hearing Du Yongning’s words, everyone was surprised, and this news quickly spread.

Li Qingzhi was also surprised when he heard about it.

He hadn’t even been a month since he handed over the article to Governor Zhang, and it was already in the “Anjiang Collection”?

Anjiang Academy’s efficiency is indeed very high. In comparison, their previous printing of “Injustice” was a bit slow.

But there’s nothing they can do about it… they lacked experience.

“I didn’t expect that this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ would actually include articles from the solitary writer!”

“I’ve read ‘Injustice,’ but I don’t know what his articles are like.”

“I can’t wait to read them!”

“According to Du Yongning, this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’ will also have articles from Li Qingzhi. Li Qingzhi truly has genuine talent!”

“I definitely need to buy several copies of this month’s ‘Anjiang Collection’!”

…

Excited chatter filled the air, and at this moment, the doors of the bookshop finally opened!

The “Anjiang Collection” started selling! The scholars at the front of the line entered the bookshop and immediately stated that they wanted to buy ten copies of the “Anjiang Collection.”

The bookstore clerk took his money and then gave him twenty books.

The scholar was taken aback. “Wait a minute, I only bought ten books.”

The clerk smiled. “Sir, everyone who buys ‘Anjiang Collection’ this time will receive a copy of ‘Solitary Writer Collection’ as a gift!”