Chapter 279: Reprimand
Editor: Atlas Studios
“Zhu Zi’s Annotations” was a thick volume comprising Zhu Xi’s commentaries to the Four Books, namely, “University”, “Higher Education”, “The Analects”, “Meng Zi”, as well as “The Five Classics”.
Because the later generations respected Zhu Xi, they changed the title from “Commentaries on the Four Books” to “Zhu Zi’s Annotations”. How could a book be that expensive, however important it might be? Besides, it was just a reference book.
Mu Yangling was not very willing for her brother to buy this book. With this book, it was much easier to interpret the Four Books, but students would then not use their brains to think on their own. What they learned would also be more superficial.
However, she was unwilling to disadvantage her younger brother when everyone had them.
When the teacher asked a question, other students would understand what it meant after referencing the book. However, her younger brother had to rack his brains to come up with an answer. It seemed a little pitiful.
The shopkeeper explained, “This is an exquisite version. It’s much better than the other versions.”
“Then there are other versions?” Since it was just a reference book, she reckoned there was no need to buy such a good one.
“…” The shopkeeper: “Please forgive me, Miss and Young Master. Coincidentally, the other versions have been sold out. There are only two exquisite versions now. If you wish to wait for the other versions, we will only have the stock after the new year.”
‘Why is your business still so good when you’re so slow in restocking?’
Mu Yangling flipped through “Zhu Zi’s Annotations” and still felt that there was no need to buy such an exquisite reference book. Hence, she said, “Why don’t we check out other bookstores? If they sell in separate volumes, we can just buy the annotations for ‘Meng Zi’ and ‘The Analects’.”
Bowen asked in a daze, “Why not the entire volume?”
The scholar beside her was also a little dissatisfied when he heard that. He saw that Mu Yangling had bought many useless books, but she was unwilling to spend money on her brother who was studying. In the spirit of speaking out in the face of injustice, the scholar said to Mu Yangling seriously, “Miss, studying is the most important thing for men. A copy of ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’ may be expensive, but as long as you buy fewer miscellaneous books, you can afford it. Do you know the importance of a copy of ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’ to scholars?”
He looked longingly at the exquisite and heavy book beside Mu Yangling’s hand and said, “How many students have lived frugally for years just to buy a copy of ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’?”
“I don’t think that ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’ is that important.” Mu Yangling snorted coldly and said, “I only know that the ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’ has wasted the brains of many teachers and students. It’s precisely because of this book that the teachers teach according to the book, and students translate the Four Books accordingly. As a result, their essays and insights are almost identical. What’s so good about that?”
After saying that, she turned around and scolded Bowen with a cold expression. “Even if we buy this book, I won’t allow you to read it easily. If I find out that you copied the lecture notes on it for your homework, I’ll whip you. There’s a book at home called ‘Shuowen Jiezi1’. Break up the text and translate it yourself. If you don’t understand, ask your classmates and teacher. This book can only be used as a reference at most. If I find out that you use this as a bible, not only will I burn this book, but you’ll also kneel in the ancestral hall.”
Mu Yangling’s anger frightened Bowen and Xiuhong. She had always doted on them and rarely got angry. Even if she was angry, she would mostly reason with them in a soft voice and rarely flared up so fiercely.
Xiuhong tugged at her cousin’s sleeve, and Bowen lowered his head to admit his mistake. “Yes.”
Mu Yangling snorted and glared at ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’ for a while before putting it into the pile of books.
All the scholars in the bookstore looked over. Some glared at Mu Yangling, feeling that she had insulted Zhu Zi, while others lowered their heads in thought.
The scholar who had been preaching to Mu Yangling previously took two steps back after a long silence. He bowed solemnly to Mu Yangling and said, “Miss, thank you for enlightening me. I now understand why my teacher asked us to translate the text in the classroom but not to read ‘Zhu Zi’s Annotations’.”
Mu Yangling looked at him strangely and said in a voice that only the few of them could hear, “Your teacher must regret taking in a student like you.”
The scholar didn’t expect that the young lady would actually humiliate him when he thanked her. His face flushed red and he was about to flare up when he heard the young lady sigh and say, “The reason why your teacher didn’t say it clearly is because he couldn’t say it. Think about Zhu Xi’s influence among the scholars now, silly child!”
The scholar’s face turned even redder, this time not due to anger but embarrassment. He felt that he had let down his teacher.
Moreover, it was because of the young lady’s words, “Silly child”. To think he was called a silly child by an 11 or 12-year-old child…
The shopkeeper also looked at Mu Yangling in surprise, but he didn’t say anything. Seeing that they had already decided, he asked, “Miss, do you want to take a look at those learning tools? The brush, ink, and paper here are also cheaper than outside.”
“Shopkeeper, since we’re buying so many things, you have to give us a good price.” Xiuhong, who had not said a word, started bargaining.
The shopkeeper was stunned. Seeing that Mu Yangling was also looking at him, he smiled and nodded. “No problem.”
“Bowen, go and choose some more paper. Aren’t you running out of brush and ink?”
Bowen had already snapped out of his thoughts and ran to choose a large pile of paper. Just as the shopkeeper had said, the paper here was indeed cheaper than in the county, so he bought more.
Mu Yangling propped her chin on her hand and sat at the side, watching her brother move everything he liked over like a hardworking rat.
She couldn’t help but touch the silver in the bag. Fortunately, she had brought all the money with her. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t dare to buy things without worry.
Everyone watched in fear. Even the shopkeeper was suspicious. Were their parents really so assured to let their children bring so much money to buy books?
Judging from their attire, they didn’t look like they came from a rich family.
Bowen brought over a box of ink with a smile and said in satisfaction, “Sister, I’m done buying.”
Mu Yangling pushed the items in front of the shopkeeper. “You can calculate the total. You’ve got to give me a better price.”
The shopkeeper took out an abacus and started to calculate. In the end, he said, “A total of 52 taels 300 copper coins.” The shopkeeper was silent for a moment before saying, “Forget about the 300 copper coins. Just give me 52 taels of silver.”
Mu Yangling looked at Xiuhong, but Xiuhong’s gaze was on the pile of paper at the door. She took a dozen from the top and said, “Shopkeeper, since we bought so much, do give us a few dozen stacks of paper.”
How could there be a copper stench in a refined place like the bookstore?
The people who came to buy books never bargained. Never mind that this person bargained with him, but she actually wanted to ask for freebies too? Did she think she was buying vegetables at the market?
The shopkeeper’s expression turned serious as he said, “Miss, our bookstore has never entertained haggling. I only gave you a 300 copper coin discount because your total exceeds 50 taels of silver.”
Xiuhong hugged a stack of paper and looked at him with teary eyes. “Uncle, I know, but we spent so much money on this trip. My grandma will definitely be unhappy. If you give us a few dozen stacks of paper, my grandma might not blame us.”
The shopkeeper opened his mouth and asked, “Doesn’t your family know that you came out to buy books?”