The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune

Chapter 20: Chapter 19: One hundred taels per book, I’ll buy it! Chapter 20: Chapter 19: One hundred taels per book, I’ll buy it! “Pfft!” Zhang Qian really didn’t want to laugh, but he just couldn’t help it.

The little girl crossed her arms, playing the grown-up, and the way she carried herself as if to say, “Who could rival me in seniority?” was just too adorable!

He really couldn’t help it.

“You brat, how dare you defy the heavens! You’re asking for a beating!” Luo Wenzheng felt he had lost face and, in anger, raised his hand to strike Ruo Xuan.

Zhang Qian’s expression changed instantly, and he quickly reached out to block.

The Ruo brothers immediately swarmed to surround Ruo Xuan protectively.

Ruo Shui slapped him.

Only Ruo Xuan remained calm, pinching a Little Fairy Technique.

“Slap!” With a sound, Luo Wenzheng was sent flying across the room, hitting the counter.

Under the effect of the Immortal Technique, Luo Wenzheng felt double the pain, both in his waist and palm, becoming numb.

Clutching his waist in agony, Luo Wenzheng twisted with pain, unable to straighten up, and angrily said, “Ruo Shui, you dare to hit me? I am a Scholar! I’ll report you to the authorities, just you wait!”

A Scholar is a respected individual, privileged not to kneel in the presence of officials.

How dare a commoner hit a Scholar? It’s rebellion!

Ruo Xuan, curious, asked, “So what if you’re a Scholar?”

Does being a Scholar mean you can hit others with impunity, and others can’t hit back?

If that’s the case, she’ll become a Scholar too—her entire family will take the exams!

Unfortunately, no one had the time to answer her at the moment.

Zhang Qian stood protectively in front of the children, “Go ahead and report! I’ll testify that you were the one who made the first move! The elder Ruo was merely trying to block.”

Luo Wenzheng: “…”

He had been flung across the room, and they’re still calling that a block?

The children: “I can also testify, you hit my sister! My father was clearly just holding you back!”

“I can testify too, you were the one who started it, my fourth uncle was just trying to block, and you deliberately flew away, trying to scam us!”

…

“Go on and report!” Ruo Shui sneered with utter disregard.

From childhood to adulthood, he’d been in countless brawls, paid quite a few taels of silver in compensation, and if he didn’t know how to throw a punch without being totally in the right by now, then he’d be a fool!

Even if this were brought before The Emperor, he would be in the right.

Yang Qixiang hurriedly pulled Luo Wenzheng aside to mediate, “Brother Luo, let it go!”

Luo Wenzheng, furious, shook off his hand!

Yang Qixiang then whispered in his ear, “That boy looks somewhat like the new County Magistrate’s son.”

Luo Wenzheng’s face went through several changes. Why didn’t he say so earlier?

Knowing in his heart that he was in the wrong, Luo Wenzheng dared not say another word.

This time, he’d let it go!

Once he passed the Scholar exams, became a Top Scholar, and secured an official position, he would make Ruo Shui crawl under him like a dog!

Yang Qixiang then said to Ruo Shui, “Brother Ruo, about those two books, can’t you make them a bit cheaper? I really want to buy them. One hundred taels is just a child’s nonsense, isn’t it?”

The bookstore shopkeeper was scared to death, fearing the fight would harm the County Magistrate’s son and wishing they would just leave. Now, seeing Yang Qixiang give them a way out, he hastily said, “Ruo Shui, one tael per book is a very good price. The child doesn’t know any better, so don’t let her interrupt. If you pass on this, you won’t find another opportunity like it! You know, if you tried to sell it to a secondhand book stand for ten wen, they wouldn’t even take it. One hundred taels a book, who would buy that?”

Ruo Shui was displeased, “Xuanbao knows best! It is one hundred taels a book!”

The shopkeeper was rolling his eyes inwardly, thinking whether to intervene or not, when he heard a voice.

“Elder Ruo, one hundred taels a book, I’ll buy!”

The bookstore shopkeeper turned around and with a look of utter disbelief, gazed at the speaking Zhang Qian.

The County Magistrate’s son looking to stir up trouble?

Yang Qixiang was also stunned, looking at him as if he were a fool!

Is the County Magistrate’s son not right in the head?

Luo Wenzheng also forgot his pain in surprise, thinking, what kind of fool is this?

Zhang Qian only looked towards Ruo Shui, and with a respectful bow, said, “Elder, the annotations in these two books are incredibly unique and enlightening, a marvel to behold. Please be willing to part with them and sell them to me.”

Ruo Shui: “…”

No, he was just trying to give them a hard time…

No, wait, what fortune is this?

Zhang Qian pulled out two silver notes, his voice conveying sincerity, his demeanor increasingly respectful as he presented them with both hands: “Elder Ruo, here are two hundred taels of silver.”

Luo Wenzheng: A fool, definitely a fool! There’s no way he’s the County Magistrate’s son.

Yang Qixiang: The County Magistrate’s son must have lost his mind, right? Does Lord County Magistrate know about this?

Shopkeeper: “…”

He could hear his own heart bleeding!

Two hundred taels gone just like that?

If he had taken them earlier, he could have got a book for at most twenty wen, and flipped it for a profit of one hundred ninety-nine taels and nine hundred sixty wen!

The Ruo brothers: This guy will get chased around the house with a broom by his dad, won’t he?

Ruo Xuan saw her father only staring at the young gentleman, looking at him as if he were a lamb stuffed bun fallen from the sky.

Having no choice, she took the silver note herself and sweetly said, “Thank you, brother, you will surely become the Top Scholar!”

Zhang Qian just laughed, “I appreciate the kind words from my little sister.”

Ruo Shui then came back to his senses and quickly said, “Young master, these two books aren’t worth so much silver. The notes inside are just some foolish ideas; one tael per book would be more than enough for me.”

Though he was confident in the annotations he and his elder brother had made, he also knew his limits. A gentleman acquires wealth in the right way; he could exploit a fool, but not a gentleman.

Especially not a young man who was the same age as his grandnephew.

If he spent two hundred taels only to be scolded by his parents, that would be undesirable.

Ruo Xuan glared at her father, then said, “…Brother, my dad is talking non-sense, don’t believe him, ha!”

Why on earth did the heavens assign her such a stupid dad?

Were these ordinary books? Did he think his annotations were merely his personal opinions?

They came from Lord Literary Star!

And the books couldn’t be worth a hundred taels?

Buying the guidance of Lord Literary Star for a mere tael would make him spit blood!

Her uncle was right; not taking the chance to earn silver was foolish!

And her father was exactly that kind of fool!

Ruo Shui: “…”
Had it not been too disrespectful, Zhang Qian would have laughed again!

He did his best to hold back laughter and respectfully said, “You are too modest, elder! Your insights are unique and thought-provoking, deeply inspirational, and they have greatly enlightened me. One hundred taels per book is indeed a bargain, the books are extremely valuable.”

Zhang Qian was not exaggerating. The more he read the annotations in the books, the more astonished he became. The profound insights had so deeply affected him that it felt like listening to his thoughts was better than studying for ten years.

Even reading books annotated by the four renowned masters Han, Su, Jing, and Yan had not inspired him as much.

Knowledge is priceless, it cannot be measured in silver; since ancient times, there has been the saying that a single word can be worth a thousand pieces of gold.

He had seen these books before, but his understanding had been very shallow; it was only after reading these annotations that he felt enlightened.

Therefore, he felt the two hundred taels were well spent.

Ruo Xuan was very pleased and couldn’t help but offer a piece of advice, “The young master speaks rightly. The more one reads these books, the more benefits one will find. And even simply smelling the fragrance of ink is beneficial, for it helps one to revisit the old and learn new things.”

Zhang Qian laughed again, “Good!”

A learned father has wise children. They quote classics without hesitation; it shows a profound family education. She’s so young and already knows the importance of revisiting the old to understand the new.

If only the daughters at home were as eager to learn, the parents wouldn’t be so worried.

But, actually, the fragrance of ink in this book does seem particularly pleasing? It’s refreshing to the senses!

Zhang Qian didn’t stay long, as he was eager to get home and read. He still needed to buy some snacks for his younger sister, so he took his leave quickly.

Ruo Shui had the bookstore shopkeeper settle the payment for the copying. He originally didn’t want to sell the copied books to this shopkeeper, but the originals had been borrowed from here, and there was a deposit of one tael of silver.

For the eight books, the total was four hundred wen, and then he reclaimed his deposit.

Seeing him take back his deposit, the shopkeeper said, “Aren’t you going to take a few books to copy today?”

It seemed the Lord County Magistrate’s son liked him; using the copies he made to curry favor with the young lord next time wasn’t a bad idea.

After counting the silver carefully, Ruo Shui stuffed it into his pocket and responded indifferently, “No, I’ll go to another bookstore to get books to copy.”

Shopkeeper: “…”
Ruo Shui then said to Yang and Luo, “If you two want to buy my books, you’ll have to wait a few days. Don’t worry, for the sake of being classmates, I’ll give you a friendly price—ninety-nine taels and nine hundred and ninety-nine wen per book.”

Having finished speaking, he picked up Xuanbao, held his head high, puffed out his chest, and left, leaving Yang and Luo with scowling faces.

Luo Wenzheng, watching Ruo Shui’s smug departure, couldn’t help but roll his eyes and deliberately spoke aloud, “Look at how proud he is. What’s so great about that? Isn’t he just earning a few taels by copying books? Who can’t do that?”

“Let’s go!” Yang Qixiang pulled Luo Wenzheng and headed out.

His mood was sour too, but he wasn’t foolish enough to say everything on his mind.

He was more worried that the County Magistrate’s son seemed to think highly of Ruo Shui.

He feared that if Ruo Shui continued to copy books, he might befriend the young magistrate and thereby turn his fortunes around.

Ruo Shui was simply too excellent before; all the Academy Masters liked him, praising him as the reincarnation of Lord Literary Star.

Thinking back to the days when he was completely outshone by Ruo Shui was like recalling a nightmare.

No way!

It would be best if the Ruo Family kept on being unlucky. If Ruo Shui ended up disabled like his older brother, unable to hold a pen, that would be perfect.

It seemed he needed to visit that old lady again.

“…To think that selling a book for two hundred taels is impressive? That’s just meeting someone dumb with too much money! Moreover, what he’s doing is swindling others, and committing too many bad deeds will bring retribution! His family deserves the bad luck! Dad died, the eldest brother went mad, the second brother is crippled, the kid is dim-witted, they’ll never turn their fortunes around in this lifetime! The Ruo Family’s misfortune is their retribution…” Luo Wenzheng kept on chattering non-stop.

Ruo Shui, walking ahead, clenched his fists and angrily turned around!

The children were also infuriated by the turn and faced back too; it was too much!

She was angry! She was about to mete out justice! Ruo Xuan then sent them a Little Fairy Technique.

Then, the onlookers watched as the two of them accidentally missed a step and tumbled down together!

They banged their hands hard against the stone steps.

They felt as if their hands had broken.

They were numb with pain!