Chapter 22: Building a Reputation
Shopkeeper He invited Xingnong into a bright and spacious study.
This study was much better than the small room from yesterday. All the furniture inside was made of high-quality Huanghuali wood.
There was a desk, bookshelves, a soft couch, and everything else one could need.
“From now on, this will be Miss Shen’s dedicated study. No one else will use this study from now on. Miss Shen, you can feel at ease writing your stories here! You can write for as long as you like. There’s also a room inside where you can rest at night.”
Xingnong nodded indifferently. “Thank you, Shopkeeper. I’m only going to write for a while and then leave, any room will do, no need for special preparations.”
Seeing Xingnong’s indifference towards such a fine study, Shopkeeper He couldn’t help but regard her even more highly, and his heart felt a bit more settled.
Many poor scholars came to write books, but few could remain so calm and unfazed by fame and fortune after achieving some success, especially when given a dedicated room.
Especially someone her age.
This child was truly exceptional.
Shopkeeper He’s tone carried a hint of elder’s care. “I’ve had the Four Treasures of the Study prepared. There’s tea, snacks, and some fresh fruit on the table over there. If you’re hungry or thirsty, you can have some. If the food doesn’t suit your taste or if you have any other requests, just pull the rope by the windowsill, and someone will come. You can tell them what you need. Don’t be polite with Uncle He.”
Xingnong had already arrived at the desk and nodded. “Thank you, Shopkeeper.”
“Then I won’t disturb you. If you need anything, just have someone call me.”
Xingnong thought of something and said, “Shopkeeper, can I exchange today’s deposit for a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, as well as two arithmetic books? For beginners, they don’t need to be too expensive.”
“Alright, I’ll go pick a set for you right away.” The shopkeeper agreed and went out.
Xingnong didn’t waste any time and started writing with her brush.
She truly didn’t care about this temporary office.
Everything in this room was good, top-notch, but in her past life, as a special forces scientific researcher, she had possessed even better things.
~
This time, Xingnong only stayed in the bookstore for an hour and a half, wrote twenty thousand words, and then left.
Because she had already thought out the plot last night, she wrote even faster today than yesterday.
The shopkeeper gave Xingnong a box and a pouch.
Yesterday, he saw her stuff the silver ingot directly into her pocket. He didn’t know she didn’t have a pouch at the time, so he gave her the silver ingot directly. Today, he specially prepared a plain pouch for her.
“Xingnong, I’ve prepared the Four Treasures of the Study and the two arithmetic books you asked for. They’re all in the box. It’s a total of eight taels. The remaining two taels are in the pouch. There’s also a token for the Qian Family Bank in this pouch. I’ll deposit the royalties from your stories directly into the bank, and you can withdraw the silver with this token. The royalties will probably be available by the end of next month.”
As agreed yesterday, for every twenty thousand words of the story submitted, a deposit of ten taels would be paid in advance, and any additional royalties would be settled later.
Xingnong took the box and pouch, put the box with the Four Treasures of the Study into her back basket, and left.
After leaving the bookstore, Xingnong planned to go to a fabric shop to buy some cloth to make clothes, shoes, and socks at home.
There wasn’t a single piece of clothing at home that wasn’t worn out.
She found a nearby fabric shop and went in.
The fabric shop was large, with several maids selling cloth. They glanced at Xingnong who entered and then looked away, either attending to their existing customers or pretending not to see her while organizing the fabrics.
Only one maid came forward with a smile. “What kind of fabric are you looking for, Miss? Ordinary satin is over here, coarse cloth and hemp are over there. After you’ve made your selection, tell me how much you need, and I’ll have someone cut it for you.”
Xingnong originally wanted to buy fine cotton cloth. Cotton was absorbent and breathable, suitable for farm work. However, she didn’t find any fine cotton. Hemp cloth and coarse cloth were too rough and uncomfortable to wear.
It was only after she looked around and didn’t find any cotton that she remembered the original owner seemed to have never seen cotton before.
The coarse clothes she was wearing were truly uncomfortable.
✿✿✿
She picked a bolt of rain-washed blue, a bolt of dark blue, and a bolt of white satin.
“I want these three bolts.”
The satin Xingnong chose was thick and dense, and it was woven with a blend of hemp, with a higher hemp content. It was much more comfortable than pure hemp or coarse cloth and was the preferred choice for ordinary families. It was also practical for work.
It wasn’t expensive, five hundred copper coins for a whole bolt.
The maid was stunned for a moment and then smiled. “Alright! Do you need anything else, Miss?”
Xingnong walked over to the section with coarse cloth and hemp, intending to buy a few yards to make aprons, sleeves, cloth bags, and other things.
“Do you have black hemp cloth? Give me two yards.”
“Yes, we just sold out here, I’ll go inside and get you two yards.” The maid put the three bolts of satin Xingnong had chosen aside and hurried inside to cut the cloth.
At this time, Shen Mingzhu and Madam Yao walked in.
Shen Mingzhu was stunned to see Xingnong.
They originally planned to report to the authorities today, but the assistant magistrate was not there, the new county magistrate had not yet taken office, the previous county magistrate had already left, and the yamen was closed for the day.
They would let this bastard enjoy a couple more days of freedom.
Xingnong didn’t even spare them a glance. She stood there waiting for the maid to finish cutting the cloth.
Seeing Xingnong standing in front of the coarse cloth and hemp, and recalling her previous words, Shen Mingzhu immediately thought of building a good reputation!
The fabric shop was crowded with people, wasn’t this a perfect opportunity to cultivate a good name?
A kind and beautiful young lady from a wealthy family, while buying fabric, encounters her poor and ugly relative. Not only does she not look down on her, but she also kindly offers to gift her fabric. Wouldn’t this be a great reputation booster if word got out?
It would only cost a few dozen copper coins, just like giving money to a beggar.
Moreover, every time she offered to give her something, Xingnong would refuse. She did have some backbone.
Therefore, when there were outsiders present, Shen Mingzhu liked to deliberately treat her better to earn some good reputation.
After all, it was just lip service, she didn’t have to actually give anything.
She walked towards Xingnong with graceful steps, her face full of surprise. “Cousin Xingnong, is that really you? Are you here to buy fabric too? Choose whatever you like, and I’ll gift it to you. Don’t refuse this time!”
Cousin? Everyone in the shop was taken aback.
Xingnong finally looked at her. “Oh, I want these three bolts of satin, and two yards of hemp cloth.”
Shen Mingzhu: “…”
Shouldn’t the bastard have refused? How could she agree?
Madam Yao saw that Xingnong had actually chosen satin, and three bolts at that! It would cost more than one tael of silver! She was so angry that her temples throbbed.
What a greedy wretch!
Satin was considered clothing for families with better financial means. Why should a fatherless bastard, despised by everyone, wear it?
Most importantly, why should they gift a bastard several bolts of satin? What benefit would it bring them?
Madam Yao glanced at the maid beside her. The maid immediately understood and said loudly, “Some people are just so greedy and insatiable. Clearly, she was choosing hemp cloth, but the moment she heard someone offer to gift her fabric, she immediately picked three bolts of satin! Even if my young mistress is kind-hearted, this is too much!”
There were many customers in the shop, and everyone looked over upon hearing this.
