"No problem." Xia Mingyue agreed.
"Thank you, Madam Xia." Shen Shujun thanked her.
"Ms. Xia seems to like reading. I also have some other books at home. If you are interested, you can ask me to buy them. I will copy them now and make sure they are written better than those in the bookstore. It’s good and the price is cheaper.”
“In addition, if Mrs. Xia has one around. Anyone who wants to write or read a letter can come to me. I will definitely give Mrs. Xia a preferential price. My home is not far away in Willow Branch Alley, and there is a newly planted peach sapling at the door that is half a person tall. It’s extremely easy to find.”
Shen Shujun spoke eagerly and humbly, as if she was eager to get the job.
Xia Mingyue glanced at Shen Shujun, who had a thin face and old clothes, frowned slightly and nodded in response, "Okay, if necessary, we must look for Madam Shen. Madam Shen will definitely find it cheaper."
"Thank you, Madam Xia." Shen Shujun thanked her again, and even felt relieved because Madam Xia's reaction was not like ordinary people's politeness, but she seriously agreed to her.
This Mrs. Shen really looks like she is very short of money.
Xia Mingyue was thinking about what kind of work she could do in the future.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Shen Shujun stood up and left without disturbing her too much.
"Ms. Shen, walk slowly." Xia Mingyue stood up to see her off.
Come back after a while, holding the second half of the storybook that Shen Shujun gave her in her hand, frowning and silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhuguo poured a cup of tea for Xia Mingyue, "Sister Xia, are you curious that Mrs. Shen has good calligraphy and seems to have good knowledge, but she lives in such a miserable life?"
"Yes." , Not to mention very wealthy, at least not so embarrassed.”
Even though woodblock printing already existed at this time, because many books were not widely circulated, the cost of woodblock printing was higher than copying. Large, many bookstores still use the most primitive way of making money by collecting copied books from scholars and then selling them to earn the price difference.
When she was still in Jinqiu County, Xia Mingyue heard that many scholars who were still studying used this method to earn some pen and ink for pocket money. If they were more diligent, it would not be a problem to have enough food and clothing every month.
"Sister Xia probably doesn't know that the bookstore does not accept books copied by women." Jiang Zhuguo said.
“Why is this?” Xia Mingyue was puzzled.
“I don’t know the specific reason. I only know that when I was at home, I thought I was pretty good at handwriting, so I thought about doing some copying work, which would make it easier to make money. , and I can make more money.”
Jiang Zhuguo said, “In the end, Jiang Yihe told me not to have any wild ideas, saying that the rules of the bookstore were that books copied by women must not be accepted, and he also said that women were not allowed to copy books. It is virtue to have no talent. Being able to read and write is already out of line with the world. Don’t do anything out of line to cause trouble for him.”
"So I guess it's probably because most of the people who read in the world are men and there are very few women, so people still can't accept books copied by women."
The story books are just for reading to relieve boredom. As for the pastime of time, no one can find out whose hand it came from.
Xia Mingyue, "..."
Since she started doing Xia Ji, especially since she started looking for suitable franchisees for Xia Ji's various food stalls, she has really seen how many people make a living. Not easy.
And women, because of their status, are even more difficult. This difficulty has nothing to do with knowledge or ability.
Xia Mingyue pursed her lips, and after taking a sip of tea, she opened the second volume of the storybook given to him by Shen Shujun.
Continuing the content of the previous volume, it is still the daily life of the head of the house.
And in the daily trivial matters and the difficult handling of various relationships, the differences and gaps between the housewife and her husband are getting bigger and bigger.
After the two quarreled several times, the head mother of the house received repeated scoldings and blames from her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law comforted her husband by marrying her cousin into the family and becoming his wife. .
As a result, the matron of the house has one more relationship to deal with and one more person to take care of.
The wife came from a good family and soon had children. The mistress had no place in the whole family. Finally, after a fierce quarrel broke out with her husband, she was considered by her husband's family. If his wife is unvirtuous, jealous and has nothing to do, she abandons her and returns home.
The mistress was full of resentment and hatred. Before leaving her husband's family, she detailed how she had used dowry to support dozens of people in her husband's family over the years, and was filial to her parents-in-law. However, once her husband became powerful, he had to abandon his wife who was a loser...
It was already late at night when Xia Mingyue finished reading the entire second volume of the story. When she closed the story, she felt completely sleepless.
The entire story reveals the misery of being a mistress who cannot recognize people clearly and the regret she feels when she sees everyone's faces clearly. It makes people feel heavy and difficult to calm down for a long time.
The description of daily life in the Gaomen Courtyard is too detailed and realistic, making it difficult not to doubt that this story is not an imaginary story, but an actual experience.
Combined with Mrs. Shen's desolate appearance at this time, the too old face does not match the appearance of her young voice, which is enough to convince Xia Mingyue that this story is probably written by Mrs. Shen's personal experience.
This explains why Mrs. Shen looked extremely unhappy when the clerk at the bookstore suggested that she write a story book such as "A Dream of a Young Girl" that is full of young women's thoughts and beautiful love stories. nature.
For women who have experienced the trials and tribulations of real life, this kind of cardamom girl's spring heart is just like the frost flowers rising in the morning of autumn and winter. It is amazing, but in fact it is cold and disappears without a trace in the sun. Without a trace.
Flowers in the mirror and moon in the water, leaving only sighs and resentment.
Therefore, Mrs. Shen was determined not to write such a storybook, but insisted on portraying the real life of the women within the walls of the high gate compound.
But according to this story, men who think that the dispute between women in the back house is nonsense do not like to read, but those who can read, have a good family background, have been well clothed and well-fed since childhood, and have no shortage of material things, The boudoir girl who only wants to be alone doesn't want to see it either.
This also means that Mrs. Shen’s words are destined to be unsaleable.
However, if you want to make a living based on your knowledge, writing is not the only way to go.
After thinking for a moment, Xia Mingyue simply stood up, took out pen, ink and paper, and began to write and draw.
I had no sleep all night and was busy all night.
It wasn't until the morning light in the east dimmed outside that Xia Mingyue blew out the candle and looked at what she had drawn with great satisfaction.
Taking these pages of drawings she had drawn, Xia Mingyue immediately found Manager Fu and asked him to find a skilled carpenter. (End of this chapter)