Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 470

In the theater, “The Tale of Two Foxes” had been on for a while, and now it was time to find a new book for a fresh production.

Mr. Jiang proved to be very useful. After the last rehearsal, he had mastered the intricacies of stage play, and Gu Yin had appointed him as the director. As the owner, her responsibility was now limited to finding a new book.

The area where the Xu family lived was rich in scholars and bookstores, so Gu Yin decided to visit a few bookstores to explore.

Coincidentally, at the first bookstore she entered, Gu Yin encountered Xu Qingchuan. She greeted him warmly, “Brother Qingchuan!” Xu Qingchuan turned around, spotting her in a simple dress. However, he quickly composed himself. During that period, Gu Yin had been preoccupied with making a living. Although she maintained an optimistic outlook, the carefree smile on her face was a luxury for someone solely focused on survival.

Gu Yin’s eyes were no longer troubled, and her whole demeanor exuded radiance.

She was aware of the pressure on Xu Qingchuan to fulfill his mother’s expectations, so she maintained a polite and distant demeanor. In his memory, she had never greeted him so enthusiastically.

“Why are you dressed like this?” Xu Qingchuan asked, setting down the book in his hand.

Gu Yin blinked playfully, “I came with my mother to congratulate your family, but I didn’t want to attract attention, so I specially changed my clothes.”

She extended three fingers and made a playful comparison.

Understanding her gesture, Xu Qingchuan, who had been immersed in his studies for years, suddenly realized the magnitude of his achievement. Gu Yin, however, knew him well enough to anticipate that he wasn’t one to be easily swayed by ups and downs.

As expected, Xu Qingchuan took two short breaths, closed his eyes, and quickly regained composure. He smiled and respectfully greeted Gu Yin, “Then I would like to thank my sister and aunt for making this trip.”

Gu Yin waved her hand, dismissing his formality, and smiled, “I just wanted to look for some novels, and since you’re here, help me with some recommendations.” With the palace exam concluded, Xu Qingchuan could afford to relax and indulge in reading during this period.

He, too, had come to the bookstore, finding solace in the anticipation of the upcoming list publication. Since learning his ranking, a heavy weight had lifted from his heart, and he was more than willing to assist Gu Yin.

The bookstore had an impressive update speed, with new additions almost every month. While many followed the prevailing trends, some were well-crafted and required careful discernment.

Xu Qingchuan’s reading speed surpassed Gu Yin’s, enabling him to quickly evaluate the merit of a book with just a glance at ten lines. However, the bookstore attendant didn’t allow guests to read at a leisurely pace, prompting Gu Yin to purchase every book Xu Qingchuan recommended as worthwhile.

She rushed to the three bookstores in one breath, buying a large stack. When she came back to her senses, Xu Qingchuan had already been holding the books for a while.

Xu Qingchuan offered to help her move the books back, but Gu Yin didn’t want to further delay his work. Instead, she discussed with the storekeeper of the last bookstore, inquiring if she could store the books there temporarily until someone could pick them up, and the storekeeper cheerfully agreed, “You’re welcome, Madam. You’ve made quite a purchase, and it’s a challenge to carry all of these. We have a utility room in this store. If Madam doesn’t mind, you can store everything there.” 

Gu Yin generously gave the storekeeper a few coins for the storage service. She then called Xu Qingchuan over, and, following the storekeeper’s directions, they stored the books in the utility room.

“It’s all my fault, isn’t it? I lose track of time when I get busy. Aunt Xu must be looking forward to your return in the afternoon,” Gu Yin apologized.

Xu Qingchuan reassured her, “It’s okay. In the past, it was my aunt and you who took care of us. Words of thanks are endless, but we carry those kindnesses in our hearts. It’s just a bit of work; you don’t have to be so polite.”

“I don’t know who will take care of whom in the future. Besides, when I have a child, Brother Qingchuan will be the teacher.”

Xu Qingchuan paused, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “So hurry up…”

Gu Yin also noticed her slip of the tongue. Perhaps it was the recent stream of good news in the family, with Wu Qingyi asking for marriage first and then Gu Ye gaining favor and praise from Emperor Zhengyuan through the birthday banquet. Adding to that, she just learned that Xu Qingchuan was the third ranker in the examination. All these positive events had made her overly joyous, causing her to talk a bit too much.