Chapter 201 Seeing
The heavy heart of Benshan, the dean of Huaishan Academy, who was praised in person, was relieved a lot.
"Some children are born to be military generals. However, if you want to gain fame in the army, it is not enough to be good at martial arts. You also need to read books. Only by reading books can you be more rational and understand those military books better!"
The stall owner's eyes lit up when he heard Zhou Huaishan's words.
"My brother, from what you said, you are a scholar?"
Zhou Huaishan smiled and clasped his fists, but did not respond. "Is there anyone selling second-hand books around here?"
First, they talked about the children's reading, and now they mentioned selling books. The topic was naturally brought over, and the stall owner also talked with open heart.
"Yes, there are several! In the past, when the college was closed, the children's families were short of money and had no money to buy new books, so they came here to buy old books."
"Are you familiar with these stalls? I also want to buy a few books, but time is limited. Can you recommend one to me?"
The stall owner thought for a while, "What kind of books do you plan to buy? These old books sold by these stalls are all different."
Zhou Huaishan said, "My child likes to play with swords and guns, so I bought military books."
The stall owner was happy when he heard it.
"What a coincidence, the one selling military books is opposite my stall every day, and he will come in about half an hour."
Zhou Huaishan smiled and said, "What a coincidence, then you and this stall owner must be familiar with each other, why does he have so many military books?"
The wonton stall owner sighed.
"They are all poor people! He used to join the army, and I heard that he held a high position in the army! Later, he offended someone and could not stay in the army, so he came here.
Several county magistrates in Qinghe County are good people, without the kind of flattery and bullying.
After he came, he took good care of his family.
The first year he came, the county magistrate at that time paid for him to buy a house here and wanted to find him a job as a constable in the county government, but he refused.
He has so many books at home!
He didn't sell books in the early years. This year, his health is getting worse, and his son is useless. He always said that if the books were left in his hands, they would be ruined.
Sell them and let the books go to meet the destined people."
Listening to the stall owner's chatter, Zhou Huaishan felt upset.
Is this stall owner Ma Nianming?
When he got into trouble, he was in his forties and Ma Nianming was in his thirties. According to the timeline Shen Li told him, another twenty years have passed.
If Ma Nianming is still alive, he would be in his fifties.
According to his status as a lieutenant general in the army at that time, at this age, he could completely rely on his military achievements to live out his life in peace.
At this moment, Zhou Huaishan did not hope that the owner of the bookstall was Ma Nian Nian.
He did not want to see anyone related to his family end up like this.
But the appearance of the book "Zhou Luobu Bing" made him eager to meet an old friend from that year and tell him what happened in the past.
Although Shen Li told him some things, Shen Li was not a person who had experienced it personally after all.
When his family was in trouble, Shen Li was not born yet!
What Shen Li knew was just hearsay or official files.
Those were unreliable.
His mind was heavy again.
As the sky gradually brightened, the breakfast stall business became prosperous. The stall owner had no time to chat with Zhou Huaishan, so Zhou Huaishan sat there waiting.
Fortunately, the stall owner did not shoo him away.
Mid-morning.
The second-hand goods street became lively, with people coming and going.
But the bookstall opposite did not set up a stall.
Zhou Huaishan felt a little uneasy. The breakfast stall was about to close. The stall owner looked across the street, sighed and shook his head, "Maybe he is not feeling well today and won't go out. Come back tomorrow to check."
Zhou Huaishan withdrew his gaze from the empty stall, "Do you know where he lives?"
The stall owner thought for a moment.
"Go along this street from here, turn in at the third alley on the left, it seems to be the fifth house, why don't you go ask."
Zhou Huaishan thanked him and left.
The third alley, the fifth house.
The wooden door has been somewhat rotten after years of wind and sun.
The New Year picture on the door has fallen off halfway.
The door was ajar, Zhou Huaishan stretched out his hand and pushed it open. With a hoarse creaking sound, the neat yard came into view.
The yard is not big, but it is clean.
There are three large jars against the wall, which are probably used to pickle cabbage.
There were constant coughing sounds coming out of the room, and a young man yelled in frustration.
"Dad, you are already like this, what's the point of you holding on to that jade pendant! It's more serious to take it out and let the doctor take a look at it! Dad! Don't be stubborn! No matter how important that jade pendant is, it can't beat a life!"
Zhou Huaishan walked slowly towards the main room, his voice getting louder and louder.
"You have been guarding that jade pendant for a lifetime. If the owner of the jade pendant knew that you are still unwilling to see a doctor, he probably wouldn't be happy! Dad! I beg you, take it out, seeing a doctor is important, if you die, I... I... Dad!"
The coughing person inside didn't respond, just coughed heartbreakingly.
When he reached the door of the main room, Zhou Huaishan paused, took a deep breath, and pushed the door.
The sound of pushing the door interrupted the voice of the young man in the room.
When Zhou Huaishan entered the door, he saw a young man with red eyes and tears on his face, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a haggard and anxious face.
An old man was lying on the bed, coughing violently.
The young man was sitting beside the bed, holding a bowl with some steaming rice soup in it.
The whole room was filled with the strong smell of medicine and the rotten smell unique to patients.
Seeing someone coming, the young man put the bowl aside and looked at Zhou Huaishan suspiciously, "Who are you?"
Zhou Huaishan nodded politely to the young man.
"I am Zhou Huaishan, the dean of Huaishan Academy. I heard that your family has a lot of books. I happen to want to expand the academy's library, so I want to buy them all."
With that said, Zhou Huaishan took out a banknote.
Five hundred taels in denomination.
Pass it to the young man.
"Look, is it enough?"
When his eyes fell on the banknote, the young man seemed to be burned by fire.
"this"
Even the old man who couldn't help but cough while lying on the bed was startled by Zhou Huaishan's words. He half-crawled and raised his head to look at Zhou Huaishan.
Seeing that old, sickly face, Zhou Huaishan's heart felt like it had been run over by a wheel.
Horse next year!
"I not only accept books from you, I also accept second-hand books from other people. If you think the price is not enough, I can give you more. If you think the price is okay, let's make a deal now, okay?"
With that said, Zhou Huaishan pointed at Ma Nian Ning and said to the young man, "Why don't you go and find a doctor for your father right away?"
The young man was stunned.
As if he had just reacted, he hesitated for a moment, his hands trembled, and he took the banknote handed over by Zhou Huaishan, bowed deeply to Zhou Huaishan, turned around and ran away.