Not only did this bookstore look shabby from the outside, but the interior was also quite old, though it was clean and tidy.
The shop was empty, with only a middle-aged man standing at the counter. He had a long beard, and his clothes were patched, giving him a rather impoverished appearance.
“Uncle Li!”
The middle-aged man, who had been calculating with an abacus at the counter, looked up at the sound. Seeing the familiar faces, he stared at them in surprise.
“Miss! Thank goodness you’re safe and sound!” Uncle Li walked over to Ye Yuwu and examined her closely. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he let out a sigh of relief.
Uncle Li was the sole loyal servant left behind by her deceased biological parents. It was he who had previously arranged everything and delivered the land deed to her.
After catching up for a while, they found a seat by the window in the bookstore and sat down together.
No matter how Ye Yuwu tried to persuade her, Huaping refused to sit, choosing instead to stand to the side, pouring tea and water for them.
Ye Yuwu had no time to correct this mindset of hers at the moment, as she had more pressing matters at hand.
She gazed out the window at the bustling, lively street, then shifted her eyes to the cold and deserted interior of the shop. Instantly, she felt the weight of her responsibilities.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Yuwu voiced her confusion. “The southern part of the city is the busiest street. Why does our bookstore look so deserted?”
“Ah, Miss, you may not know this. When the master and mistress were still alive, this bookstore thrived for a time. But ever since another bookstore opened across from us, the number of customers visiting our shop has dwindled significantly. Occasionally, only some impoverished scholars come here to buy cheap brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, which barely keeps us afloat.” Uncle Li handed her the account book he was holding.
Ye Yuwu opened the account book and examined it.
The monthly earnings were just enough to cover the shop’s expenses, with nothing left over. That was why only Uncle Li remained to manage the bookstore.
Uncle Li himself wore only patched clothes, and his monthly wages had not been paid. He looked gaunt, as if he had been starving.
Yet, he had not embezzled the money left behind by the Ye couple—Ye Yuwu’s deceased biological parents. Instead, he had handed over the money and the land deed to her in full, all so she could have the confidence to leave the Tai Manor.
Ye Yuwu sighed, looking at Uncle Li with gratitude. She suddenly felt the heavy burden resting on her shoulders. No matter what, she had to ensure Uncle Li and Huaping were paid their wages in the future!
“Huaping!”
Ye Yuwu suddenly called out to Huaping, who then saw several pieces of broken silver placed before her.
“Go out and buy some food. Make sure to get plenty of meat dishes.”
“Yes, Miss.” Huaping took the silver and left the bookstore.
“Uncle Li, stay for dinner tonight. Bring Aunt Li along too. Let’s have a proper gathering.”
Uncle Li, being older, had taken a wife, but they had no children. Otherwise, given the bookstore’s current state of operating at a loss, how could he support his family?
Huaping soon returned with the food, and Uncle Li brought Aunt Li along. Uncle Li had initially tried to decline, but Ye Yuwu found a way to persuade him, and he finally relented.
Aunt Li wore coarse linen clothes and, like Uncle Li, appeared somewhat emaciated, with a sallow complexion. However, her spirits seemed quite good.
Upon first seeing Ye Yuwu at the bookstore, who looked as ethereal as a celestial being, they felt quite awkward. Before coming, Uncle Li had repeatedly reminded her to behave properly, as she was the mistress and needed to maintain proper decorum.
Ye Yuwu smiled and invited them to sit down for the meal. The two of them sat opposite her, while Huaping took a seat beside her.
It was clear that they hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time. Aunt Li’s eyes were fixed on the meat dishes, her throat bobbing as she swallowed saliva. However, since Ye Yuwu hadn’t picked up her chopsticks first, no one dared to reach for the food.
“Please, eat. Don’t stand on ceremony.”
Ye Yuwu had no choice but to take the lead, picking up her chopsticks to serve herself. Only then did they dare to start eating, though they only reached for the dishes closest to them, not daring to touch the meat that was slightly farther away.
“The meat dishes here are quite good. Uncle Li, Aunt Li, please try them!”
“Yes, yes.”
Finally, they dared to take some meat, mixing it with their rice.
As the savory taste of meat spread in her mouth, Aunt Li nearly teared up. How long had it been since she last ate meat? It must have been three years.
She had always thought her husband was too stubborn, clinging to that dilapidated bookstore. The Ye family masters had passed away, and there was no longer any salary.
In the end, all the other bookstore employees had left, leaving only him behind.
With no money at home, they could only afford one meal a day—a watery porridge so thin that barely any rice was visible, eaten with pickled vegetable leaves.
Because of this, she argued with her husband daily, urging him to find other work to support the family. But he remained unmoved, constantly repeating how grateful he was to the Ye family and how he couldn’t forget the trust placed in him by the Ye couple.
Left with no other choice, Aunt Li could only earn a little money by washing clothes for others.
As she savored the delicious meal, Aunt Li, who hadn’t tasted meat in so long, secretly wiped away a tear when no one was looking.
But the observant Ye Yuwu noticed. Without saying a word, she quietly pushed the meat dishes that were farther away closer to them.
After the meal, as Uncle Li and Aunt Li were about to leave, Ye Yuwu suddenly handed a cloth pouch to Aunt Li.
“Miss, what… what is this?” She could feel the weight in her hand and roughly make out its shape.
Aunt Li widened her eyes, looking at Ye Yuwu’s smiling face.
“Uncle Li has worked at the bookstore for so long without receiving his wages. This is part of the payment for now. Once the bookstore starts making money, I’ll increase his salary!” Ye Yuwu almost patted her chest to reassure them.
Unexpectedly, their conversation was overheard by Uncle Li, who immediately took the pouch from Aunt Li’s hands, intending to return it to Ye Yuwu.
“Miss, there’s no hurry for this money. You can pay when you have it.”
Although Aunt Li often argued with Uncle Li over money, she was not unreasonable. She could see Ye Yuwu’s current financial struggles and knew that running the bookstore required funds.
“Yes, yes, there’s no rush for this money.”
“Uncle Li, Aunt Li, I know you’re thinking of me, but don’t worry. I still have some money left, enough to get by.” She handed the pouch back to them.
“Please take it. Otherwise, I’ll feel too guilty.”
Aunt Li, who had initially refused, had no choice but to accept it.
“Thank you, miss.” With a slightly choked voice, Aunt Li sincerely bowed to Ye Yuwu.
After seeing off Uncle Li and his wife, Ye Yuwu and Huaping carefully checked the doors and windows of the bookstore before heading up to the small attic on the second floor to sleep.
The small attic had only a tiny bed, barely enough for their slender frames.
Huaping had initially intended to sleep on the floor, but Ye Yuwu thought the wooden floorboards were both dirty and hard. It was already late, and after such an eventful day, they were inevitably tired. Worried that Huaping wouldn’t sleep well, she decided they should squeeze together for the night.
Ye Yuwu had been concerned that having someone beside her might keep her awake, but she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow—perhaps the day had simply been too exhausting.