Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 644 - 446: The Customs of Literati_2

Take the Blow Flower Pavilion, for instance. Some might wish to go in for a ’blow,’ but it actually sells toothbrushes and toothpaste. After brushing, one’s breath carries the scent of flowers.

Or take the Lu Family Bookstore. It appears to be an ordinary bookstore, but in fact, it also sells old newspapers.

How strange, how does the Ink Shop also have a Lu Family Bookstore?

Is this a duplicate name, or did they open a branch?

Li Banfeng pushed open the door and entered the bookstore. He found that although the shop was small, its decor and layout were identical to those of the bookstores in Greenwater City and Medicine King Valley.

Boss Lu came forward. "Boss Li, long time no see!" It was the same owner.

Li Banfeng smiled. "Boss Lu, have you opened a new store?"

Boss Lu shook his head. "This isn’t a new store. The Ink Shop is my hometown; this is my family’s old store. It’s the New Year, so I came back to check on it."

"Boss Li, are you here to buy newspapers again this time?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "No newspapers. I want to look at some books."

"Right this way, please!"

As a regular customer, Li Banfeng was naturally free to browse the books. Boss Lu personally moved a chair for him and poured him some tea.

"Boss Li, what kind of books would you like to read?"

"Local books."

Boss Lu pulled out a dozen books from the shelf and placed them on the table. Li Banfeng flipped through them one by one, taking an interest in a set titled *Erudite Scholar*.

It was a biographical series in two volumes that recounted the anecdotes and stories of a genius scholar whose life was intertwined with profound wisdom.

This *Erudite Scholar* was born in the Ink Shop. As Li Banfeng perused other books, the Erudite Scholar often appeared in local literature. In the Ink Shop, he was undeniably a legendary figure.

This man was extremely intelligent. In just a few words, he could guess another’s intentions, and with a few probing questions, he could discern their weaknesses. Not only was he extraordinarily talented, but he was also skilled in both literature and martial arts, carrying a Judge’s Pen that served for both writing and as a weapon.

Li Banfeng bought the first volume and dog-eared a page in the second, leaving it in the bookstore.

At the checkout, Boss Lu saw that Li Banfeng had only bought the first volume and quickly instructed his clerk to bring the second, "Boss Li, you can’t read just half a book. I’ll give you the second volume."

Li Banfeng stopped the clerk, saying, "There’s no need for such generosity. It’s not the price; it’s just that carrying both volumes would be too cumbersome. Once I finish the first, I’ll come back for the second."

Boss Lu asked, "If I may ask, Boss Li, out of all the local books, why were you particularly drawn to *Erudite Scholar*?"

Li Banfeng replied, "Because this book captures the local customs. I’ve just arrived at the Ink Shop and am honestly not quite accustomed to this place."

Boss Lu laughed. "Don’t say you’re not used to it. I was born in the Ink Shop, but even after being away for business and only returning once every year or two, I also feel out of place. You must’ve encountered some issue, right?"

"Indeed, I encountered one." Li Banfeng narrated the situation with the Sand Goose Study Room. "Boss Lu, does the lady of that study room really want to do business? Why make it so difficult for the customer?"

Boss Lu explained, "She definitely wants to do business. Since you chose the superior room, she could make more money, which would naturally please her. But as pleased as she might be, word of it can’t get out. Otherwise, people might think she’s only concerned with money and lacks scholarly refinement. She implied that choosing the superior room might be seen as vanity on your part. You should have replied that it was out of respect and admiration for the study room; that would have been the appropriate response. But then you asked to switch to the middle-grade room, which meant she’d earn less, naturally making her unhappy. After that, you wanted the lower-grade room, making the prospect of doing business with you even less appealing."

Li Banfeng frowned. "If she wanted to do good business, why not clarify things from the start?"

Laughing, Boss Lu shook his head. "Here in the Ink Shop, that’s the custom. Speaking too bluntly is considered crude."

It seemed there was still much to learn. Li Banfeng left with his book. As there were no other customers, Boss Lu returned the browsed books to the shelf and was about to take a nap when a man in a white gown and a white top hat entered.

"Sir, would you like to buy a book?"

He Jiaqing shook his head. "I need a few newspapers."

"I don’t sell new newspapers here."

"Naturally, I’ve come to buy old newspapers."

Boss Lu added, "And what I’m selling isn’t waste paper."

He Jiaqing nodded. "I understand the price."

After buying several newspapers, He Jiaqing left the bookstore and checked the time. It was still early. He called for a rickshaw and headed to Xiaoyao Lodge, where Jiang Mengting had an exclusive performance that afternoon.

Li Banfeng had spent the afternoon walking the streets, getting a rough idea of the layout of the Ink Shop.

It was a sizable city with crisscrossing streets, distinctive features, and ancient architecture. The population was considerable, and various industries were well-developed, offering abundant business opportunities. However, as Ma Wu had said, doing business here required understanding the temperament of the literati.

For example, if one were to sell miscellaneous goods, the shop could be named something elegant like ’Exquisite Treasure Pavilion.’ But if it were plainly called ’So-and-so’s Sundries Shop,’ it would be guaranteed to have no customers.

If one wanted to open a place of romance and leisure, the girls had to be talented and understand amorous subtleties. Only when emotions deepened could intimacy naturally follow. If physical intimacy occurred before a true emotional connection was established, it was considered disrespectful to the literati.

There was a Poetry Society ahead.

In other places, there were Poetry Societies too, where poets gathered regularly. Such societies were not novel in Puluo State.

But the Poetry Society at the Ink Shop was different; it was a type of store, a business that specialized in matchmaking.

Judging by its storefront, the Poetry Society resembled a teahouse. However, the proprietors provided the Four Treasures of the Study and arranged for men and women to sit together, to make friends through poetry.

A man with blonde hair and blue eyes, who had just finished writing a poem, recited in clear and articulate tones, "I wish to gaze into your eyes, I wish to hold your arm, I wish to press against your cheek, I wish to protect your heart, I truly love you, great Ink Shop!"

The ladies present offered their comments:

"The wording is vulgar!"

"The language is too explicit!"

"Overwrought!"

"Crude and insufferable!"

Amidst the ladies’ critique and rolling eyes, Cui Tiq walked out of the Poetry Society dejectedly, where he happened to run into Li Qi.

Surprised, Cui Tiq said, "What a coincidence, running into you here?"

Li Banfeng also felt surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Cui Tiq replied, "Studying the culture of Puluo State. The Ink Shop is the cultural pinnacle of Puluo State. I love the Ink Shop."

Li Banfeng asked, "Have you changed your tattoo?"

Cui Tiq pulled open his shirt, revealing five large characters on his chest. "Of course, I had to," he said.

"You just casually changed it? Aren’t you afraid your Ancestral Master will see it?"

Cui Tiq buttoned up his shirt and said, "I’ll change it back when he comes."

Li Banfeng glanced at the Poetry Society. "This seems to be a place for matchmaking. Are you planning to settle down in the Ink Shop?"

Cui Tiq sighed. "I do wish that, but the ladies of Puluo State don’t like foreigners."

As they spoke, a blister rose on Cui Tiq’s face.

Li Banfeng stepped back half a pace, but Cui Tiq waved his hand, indicating he meant no harm.

The blister burst, and the green liquid transformed into a tiny, winged green figure. It flew to Li Banfeng’s ear and whispered, "I have a business proposition to discuss with you." Cui Tiq then looked at Li Banfeng with sincerity.

Li Banfeng tilted up the brim of his hat with a finger, revealing his eyes, signaling Cui Tiq to continue.

Cui Tiq, controlling the little green figure, slowly said, "Chu Shaoqiang is coming, and he wants the territory of the Ink Shop.

"The Ancestral Master is also arriving soon; he wants Chu Shaoqiang’s life.

"And one of your good friends is coming too. I have some information about him."

PS: Why did Chu Shaoqiang set his sights on the Ink Shop?

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