The Wildly Popular "Dream of the Red Chamber" (4)
Hearing the five scholars appraise the novel Dream of the Red Chamber that way, Boss Yan Liusheng grinned from ear to ear.
He remembered how, after reading Dream of the Red Chamber yesterday, he had worn exactly the same expression as they did, if not an even more exuberant one.
Just then, Boss Yan Liusheng hurried over and took back all the copies of Dream of the Red Chamber from the five scholars, each volume containing ten chapters. He was afraid the five would claim the copies as their own.
Boss Yan Liusheng's slick move left the five scholars utterly baffled, but they immediately came to their senses.
Then they refused to let the matter go and shouted at Boss Yan Liusheng, "Hey, Boss Yan, what do you mean by this? We've only just finished reading Dream of the Red Chamber once, and you're already in such a hurry to take it back. What's the meaning of this, huh...?"
"Right... right... what do you mean by this, Boss Yan?" the other four scholars chimed in, voicing their displeasure at Yan Liusheng.
Boss Yan Liusheng smiled and asked, "What did you five scholars think after reading this ten-chapter volume of Dream of the Red Chamber?"
"Good, good, good... it's the best novel I've ever read, bar none," one of the five scholars answered first.
"It's truly so well written. Dream of the Red Chamber is the best novel in this world, bar none," another scholar hurriedly said.
"This Young Master Zhou's literary learning is truly profound. Dream of the Red Chamber is simply wonderful. I was utterly enthralled as I read it," yet another scholar said.
"Exactly... exactly..." the remaining two scholars chimed in.
Hearing the five scholars appraise Dream of the Red Chamber this way, Boss Yan Liusheng smiled and asked again, "Since my five scholar friends have spoken so highly of Dream of the Red Chamber, do you still have any objections to Liusheng Bookshop selling this ten-chapter volume for two taels of silver?"
One of the five scholars retorted, "Boss Yan, it's perfectly normal for merchants to prize profit, but how could Dream of the Red Chamber possibly be measured in money?"
"Right, right, right... Boss Yan, Dream of the Red Chamber is an epic masterpiece. It can't be just a novel," another scholar said.
"Exactly... let alone two taels of silver for a ten-chapter volume of Dream of the Red Chamber, even ten taels would be no problem. A book this good can't have its worth measured in money," another scholar said.
"Hahaha... Boss Yan, here are two taels of silver. Quick, give me this ten-chapter volume of Dream of the Red Chamber. I want to take it home and study it carefully." The man who said this was the very scholar who had scolded Yan Liusheng most fiercely just now.
After saying that, the man handed Boss Yan Liusheng two taels of silver, took the ten-chapter volume of Dream of the Red Chamber, and headed out of Liusheng Bookshop.
His actions left the other four scholars dumbfounded, and Boss Yan Liusheng was dumbfounded as well.
But this scholar had taken the lead, and the remaining four immediately paid Boss Yan Liusheng two taels of silver each, took back their ten-chapter volumes of Dream of the Red Chamber from him, and promptly headed out of Liusheng Bookshop.
The people outside were waiting to watch the fun, expecting to see chickens fly and dogs jump, with not even the chickens or dogs left in peace inside Liusheng Bookshop.
But they were all disappointed. They saw the five scholars who had gone in earlier come out in high spirits, chatting and laughing, each with a volume in hand.
Seeing the five scholars cradle the volumes in their palms like treasures, everyone present found it very strange and was thoroughly puzzled.
When the five scholars came out and saw the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, they suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha..."
But their laughter came genuinely from the heart; it was not perfunctory or anything else. This left everyone present like a seven-foot monk scratching his head, utterly unable to make sense of it.