Red Candle Town still carried a strong New Year atmosphere in the first lunar month. As a vital commercial hub, it housed numerous guild halls established by prefectures and counties throughout the Great Li Dynasty. Old faces, new spring couplets—everyone was brimming with celebration.
The young proprietor of a bookshop was currently dozing in a rattan chair. He had handed all Water Manor affairs over to the subordinate officials and clerks to manage, following Mountain Lord Chen of Luopo Mountain in becoming a hands-off shopkeeper.
Someone, travel-worn from the road, stepped over the threshold. Smiling, he cupped his fists and offered an auspicious greeting. "Innkeeper Li, may your opening bring great fortune. May your business flourish and blaze red-hot."
Upon seeing Chen Ping'an, Li Jin sat up from his recliner. The two knew each other well enough, so Li Jin did not stand to greet him or exchange elaborate pleasantries. He merely returned the salute with cupped fists. "Business has indeed been decent."
Chen Ping'an was glad that Li Jin did not make much of it; it made things more comfortable. Entering the bookshop, he swept his gaze over the shelves before it stopped at one spot. He asked, "Why is this set of Biographies of 100 Generals from the Twenty-Seven Histories missing a volume?"
In collecting, beyond excellence, completeness was also prized. Otherwise, the price could never rise very high. Yet this set was missing only the second volume. Li Jin was an old hand at business; by rights, he should not have made such a losing deal.
"An old friend took a liking to it, so the shop made an exception and did not charge him."
Li Jin gave no evasive answer. After all, the young Yin Guan before him—and Luopo Mountain, which had finally seen the clouds