Cat-ear Girl's Customs Appraisal

Mu Zibai had finished Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but he had only read the first eighty chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber before setting it aside.

It was not that Mu Zibai thought it was bad. To be honest, he had only been in high school back then, with little life experience. Dream of the Red Chamber had not stirred much in him, and he could not taste its true flavor.

Without some life experience, one truly felt nothing reading Dream of the Red Chamber. Its details only seemed tedious, but looking back now, he discovered the mysteries hidden within.

They said there were a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's hearts. Mu Zibai felt Dream of the Red Chamber was the same.

He still vaguely remembered dozing off while reading Dream of the Red Chamber in high school. He simply could not get into it; the words passed before his eyes and vanished from his mind.

He also vaguely remembered one monthly exam question. It had been utterly outrageous, asking what wine and tea Jia Baoyu drank in his dream. Who the hell cared about that?

It had made Mu Zibai's CPU smoke, yet he still could not remember. In the end, he could only write: Luzhou Laojiao, Fujian Tieguanyin.

Then, with great honor, he received his homeroom teacher's reward and relived his childhood once in high school.

"The son-in-law can tell stories too? I wonder what sort of story it is. Son-in-law, you'd better put some thought into it. If it's a story Young Miss has already heard, she won't like it." Xiao E asked with a smile.

Wenren Lingmeng had devoured books since childhood. The books she had read and the stories she had heard were too numerous to count. There was probably no fresh story left for her.

Listen to a story?

Hearing Mu Zibai's words, Wenren Lingmeng became interested. As for whether she had heard it before, she no longer cared. She was bored stiff now. Even having someone talk by her ear was better than truly being cast aside and ignored as though she had Soul Loss Syndrome.

For the past half year, what Wenren Lingmeng feared most was silence at her ear, as if she were the only person left in the world. That loneliness was like hell.

Without realizing it, Wenren Lingmeng seemed to be glad inwardly—glad that it was Mu Zibai. He was willing to stay by her side, willing to keep talking to her.

If it had been someone else, they probably would have run off who knew where long ago.

A hint of anticipation rose in her heart. She hoped Mu Zibai could stay with her every day. Silently, she acknowledged his presence and no longer resisted him as she had before.

"Have you heard of Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Mu Zibai gave a mysterious smile.

"Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Xiao E thought carefully. Since childhood, she had listened to and read stories alongside Wenren Lingmeng, yet she had never heard of one called Dream of the Red Chamber.

A story she had never heard? Wenren Lingmeng's interest was piqued, and she perked up.

"Listen while I tell it in detail." Mu Zibai then opened Dream of the Red Chamber and said, "This is a very, very long story. It begins with a stone Nuwa left behind while mending the heavens."

Dream of the Red Chamber was undoubtedly a divine book. In ancient times, its literary value would have been exceedingly high, especially in the eyes of young ladies secluded in their chambers.

Of the novels Mu Zibai had read, those historical tales about traveling back to ancient times—wasn't every single one built around Dream of the Red Chamber? Once Dream of the Red Chamber appeared, who under heaven could contend with it?

Which of those protagonists had not become a celebrated master after producing Dream of the Red Chamber, with talented ladies everywhere clamoring for updates, before opening a bookshop and earning until their bowls and basins overflowed?

However, Dream of the Red Chamber was also a forbidden book in ancient times. If things went wrong, it could be banned, bringing a heap of trouble. Mu Zibai was not like those protagonists either, with every great figure as his godfather, able to wave a hand and settle everything.

He would just tell Dream of the Red Chamber to Wenren Lingmeng and Xiao E, to pass the boring hours.

Who knew how long he spoke for? A day passed without a sound. When Mu Zibai came back to himself, it was already dawn.

Time flew when telling stories. Besides, Mu Zibai read as he told it, and he seemed to gain a thing or two from it, leaving him with deep feelings.

"Sister Xiao E, son-in-law, I thought you had overslept. The food has been brought over."

Two maidservants entered carrying the food and set it on the table. Only then did Mu Zibai and Xiao E wake as if from a dream.

Looking out the window, they realized they had completely forgotten the time.

"Son-in-law, your story is truly captivating. Did you make it up?" Xiao E asked curiously.

It was the first time she had heard such an exquisite, soul-hooking story. It had ensnared her so deeply that she had forgotten the time.

She was curious about its origin. Such a marvelous tale should have spread far and wide, so why had she never heard of it?

Mu Zibai smiled. "It was written by a Mr. Cao."

"Mr. Cao? Where does he live? What is his full name? Or his literary name? What rank of official did he become?" Xiao E asked, as though checking his household registration.

She knew many famous people surnamed Cao, but she had never heard of anyone connected to Dream of the Red Chamber.

"Uh..." Mu Zibai was dumbfounded by the questions. He did not know which one to answer first. He did not know much about Mr. Cao either, only the rough outlines of his life. As for the finer details, he knew nothing at all.

"Can't say it?" Xiao E examined Mu Zibai with both eyes. Seeing that he was speechless, she smiled and asked, "Could this Mr. Cao be son-in-law's pen name?"

Mu Zibai: "..."

"You're overthinking it. If I had that kind of skill, I would have been famous throughout the land long ago. I'm merely retelling it. This Mr. Cao wrote books in his later years and cared nothing for worldly affairs. I am the only one who knows of this book," Mu Zibai said regretfully.

He had no intention of claiming it as his own. He did not want fame, nor did he want trouble for no reason. He only wanted to keep his head down and live properly.

"Oh?" Xiao E's eyes were full of suspicion.

"Really. I never lie," Mu Zibai said solemnly. Seeing her expression, could she possibly think he was playing hard to get?

Forget it. She could think whatever she wanted.

"Then it isn't son-in-law's work, so Xiao E won't ask anymore. Eat," Xiao E said with a smile.

Wenren Lingmeng was also curious about Dream of the Red Chamber and wanted to hear what came next. But Mu Zibai had stopped to eat. Helpless, she could only wait until after the meal for him to continue. She hoped he would keep telling it.

Her heart full of anticipation, she ate the pumpkin porridge she had long looked forward to. It was sweet, and her heart was sweet as well.

Mu Zibai opened the shop. The goods had refreshed long ago, and his points had reached a terrifying ninety-six thousand. With today's remaining time, they could reach one hundred thousand.

Thinking of those hard days before, when he stared at zero points and the expensive shop, unable to afford anything, those days had already become the past.

Today's shop had refreshed with:

[Item One: Immortal Bird Breeding Compendium, Price: 30,000 points]

[Item Two: Cat-ear Girl's Customs Appraisal, Price: 200 points]

[Item Three: A damaged longsword, Price: 100 points]

[Item Four: One pack of Piao Rou wet tissues, Price: 50 points]

[Item Five: Dragon Wasteland Realm Yao Beast Inner Armor, Price: 200,000 points]

Seeing these five items, Mu Zibai frowned. The good ones were beyond his means, while the bad ones were useless even if he bought them.