On a bright morning, in Luoyang City, the people have come out of their homes one after another to welcome a new day.

As usual, the Han Dynasty is developing towards a prosperous era, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.

The rare books that were sold so well before opened the eyes of the people of Luoyang, and they couldn't imagine what could be worth twenty gold. For those of them who don't know much about words, a book is not as valuable as a bowl of noodles. Twenty gold is simply an astronomical amount for them, and some poor people can't earn that much money in their lifetime. Those who are rich and powerful can take out the huge wealth that is out of reach for them to buy a book that is not worth a bowl of noodles, and it becomes their after-dinner conversation.

The rich have the life of the rich, and those who have no money and no power also have their own small lives, after all, life has to go on.

On the street, a new shop was opened. Early in the morning, the people will not care, their lives have become a kind of regularity, and they will not care about other things until they have finished their work.

A very ordinary-dressed reader, carrying a large bag on his back, and holding an old book in his hand, walked down the road, his eyes fixed on the book. He had copied it from his classmate, and he had never left him.

His name is Li Fen, and he is from a very ordinary family in Luoyang. The family is relying on their old parents to sell groceries to make a living. Li Fen's parents themselves came from humble backgrounds, but they understood the importance of reading, and found that their son was talented in reading, so they did everything they could to let Li Fen study. It's a pity that a person like Li Fen is from a background, where can a famous teacher accept him. In the end, Li Fen worshiped under a relatively depressed scholar and became a student. In this era, the more capable scholars were poached by the princes, or became officials of the imperial court. Teachers like Li Fen belong to the class of scholars, at most they know more words, and there are very few people who can teach Li Fen. Li Fen is a very smart person, he knows that his teacher's ability is limited and he can't teach him much, and he doesn't blame the teacher. And he was eager to study himself, and he got along well with others, and finally got a book from a classmate friend so that he could copy it back and read it hard.

And this opportunity, and the only one. Knowledge was almost monopolized by the family in this era, and most of the rest of the knowledge was concentrated in the Great Confucianism and the government. For ordinary people like Li Fen, it is extremely difficult to study.

"Hey, I've been reading this book for I don't know how many years." Li Fen was very emotional.

Because the family was very much looking forward to Li Fen, the only literate person, they didn't let him do too much work. And Li Fen is not a person who does not know life and death, and enjoys peace of mind, he feels that as a man, he must give something for his family.

But considering that he himself did not have much advantage except for reading, and he would be disliked by others for doing manual work, he set up a letter writing stall on the side of the street.

In this era, even in Luoyang City at the feet of the Son of Heaven, there are still many illiterate people. In addition, Luoyang is the center of the world, and many people come from other places to beg for a living. Emperor Shenwu knew that the people's lives were unsatisfactory and they all yearned for a better life, so he did not be too harsh on the flow of the people, and allowed the people outside Luoyang to come to Luoyang to work and live.

Luoyang City is the center of the world, and the consumption level is very high. Li Fen's family came from other places and could only live in Nancheng, where the most civilians lived. Even though the southern city is mostly inhabited by civilians, the cost of living is still high.

This is similar to the Beipiao clan in later generations.

Li Fen's family is working very hard to live, and Li Fen is shouldering the hope of the family.

Li Fen knows what he is shouldering, but unfortunately he also knows that if he wants to be the hope of his family, his ability is insufficient now. How he wished he could have so many books to study. There was a lot of pressure, and Li Fen could only move forward with weight.

No matter what, life has to go on.

Putting aside the distractions in his mind, Li Fen came to the place where he usually set up a stall, next to the façade of a restaurant, under a big tree. On a hot day, there is shade from trees, which is a very good place.

The tables and chairs were all borrowed from the owner of the restaurant next door, and Li Fen had almost nothing except for being able to take out pen and ink and wooden signs. Yes, the wooden plaques used to write letters were all made by Li Fen himself and placed in the big bag he carried.

If it weren't for the restaurant's owner, Zhu Er, who was illiterate, sometimes he would have to find someone to write letters, otherwise, Li Fen would really worry about the tables and chairs. The poor cannot afford to be hurt.

Li Fen is also kind-hearted, borrowing other people's places, tables and chairs, as long as the restaurant Boss Zhu is in need, he will write for him for free.

After the things were arranged, Li Fen began his day's work.

There aren't many people on the streets now, and there's no one to write letters for. Li Fen even took out the original book and continued to study, although he knew that it would not have much effect.

When Li Fen was getting carried away from reading, a figure quickly came to Li Fen's side.

Li Fen raised his head and saw that it was Zhu Er, the owner of the restaurant.

"Boss Zhu, you're here." Li Fen thought that Boss Zhu needed to write letters on his behalf, so he began to prepare.

"Oops! Li Gongzi, why are you still here? Don't you know that something big happened in Luoyang City today? Zhu Er said in surprise.

Where there are people, there is a story, not to mention Luoyang City, the center of the world? Li Fen was used to it, and said, "Did Your Majesty give some decree again?" Your Majesty is a wise king, and we, ordinary people, just do what Your Majesty wants. Boss Zhu, you don't need to be surprised. ”

Li Fen knows this Boss Zhu very well, and he will tell Li Fen some things in Luoyang City every time, and after a long time, Li Fen completely understands that Zhu Er is a talker.

"Li Gongzi, it's not like I'm talking too much this time, you must go and take a look. Now almost all the people who read books are crazy. Boss Zhu saw that Li Fen was indifferent and was very anxious.

"What's the matter? Driving all the readers crazy? Li Fen still didn't believe it, after all, Boss Zhu would exaggerate every time.

Without saying a word, Boss Zhu pulled Li Fen up and rushed to the end of the street with Li Fen.

"Boss Zhu, what are you doing? Not so! It's insulting! Li Fen was frightened.

"If you don't go now, you'll regret it." Zhu Er said anxiously.

"Is my stall still there?" Li Fen remembered all his belongings.

"It's okay! My buddy will show you a good look. "Zhu Er is very direct.

Li Fen is speechless, what the hell is going on, Boss Zhu is usually approachable, how can this be the case today.

was pulled by Boss Zhu all the way, and Li Fen almost fell down a few times, very embarrassed.

After arriving at the place, Boss Zhu stopped. And Li Fen is a little out of breath, no way, Li Fen usually doesn't have much exercise, and his natural physical strength is not good.

"Li Gongzi, you see, this shop is newly opened today." Zhu Er pointed to the newly opened store that was crowded.

"Boss Zhu, there is nothing unusual about this newly opened store." Li Fen was very puzzled, after all, a newly opened store asked Zhu Er to pull him over? Could it be that there is something novel that Zhu Er doesn't understand?

"The strange thing is that this shop is opened by Shaofu. And...."Zhu Er said.

"Shaofu opened? Isn't that your majesty's business? No, the Son of Heaven is in business, which is unprecedented in ancient and modern times! Li Fen was frightened, and interjected before Zhu Er finished speaking.

Zhu Er glared at Li Fen and scolded: "Master Li, you are still a scholar, why don't you wait for me to finish speaking." It's rude! ”

Li Fen was scolded, but he was scolded by a lowly businessman as a scholar, and he felt a little angry in his heart. If it weren't for the fact that he had been taken care of by Boss Zhu before, Li Fen really wanted to have a good theory with Boss Zhu.

And Li Fen suddenly heard some crying, turned to look over, and saw some scholars who were similar to himself hiding their faces and crying.

"Boss Zhu, what's going on?" Li Fen was eager to ask.

Obviously, Zhu Er didn't give Li Fen this opportunity at all, pointed to a large number of people at the door and said, "Li Gongzi, didn't you find that all the people who came here were scholars, you better go and take a look for yourself." ”

Li Fen was aroused by his curiosity, and walked forward to this shop.

I saw that the sign of this shop had two words written on it, bookstore.

Outside the store, there was a reader holding a book that Li Fen had never seen before, and he wept silently.

Li Fen's eyes shrank, he had heard someone say before that there was a kind of twenty gold book in Luoyang City, which caused a great sensation.

"Is that the kind of book being sold here?" Li Fen didn't stop his steps and walked in slowly.

At the door of the shop, there are constantly people coming and going, their faces happy, and they hold a lot of books in their hands. Li Fen was also hit and almost fell.

Li Fen didn't care and walked to the store.

When he got inside, Li Fen finally knew why there were so many people reading here. The shops sell things for readers, pen and ink are very normal goods, and there are books made of paper, and there are a lot of blank papers.

"This....this..." Li Fen didn't believe his eyes, he hadn't seen these things before.

The store was very busy, and Li Fen silently walked to a counter, and a man who looked like a shopkeeper entertained him.

"This son, what do you want to buy?" This man is really the shopkeeper.

Li Fen looked at so many books, as well as a large amount of white paper, pen and ink, so he asked, "The first time I came here, I don't know what you are selling here?" ”

The shopkeeper had a smile on his face, and he had encountered such a situation today, so he took out a book, handed it to Li Fen, and said, "Childe, you can take a look at it." ”

Li Fen took the book handed over by the shopkeeper and opened it gently.

At first glance, Li Fen was stunned, in this thin book, there were lines of fonts recorded, and looking at the text on the cover page, it was a proper [Zhuangzi].

"It's... Is this the book? Li Fen said tremblingly.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Childe, these are books, otherwise I wouldn't be called a bookstore here." There's also white paper over there. ”

"Paper?" Li Fen was even more puzzled.

During this time, many unsuspecting or newcomers gathered behind Li Fen, and they also wanted to know what Li Fen wanted to know.

Seeing so many people, the shopkeeper took out a piece of white paper and pen and ink, and wrote a big "book" on the white paper in high spirits, although his font was a little ugly.

"Guys, this is paper! It was purchased by the current Marquis of Cheng En in the hands of the masters with a lot of money, and then presented to His Majesty. The shopkeeper said loudly.

Chengenhou Huang Chong, all the scholars present know it. The matter of the previous twenty gold is still in their ears.

"Shopkeeper, you said this kind of book, is it the book of twenty gold?" Li Fen asked.

If it were that expensive, they poor scholars wouldn't be able to afford it.

"Yes and no!" The shopkeeper's hands respectfully said in the direction of the palace: "When the Marquis of Cheng Enhou dedicates this method of production to His Majesty, Your Majesty knows that this thing is beneficial to the people of our Han Dynasty. Therefore, regardless of the emptiness of the national treasury, a large amount of money and grain were spent on research and improvement. Through the efforts of His Majesty, the Lords, and the craftsmen, we have finally developed a relatively cheap and practical paper. Of course, it can't be compared to the previous rarity. ”

Everyone's hearts warmed, it turned out that in order to give the poor scholars in the world enough books to study, His Majesty was betting on the stability of the country.

"I wonder how much it costs?" Li Fen asked weakly holding the [Zhuangzi] in his hand.

The shopkeeper said directly: "Son, what you have in your hand is [Zhuangzi] and it costs twenty yuan." In addition, the Analects of the Analects of the Anal His Majesty decreed that all books should not be higher than one hundred dollars. ”

"Shopkeeper, how do you sell these papers?" Another reader hurriedly asked.

When the shopkeeper heard this, he said flatly: "These papers are divided into upper, middle, and lower. Fine paper, twenty dollars a piece. Medium paper ten cents. Inferior paper, five dollars a piece. And what I have just written is inferior paper. ”

"And today the new store opens! His Majesty specially decreed that all books, buy one get one free! "The shopkeeper threw out a huge message,

Everyone was in a big hit, and that's a huge benefit.

Li Fen finally understood that he had just seen some readers crying with a book.

A hundred dollars is a little more than a little bit for those of them who are reading, but it's better than not having a chance at all.

"Your Majesty is really a saint monarch that is rare to see in the ages!" Li Fen's tears flowed silently.

Of course, he also took out the money and bought [Zhuangzi].

The other readers who bought the books were all excited, and tears flowed involuntarily from their faces. In the future, they will not have to worry about running out of books to read, and their lives will be full of hope.

Boss Zhu outside the door saw Li Fen wiping his tears, and a smile appeared on his face.