How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

In the aristocratic family's plan, once the rumors about Liu Yin spread, it would inevitably lead to her new book not selling.

Unfortunately, things didn't turn out as they had hoped; the bookstore was much busier than they had imagined.

"I was here first! Quick, give me three books!"

"Hey! Don't push, my shoes!"

"I want it! I want five books!"

……

A large crowd surged forward, each person waving their silver coins and shouting that they wanted to buy books.

Zhang Shuming frowned slightly upon arriving, and couldn't help but cover his nose with his hand before glancing disapprovingly at the servant beside him, and lightly scolding, "You! Go to the front and see what books everyone is fighting over?"

The servant standing nearby wore a wry smile, but seeing that the young master looked like he absolutely could not go forward again, he could only sigh and walk towards the crowd.

The crowd was so tight that the servant tried several times, using almost all his strength, but he was eventually pushed out by the crowd.

Having no other choice, he looked around and approached a scholar who seemed somewhat kind.

Nutting the scholar's arm, and seeing the man turn to look at him with displeasure, the servant quickly cupped his hands and smiled before saying, "Excuse me, sir, could you tell me what we're buying?"

The young master looked him up and down before suppressing his dissatisfaction and saying, "Of course I'm trying to steal the hermit's book. You can move aside and don't block my way."

After saying this, the young master pushed the servant aside, held up the silver, and squeezed back into the surging crowd.

Seeing this, the servant had no choice but to take a few steps back, wipe his sweat, and return to Zhang Shuming's side.

Before he even got close, Zhang Shuming said unhappily, "Don't come over, just talk over there."

Seeing this, the servant had no choice but to stop and stand still.

Seeing that he really didn't come any closer, Zhang Shuming breathed a sigh of relief, raised his chin, and gestured for the servant to reply.

The servant hurriedly bowed and replied, "Young Master, those people are all here to buy the Hermit's new book."

Zhang Shuming's expression changed. He pointed at the crowded people without any regard for his image and asked incredulously, "Are they all...?"

The servant nodded: "Yes, all of them."

Zhang Shuming looked at the crowded scene in the distance, his face extremely grim. He gritted his teeth and said to the servant, "Let's go!"

Without waiting for the servant's response, he turned and strode away. From his gait, it was clear that he was extremely angry, after all, he had practically trampled potholes into the cobblestone path.

What could the servant do but hurry after him? He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder everyone was unwilling to come out with the young master. It was just a pity that he, the unlucky newcomer, had no choice but to come along.

Not long after Zhang Shuming left, Zhang Shuyu arrived in front of the bookstore with his confidants.

It's no wonder the two brothers both came to this bookstore; it's just that it's the closest bookstore to their Zhang residence.

Faced with the surging crowd, Zhang Shuyu was also surprised. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to show his disdain as openly as his brother. He then gave a few instructions to his trusted confidants.

His confidant nodded and left, while he went up to the teahouse next door to sip tea and wait.

The Zhang family patriarch didn't wait long at home before his eldest son arrived.

"How is it?" Seeing his eldest son's pale face, his heart sank, and he was filled with a bad premonition.

Zhang Shuming pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then said, "Father, the Hermit's books are not selling very well. Every bookstore is as deserted as before."

The Zhang family head frowned slightly, and for a moment he didn't say anything, just staring at his eldest son, remaining silent for a long time.

Zhang Shuming felt uncomfortable under his father's gaze. He lowered his eyes slightly, rubbed the ring on his finger, and then said with a hint of guilt, "Why is Father looking at his son like that?"

The Zhang family head didn't say anything, but lowered his eyes slightly before saying as if nothing had happened, "It's nothing, you can go back now."

Zhang Shuming breathed a sigh of relief before bowing and saying, "Then I will take my leave."

After saying that, he waited a while, and seeing that the Zhang family head really didn't say anything more, he respectfully withdrew.

Not long after he left, Zhang Shuyu came in with the books he had bought.

“Father.” Zhang Shuyu respectfully handed the book to the head of the Zhang family.

The head of the Zhang family paused for a moment before taking the book, but instead of flipping through it, he held it down in his hand and asked Zhang Shuyu, "How is the bookstore doing?"

Zhang Shuyu paused for a moment before lowering his head and replying, "The bookstore is very lively. The book sellers are already packed together, and not many have left yet."

The head of the Zhang family nodded calmly before saying, "I understand. You may go back now."

Zhang Shuyu said nothing, nodded, and left.

After watching his son leave, the Zhang family head sighed deeply and turned the pages of the book.

The first article, only a few hundred words long, introduces the origin of Muqing and the local customs, etc.

He nodded; there was nothing different about this piece.

If you keep reading, the story is actually not complicated; it mainly tells the story of a woman who admires Qing.

The woman had no surname and was simply referred to as Wu Niang.

She was frail from childhood, but was deeply loved by her family and educated by renowned teachers, becoming a well-known lady from a prominent family in the area.

Unfortunately, she started taking medicine as soon as she could eat. She was a well-known talented woman in the area, but also a well-known pharmacy addict.

Even if such a woman is nearing marriageable age, she will not have many suitors.

Of course, there weren't many, but there were some. Her family was a well-known and influential family in the area, and they were skilled in business and had a strong financial foundation. Naturally, there were men who wanted to climb up to them and ask to marry her.

Wu Niang's family couldn't bear to see her marry into such a powerful family, but they also couldn't bear to see her serve her in-laws, so they were in a dilemma.

Unexpectedly, one day, Wu Niang, a close friend, came to visit and talked about Mu Qing.

Wu Niang then came up with an idea.

Not long after, Wu Niang became engaged to the second son of another prominent family in the same city, and the whole city praised the two as a perfect match.

The Zhang family head flipped through the book, his brows furrowed. Even now, he hadn't found any of the hermit's unconventional views that he once loved to express.

He grew increasingly uneasy, for based on his understanding of the hermit, the other party was definitely not someone bound by worldly pressures.

His fingertips traced the pages; only a third of the book remained. He thought for a moment, then turned the page and continued reading.

In a short while, his expression changed drastically. He flipped the teacup on the table, and the empty teacup rolled off the table, making a crisp shattering sound.

The spilled tea spread across the table, reaching all the way to the bottom of the book.

Seeing that the tea was about to soak the book, he quickly picked it up and shook it before calling a servant to take care of it.

Seeing that the words in the book in his hand had been stained by water and turned into black blotches, he impatiently threw the book aside.

Looking at the other book that was intact, he breathed a sigh of relief and secretly rejoiced that his second son was the most thoughtful to have bought three books for him.