After transmigrating, he supported his family by working at a garbage dump.

Xu Zhuzhu was used to comforting people, and now she saw that Wu Niangzi looked gloomy.

Her mind raced, and after coming up with an idea, she happily ran over and picked up a book covered in pictures.

Wow, this book is really good!

He held it upside down, looked at it again and again, and seemed to really like it.

Then, feigning confusion, he tilted his head and leaned close to Madam Wu's eyes, earnestly asking, "Madam Wu, I can't read, can you read it to me?"

Xu An was also clever. When he heard Xu Zhuzhu ask this question, he immediately chased after her and pulled her aside. "Zhuzhu, let's not disturb Mother and Madam Wu. Your brother will help you read."

He even carried Wu Niangzi on his back and made a "shush" gesture towards her, signaling her not to talk nonsense.

Xu Zhuzhu smiled and pushed her brother's hand away.

However, Madam Wu did not take it to heart. She simply shook her head, her smile becoming even more bitter, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I can't read either."

Upon hearing this, Xu An felt annoyed, blaming Xu Zhuzhu for her childish remark and regretting that he hadn't stopped his sister.

To everyone's surprise, Xu Zhuzhu didn't think anything of it when she heard this; instead, she burst into laughter.

Xu An sighed, wondering how his sister could be so clueless when she was usually so clever.

While he was pacing around anxiously, Xu Zhuzhu grinned widely and said:

"I can't read either. My father told me that it doesn't matter if I can't read, as long as I behave well and don't do bad things, I'm a good child."

The bookstore is small, with only two bookshelves and a limited selection of books, mostly for children's early education, short stories or miscellaneous books to pass the time, or hanging scrolls.

Xu Zhuzhu's childish voice echoed in the bookstore, among the bookshelves, in Wu Niangzi's ears, and into her heart.

Without warning, Madam Wu chuckled, then suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter filled with ease.

How come she, an adult, can't understand things as well as a child?

After laughing, he couldn't help but hug Xu Zhuzhu and praised her, "Your father is right, you are such a good child."

Zhang He, standing behind the bookshelf, looked at Wu Niangzi and her two children through the gap and smiled knowingly.

However, she searched for a long time but couldn't find the book her husband wanted on the bookshelf.

Having no other option, I asked Madam Wu on the other side of the shelf, "I've looked through all the books here and searched, but it seems I don't have any. Madam Wu, is there anywhere else in the shop to store the books?"

After a long while, Zhang He, still not hearing a reply from Madam Wu, came around from behind and asked again.

"what?"

Wu Niangzi smiled and put Xu Zhuzhu down. Only then did she come back to her senses, but when she looked up, her gaze was also blank for a moment. She clearly did not hear what Zhang He said.

Then, seeing that Zhang He's hands were empty, he understood.

"Didn't find it?"

She felt ashamed of her earlier lapse in composure and quickly asked another question.

"Look at what I've done!" Before Zhang He could answer, she slapped her head in annoyance.

Her eyes were full of apology. "My husband often says that there aren't many people in Qingshan Town who like to read, especially classics and historical records. For three to five years, no one has shown any interest in them, let alone sold a single copy. Therefore, we don't stock these kinds of books. If anyone wants one, they'll have to wait a month. My husband can go to the county to buy books and bring one back..."

As Wu Niangzi spoke, she kept apologizing to Zhang He, which made Zhang He feel a little embarrassed.

Come to think of it, in a place where people are struggling to make ends meet, it's already quite good to have a private school. She herself occasionally heard Hu San Niang mention this to her.

Over the years, only one or two scholars have emerged from the entire Qingshan Town. Their families are incredibly proud of them, and as a scholar's wife, she is the envy of everyone in the village.

Zhang He always felt embarrassed when she talked about this.

She didn't really care whether her husband was a scholar or a graduate, nor did she think it was something that others should envy.

Only if her husband passed the imperial examination and became a scholar could she somewhat justify the years of hard study he had endured. As for the title of "Master" or not, she felt it didn't matter.

Being a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations) isn't much of a benefit, except for exemption from taxes. There aren't many other tangible advantages. If we're talking about other real benefits, we'll probably have to wait until her husband becomes a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). But who knows when the imperial examinations will even start...

But since things had already come to this point, Zhang He had no choice but to smile and say it was nothing.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Oh well, let's wait until next month."

The two talked about their son for a while. When Wu Niangzi saw that Zhang He was all smiles, there was still a hint of regret in her eyes, and she felt very bad.

Looking around, she suddenly remembered that her husband had put a bunch of books behind the counter.

However, those were her husband's own, and she didn't recognize them.

“Madam Xu, look here. This is something my husband kept himself. It’s been almost seven or eight years, and I didn’t even remember it for a moment.”

After saying that, he pulled Zhang He behind the counter and opened a cabinet door.

The cabinet was filled with piles of books whose covers were curled up around the edges, whose binding threads had come undone, and which had been sewn back together with new cotton thread.

Zhang He exclaimed in surprise, realizing that these were indeed the books her husband wanted to read.

She casually picked up a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals, read it carefully, and a look of doubt appeared between her brows.

"Although this book is old and worn, it doesn't look like it's been used."

After all, if it had really been hidden away for seven or eight years, there wouldn't be a speck of dust on it.

She glanced through them and noticed that the annotations seemed to be freshly inked, which made her even more puzzled. She exclaimed, "It seems that Mr. Wu cherishes these books very much."

Madam Wu was also completely bewildered. She remembered that when her husband took the books in, he had clearly told her that he would never touch them again.

"Perhaps it was something Mr. Wu used to pass the time in his spare time."

Seeing that Madam Wu also looked puzzled, Zhang He recalled what her husband had told her about how Mr. Wu had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations in his youth, and guessed the underlying meaning. She decided not to say anything more.

Before Wu Niangzi could answer, he put the book back exactly as it was. He didn't take the book with him, only saying that it was inappropriate.

Although Wu Niangzi was illiterate, she was not stupid. She knew that Zhang He was only saying it was none of her business because he was concerned about their reputation.

Since the book Xu Wenjie wanted wasn't available, and since Xu Wenjie could understand the books his husband had read, Zhang He casually picked up two books from the cabinet and gave them to Zhang He.

This would give Xu Wenjie something to pass the time, and also make up for the gifts his family had given him before.

"I don't know it either, just take it, it's nothing."

"How can we possibly rob Mr. Wu's collection of books?"

Zhang He dared not accept it. Looking at the annotations on it, she knew how much effort Mr. Wu had put into it. If she really took it, she would be committing a serious crime.

Therefore, upon hearing Wu Niangzi's words, Zhang He became even more hesitant to accept the offer. However, this only made it seem as if she was overthinking things.

"What do you mean by 'book collection'? Let me see it too."

Just as the two were at an impasse, a deep male voice, tinged with laughter, came from the shop entrance.

The two looked up and saw Mr. Wu carrying a burlap sack, calmly stepping over the threshold and walking up to them.

He looked at the book in Madam Wu's hands, his smile froze, and he silently took the book, flipping through it for a long time before softly saying:

"How did you manage to dig these things out?"

Seeing her husband's visibly changed expression, Madam Wu's smile grew forced, and she was momentarily at a loss for words...