Volume 3: Heavenly Tribulation Chapter 88: Book Demon (Seeking First Subscription)

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  The cold wind howled, Zhang Yu's thin body shrank tightly, his two arms crossed and hugged his chest, but his right hand still firmly grasped a volume of books, reading word by word.

  He walked halfway down the street before suddenly stopping and rubbing his head with a bewildered expression, as if he had forgotten something.

  "Huh, what am I doing?"

  Chen Jianchen stood behind, looking at him with a cold expression... It is said that people who are pitied must have something hateful about them, and indeed. This bookworm usually doesn't leave the house, but now he's made an exception to run out for once, so there must be some urgent matter he needs to attend to. But he's doing well, reading a book while walking, and as he reads, he even forgets the purpose of his outing.

  "Oh, I remember now! My mother is ill, and I'm going out to invite a doctor!"

  A bookworm slaps his thigh and finally remembers.

  When he heard this, Chen Jianchen was so angry that he wanted to give him a slap in the face. It's absurd! As a son, when his mother fell ill, he only remembered to study and almost forgot something as important as asking for a doctor. This can no longer be called "foolishness" but "demonic".

  To be possessed by an evil spirit.

  Chen Jianchen was originally a filial person and couldn't stand such behavior.

  After remembering, Zhang Huanyu slightly quickened his pace and arrived at the entrance of a pharmacy on the west side of the street. He walked in, but was soon chased out by an attendant: "I say, Mr. Zhang, our Master Yang has already treated your mother several times, but not once have we received any payment for the consultations or medicine. The accumulated debt is over one guan now! Our master is a doctor and runs a pharmacy, not a charity. In the past, seeing that your elderly lady was pitiful, he went to treat her without hesitation, but it can't go on like this forever. If every household does the same, won't we have to close down and starve?"

  Zhang Huanyin tearfully begged: "I beg of you, please go and take a look at my mother again, her whole body is convulsing, she's almost gone! It's a matter of life and death, I implore your mercy!"

  At this time, a doctor in his fifties walked out of the pharmacy and said with a serious tone: "Mr. Zhang, I understand your mother's condition, but I also can't help you for free every time... As a doctor, saving lives and treating injuries is my duty, but receiving payment is also fair. How about this, you pawn that good copy of 'Du Shi Zhong Lou Zhu Shu' to my store, and I'll go see your mother?"

  Upon hearing this, Book Crazy hastily hugged the book scroll in his hands and shook his head repeatedly, saying: "No way, no way, this scroll was left behind by my father, I won't sell it..."

  Chen Jianchen could no longer bear it, stepped forward with big strides, cupped his hands and said: "Doctor, saving a life is urgent, I'll pay the medical expenses that Mr. Zhang owes."

  Yang Daifu took a glance at Chen Jianchen, seeing that he was tall and slender, with an extraordinary demeanor, and wearing a Confucian robe. He reckoned that Chen wasn't an ordinary person. Since Chen was willing to lend a hand, Yang naturally didn't hesitate, immediately going back to fetch his medical box and heading to the Zhang residence to rescue someone.

  Someone helped him up, and Zhang Yun bowed to Chen Jianchen, saying: "Thank you, sir, for your kindness!"

  Chen Jianchen sneered inwardly, unwilling to respond to someone who would rather choose a book over his mother's life and death. What right did he have to talk about "righteousness"? He himself wasn't willing to pay the price for a single book, yet always expected others to be selfless and compassionate; his heart was despicable.

  The Zhang family lived in the southern suburbs of Suzhou, which wasn't too far away. It took about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to get there.

  Zhang Huanyin asked Chen Jianchen to enter the house, without serving tea, and could only pour some boiling water into a cup with a missing mouth for Chen Jianchen to drink.

  Chen Jianchen looked around and saw that the Zhang family's house was not small, but it was empty and had a desolate and defeated feeling of "a bare house with nothing to sell", probably because all the furniture had been sold off.

  The central room was where Zhang's mother lived; to the right was a small room, which served as Zhang Youxue's bedroom. The door was tightly closed and on it was posted a notice: "Library".

  Zhang Huanyin loved books as his life, and his bedroom was also a library.

  Chen Jianchen did not follow Yang Dafu into Zhang Mu's residence, but instead asked Zhang Huanyin: "Brother Zhang, I've long heard that you have a collection of a thousand books, with sweat and toil filling the shelves. May I ask if it would be possible for me to enter your study and take a look, to broaden my horizons?"

  Zhang Huanyu nodded, "Of course you can, but many of the books in there were passed down by my ancestors. Please don't touch them randomly when you go in."

  Chen Jianchen said calmly: "I just want to go in and take a look."

  When Zhang Yun opened the door and entered with Chen Jianchen.

  Book.

  So many books!

  Chen Jianchen is also a seasoned person, but seeing the scene in the room still makes him stunned. The room is about thirty or forty square meters, with four walls lined with tall bookshelves that reach the ceiling. The bookshelves are densely packed with books, layer upon layer, stacked very neatly. At a rough glance, there are at least several thousand volumes.

  Here, books are piled up like a mountain.

  Zhang Huaiyun's sleeping place was right in the middle of this book mountain, a small wooden bed, with a low table placed in front of it. And on the table, there were also many books piled up. People inside felt even turning around was difficult.

  Chen Jianchen's gaze swept across the bookshelf, scanning it in a circle, and finally settled on the low table.

  On the table, in addition to books, there was also a set of pen, ink and paper, and in the middle, a ancient colored fragrant ancient scroll was placed upright, but it was a bit far away, so I couldn't see the name of the ancient scroll.

  That painting of a beautiful woman should be hidden in this ancient book.

  Chen Jianchen's heart moved slightly, and he said quietly: "Zhang brother, the doctor is over there diagnosing Old Lady Zhang, why don't you go take a look?"

  Zhang Huanyu said calmly: "Now that the doctor is here, everything should be fine. I still have a volume of 'Spring and Autumn Annals' that I haven't finished reading."

  Chen Jianchen hummed in response, but his heart was secretly burning with anger... What a waste of being human! He suppressed his temper and asked again: "Mr. Zhang, I've heard that you have a beautiful silk brocade painting of a court lady, which is extremely lifelike and vividly depicted. As it happens, I'm deeply fond of art, could you take it out for me to appreciate?"

  Upon hearing this inhumane remark, Zhang Yuanyu suddenly revealed a vigilant expression and hesitated to say: "It's just an ordinary brocade painting, there's nothing good to look at."

  Chen Jianchen raised an eyebrow and laughed: "Everyone says that Zhang is a man of his word, but now it seems that's not necessarily the case."

  Upon hearing this sentence, Zhang Huaiyun's thin face turned bright red as he stuttered: "This that..."

  Chen Jianchen sneered: "No need for this or that, since Brother Zhang is so stingy, I won't force it either. I'll take my leave now."

  "Please stay, young master... Alright, I'll take it out, but you can't touch it with your hands." Chen Jian couldn't help but laugh at Zhang Huaiyun's serious expression, clearly he really did consider that painting of a beauty to be his own wife, and was reluctant to even let others see it, let alone touch it.

  Just as Zhang Huanyu was about to step forward, Yang Daifu came out of the room after finishing his diagnosis and treatment of Zhang's mother and said: "Master Zhang, I've already used acupuncture on her just now. The old lady is not in great danger for the time being. However, this illness cannot be cured by simply taking medicine or using acupuncture. In daily life, she must take her meals on time and avoid overexertion."

  Zhang Huanyu nodded as if pecking at rice like a chicken, but Chen Jianchen knew that he had never taken it to heart, or rather, his heart had always been filled with books and nothing else.

  After finishing his reminder, Yang Daifu looked at Chen Xiangchen with eager eyes, waiting for him to pay the bill.

  Chen Jianchen asked: "Yang Daifu, may I ask how much money does Zhang Xianggong owe you in total?"

  Yang replied: "In total it's one guan zero eight three wen qian. Hmm, young master just needs to give me one guan zero eight ten wen qian and that'll be fine."

  Chen Jianchen smiled: "To be honest, I don't have that much money on me right now. If you trust me, Doctor, you can go back to the pharmacy first and I'll personally deliver the money later."

  When Yang heard this sentence, he suddenly felt a chill and also felt somewhat displeased. Chen Jianchen was obviously trying to put him in an awkward position, but it wasn't easy to react.

  Chen Jianchen had seen many people, and with a second glance, he saw through Yang Daifu's concerns. He said: "Yang Daifu, I respect your medical ethics, but please also trust my character. Although I am not a big shot, I am a proud scholar who has read the classics of sages and knows about benevolence, righteousness, integrity, and shame. If I promise something to someone, I will definitely do it."

  He spoke with a tone of certainty, an air of unquestionability that came naturally.

  Yang Dada listened, moved in his heart, and bowed his head, sighing: "Young master can speak like this, old man would be wrong to suspect with a petty mind. Mr. Zhang is lucky to meet young master, it's indeed getting help from a noble person."

  After finishing speaking, he left three doses of medicine and instructed Zhang Huan to decoct them for his mother at the appointed time, then bid farewell and left.

  Seeing off Yang Daifu, Chen Jianchen originally wanted to continue calling Zhang Huanyu to bring out that lady's painting, but before he could speak, an old woman came out of the inner room with a quivering gait. Her appearance was withered and her expression was sorrowful, looking like she was in her seventies or eighties, but Chen Jianchen knew that she was actually Zhang Huanyu's mother, Zhang Shi, who was only in her early sixties.

  Time hurries people into old age, and hardships leave people crippled.

  Always outspoken.

  When he saw Zhang's family, Chen Jianchen inexplicably thought of his own mother, Mo San Niang, or perhaps this was the main reason why he decided to come over and investigate.

  Zhang obviously learned about the whole story from Yang Dafu, and when he saw Chen Jianchen, he couldn't help but burst into tears and rushed over to kneel down.

  Chen Jianchen was startled and quickly supported her: "Old lady, you can't do this!" He hastily helped her sit down in a chair beside him.

  The Zhang family was still in tears, and they didn't know whether it was because of their useless son or the sudden appearance of Chen Jianchen. She had just been treated with acupuncture and her illness wasn't fully cured yet, so she shouldn't be over-exerted. Chen Jianchen quickly called for Zhang Yun to come over and together they helped the old man back to his room to rest.

  As he lay on the kang, Zhang's emaciated hand grasped Chen Jianchen, his turbid eyes staring straight at him, opening his mouth to utter a sound, but unable to speak, as if wanting to entrust something, yet unable to say it.

  Chen Jianchen seemed to understand completely, gently patting the old man's hand and saying, "Don't worry, madam."

  Zhang slowly relaxed his five fingers.

  As he walked out, Chen Jianchen let out a long sigh. The spot on his shoulder where Zhang had grabbed him earlier still had five deep fingernail marks. Thinking of the other's turbid eyes filled with expectation, he felt a bit stifled and anxious. He knew that some things were necessary for him to do.

  At this time, Zhang Huanyu did not go to decoct medicine, but instead picked up another book to read.

  Chen Jianchen saw it, really wanted to walk over and snatch the book from his hand, burn it with a fire... Not that reading books is bad, but everything should have a degree, and also need to distinguish between time and situation. For example, Zhang Huanyu's behavior is simply a morbid manifestation, good or evil can give rise to demons. If Chen Jianchen's guess was correct, he might have been bewitched by the demon.

  Duan Xiaolou said in a cold voice: "Zhang brother, didn't you promise to show me that brocade painting earlier?"

  "Oh!"

  Zhang Huanyu was slightly dazed at first, and it wasn't until a while later that he came to his senses. He then awkwardly said, "Young master, please follow me."

  Chen Jianchen followed him into the study, saw him sit down, and first made a polite bow to the ancient book on the desk. Then, as if talking to someone, he began to mutter to himself: "Ru Yu, I have a friend who wants to see you, hoping you won't see him."

  Chen Jianchen raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is her name Ruyu?"

  Zhang Huanyu rarely showed a hint of a smile and said, "As the ancient poem says 'In books there are golden houses', so I gave her a name, Yanyuyu, she also likes it very much."

  "Are you all meeting in your dreams?"

  Chen Jianchen asked again, wanting to understand the situation better. From a similar angle of "heart-to-heart chat", Zhang Huanyu didn't have too much guard and could answer truthfully.

  "Uh-huh, yes, in my dreams, I read books, she weaves fabric, and we are both very happy...I believe that sooner or later, she will appear and truly meet with me."

  As expected, that portrait must have been opened and refined with a yin spirit, which is why it can enter Zhang Huanyu's divine soul.

  Just listening to Zhang's words, it seems that neither side has done anything overstepping or improper, which is worth questioning.

  But for now, it's not good to ask Chen Jianchen too many questions, lest he gets suspicious and things get complicated. People like Zhang Huanyu are so stubborn in their values that trying to persuade them is as futile as knocking them out with a punch. Reasoning with him is impossible. Otherwise, why would he be called "Book Crazy" and become the half-mad, half-foolish person he is today?

  After finishing her nagging, Zhang Huanyu finally opened the ancient book scroll, flipping to the page with ease, and then gently took out a piece of human-shaped brocade.

  It's better to say it's silk, rather than brocade, thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent. It was cut into the shape of a lady with a flowing skirt, and after being carefully painted with ink, the lady's charm was brought out, her face beautiful, as if she would come alive the next moment, turning into a stunning beauty standing right in front of you.

  Chen Jianchen stood on one side, intently watching. At this moment, as if sensing the sharpness of his gaze, the originally smiling and elegant lady suddenly underwent a strange and eerie transformation, revealing a look of fear and trepidation.

  A thin silk cut into a lady's image can actually produce a fearful negative emotion!!

  "Journey to the West" is a novel written by "Chen of Southern Dynasty", latest.

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