Chapter 18: The Gossip Aficionado

Passing the bookstore, Xue Zhenrui took a few more steps before her feet suddenly halted. After a few moments of hesitation, she resolutely turned around and headed toward the shop.

Forget it. Even if she knew the outcome, she wouldn't be content without hearing it for herself. She had already been rejected so many times that one more wouldn't make a difference; she needed to ask in person to have no regrets.

Xue Zhenrui walked up to the counter and greeted the shopkeeper, who was busy with his head bowed: "Shopkeeper, sorry to disturb you."

The shopkeeper swiftly closed the book he had been secretly reading under the counter and hurriedly looked up, squeezing out an amiable, nonchalant smile: "Is the young lady looking to buy a book?"

Hmm, he hoped she hadn't noticed him slacking off. It couldn't be helped—Miss Xu’s new manuscript was simply impossible to resist! In the past, young ladies rarely frequented the bookstore, but ever since they began selling Miss Xu’s works, their numbers had grown. Some came with servants in tow, some in groups of friends, and others accompanied by young gentlemen. From initial shock to later numbness, the shopkeeper had now learned to face it with composure. Fearing that this unfamiliar young lady might be shy, he gave her an encouraging look, signaling her to speak up without fear.

"I am not here to buy a book. I saw that your shop is hiring, and I would like to try for the position."

Xue Zhenrui gathered her courage and said it all in one breath, waiting for the shopkeeper to reject her so she could quickly head to the next shop. With the curfew approaching, she had to make the most of her time.

The shopkeeper’s gaze sharpened, and he looked her up and down. He hadn't expected that Miss Xu’s whimsical idea of hiring a woman would actually attract an applicant. However, this girl looked young—barely sixteen—would she really be capable? Surely they couldn't produce another Miss Xu? The shopkeeper had his doubts, but he kept them to himself, fearing he might be proven wrong and embarrassed later. He was already uncomfortable enough around Miss Xu; it was better to leave a path open for the future.

Seeing the shopkeeper’s reaction, Xue Zhenrui knew it was likely another rejection. Yet, his silence made her impatient, and she wished he would just finish his dismissive remarks so she could leave.

"Please wait a moment, young lady. I will go ask the proprietor." With that, the shopkeeper turned and headed to the back.

Xue Zhenrui: *? No, if you're going to reject me, why give me the runaround?*

In the back room, Xu Chengyue was writing a manuscript. Because Lu Hongzhuo had no experience in hiring and didn't know what talents or qualifications were needed for a newspaper editor, Xu Chengyue had been writing in the shop for the past few days to make it easier to conduct interviews when someone showed up.

However—she looked up and scanned the room, and the vague, lingering gazes fixed upon her were immediately withdrawn. Xu Chengyue thought expressionlessly that this was the downside of writing in a bookstore: being urged to update in person. Though they didn't say it aloud, their behavior couldn't have been more obvious!

Xu Chengyue just wanted to find someone quickly. Unlike her, Lu Hongzhuo was as happy as a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar. Who could understand the joy of seeing an author's freshly produced, still-warm manuscript right in front of one's eyes? While balancing the accounts, he secretly cast glances at where Xu Chengyue was sitting.

"Sir, Miss Xu, there is a young lady here to apply," the shopkeeper said as he walked in.

*Oh? A young lady, really?* Lu Hongzhuo glanced over in surprise. Since they had posted the notice, only older gentlemen had come by, and as Xu Chengyue had predicted, their talents were truly mediocre.

Xu Chengyue looked up, delighted. She quickly set down her pen and rose to walk outside. Pulling back the curtain, she saw a young woman with a proper appearance and delicate features. She was slightly furrowing her brows, looking a bit impatient. Upon seeing Xu Chengyue, her eyes brightened, and she raised her hand in a respectful salute. Xu Chengyue returned the gesture.

Xue Zhenrui hadn't held much hope, but seeing a young woman come out, a sliver of expectation sprouted in her heart. Perhaps this bookstore was truly willing to employ women.

"Are you here to apply for the position?" Xu Chengyue asked.

"Yes," she nodded repeatedly.

"Please, come with me."

Xu Chengyue led her to a quieter room furnished with three high desks and matching stools—something Xu Chengyue had insisted upon. Low desks were uncomfortable, and sitting at them for long periods hindered circulation; it was no wonder people got sick. Under her guidance, Xue Zhenrui sat on a crescent stool, feeling anxious and uncertain about what this setup was for.

A moment later, a young man arrived and sat at one of the remaining desks. Xue Zhenrui couldn't discern their relationship; they didn't look like a married couple—the young lady was wearing a hairstyle indicating she was unmarried.

As the three sat across from each other, Xu Chengyue spoke first. "What is your surname, young lady?"

"My surname is Xue, and I am the only daughter in my family."

Xu Chengyue recorded this on paper. She then asked several questions, which Xue Zhenrui answered one by one. Listening to her, Xu Chengyue nodded inwardly. At the very least, Miss Xue’s educational level was sufficient; she had read the common textbooks of the era, understood the lives of the people, and could speak with substance. She was far better than the previous pedantic scholars who spoke in muddled circles, used nothing but archaic jargon, and cast disdainful looks at her, thinking they were being subtle.

"Miss Xue, do you usually pay attention to things happening among your neighbors? Don't misunderstand; we are testing your ability to gather information."

Having just been asked about her studies, the sudden shift in topic caught Xue Zhenrui off guard. However, this was exactly her forte. Eager to prove her capability, she recounted everything she knew, "Yes, quite a lot..."

The trivial matters of the neighborhood might seem small, but when counted up, they could keep one talking for half a day. Lu Hongzhuo watched, dumbfounded, as the young lady who had been so reserved and uneasy just moments before began to pour out everything, detailing even the private frictions between neighbors that no one else would have known.

She grew more spirited as she spoke, her eyes shining. The listeners were also enthralled, occasionally exclaiming in wonder or chiming in with encouragement.

"Really?"
"Wow!"
"That is just too much!"

...These short phrases, expressing the intense emotions of the listeners, greatly ignited the speaker's passion. Encouraged, Xue Zhenrui spoke in one breath until the end, "...Young Master Li’s ox cart hit someone. Afraid of having to pay, he didn't dare to speak up and snuck away. It wasn't until the patrolling guards brought the injured person to his house that he realized—the person he had hit was his own father!"

After finishing, she still felt a sense of wanting to say more. She searched her memory for a few more stories, but upon meeting Xu Chengyue’s enthusiastic gaze, she suddenly realized that the person sitting across from her was not her mother, with whom she usually gossiped. She sheepishly fell silent.

*What is wrong with you, Xue Zhenrui! Why aren't you cherishing such a good opportunity!* Xue Zhenrui wailed inwardly.

Xu Chengyue, however, was very satisfied. This ability to collect gossip was excellent.

"Miss Xue, congratulations. You have been hired by our bookstore."

With that, Xu Chengyue looked at Lu Hongzhuo, her gaze asking if he had any objections. Lu Hongzhuo had been listening the whole time without much sense of participation, acting only as a dispassionate echo.

"None at all, Miss Xue is perfectly suitable. Congratulations, Miss Xue." He shook his head repeatedly and bowed to congratulate her.

Hearing their congratulations, Xue Zhenrui froze, feeling a bit dazed. "I... really..." Her thoughts were churning, and she even forgot her modest honorifics, her voice stumbling.

Both of them nodded affirmatively. Xue Zhenrui had longed for this moment for so long. She had imagined a thousand times how she would react—perhaps laughing with joy or weeping aloud. But now that the wish had been fulfilled, her mind was a blank. Her eyes grew slightly red, and her throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton. She rose and made a deep, respectful bow to the two of them.

.

At the Xue residence in Xiushan Ward.

"Sir, do you think Zhenniang can do it? What if she actually finds work?" Mother Xue asked worriedly.

"No proper shop would hire a woman; she certainly won't find anything. Even if she does, she won't last more than a few days. Does she think earning money is as simple as being a daughter at home?" Father Xue didn't look back, continuing to sharpen the knife he used for chopping vegetables.

"I’m just afraid that, just in case..."

"Father, Mother, I’m back!" A young lady's voice, full of vitality, rang out as Xue Zhenrui ran into the house in high spirits.