The shopkeeper seemed to know that Bai Erlang didn't like reading, so as soon as he turned around and came in, he asked the clerk to bring him a stool to sit on, and also had someone bring him a plate of snacks to greet him.
The reason why he is so attentive is because the Bai family is a big customer of their bookstore.
I dare not say that it is the largest, but it is also one of the few big customers.
Not to mention that Bai Shanbao came to their bookstore from time to time to buy books, pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and Mr. Bai regularly bought some new books from their bookstore and stored them.
He didn't know whether the other party would read it or not, but Mr. Bai basically kept a set of new books that came in.
And this young man does not look at the price when buying things, but only based on his preferences, so he will be more generous.
The shopkeeper greeted Bai Erlang with a smile. In order to prevent him from being bored, he even held a cup of hot tea and chatted with him, such as what the young master has been doing recently, what book he is reading...
Bai Erlang was bored. He didn't like reading, and it wasn't fun to go out alone. It would be nice to have something to talk about while waiting.
The two chatted enthusiastically, while Man Bao and Bai Shanbao were each looking for good books on the bookshelf.
When Yang Heshu wandered into the bookstore, he immediately saw Bai Erlang sitting at the counter talking. He subconsciously looked between the bookshelves in the bookstore, and sure enough he saw the two children.
Yang Heshu couldn't help but smile and walked in with his hands behind his back.
As soon as the shopkeeper looked up and saw Yang Heshu, he immediately stood up to greet him.
Yang Heshu smiled and pressed his hand, asked him to sit down, and walked straight into the bookstore.
Bai Erlang also saw Yang Heshu, but he did not get up, but said hello lazily, "Master Yang."
Yang Heshu smiled and nodded, then stopped and asked, "You won't go to school today?"
"Sir, give us a holiday and let us do some shopping."
"Oh, you want to learn arithmetic?" Yang Heshu looked at his size and said with a smile: "It's pretty quick. It seems you are good at arithmetic."
The shopkeeper looked at him in surprise, this is... an acquaintance?
Yang Heshu went directly to the bookshelf to look for books. Bai Erlang didn't bother him to talk, but turned to the shopkeeper and said, "Where were we talking about?"
The shopkeeper: "... Talking about you going to dig mud from the river and make mud balls to fight with."
"Oh, yes." Bai Erlang took a sip of tea and continued.
Nearly an hour later, Man Bao and Bai Shanbao each came out with two or three books.
The shopkeeper didn't expect Manbao to buy two books, so he couldn't help but asked with a smile, "Did you make money, little lady?"
Man Bao said proudly: "My father gave it to me."
The shopkeeper then understood that this was free money and he didn’t feel bad about buying books.
The shopkeeper smiled and settled the bill for her, then went to count the books Bai Shanbao bought.
Manbao spent all the money his father gave him, and then he bagged his schoolbag and handed it to Daji with satisfaction. When he turned around and saw Magistrate Yang standing behind him, he became happy and said, "Master Yang, what a coincidence."
Yang Heshu Le said, "I have been here for more than half an hour. I passed you three or four times before you noticed me."
Bai Shanbao also looked at him curiously.
Yang Heshu knew that the two children didn't notice him. He coughed slightly in embarrassment and said with a smile: "It's almost noon, how about I treat you to lunch?"
"Okay, okay." Even Bai Erlang became happy and made suggestions one after another, "We know which restaurant in the county is the best."
Yang Heshu burst out laughing and said happily, "I know that too."
There are only a few restaurants in the entire county, and there is only one big one. How could he not know?
Although he has only been in office for three months, he has already eaten at all the restaurants in the county, and he was almost bored to the point of eating at a roadside stall.
Yang Heshu handed the two books he selected to the shopkeeper, asked his entourage to pay the bill, and then took them to the restaurant.
In the past, the only way to get in and out was by carriage and horse, but now you have to rely on your legs to get in and out. There is no other way. If you ride a horse or take a car, you can visit the county town in less than two quarters of time. What's the point?
In order to pass the time, you might as well walk with your legs, and you can always see different scenery.
The group of people arrived at the restaurant slowly. Yang Heshu did not enter the private room, but found a seat on the second floor to sit down.
The three of them found their seats and sat down. Bai Shanbao looked around and said, "It feels like the county town is a little more lively than before."
"Really?" Yang Heshu also looked around and said with a smile, "Maybe it was because we were busy in spring before and no one had time to go out. Now that the busy season is over, everyone has time."
"Not entirely," Man Bao, who has been to the county town the most, looked out the window and said, "It must be because there is no entrance fee, so everyone loves to go to the city. Look, there are many children down there."
Everyone looked downstairs and saw a group of children happily circling around a candy seller. Every time the stall owner made a candy man, the children cheered.
Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang nodded in agreement.
Yang Heshu was stunned and asked, "What's the fee for entering the city?"
"Of course it is closed. There is no entry fee. Everyone can enter the city whenever they want." Man Bao looked at Yang Heshu and said sincerely: "Master Yang, you are really a good county magistrate."
Yang Heshu: ...He has done so many things along the way and has not been praised as a good county magistrate. Why is he being praised just because he doesn't need to pay the city entrance fee?
Why did he cancel the city entrance fee?
Oh, because I don’t think it’s necessary.
It is impossible to keep a detailed accounting of one penny or two pence. The soldiers guarding the gate, the general flag, and the master book above may all be intercepted.
The money collected to the county government every month is not much, but it wastes everyone's time and the people's time.
So he canceled.
But……
Yang Heshu was a little confused, "It's just a penny, will everyone avoid entering the city because of this?"
"Of course," Man Bao said matter-of-factly: "One penny used to buy a plain steamed bun, and two penny can buy a candy man. If my nephews, nieces and I all go to the city, it will cost ten penny.
You can buy five candy figures."
Yang Heshu: ...It sounds like a lot.
"Since it costs ten cents, it's better to go to the city alone and use the remaining nine cents to buy delicious food. We can just wait at home." Man Bao said: "In the past, the children in our village
I rarely go to the city because it’s too far, and after paying the city entry fee, adults don’t like to go to the city anymore. If I need something, I go to the big market to buy it. If I can’t buy something in the big market, I ask people who go into the city to help me.
My brother often helps people in the village carry things."
Yang Heshu couldn't help but squeeze his hands. He never thought that the impact of the city entry fee would be so great. Isn't this just one or two cents?
Man Bao looked at him suspiciously, "You won't have to pay city fees again, will you?"
Yang Heshu came back to his senses, smiled and shook his head, "No, the entrance fee is not worth charging."
"That's right, that's right, don't imitate County Magistrate Fu, or I'll have to sell you candy."
Yang Heshu asked curiously, "Why do you want to sell me candy?"
Man Bao said seriously: "It's just to earn entry fees."