In addition to this "Records of the Four Continents", there is also the series "Annotations of the Thirteen Classics of the Qing Dynasty" that Wang Ci and others praised. [Full text reading] This pirated version of Zhonghua Book Company’s series not only impressed Wang Ci, but also Liu Dalin, who was recognized as the most learned person in Lingao, felt inferior after seeing it - the Qing people’s primary school attainments were very high.
Zhou Dongtian originally wanted to bring "Complete Tang Poems" and "Complete Song Ci". However, these two volumes are very large and Lingao Printing House, which lacks enough typefaces, has no plans for typesetting yet.
"Mencius' Justice" was printed on paper from the Zhonghua Book Company's edition of the "Qing Commentary on the Thirteen Classics" series shipped this time. Once this series of books was sold, many readers rushed to buy it. Some Confucian scholars with limited financial resources bought one copy, but were reluctant to part with it when they saw the others, insisting that the bookstore keep it for them first and then buy it later.
Cai Shi speculated that none of these Xianggong, except for the sour "Xiangong Wen", was interested in this kind of "sage learning". But Mr. Wen was not inconvenient to disobey. I immediately picked out about ten sets of "novel and interesting" books, and also selected three or four Confucian books. Pushed over on a trolley. Place the books on the table one by one.
Several people couldn't wait to pick up the books and look through them. The most conspicuous one was of course "Four Continents". The Lingao edition of "Four Continents" is printed in 16-karat format and has a thick paper and hard cover because it comes with several copperplate-printed maps. Zhang Dai had quick eyesight and was the first to pick up the book. It was heavy in my hand.
I was surprised when I got it; it turns out that the book opens to the right. He was startled and said;
"Australians are just as good at printing books as Westerners!"
When I opened it, I found that the text on the pages of this Australian book was arranged horizontally like Westerners, and they were arranged from left to right. It looked very awkward. Looking at the black and white map in it, I felt that it was extremely fine, and every detail was visible within a small size.
The maps of "Four Continents" were all drawn according to the revised maps of the 21st century. Because Australia and New Zealand were regarded as the "Longxing Land" of the Senate, they were tampered with on the map and New Zealand was completely deleted. Australia was tagged in the wrong location. The terrain is also completely unrealistic.
Because of Zhang Dai's relationship with Fang Yizhi, he often visited the Catholic Church in Hangzhou. Having seen the collection of world maps and globes, he was not impressed by the world map itself. He was just surprised that the map was drawn with more precision than the Westerners. When he saw the map brought by the missionaries, he was surprised. , I was also similarly surprised.
Because Sun Chun, Wen Huai and others stretched their necks to read, he flipped through the book and gave it to Sun Chun. Picked up another one. But the pages were also opened to the right. Zhang Dai was slightly surprised. Looking at the books he brought, all those related to Confucianism were opened to the left, vertically from left to right, while various "Macao Studies" books, It is a Western style.
"Could this mean the union of Chinese and foreign people?" Zhang Dai thought, putting down the Confucian books in his hands and specifically choosing a book on "Australian Studies". After a closer look, he found that it was not a book on learning, but a text. It's called "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". I flipped through a few pages, but it was about the Southern Song Dynasty, and the writing was half-literary and half-white. There is not much difference between modern vernacular and Ming Dynasty vernacular, and Zhang Dai can generally understand it. After reading a few pages, I was hooked.
The novels of the Ming Dynasty are a peak in the history of traditional Chinese novels. However, the plots of traditional novels are loose and stereotyped, and many authors have the habit of mixing in dialects and lyrics. The plot is far less compact and the characters are distinct than modern novels. What's more, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" is a representative work among modern martial arts novels. Zhang Dai actually saw that he had entered Hong Kong and couldn't let go. When I read that Wanyan Honglie fell in love with Bao Xiruo and the Song officials framed the Chui and Guo families in order to please him, causing their families to be destroyed, I couldn't help but think of the Liaodong War - Jianzhou also claimed to be a "Jurchen", and its country was named "Jurchen". Jin, and the current war situation in Liaodong is extremely dangerous. I couldn't help but sigh and put down the book.
He was originally a person who paid attention to enjoyment, pursued pleasure and spiritual happiness. But he is not a person who is unaware of the imminent collapse of the Ming Dynasty and only knows that he lives in a drunken dream and dies.
As a member of Fushe, Zhang Dai knew everything about the situation in the court and the state of the country from his friends and relatives.
Sun Chun saw that his expression was desolate, and he had completely lost the excitement just now, so he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zongzi..."
"It's not in the way." Zhang Dai didn't want to say "concerned about the country and the people", which was inconsistent with his usual free and easy concept. He immediately changed his mood and said, "I just thought of something."
But the book must be read, and he immediately informed: "The truth about "The Condor Shooting" is revealed."
"Young man, I understand!" Cai Shi said with a smile on his face, "Sir, there are two more books here, which are the continuation of this book..."
"Oh?" Zhang Dai waved his fan, "Wrap it too!"
"Yes, sir." Cai Shi made a good deal in one fell swoop - according to the regulations formulated by Zhao Yingong, the book sold by the clerk would be guaranteed as usual |■■. The money is accumulated and divided equally among the clerks at the end of the month.
Cai Shi immediately sealed the schoolbag and took out a straw woven handbag; it was produced by Lingao Woodware Factory, with the four words "Wonbi Bookstore" woven on it with dyed straw, which was both practical and beautiful.
Zhang Dai bought the Condor Trilogy and looked through other books. He felt dazzled. Some of them taught Western arithmetic. He didn't understand much about them, so he was naturally not interested. But a book called "Light Theory for Beginners" attracted his attention.
The reason that attracted his attention was not because of Zhang Dai's research on optics, but because Fang Yizhi had always had a strong interest in the study of Western artifacts. Ever since he got a telescope from Tang Ruowang, he had been studying it. Studying its structural principles, but still not understanding it.
The so-called "Light Theory for Beginners" is actually a science popularization pamphlet published in the 1960s. It briefly introduces basic optical knowledge and the principles of various common optical instruments, and is also equipped with many simple illustrations. Zhang Dai planned to buy it and give it to Fang Yizhi to comfort him for losing the telescope.
Just listen to Sun Chun ask: "Where is your master from? Where did these books come from? They are all really strange books!"
Cai Shi said respectfully, "My father's surname is Zhao. He is from Sanshui County, Guangdong. He is a junior student..."
When everyone heard that the boss was a local, their faces showed a bit of respect. Although Lin Sheng is a scholar, he has an "official student status" in the county school and is a top scholar.
"... Many of these books were sold in Guangdong. I heard that -" he lowered his voice, "they were bought from Australians."
Zhang Dai smiled and said, "You idiot, although this Australian product is not available everywhere in Jiangnan, it is not a rare thing. Even Liaodong ginseng is sold in drug stores. You still need to be sneaky about this Australian product." "
Cai Shi laughed repeatedly and said that in addition to getting books directly from Australians, there were also books printed by Wanbi Bookstore.
"...Those are the books written with ◆. My husband is thinking about how to learn the printing skills of the Australians."
Wu Zhixiang is now more and more convinced that this place was opened by Australians. Seeing that this slave spoke with a Hangzhou accent, I knew that he was probably a local defector and his knowledge was limited. I couldn't find out anything about him, so I simply kept silent.
Sun Chun said, "How can I count these few books? Go and get a few more. Are you afraid that the old men can't afford the money?" Although he was plain in appearance and ordinary in dress, his family was also a wealthy Jiangnan family. .
Cai Shi responded repeatedly, and quickly led his assistant to search for books from the bookshelves.
While he was reading and selecting books, Cai Shi reported, "My husband, my husband, is here to greet you."
Everyone was originally full of curiosity about this bookstore, but now that they heard that the owner was welcoming him, they all stood up to greet him.
After the notification, Zhao Yingong appeared quickly. This is a tall scholar. Although his face was pale and beardless, and his appearance could be described as delicate and elegant, his height and body were similar to those of a warrior in the eyes of Sun Chun and others. In particular, his stride when walking was incompatible with Confucian scholars who pay attention to disciplined actions.
Although he is from Cantonese, his appearance is completely different from the Cantonese people I have met several times. Wearing a Xiaoyao scarf and a green muslin straight jacket. It belongs to a wealthy and well-educated young man from a so-called scholarly family.
Because the two parties were meeting for the first time and had no identifiable introducers, they had to go through the red tape of sending greetings to each other, showing humility to each other, and then kowtow to each other.
Several people have seen Li one by one. Zhao Yingong then took care of Cai Shi and invited several distinguished guests to serve tea in the Wisteria Courtyard.
"Brother Tianyi, on the one hand, we have long admired his face and came here to pay a visit; on the other hand, we want to see this Australian bookstore and listen to Brother Zhao's elegant words." Zhang Dai said.
"Ah, I don't dare to take it, I don't dare to take it! But I am eager to ask you gentlemen to give me some advice!" Zhao Yingong said humbly, and then asked diligently, "Please come to the back and serve tea first."
Now everyone was led to the Wisteria Bookstore behind the bookshop. This is the IP room specially designed by Zhao Yingong to entertain big customers. The interior decoration is in the style of a Victorian lounge. The decoration is gorgeous and elegant. The most outstanding thing is that there is a huge bay window facing the courtyard. The three sides and the top are all inlaid with glass panels. Standing in it, you feel like you are in a Crystal Palace.
Outside the bay window is a small courtyard decorated in a Western style. There are many flowers planted, but above it is a wisteria - an old thing from the original abandoned garden, which grows extremely lush. But now the flowering season has passed, leaving only shelves full of lush greenery. Under the wisteria trellis, there is a small marble fountain, dripping with tiny drops of water.
It looks so refreshing.
Before he could sit down, Sun Chun praised, "What a paradise!" .
