Chapter 74: Writer
Chu Jiu lowered his head and looked closely at the pages of the book:
He saw wisps of white mist rising from the seams of the pages, which then slowly condensed and took shape above the pages, eventually forming a small ball…
A translucent, white, soft dumpling-like thing?
The face of the little dumpling was dotted with sesame seed-sized black spots, presumably its eyes.
It blinked its small eyes, looking a bit timid, as if it had something to say but was also afraid to speak.
Little Can leaned close to Chu Jiu’s ear and meowed softly, “This should be Old He’s helper.”
Chu Jiu had a general idea in his mind.
However, upon hearing Little Can’s voice, the little dumpling’s face showed an expression of almost fear, and its body seemed to become even more transparent.
Chu Jiu quickly said, “Yes, I’m the pioneer who wrote in this book, my name is Chu Jiu.”
“You are…”
Chu Jiu’s voice was clear and gentle, the voice of a young boy without any aggression.
The little dumpling’s expression relaxed a little: “I, I am, a book spirit…”
The little guy’s voice was soft and cute, even the sound it made felt like a glutinous rice ball.
Chu Jiu: “…A book spirit?”
Chu Jiu had seen this word in that book, “Folk Legends.”
But the entire description was only one sentence: [There are also some spirit-like creatures about whom we know very little, not even knowing where they come from or what they live on, such as “book spirits.”]
The little dumpling nodded its head: “Yes, a book spirit.”
Although he knew nothing about this race, Chu Jiu tried his best not to show any surprise, so as not to frighten the shy little guy in front of him.
His tone remained very gentle: “So, a book spirit.”
“Do you have a name? What can I call you?”
Chu Jiu’s attitude made the little dumpling’s unease lessen a bit.
The little dumpling said softly, “My name is Lighthouse… you can call me ‘Tata’.”
Chu Jiu: “Oh… Tata, what a cute name.”
“Your full name is Lighthouse, is it because you used to live in the lighthouse?”
Finding that Chu Jiu had actually guessed its origin, Tata became happier, and a smile appeared on its white dumpling face:
“Mmm-hmm! Yes!”
“I used to live in the lighthouse with Grandpa He, so my name is Lighthouse.”
Speaking of this, a touch of sadness appeared on Tata’s small face:
“But Grandpa He said that he is getting old now and might not be able to take care of me for much longer.”
“He said, ‘Look at this pioneer with the ugly handwriting, he should be able to raise you, so go with him.'”
“So, I, I ran into this book and followed you here.”
Chu Jiu: “…So that’s how it is.”
Old He entrusted his little friend to me…
But how do you raise a book spirit? What do you feed it?
Just as Chu Jiu was about to ask, Tata fluttered down onto a blank page: “Also, Grandpa He said you might want to know about the ‘sea monster of Sea Moon City’.”
Chu Jiu’s eyes lit up: “Yes.”
So Old He sent the book spirit to explain this! Old He is indeed very reliable!
Tata: “I, I know.”
“Um… hmm… the sea monster of Sea Moon City is actually…”
Chu Jiu: “…Actually is?”
Tata’s mouth opened and closed, its sesame seed-sized eyes slowly closing into two downward-curving arcs—
“I, I…”
“I have no nourishment…”
“I need… to be full to remember…”
Chu Jiu quickly asked, “What did you eat when you were in the lighthouse?”
It couldn’t be books, right?
Tata raised its thin, almost invisible arm and pointed to the pages of the book.
Chu Jiu: “……!”
No way, no way, it can’t really be eating books, right? Shouldn’t bookworms eat books, not book spirits?
At this moment, the little dumpling, which was already translucent, was about to become completely transparent.
Tata lay limply on the pages, transforming from a spherical little dumpling into a flat little rice cake: “Reading books…”
“You… reading books…”
“Humans nearby reading books, then I can get nourishment…”
Ah, what a peculiar way to absorb nutrients!
Chu Jiu immediately said, “I understand. I borrowed a lot of books. I’ll start reading right away!”
I wonder if reading children’s books all night will be enough to fill Tata up?
Tata slowly shook its head, seemingly unwilling to cause Chu Jiu more trouble: “No need, no need, no need to be in such a hurry.”
“I, I, when I don’t have nourishment, I just can’t fly, I can’t remember things in books, and I get smaller and smaller… but I don’t feel uncomfortable.”
“So you don’t need to worry…”
It looked at Chu Jiu and Little Can again, thought for a while, and said, “Also, it’s useless if you read books, or if your cat reads books.”
Chu Jiu: ???
Little Can: …….?
Tata’s little eyebrows furrowed: “You reading books doesn’t provide nourishment.”
“You need to find other ordinary people, the younger they are, the better the effect…”
It struggled to prop up its rice cake-like little body, as if surveying its surroundings: “What kind of place is this? Is it another city?”
Chu Jiu said, “No, this is a village called ‘Bean Village’.”
Tata: “Then… as long as the children in the village are reading, I can replenish my nourishment…”
Chu Jiu: “Okay. I’ll get the children to read as soon as possible.”
Tata showed a very relieved expression, obviously trusting Chu Jiu’s words: “Okay…”
Chu Jiu nodded: “Do you need a small bed or a small nest or something?”
Tata: “I have a nest… the book you made is my nest.”
Chu Jiu: “……!”
Chu Jiu suddenly understood a bit why Old He disliked his handwriting so much.
If he had known this book would be used as the little guy’s sleeping nest, he might as well not have written in it.
Chu Jiu sighed: “Rest well for now.”
“Sleep, Tata. I’ll go find ‘nourishment’ for you tomorrow.”
“…A cafeteria?” The old village chief was a bit confused. “Our village doesn’t need a cafeteria right now, does it?”
Everyone grows their own food and cooks their own meals. If someone is really in a hurry, they can just ask a neighbor for a steamed bun to tide them over.
With so few people in the village, apart from the customers who go to the blacksmith shop, there are usually no outsiders. Who would eat in a cafeteria if we opened one?
Chu Jiu said, “Well, it’s like this—”
“This cafeteria, because people always sit down to eat, will have tables and chairs.”
“And then, because everyone in the village knows each other well, children will run to this cafeteria to sit, and no one will chase them away.”
“And then, in this cafeteria, there happen to be some books placed there. When the children sit there bored, they will flip through the books.”
“Sometimes, adults will also come to this cafeteria. When they see the children reading, they will tell them stories from the books…” “That’s what this place is.”
“Of course, the cafeteria must have a sign that says ‘Bean Village Cafeteria.’ Whoever comes will think it’s just a cafeteria!”
The old village chief thought for a minute or two, then suddenly realized and nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes, our village really needs a cafeteria!”
“I, I’ll go talk to the craftsmen right away and see how long it will take to build such a ‘cafeteria’!”
The old man rubbed his hands excitedly, the wrinkles on his face trembling. He tapped the ground a few times with his cane, his face full of excitement, “Yes, a cafeteria is so good—”
“But, Little Jiu, where will those ‘books’ you mentioned putting in the cafeteria come from…?”
Chu Jiu: “I borrowed a lot of books from Old He. Oh right, I also used the bamboo I grew in my field—the same plant I used to make the waterwheel—and tried to make very lightweight ‘paper’.”
“Books made with this kind of paper will be about the same weight and size as the first book you gave me.”
“I’ll find someone to transcribe Old He’s books onto these paper books and put them in the ‘cafeteria,’ so it will be easier for the children to read.”
Easy to look at, and easy to hide.
Although Chu Jiu spoke casually, as if making “paper” was as easy as making a pancake in the morning, the old village chief was so shocked that he couldn’t speak for a long time.
“Little Jiu… you… you… made that kind of ‘paper’ from before?” the old village chief asked, his voice trembling.
Chu Jiu replied, “Yes.”
“Because Old He seemed to really want the children to be able to hold books and read themselves, so he made this request.”
The old village chief sighed softly.
Old He, that eccentric old man, had waited alone in the lighthouse for so many years, stubbornly waiting for someone to recreate this lost thing. Now he had finally waited.
The old village chief nodded heavily, “Then let’s quickly get this ‘cafeteria’ up and running!”
Chu Jiu smiled and said, “Okay.”
Chu Jiu was very clear that this “cafeteria” he and the old village chief were talking about was actually a “school and reading room.”
The reason for being so roundabout was that he knew that all forms of “schools” were prohibited here. Neither churches nor private individuals were allowed to open schools.
Even the fact that the old village chief was now teaching the children to read at his home was under the guise of “helping to look after the children.”
The reason Chu Jiu went to such great lengths to propose the “cafeteria” was also to prevent any unforeseen circumstances—
In case those people from the association came uninvited again and rampaged through the village, all they would see was a “Bean Village Cafeteria.”
The kingdom’s “Compilation of Laws and Regulations” did not prohibit the operation of cafeterias.
The village craftsmen were all very enthusiastic about “building the cafeteria.” Even the three squirrel brothers came to help, wagging their big tails.
In just a few days, this unique cafeteria was built.
Marco also sent the transcribed books from Emerald Town.
All these books were copied onto thin paper books, with clear handwriting, easy to read, and very small in size, so they could be easily placed in the “cafeteria’s” cupboard.
Besides the old village chief, a middle-aged man whose abilities had faded was in charge of “selling food” in the cafeteria.
On the first day the cafeteria opened, the old village chief leaned on his cane, looking at the long rectangular wooden board and the charcoal pencil next to it, at the cupboard full of books, at the “dining tables” made into strips, at the children of different ages sitting around the dining tables, and at the shining eyes of the children, tears welled up in his eyes again.
Ah, really, why do I cry so easily as I get older…
The old village chief turned his back and scribbled words on the large wooden board with the charcoal pencil.
At the same moment.
Chu Jiu, who was about to go see if Little Tata had received nourishment, first received a series of system prompts:
[The host has triggered the related event “The Wish of the Lighthouse Keeper”! ]
[Does the host choose to accept the reward now?]
[If the reward is accepted now, the host can receive a total of 9000 Pioneering Points from the series of related events such as “The Wish of the Lighthouse Keeper,” “Even the Setting Sun Should Not Be Underestimated,” “The Boy’s True Wish,” “The Small Dream of a Merchant,” and “Protecting the Small Dream of a Merchant.”]
[If you continue to accumulate, the reward will continue to double.]
!
So many Pioneering Points! If it doubles again next time, I can directly get tens of thousands of Pioneering Points from this series of related events?
Chu Jiu chose to continue accumulating again.
After choosing, while still immersed in the joy of “so many Pioneering Points I can’t use them all,” he received another prompt:
[Dynamic prompt from “Honorary Area – Bean Village”: The host has led the establishment of a “special cafeteria” in this area!]
[Area Pioneering Degree has increased to 27.5%!]
Whoa!
Building the “cafeteria” increased the Pioneering Degree by a full 2.5%!
At this rate, maybe I won’t have to wait until Black Wheat Village is merged to get more than 30% Pioneering Degree!
That’s great!
Chu Jiu smiled and walked into the workshop, finding Tata sleeping soundly on the [Crude Paper Handmade Book].
In the past two days, Tata had been lying flat on the pages, in the form of a flat little rice cake.
Now, Chu Jiu could see that the little guy’s body was slowly swelling up.
Not only that, but two small blurry blushes had appeared on Tata’s white face.
Even its sesame seed-sized black eyes had gradually curved upwards, looking very happy.
This is probably because it has replenished its nourishment?
Just as he thought this, Tata opened its eyes and whispered, “So delicious! Thank you, Chu Jiu!”
Ah, what a polite little book spirit!
Chu Jiu said, “You’re welcome—do you need anything else?”
Do book spirits drink beverages?
Tata: “No need… this nourishment is enough…”
“Hmm… probably after eating for another two or three days, I’ll be able to fly again and remember things in books again…”
“Don’t worry, okay…”
Chu Jiu quickly said, “Don’t worry, take your time eating.”
Tata contentedly closed its eyes again.
Chu Jiu was about to sit down and make some more paper with his spirit power when he heard a “tap-tap” knock on the door.
At this hour…
It should be Little Gray Bird.
Recently, after feeding his chicks every day, Little Gray Bird would run to Chu Jiu’s house and laze around on Chu Jiu’s newly made “sofa.”
This sofa was made by Chu Jiu using [cloth woven from rock rabbit fur] and [cotton], and it was very comfortable to lie on. Not only Little Gray Bird, but the little squirrels would also laze on this sofa and not get up when they came to Chu Jiu’s house.
Opening the door, it was indeed Little Gray Bird.
“Chu Jiu! I took the chicks out for a walk today! I want to find Kakaba to play with me!” Little Gray Bird said, while very smoothly and naturally pouncing onto the sofa.
Chu Jiu walked over and casually handed him a handwritten copy of “Fairy Tales Even Spirits Love”: “Kakaba is quite busy right now, why don’t you read a book for a while.”
“Read a book? That’s too boring, I don’t want to… Eh? What’s this? Are these our Feathered Clan?”
Little Gray Bird held the book, which was even bigger than him, and began to read with great interest.
Chu Jiu nodded secretly: Good, another source of food for the little book spirit!
After settling Little Gray Bird down, Chu Jiu walked back into the workshop and heard another “tap-tap” knock on the door.
Hmm?
Opening the door this time, the person standing there was—
The dwarf beastman’s guard captain, Shovel Squirrel?
Why is he here?
Shovel Squirrel saluted Chu Jiu: “Friend!”
Before Chu Jiu could return the greeting, Little Gray Bird on the sofa swooped out and hugged the little squirrel: “Wow! Mighty and handsome dwarf beastman knight! It’s you! Long time no see!”
Clearly, Shovel Squirrel’s face flushed crimson.
He raised a small paw and pinched Little Gray Bird’s neck: “N-noisy…”
After pulling Little Gray Bird off and setting him aside, Shovel Squirrel said to Chu Jiu, “Friend, Chief, ordered me to convey, ‘secret passage,’ found.”
“Connecting, Sunny Plateau, and Sanctuary Valley, secret passage.”
Chu Jiu exclaimed in surprise, “Found it?!”
Shovel Squirrel: “Yes. Also, to Forgotten Forest, secret passage, also found.”
Chu Jiu: “?!”
There’s a secret passage under the Forgotten Forest?!
Wait, so the reason the Pioneering Degree of this map I’ve been running around on hasn’t reached 100% is because I haven’t discovered the underground secret passages?
Chu Jiu quickly asked where the entrance and exit of the secret passage leading to the Forgotten Forest were.
Shovel Squirrel proudly puffed out his big tail: “I, take you. Already, usable.”
Already usable?
The efficiency of the dwarf beastmen is astonishing!
Chu Jiu quickly packed a few things and immediately set off with Little Can riding the dodo bird towards the Forgotten Forest.
At this moment, Little Gray Bird followed—or rather, hugged Shovel Squirrel again: “I want to go too, I want to go too! I want to see what the secret passage is like!”
Shovel Squirrel once again put Little Gray Bird aside and looked at Chu Jiu: “Feathered Clan Prince, can go?”
Chu Jiu said, “Yes.”
Shovel Squirrel then said very seriously to Little Gray Bird: “On the way, be obedient.”
Little Gray Bird nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, don’t worry, don’t worry, Quick Feather will definitely not cause trouble!”
The entrance to the secret passage was at the edge of the Forgotten Forest.
Previously, there was a patch of unremarkable low shrubs here. Now, the low shrubs had been removed, revealing a dark, gaping staircase entrance.
The entrance was quite spacious, and Chu Jiu could even ride the dodo bird down without any difficulty.
After walking into the secret passage, even though he had already exclaimed once about the “dwarf beastmen being too efficient,” Chu Jiu couldn’t help but exclaim again: “Your efficiency… is simply terrifying!”
Compared to the dwarf beastman secret passages Chu Jiu had walked through before, this one could be described as “wide and grand,” and even the dodo bird could run inside effortlessly.
The secret passage was not only spacious but had also clearly been cleaned, with no dust or cobwebs.
Moreover, there were permanently lit torches installed along the way, and the ceiling had “star stones” exactly like those in the underground city, ensuring visibility in the secret passage.
Shovel Squirrel said, “Go straight, will reach, Sunny Plateau’s underground.”
“We, go.”
*
Previously, it took about three days to cross the Forgotten Forest from Sunny Plateau even riding the Bodo bird.
After all, there were small streams, ponds, and towering trees on the ground. No matter how good the Bodo bird was at traversing rough terrain, it couldn’t run in a straight line.
But this underground secret passage was a straight line.
And it was flat all the way, very suitable for the passage of vehicles and horses.
As a result, Chu Jiu crossed this secret passage in less than a day.
Although Shovel Squirrel had said before that the “transfer point” of the secret passage was directly below Sunny Plateau, Chu Jiu had never imagined that this “transfer point” would actually be a “small underground plaza”!
This plaza was not only well-lit and well-ventilated, but it even had a ring of “stalls” like a human market!
What on earth was going on?
While Chu Jiu was still looking around in surprise, he heard a familiar voice: “Teacher Chu Jiu!”
Turning his head, he saw Little Chestnut Spirit Sheldon and the Chestnut Spirit Chief Eleanor.
Not only were the Chestnut Spirits present, but the Dwarf Beastman Chief was also there.
Sheldon waved to Chu Jiu from afar: “Teacher Chu Jiu! Uncle Squirrel said you would definitely come, so we waited for you here!”
He floated excitedly in front of Chu Jiu: “Teacher Chu Jiu! Kitty! Huh? Is this, is this a Feathered Clan?”
After Chu Jiu introduced the few who were meeting Little Gray Bird for the first time, he understood the situation from the Squirrel Chief:
The dwarf beastmen had surveyed all the secret passage entrances near the underground city and finally found the “shortcut connecting Sunny Plateau and Sanctuary Valley” that Chu Jiu had mentioned to them before.
Through Sheldon’s introduction and with Eleanor’s permission, the dwarf beastmen had re-cleared and repaired this passage. They finally discovered that the “entrance and exit” on the Sunny Plateau side was not a simple entrance and exit, but a small plaza that had been developed many years ago!
When they first discovered this plaza, it was filled with broken wooden carts, wooden planks, abandoned houses, and old goods that had long rotted into dust. It could be described as dirty and messy.
But it was precisely this that confirmed the vague memories of the two Chiefs and Chu Jiu’s deduction:
The dwarf beastmen and the little chestnut spirits once had a more convenient way of trading!
Continuing to clear out another secret passage next to the small plaza, they surprisingly discovered that:
This secret passage led to the human world!
In other words, many years ago, humans, dwarf beastmen, and little chestnut spirits had all gathered in the same place along a fast, convenient, and safe road, exchanging goods from all directions.
So, the two Chiefs discussed and decided to revive this tradition that had been interrupted for hundreds of years and try to restart the “underground market.”
The ring of stalls that Chu Jiu saw was what they had rebuilt based on the original framework.
There weren’t many things being sold in the stalls yet, mostly pottery, small toys, pine nuts, and chestnuts.
But they all believed that as long as this market was open here, there would be more and more goods in the future.
Chu Jiu nodded repeatedly as he listened: “That’s great!”
He looked at an empty stall nearby that was clearly suitable for human height: “Can I set up a stall here too?”
Chief Squirrel and Chief Eleanor said at the same time:
“Of course!”
“It was left for you!”
Chu Jiu spent a few minutes making a sign that said [Chu Jiu’s Little Shop – Underground City Branch] and hung it on the stall. Then, he laid out bamboo tubes, bamboo mats, linen cloth, cotton cloth, chili sauce, soy sauce, sweet sauce, honey, jerky, dried vegetables…
When writing the prices, Chu Jiu wrote two sets:
One set was for the dwarf beastmen, priced in ore; the other was for the chestnut spirits, priced in nuts.
As Chu Jiu wrote, he thought: When there are more and more goods in the future… there should also be a “general equivalent” between humans and these races.
In fact, the blacksmith shop opened by the little squirrels in Bean Village now prices things in human gold and silver coins according to “the price of metal items of the same quality in the human world.”
After the little squirrels get these gold and silver coins, they hand over a portion as management fees, and the rest is exchanged by Chu Jiu or Marco for various nuts—candied, baked, original flavor…
But in areas outside the human world, this method cannot be directly applied.
After writing the prices, Chu Jiu added a sentence next to them: [Unattended, please take what you need].
Thus, [Chu Jiu’s Little Shop – Underground City Branch] was officially open!
Chu Jiu originally thought that with the dwarf beastmen reopening the secret passage and plaza, and him opening a branch store, both the Pioneering Degree and Pioneering Points would increase. But the system remained quiet and unresponsive.
Chu Jiu: ….
Forget it, the system might be lagging again.
At this moment, Sheldon, who was beside him, saw the “unattended” written by Chu Jiu and said anxiously, “Teacher Chu Jiu! Our people can help you watch the store!” “We can also help you deliver the ore and nuts to your home and organize the shelves!”
Eleanor also nodded repeatedly.
So, Chu Jiu erased the sentence and drew a big smiley face next to the price list.
Hmm, although his handwriting isn’t good, he’s quite good at drawing!
At this moment, Little Gray Bird, who had been looking around curiously, flapped his wings and said, “I want to open a shop too! It looks so fun!”
Chu Jiu thought for a moment and didn’t stop Little Gray Bird, only asking him, “Then what do you plan to sell?”
Little Gray Bird: “Rock rabbit meat! Rock rabbit fur! Cloth woven from rock rabbit fur! All kinds of feathers! Oh oh, and the extra spirit spring water!”
Chu Jiu: “Sounds not bad… but how will you price them? Who will watch the shop?”
Little Gray Bird scratched his head with the tip of his wing: “Ah… pricing… haven’t thought about it yet…”
“Watching the shop… ugh, darn it, I’m already the chicken farmer of Bean Village! What to do, what to do!”
Chu Jiu: “How about after we leave the secret passage, you go back to Galewind Rock and discuss it with your parents?”
Little Gray Bird flapped his wings excitedly: “Yay, yay!”
“Then let’s go out quickly—”
He flew to Shovel Squirrel again: “Mighty and handsome dwarf beastman knight, see you next time!”
Hearing Quick Feather’s address to Shovel Squirrel, the chestnut spirits widened their eyes, and even Chief Squirrel twitched his ears.
As for Shovel Squirrel himself, his face had long since turned red, and he couldn’t utter a single word.
Chu Jiu watched and secretly chuckled, thinking that Little Gray Bird’s obsession with chuunibyou titles was something even the little squirrels, who also had chuunibyou potential, couldn’t resist!
*
Back at the pioneer hut.
After resting overnight on Sunny Plateau, Little Gray Bird flew towards Galewind Rock, while Chu Jiu returned to the secret passage and rode the Bodo bird at full speed. He had to quickly go see how Tata’s nourishment was being replenished.
As soon as he entered the house, a translucent little dumpling flew towards him…
Ah, no! This isn’t a little dumpling! Tata has grown so many tentacles!
This is clearly… clearly a flying little jellyfish?
…A Turritopsis dohrnii?
Tata raised a small tentacle and greeted Chu Jiu somewhat shyly: “You’re back.”
“I, I’m full.”
“I, I can write out the ‘story of the sea monster’ now.”
Chu Jiu was overjoyed and, not caring about his fatigue from the journey, immediately said, “Really? That’s great, let’s start now!”
Tata gently swayed its little tentacles: “Mmm-hmm, come with me…”
With that, Tata flew into Chu Jiu’s workshop.
Right, to write, of course, you still need to go to the desk to write.
Chu Jiu thought to himself, preparing a quill, ink, and paper, while also curiously asking, “Tata, do you need me to make a special pen for you?”
Tata: “Huh?”
Chu Jiu: “Is the feather quill used by humans too big for you?”
Tata: “Huh? I’m not the one writing…”
Chu Jiu suddenly had a bad premonition.
He saw Tata flip its tentacles and spread the [Crude Paper Handmade Book] on the desk, saying, “What Tata remembers will be written into Tata’s nest by the ‘writer’s’ pen.”
“As long as I stay on the ‘writer’s’ pen, the ‘writer’ will naturally know what to write…”
Chu Jiu’s premonition became even worse.
He swallowed his saliva and said, “The ‘writer’ you’re talking about is…?”
Tata replied gently, “Of course, it refers to humans.”
“However, Chu Jiu, your handwriting is too ugly, you can’t write in my nest anymore…”
Chu Jiu: “Ah…”
Chu Jiu, his forehead covered in cold sweat, didn’t even notice Little Can silently jumping to the ground and walking out of the workshop.
Chu Jiu swallowed his saliva again: “Then… should I find a… scribe with good handwriting?”
Tata: “Okay.”
“But it must be someone close to you.”
“I can’t let someone you’re not even familiar with write in Tata’s nest.”
“Otherwise… Tata’s nest might break, and Tata will have nowhere to live…”
Chu Jiu: ……
That’s right, Old He’s letter did emphasize this point.
Old He’s exact words were, [If you want to add anything to this book, this “scribe” must not be a stranger, you must choose someone you are familiar and close to, such as your future wife.]
He had completely ignored this point at the time.
Who should he find to write now?
Find an acquaintance in the village? Is Douglas’s handwriting good? Or the old village chief?
Just as Chu Jiu was worrying, a steady voice sounded at the workshop door: “My handwriting is fairly neat.”
