Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 647 - 70: Waking Up to a Changed World

There’s a common saying: one doesn’t know the cost of household provisions until they run a home; one doesn’t know the difficulty of raising children until they become a parent.

Wang Yunxiao, who’s just started his third year of junior high this year, has personally experienced the pressure and anxiety of his parents’ generation.

"Why does the library have this kind of book?"

When Wang Yunxiao tossed the book "Yuhu Chun" in front of Li Mumu, his mindset was quite complicated.

"Is there something wrong with this book?"

Li Mumu, acting as the school library’s deputy librarian, could be said to know the collection like the back of her hand, recognizing the content immediately upon seeing the title.

It’s a perfectly normal rural romance novel, not edging on the inappropriate side, nor particularly vulgar.

This work, along with seven others, made a seasonal series: spring, summer, autumn, winter, plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, constituting a best-selling series. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The author’s pen name is Xiang Xie, which from the gentle and delicate writing style, you can tell must belong to a relatively young female author.

Pen names and modern usernames or gaming IDs are really not that different.

Historically, authors adopted pen names for one true purpose: to avoid social annihilation, or even more dire, physical demise.

"Words," in ancient times, were a rare resource monopolized by the upper class, who also wielded the power of life and death, never tolerating the desecration of this rare resource at will.

Ancient literati making jokes with "words" was like women joking with their own chastity—truly life-threatening.

That’s why pen names came into being, as a product to escape risks.

"Do you know what is written inside? Have you read it as well?"

Wang Yunxiao looked at Li Mumu with some surprise.

Ah, Li Mumu, who would have thought that such an elegant and reserved Eldest Miss Li would also read such books, tsk tsk tsk...

Appearances can be deceiving.

"Wang Yunxiao, I think you’re a bit feudal in your thinking."

"I’m feudal-minded?"

Wang Yunxiao was almost amused to anger, I have never suffered such a grievance!

"It’s one thing for others to read it, but do you still think it’s okay for Meng Wei to give this book to Song Lili to read?"

"Then what would you rather she read?"

Li Mumu retorted with righteous indignation: "I remember that this book very detailedly describes the entire process of blind marriages and mute betrothals for rural women in the feudal era, writing very aptly about both the good and the bad. Including the leading lady’s emotional journey, it’s all written very delicately and truthfully. Except for the ending which is a bit at odds with the modern society’s moral expectations of women, where else is it not suitable for people to read?"

"If you prohibit her from reading just because of this reason, how are you any different from the relatives and aunties in the book who fooled the leading lady with sweet words into getting married?"

Wang Yunxiao was left speechless.

"Reading a book doesn’t make a person bad; if you think the values in this book aren’t worth promoting, then you should encourage her to read even more. Only after tasting the array of flavors offered in the books—the sweet, the bitter, the sharp, the bland—can one establish a complete cognitive understanding."

When it came to reading, Li Mumu naturally revealed her professional authority.

And as a poor student, Wang Yunxiao was left sweating profusely and feeling utterly embarrassed.

"If you think this book isn’t suitable for her to read, then why not select some reading material that you think is appropriate for her?"

Li Mumu smiled and said: "For example, I find the classical Four Great Novels to be quite good. The descriptions of women in them should very much meet you men’s expectations, right? Like Lady Pure going to be with Dwarf Tiger, Inspector Song furiously killing Yan Po-xi. Tang Sanzang politely declining the Queen of the Women’s Country, Prime Minister Cao spending the night in Wancheng and so on..."

Stop right there, I was wrong!

Wang Yunxiao quickly admitted defeat, I’m not articulate enough to win against you; do as you wish!

Exiting the library, Wang Yunxiao heaved a long sigh.

It’s a mismatch between social statuses.

Look at Eldest Miss Li who is so knowledgeable and reasonable, even her trashy novel reading comes with perfectly justifiable reasons.

Would such a woman, once married into your household, be relied upon to wash your clothes and cook your meals?

Turning around, he saw Little Gourd standing at the corner of the staircase, gazing at him with eager eyes, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, seemingly snickering.

"Big brother, did you get scolded?"

"Don’t talk nonsense, how can normal communication be called scolding?"

"I heard it all..."

Little Gourd tried to puff out her chest: "Big brother, actually I never read those kinds of novels."

You’ve read a lot!

Otherwise how would you know which novel we were talking about?

Wang Yunxiao gave her a glare, scornfully huffed, and said: "What do you want from me?"

Little Gourd giggled: "It’s not me looking for you... It’s Lan Lan who’s looking for you."

Who?

Wang Yunxiao looked sideways at Little Gourd.

Did I get a perforated eardrum? Am I having auditory hallucinations? Who did you say?

"He Lan."

"When did you two get so close?"

Wang Yunxiao was deeply shocked.

You clearly said you wanted to slap her face before!

How did things suddenly become so cozy between you?

And calling her Lan Lan!

He Lan!

I freaking knew it, that woman is not the type to give up easily, she’s like a leech - once she bites, she never lets go!

I was so naive, too naive!

Both her dad and mom are professional-level love marathon runners, aren’t they?

So, you switched targets to start from someone close to me because you couldn’t make progress with me, huh?

Little Gourd said in a low voice, twisting her fingers: "We are just... pen pals."

Pen pals!

Wang Yunxiao looked at Little Gourd heartbrokenly.

You’re just a freshman in junior high, and you already have a pen pal, moreover it’s freaking your rival in love!

Has the outside world changed this quickly? I’m just earnestly going to school for a few days, and it seems like everyone around me has suddenly mutated.

"Gourd, you do know that woman isn’t just some pushover, right?"

"I know, it’s just writing letters."

Little Gourd rolled her eyes at Wang Yunxiao, and sighed: "I won’t talk nonsense with her about things at school, we just chat about everyday topics. Big brother, you spin around Eldest Miss Li all day every day, barely giving me a glance, so why suddenly care about me now?"

"Don’t talk nonsense!"

Wang Yunxiao stretched out his finger and fiercely poked Little Gourd’s forehead.

This kid has been spoiled by He Lan, even her way of speaking has taken on a bit of tea flavor.

"What does she want from me exactly? Why didn’t she come by herself?"

"She talked so definitively before, how could she have the face to..."

No, she definitely would.

"Lan Lan said that at the end of this month, the Shen Family will hold a charity auction, and they are going to publicly auction the legendary Imperial Jade Seal. She got an invitation to the auction, and wanted to ask if you could accompany her."

Who? The Shen Family? The Imperial Jade Seal? An auction?

After hearing this, Wang Yunxiao couldn’t help but frown.

He Lan doesn’t have the capability to get an invitation from the Shen Family. Even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse; no matter how down and out the Shen Family is, it wouldn’t come to inviting her.

It must be my master who got the invitation... Whether it’s real or not is still in question.

But is there still not an end to the affairs of the Shen Family?