Chapter 763: Chapter 765 The Elder in the Ancient Book Area
Nian Shutong thanked the library staff and checked her remaining ink, paper, and inkstone and also decided which ancient book she would choose. She had many options.
Their library still housed numerous books, as the interstellar disciplines were plentiful and some aspects of technology were indeed highly advanced.
Nian Shutong first found the Ancient Book Area and looked around to see what was available, determined not to write anything redundant as that would be pointless.
The Ancient Book Area was on the eastern side of the second floor, inside a separate room.
At the entrance, Nian Shutong saw a person specifically stationed at the door of the Ancient Book Area. This time, it really was a sweeping monk.
That seemed incorrect—she couldn’t call him a sweeping monk, as he was clearly guarding the ancient books.
Nian Shutong nodded to the old man at the door, scanned her Light Computer, and entered the Ancient Book Area.
The old man at the door glanced at Nian Shutong, recognizing the Artifact Refiner whom the Principal and a host of professors had praised.
She was indeed very young.
With a quick glance, the old man withdrew his gaze and continued drinking his pot of tea.
Nian Shutong, now inside, stood in front of the first row of bookshelves. The Ancient Book Area had a total of ten large bookshelves, but the books on them were few.
Each book was even protected by a box; if you wanted to see one, you had to scan your Light Computer, and you could only take out one at a time to prevent damage.
Decisively, Nian Shutong started with the first book on the first row. With a *ding* sound, she unlocked the first box, took out the book inside, quickly flipped through it, and put it back.
Next, the second book.
"Ding——"
"Whoosh whoosh——" The sound of flipping pages was rapid as the book was swiftly put back.
Then the sequence of *ding* and *whoosh whoosh* became the dominant tune, causing the old man watching outside to finally put down his teapot, stand up, and walk to the entrance of the Ancient Book Area.
"Professor Nian, what book are you looking for?"
As Nian Shutong was flipping through the books, she first stopped her actions and turned to the old man at the door, "I’m not looking for a specific book, just browsing."
Just browsing.
The old man’s eyes showed displeasure as he glanced at Nian Shutong. Ordinary people might not be able to withstand it, but Nian Shutong felt nothing, simply continuing her browsing without speaking further.
The old man standing at the entrance was just heartbroken for these books.
He truly loved these ancient books, and usually, he personally wiped the dust off each book here.
He genuinely loved, cherished, and valued them.
The elder rubbed his feet on the mat at the entrance of the Ancient Book Area, took out a small bottle of personal disinfectant, wiped his hands, and then, fearing the residue might damage the books, he took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned his hands again.
He meticulously cleaned every nook and cranny. After completing all of this, the elder finally walked into the room, standing next to Nian Shutong, who was switching to the next book.
"Professor Nian, you have a broad range of interests."
"It’s alright, just looking," Nian Shutong knew the old man was worried about the books, so she added, "I’ll be careful, I won’t damage them."
"And I’m not just flipping through aimlessly; I really am memorizing the content."
The elder, seeing Nian Shutong already looking at the next book, moved his eyebrows and said, "I know, someone with your level of spiritual power, if they can’t remember after flipping through once, might as well buy a block of tofu and smash their head with it."
Nian Shutong thought to herself, that certainly was the case, as a high level of spiritual power indeed significantly boosts one’s memory.
"Then why are you watching me?"
Nian Shutong didn’t look at the elder but continued flipping through books.
"It’s nothing special, just a heartache for the books, fearing you’re wasting your time looking."
Hearing this, Nian Shutong felt an impulse. "You really should get together with Brother Long at home and have a pot of hot wine to chat thoroughly."
If you add Rubble and Ha Ha, it would simply be a TV show that one doesn’t want to change channels upon seeing.
Nian Shutong said nothing, still engrossed in her book.
Other people’s opinions and perceptions of her could not affect her.
The old man stayed by Nian Shutong’s side, this time, every time she returned a book, he would take it from her, then produce a wooden, somewhat shiny box, which, upon opening, revealed a set of cleaning tools.
A set of tools for cleaning books.
Nian Shutong would read a book, put it down, and the old man would clean it.
"Professor Nian, don’t mind, although your hands look very clean, they actually carry countless bacteria. It’s better for books to be preserved in a sterile way, which makes the text on the pages clearer."
"Don’t think too much, I don’t mean to drive you away."
The old man spoke plainly, his hands continuously moving, even to the extent that he could do it with his eyes closed—it was obvious that he had performed this task countless times.
"Here you go."
Nian Shutong demonstrated through her actions that she did not mind at all.
In the Ancient Book Area, one would flip through the books and hand the book they held to the old man beside them to clean before putting it back.
But, was the speed becoming faster?
The old man who initially was calm and composed became busy and even started to get a bit flustered.
Nian Shutong was reading too quickly!
The old man seriously suspected that Professor Nian was doing it on purpose.
After speeding up for a while, Nian Shutong slowed down again.
"I’m really sorry, I was too engrossed in reading and didn’t notice your difficulty."
"I hope you don’t mind, I just love these books too much."
Nian Shutong’s words caused the old man to put down the book in his hands and say, looking at her, "I quite like your character, young lady."
The old man did not feel upset about being troubled, and even found Nian Shutong quite pleasant to look at.
Most people, after experiencing his actions, would put down the book and leave.
Of course, some people could persevere for a while, but they would eventually leave.
But Nian Shutong not only truly didn’t mind, but continued to read calmly and without being affected, even managing to return a bit of kindness; her temperament was really commendable.
The Ancient Book Area returned to harmony once more.
Still one reading, another cleaning behind.
When Nian Shutong finished the last book, she said to the old man, "Thank you for your company, I will be back later."
"Coming back? What are you coming back for?"
The old man tidied up the last book and, pointing in the direction of the outside, walked out first.
After Nian Shutong followed him out, she watched as the old man took a teapot from his little table and poured her a cup of tea.
"Join the old man for a cup."
"Sure."
The two sat down to drink tea, but Nian Shutong put her cup down after one sip.
"What’s wrong, you don’t like the old man’s tea?"
"No, it’s not the tea, it’s your tea leaves."