Where Is Happiness

Opening a bookstore in troubled times: a small person lives to become a legend! At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, his father was blackmailed by corrupt officials and died unjustly. Hu Zhou, a young man from Nancheng, witnessed with his own eyes the cannibalistic nature of the old system! The patrolman job offered by the government turned out to be a tool of oppression to aid the tyranny. He rejected it on the spot and vowed to follow the right path of "not seeking the powerful, but only benefiting the people"! In troubled times, he experienced the abolition of the imperial examinations, the Revolution of 1911, and warlord wars. He encountered multiple difficulties such as extortion by corrupt officials, suppression by gangs, and opposition from peers. However, he always adhered to his original intention of "selling books at affordable prices and free literacy." During this period, he and Hao, an independent and sober bannerman woman, got to know each other happily, refused the feudal arranged marriage, and became each other's strongest support. He witnessed the death of his opportunistic friend Zhou Mingxuan and his cowardly and submissive neighbor Zhao Laoshuan because they chose the wrong path. From a commoner to a bookstore owner, Hu Zhou spent his life guarding the three major blessings in life: living with dignity, having a soul-compatible partner, and a meaningful career. In the end, the bookstore became a place to disseminate knowledge and progressive ideas. In the troubled times, he spent his life proving: "Although the right path is difficult, it will be achieved; happiness may be beautiful, but the code is within reach." "Write life with words and seek happiness for your spiritual soul."