Fudan used bookstores are hard to say goodbye

Fudan used bookstore at 12 o'clock on December 10 Wang Yejie / photo

In recent days, the "Fudan Used Bookstore" located near the gate of Fudan University's Handan Road has been located in Ruoshi.

In the old attic full of book fragrance, many readers found that buying books depends on robbery, and the checkout queue depends on "golden rooster independence", so as to grab cheap, out-of-print old books in a limited space.

Previously, Fudan Used Bookstore, which had left a deep mark on the hearts of generations of young people, officially announced its closure. December 10 is the closing date. But in recent days, because too many readers have asked to buy books and have not been able to, the boss has had to add a few more days to "force the business". A recent photo of the old bookstore sent by a reader to the reporter of The China Youth Daily and the China Youth Network shows that although the advertising paper downstairs has been torn off by the relevant staff, the readers who rushed to buy it are still endless.

Xiao Wu, a young man working in Shanghai's Putuo District, has been "clocking in" at Fudan Used Bookstore for two consecutive days. The first day Bought more than a dozen books, costing more than 100 yuan; the next day bought 6 books, spent more than 50 yuan. Xiao Wu used to come here to look for old books, "We just worked, we didn't earn much, and we liked to read books, so it was a good deal to buy books here." He told the Reporter of China Youth Daily and China Youth Network that Fudan Used Bookstore carries the reading dreams of many young people like him.

The boss, Zhang Qiang, posted his mobile phone number at the door of the bookstore — recently, more than 1,000 readers and more than 20 media reporters added his WeChat. There are students of Fudan University who have pooled their money to send "closing flowers" to the bookstore; there are "old readers" who graduated from Fudan University in 2000 and their daughters who are in kindergarten classes to "grab books"; and there is also an old reader in his 70s who comes here every three to five years to "punch in" and take some books away.

Readers' reluctance to this bookstore is far beyond Zhang Qiang's imagination.

All kinds of reporters who "can't say what the media" pulled him to take a video in the east and a photo in the west, and from time to time let the boss move here and concave the shape there. Zhang Qiangdu humbly cooperated one by one, "It's all for the good of our bookstore, and I also want everyone to remember here." In the past two days, I have been surrounded by all kinds of emotions. Until 11:00 p.m. on December 9, Zhang Qiang was still busy paying readers.

Just as this bookstore always brings memories to readers, there are always some readers who can leave a mark on the hearts of bookstore owners.

Guo Jingyi, a 94-year-old professor of economics at Fudan University, has been a regular visitor since the first day of the opening of Fudan Used Bookstore. "In the past, I came almost every day, but when I got older, I came about once a month or two, and let my family help me come over." Fudan Used Bookstore is located on the second floor of an old building with no elevator, and Professor Guo's last visit was two months ago, when his family helped him slowly go upstairs. Seeing Zhang Qiang, Professor Guo slapped him the back: Zhang Qiang! My old friend, here I come! ”

Zhang Qiang has an impression of Guo Jingyi, many years after the bookstore opened. The student group is financially strapped, but Professor Guo is very "generous", others are buying books locally, and Professor Guo is buying bundles of them. He asked Zhang Qiang to deliver bundles of old books to his house, but only allowed him to leave the books at the door and not into the room.

Later, Zhang Qiang learned that Madame Guo was quite critical of Guo Jingyi's purchase of books. "Professors of Fudan University can only quietly move books to their homes every day from the hidden stairwell at the door, two volumes and three volumes." After Zhang Qiang became familiar with Professor Guo, he once entered Professor Guo's house, and he finally understood why Mrs. Guo did not buy him books, "The whole room, like my old bookstore, is full of books. ”

It is said that Professor Guo has also been complained about by his downstairs neighbors because there are too many books. "Say he has so many books, don't crush the roof of the house!" Zhang Qiang said.

It is one reader after another like Guo Jingyi that supports Zhang Qiang's bookstore to open until now.

For a time, many bookstores across the country closed their doors, and the media rushed to report on them. A Fudan University student who had been looking for books in Fudan used bookstores since high school came to buy books from Zhang Qiang for a day or two for more than 200 yuan and brought them back to Zhang Qiang.

"50 yuan, he asked me to recycle it." Zhang Qiang said that this set of books has only been read for two days, there is no damage at all, and the recovery price could have been very high, but the other party strongly said "only 50 yuan.". The young college student said to Zhang Qiang: "This set of books is really very good, I want more readers to see it, cheaper, you take it back, and then sell it to other people." ”

These days, there are always old readers to help Zhang Qiang call for "keeping the old bookstore".

Chen Hongkun, a 75-year-old old man who is a regular customer of this bookstore, learned that the street was going to upgrade this building, and as long as he saw the reporter, he would loudly say his opinion, "This kind of special culture store, the old shop that carries the reading dreams of Xinxin students, should be retained!" ”

Recently, after seeing the news of the closure of Fudan used bookstores, several districts in Shanghai threw olive branches to Zhang Qiang. There are street cadres and district leaders who directly entrust people to inquire. Zhang Qiang told the China Youth Daily and China Youth Network reporter that he is recently negotiating with the property near the bookstore, and still wants to open the bookstore near Fudan University, "Our name is Fudan Used Bookstore, many of our old readers are Fudan students and teachers, and we want to continue to stay here and give everyone a place where they can read comfortably." ”

"I should still maintain the messy old style." Zhang Qiang said that because this is what readers like: books are almost not classified, and buying books depends on "fate". In the low, unsupported attic, sit casually on the floor, reach out and find books that are related to you on the floor, on the shelves, and look through them.

When you want to buy it, it's hugely cheap. When the boss is in a good mood, he will give you a big hand and a price.

Source: China Youth Daily