Chapter 815 - 0815: Receiving Letters and Storing Books 2
The old couple stared at each other with wide eyes, but in the end, it was Lou Shaonong who made the decision.
"We’ll use the camphor wood chests at home to store the books and paintings. Wrap the books and paintings in moisture-proof oil paper and silk, then put the camphor wood chests inside sealed larger chests. Between the large and small chests, we’ll add a layer of iron sheeting. Bury them deep, and every year around the time of the Festival for Drying Books, we can take them out to air them and also check whether the books and paintings have been damaged."
Beyond that, there was no other way.
Lin Yufen sighed, "We’ll have to do as you say. While we’re at it, let’s stuff those antiques that are dispensable in our home and the jewelry my mother-in-law left me in there too. Those things won’t fear dampness or insects when buried underground."
Because they cherished their collection of books and paintings too much, they didn’t dare take risks.
Lou Shaonong grunted, "I remember there’s still a bit of gold left, isn’t there?" The little they had managed to save.
"Gold?" Lin Yufen paused, "Wasn’t it in that year of famine, when we couldn’t bear hunger anymore, that we exchanged it for grain on the black market? A gold bar for two catties of cornmeal, it nearly broke my heart, but we had no choice, we needed to survive."
"I remember there was a little left."
Hearing what Lou Shaonong said, Lin Yufen laughed, "Have you forgotten? Your son took the rest away."
Lou Shaonong scratched his head, remembering, "If that’s the case, let’s not mention it."
The old couple then got to work. They closed the doors and selected the books and paintings they thought had cultural value. They packed five camphor wood chests full, carefully wrapping and sealing them, filling the gaps with camphor balls, then buried them beneath the floors of the main and side houses.