The Voice of CCNU Someday in 2010, when Wang Guolin was at the age of 24, he parked his bike and then pushed the door of 17 Wenhua Road. What behind him is the announcement of the recruitment for the Herb Garden Bookstore, and in the store were rows of books, so the story of the herb garden bookstore began at this moment. In the next 11 years, this corner became an unforgettable symbol of people living in the CCNU, or maybe for more people, from the Wenhua Road to the basement level of the library, afterwards to the sunlight dock.
The Herb Garden: My Secret Garden
The reason why I separated this bookshop from the others, wasn’t because its owner, Wang Guolin, who had participated in the TV program MegaMind, but were the platform accessed to the books as well as the harmony with people, knowledge and nature it 删去has provided.
On the contrary to our common sense, the bookstore didn’t highlighted the bestsellers at the center of shelves from the very beginning. “I just hate to make the bestsellers to take my store in charge, and that makes no sense.” said Wang Guolin.
However, with his persistence, he made the shop a self-centered one, which exposed extreme romanticism. Without the popular books, this area became a space for the masterwork as well as these with high quality ones; without his admission, it was allowed to seal off the books, since he is unwilling to let the covers confused the readers; without the noisy salespersons surrounding, he would enjoy the leisure when the costumers searching for their targets.
“Here, you could do everything you want.” Though romantic, its slogan seemed lack the so-called sense of commerce, which made this little store a garden of Eden. “Here, you would find the joy only belongs to you, which simultaneously, is the honor of mine.”
Mr. Wang, a senior student from College of Urban and Environment Science, told us his fantastic experience about the Herb Garden. While he was communicating with Wang Guolin about what does Wuhan still short for, the idea community construction suddenly struck him. Then after this discussion, he found that what inspired him was just the Herb Garden. At this moment, he realized his link with the bookstore, which also mixed the reading experiences as well as his own thought. “I love there, filling with the possibility for mental communication.” he said.
Furthermore, this place possessed a sense of isolation blessed by its elegant atmosphere. Visitors were able to read at the wooden table outside the store, surrounding by plants including bunches of roses, irises, shamrock as well as Chinese Starjasmine Stem beneath a light brown plaque said wisdom in hold, elegance in mold, and on the right, there was an old-fashioned telephone booth. Surely, this delicate environment has attracted a steady stream of literature lovers. Well, when it comes to this perfect surrounding, Wang Guolin is absolutely proud of it: “I started from the very beginning, made a difference to it, it actually costed much.”
“It is little, but beautiful.” described by Mr. Wang.
The Herb Garden: A Big Stage
In fact, how we comment the store is far more than little and beautiful, it sometimes became a big stage for the readers.
After several moves and redecoration, with more space as well as autonomy, Wang Guolin stared to think about other participation. On 31st July 2015, he posted the first article titled It’s not only a bookshop, but a house for us to make great progress on his Wechat public number. Perhaps he hadn’t realized that his pursuit would turn to reality 2 years later at that time.
Years later, the store has been equipped with a projector, and some notes also have been added under the sign: books, salons, films & drinks. Since then, various kinds of gradually appeared there, which contained poem collection recommendations, violin concerts, and the sharing of the books and movies. “I intend to hold all the events as t is big enough.” said Wang Guolin.
Here, every corner could be a stage for you to show yourself. “Read true words, be completely sincere in your life and make love to heal the trivial wounds.” “Let me encounter someone like moonlight, who’s gentle as jade.” “Since criticism is restricted, praise is meaningless.” These words on the wall were noted down by Wang Guolin after inspired by reading and he has taken it as a habit. However, except the words left by Wang Guolin, there were also plenty of writings by visitors from all walks of work. Though the shop itself was tinny, it contained rich diversity pieces of minds. And it even sometimes showed up on the national stage. In 2020, Wang Guolin joined an online book purchasing activity. Thousands of books were sent from this little store with the anticipation of him.
As time went by, with customers coming and going, the stream of happiness constantly flowed from the shop. And what made the Herd Garden such an unforgettable one, May be the warm we could gain here.
Goodbye My Eden Garden
It was the dusk of 18th April, while Wang Guolin was tidying the books in the decaying sunlight, a lady was searching for books with flashlight and a cat named Digua suckled its newly born babies. What next there were several closed stores. Through the dusty window, you could see some eroded flowers and just a mess. On the right there was a hotel roofed with leaves soaked by rain.
“My Herb Garden will be close soon, forever, just around May Day.” said Wang Guolin.
“And please don’t ask me why.” he added. But when it comes to the future, he was excited as a youth, seemed to expected it for long. “I will keep my relationship with books and maybe I would start my publishing career.
In brief, we have lost our Eden garden forever. Ade, Herb Garden Bookstore.
Source: The Voice of CCNU
Author: Li Xinyu Li Ziqing
Translator: Kong Yilin
