Love and the Art of War by Dinah Lee Küng

Author:Dinah Lee Küng
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic comedy, inspirational, chinese, love triangle, sun tzu, the art of war, romance after 40, comic romance, family comedy, chinese cuiture
Publisher: Eyes and Ears

Chapter Twenty-one, Jin Chan Tuo Ke

(Shed Your Skin like a Golden Cicada)

Six libraries in Brent were shut down that week over protesters’ demonstrations. Even Alan Bennett’s summary of the council decision as ‘child abuse’ couldn’t stop the Cameronian tumbrils from rolling across the cobblestones.

Innocent of their luck to still have a library, the Rhyme-Timers followed Chris into the corner for yet another rendition of Who Moved My Cheese? (Jane couldn’t get Chris to give up wildly mismatching readers and books but the kids seemed happy enough with a self-help book on managing change) while Jane reviewed renovation proposals with the Library Authority’s visiting architect.

Mr Gumble, a short, balding man, unrolled his blueprints across the issue desk with the self-importance of an imperial emissary. Soon it was clear that Mr Gumble had his own tale to tell Jane, along the lines of Who Stole My Library.

‘This big surface will go to make space for extending the computer bank—you’ll get the very latest computers, of course—and we can probably squeeze in another printer station over here.’ The architect tugged at the mandarin collar of his black wool tunic. He peered at Jane through very round spectacles with thick black rims. He was a Wind and the Willows character, Mole in specs.

‘Then where will the borrowers—?’

‘No, no, Ms Gilchrist. Customers. The Secretary of State for Culture insists we call them customers. Think Waterstones, film centres, or coffee bars. It’s all part of the new library philosophy based on retailing principles.’

‘If you remove this central desk, where do our readers check out their books?’

‘We’re replacing the desk with a prefab pod. Your customers will access their materials at the pod stationed over here, to free up the entrance. Makes it more welcoming. Removes the social barriers. A big desk puts people off.’

‘But you’re using that social barrier right now to spread out your blueprints. A lot of our borrowers—’

‘Customers, Ms Gilchrist, customers.’

‘They’re elderly. This whole block is full of them. This is where they leave their shopping and let me watch their handbags while they explore the shelves. We put their books to one side, over here. They want to see me when they come in. They want to know who’s on duty. Sometimes, Mr Gumble, all they want is to rest in that chair and enjoy a bit of a chat. I might be the only person they talk to that day.’

‘Well, I’m afraid there’s no changing the pod. It’s part of a job lot.’

Mr Gumble bent towards Jane, as if to suggest they tunnel down for safety together. ‘If you’re quick, you might hang about when the moving team comes and ask them to bung the desk in the back room until after the reopening ceremony. Then sneak it out again. But I’ve got to allocate you the pod.’

‘Excuse me, Mr Gumble, only one pod? Surely we get two?’ Jane tilted her head towards Chris.

He peered at his inventory sheet. ‘Oh, I see. I do see. He’s staff, too? Dear me. Well,’

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