Linxia

Chapter 190, Fight

"President Fang, Zhang Yide is extremely arrogant. He sent someone to tell you that he heard that your book Romance of the Three Kingdoms is famous all over the world. His books The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl and The Cursed Date have also killed many popular novels and sold well in China. They are in great demand in many places. Why don't you release your next book at the same time? I beg you to defeat me."

As the vice president of the Huai'an Popular Fiction Guild, Hong Yingheng naturally sat on Fang Lin's side and cursed him: "It's really shameless. If Zhang Yide wants to challenge you, why didn't he bring out his new book earlier and release it at the same time as President Fang's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Part 3 and Part 4, so that we can compete with each other?"

The first part of Romance of the Three Kingdoms became famous in Huai'an Prefecture by building on the legacy of Zhong Zongdian's Popular Romance of the Restoration of the Song Dynasty. Since then, Huai'an Prefecture no longer dared to have any popular novels competing with it at the same time.

The second part was spread to other cities in the Jianghuai area through distributors, and it also slayed countless popular novels of the same period in these cities.

After the third and fourth volumes, even the novels with superior themes of gods and demons avoided its edge. Wherever the Three Kingdoms was released, no one dared to compete with it. In fact, the third and fourth volumes of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms also showed a dominance that was consistent with its reputation. Even if there were only a few knives, they were invincible and killed gods and Buddhas.

Zhang Yide is crazy but not stupid, so he naturally would not touch Fang Lin's third and fourth parts of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

Fang Lin laughed as he listened to Hong Yingheng's words: "So, Zhang Yide issued a declaration of war at this time. He picked the time when my "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was about to end, thinking that I had run out of ideas, or that this was the weakest time for transformation?"

"President Fang, just ignore this clown." Hong Yingheng advised.

In fact, if Fang Lin accepted the challenge, he would be a little worried.

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is already the pinnacle of historical fiction. If Fang Lin's next work is also a historical fiction, he would be relying on his old reputation. Now that the historical fiction craze is gradually fading, it would be a thankless task.

But if the new work is a novel about gods and demons, his previous great reputation will be a burden and a disadvantage. If other people write a high-quality novel about gods and demons, readers will praise it, but if it is Fang Lin, readers will not be satisfied and will feel that he does not live up to the reputation. In the final analysis, it is Fang Lin's huge fame that makes readers have too high expectations of him.

In this case, as long as Zhang Yide writes a decent work, even one that is slightly inferior to Fang Lin's new work, he can boost morale and become famous by stepping on Fang Lin.

"Zhang Yide has rich experience in writing fantasy novels. He dared to challenge me this time and is so confident. I think the quality of his new book will not be low. It will definitely be a masterpiece among fantasy novels. The only way for President Fang to break the deadlock is to write an undisputed masterpiece, preferably a fantasy novel of the same type. Only by crushing Zhang Yide can he win," Hong Yingheng thought secretly.

But is this possible? A classic popular novel is not a piece of cake!
What Hong Yingheng thought of, Fang Lin also thought of: "But the most difficult thing for others is the easiest for me. I have to compare the novels of gods and demons. Isn't this just hitting the mark? How does Zhang Yide's self-proclaimed masterpiece of the novel of gods and demons compare to "The Romance of the Gods"? How does it compare to "Journey to the West"? "

"The Investiture of the Gods" can already be considered a masterpiece, not to mention "Journey to the West", which is listed as one of the four great classics. But can he challenge it when it has stood the test of history?

'Not to mention, I also have the huge reputation brought by my previous work "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"! '

If the novel itself is not strong enough and the work is not good enough, such a huge reputation will be a burden. However, if it is a high-quality fantasy novel like "Investiture of the Gods" or "Journey to the West", combined with the reputation bonus of the previous work, it will definitely be overwhelming. Just think about it and it's bullying!
"However, if Zhang Yide can really win in a head-on confrontation, even if he remains undefeated, I will be very happy, because it means that a masterpiece comparable to the Four Great Classics has appeared."

Fang Lin thought about this and said, "No matter how many schemes the other party has, the essence of everything still depends on the quality of the work. When it comes to the quality of the work, I am the least afraid."

"Tell that Zhang Yide that his "Legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" and "The Curse of the Date" are good. They have passed five levels and killed six generals, making the Jianghuai area's fantasy novels pale in comparison. He is now qualified to stand in front of me and fight with me. My new work will be released in February next year. It is also a fantasy novel. He just wants to be defeated. I will give it to him."

"Fang, President Fang!" Hong Yingheng was overwhelmed by this kind of spirit. At the same time, he was infected by Fang Lin's confidence and inexplicably felt confident: "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is already the pinnacle of popular romance novels. Could it be that President Fang can write another classic this time, the pinnacle of the novels about gods and demons under the tree? He definitely can!"

"Yes, people are different. How can I judge President Fang with my narrow vision? Ordinary people can't do that, and ordinary geniuses can't do that either. A once-in-a-generation figure like President Fang can do that. President Fang's talent in popular novels is like Li Bai's talent in Tang poetry and Su Shi's talent in Song poetry. How can ordinary people compare to him? I hope that Zhang Yide doesn't lose so badly that he cries." He thought to himself with great confidence.

"By using this gimmick to create momentum and publicity, the new work can have a greater impact and make more money. In addition, everything needs to be compared. This time, I will compare myself with Zhang Yide and let the world see the difference. In the future, no one can come to me to make trouble..."

At this time, Fang Lin heard his daughter crying, and quickly walked over to pick her up. He paced back and forth helplessly, saying with a double meaning, "It's a bit annoying to keep making trouble."

……

Yingtian.

Zhang Shiyan, Minister of Rites of Yingtian and father of Zhang Yide, was also talking about Fang Lin with his son.

"I heard that you have challenged that Deputy Director Fang from Huai'an to a duel, and that you want to release your next popular novel at the same time as his?"

Zhang Shiyan commented: "There is no false reputation under a great name. I have also read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. That Fang Qianshi is a brilliant writer and a man of strategy. You are being reckless."

"Dad, why do you want to boost others' ambitions and destroy my own prestige?"

Zhang Yide was able to write such a fine work of fantasy novels, so he was naturally gifted in this area, and people with talent are often arrogant: "I admit that Fang Chenshi is a prodigy, but I am no ordinary person either. My works, The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl and The Curse of the Date, have crushed many popular novels."

"Besides, Fang Chenshi's Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been completed. Now the romance novels are declining, while the fantasy novels are very popular. If the opponent's next step is still the romance novels, it will be against the trend. If the opponent's next step is to turn to fantasy novels, it will be to use his weakness to attack my strength..."

Seeing his son so confident, Zhang Shiyan's words were full of the meaning of "I have the advantage", so he poured cold water on him: "That being said, if the other party comes up with another masterpiece of the same quality as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", how will you respond?"

"I think it's impossible. Human power is limited. Classic works like Romance of the Three Kingdoms are hard to come by. Fang Qianshi just wrote one. How can he write another one? He is also a human being, not a god."

Zhang Yide shook his head and continued, "As long as the other party's next book is not a classic, no matter if it is a romance or a fantasy novel, even if it is a first-time fantasy novel, it is a masterpiece. As long as the quality is not much different from mine, people will only say that I won. I will become famous by stepping on the other party's shoulders, and then I will gain both fame and fortune... Who knows, I can also use this to get into the eyes of His Majesty."

"De'er, never be too sure of what you say. How can it be impossible? What is impossible in this world? When I was young, I was also arrogant, but later I saw more and realized that there are always higher mountains. You think it is impossible, but many times it is just because your vision is too narrow and you don't know how powerful the other party is..."

Zhang Shiyan shook his head slightly and did not continue talking. He returned to the matter: "Before thinking about winning, think about losing first. Let me ask you, if the other party really did it, what would you do?" "This..."

Zhang Yide thought for a moment and said, "Well, Dad, I will send people to publicize this duel and also help the other party promote the next work to arouse readers' expectations. If the new work of Fang Chenshi is not of high quality, it will definitely cause backlash. If the other party succeeds, I lose, and the world will get a decent result because it is what it deserves and not too surprising."

Although he thought it was unlikely that he would lose, if by some chance Fang Lin really did it, it would mean that the other party was really a character like Li or Su. In that case, even if he lost, it would still be an honor. He might even gain sympathy and be recorded in history.

"That's great." Seeing that his son had thought clearly, Zhang Shiyan didn't say much. If he won, that would be the best; if he lost, it would also be a lesson for his son.

Seeing his father leave without saying anything more, Zhang Yide felt a little uneasy, but he quickly shook his head to dispel it: "How can people like Li and Su appear easily? Who knows, that Deputy Director Fang is now nervous and worried about this duel, racking his brains, and having trouble sleeping and eating!"

……

Huai'an Prefecture City, Fang Family.

Fang Lin, who Zhang Yide imagined to be "nervous", "racking his brains" and "unable to sleep and eat", actually let the matter go after Hong Yingheng left. He might not even remember his name, Zhang Yide. At this time, he wrote a chapter of "Journey to the West", turned around, and saw his daughter sleeping soundly with a smile on her rosy round face and a line of crystal saliva dripping from her mouth.

This scene seemed to hit his heart. He put down his pen, leaned over to look at his daughter, and kissed her cheek.

But the little fellow didn't know what was good for him. His forehead, which was as tender and delicate as a medium-cooked egg white, wrinkled. He waved his little hands as if to slap a mosquito, slapped his father away, turned over and changed his posture, and continued to sleep in his little nest, with a little saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth.

Fang Lin smiled helplessly, wiped her face, and pulled the quilt over her belly.

At the door, Tian Xuan originally wanted to come in, but when she saw this scene, she didn't come in. She leaned against the door, looking at the two fathers with a smile on her face, her brows and eyes gentle.

call!call!
The autumn wind blew through the hall, and on the orange tree outside the door, a row of golden oranges swayed; not far away at the door of the Ou family, Guaiguai, Huahua, a cat and a dog were chasing each other around the osmanthus tree; further over there, on the open space of Xiaowu Mountain, Fang's mother was making embroidered shoes for her granddaughter and talking to Sister Guihua and the others; outside the alley, at the farther dock, Fang's father was calling on porters to do their work, and thousands of sails were traveling back and forth on the leisurely river.

……

Since his daughter was born, the family has had a fifth person, the seventh member in addition to Guaiguai and Huahua. Fang Lin feels that his life seems to have a better anchor and he can more clearly perceive his responsibilities and happiness.

The bookstore and factory were back on track and operating normally, which did not take up too much of his energy, giving him time to stop and enjoy the beauty of life.

When the weather was fine, Fang Lin would sometimes feel tired from writing and would carry his daughter for a walk in the alley to look at the osmanthus tree and the elementary school children attending classes at the Ou family. Sometimes he would go out of the alley with Tian Xuan and his daughter, go outside the city, and watch the thousands of sails passing by at the pier. They would go further to see the paddy fields, yellowing grass, golden leaves on the trees, mooing buffaloes, and ripe fruits by the roadside. He would also weave golden chrysanthemums into wreaths and wear them on Tian Xuan and his daughter's heads.

Early in the morning, Fang Lin would sometimes carry his daughter on his back to go outside the city to see a tea forest he had found. There, clumps of tea trees stretched to the horizon, and mist floated between the leaves, making the green look dazzlingly rich in the sun, and then misty like smoke.

When the morning sun slowly showed its face in the mist and passed through their hair, they began to walk back. Qiuqiu's little feet swayed back and forth with her steps, her little hands kept patting her shoulders, and she giggled.

It’s strange to say, but when I was just taking a walk in the city, I didn’t like running around. But when I took my daughters with me, I was willing to go everywhere, especially when Tian Xuan was with us. I wanted to take them to see thousands of mountains and rivers and give them the best in the world.

He told Fang's father, Fang's mother, and Tian Xuan that when their daughter grew up a little, the family would have the chance to visit faraway places.

With the birth of their daughter, Fang Lin and Tian Xuan's relationship seems to be closer, like a double silk net with thousands of knots in it, connecting them with me and you and caring and considerate of each other, which makes many couples in the alley envious.

In this environment, in love and warmth, Fang Qiuer grew up little by little.

……

With a harmonious family, Fang Lin was in a good mood and wrote the book very quickly.

In the book "Journey to the West", he slightly modified some details, such as the Monkey King going to the Lingxiao Palace and the Jade Emperor hiding under the table, which were all polished and concealed.

——Fang Lin has read the original novel of "Journey to the West" so many times that it is torn apart, but he has also watched the film and television version many times. The contents of the two are slightly different, and he often confuses them. He usually uses whichever one he thinks is better. The plot of his own version is similar to the original, but he uses more of his own language, has fewer poems, and is more popular. It is difficult to say which version is better, but from the book "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", we can see that his version is more easily accepted by the general public.

The Investiture of the Gods will also be written later.

Fang Lin planned to write only the first twenty-five chapters of both Journey to the West and Fengshen as the first part, and let Emperor Hongtai read it first. If the other party rejected Journey to the West, then Journey to the West would be put on hold and Fengshen would be used as the next book instead.

"Qiuqiu, read a story!" He is currently writing "Journey to the West". He often reads the manuscript to his daughter. Although Qiuqiu is still young and seems to not understand, she always stays quiet and keeps her eyes fixed while reading.

——This little girl’s nickname is Maomao. Mr. Fang said it sounds like the sound of a caterpillar. It is very lively and looks cute. Now he calls her Qiuqiu more often.

Tian Xuan would often sit down and listen together. Later, at some point, Fang's father and mother also listened. Soon, reading the manuscript of Journey to the West became a daily routine for the Fang family.

According to Fang's father and mother, "Journey to the West" is not crowded and is not tiring to listen to, and it feels better than "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". The whole family particularly likes Sun Wukong and became the first group of fans of "Journey to the West".

……

(End of this chapter)