Linxia

Chapter 69, Advice

Early the next morning, Fang Lin went to Xuan Mo Zhai and went out for a stroll with Manager Liu - needless to say, they were naturally walking the route to the school. Manager Liu had gradually gotten used to it, and every day when he saw these elementary school children carrying small book baskets on their way to school, his mood would unconsciously improve.

On the way, the two chatted, and Fang Lin talked about the books sold in the store. He asked curiously: "Boss, don't we have popular novels for sale in our store, such as "Water Margin" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"? "

"The Water Margin you are talking about is the Loyal Water Margin written at the end of the previous dynasty? As for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I have never heard of it. I think it is Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms."

"Boss, you know I like to wander around. I just heard these two book titles mentioned by someone when I was wandering around. Maybe I remembered it wrongly. It was you who said it."

Fang Lin remained calm, but was shocked in his heart: "There is only "Water Margin", but no "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Is it because it has not been completed yet? Yes, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was completed at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. After the Yuan Dynasty in this time and space, there was Daxia, so it makes sense that it didn't exist."

"Is that so?" Shopkeeper Liu believed Fang Lin's words. After all, he knew Fang Lin's situation and had no other explanation except hearsay: "Of course, we don't sell such popular novels in our store. If you want to know the reason, it is naturally because of a decree during the reign of Emperor Taizu."

"This decree states: Any military or civilian who learns to sing will have his tongue cut off; any performer who performs a play other than a play about gods and immortals, righteous husbands and virtuous wives, filial sons and grandsons, or a play that encourages people to be kind or restores peace will be arrested by the court; anyone who dares to collect, circulate, print or sell books that are not covered by the law will be arrested and sent to the court for investigation."

"Nowadays, the laws on food, drink, clothing, and entertainers are gradually being relaxed, and there are many violators, but the people do not report them and the officials do not investigate them. But after all, the government has not approved it, and other bookstores do not print and sell it. How dare we sell it in our store?" He shook his head.

"So that's how it is. I thought our store only sold serious books, not those books!" Fang Lin said, and a flash of lightning suddenly appeared in his mind.

Yesterday, he felt that he had grasped something vaguely, but when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't find any clue. Now he finally understood.

'Economic prosperity is often accompanied by cultural prosperity. When people meet their material needs, they will pursue spiritual needs. Therefore, popular novels are likely to be very popular in the future. I also remember that in my previous life, popular novels ushered in a wave of explosions in the late Ming Dynasty. Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan opera, Ming and Qing novels, popular novels became a cultural symbol of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.'

'This is actually a sign. The opera troupes in the city can sing pieces like "Romance of the Western Chamber". If they gradually open up, will popular novels be far behind? However, no one has taken the lead yet.'

Fang Lin had no intention of being the first to try something new. The first person to try something new might very well enjoy the meal, but without any background and clearly breaking the law, he would most likely die an ugly death.

'I should have thought of this earlier. From the simple style in the early years of the country to the extravagant style today, the material is extremely abundant, and then the spiritual aspect should be. Just like eating and drinking, it is tight at first and then loose. The more severe the suppression at the beginning of the country, the more uncontrollable it will be when it rebounds! '

'The same is true for the spiritual aspect. After being suppressed for so long, once popular novels are released, it will be unstoppable and earth-shattering. A popular novel that appeals to both the elite and the masses will definitely attract thousands of people and sell out!'

'Isn't this the right opportunity to make my first pot of gold that I've been looking for?'

Fang Lin's heart surged, but he soon calmed down and planned: "The opportunity has not yet arrived, and the official has not yet approved the publication, but this is also good, I can just lie dormant, learn calligraphy, save money, and accumulate connections."

'Before the wind blows, you must learn to write, but money and connections are something you can only encounter by chance. If I don't have enough money and connections, I can write novels and sell my works; if I have enough money and connections, I can open a bookstore, write and sell my own works, and take advantage of this wind blow to complete the original accumulation in one fell swoop! '

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Shopkeeper Liu didn't know that his good friend was already planning to run away and work on his own.

——It’s actually just a matter of sooner or later. After all, Fang Lin can’t allow himself to work for others all his life.

"Oh, I was wondering, don't we have any miscellaneous books for sale in our store?" Fang Lin suppressed all his thoughts and asked with a smile.

"Of course there is one, the Complete Record of the Five Relationships!" Shopkeeper Liu joked.

"The Complete Record of the Five Relationships, is it also considered one?" Fang Lin looked strange. He had also read the Complete Record of the Five Relationships, which was about the five relationships between ruler and subject, master and wife, brothers, husband and wife, and friends. It was a play that emphasized "starting from nature, born from righteousness, moving people with what is easy to understand, making people feel filial after reading it, and loyal after reading it."

But from the introduction, we can tell what kind of book can make people filial and loyal after reading it? It is just a product to respond to the people in power and sing praises. The loyalty and filial piety advocated in it are nothing more than blind loyalty and foolish filial piety.

In addition, the book's language is stale, its images are dry, and it has no interest at all, which makes Fang Lin's evaluation that it is a piece of shit.

……

Go back to the bookstore and open the door.

Today, when the bookstore is not busy and he takes a break, Fang Lin studies calligraphy even harder, because the road ahead is clear and he has a greater sense of urgency in his heart.

In the evening, Cheng Shiliang came back from a day off, ate in the store, stood up, and seemed to be going out again.

"Brother Cheng, are you leaving again?" Huang Di winked, obviously thinking that Cheng Shiliang was going to the brothel.

"Brother Cheng, is there anything wrong?" Chai Yiwei also asked.

"Well, you guys take a rest, I'm leaving first." Cheng Shiliang said and was about to go out.

"Brother Cheng!"

Fang Lin recalled what he saw yesterday, called Cheng Shiliang and pulled him aside: "Brother Cheng, listen to my advice, don't gamble anymore."

"Linzi, how did you know?" Cheng Shiliang widened his eyes.

He didn't say this because he didn't want others to know. After all, gambling is not a glorious thing. Ordinary people would avoid it if they heard about it and might even look at him with strange eyes.

Furthermore, he was afraid that the matter would be told to the ears of Manager Liu - Manager Liu was a kind and easy-going man, but he was also stubborn and could not tolerate any injustice. If he knew about it, he would probably fire him.

"Yesterday, Mr. Dong, the scholar I helped in Wengtang, invited me to have dinner at Donkey Restaurant. When I was leaving, I saw you entering Changlefang. Brother Cheng, I still say that you should not touch gambling!"

"Hey, Linzi, don't worry, I'm just kidding, it's okay." Cheng Shiliang smiled playfully, obviously not taking Fang Lin's words to heart. After a pause, he said, "Linzi, you have to keep this a secret for me, don't tell Dizi, Yiwei and the others."

"Oh!" Seeing that he didn't listen, Fang Lin didn't say anything. He watched Cheng Shiliang go out, shook his head, and went back to learn calligraphy.

That night, Cheng Shiliang did not return home all night.

……

(End of this chapter)