I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 285 Shen Nian's Slap! How fortunate I am to write the preface for Journey to the West.
Swish!Swish!Swish!
While Zhang Siwei's second son, Zhang Taizheng, was grappling with Wei Yunzhong, this year's top scorer.

Shen Nian flipped through the handwritten manuscript of "Journey to the West," her face beaming with excitement.

The content of this handwritten manuscript is exactly at the stage where the Monkey King escapes the Eight Trigrams Furnace and develops a pair of fiery eyes, which is the most exciting part of the whole book.

Guaranteed to be addictive!
The story of Journey to the West has been widely circulated among the people since Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India, and has been going on for nearly a thousand years.

From the Tang Dynasty's "Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang" to the Song Dynasty's "The Story of the Journey to the West of the Great Tang Monk", and then to the Yuan Dynasty's storytelling book "Journey to the West in Plain Language", many mythical and demonic stories have been derived.

However, none of them are mature or systematic enough.

It is Wu Cheng'en's artistic reconstruction that changed the protagonist from Tang Sanzang to Sun Wukong, turning an ordinary fantasy adventure into an allegorical work with conflict, growth, and social satire.

Shen Nian remembered it clearly—

The earliest version of "Journey to the West" in his memory was first printed in the 20th year of the Wanli reign (1680), without Wu Cheng'en's signature. It quickly became a bestseller and was printed and revised by many bookstores, and even spread overseas.

When the book was published, Wu Cheng'en had been dead for ten years.

The handwritten manuscript in his hand is the true original version of "Journey to the West," and its content should be more exciting and consistent than the one he remembered.

This version of "Journey to the West" is different from the novels on bookstores today that are all about lust and decadence. It has depth and meaning and deserves to be passed down to future generations.

Since this book has come into contact with Shen Nian, Shen Nian is determined to have it published ahead of schedule and to preserve it in a more complete form.

In addition, Shen Nian also plans to write a preface for the book, so that her name can also be recorded in it.

Holding the manuscript, Shen Nian walked up to the stall owner and said, "Stall owner, I am willing to pay two hundred taels of silver to buy out this book and guarantee that more than a thousand copies will be printed. We can sign the agreement right now."

Upon hearing this, the onlookers' attention all turned to Shen Nian.

Two hundred taels of silver, plus the ability to publish over a thousand copies of a novel exceeding six hundred thousand words, is something that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

At this moment, Zhang Taizheng and Wei Yunzhong were also pulled apart by several scholars.

The stall owner was overjoyed to see someone willing to buy the entire manuscript.

"Young master, please...please wait a moment, I...I will get you the complete manuscript right away!" The stall owner was very excited.

Buying out the manuscript means that Shen Nian owns all rights to "Journey to the West".

Whether Shen Nian makes a profit or a loss after printing a thousand copies of this book is irrelevant to Sheyang Shanren. It wouldn't even be a problem if the name "Sheyang Shanren" wasn't included in the publication.

"Wait!" Zhang Taizheng straightened his clothes, walked to the bookstall, and called out to Shen Nian.

“I saw this manuscript first, and if anyone is going to buy it out, it will be me!” Zhang Taizheng said.

Shen Nian frowned slightly.

"Didn't you just say that this book is only suitable for reading while using the toilet?"

Zhang Taizheng straightened his chest, raised his chin, and said, "Someone was meddling in my business just now, and I didn't make myself clear."

After saying that, Zhang Taizheng didn't forget to give Wei Yunzhong a disapproving look.

Initially, when Zhang Taizheng found the manuscript, he was only interested in the content about gods and demons. However, when the bookseller refused to sell it to him, Zhang, who was usually arrogant and rarely refused, threw the book at the bookseller to force him to compromise.

Unexpectedly, Wei Yunzhong jumped out to stand up for the stall owner and accused him of being unreasonable.

Zhang Taizheng revealed his father's name, intending to scare Wei Yunzhong away. However, the latter was a favorite to be the top scholar this year and was not afraid of him at all. In a fit of anger, the two started fighting.

At this moment, Zhang Taizheng was fully awake.

He realized that if this handwritten manuscript were sold to someone else, the news that he had bullied the bookseller and been taught a lesson by the righteous Wei Yunzhong would spread throughout the capital within half a day.

Like his father, Zhang Taizheng is extremely concerned about his reputation.

If we don't lose face today, we'll become a laughing stock in the capital.

He could only buy the manuscript at a high price and agree to its publication, then he could claim to the outside world that he bought the manuscript at a high price, and that Wei Yunzhong was just a busybody.

Just as Zhang Taizheng was about to reach out and snatch the manuscript from Shen Nian's hand, Shen Nian had not yet spoken.

Wei Yunzhong, standing to the side, spoke up again: "Second Young Master, even if you want to buy the manuscript, this young master should have made the offer first. You should be next in line. You can only buy it if this young master doesn't want it. Otherwise, you'll not only be taking what belongs to someone else, but you'll also be breaking the rules of the book market!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Taizheng wished he could fight Wei Yunzhong again.

The other party was clearly determined to oppose him.

Zhang Taizheng calmed down, looked at Shen Nian, and seeing that Shen Nian was dressed plainly and looked very young, he couldn't help but bow slightly and say, "Young master, I did see this handwritten manuscript first. Could you let me have it?"

Zhang Taizheng politely cupped his hands in greeting to Shen Nian.

This action was not out of politeness, but rather because he felt compelled to project a positive image in front of a large crowd of onlookers.

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"You saw it first, which is true, but I was the one who first proposed buying out the manuscript, and I refused!"

Shen Nian spoke gently yet decisively. He did not inquire about the stall owner's plans, because the stall owner simply could not afford to offend Zhang Taizheng.

“I can testify! It was this young master who first proposed the buyout!” Wei Yunzhong added.

What Wei Yunzhong disliked most were these arrogant and domineering second-generation officials, and he showed absolutely no leniency towards these washed-up second-generation officials.

Zhang Taizheng was filled with rage. He clenched his fists and thought to himself, "If my father were still in the cabinet, who would dare to disobey me? Who would dare to speak to me like this?"

at this time.

A squad of soldiers from the West City Garrison walked over.

"I am Bai Yan, the deputy commander of the Western City Military Command. Who was fighting here just now?" A middle-aged man of about forty years old looked around and said loudly, followed by four soldiers.

Soon, his gaze fell on Zhang Taizheng and Wei Yunzhong.

The two men's robes were covered in dust, and their hair was disheveled, clearly indicating they were fighters.

"what happened?"

At this moment, a bystander walked up to Bai Yan and whispered in his ear.

A moment later, Bai Yan raised his head and a smile appeared on his face.

"So it turns out that Young Master Zhang and Young Master Wei have had a misunderstanding. Gentlemen, the imperial examination is just around the corner. Fighting in the street will result in being reported and punished. It would be better to keep the peace!" Bai Yan knew that both of them were candidates for the imperial examination, one being the second son of Lord Fengpan and the other a top contender for the top score, so his attitude became more amiable.

The way he spoke was like a puppy gently wagging its tail.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Taizheng and Wei Yunzhong bowed to each other.

This means that the two have forgiven each other, and the matter is considered closed.

Scientific expeditions are of utmost importance to them, and if they are caught fighting under their own names, they could very well fail to make the list.

"Disperse! Disperse!" Bai Yan said to the surrounding onlookers.

At this time.

Zhang Taizheng spoke up again: "Commander Bai, I saw this manuscript first and intended to buy it outright. I never expected this person to try and steal it. You must uphold justice for me!"

After Zhang Taizheng finished speaking, he approached Bai Yan and whispered a few words to him, to which the latter nodded repeatedly.

Bai Yan turned to look at Shen Nian, sized her up, and said, "Are you also a recent graduate?"

Shen Nian shook her head and said, "No, I'm just a book buyer."

Upon hearing that Shen Nianfei was not a recent graduate, Bai Yan raised his voice and questioned, "Did you arrive at this bookstall first, or did Young Master Zhang arrive at this bookstall first?"

"He went first, but..."

Before Shen Nian could finish speaking, Bai Yan interrupted her sharply.

"Since Young Master Zhang arrived first, this manuscript belongs to him. Put the manuscript down and leave immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yunzhong couldn't help but say, "Commander Bai, it was this young master who first proposed buying out the manuscript, I heard it with my own ears..."

"Young Master Wei, this matter has nothing to do with you. I, the commander, will make the decision myself!" Bai Yan dared to refute the top scholar Wei Yunzhong so firmly, which was obviously because Zhang Taizheng had just mentioned a powerful backer who could control Bai Yan.

Bai Yan looked at the stall owner and asked coldly, "Who came first? Who proposed to buy the manuscript first? Think carefully before you answer!" Upon hearing this, the stall owner's lips trembled slightly, and then he stammered, "It was...it was Young Master Zhang..."

The stall owner's nemesis was the Five Cities Garrison; whatever they wanted him to say, he could only say.

A smug smile appeared on Zhang Taizheng's face, feeling that he had regained all the face he had just lost.

Being in the capital, it was indeed effective to promote someone; his father's influence still lingered.

His idea was that he could get the entire manuscript without paying two hundred taels of silver, and as for printing, that was even more impossible.

He likes to hide his favorite books so that he can enjoy them alone.

Bai Yan looked at Shen Nian.

"What are you still standing there for? Put down the manuscript and get out of here right now!" Bai Yan put his hand on the hilt of his knife, threatening Shen Nian.

He couldn't afford to offend Zhang Taizheng, nor did he want to offend Wei Yunzhong, but he still had the right to reprimand a commoner.

Picking the softest persimmons to squeeze has always been a specialty of the Five City Garrison, the lowest-ranking government office in the capital.

Shen Nian smiled helplessly and said to Bai Yan, "Commander Bai, could you please come closer?"

Bai Yan walked up to Shen Nian with a puzzled look on his face and glared at her, asking, "What is it?"

Shen Nian transferred the manuscript from her right hand to her left, then extended her right hand and said, "Look at what I have in my hand?"

Just as Bai Yan looked down at Shen Nian's right hand, Shen Nian slapped him across the face.

Snapped!
The sound is crisp and clear.

This slap knocked Bai Yan to the ground.

The latter, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, paused for a moment before turning to the soldiers behind him and shouting, "What are you all standing there for? Some troublemakers have provoked me and assaulted this official! Arrest them immediately!"

Just as the four soldiers rushed toward Shen Nian, two tall, gray-clad youths in the crowd blocked Shen Nian's way and took out their Embroidered Uniform Guard tokens.

"Minister Shen is on an incognito inspection tour, how dare you resort to violence!"

Before the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison were like slaves; four of them immediately knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Bai Yan was somewhat bewildered, muttering to himself, "Minister Shen?"

In an instant, he guessed who the person in front of him was.

Meanwhile, the onlookers around also guessed Shen Nian's identity. The youngest minister in the current dynasty, and surnamed Shen, could only be that person.

"I am Shen Nian!" Shen Nian said.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Immediately, everyone around him knelt down. Bai Yan's face turned pale, and he quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"Greetings, Minister Shen (Scholar)!" the crowd shouted in unison.

"Everyone, please stand up. It's not appropriate to kneel in a book market!" Shen Nian said gently.

Immediately, everyone stood up.

Bai Yan, four soldiers, and Zhang Taizheng remained kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, Zhang Taizheng's forehead was covered with beads of sweat. He never expected that he would offend the person he should never have offended.

This year, Zhang Juzheng's two sons also participated in the imperial examination, so they would definitely avoid suspicion. As a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, Shen Nian would most likely be the deputy chief examiner or the chief examiner. Offending Shen Nian would be tantamount to cutting off one's own career. Moreover, he knew that he was completely in the wrong.

Shen Nian first looked at Bai Yan and said, "Bai Yan, write down your own charges and send them to the Censorate!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Bai Yan kowtowed three times, then quickly got up and left the book market with his subordinates.

Zhang Taizheng looked at Shen Nian and said, "Minister Shen, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so domineering. I know I was wrong!"

Shen Nian ignored Zhang Taizheng and instead looked at Wei Yunzhong beside her.

"Wei Yunzhong?"

"The student is here!" Wei Yunzhong quickly bowed.

"You're quite good. I'll remember you. Keep this character; the court needs scholars like you!"

"Thank you for your encouragement, Minister Shen!" Wei Yunzhong bowed again.

Shen Nian looked around and said with a smile, "Everyone, you can all go now. Keep shopping if you want to!"

Then, Shen Nian looked at the bookstall owner.

The stall owner immediately understood, quickly moved his book stall aside, and led Shen Nian forward.

He wanted to take Shen Nian to see the complete handwritten manuscript.

After Shen Nian walked away, the people around the bookstall relaxed.

A scholar said to Wei Yunzhong, "Brother Wei, based solely on Minister Shen's words, you will rise rapidly in your career after entering officialdom!"

"Minister Shen, you flatter me! You flatter me!" Wei Yunzhong said, unable to contain his smile.

Anyone with aspirations for an official career knows what Shen Nian's words mean to a candidate about to enter officialdom.

at the same time.

Zhang Taizheng, who was kneeling on the ground, stood up. Shen Nian ignoring him was the greatest insult to him.

Seeing that everyone was keeping their distance from him, he became so angry that his face turned ashen.

"If my father were still alive, who among you would dare to humiliate me like this!"

Zhang Taizheng never felt that he had done anything wrong; he only felt that he had fallen into a situation where everyone could bully him because he had lost his backer.

……

After a while.

The stall owner led Shen Nian to a small room he had rented in a remote alley and brought out all his handwritten manuscripts.

"Minister Shen, the author of this book is Wu Cheng'en, who is seventy-six years old this year and currently lives in Shanyang (Huai'an, Jiangsu). This book is the result of half of his life's work!"

"Actually, he didn't want a buyout fee, but in order to make the publisher value the book, he proposed a price of two hundred taels. His goal was to find someone who truly loved the book. Once found, he would keep ten taels of the two hundred taels for his coffin and use the rest for printing the book."

"This book is like his own son to him."

……

"When he was young, this old man Wu also aspired to an official career, but he failed the imperial examinations many times. Later, in the 29th year of Jiajing, he became a tribute student and served as a county magistrate. However, he was too stubborn and was eventually dismissed from office."

"He was a pitiful man too! His son died young, and now he is all alone, barely making ends meet by telling stories of gods, demons and monsters in teahouses. His biggest dream was that this book could be published before he died. I especially like this book, so I took advantage of my trip to the capital to do business, thinking about whether I could find someone who was destined to read it."

……

The stall owner recounted Wu Cheng'en's plight.

In short: right now he's just a poor, destitute old man who likes to talk about gods, demons, and monsters.

After listening, Shen Nian flipped through the handwritten manuscript and said, "Two hundred taels of silver, I won't give you a single penny less. Consider it as Old Master Wu's retirement money!"

"In addition, I plan to write a preface for this book. As for printing, my family has a book printing business, so let's print it in Qiantang, Jiangnan. After printing is completed, I will have someone send a copy to Mr. Wu and another copy to you. How about that?"

The stall owner, visibly moved, knelt down and exclaimed, "Thank you, Minister Shen! Thank you, Minister Shen! This is a great blessing for this book!"

He never expected that the youngest official of the third rank in the court would be so interested in a "leisure book" that he not only wanted to publish it but also wanted to write a preface himself. If Old Master Wu knew, he would definitely sigh that his life had not been in vain.

Shen Nian helped him up, thinking to herself: It is my honor to be able to write a preface for Journey to the West.

"If I have the opportunity, I will personally visit the old man and listen to him tell stories of gods, demons, and monsters, and to hear him tell the Journey to the West!"

"I will definitely pass it on, I will definitely pass it on!" the bookseller said excitedly.

(End of this chapter)