Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 125 Oh no, Wu Cheng'en has failed!
When I came out of the Yan residence.

Shen Kun and Wu Cheng'en both looked thoughtful.

After walking in silence for a long time, the two suddenly looked at each other and said in unison:
"He's actually a pretty nice guy..."

Then Shen Kun preemptively asked:
"Brother-in-law, what do you think is so good about this official?"

"Although Niu Bishanren does not consider himself my teacher, he is trying to teach me how to write a popular and well-received book!"

Wu Cheng'en blurted it out.

"what?"

Shen Kun was taken aback. What was this all about?

If he remembered correctly, Yan Maoqing had only said a few words to his brother-in-law that made him give up, or even destroy his spirit.

If there is any purpose to be mentioned, it should be to dispel Wu Cheng'en's expectations for "Xuanpo Cangqiong" and stop him from coming here to persuade him to continue his frivolous pursuits and hinder his advancement.

"Brother-in-law, you may not know this, but what Niu Bishanren said just now, though it may sound ordinary, is quite cruel to a scholar."

Wu Cheng'en pondered for a moment and said,
"But for an author, especially for me, it reveals the deep logic behind a book's gradual and engaging approach."

"Combined with some of the approaches he presented in his previous book that are not commonly seen in other books, if one calms down and thinks carefully, one can summarize a set of writing techniques that are extremely rare today."

"In my opinion, it is no exaggeration to say that 'listening to his words is better than writing ten years' worth of books'!"

“Brother-in-law should know that although writing a book can leave a name for posterity, it is actually difficult to make any real profit.”

"Therefore, most of the great literary figures who wrote masterpieces were poor and destitute during their lifetimes and had to rely on the support of relatives and friends to make a living. Just like me, I failed the provincial examination and had to come to the capital to rely on my brother-in-law."

"But I heard that this official's book was published in the form of a periodical at Luming Pavilion and sold very well, earning him several taels of silver every month."

"Therefore, I personally believe that with my writing skills and knowledge, if I can integrate the writing techniques he taught me, I might be able to become self-reliant!"

"..."

Shen Kun fell silent again upon hearing this.

This brother-in-law's literary talent was by no means inferior to his own. He had been famous for his outstanding literary talent since he was a teenager, and naturally, he was also proficient in the eight-legged essays required for the imperial examinations.

However, he is a little stubborn in his thinking, which makes him always overdo it and appear unconventional among the candidates.

Therefore, his essays, written in the eight-legged style, never won the favor of the examiners, and they even dared not mark them. This should be the real reason why he repeatedly failed the exams.

He had tried to persuade his brother-in-law about this, but to little avail. After all, changing a person's mind is sometimes more difficult than killing them.

Like now, he feels that his brother-in-law's thinking has gone astray again...

This is clearly not the issue we should be focusing on on this trip, is it?
Just as he was having this headache, Wu Cheng'en continued in a serious tone:

“Brother-in-law, Niu Bishan asked us to write an essay just now. I think this is actually a test for me, just like a teacher checking the students’ learning outcomes.”

“My brother-in-law has studied Confucian classics since childhood and usually only writes some eight-legged essays. Obviously, someone like me who is good at literary exaggeration would not be able to meet the requirements of Niu Bishanren in his writing.”

"Therefore, just hand over the article to me, and watch how I make Niu Bishanren (a famous writer) praise it highly..."

……

Five days later.

"This is so beautiful!"

Yan Maoqing looked at the article that Wu Cheng'en had just personally delivered and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

The writing style, the rhetoric, the level of detail, the design, the plot twists, the witty local sayings of the Ming Dynasty, and the beautiful poems accompanying the text...

"It's gone?"

Yan Maoqing read it almost to the end in one go, but when he turned the page further, there was no more content, and he suddenly felt an urge to scratch his head in frustration.

Broken chapter? !
This familiar routine, this feeling of being in another world... Wu Cheng'en actually used the writing format of a periodical. He has only written one issue with nearly 10,000 words so far, and while the anticipation was almost at its peak, he forcibly stopped at the most important point. He has even surpassed his predecessor!

Yan Maoqing was speechless. His original intention was simply to have Shen Kun and Wu Cheng'en write two memorials exaggerating the Japanese pirate threat, and then submit them in his own name...

"As requested by Niu Bishanren, I have only written this much so far. I humbly request Niu Bishanren's guidance."

Wu Cheng'en lowered his head slightly, adopting a humble and eager-to-learn posture.

"This……"

Yan Maoqing stared at Wu Cheng'en in disbelief, his mind buzzing, as if he could hear ringing in his ears.

What...what did I do?!
A literary master whose name will be remembered for eternity, a literary giant who wrote the masterpiece "Journey to the West," has now taken the strengths of later online novels and written such a hybrid storybook.
What is this called?
This chef is not only a master of cooking, but he has also learned military strategy!

But... this feels like a complete and utter defeat!
Looking back on my own Chinese translation of "Xuanpo Cangqiong," I realize that it's comparable to Wu Cheng'en's "Powo Ji," which he wrote in just five days.

It was as if a three-year-old child stood in front of the Hulk, appearing so childish, so stiff, so vulgar, and so inferior!

This is Wu Cheng'en!

It's not easy to learn well, but it's easy to learn bad things.

What a terrifying level of understanding! What a horrifying decline! Is this a moral decay or a distortion of humanity?

As expected of Wu Cheng'en!

Based solely on that one unfinished online novel, and based solely on that one malicious spoiler.

He was able to grasp the essence of online literature with ease, and he even seemed poised to crush the "old guard" in one fell swoop.

Isn't this misleading and corrupting young people?
Could the version of "Journey to the West," which later became one of the Four Great Classical Novels, still have the opportunity to be written, or at least, would it still be the "Journey to the West" that I know so well?
"how?"

Wu Cheng'en was still eagerly waiting for Yan Maoqing to make his judgment, and seeing his expression change again and again, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Brother Ruzhong, you can call me Brother Jingqing from now on... Can I ask you for a favor?"

Yan Maoqing came to his senses, his expression becoming increasingly strange.

“This… Niu Bishanren, please speak.”

Wu Cheng'en hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not overstep his bounds, only asking in his heart out of curiosity.

"If I'm not mistaken, you've been working on a storybook all along, haven't you?"

Yan Maoqing stood up and bowed very solemnly.

"When you write this story in the future, I beg you to write it based on your original ideas, and strive to return to simplicity and authenticity. You must never abandon your original intention. I sincerely beg you!"

"???"

Wu Cheng'en was taken aback, and quickly rose to help him up, feeling extremely embarrassed and apprehensive.
"Master Niubishan is too kind; I am not worthy of such a great gift!"

"Stop saying anything, go back and write the next episode."

Yan Maoqing immediately abandoned all kinship ties, pushing Wu Cheng'en towards the exit while repeatedly urging him on.

"Send it to me as soon as you finish writing it. After I have read it carefully, I will take it to Luming Pavilion for printing and publication. You will not be shortchanged from the share of the profits!"

Since "Xuan Po Cang Qiong" is selling well.

Once this book is printed, it will definitely sell even better!

As this book spreads, the story of the "Japanese pirates" will gradually generate some impact in the capital and spark public discussion.

Moreover, Zhu Houcong himself was a person who enjoyed reading storybooks.

He could even read Guo Xun's book, "The Legend of the Heroic Warriors of the Ming Dynasty," which glorified his ancestors, and even promoted Guo Xun from Marquis of Wuding to Duke of Yi because of it.

If Wu Cheng'en's "The Story of Breaking the Japanese Pirates" generates a certain response, it will definitely catch his attention and make him pay more attention to the Japanese pirate problem in the south!
(End of this chapter)