Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Saihanba Forest Farm.

The sandstorm was so intense that it made it impossible to open one's eyes.

Tian Yiming, wrapped in a tattered sheepskin coat, was struggling to dig a tree pit with a shovel in his hand.

He was tormented during this period, and his once fair face became rough and dark.

Zhang Hongqi, who had also been exiled, was squatting on the ground resting nearby.

Zhang Hongqi held a book that had been mailed to him and was reading it with great interest.

"Hongqi, what are you looking at so intently? Let me see too."

Tian Yiming threw down his shovel and went over.

"This is a copy of 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King,' which was sent from my home. It's the hottest book in Beijing right now."

Zhang Hongqi didn't even look up; she turned the page.

Tian Yiming peeked at the screen and was instantly drawn to its striking composition.

"Damn, that's awesome! Who drew this?"

Zhang Hongqi flipped to the cover and pointed to the author's name.

"It says here, author: Zhang Dabiao."

Tian Yiming's gaze fell on the three words "Zhang Dabiao".

next second.

He froze instantly, as if struck by lightning.

"Zhang Dabiao?"

Tian Yiming's originally rosy face turned deathly pale in an instant, and even his lips were trembling.

"You...you tell me again, who is the author?" Tian Yiming stammered.

"Zhang Dabiao, what's wrong?"

Zhang Hongqi looked up at him, and suddenly, Zhang Hongqi realized what was going on.

Their eyes met amidst the sandstorm.

A chill ran from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

Zhang Dabiao!

That war god from Nanluoguxiang who sent them to Saihanba to eat sand!

That living Yama with an unfathomable background!

He actually created such a masterpiece that caused a national sensation?!

They quickly flipped to the front cover and copyright page—Sijiu City Arts and Crafts Academy, Zhang Dabiao.

Assistant, Zhou Muye.

Tian Yiming didn't know, but Zhang Hongqi did. They fought with Zhang Dabiao at the entrance of the Beijing Art Academy. The representative from the school on Zhang Dabiao's side was Teacher Zhou Muye, who was also their counselor and classmate.

It's Zhang Dabiao—no doubt about it.

Tian Yiming plopped down in the sand and covered his head with his hands.

"This is insane...this world has gone mad..."

"What was I thinking, provoking this monster who's skilled in both martial arts and academics?!"

"What a tragedy!"

After pondering for a while, Zhang Hongqi began writing a letter home.

Tian Yiming was completely baffled: "Hongqi, what are you doing?"

Without turning his head, Zhang Hongqi said, "Write a letter to the class monitor, Zhao Weiguo, and ask him to help me find Mu Wanqing and see if I can get a signed copy of 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King' by Zhang Dabiao."

Tian Yiming's eyes widened in disbelief: "Holy crap, he brought you here and you still want his autographed book? How shameless are you?!"

Zhang Hongqi rolled her eyes at Tian Yiming: "What do you know!"

"The forestry bureau secretary's daughter is a high school student and also our scorekeeper. You can't buy this book here; by the time you can buy it here, Zhang Dabiao will be famous all over the place!"

"Back then, they went through a lot of trouble to get a copy, but we had a signed copy. You tell me—" Zhang Hongqi gave him a knowing look.

Tian Yiming immediately clapped his hands: "You want to film the old lady?!"

Zhang Hongqi slapped him across the face: "All you can think about is flirting with women! You only came here because you ended up flirting with Zhang Dabiao's wife, and you still can't change that?"

"We can't go back early. If we give that signed copy of the book to the secretary's daughter and ask her to put in a good word for us, we can make things a little more comfortable here."

"More water, more food, more opportunities to go shopping in town or city, understand?!"

After thinking for a long time, Tian Yiming finally started writing a letter out of frustration.

"What, you're getting books through connections too?"

"Didn't the institute send a truckload of cultural relics to Zhang Dabiao? Ask his family to help get some more relics in exchange for autographed copies. Zhang Dabiao shouldn't refuse, right?"

The two remained silent for a long time, then muttered, "You know, they're all human, but Zhang Dabiao is arrogant, rich, powerful, and has powerful connections. He's so good at fighting, he can draw comic books, compose music, and his wife is so beautiful..."

"And here we are, planting trees in this place... and having to bribe the scorekeeper with our enemy's book?"

In the end, they both slapped themselves.

Why provoke Zhang Dabiao?

"What a tragedy!"

------------

In the courtyard houses of Nanluoguxiang in Beijing.

There was also widespread shock.

Weekend evening.

Sha Zhu strolled into the backyard, carrying a large enamel mug.

Xu Damao was sitting on a small stool in front of his house, flipping through a brand new comic book with his pregnant wife, Lou Xiao'e.

"Xu Damao, what kind of erotic novel are you reading?" Sha Zhu retorted habitually.

Xu Damao rolled his eyes at him: "I'm telling you, Sha Zhu, with that lousy mouth of yours—"

"What my wife and I watched together could be..."

Xu Damao didn't even know how to describe Sha Zhu. If you had any brains at all, you wouldn't have said something like that.

This time, Xu Damao didn't even bother arguing with Sha Zhu.

Even Lou Xiao'e rolled her eyes at Sha Zhu.

Xu Damao held up the book in his hand: "Shazhu, open your dog eyes and look at this book. This is the hottest book right now, 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King'."

"Those bastards at the screening station were fighting tooth and nail to get a copy; I barely managed to snag one."

Sha Zhu leaned over and glanced at the cover.

With just one glance, Sha Zhu's eyes widened like copper bells.

He rubbed his eyes and pointed to the words on the cover.

"Author... Zhang Dabiao?"

"Da Mao, there are a lot of people in the world with the same name, this definitely isn't the one from our Intermediate People's Court..."

Xu Damao gave a wry smile.

"At first, I also thought it was just a coincidence of names."

"But turn to the very end and take a look."

Sha Zhu flipped to the copyright page, where a line of small print read:

Acknowledgements: Zhou Muyi, XXX, XXX, and XXX from the Sijiucheng Arts and Crafts School assisted with the creation.

Sha Zhu gasped.

The Sijiucheng Arts and Crafts School—wasn't that where Zhang Dabiao went to vocational school?

It really was him!

Sha Zhu felt that his worldview had been greatly impacted.

That brute who could break his arm with his bare hands and shatter ice with a single punch.

They actually created such an exquisite picture book?

Just then, Jia Zhangshi came out carrying a basin of dirty water to empty it. Hearing their conversation, she came over.

"What? Zhang Dabiao published a book?"

Jia Zhangshi rolled her triangular eyes, her face full of jealousy.

"What kind of book could a violent idiot like him publish? It's definitely plagiarized!"

Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e completely ignored Jia Zhangshi, and continued whispering, "I heard this book is selling like hotcakes, how much money must each copy make!"

"I heard that now there are only payment for writing, no royalties. I guess Da Biao will only get a couple thousand in payment, right?"

"Didn't Da Biao lose money?!"

"You can't say that. Even if you had money, you couldn't publish a book now. Besides, look at the print run of this first edition—"

"What?! Ten thousand copies?!"

Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e's question-and-answer session completely ignored Jia Zhangshi.

When Jia Zhangshi heard that the first print run was 10,000 copies, she thought, "That heartless bastard! Now that he's rich, he doesn't even bother to help our orphaned and widowed family! I'm Zhang Dabiao's third aunt!"

Sha Zhu couldn't stand it anymore: "Aunt Zhang, just give it a rest."

"Why should someone who earned their money through their own abilities help you out?"

"Besides, do you dare go to the Intermediate People's Court to ask Zhang Dabiao for money?"

Remembering Zhang Dabiao's fierce and menacing appearance, Jia Zhangshi shrank back and slunk back into the house with the basin in her arms.

Because of this book, the entire courtyard once again felt the fear and shock of being dominated by Zhang Dabiao.