Struggle in Ancient Times

“Xiao Liu, I heard he is teaching in the town right now.” Huang Zilan said while looking at the scenery outside.

“I heard from young master Huang, he saw young master Liao yesterday and asked him to for help. He said young master Liao already living in the Qingshan Academy.” Xiao Liu sold Huang Hao without hesitation.

Huang Zilan nodded, “Now, he lived in the town with no experience about teaching, he probably asks his teacher for advice.”

.

Huang Hao came to his cousin’s home was pulled aside by Huang Zilan, “I heard you asked Liao-xiucai to settle your accounts for a whole day.”

Huang Hao was puzzled, “who said a whole day? It was only half a day; I even have him food and big bag of money. Hiring an accountant was cheaper for me.”

“Food? What did you eat from my restaurant?” Huang Zilan looked at him badly, “Do you think I should let my father settle the bill for you?”

Huang Hao looked at his cousin whose elbow already turned outward*, “Go settle it. I’m your father’s nephew, your real cousin. You haven’t married yet but look at how you guard that Liao-xiucai.”

“Who is married? I’m not guarding anyone. Look at yourself, you study all these years but couldn’t settle an account. It’s really shameful to be a scholar like you.” Huang Zilan looked at his cousin with contempt.

“I say, you’ve been friend with him for so long. Why do you ask his help for this kind of thing?”

Huang Hao blinked innocently, “But I really can’t do it. I don’t know much about settling accounts.”

Huang Hao was helpless; his uncle was a big businessman but he couldn’t even help to settle the account. The time he spent in his uncle’s house was no less than his time at his own house. He was a little confused, “Hey, do you think I was more like my father than my uncle. My father is a little mess, the whole family is controlled by my mother.”

Huang Hao thought he had found the answer and nodded with satisfaction, “Xiao Liu, don’t just stand there. Come, serve me the osmanthus cake.”

Huang Zilan looked at his hopeless cousin and shook his head, he was really lucky to pass the exam with such demeanour! The accounting clearly revealed his true level; if people knew about it, they wouldn’t believe he was a scholar.

The problem was this cousin only knew how to eat and eat all the time. He even gained some weight! Huang Zilan felt troubled when he looked at him, anyway, there was no use for him to be angry.

Huang Zilan called Xiao Liu back, huh! Want a cake? It was time to lose weight!

.

Liao Tingyu was so busy these days, his feet barely touch the ground. He kept going around from here and there without a rest.

“Boss, this is the novel I wrote these days. Go take a look.” Liao Tingyu handed over several thick notebooks he had written.

After these scripts were given to the shopkeeper, he would arrange the books and drew beautiful painting as a cover. Boss Tang looked at the thick notebooks with satisfaction.

Although Liao Tingyu only came to him once in half a month but he would bring good quality and quantities scripts. Fortunately, he knew a good seedling once he saw it, he bought the novel by Liao Tingyu and stroked a good deal with him.

He could brag that Liao Tingyu was the best-selling writer in the market now, looking at those newly born martial art and fantasy novels circling the market. They all had the same work and route, most of them were a little run-down without the real essence from Liao Tingyu’s novel. Many people respected teacher Lan Hui’s works.

In Boss Tang eyes, these notebooks made from cheap papers were white money.

“I heard now you are a scholar. Why don’t you write your real name on the back? These novels would sell better that way.” Boss Tang said carefully.

“There is no use for that. My novels are selling very well, besides, my real job isn’t writing novel. I have to ask boss Tang to keep my identity a secret.” Liao Tingyu refused calmly.

Boss Tang also knew there was no need to talk about this matter, he didn’t have any entanglement. He just needed to support Liao Tingyu’s wishes to ensure his bookstore’s prosperity.

Boss Tang smiled, “Well, I was just talking. Everything depends on what Liao-xiucai wants. Please wait a bit, I will go and get the payment for this month.”

“That’s it.” Liao Tingyu sat down and drank the tea slowly.

Since the novels that he wrote became famous, boss Tang bought them for 160 wens at first. But they were too popular so he decided to ask for another deal 6:4. For every 100 copies sold, Liao Tingyu would get 4% and the bookstore would get 6%. This was very good and his income was considerable.

The good thing was, Liao Tingyu’s novel would be sold for 500 wens at worst. The one with beautiful painting and bronze stamps on the cover would be ten taels. Whenever Liao Tingyu went to Huang Hao’s study and saw his novel on the top shelf, he thought it looked really good. He wanted to have one but reluctant to spend his money.

Hehe, should he ask the boss to give him a free one? Liao Tingyu touched his chin and thought.