Chapter 68

Changsheng Road in Jingyi District, Jianghai City, is a quiet lane amidst the hustle and bustle. A fifteen-minute walk to the left leads to the bustling Ningxi Commercial Circle, and a twenty-minute walk to the right reaches the Yujiahui Commercial Circle. In the inner ring of Jianghai City, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, this area is undoubtedly one of the most expensive.

This is a villa district with a classical garden style, where many literary figures and political celebrities choose to rest and recuperate. It is a true celebrity neighborhood, with each villa exorbitantly priced. Despite this, they are often in high demand, mostly being ancestral properties that no one is willing to sell.

The Jiang family's mansion is one of these villas, passed down from their ancestors. Jiang Dajiao, the chairman of Shengshi Group, loves to live here. It is a three-story European-style villa with a not-so-large garden surrounded by flowers and plants.

Early in the morning, several birds hanging from the trees chirped happily. Jiang Dajiao, dressed in casual clothes, first fed the birds, played with them for a while, and then took a watering can to water the precious flowers and plants.

He did not want to entrust these tasks to the servants; they were his daily morning routine, a way to relax and unwind.

"Yuehan, get up and have breakfast." After finishing his tasks, Jiang Dajiao stretched his limbs and then knocked on his daughter's door. His daughter was still asleep, so he had to push the door open. Seeing her small figure curled up on a large bed, the room in disarray, he sighed, "This child, she doesn't act like a girl at all." He tidied up for her, picked up the books that had fallen on the floor, and placed them on the bookshelf, throwing a pile of messy draft papers into the trash.

He pinched his daughter's little cheek, "Xiaohan, it's time to get up."

The drowsy girl turned over, mumbled, "Let me sleep a bit longer," and continued sleeping, hugging her blanket.

"Lazy girl, the sun is already up, and you're still sleeping. How will you ever find a husband?" Jiang Dajiao was helpless with his daughter, but he had no trace of his usual authority from the company. A mere glance from him would make his department managers tremble.

As he spoke, Jiang Dajiao affectionately patted his daughter's exposed little bottom.

"This girl, you stayed up late again last night, didn't you? I'll let you sleep for another half an hour, but if you don't get up after that, Dad won't invest in Dianmiao Chinese Literature Network anymore." Jiang Dajiao said with a smile, using his trump card.

The girl lifted her head, shook it, and replied drowsily, "I know, I'll get up in half an hour, annoying dad."

Jiang Dajiao smiled and left his daughter's room. He then instructed his secretary to reschedule the meeting with Yan Hui from Dianmiao Chinese Literature Network. For Jiang Dajiao, entering the online literature industry was just a toy for his daughter. He didn't think a bunch of people with no cultural background could produce anything significant with a computer.

Half an hour later, the girl got up on time, with messy hair, brushing her teeth and moving around the house. Jiang Dajiao was in the living room reading the morning newspaper. Seeing his daughter's appearance, he couldn't help but laugh and feel exasperated.

"Rongma, bring the breakfast in," Jiang Dajiao instructed, and the housekeeper hurried to prepare it.

The girl's speed in washing and brushing her teeth was incredibly fast. In less than ten minutes, she started eating breakfast. While eating, she said, "Dad, you're going to make a fortune this time. I told you, online literature is a promising sunrise industry."

"Oh? Trying to convince Dad again? What's the new idea this time?" Jiang Dajiao looked at his daughter with interest. Debating with her was one of his greatest pleasures.

"Hmph, you look down on online literature, thinking it's just a bunch of people copying Western fantasy. Recently, a unique book has appeared online, written by a local author, a historical novel. It's very popular. I read the latest one million words last night, and it's really good." Jiang Yuehan, dissatisfied with her father's disdain for online literature, huffed and began to explain.

"Oh, online literature is just a bunch of kids writing fast-food literature. When did it start having historical content? Our Chinese history is vast and profound, not something a bunch of kids with no cultural background can write about," Jiang Dajiao was skeptical.

"Why would I lie to you? Wait, I'll show you." Jiang Yuehan, thinking quickly, ran upstairs to get her laptop.

"You, when will you stop being so impulsive? You could have waited until after breakfast," Jiang Dajiao called out.

"Ah, it's all genetic from you. I can't wait, I have to act when I think of it," Jiang Yuehan rolled her eyes and quickly came down with her laptop, opened the page, and handed it to Jiang Dajiao.

She said proudly, "Last night, I did some statistics. This book, 'Return to the Ming,' has only been uploaded for a month and a half, but it has carved out a path in the Western fantasy genre. With the author San Pang's strong writing skills and rapid updates, it has attracted a large number of historical readers, leading to a surge of imitations. There are no less than 2000 books on Dianmiao Chinese Literature Network, 80 of which are quite good. In the entire online literature world, there are about 10,000 imitations, making historical fiction a strong contender against Western fantasy. This is a hero, a person who carries a great banner."

Jiang Dajiao read two chapters, which were about some bull-headed and horse-faced things, and frowned. "Is it as exaggerated as you say? I found the first two chapters very unrigorous."

"The beginning can be ignored, just keep reading patiently!" Jiang Yuehan pouted.

Jiang Dajiao had no choice but to continue reading patiently.

"Alright, I'm full," Jiang Yuehan, who hadn't eaten much, clapped her hands and was about to go upstairs to get dressed. Although she was unkempt, she couldn't appear like this in public.

"Breakfast is the most important meal, eat more," Jiang Dajiao was dissatisfied with his daughter's small portions.

"Any more and I'll become fat, and then I won't be able to find a husband, and I'll have to rely on you for life," Jiang Yuehan giggled and ran upstairs.

"Fear not, my daughter, Jiang Dajiao, will never lack a husband. The queue to marry you would stretch from the Huangpu River to the sea."

"Old Jiang, you're boasting about your own daughter," Jiang Yuehan pouted.

Jiang Yuehan was also very quick in getting ready. In less than half an hour, she had a light makeup, neatly combed long hair, a well-fitted little dress, and a sparkling diamond necklace. She looked completely different from before.

Jiang Dajiao, looking at his well-dressed daughter, laughed, "Wow, whose daughter is so beautiful?"

"Of course, Dad, we can go now!" Jiang Yuehan, holding her small bag, urged her father.

Jiang Dajiao was still engrossed, "This 'Return to the Ming' is really good. Even someone my age can enjoy it. It makes me feel a bit excited and is also very realistic. You've really recommended a good book this time."

"Hmph, every book I recommend is good, but you just don't appreciate it," Jiang Yuehan pouted, dissatisfied.

"Yes, yes, those girly, cute pet stories, I just can't get into them. I still prefer the old martial arts novels. It's a pity that Jin Daxia has stopped writing, and Gu Daxia passed away early. I haven't read a good novel in a long time. I'll read it again when I get back tonight," Jiang Dajiao said with a sigh. People of his generation mostly liked martial arts novels and valued national sentiment.

"Who looked down on our online literature world? Hmph, I won't let you read it, just because you look down on us." Jiang Yuehan shut down the computer and got into the car with her father.

Jiang Dajiao thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, the business model Yan Hui mentioned last time was quite good. With the internet platform, if there are more high-quality works like 'Return to the Ming,' there is indeed some development potential. It seems this deal was a lucky guess on your part."

Jiang Yuehan, not satisfied, tried to pull her father's beard, "I've been observing and researching for a long time, okay?"

Jiang Dajiao, feeling overwhelmed, quickly changed the subject, "This signing, right? Has 'Return to the Ming' been signed by Yan Hui and his team? This could be considered for more investment and promotion."

"'Return to the Ming' is currently being uploaded on both Huandao Book Alliance and Dianmiao Chinese Literature Network. The public version has already reached one million words, but it hasn't been signed yet. For such a popular book to remain unsigned is quite strange. I wonder what the author is thinking," Jiang Yuehan, when it came to online literature, shifted her focus and said seriously.

"Ah? What is Yan Hui doing? Such a good work should have been signed long ago. He has no sense of urgency. I'll criticize him severely during the meeting. In business, there can be no hesitation," Jiang Dajiao was very dissatisfied. He thought the book had already been signed, but it was still out there. If a competitor got it first, it could be a significant loss.

Jiang Dajiao, when he did something, either didn't do it at all or had to be the best. In the online literature world, if he invested, he had to be the best, no exceptions.

"Yes, Yan Hui should do everything to sign this book. If it's signed by Huandao Book Alliance, it will be troublesome. This is a new generation of a great author, who has created a new genre and could become the top author in online literature. His influence is significant. Signing such a great author isn't just getting one person, but a group of people and his loyal fans," Jiang Yuehan, rarely agreeing with her father, analyzed seriously.