Chapter 37

In the early morning, the front of the Wen Academy bookshop was bustling with noise, but Liang Yuan's roar silenced everyone, and all eyes turned to him.

At least six hundred people were there, and at that moment, the place was as quiet as a graveyard, all eyes fixed on Liang Yuan alone.

Liang Yuan was flustered; he was, after all, a young man in his early twenties, his face flushed red. After a while, he repeated in a much lower voice, "Reading 'The Western Chamber' teaches you how to fall in love, and reading 'The Pillow Record' makes you a great scholar!" Then he helplessly pointed to the banners and scrolls on the ox cart.

Many scholars snorted coldly. They had received holy education and naturally looked down on Liang Yuan, who was trying to attract attention. However, since the scrolls and banners bore Fang Yun's name, they were somewhat curious.

"Fang Yun has dual jia and is before the sage, so what does 'three poems shining together' mean?"

"I heard the book vendor say it's 'three poems shining together' in 'The Holy Way,' something unprecedented."

"To say this before 'The Holy Way' is even on sale, could there be some trick?"

"Hard to say, let's wait and see."

In terms of advertising effect, Liang Yuan's roar achieved a perfect score. Everyone knew he was selling books, but because 'The Holy Way' was about to be on sale, no one left the queue to buy 'The Western Chamber.'

The Holy Academy's documents soon went on sale, and the four Holy Academy student officials selling the books all knew that Fang Yun had achieved 'three poems shining together' in 'The Holy Way.' At first, they could hold back, but as they continued selling, they couldn't help it anymore.

"You came at the right time today! In today's 'The Holy Way,' our Jing country has four poems, three of which are by Fang Shuangjia from Dayuan Prefecture, and there's even a national poem!"

"After selling 'The Holy Way' for so many years, I almost cried for the first time. Fang Yun has given us Jing country people a breath of fresh air!"

"Once you get 'The Holy Way,' remember to flip directly to page 101. Fang Yun from Dayuan Prefecture has 'three poems shining together,' one of which is a national poem. You don't need to read the other poems!"

The words of the four book-selling officials were like a spark, igniting the hundreds of people present.

One person held up 'The Holy Way' and shouted, "It's really 'three poems shining together'! Fang Yun from Jixian County, the same Fang Shuangjia! There really is a national poem!"

"Amazing! Amazing! It's even commented by a great scholar, which is very rare!"

"Buy quickly, I want to read the national poem! I want to read the great scholar's comments!"

"Don't push, don't push!"

The people buying the books were extremely anxious, and those who had bought the books were overjoyed. Many people started reading as soon as they got the book and left the crowd.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Some people wearing student or scholar robes didn't leave, gathering together to discuss enthusiastically. They then began to "imitate the poem," changing a few words in "Cockcrow at the Thatched Inn, Frost on the Wooden Bridge" to form new poems.

One person changed it to "Birdsong at the Thatched Inn, Leaves floating on the wooden bridge," another to "Crane call at the Thatched Inn, Wild scenery on the wooden bridge," but after everyone changed it for a long time, no one felt it could match the original poem.

Everyone knew they couldn't match Fang Yun, but they still felt satisfied because Fang Yun was from Dayuan Prefecture.

Liang Yuan kept staring at those scholars and students. Seeing that they were about to disperse, he roared, "Fang Yun's new book is on sale! 'The Western Chamber' and 'The Pillow Record' are combined in one book, giving you a preview of 'The Pillow Record' in the May issue of 'The Holy Way'! Come and buy!"

Previously, many people didn't believe the 'three poems shining together,' but with the 101st page of the April issue of 'The Holy Way' in their hands, it was an undeniable fact, and they couldn't help but believe.

The scholars who had bought 'The Holy Way' walked half-believing and half-doubting towards Liang Yuan and the ten ox carts.

"Is it really Fang Shuangjia's work?"

"Of course, look at the preface by the chief clerk of the Wen Academy, Zhou. If we dared to fake it, would we still want to live? You can read ten pages for free. If it's not better than the popular novels, I'll cut off my head and use it as a polo ball!"

"Then let's take a look."

More than ten scholars picked up the 'The Western Chamber' stacked on the cart and started reading silently. Seeing the preface by Zhou and Fang Yun's name, they no longer doubted and continued reading.

"This sentence structure is quite novel, very convenient to read, clear at a glance."

"Good, indeed different."

"I find it a bit awkward."

After a while, someone suddenly slammed the book shut and said, "I'll buy it! I can't read any more, or I'll be reluctant to go home!" He then took out five large coins and threw them to Liang Yuan, taking the book and leaving.

"It's not that great, just more interesting than ordinary strange tales." This person didn't admit it, but still counted out fifty coins and gave them to Liang Yuan.

"This book is truly rare, sweeping away the strange tales of the ten countries. Who else but Fang Yun could have such talent?"

"Actually, I believed it wasn't a scam from the beginning. Sword Brow is now the head of the state Wen Academy, but back then, he killed the Wolf Barbarians with a single 'Wind and Rain Sword Poem,' and a sword of talent actually produced a few blood lines, even the old soldiers dared not approach him. The Empress called him Sword Brow not just because of his sword-like eyebrows, but because his talent was like a sword. I wouldn't dare to misuse his name even if I wanted to die."

"That's true, the killing power of Scholar Li Wenying is well-known, and no one would dare to misuse his name."

The crowd found that 'The Western Chamber' was really good and began to actively defend the book.

These students and scholars became the best advertisements, and many people who were not very determined began to buy the book.

Under the influence of Fang Yun's reputation, more and more people started buying 'The Western Chamber.'

From morning until around eight, the front of the Wen Academy bookshop was still bustling with people. These people originally came to buy 'The Holy Way' and 'The Literary Gazette,' but the ten ox carts kept moving around nearby, and many people, even if they didn't buy the books, remembered Sanwei Bookshop and Fang Yun's new book.

The ten ox carts were in front of the Wen Academy bookshop, while the twenty or so book vendors pushed their carts to various parts of Dayuan Prefecture city, selling along the streets.

'The Western Chamber' and 'The Pillow Record' began to spread in a small area, and within a few days, all the scholars in the city would know that Fang Yun had a new book.

Fang Yun, as usual, went to the Fang family clan school to teach. Near noon, he went with a teacher who also received an invitation, He Yutang, to the Lixia Literary Gathering.

Getting into Fang Yun's carriage, He Yutang looked around and said, "Fang Yun, your carriage is really nice, it must cost more than a hundred taels of silver."

"You are a distinguished scholar, does a carriage like this even catch your eye?" Fang Yun laughed.

"If I were content to go back to the county and be an official, giving up the imperial exams, a hundred taels of silver wouldn't be much. But now I'm trying to make a living in the prefecture city. Although I have other income besides teaching, the expenses are also high. In the ten countries, there are no poor scholars, but there are also not many rich scholars. If I fail to pass the imperial exams in five years and am still over thirty-five, I'll go back to the county and compete for a lecturer position at the Wen Academy. If I still fail after three more years, I'll try to get a small official position. I have some connections at the Fang family clan school and in the prefecture city, which is the advantage of staying in the prefecture city."

"That's true." Fang Yun finally understood the plight of these scholars.

"When I go back to my hometown, you will at least be a county magistrate or even a prefectural governor. Perhaps I'll have to seek a living with you." He Yutang said.

"In seven or eight years, how could I possibly become a prefectural governor? Besides, Brother He is underestimating himself." Fang Yun said.

He Yutang blushed and said, "I have to plan for my future and my descendants. If you had some property, I would really want to join you."

"Ah?" Fang Yun looked at He Yutang in confusion, a scholar joining a student?

He Yutang coughed lightly and said, "I'm not as good at reading as you, but I don't make mistakes in judging people. Even if I do, General wouldn't. It's not just a student or a scholar who would make him visit personally. If you need help in the future, feel free to ask me."

"Since Brother He says so, if I have something to ask for in the future, I hope Brother He will lend a hand." Fang Yun didn't expect someone to align with him so quickly. In Dayuan Prefecture, more than ten thousand students participate in the prefectural exams each year, but only fifty to eighty are admitted as scholars.

"Mr. Fang is too polite." He Yutang secretly sighed in relief.

Fang Yun said, "To be honest, my bookshop really needs people, especially talented people like Brother He."

"A large bookshop is also a significant business. In the ten countries, the literary atmosphere is very strong. Anything related to reading, besides food, clothing, housing, and transportation, can be a big business, passed down from generation to generation." He Yutang said.

"Whether I can afford a scholar like you depends on how well the books sell today." Fang Yun said.

"Since you are in charge of the bookshop, it will definitely sell well."

"In the long run, I am confident, but I don't know how the short-term profits will be." Fang Yun said.

He Yutang frowned slightly, thinking that Fang Yun didn't seem to be a short-sighted person, so why would he say such things? However, he didn't feel offended and instead comforted him, "A bookshop needs to be a steady stream, slowly expanding its reputation. You won't know if it's profitable or not until at least three years have passed."

Fang Yun understood his underlying meaning and didn't want to talk about the bookshop anymore, so he changed the topic, "I haven't attended the Lixia Literary Gathering before. What are the rules?"

"Rules? Not too big, not too small. The weather around Lixia is close to spring, so the Lixia Literary Gathering often uses 'spring' as the theme for poetry. It's usually a poetry gathering, occasionally a ci poetry gathering, but there hasn't been a ci poetry gathering for over ten years. After all, a scholar's talent is limited, and ancient-style poetry is easier to write than ci. The evening Lixia Literary Gathering for juren often has ci poetry gatherings. This literary gathering is actually a platform for the children of noble families to gain fame."

"Is that so?"

"Think about it, who can afford to host such a literary gathering? You need to choose a venue, provide food and drinks, have singing girls and drinking companions, and there must be a prize. A literary gathering costs at least two thousand taels of silver, and even a large family can't afford to do this. The poems and ci are usually written by famous people for a high price, with only a few words changed. Ordinary people can't compete. Ninety percent of the first prizes in literary gatherings are a foregone conclusion unless someone has bad luck and encounters a fierce dragon, like you." He Yutang laughed at the end.

Fang Yun said, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother He. Since this literary gathering costs a lot of money, we should go and enjoy the food and drinks without stealing the limelight, which would be ungentlemanly. I'll just go and take a look, and once the winner is decided, I'll leave. If I leave too early, it would be embarrassing for those who invited me."

He Yutang pondered for a moment and said, "Let me be a bit suspicious, but the seven or eight scholars from Lishan Society who invited you are probably being used as a pen. It must be a high-ranking person from Lishan Society who sent them, otherwise, they wouldn't all come just to invite you."

"What do you mean?" Fang Yun had some suspicions, but since he had just arrived in the prefecture city, he didn't know the inside story and wasn't sure.

He Yutang continued, "To be honest, my bookshop really needs people, especially talented people like Brother He."

"A large bookshop is also a significant business. In the ten countries, the literary atmosphere is very strong. Anything related to reading, besides food, clothing, housing, and transportation, can be a big business, passed down from generation to generation." He Yutang said.

"Whether I can afford a scholar like you depends on how well the books sell today." Fang Yun said.

"Since you are in charge of the bookshop, it will definitely sell well."

"In the long run, I am confident, but I don't know how the short-term profits will be." Fang Yun said.

He Yutang frowned slightly, thinking that Fang Yun didn't seem to be a short-sighted person, so why would he say such things? However, he didn't feel offended and instead comforted him, "A bookshop needs to be a steady stream, slowly expanding its reputation. You won't know if it's profitable or not until at least three years have passed."

Fang Yun understood his underlying meaning and didn't want to talk about the bookshop anymore, so he changed the topic, "I haven't attended the Lixia Literary Gathering before. What are the rules?"

"Rules? Not too big, not too small. The weather around Lixia is close to spring, so the Lixia Literary Gathering often uses 'spring' as the theme for poetry. It's usually a poetry gathering, occasionally a ci poetry gathering, but there hasn't been a ci poetry gathering for over ten years. After all, a scholar's talent is limited, and ancient-style poetry is easier to write than ci. The evening Lixia Literary Gathering for juren often has ci poetry gatherings. This literary gathering is actually a platform for the children of noble families to gain fame."

"Is that so?"

"Think about it, who can afford to host such a literary gathering? You need to choose a venue, provide food and drinks, have singing girls and drinking companions, and there must be a prize. A literary gathering costs at least two thousand taels of silver, and even a large family can't afford to do this. The poems and ci are usually written by famous people for a high price, with only a few words changed. Ordinary people can't compete. Ninety percent of the first prizes in literary gatherings are a foregone conclusion unless someone has bad luck and encounters a fierce dragon, like you." He Yutang laughed at the end.

Fang Yun said, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother He. Since this literary gathering costs a lot of money, we should go and enjoy the food and drinks without stealing the limelight, which would be ungentlemanly. I'll just go and take a look, and once the winner is decided, I'll leave. If I leave too early, it would be embarrassing for those who invited me."

He Yutang pondered for a moment and said, "Let me be a bit suspicious, but the seven or eight