"By the way, I heard that the Xuanyang Paper Shop in the city started selling manuscripts yesterday. It's hard to find a single copy! Many scribes thought it was a pity after reading it!"
"Why?"
"Because this manuscript is so wonderful, if this manuscript were sent for appreciation, it might win first place. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Rites has a requirement that the manuscripts sent for appreciation must be of a type that has never been seen before, so this manuscript has been lost. Eligibility to participate in the award.”
"Is there such a thing? What's the name of this manuscript? I'll buy a copy and have a look."
"It seems to be called Journey to the West! Each copy costs two taels of silver."
"Money doesn't matter, as long as it's worth it."
........
Jiang Yunyi and Li Chaowei's expressions became uglier as they listened.
Without it,
These five words "Journey to the West: The Legend of Evil" were extremely familiar to them. They thought that when they were in Dongdu, they had defeated Liu Yi's "The Legend of Journey to the West", and in the end, nearly a thousand copies of "The Legend of the Legend of Journey to the West" fell into their hands. inside.
In the end, the loss was a mess.
What makes Jiang Yunyi even more unhappy is that Xuanyang Paper Factory actually sold Li Mo's Journey to the West to Xidu! It goes without saying that Xuanyang Paper Factory had a good relationship with Yunyi Bookstore before, but now...
"Uncle, it seems that Xuanyang Zhifang has already stood with Li Mo."
After coming back to his senses, Li Chaowei narrowed his eyes.
Although he had never met Li Mo when he was in the Eastern Capital, Li Chaowei had regarded Li Mo as his life-long enemy since the news about Journey to the West became popular. This time he heard that Xuanyang Paper Shop was selling books for Li Mo. How can you not be angry?
"It doesn't matter, let's put these mundane things aside for the time being. You can still prepare to send books for appreciation. If you become a scribe this time, you can take care of them both after returning to the Eastern Capital."
Jiang Yunyi narrowed his eyes and said with a fierce expression.
After running a book club for decades, he has never suffered a loss. He will definitely get back what he loses tenfold or a hundredfold.
Those scribes just now made it clear that it is no longer possible to participate in the "Journey to the West" Shie Zhuan, which means that Li Mo has made a lot of money but has lost even more.
How can a scribe be compared with a mere thousand taels of silver?
"Um!"
After having a casual meal, the uncle and nephew left the inn.
It's a pity that they don't know the current situation in Dongdu. If they knew, they would probably want to die. How could they dare to think of dealing with Li Mo again.
.......
Chang'an West Market is bustling and bustling, with people coming in and out of various shops, a scene of prosperity.
However, the shop at the westernmost end was deserted and seemed particularly deserted. In front of the shop door hung the words "Qingfeng Gambling House".
In the gambling house,
Zhu Cang looked at the young man in front of him and couldn't help but asked doubtfully,
"Zhao Hai? My lord sent you here?"
"Well! My lord used a little trick to deceive Xu Shan and asked me to come to Xidu to deliver the book as a reward."
The young man nodded.
That's right, the young man was none other than Zhao Hai who came from Dongdu. Before leaving, Li Mo had told him to find a gambling house named Qingfeng when he arrived in Dongdu. The owner of the gambling house was one of his own.
Only then did the scene unfold before our eyes.
"So that's how it is... Anyway, there are no people from Xushan in Dongdu. The young man can just live in the gambling house and wait for the reward."
After confirming the other party's identity, Zhu Cang pointed to the empty gambling house and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He had been in Dongdu for a long time. When he first came here, he spent 1,800 taels to buy this shop and opened a gambling house according to Xue Song's instructions.
I originally thought that after the gambling shop opened, I wouldn’t say it would make a lot of money, but at least there would be some business.
But who would have thought... no one would come to visit at all.
Many players are not interested in the gameplay inside. They are more willing to go to gambling shops that have been open for a long time, where they are more popular and more interesting to play.
"Mr. Lang is worried about the business of the gambling house?"
After putting down his baggage, Li Hai looked around, touched the square tables and bone dice, and said.
The layout of the gambling house is very good, but the only drawback right now is its popularity.
"Well! I feel a little ashamed of my lord!"
Zhu Cang nodded.
Although he was in the Western Capital, he knew everything that happened in the Eastern Capital. He even knew about Li Taibai's entry into the manor. There was a booming development there and a deserted one here, so there was inevitably a gap.
"Don't worry, Sir, my lord will visit the Western Capital in person after a while, and he should be able to resolve the gambling house matter by then."
Zhao Hai said again.
"What? Will the Lord overpower Xidu?"
Zhu Cang was overjoyed.
Ever since he learned that Xue Song, Wang Changling and others were Li Mo's attendants, he thought that his lord was definitely not as weak as he appeared on the surface and must be a ruthless character hidden in the market.
If he comes to give some advice... maybe the gambling house can really be saved.
"My husband is going to a birthday party in more than a month."
Zhao Hai said again.
After arriving in Xidu, he quietly inquired about the situation in the Li Mansion and knew all kinds of things clearly.
"Birthday banquet?"
"Yes, but the master will most likely go to the banquet first and then come to the gambling house."
"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter, as long as the lord can come. By the way... I wonder if the lord has other arrangements for attending the birthday banquet? Do you need us to prepare anything?"
Zhu Cang asked hurriedly.
"It shouldn't be necessary. We'll just wait for news."
"good!"
.........
Chang'an is prosperous. In addition to the four major cities in the east, west, south and north, the people coming and going are also very lively.
Minister of Rites' Mansion,
Zhou Yuan touched his beard and was listening to the report from a ninth-grade civil servant.
"Oh? You mean...a very good copy has appeared in the market?"
"Yes, sir, this manuscript has been circulated from the Eastern Capital... All the scribes and scholars who have seen it have said that many of them have become addicted to it and cannot extricate themselves. It is said that more than 800 manuscripts have been snapped up."
After the civil servant said this, he hurriedly took out a copy of the manuscript and handed it over.
Recently, news came from the harem that the imperial concubine was bored every day and waited for books to be read, so she heard that a good copy appeared and bought one.
"The Legend of Journey to the West?"
Taking the transcript, Zhou Yuan read out the name.
Although the manuscripts that have already been published are no longer eligible to participate in this award, it does not mean that they cannot be given to the imperial concubine for the award. As long as the empress likes it and can pass the time, it is enough.
Opening the cover, just when Zhou Yuan was about to continue reading, he suddenly frowned.
"Mr. Li Mo, the author?"
Zhou Yuan was very familiar with this name. However, he was still not sure whether the writer was the Li Mo he knew.
"Have you checked the background of this writer?"
After coming back to his senses, Zhou Yuan closed the page and asked hurriedly.
"Lord Qi, we have already checked... The writer is from Dongdu. He is from the Li Chen and Li Mansion and can be considered a descendant of the royal family."
The civil servant said hurriedly.
In order to please the imperial concubine, the Ministry of Rites has hired many scribes, many of whom are dedicated to writing books for the empress. Therefore, whenever good manuscripts appear, the Ministry of Rites will pay attention to the life background of the writers.