Chapter 98: Tai Baishou once appeared in the world
Series Bookstore,
Shopkeeper Yu couldn't help but look slightly cold after summarizing all the sales of "Babble" yesterday.
The huge sales of "Ballam" in the first two days made him think that this year's storybook list, the book series bookstore will definitely occupy the top spot.
But I never thought that after the other three novels came out, they would have such a great impact on "Ballam".
If it weren't for Taibai's rise to the literary sage list, and the last two sentences of "Two Poems on Lovesickness", it would have spread throughout the streets and alleys.
The sales of "Babble" will only get worse.
Many scribes even said on the literary sage list that "Bayu" is the best annotation for "Two Poems of Lovesickness".
It was clearly meant to accompany poetry, but in the end, the script became an annotation for poetry.
It's simply puzzling.
"If it weren't for "Ballam" taking the lead for two days, "Ballam" would be at the bottom now." Shopkeeper Yu tore the paper in his hand into pieces.
A steward said, "Nowadays, all major bookstores have given up on romance novels and have instead released battle novels like "Demon Slayer"."
"Should we also seize the time and ask the masters of the bookstore to take action? Maybe we can reverse the situation."
Shopkeeper Yu took a deep breath and said, "Master Huang, let's explain the situation clearly to him first. Other things should have been said as soon as possible."
"We can't release "Babble" either. The initial investment was too big and it was tied to Taibai. Now Taibai is in the limelight. If we can't take advantage of it, it would be a waste."
The steward frowned and said, "Taibai's current reputation has been affected by the four masters, and the ranking of "Two Songs of Lovesickness" is not particularly outstanding."
Shopkeeper Yu squinted and said, "When did the fourteenth rank on the Literary Saint List no longer be taken seriously?"
"Taibai's "Two Songs of Lovesickness" is not as good as "Ascending the Ninth Tower", but it still surpasses many masters."
"It's just a pity that the top five are still firmly occupied by super newcomers from the four major academies and the Imperial College. What is more discussed in the Jin literary world is who of these five super newcomers can successfully reach the top."
"Taibai was finally crushed."
While everyone was still discussing, a waiter knocked on the door and came in.
"Shop Manager Yu, there is news from White Deer Academy, saying that I want to talk to you about something."
Shopkeeper Yu stood up and followed the waiter out of the room, leaving all the stewards looking at each other.
After a long time, shopkeeper Yu returned to the room, and the sadness on his face dissipated a lot.
"Shopkeeper, is there anything going on at White Deer Academy?" A steward asked in confusion.
Shopkeeper Yu smiled and said, "As expected of Taibai, he came up with such an idea."
"Go and tell all the bookstores in Cong Bookstore. In two days, Taibai's handwritten rubbings will be presented with the book."
"In addition, there are three authentic Taibai manuscripts, which will also be included in "Babble", which are rare to find!"
"The content of the handwriting is the last two lines of "Two Poems of Lovesickness"."
All the stewards looked at each other and soon thought of the beauty of it. They couldn't help but clasped their hands in admiration.
"This Taibai has really taken his fame to the extreme!"
"The significance of Taibai's handwriting is extraordinary."
"Even just because of the last two lines of "Two Poems of Lovesickness", it is enough to attract a large number of girls."
"Coupled with his amazing talent and brilliance, which reached the top of the list of literary saints just after he was a fledgling, many scribes wanted to see his real work."
"This move is really amazing!"
Shopkeeper Yu showed a satisfied smile on his face and waved his hand, "Go and get ready."
"Taibai's handwritten letter will be delivered tonight."
"It's enough that "Bad Words" is completely reduced to a subsidiary of "Two Lovesickness Poems". The important thing is to sell the book!"
…
These two days,
Lu Wenliang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Taibai's "Shangxie·Gift to a Friend" gave him the illusion of facing Wenzong.
It completely writes about the relationship between men and women to an extreme.
It's just a pity that Taibai missed the best opportunity to be on the list.
Even though Taibai's momentum is strong now, it is extremely difficult to get this poem on the list of literary saints.
After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the competition for rankings surged, and the amount of fame gathered was unimaginable.
However, "Shangxie·Gift to a Friend" is not on the literary sage list. When comparing the two, one can imagine the result.
"Now Taibai's only chance to make a comeback is "Two Poems of Lovesickness". The fame gained from "Two Poems of Lovesickness" will allow more people to see his second poem competing for the charts."
"But after all, he is not Wenzong, and he cannot reach the point where he can respond to everything at once!"
Lu Wenliang saw Li Changan's thoughts at a glance.
"The threat of Taibai must be minimized!"
As soon as this statement came out, several masters immediately added comments.
"Yes, Taibai is arrogant. He doesn't take us seriously and dares to openly provoke him. If he really gets what he wants, wouldn't it mean that he has reduced us to nothing?"
"This momentum must be suppressed!"
"Continue to suppress Taibai on the list of literary saints, causing "Two Poems of Lovesickness" to fall out of the top twenty."
"You look down on the people of the world and think that if you compete for the list after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you can also get on the list of literary saints. Does he think he is Wenzong?"
At this time, someone reminded me,
"Cong Bookstore has put out a notice in the past two days, saying that it will send a handwritten rubbing of the last two lines of Taibai's "Two Poems on Lovesickness" with "Ballam."
"In addition, Taibai's authentic handwriting will also appear."
"Many people among the public are waiting."
Lu Wenliang and other masters couldn't help but sneered when they heard this.
"This is the only trick left in Taibai."
"No matter how outstanding his poetic talent is, he is still just a fledgling boy."
"Calligraphy relies on years of immersion and training, and it cannot be achieved by relying on evil methods."
"Even if I have been practicing calligraphy since I was young, I am still at the level of an apprentice now. I can only say that Fang Zheng has rules."
"How big of a stir can such a handwriting create?"
"I think the Congwen Bookstore has run out of tricks. "Ballam" has been overwhelmed by the other three novels, so it can only use this stupid trick."
No one took it seriously.
Songyue Academy, led by Lu Wenliang and other masters, once again began to criticize and refute Taibai.
Taibai didn't react at all.
The current ranking of "Two Songs of Lovesickness" on the literary sage list is once again in jeopardy.
…
The ninth day of March,
He Wanru was the legitimate daughter of He Changwen, the sixth-ranking Imperial Academy student at that time.
The Hanlin Academy was a place where the nobles and nobles of the imperial court gathered.
If you can have an official position in the Hanlin Academy, if you take a step forward in the future, you will be able to point to the six ministries.
He Changwen's status is not low even in the capital.
He Wanru is quite famous in her own small circle because of He Changwen and her knowledge of books and etiquette.
Early this morning, He Wanru took her personal maid to the bookstore opened by Cong Bookstore in the capital.
"Miss, haven't we already bought several copies of "Babble"? Why do we need to buy it today?" the maid asked in confusion.
He Wanru walked lightly and spoke in a soft voice, "Starting from today, there may be Taibai's handwriting in "Babble"."
"I must get it!"
"Last time, the master wrote those two poems for the young lady. Will the master be unhappy if the young lady does this?" the maid said with worry,
"In the art of calligraphy, I am only one step away from being a master. Many people can't even ask for his calligraphy."
He Wanru said, "When dad excerpts poems, they are just excerpts. He did not write the poems."
"Taibai's handwriting has a completely different meaning."
The two of them came to Cong Bookstore and found that many women in the capital were already queuing up to buy the storybook of "Babble".
"Oh my god, those are the royal daughter and the daughter-in-law of the Minister of Etiquette's family..." The maid saw those noble figures from a distance and couldn't help but exclaimed,
"Are they even going to buy the storybook of "Ballam"?"
He Wanru smiled softly, "Taibai's "Climbing the Ninth Tower" is very powerful, but in my gathering with my sisters, "Two Songs of Lovesickness" is the mainstream."
It was He Wanru's turn, and He Wanru bought ten copies directly.
"Miss... the master will tell you." The maid hurriedly whispered.
"The sisters who were given to me by then will naturally not be wasted, and dad will not find out." He Wanru had already made a plan.
"Let's take apart the painting book when we go back. If we can find Taibai's original handwriting, we'll keep it. If we only have the rubbings, we'll send them out as soon as possible."
He Wanru hurried home with her maid.
But as soon as he arrived at the side entrance of He Mansion, he met He Changwen coming out of the carriage.
"Dad." He Wanru stood at the door reluctantly and saluted.
The maid wanted to hide the script behind her back, but He Changwen had already seen it.
"It's a good thing that Wanru loves reading so much. Let dad see what books there are." He Changwen said with a normal expression.
The maid glanced at He Wanru cautiously.
He Wanru quickly smiled brightly and stepped forward to hold He Changwen's arm, "Dad, you must be very tired. How dare you let dad worry about your daughter?"
"I'll ask the cook to make longan and lotus seed soup for you."
He Changwen had a slight smile on his face, "How can I not know you? Tell me, what storybook did you buy again?"
He Wanru helped He Changwen into the side door, "Our girl's family is watching it, and dad doesn't know either."
He Changwen said, "How about I guess? "Babble"?"
The smile on He Wanru's face suddenly stopped.
"How many copies did you buy?"
"not much……"
"Um?"
"Ten books." He Wanru said dejectedly.
Dad knows everything, making her little cleverness useless.
"Just for Taibai's handwriting?" He Changwen was also very clear about the activities of the Congwen Bureau in the past two days.
"Um."
"Taibai's poetic talent is recognized very much by his father, and he will definitely occupy a place in the literary world of the Jin Dynasty in the future!" He Changwen sighed softly,
"But after all, he is just a fledgling. I heard that in a certain branch of White Deer Academy, he is still just an apprentice, and his handwriting cannot even match that of a craftsman."
He Wanru held He Changwen's arm and shook it, coquettishly saying, "Dad, just take a look, daughter."
"Okay..." He Changwen said with a helpless smile, "Dad, let's watch it together."
He Wanru winked at the maid behind her and said, "Thank you, dad."
He Changwen tapped He Wanru's head,
"We can't do this next time. One volume of the story is worth 200 words, and ten volumes are 200 words. If it were given to an ordinary family, it would be enough food for several days."
"My daughter knows."
He Wanru stuck out her tongue.
The father and daughter came to the front hall, and the maid placed ten volumes of "Babble" on the table.
He Wanru couldn't wait to open the oil paper outside.
It's still the same as the previous "Ballam", but when I turn the page, there is indeed a piece of rice paper sandwiched between it.
It's a rubbing.
But He Wanru's eyes suddenly lit up. Just at the first glance, she was extremely surprised by the words on this rubbing.
He Changwen didn't care. After scanning it with his peripheral vision, he moved faster than He Wanru. He quickly grabbed it and stared at the rice paper in his hand.
"Is this... really Taibai's handwriting rubbing?"
His first reaction was not to believe it.
It’s not that it’s bad, it’s that it’s too good!
Just looking at the writing style, it is completely at the level of a top craftsman.
This is just a rubbing.
"Isn't it a waste to hire someone else to write for you?" This thought flashed through He Changwen's mind and he said to He Wanru,
"Nowadays there are many people who are seeking fame and reputation."
"How could it be? This is too white..."
He Wanru opened the second book of "Babble" and couldn't help but take a breath of cold air and couldn't utter a single word.
He Changwen looked over strangely, and there was no movement as if a immobilization technique had been cast on him.