Chapter 76: Choosing Another Family

"Qingxu, you really must do something about that hot temper of yours..." the editor sighed as he spoke.

"Wasn’t it you who told me to refuse? What’s done is done; it can’t be changed. He’s just a newcomer—offending him doesn’t really matter. Now hurry and go meet Mr. Peach Blossom! There are quite a few renowned authors joining the discussion this time; how could we keep them waiting?"

"Alright then."

※※※※※※

Without hesitation, Liu Ping walked out of the Azure Cloud Publishing Headquarters, hired a carriage, and, sitting inside, glanced down at the manuscript in his hands. Inwardly, he vowed that one day his "Fengshen Three Kingdoms" would make this Azure Cloud Publishing know that a newcomer was not someone to be slighted.

Before long, he returned to the academy and entered his dormitory. Zhu Yingtai was in the room, sipping tea and reading the classics.

Hearing the door open, she looked up and, seeing it was Liu Ping, couldn’t help but smile: "So, Grand Writer Liu, how goes the publication of your new book?"

Liu Ping strode over, took a cup of tea, and after a sip, sighed, "Don’t even get me started—it’s infuriating. The editor at Azure Cloud Publishing actually had me come back tomorrow to submit my manuscript, just because the author of 'A Branch of Peach Blossom' arrived while I was filling out the submission form."

At this, Zhu Yingtai frowned slightly, asking, "And what did the chief editor say?"

"I argued my case, of course. But from now on, I’ll never go to Azure Cloud Publishing again."

"Oh?" Zhu Yingtai asked, "Does that mean you’re giving up novel-writing?"

Liu Ping was startled, replying incredulously, "Of course not."

She continued, "Then do you realize that Azure Cloud Publishing is the leading press in Yangzhou, distributing books nationwide and renowned far and wide? Several publishing houses in this province have already gone bankrupt because Azure Cloud has a monopoly. In our district, it seems there’s only one left—Traveling Books Publishing House?"

Liu Ping was surprised, "What? There’s only one left?"

"Exactly. So when you said you’d never go to Azure Cloud again, I thought you meant you were done with writing novels."

"Then I’ll just go to Traveling Books Publishing, won’t I?"

"But that house has very limited reach. Their novels have always been of slightly lower quality and they’re on the brink of bankruptcy. Even if your novel is good, as a newcomer they probably wouldn’t dare publish it."

"Don’t worry, as long as they read my novel, they’ll take a chance!" Liu Ping declared with confidence, though a trace of anxiety lingered in his heart. If the editor there lacked discernment, his path to making money through writing might be cut off for now.

He gave a little shake of his head and continued, "But, Zhezhi, you’re really quite knowledgeable."

Zhu Yingtai smiled, "When I was home, my parents wouldn’t let me go out. Other than reading, all I could do for leisure was peruse novels about current affairs. Over time, I just picked up a lot."

"Do you know where the Traveling Books Publishing House is?"

She nodded, "Of course. It’s on Shifang Street, in the Lu Garden, east of the city."

After giving the address, she sighed, "Fengchang, you really never learn until you hit a dead end. And don’t let the teachers know about this. If they find out, you’ll be in real trouble—they definitely won’t support your novel-writing."

Liu Ping nodded, "Of course I know that."

Seeing Liu Ping’s determined look, Zhu Yingtai realized that persuasion was pointless. Better to let him stumble and learn from the pain; then he might listen to advice. Poetry simply required talent, but writing novels was never so easy. Literature, like mountains, isn’t interesting if it’s all flat—there must be twists and turns, highs and lows, all sorts of clever design. It required insight and life experience—so much more. Though she believed Liu Ping was talented, she still doubted his ability to write a truly good novel. And even if he did, would a publishing house on the verge of collapse really have the guts to bring it to print?

Liu Ping could easily read her meaning. He shook his head, offering no further argument. Besides, he really was a bit anxious—would his "Fengshen Three Kingdoms" truly sell well? That it would be remembered in history, he had no doubt, but whether it would be a hit right now was far from certain.

That afternoon there were no classes, so after dining in the canteen with Zhu Yingtai, Liu Ping set off alone for Traveling Books Publishing House on Shifang Street in Lu Garden.

On his first visit, he couldn’t help feeling a bit surprised. Compared to Azure Cloud Publishing Headquarters, this place was worlds apart.

The entrance was desolate, not a soul coming or going. The gatekeeper inside was napping against a pillar, making Liu Ping wonder if he’d come to the wrong place.

He checked the signboard—it was indeed Traveling Books Publishing House.

"Not the headquarters, just a branch, but isn’t this a bit too bleak?" Liu Ping muttered under his breath, feeling genuine sympathy. The poor house had been so squeezed by the behemoth Azure Cloud that it was barely surviving.

He harbored no grand ambitions about becoming their savior. Instead, remembering Zhu Yingtai’s words, he felt a twinge of worry—would "Fengshen Three Kingdoms" actually be published?

He shook his head and murmured, "Why dwell on it? If it can’t be published here, so be it. Once I pass the provincial or metropolitan exams, I can submit it to another publisher—there’s always hope."

With that, he stepped inside. The young clerk who had been dozing against the pillar woke groggily just as Liu Ping entered. Seeing someone come in, especially a young scholar in a blue robe, he was momentarily stunned, staring at Liu Ping in surprise.

Liu Ping asked casually, "Excuse me, where do I go to submit a manuscript?"

"Ah?" The young clerk replied, but didn’t answer right away—clearly, he was still half asleep and hadn’t quite processed the question. A moment later, he snapped to and exclaimed, "Ah!"

"Huh?" Liu Ping was baffled.

The clerk blushed, scratched the back of his head, and grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, I was just a little out of it from napping. What brings you here?" Suddenly recalling Liu Ping had just asked, he quickly added, "Oh! You already asked—where to submit a manuscript. Let me show you! I’ll take you there!"

Speechless, Liu Ping followed the clerk deeper inside. Soon, they arrived at the submissions office, but not a single editor was present.

"The editors are all in the editing room. Let me call them over. Please wait here a moment."

"Alright." Liu Ping nodded, stepping into the room—only to find the chairs covered in a layer of dust. "It’s been days since anyone submitted a manuscript… at this rate, they really are about to go under." With a gentle wave of his hand, the dust vanished. He sat down, closed his eyes to rest, and in the quiet, sharp-eared as he was, he could vaguely hear the sounds of drinking and dice games from within.

After a while, the young clerk’s voice rang out: "Gentlemen, someone’s here to submit a manuscript. Who wants to take a look?"

A voice replied, "Wang Erxiao, are you kidding? Who would come here to submit a manuscript? Go on, go on—don’t disturb our drinking!"

"I’m serious! Someone’s really here to submit! Are you coming or not?"

Another editor chimed in, "Ah, a submission at last. Didn’t we have a fair number last year? This year, not a single one. But even if there is, what of it? Is it good enough to publish? And if it is, do we have the means? I fear we’ll be out of business by next year."

"Zheng Xiu, you’ve drunk yourself silly! Don’t talk nonsense—if the chief editor hears, you’ll be in real trouble!"

"Hahaha, I came here with grand ambitions, hoping to make a name for myself—who would have thought it would come to this? And who’s to blame? Am I not allowed to talk about it?"

"Enough, enough. Stop arguing. I’ll go take a look. If you want to keep drinking, go ahead, but no more talk like that—understood?"