The Wildly Popular "Dream of the Red Chamber," Part Three

Yan Liusheng cleared his throat, then spoke loudly into the loudspeaker. "Fellow readers and townsfolk, a few days ago, a local Young Master Zhou from our Stone County came to Liusheng Bookshop."

"Young Master Zhou brought a novel called 'Dream of the Red Chamber.' He said he had only written ten chapters so far and was still working on the rest. He wanted to collaborate with our Liusheng Bookshop to print and distribute his novel, 'Dream of the Red Chamber.'"

"To tell the truth, I wanted to turn him down outright, but I refrained because I saw that Young Master Zhou was a scholar."

"So I took the copy of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' that Young Master Zhou handed me. I had no idea until I looked, and one look gave me a shock. This novel, 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' was truly a work of heavenly brilliance."

"Personally, I believe 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is the best novel in the world today, bar none. Although it isn't finished yet, that is what I believe."

Everyone present was stunned by what Yan Liusheng, the owner of Liusheng Bookshop, had said. "Dream of the Red Chamber" was the best novel in the world today, bar none? Wasn't that a bit much?

At that moment, a scholar asked, "Boss Yan, you say this novel called 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is the best in the world today, bar none. That's far too much of an exaggeration. At least, I don't believe you."

"Exactly. Boss Yan, you make it sound so miraculous that it's hard to believe! Unless you can prove it somehow," the people around him chimed in.

"All right... You want proof, is that it? Choose five scholars to come into my Liusheng Bookshop, and I'll let the five of them read 'Dream of the Red Chamber.'"

"If three of you say 'Dream of the Red Chamber' isn't worth reading after you've read it, I'll kneel before everyone and apologize. Will that do?"

"All right... We'll do as Boss Yan says." Many of those present thought Boss Yan's idea was a good one, so they chose five scholars to enter Liusheng Bookshop with him and read "Dream of the Red Chamber."

One of them was the scholar who had been shouting the loudest just now, the very scholar the other bookshops had sent to Liusheng Bookshop to cause trouble.

After the five scholars entered Liusheng Bookshop, Boss Yan Liusheng handed each of them a printed volume of "Dream of the Red Chamber" containing ten chapters.

At first, the five scholars looked down on "Dream of the Red Chamber" when they received it. But after reading the first chapter, their shock went without saying. All five were utterly awestruck.

They all eagerly turned to the next chapter. Once they started reading, they couldn't tear their eyes away. The more they read, the more delighted they became, the more they liked it, and the more engrossed they grew.

Whenever they came to a wonderful passage, all five involuntarily cried, "Good... good... good..."

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, all five scholars finished reading the ten chapters in the volume of "Dream of the Red Chamber." They all slapped their thighs hard at the same time, then exclaimed in unison, "Good... good... good... Wonderful... wonderful... wonderful..."

One of the scholars said happily, "This novel, 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' is so well written! It truly deserves to be called the best novel in the world today, bar none!"

Hearing him say that, the other four scholars chimed in. "Yes... yes... yes... 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is such a good read, and so wonderfully written. It really shakes the heart! So good... It's truly so good..."

"Boss Yan was right. 'Dream of the Red Chamber' really does deserve to be called the best novel in the world today. It truly has no equal!"

"Hahaha... To have read a great novel in my lifetime, I have no regrets... No regrets at all!" one of the scholars said loudly.

"I heard Boss Yan say that Young Master Zhou, the author of 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' is from our own Stone County. Truly remarkable! Remarkable! I'm sincerely proud that our Stone County has produced such an outstanding literary master," another scholar said.