Commercial Fiction in the Novel World

Two hours later, at Gorilla's home.

"Chaucer, do you have Li Congxin's contact information? If you do, give it to me immediately!"

Gorilla was sitting on the sofa in a Ge You Slouch, thoroughly enjoying a televised basketball game. At those words, he froze, then a smug smile spread across his face. "Dad, you've finished reading that guy's manuscript and now you're planning to chew him out for wasting your precious time?"

"No!" The middle-aged man shook his head. "I want to discuss publishing it with him."

Gorilla froze again. Going by his father's initial impression, even if Li Congxin's book was passable, Old Cook should have seen only its flaws. Yet now, seeing his father looking so serious, could it be... "That guy's book is really good?"

Old Cook shook his head again. Under his son's puzzled gaze, he explained, "A truly good book can be read over and over without getting boring, and each reading can give you a different understanding. But this Doupo Cangqiong doesn't accomplish that. I've only read it twice myself, and that's because of my professional standards. Otherwise, I absolutely wouldn't have read it a second time."

"Then why..."

Faced with Gorilla's confusion, Old Cook waved a hand to stop him from continuing. "Although I don't want to read his book from the beginning a second time, I desperately want to see what happens next!"

"Do you know something?" By this point, Old Cook's face was full of barely contained excitement. "I've worked as an editor at a publishing house for years and have read countless manuscripts, but I've never felt such intense anticipation before. This is the first time. The first time!"

"Oh, do you know what I saw in this book? An enormous business opportunity!"

"I can say with certainty that if Clark continues writing Doupo Cangqiong at this pace, although it will never have anything to do with literary awards, its sales will absolutely be a hundred times, or even a thousand times, those of the award-winning works!"

Gorilla was stunned. "Like the difference between an art film and a commercial film?"

"Exactly!" Old Cook said, unable to contain his excitement. "That comparison is spot-on. This Doupo Cangqiong is a commercial film in novel form! This is an opportunity, and I have to seize it firmly! If I'd really done what I told you before and thrown this manuscript in his face, it wouldn't have taken long for me to become the laughingstock of the industry, and my entire future would have been ruined!"

"So, Chaucer." Old Cook looked seriously at Gorilla. "Try to get along with Clark. Based on what you told me, you were the one who started this whole mess, weren't you?"

After hearing Old Cook out, Gorilla could only say helplessly, "I'll do my best. I seem to remember that his contact information is in the school's directory. Wait here. I'll go look for it."

As Gorilla turned and went back to his room to look for the directory, Old Cook suddenly had a flash of inspiration, as if he'd thought of something. He hurriedly opened the contacts on his phone, quickly found a number, and dialed it at once.

"Hi! Are you Eddie, the reporter who specializes in covering Chinatown? I'm Cook. There's something I'd like to ask you about..."

At a Western restaurant not far from Martha's Gym, Li Congxin and Uncle Marcus sat across from each other after ordering their food.

Marcus broke the silence first. "Sorry, Clark. I messed up both things you asked me to do. I didn't expect you and Cook's son to have such a huge conflict at school. But this isn't your fault. Once that guy gets back to me tomorrow, I'll contact some other friends for you."

"Then thank you, Uncle Marcus." Li Congxin gave him a sincere smile.

But the more sincere he looked, the guiltier Marcus felt toward the boy. "As for learning martial arts, I really don't have any connections there. After all, among the friends I know, anyone who's studied martial arts is basically a colleague from the police department. And you don't want to become a cop, so..."

"Gong shrimp, my chin, tee-ding's fairy donkey..."

Li Congxin's phone suddenly rang. He gave Marcus an apologetic smile, then answered the call. "Hello! ... Oh, it's Uncle Cook. Hello!"

Hearing that Cook was calling, Marcus immediately perked up, a trace of anticipation appearing in his eyes.

Then he heard Li Congxin continue, "As for my backlog, I currently have around six hundred thousand words... Three hundred thousand words per volume, one volume each month? No problem! I wrote all this backlog within a month, so I can absolutely keep up with the later schedule. All right, we'll discuss the specific contract in person... I'm free throughout the summer vacation... Tomorrow morning? No problem!"

While on the phone, Li Congxin didn't forget to make a face at Marcus, followed by an "OK" gesture.

Marcus relaxed when he saw this. But then Li Congxin, still on the phone, suddenly froze, and his eyes lit up. "That's great! ... Then I'll thank you in advance, Uncle Cook. All right... We'll discuss it after we meet tomorrow morning, just as you said. Bye-bye!"

After hanging up, Li Congxin said excitedly, "Uncle Marcus, Uncle Cook not only agreed to help me publish Doupo Cangqiong, he also contacted a friend of his who works as a reporter in Chinatown. That friend recommended the best martial arts school in the area to me."

"There are three martial arts schools in Chinatown. Although they each teach different things on the surface, it's actually hard to say which is better. But one of them is home to a highly respected elder in the martial arts world. From time to time, he'll offer a few pointers to students he takes a liking to. That's an advantage the other two schools don't have."

"And the martial arts school Uncle Cook recommended is that very one!"

"All my problems have been solved in one go!" At this point, Li Congxin couldn't help giving a smug chuckle. "Speaking of which, this is also thanks to you, Uncle Marcus. If you hadn't introduced me to Uncle Cook, how could things have gone so smoothly?"

"Cut it out!" Marcus laughed and scolded him. "I know exactly what kind of person Cook is. With his personality of never lifting a finger without profit, if your book had been merely average, the most he would have done out of consideration for us was submit your manuscript for review. Following the standard process would have been the absolute limit."

"But now, not only has he taken the initiative to discuss publication with you, he's even gone out of his way to ask about martial arts schools for you, acting as if he's afraid you'll run off."

"There can only be one reasonable explanation: your book showed him an enormous business opportunity. My influence has little to do with it."

Li Congxin was about to be polite a couple more times and exchange some mutual flattery when he suddenly heard a familiar text-message alert.

He picked up his phone and glanced at it, then smiled. "They've sent me the address. Nalan Martial Arts School. I'll go take a look after we finish eating."

"I'll drive you."