Lishan Society, Elite Society

"Brother Gao, Brother Lin." Fang Yun smiled as he greeted the two men.

"Brother Fang!" The two men walked over with several other academy students, each wearing a friendly smile as they carefully sized Fang Yun up.

Hearing Gao Minghong address him that way, Fang Yun knew Gao was trying to show others that they were close. In truth, they had only met once, but Fang Yun would not expose him. After all, there was no harm in such a thing.

"This is Fang Yun, Fang Double-A, known throughout the land. There is no need for me to introduce him further. Fang Yun, these are all fellow students from the Prefectural Academy. You will be coming to the Prefectural Academy in the future as well, and then we can all study the Sacred Way together. Come, let me introduce them one by one. This is Wang Shoukui from Ting County. He was once a Case First himself."

Wang Shoukui waved his hands repeatedly. "Now that Fang Yun is here, who dares call himself a Case First? Minghong, you are smearing my name. Hello, Fang Yun. I liked your Year's End; you are a fine man!"

"You flatter me, Brother Wang." Fang Yun said with a smile.

Gao Minghong then introduced everyone to Fang Yun one by one.

After the introductions, Gao Minghong said, "You may have heard in Ji County that students from Literary Academies everywhere may form their own 'societies.' The few of us are representatives of the Lishan Society in the Prefectural Academy. The Lishan Society is also the largest among the Cold Gate societies, with a history of over a hundred years. Many senior members have already risen to high positions. The current Vice Minister of Rites and the Prefect of Huangping Prefecture were both once members of the Lishan Society."

"I have long admired the great name of the Lishan Society." Fang Yun had heard of the Lishan Society long ago. He knew that these societies were like the famed Restoration Society and Donglin Party of the Ming Dynasty: literary societies, groups where scholars studied and discussed politics. Later, they gradually developed strong political aims and could be called the seedlings of political parties.

There were countless literary societies throughout the Ten Kingdoms, broadly divided into Cold Gate and gentry clans. The two opposed each other within, yet cooperated against outsiders.

Prominent clans, powerful clans, Saint-Enfeoffed lineages, and families such as Confucius Mansion were collectively called gentry clans. Great clans could be counted as either gentry clans or Cold Gate, while ordinary wealthy households and common families all belonged to the Cold Gate.

The Lishan Society was not only the largest Cold Gate literary society in the Prefectural Academy; there was also a Lishan Society in the Provincial Academy, and that was the true Lishan Society. The Lishan Societies outside the Provincial Academy were actually branch societies.

Yet the Cold Gate's strength was limited in the end. Jiangzhou's largest literary society was the "Elite Society," which gathered all students from Jiangzhou's prominent clans and more than half the students from its great clans. In wealth, influence, and Literary Rank, it surpassed the Lishan Society. Many outstanding Cold Gate youths received invitations from the Elite Society.

Gao Minghong said, "We earnestly hope you will join the Lishan Society. But do not worry—we will not force you, nor will we set a deadline. Whether and when you join the Lishan Society will be entirely your decision. As for the Elite Society, some people wish to invite you, but Liu Zicheng has opposed it with all his might, so the Elite Society will not invite you. The other literary societies all know they are not qualified to invite you."

"Thank you to the Lishan Society for thinking highly of me. I will certainly consider it carefully. Though the Elite Society is good, I am ultimately a Cold Gate youth." Fang Yun said.

Wang Shoukui lowered his voice. "Just do not tell General Fang Shouye that we tried to win you over. You are his nephew, so you can be considered half gentry yourself. He should hope that you join the Elite Society."

"My uncle is my uncle. I am myself." Fang Yun said with a smile.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Fang Shouye's fierce reputation was too great. He had burned down the Liu Household's pawnshop whenever he pleased; they did not dare provoke him.

Gao Minghong handed over a red invitation. "Every year on the first day of the fourth month, the day Start of Summer arrives, Dayuan Prefecture holds two Start-of-Summer Literary Gatherings, one at noon and one at night. Only Academy Students may attend the noon gathering, though occasionally a few Licentiates of great literary fame participate as well. Only Provincial Graduates or those of higher Literary Rank may attend the evening gathering, though a few Academy Students also receive invitations. However, one must at least be recommended by a Metropolitan Graduate or an official of Seventh Rank or above to participate."

Fang Yun accepted the invitation. "Thank you, Brother Gao, and thank you to the Lishan Society for the invitation. I will certainly attend the noon Start-of-Summer Literary Gathering two days from now."

Fang Yun looked eager to go on the surface, but inwardly, he truly did not want to go. There were simply too many Literary Assemblies on the Saint Origin Continent.

There were Literary Assemblies for the seasons, Literary Assemblies for festivals, Literary Assemblies whenever it rained or snowed, Literary Assemblies after the Imperial Examination, Literary Assemblies when merchants promoted goods, Literary Assemblies when scholars published books, Literary Assemblies when famous men had nothing better to do, Literary Assemblies on Half-Sages' death anniversaries and birthdays—even many people held Literary Assemblies when celebrating their longevity. Their variety was endless.

Few people knew Fang Yun's address now, so he had peace and quiet. Otherwise, with his fame, the invitations he received these past few days could have been sold as scrap paper by the pound.

"Good. You still have to teach here, so we will not disturb you further. After the Start-of-Summer Literary Gathering, we can drink freely together and discuss poetry and prose. Of course, when we meet you, drinking will be enough. We would not dare discuss anything in front of you."

Everyone showed friendly smiles and did not object. They were all thoroughly convinced by Fang Yun's Literary Qi.

"I am only a Licentiate, and younger than all of you. Do not smear my name." Fang Yun joked at last, imitating Wang Shoukui's tone.

Everyone laughed again. They all felt that this Fang Yun was neither arrogant nor conceited, and would surely become a great figure in the future. Since their positions did not oppose one another and their interests did not conflict, naturally they should put more effort into befriending him.

Fang Yun saw the academy students out. Once they had passed through the gates of the clan school, Gao Minghong gave a light cough and said, "The seniors of the Lishan main society in the Provincial Academy asked me to pass along a message. Liu Zicheng and his followers have been slandering you wildly within the Elite Society, smearing your character. Several seniors from the Lishan main society even spoke in your defense. Unfortunately, the Liu Household is too powerful, and your reputation in the Provincial Academy is in a terrible state. Aside from the Fang Household speaking a few words for you, most people have remained silent. We suspect Liu Zicheng wants to ruin your literary reputation. You must be careful."

Fang Yun had long known from Registrar Zhou that Liu Zicheng and Liu Zizhi were making petty moves in the shadows, so he said, "Thank you, Brother Gao. I will be careful."

After seeing off the academy students, Fang Yun returned to the teaching room and continued silently reading the classics. At noon, he went to Three-Flavors Bookstore.

Liang Yuan had already retrieved five thousand copies of The Western Wing, along with flyers and bookmarks, from the printing workshop's warehouse and placed them in the bookstore's storeroom. Some had been taken out and arranged on the shelves, but there had been no promotion yet, and not a single copy had sold.

Fang Yun ate with everyone at Three-Flavors Bookstore before returning home.

Two peaceful days passed in a row. Soon, the first day of the fourth month arrived, the day when Sacred Journal and Literary Gazette were released.

Before dawn had fully broken, dozens of people were already standing outside the Literary Academy bookstore on the eastern side of the Literary Academy, pushing handcarts. Some had been sent by bookstores, while others were book peddlers preparing to buy Sacred Way and Literary Gazette to resell.

Dayuan Prefecture was so vast that there would always be people living nearby who did not wish to walk far. They could sell Sacred Way for five extra cash and Literary Gazette for one extra cash. Combined with selling some other books, they could earn quite a bit each month.

Compared with previous days, those purchasing books for bookstores had not changed, but eighty percent of the book peddlers looked different.

More than twenty book peddlers wore identical white clothing, with four vigorous black characters in Regular Script printed on both the front and back.

Three-Flavors Bookstore.

Beside "Three-Flavors Bookstore" was a line of smaller words: Number Seventeen, Mingli Street. The finest novels in the world are all here! At the end was an artistic trademark shaped like the character "Fang," exceptionally distinctive and unforgettable.

Besides their identical clothes, each book peddler had raised a banner on his handcart with bamboo poles. On the left was written, "Before the Sages Double-A Honor, Three-Poem Radiance—Fang Yun's masterpiece The Western Wing, now hot on sale." On the right was written, "Lord Swordbrow, Li Grand Academician, invites you to preview next month's divine work in Sacred Way: The Pillow Chronicle."

Fang Yun's advertisement hung beneath the banners.

The two sides of every handcart bore the eye-catching words "Three-Flavors Bookstore." Half the cart was empty, while the other half held combined editions of The Western Wing and The Pillow Chronicle, with a bookmark tucked into every book.

The other book peddlers and bookstore clerks were utterly shaken. What kind of scheme was this? Advertising at the Literary Academy entrance using the name of Li Grand Academician, the Academy Lord? Either they were courting death or their backing ran deep.

One book peddler hurried over to a peddler who had changed clothes and asked, "Why are you dressed so strangely? And what bookstore is Three-Flavors Bookstore?"

That man said proudly, "Our Three-Flavors Bookstore was opened by Lord Fang Yun, the Before the Sages Double-A Honor and Case First. Behind it stand not only the Fang Household of Dayuan, but also the support of a Grand Academician. We have all signed contracts with Three-Flavors Bookstore. Our base wage is one tael of silver each month, and the more books we sell, the greater our commission. Not only are we guaranteed income come drought or flood, we earn more than before. Other than the three days when Sacred Way and Literary Gazette were released, how much could we earn before? From now on, not only can we sell Sacred Way and Literary Gazette, we can also sell books from Three-Flavors Bookstore."

"There is such a good thing? Can I join? My books sell very well. I can make seven or eight hundred cash each month, and that is without selling every day."

"I have seen you selling books before. If you can find two more book peddlers and gather three letters of recommendation, you can come to Three-Flavors Bookstore. Wait a moment. I will write you a recommendation letter." As he spoke, he took paper, brush, and an ink bottle from his cart and wrote a simple letter of recommendation.

"Thank you, brother." The man handed over a large copper coin inscribed with the words "ten cash."

"You are too polite."

Before long, all the book peddlers not wearing Three-Flavors Bookstore uniforms had left. Even clerks working for other bookstores came over to ask about it.

Just after six, a group of household servants arrived and lined up behind the book peddlers.

Seeing the banners, these servants were greatly surprised. They asked one after another about the contents and prices of The Western Wing and The Pillow Chronicle, and the book peddlers patiently answered.

Fifty cash for a popular novel of over one hundred and fifty pages was not too expensive.

"Is this book really by Fang Double-A? Our young miss likes his poems very much."

"Look at us. We spent so much money on new clothes, and we dare sell books under a banner before the Literary Academy. Could it be false? Number Seventeen, Mingli Street, is Three-Flavors Bookstore. If you do not believe us, you can verify it."

"Oh, that is true. With Li Grand Academician's guarantee, I will buy one. I am sure our young miss will like it." A middle-aged woman said.

"I will take one too. Our young master has always praised Case First Fang as well."

In no time, more than twenty copies had been sold. Every buyer had purchased because of Fang Yun's literary fame and Li Grand Academician's name.

By half past six, the area outside the Literary Academy bookstore was packed with people buying Literary Way and Literary Gazette. More and more people saw the book peddlers' advertisements.

Just as the Literary Academy bookstore was about to begin selling, ten ox carts fresh from the printing workshop rolled slowly past the storefront, linked together in a line.

Each ox cart bore upright banners and horizontal streamers, making them exceptionally conspicuous.

A man stood atop an ox cart and shouted, "Read The Western Wing and learn to speak of love; read The Pillow Chronicle and become a Great Scholar!"

Qidian's reading page often had problems. Some readers had reported it, and I had reported it as well, but it was a server issue and the technicians could not improve it. Sorry.

After finishing the second-to-last chapter and turning the page, it was often not the final chapter. Sometimes there was not even a table of contents, so make good use of the bookshelf. You can directly view the final chapter, or go to this book's homepage and click the latest chapter beneath the description.

Thank you all for your support.