[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of":3,"chapter-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-57":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dreaming Back to 1997: I Became the Forefather of Web Novels",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2348291,4589,"Chapter 57: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>When the meeting was being held at Banyan Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the old bridge on the Xinanjiang, Cao Sheng was fishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a man reaches middle age, he often develops the habit of fishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, he had already developed this habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staying home for a long time typing, he would want to go out to bask in the sun and breathe some fresh outdoor air; fishing became a very good choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fishing rod, two sets of fishing lines, a bottle of wine-soaked rice, and a box of earthworms—sitting by the river for the better part of the day, and when returning, he could bring back some catch to make a fresh fish meal, paired with a little wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That taste was definitely a rare enjoyment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current courtyard was bought right by the Xinanjiang; pushing open the courtyard gate and crossing the road brought him to the Xinanjiang. Living in such a place, it was truly hard for him to resist coming to the riverside to cast a line or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It just so happened he didn't have the habit of typing in the morning, so he came to the bottom of this big bridge early today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front was the slowly flowing river water, beside him was an antique stone slab bridge, and behind him was a long row of weeping willows along the embankment, with willow branches four or five meters long swaying slightly in the breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling of fishing under such shade made one reluctant to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fish were biting well today; there was always a fish taking the bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that the fish caught were a bit small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were almost all finger-sized small fish, and only occasionally could he catch one or two small crucian carp the size of a palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cao Sheng was still fishing very happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't mind the fish being small; small fish could be braised later in a small mixed-fish pot, which also tasted very good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temperature in mid-August gradually climbed as the sun rose higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, he gradually cast his hook into the cool shade under the big bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still fish taking the bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the fish were slightly larger than before, and occasionally he could catch a palm-sized crucian carp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't until after 11:00 a.m., when the fishing conditions worsened, that he packed up his things and headed home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for three or five minutes, he arrived at his house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the courtyard and putting down his fishing gear, he began to prepare today's catch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Removing scales and gills, gutting the insides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan-frying, splashing in cooking wine, aged vinegar, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, adding water, water-soaked chili, chicken essence, MSG, and white sugar to season...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then adding a block of tender tofu to stew together, bubbling away for a while, the aroma became very rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are few children who grew up in the countryside who don't know how to cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, he lived alone for a long time; he neither liked going out to eat nor liked eating takeout, so he got into the habit of buying groceries and cooking for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, his cooking skills were decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, at that time, almost any recipe could be found on the internet. For someone like him who already knew how to cook, learning a few home-style dishes by following recipes was very simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the mixed-fish pot was still bubbling away, he stir-fried a portion of baby bok choy and made a large bowl of mushroom and meatball soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rice had also long been cooking in the rice cooker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Past 12:00.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved a small folding dining table under the sweet osmanthus tree in the courtyard and placed the two dishes and one soup he had prepared onto the small table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he brought over a bottle of ice-cold beer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just sitting like this in the shade, eating the fresh and tender small fish and tofu, accompanied by beer, occasionally taking a bite of baby bok choy to cleanse the palate, or drinking a couple of sips of mushroom and meatball soup, his heart was full of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scorching sun hung high in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the sweet osmanthus tree, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the faint coolness of the Xinanjiang, and one could also smell the fresh fragrance of the willow leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight pity was that this sweet osmanthus tree in the courtyard had not yet bloomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it should be soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, sitting under this tree to eat, he would be able to smell the fragrance of the osmanthus, and his appetite might even be a little better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such days were what he had longed for before his rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, he was tired of living in high-rise buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He deeply missed the single-story house he lived in as a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one upstairs, and no neighbors downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, he wouldn't be affected by noise from upstairs, nor would he have to worry about the bathroom downstairs backing up one day, causing him to inexplicably end up in the defendant's seat in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of small courtyard life was something he couldn't achieve before his rebirth, yet after his rebirth, he achieved it so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he thought of the new house being built in his hometown; he wondered if the main structure was finished yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no telephone at home, and it seemed no one in the village had a telephone either. He planned to find time to go back and take a look before the new semester started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the new house in his hometown, other than providing the money, he hadn't put in any physical effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only drew a simple blueprint for his parents right before he left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know what the final result would look like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second-floor study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng sat in front of a brand-new computer, his eyes fixed on the screen, his ten fingers tapping continuously on the keyboard as if casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lines of text appeared in the computer document as his ten fingers danced on the keyboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Touch typing had long been as natural to him as eating and drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typing was the skill he used to make a living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typing had long since become his instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever he wanted to type, he didn't need to look at the keyboard; the moment a character flashed in his mind, without him needing to think, his hands would type it out a step ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he didn't have to write manuscripts by hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the keyboard not being as easy to use as the ones before his rebirth, everything else was nice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh right, there was also the air conditioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cool air from the air conditioner finally allowed him to no longer endure the heat of summer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Cao Sheng's little life was going swimmingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banyan Tree stationmaster Zhu Weilian was personally communicating by phone with the person in charge of Huachengchubanshe, discussing the royalty split for Cao Sheng's new book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of the two parties communicating felt good about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian: \"Manager Xu, is there really no room for negotiation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu: \"Old Zhu! It's not that there's no room for negotiation, it's that it's impossible to negotiate! Logically speaking, since his first book was so popular, we should have raised his royalty rate by one tier for his second book. He didn't agree to the 8% we mentioned before, fine, no problem! We can negotiate; giving him 10% isn't impossible, even if it were a bit higher, giving him 11%, isn't entirely out of the question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you say he wants 14%, how is that possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes! I admit his previous book sold very well, and this current one, 'I Wish to Become an Immortal', currently looks quite popular on your website, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused and continued: \"But, Old Zhu! We are old friends, so I'll tell you a few heart-to-heart words, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian: \"Go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu: \"Hmm, how should I put it? Let's just talk about the genre of his previous book! 'Days Living with a Flight Attendant' is a typical love story; this kind of story is naturally suitable for all crowds, regardless of gender or age, everyone can read it and is interested in reading it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what about this 'I Wish to Become an Immortal' he is writing now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I admit that the beginning of this book is written with novelty, the writing level isn't bad, and it's very attractive; I personally like reading it too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian: \"Then why aren't you willing to give a little?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu: \"Let me finish!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian: \"Fine, go ahead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu: \"But this 'I Wish to Become an Immortal' is an immortal hero theme. The two words 'immortal hero' sound very grand, but in the current publishing market, it counts as a brand-new theme, and also a very niche theme. Many people might not be interested in this theme at all. Do you understand what I mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian frowned, \"How is that possible? This book is very popular on our website...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu interrupted him, \"What does that prove? Those who go to your website are people who like reading novels, and there are many of his fans; it's not strange that they like this book. It's like during the New Year, you'll find that all passengers on a train have tickets, but can you therefore conclude—that everyone bought tickets for the Spring Festival travel rush this year? You can't, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Weilian: \"So, you absolutely will not agree to 14%? Is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Xu: \"If he insists on 14%, then I really have no way to agree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the next few days, the editors at Banyan Tree successively used their connections to contact other publishers in the mainland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Cao Sheng's current fame and the quality of 'I Wish to Become an Immortal', several publishers were indeed interested in publishing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the replies from several publishers in succession did not agree to give a 14% royalty split.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until one morning a week later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An editor came to report to Zhu Weilian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, good news! Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House replied to me. They are interested in 'I Wish to Become an Immortal'. I told them the royalty must be at least 14%, and they didn't flatly refuse, but they want to add a few prerequisites. What do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1768,"2026-06-21T01:55:54.452Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","83820a95befb161cf795ce5cb7f47bf90ff6ab40069bd33dcd3fae7beac1e13f","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-58","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-56",338,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-cover.jpg"]