[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Literary Giant in Russia",{"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},2317220,4531,"Chapter 45: Observations in Shengbidebao","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>The day after Mikhail left Panayev’s home, which was also the third day after the release of his new work, two weary figures, after days of long travel, finally arrived on the bustling streets of Shengbidebao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spent days on a carriage, they both looked exhausted, but the thought of soon meeting that person instantly revived them, their dark eyes—similar to Mikhail’s—glowing anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, recalling the two utterly contradictory messages they had recently received, their excitement was tinged with unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duniya, it’s unbelievable—I still can’t believe I haven’t seen my dear Misha for nearly three years. Why has God kept us apart so long?” the elderly woman Plyushchya, trembling with excitement and fear, stammered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, we mustn’t blame God—perhaps this was His plan? To let Misha study alone for three years, so he could achieve what he has now! Heaven knows how overjoyed I was when I read his letter a few days ago! He even sent us thirty rubles—without that money, we might never have made it here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the surge of emotion, the weathered face of the old woman darkened with worry again; she gripped her daughter’s arm and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why does Pyotr Petrovich say Misha does nothing in Shengbidebao, spends his days drinking, insulted him to his face, and even hired actors to deceive him? If that’s true, how could dear Misha have sent us money? Did he borrow from someone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But given Misha’s current state, who would lend him thirty rubles?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, it’s precisely because the rumors were so contradictory that we came to Shengbidebao without telling our brother.” Unlike Plyushchya’s agitation and panic, the young girl, though also excited, wore a thoughtful expression, as if weighing whether her next steps were feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now, just as we planned on the road, let’s first visit the bookstores and cafés in Shengbidebao—look for the latest issue of Zugu Jishi and see if our brother’s name appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once we confirm that, we’ll go to the address he gave us for his apartment and see what kind of life he’s living—then we can decide what to do next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventeen-year-old girl was tall, her face resembling Mikhail’s by six or seven tenths, yet softer and more elegant; her brown hair was slightly lighter than his, and her dark eyes sparkled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she thought deeply, her expression was nearly identical to Mikhail’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, should Mikhail ever be forced into hiding, he could easily disguise himself as a woman to evade the gendarmes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cough, cough—just a joke; Mikhail insists such a thing is impossible…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, after the young girl spoke, Plyushchya’s panic eased considerably; once calm, she stepped forward first and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, Duniya! I so hope to see Misha’s name in a literary journal—I want you to read it to me, I long to hear what Misha has written! But he forgot to send us a copy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Mikhail had not forgotten—he simply received his copy too late. As for the other reason, his mother and sister would soon learn it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Plyushchya and the young girl knew nothing of Shengbidebao, after repeatedly asking passersby for directions, they gradually reached the location of the bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to other regions, Shengbidebao’s bookstores were undoubtedly livelier—but since they were bookstores, they were still destined to be quiet; their usual state was emptiness, and only during special times or days did they suddenly swell with crowds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet to Plyushchya and Duniya, fresh from the provinces, the scene at the bookstore was one of constant comings and goings: people entering and leaving, some lingering inside, but most merely asking the owner a question, then shaking their heads in disappointment and walking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unclear about the details, Plyushchya, dressed plainly, instinctively drew closer to her daughter and murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear Duniya, this is Shengbidebao—no wonder it’s the Emperor’s capital! Look at this scene, these gentlemen—where in our province could you ever see such things? No wonder people say the Emperor’s land is where nobles are kinder, officials more just, and even the gentlemen more refined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When will our home ever be like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That may take many years, Mother—but I believe such a day will come.” After answering her mother, the provincial girl hesitated a moment, then finally stepped forward into the bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her arrival drew many glances, but most people still focused on the shelves, searching desperately for a copy of Zugu Jishi they might have missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Plyushchya and Duniya carried the timidity of newcomers to the big city, they dared not directly ask the owner; instead, they studied the shelves intently, hoping to quickly find the literary journal they had spoken of a dozen times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after searching again and again, the old woman and the girl grew more confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why wasn’t it there? It was nowhere to be found!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that the journal wasn’t as famous as Misha claimed—or worse, didn’t even exist?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman and the girl exchanged a glance; each saw the same terrifying thought in the other’s eyes. To avoid being paralyzed by fear, the girl bit her lip and finally resolved to walk toward the bookstore owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the owner was surrounded by a crowd; Duniya could barely see him. Still, she pulled Plyushchya closer, waiting for the crowd to thin before asking whether Zugu Jishi had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as they drew nearer, the voices around the owner grew clearer. At first they were stunned—until they fully understood, then they froze in place:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has Zugu Jishi arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are there any copies left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked yesterday—why isn’t it here today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why isn’t it here yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bookstore owner, clearly exasperated by the constant questions, raised his voice and shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No more! Not until the day after tomorrow at the earliest! For heaven’s sake, gentlemen—you’re driving me deaf! Go to the cafés—they often keep a few copies on the counter for reading. If you’re lucky, one might reach your hands!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the crowd around him slowly dispersed, the owner rubbed his temples and muttered under his breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My God, another Gogol—everyone curses him, yet everyone rushes to read his work. Why? This man here? I’ve seen multiple journals and several authorities condemn his writing—so why do so many still want to read it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1048,"2026-06-20T14:41:53.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4a3a2036adb3627128862aff3b9df590b584e45609f82a87cc856067d9888d8c","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-46","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-44",105,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-cover.jpg"]