Chapter 334: She

"I will emphasize this one more time: you must return to the team before 8:00 PM. If anything happens while you are out, call the hotel immediately."

"Understood!"

"Do not engage in pointless arguments with others, and absolutely no physical altercations or other uncivilized behavior. Remember, you are not just students now; you represent the dignity of the Zhong family."

"Understood!"

In the hotel corridor, Li Ye and the others stood in two neat lines, listening to Team Leader Zhou's tireless instructions.

This time, the Singapore Broadcasting Bureau had invited the Jingda Debate Team for a five-day itinerary. Aside from the debate tournament starting on the third day, they had also enthusiastically arranged some relaxing sightseeing activities.

Team Leader Zhou could not veto these activities because the four Jingda students and many of the accompanying staff were traveling abroad for the first time. If you kept everyone cooped up in the hotel, the pent-up resentment would be enough to blow the roof off.

"The sponsor has sent a bus and provided a tour guide. Once you go out, keep an eye on each other. Don't wander off, and definitely don't get left behind."

Team Leader Zhou looked at the group, who could no longer contain their excitement, and finally waved his hand: "Let's go."

Qin Qin Yongsheng and the others excitedly headed downstairs, while Li Ye, Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng, and another staff member, Wang Wang Xiaokun, lagged behind.

Because they were in a different group; today's itinerary wasn't sightseeing, but attending the "Pan-Asia Youth Literature Exchange."

In the words of Wen Rui'an, filled with chivalrous spirit, it was a "Sword Duel at Shicheng" for the young generation of the popular fiction circle.

Of course, Li Ye felt there was an element of self-aggrandizement in that. After all, there were countless people writing novels; how many could actually make it to Singapore? How could it compare to the Mount Hua Sword Duel described by Master Jin?

The three of them went downstairs and left the hotel. Wang Wang Xiaokun held a notebook, looking at it while saying, "There's a bus stop 100 meters to our left. We take the No. 54 bus for 11 stops, then transfer..."

It had to be said that the debate team's accompanying staff had a very serious work attitude. Yesterday, after Wang Wang Xiaokun was assigned to accompany Li Ye and Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng, he had spent the entire evening figuring out the bus route.

Of course, Li Ye didn't know if the other party had the responsibility of preventing him from slipping away.

However, Li Ye smiled and said, "Brother Wang, let's not take the bus. There are too many rules here in Singapore, and with so many people, it's easy to get into disputes. Plus, I heard the buses here don't announce stops. Let's just take a taxi!"

Taxis are called "dishi" in the Guangdong region and "dishi" (taxi) in Nanyang; it's really just a difference in accent.

Of course, what's the same is that the price is much higher than the bus.

Sure enough, after hearing Li Ye, Wang Wang Xiaokun smiled and said, "I know taking a taxi is better! But our budget is very limited, so Li Ye, let's just bear with it!"

This was only because it was Li Ye; if it were anyone else, Wang Wang Xiaokun might have snapped at them.

In the two days since leaving the capital, everyone had been full of praise for the prosperity on the streets, but the one thing they felt comforted by was that the Fenghua-brand clothes they were wearing were no worse than what the locals wore—in fact, they were even better.

And this was all thanks to Li Ye. He had secured the sponsorship for the debate delegation, so Li Ye was extremely popular within the group.

"Brother Wang, we don't need to use public funds for this. Attending the exchange is because of me, so I should be the one paying out of my own pocket."

"How can I let you pay out of your own pocket? I've already applied for the funds..."

Wang Wang Xiaokun was quite loyal; he patted his trouser pocket, making his thin leather wallet slap loudly.

Li Ye smiled and whispered, "With the money saved, we can buy some souvenirs. I heard electronic products in Singapore aren't expensive."

"..."

Wang Wang Xiaokun looked at Li Ye, squinted his eyes, and smiled shyly.

It was hard enough for everyone to get a spot for an overseas inspection; there had to be some perks, right?

The workers who went to East Africa for aid even came back with a bicycle each!

Yes, a genuine 28-inch bicycle.

In the 70s and 80s, the price of that stuff over there with the "Black Uncles" was less than a third of what it was in the mainland.

The three of them took a taxi all the way to the agreed literature exchange location, the Raffles Hotel. After getting out, both Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng and Wang Wang Xiaokun were a bit shocked.

"Holding a gathering here? Are the literati of Nanyang this rich?"

Li Ye shook his head slightly and said, "Some literati are very rich, and some are quite poor. But since it's not our money anyway, let's not be polite later."

The Raffles Hotel was the earliest luxury hotel in Singapore. Before those five-star hotels were built later on, it even had a "unique" status. Many world-renowned figures had stayed there.

So, one could imagine the cost of staying there.

Even for someone like Li Ye, who was not short of money, it felt somewhat extravagant to choose this location for a literary gathering.

After entering the hotel, the waiter's attitude was excellent. He led the three of them to the door of a large hall and then turned and left.

Well, fortunately, Singaporean waiters didn't have the habit of accepting tips, otherwise, the three of them might have had to shell out dozens of dollars just for walking around inside.

The three of them pushed open the hall door, and the sound of noise rushed toward them.

Inside the huge venue, dozens of people had already arrived. They were divided into several small groups, exchanging greetings enthusiastically.

Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng asked in a low voice, "Li Ye, are these all young writers? Why do some of them not look like it?"

Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng and Wang Wang Xiaokun were both a bit confused because among the dozens of people in front of them, at least half really didn't fit the image of "writers" in their minds.

Although most of them were dressed brightly, many were not "refined and courteous."

On the contrary, crooked ties and unbuttoned shirts were everywhere, and those with white hair and poor complexions were even more common. They didn't look like "young writers" at all; they looked more like middle-aged uncles.

Even worse, some were actually smoking cigarettes. Although the smoking ban in Singapore in '84 hadn't reached the level of being "tragic" like in later generations, it was still quite bold.

Li Ye glanced at him sideways and whispered back, "You're wrong. The ones you think look the least like it are the ones who actually write novels!"

Gao Qiao Gao Qiao Dapeng said, "How do you know? Do you know them all?"

Li Ye shook his head slowly without explaining.

In his past life, he had interacted with many web novel writers, and everyone's usual appearance was this "uninhibited and free."

Because among the group of popular literature authors, many didn't like interacting with people much, often spending the whole day with their minds blank.

Since they didn't interact with people much, would they care about what looked cooler today? What hairstyle was cooler, or what color tie was more attractive to female hormones?

It was the established authors who, as their social circles expanded, would gradually pay attention to their external image.

For example, Wen Rui'an and a few friends gathered together on-site—they had the air of intellectuals.

"Sir, please show your invitation."

Li Ye was just about to go over to greet Wen Rui'an when a very young man in a suit smiled and blocked him.

Li Ye took out the invitation: "I'm here to attend the gathering. These two are my friends. We called and mentioned it yesterday."

The other party looked, and his eyes lit up: "Oh, you are Mr. Li. Welcome, welcome."

Li Ye smiled and said, "Thank you. May I ask if you are also here to attend the exchange gathering?"

"I am not. I am an employee of the Wu Group, responsible for the relevant matters of this gathering."

The man in the suit extended his hand to Li Ye: "My surname is Wan, Wan Wan Wentao. Please give me your guidance in the future, Mr. Li."

Li Ye was a bit surprised to shake hands with the other party and asked, "The Wu Group? Is the Wu Group the initiator of this exchange gathering?"

Li Ye's invitation was issued by a literature association in Singapore; Li Ye really didn't know it had anything to do with the Wu Group.

Wan Wan Wentao said, "Yes, the Shicheng Youth Literature Association has a very good relationship with the Wu Group, so we are the sponsors this time."

Li Ye nodded silently, feeling suspicious in his heart. Was his ability to get an invitation this time and interact with people of Wen Rui'an's level due to his own strength, or because of the Wu Group?

Wu Wu Jinyuan was not close to Li Ye, but she always made Li Ye feel strange.

However, Li Ye's suspicion was quickly dispelled because Wen Rui'an and the others gave Li Ye confidence.

"Come, come, come, little brother, let me introduce you."

Wen Rui'an pulled a young man over and introduced him to Li Ye: "This is Brother Ding Qing, a disciple of Master Gu. Master Gu asked him to bring you a message—'When we meet, we should drink three hundred cups.'"

Li Ye looked at this young man, who had ghostwritten for Master Gu three times, with some suspicion and couldn't help asking, "Did Master Gu really say that?"

Ding Qing smiled and said, "That's what he said. He is currently quitting alcohol; otherwise, he would have wanted to come over himself."

Li Ye understood. Master Gu saying this might not necessarily be because of him, Li Ye; it was highly likely that he was just craving alcohol.

If following the established timeline, Master Gu still had more than a year left. At this time, his health was already very poor, but he couldn't let go of his lifelong love—alcohol, the culprit that had harmed his body.

But regardless, with Master Gu's current status, being able to say "The two of us should have a drink" meant that whether bragging to authors who write novels or readers who read them, it would absolutely have the effect of "leveling everything."

And the other young authors were not all nobodies; they all had one or two representative works that had once stirred up their own waves during the glorious era of martial arts.

And almost everyone had read Li Ye's *Shuofeng Shuofeng Feiyang* and *Wangxiang Wangxiang Gujun*, and all gave them full affirmation.

The reason for this was that the creative source for these people all came from the main lineage of the Zhong family in the north.

The characters they used were Chinese, the world of martial arts in their works was the land of Shenzhou, and the chivalrous rules followed in the books could not be separated from the moral etiquette of the Zhong family.

Otherwise, you couldn't write a story about a chivalrous hero acting chivalrously in the jungles of Nanyang, right?

Only those cities like Lin'an, Jin Ling, and Chang'an, which possessed heavy history, could carry the martial arts dream in their hearts.

It could be said that these people were the group that most supported the Zhong orthodoxy.

"Mr. Wen, do you know if the Wu Group has any other agenda for inviting everyone here this time?"

After chatting with everyone for a long time, Li Ye asked his question very casually.

Wen Rui'an said, "I have heard some rumors. The Wu Cultural Communication Company wants to gather everyone's strength to develop toward the mainland together."

Li Ye said calmly, "What kind of gathering method?"

Wen Rui'an said, "I don't know that yet, but everyone is very interested in the mainland. After all, that is the root of our ancestors. The film and television industry in Hong Kong has already taken the first step. It's not strange at all that the Wu Group has this idea."

Li Ye understood a bit.

This year's Spring Festival Gala, with Hong Kong and Taiwan singers landing in the mainland, had given Wu Wu Jinyuan inspiration and pressure.

People in Hong Kong had already rushed in to eat meat, and you were still dawdling behind, not even able to drink the soup.

If they could win over a group of young writers, collect copyrights, and clarify the creative direction, it might not be impossible to walk a path of "capital is king," like the web novel industry of later generations, with a one-stop shop for reading and film/television adaptation.

And at this time, the martial arts trend in the mainland was blowing very strongly; it was much easier than the web novel industry of later generations.

Well, that woman Wu Wu Jinyuan had big plans! ===== CHAPTER 335 =====