Chapter 200: First Volume_Chapter 200: Plagiarism Makes a Literary Master

First Volume_Chapter 200: Plagiarism Makes a Literary Master

Having thought this through, Qin Feng quickly washed up, then sat back down at the desk and continued writing furiously.

It was only after lunch that he finally finished transcribing the first volume of the large serial novel "Mingyue Zhuan."

He immediately called for Lin Quqi, handed the manuscript to him, told him to check it over first, and once it was confirmed to be fine, he could recopy it, and then have Lu Ming carve the "printed version."

Ever since Lin Quqi received the remaining manuscript, he had shut himself in his room. It was only when dusk fell that he finally stepped out, looking as if reborn, full of vigor.

Seeing Qin Feng sitting on the stone stool in the courtyard, head lowered and pondering something, he turned to fetch the finished novel proof copy, and looked at Qin Feng with a mix of love and hate: "I've finished the copy, please have a look. Also... Brother Qin, can't you just write out the rest of the plot in one go? It's thrilling to read, sure, but the story cuts off right at the exciting part—it's truly infuriating."

That's right, you should be annoyed!

Otherwise, if the readers are happy, then this plagiarist publisher's boss won't be!

Qin Feng didn't bother explaining. He took the proof copy, glanced through a few pages, gave a thumbs-up directly, and sighed: "Worthy of Brother Lin. That beautiful handwriting of yours—I couldn't produce it even if I practiced for twenty years."

Faced with such high praise from Qin Feng, Lin Quqi laughed heartily: "Brother Qin is being modest. Even if one's calligraphy is superb, what's the use without sufficient literary talent? It's like handing the finest stationery to an illiterate butcher."

As expected of a man of letters, even the way he talks is extraordinary.

Qin Feng immediately called for Qin Xiaofu, telling him to deliver the proof copy to the Training Ground so Lu Ming could carve the movable-type printing plates as soon as possible.

Lin Quqi didn't rush to leave. Seeing a spread of blueprints laid out before Qin Feng, he couldn't help but be curious: "Brother Qin, what are you doing? Don't tell me you've come up with another brilliant idea?"

What brilliant idea? It's all forced by the Princess of Qiyang Commandery!

Didn't I promise glass back at the Imperial Palace? To get rid of the Princess of Qiyang Commandery as soon as possible, I can only squeeze out time to put this trivial matter of glass onto the agenda.

But since I'm going to make glass, I shouldn't do it on a small scale. I can fully rely on this business to earn a bit of pocket money and make up for the massive shortfall in Military Supplies.

Lin Quqi can now be considered a trusted confidant of the Qin Family, so Qin Feng didn't hide anything and said bluntly: "Planning to make some glass."

He said it very casually, even a bit too dismissive.

But to Lin Quqi's ears, it sounded rather earth-shattering. Lin Quqi's mouth fell open, his face full of astonishment: "A few years ago, I had the fortune to see glass at a wealthy household. I heard there are only two channels for it: one is imported from the Western Regions, the other is Imported Goods. Even a glass piece the size of a bean is extremely valuable. I've never heard of anyone in Shedynasty being able to make glass."

"Brother Qin, if you truly can make glass, you will surely leave your name in the History Books!"

Qin Feng had no interest in leaving his name in the History Books; he only cared whether this thing could make money.

Making glass itself isn't difficult. Collecting the various raw materials is actually the easiest part—for instance, quartz sand and Limestone are extremely common materials, while sodium carbonate needs to be refined from natural alkali. But as far as Qin Feng knew, not only around Jingdu, even within Shedynasty's borders, natural alkali lakes were extremely rare.

So potassium carbonate, refined from Wood Ash, could fully substitute for sodium carbonate.

But the trouble was...

Qin Feng's original trade was civil engineering. Although he had dabbled in chemistry, his skills were unrefined.

The complex chemical and physical processes involved, such as how to proportion the intermediate materials, gave Qin Feng quite a headache.

He only knew the craft and the process, not the detailed data. To produce qualified glass, it seemed he would need a great deal of trial and error to accumulate experience.

The moment he thought of this, Qin Feng couldn't help but sigh.

No matter what business you do, in the early stage you have to throw money in heavily, trading money for trial-and-error experience.

So be it! Take it slow. Anyway, I've already stood the Princess of Qiyang Commandery up once; standing her up again, what of it? If you've got the guts, slaughter me!

Just as Qin Feng was fretting over making glass, a burst of noise from the Front Courtyard interrupted his train of thought.

Judging by the voices, it should be the elder sisters.

Could something have happened?

Qin Feng didn't dare delay. He hurriedly brought Lin Quqi to the Front Courtyard, only to find Qin Xiaofu, who should have been delivering the proof copy, cornered by Liu Hongyan and Shen Qingci, with the proof copy also intercepted by the two.

Since returning yesterday, Qin Feng hadn't stepped out of the Back Courtyard, but Qin Xiaofu had been running back and forth delivering messages.

Liu Hongyan truly couldn't contain her curiosity. Fearing that the fearless Qin Feng might cause some trouble, she hurriedly intercepted the proof copy from Qin Xiaofu's hands to inspect it.

Discovering the contents of the proof copy were a novel, Liu Hongyan couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness.

After all, this fellow Qin Feng usually made outrageous remarks without end. If he had committed some taboo in the book, that would be no small matter. She hurriedly began reviewing it. Once she started reading, she was immediately hooked.

In earlier years, Liu Hongyan had flipped through a few novels, but they were all unsatisfying and rather dull.

But the book before her not only had a bold writing style and delicate emotions, the events within were also full of brilliant ideas and dramatic flair, greatly astonishing Liu Hongyan.

Especially the romance between the male and female leads—even though judging from the plot progression it was still early stage, it had already made Liu Hongyan unable to stop.

However...

Liu Hongyan flipped to the last page, felt a wave of disappointment at first, then grew angry: "What's going on? Where's the rest? Just when it scratches the itch, it's gone?!"

Shen Qingci dealt with words all day long, so her reading ability was extremely strong. In just One Incense Stick Time, she had already read most of it. Even with her proud nature, she couldn't help but secretly yearn for the emotions in the book.

Hearing Liu Hongyan say that this book was only half done and not yet finished, Shen Qingci dared not continue reading.

Afraid that her appetite would be whetted, leaving her unsettled.

Just as the two women were questioning Qin Xiaofu about where the rest of the proof copy was, Qin Feng and Lin Quqi came running from the Back Courtyard.

Seeing this, Shen Qingci hurriedly stepped forward and asked Lin Quqi: "Young Master Lin, is this Mingyue Zhuan your work? Where is the rest of the plot? Every famous novel in Jingzhong, Qing Ci has read, yet I've never seen one so captivating."

Those famous novels in Jingzhong, whether in terms of mood or quality, could all be called excellent, worth savoring and imagining carefully.

But in terms of readability, they were far inferior to this "Mingyue Zhuan."

After all, the boldness of its writing style and the daring of its emotions were unheard of. Even a casual glance would draw one deeply in.

Before Lin Quqi could explain, Liu Hongyan also stepped forward, her eyes filled with longing and amazement: "Young Master Lin is truly talented! Your attainments in 'popular literature' are so profound. Although this 'Mingyue Zhuan' may not grace the halls of Da Yao Zhi Tang, it can stir the heart, making one fall deeper and deeper, unable to extricate oneself. It is truly a must-have for any home library! But this book is only half done—could it be that Young Master Lin hasn't had time to write the rest?"

Because the handwriting on the proof copy was exceptionally elegant, the two women were convinced that this "Mingyue Zhuan" was Lin Quqi's work.

Lin Quqi couldn't help but blush. After all, "stealing someone's literary work" was something he could never do. He hurriedly explained in great embarrassment: "This 'Mingyue Zhuan' is absolutely not written by Lin..."

Seeing Lin Quqi deny it outright, Liu Hongyan and Shen Qingci couldn't help but feel puzzled.

The Confucian Scholars of Jingzhong had always been criticized throughout Heaven, and those who truly possessed great talent had all entered officialdom.

If one remained a commoner, composing poetry and matching verses was fine, but once one entered official life, one had to avoid literary pursuits as much as possible, lest one be impeached for neglecting one's duties. This had long been an unwritten rule of the Liang Kingdom Court.

Apart from this Confucian Scholar Lin Quqi, who else could have written such a work?