"Afraid? You should be afraid," Liang Xiao grinned, stroking Yue Lian's silky hair.
In his leisure time, Liang Xiao had enjoyed reading all sorts of books, including *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, naturally.
Luo Qingxue patted her chest, relieved. "My husband's imagination is truly incredible. It was quite terrifying... One book, one pen name. So what pen name will this book use?"
"For *Strange Tales*, the pen name will be..."
As Liang Xiao spoke, he wrote down three characters: Pu Songling!
Yue Lian, who had been by Liang Xiao's side day and night, knew him best. If Liang Xiao claimed to have heard these stories from Wu Cheng'en or Pu Songling, she would be the first to disbelieve. Thus, a pen name was used as a means to acknowledge the source in another way.
Jian Qinwan gazed at Liang Xiao with a mournful expression.
Her swordsmanship was astonishing; she was a formidable warrior, and yet... she was afraid of ghosts too!
The stories others told before hadn't been as chilling as those told by this "flower thief." It was all his fault!
To protect the innocent hearts of the young girls, Liang Xiao's subsequent conclusion to the story was much gentler, and everyone could finally accept it.
"It's a shame a single story is too short. It can't leave any suspense like *Journey to the West*," Liang Xiao said with regret.
"Brother Xiao's way of leaving suspense in *Journey to the West* is wonderful. Mi'er has learned it too!" Zhen Mi clapped her hands in delight.
Liang Xiao curled his lips. "Actually, I learned it from someone else."
"Who?" everyone was taken aback.
Liang Xiao raised his head, gazing at the sky outside the window, a smug look on his face. "There was once a storyteller who called himself 'Ren Shi Ji Chun Qiu.' Every time he told a story, he'd keep me hanging. I broke his legs later, and then he promised to write me a book, so I grudgingly let him go."
The others nodded, a mix of understanding and confusion. "What a terrible fate for that person..."
Yue Lian, her mind quick, seized the opportunity and hugged Liang Xiao's arm, pouting. "Young Master just scared me to tears. As compensation, tell us more about *Journey to the West*!"
"Oh, you clever little imp, I can't resist you!" Liang Xiao affectionately patted Yue Lian's head and continued his tale.
And so, Liang Xiao's pleasant evening concluded.
Zhen Mi and Jian Qinwan shared a room, clinging tightly to each other. Recalling Liang Xiao's tale of "Painted Skin," the two sisters shivered.
Yue Lian, too, dared not sleep alone. She clung to Luo Qingxue, wanting to sleep with her, a desire Luo Qingxue shared.
Only the scoundrel of a certain person slept alone, deeply and soundly.
More than five days had passed since Liang Xiao's bookstore announced the news, and they had not sold any books to the public.
The populace was unsure whether to be disappointed in Liang Xiao or worried about him. People frequently visited his bookstore to inquire.
"He cannot sell books cheaply. Liang Xiao has offended the public, and his bookstore has lost its influence. Even if he is eventually forced to sell books at the same price as us, they won't sell!"
The Ouyang family members finally burst into triumphant laughter.
For less than seventy thousand taels, they had nipped Liang Xiao's bookstore in the bud. They would acquire his books at a low price and have his bookstore work for them – a perfect plan!
"Notify the idle workers that we have enough books and will not be opening for now!" Ouyang Ji declared with swagger.
"What if those workers, without wages, become disgruntled?" a member of the Ouyang family worried.
Ouyang Ping sneered, "They are merely common folk. Will they not seek other work if they don't receive wages? We haven't asked them to work, so why should we pay them?"
Ouyang Ji nodded. "My son speaks the truth! Even with vast wealth, we cannot afford to be wasteful. With money in hand, if they refuse to work, there will be plenty who wish to in the future!"
Because they possessed Liang Xiao's twenty-two thousand volumes of books, the Ouyang family still saw no reason to pay their own bookstore workers. The workers, with no other recourse, resigned to find other employment.
"The Ouyang family bookstore is undergoing significant layoffs? Recruit some of those workers to our side!" Liang Xiao exclaimed in surprise upon receiving the news.
He hadn't expected the Ouyang family to cripple themselves so drastically!
It was evident that the Ouyang family, having hoarded a large quantity of books, had no immediate need for workers.
This, however, had inadvertently worked in their favor, leaving the Ouyang family no time to imitate Liang Xiao's newspapers!
Even if they tried to imitate, the quality of the newspaper content might not match Liang Xiao's!
Luo Qingxue happily inquired, "Then can our newspaper be prepared?"
Liang Xiao nodded. "These daily papers will also serve as a substitute for books, allowing the populace to gradually be exposed to knowledge!"
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Marquis An's Liang Family Bookstore, 'Da Gan Press,' is launching the 'Da Gan Daily'! Only five wen per copy!"
A large number of "newsboys" recruited by Liang Xiao, carrying several satchels filled with rolled-up newspapers, traversed the streets.
These newsboys, motivated by their considerable "commissions," shouted their wares enthusiastically.
"What 'Da Gan Daily'? Never heard of this 'newspaper' thing!"
A curious bystander bought a copy and, upon opening it, became completely engrossed, gasping in amazement repeatedly.
"This story is called *Journey to the West*? Why isn't it finished!"
"Are you foolish? Can't you see the prominent notice: '*Journey to the West* will be serialized in each issue of the 'Da Gan Daily,' with updates until the entire story is completed. Please stay tuned!'"
"Updates every issue? The Da Gan Daily states it will update every two to seven days! Can't it be one issue per day, so I can finish it sooner!"
With *Journey to the West* as its headline content, the Da Gan Daily, once released, became a sensation throughout the city.
Concurrently, Yan Province was also prepared and simultaneously printing and distributing the Da Gan Daily with identical content and publication dates!
Previously, the Four Books and Five Classics, comprising less than a hundred pages in total, cost over a thousand wen per volume. The Da Gan Daily, for five wen, offered two pages, each seven inches long and five inches wide. This was equivalent to the single-page area of three pages from the Four Books and Five Classics, with content that was far more captivating. It could even serve as a primer for children's literacy – the difference was stark!
Numerous booksellers even flocked to Liang Xiao's bookstore, inquiring about bulk purchases to resell at inflated prices in other regions.
These lightweight newspapers were exceptionally easy to transport. Selling them for five wen in the capital and a higher price elsewhere would be incredibly profitable!
Unfortunately, to maintain stable prices and ensure easy access for the public, Liang Xiao's Da Gan Press politely declined the booksellers' requests, fearing they would tarnish the reputation of the Da Gan Daily by inflating prices elsewhere. They also informed the merchants that the Da Gan Daily would be sold in various regions.
The booksellers, with no other option, turned to the Ouyang family, requesting that the Ouyang family bookstore also produce a newspaper.
In the Ouyang family mansion, Ouyang Ping, staring at the Da Gan Daily on the table, tore it to shreds in a fit of rage!
"That brat Liang Xiao, how could he come up with such a wicked scheme!"
At this moment, the Ouyang family members were filled with profound regret: Liang Xiao had cornered the market on all paper and printing materials from the capital's paper mills, leaving the Ouyang family with only a limited stock...
Ouyang Ji's face darkened, his teeth clenched. "How much material do we have left? If it's enough, imitate it immediately and create a newspaper called 'The Noble Family Daily!' Start with a few thousand copies for a trial sale. If the results are good, we'll increase production!"
"We still have enough! Let's mobilize the family's scholars immediately and find ways to imitate the Da Gan Daily's layout!" Ouyang Ping exclaimed with a smile.
"Master, we don't have many workers..." the butler reminded weakly.
Everyone's faces fell.
The retribution for driving away the workers had arrived!
"Recall them urgently!" Ouyang Ji, enraged, abruptly stood up.
The workers had been forced away by him, their family head...
Ouyang Ping sighed, "Father, even if the workers go to Liang Xiao's factory and do menial tasks, they will receive the same wages..."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ji slumped back into his chair.
He vaguely felt a sense of foreboding, realizing he was gradually reaping the consequences of his actions and falling into Liang Xiao's trap!
Ouyang Ping chuckled, changing the subject. "Father, there's no need to worry. I've just calculated in my mind that the cost of a newspaper is far more than five wen; it's even ten wen! So..."