For Zhao Zhongyang, "Those Ming Dynasty Affairs" was an entirely new world.
A narrative style that was bizarre and unpredictable, yet pointed straight to the heart.
"Was this really written by a high school student?" Zhao Zhongyang put down his glasses, still feeling unsatisfied, and was filled with doubt.
But Zhao Zhongyang thought about how he had rudely rejected those people earlier. If he said the book was good now, he would lose face. He cleared his throat, then walked out of the office and handed the manuscript to Nie Yuan.
Nie Yuan looked at Zhao Zhongyang with great anticipation: "Chief Editor, what do you think of this book?"
Zhao Zhongyang tried to maintain his composure, snorted, and said, "Trying to attract attention! Can history be written like this? Young people, they are just young people! Return the manuscript and tell him to study properly."
After saying this, Zhao Zhongyang handed the black notebook back to Nie Yuan and even gave him some advice: "History is serious business; it can't be treated so frivolously! Be more careful in the future."
Under Zhao Zhongyang's authority, Nie Yuan felt helpless but had no choice but to put away the notebook. History is like a young girl that can be dressed up in any way, but now Zhao Zhongyang was making it sound so serious. Nie Yuan felt a bit resentful but didn't dare to say more.
"This old scholar! This old antique!"
"It's really hard to recognize talent!"
"Should we find another chief editor?" After hearing Zhao Zhongyang's rejection, everyone, who really liked the manuscript, started to chime in.
"This isn't proper..." Someone immediately began to object.
Nie Yuan put away the notebook, frowned, and said, "I have my own plans."
...
Rongcheng was gradually entering the height of summer.
This was the most beautiful time of life, and once it passed, no matter what methods were used, it could never be brought back.
Compared to Nanyun next door, the weather in Tianfu was like a melancholic young girl, rarely seeing much sunshine throughout the year. But today, it was a rare sunny day.
The math teacher, dressed in Hanfu, was writing on the blackboard. He then turned around, pushed his glasses up, and time seemed to pass as quickly as the whirring of the electric fan above.
"Hmm, the solution is like this." Li Chencan was explaining a problem to Ye Huanxue. Her head was a bit close to his, and a faint, refreshing fragrance slowly permeated his senses.
After the explanation, Ye Huanxue had a sudden enlightenment.
The perfectly integrated memories from his two lives made Li Chencan well-versed in these problems, and he could solve them effortlessly.
After explaining the problem, Li Chencan also looked at his own book. He was currently reading a book on imperial history, as he needed to understand more about this world.
In his previous life, having made so many films, he had mixed in the cultural circle and had a keen sense of cultural and historical matters.
As a member of this glorious empire and a descendant of the Yan and Huang emperors, Li Chencan had a deep love for the history of this world.
It had been a day since he submitted "Those Ming Dynasty Affairs," and there was no news, which made Li Chencan wonder if he should take the manuscript back and submit it to another publisher. Rongcheng Literature and Art Publishing House was indeed large, but its size also meant it could be indifferent to a high school student like him. Why should they pay him any special attention?
In such thoughts, time slipped away like sand through his fingers. The math class ended, and everyone stood up to bow. The math teacher left the classroom, and the previously somewhat oppressive atmosphere gradually became lively, as if a black-and-white picture had turned into a colorful one.
Recently, the two Lis in the class had once again become the focus of everyone's attention.
Li Dong was repeatedly suppressed by Li Chencan.
Li Chencan, on the other hand, was making a name for himself.
The songs "Deskmate" and "The Brother Above My Bed" had made him famous on campus, and the two songs had quickly spread online.
Moreover, his poem "Waves Washing Away Sand at Beidaihe" had even caught the attention of the principal!
Although it was an era of impending college entrance exams, where everything was quiet, gossip was still a human instinct, and many people continued to gossip about these matters.
At this moment, Li Chencan received a call and walked out of the classroom.
"Hello."
"Hello, may I ask if you are Li Chencan? I am Nie Yuan, an editor at Rongcheng Literature and Art Publishing House. We met yesterday."
Li Chencan remembered the editor who had received him yesterday, and a glimmer of hope arose in his heart: "Hello, Editor Nie. I remember you. Is this about the manuscript?"
"Yes..." Nie Yuan said, "Your manuscript is very well-written and innovative..." He paused slightly, "However, unfortunately, the manuscript doesn't quite fit our publishing house's style, so it has not passed the review."
Hearing this, the hope in Li Chencan's heart was extinguished like a cold splash of water.
However, Nie Yuan had promised to review the manuscript in three days and had notified him the next day, maintaining a polite attitude throughout. It was hard for Li Chencan to feel any ill will towards him. Besides, he had confidence in "Those Ming Dynasty Affairs" and saw no need to make things difficult for Nie Yuan. Therefore, Li Chencan also spoke politely: "Thank you for letting me know. I will come to pick up the manuscript, and I appreciate your review."
Hearing Li Chencan's polite response, Nie Yuan's mood improved—this young man really gave a good impression.
Nie Yuan then said, "Actually, personally, I really like this writing style. History in your hands is written in a humorous and interesting way, yet it contains unchanging elements. So, although this manuscript doesn't quite fit Rongcheng Literature and Art Publishing House, I recommended it to a friend at another publishing house, who is very interested... Yes, he is from Rongcheng Hundred Flowers Publishing House. Are you interested? If you are, my friend hopes to meet you and chat."
Li Chencan didn't expect the situation to take such a turn.
When he submitted "Those Ming Dynasty Affairs," he had researched various publishing houses and knew about Rongcheng Hundred Flowers Publishing House. This publishing house had a good reputation, though not as prestigious as the older ones. However, Rongcheng Hundred Flowers Publishing House was often run by young people, and their approach was different, which could attract some attention.
At that moment, Li Chencan nodded and said, "Sure, please help us arrange a meeting. I will find time to meet him."
"Sure, sure." Nie Yuan was happy to hear Li Chencan's straightforward agreement.
Rongcheng Literature and Art Publishing House indeed couldn't publish this book, but he didn't want such a good book to be buried. So, he recommended it to his friend Shi Chuanfeng, who was the chief editor at Rongcheng Hundred Flowers Publishing House. Shi Chuanfeng had a similar reaction after reading the manuscript and immediately wanted to meet Li Chencan. Unlike Rongcheng Literature and Art Publishing House, they were not so rigid—just as long as the book was good and could sell, that was enough!