What exactly did you write to your mother-in-law?

“Zhashiduo?”

Earlier today, when they were all enthusiastically discussing “Horse Wrangler,” they mentioned Cha Jianying’s manuscript to Cheng Xueming.

But now, as Cheng Xueming flipped through the manuscript, he discovered that Cha Jianying had used a pen name, “Zhashiduo,” instead of her real name.

“Hehe, your wife is so clever—how could Mom ever catch me on such a loophole?! Xueming, I was teasing you. I knew long ago Jianying used a pen name. They’ll never figure it out!”

Feng Jiayou glanced at the article once more, confirming that Cha Jianying indeed used the pen name “Zhashiduo,” and couldn’t help feeling smug.

“You really are a clever one. If you think it works, then it works. Anyway, I won’t meddle!” Cheng Xueming shook his head, finding her almost too clever.

He wondered, though, whether her classmate Cha Jianying would go along with this charade.

But with such a plan, wouldn’t she inevitably expose that Lao Xu—her husband, her beloved—in front of her classmate?

“By the way, I promised Dening this novella for Yanjing Literature. She’s already read the manuscript, so I can’t go back on my word!”

“I’ll write another one. I’ll try to start tomorrow, and you can show it to Mom!”

His mother-in-law had told him the price would be the same—seven yuan per thousand words at the highest rate—but today he’d already promised Zhang Dening that this novella would go to Yanjing Literature. It was agreed upon, and he couldn’t just renege at the last minute; that wouldn’t be honorable.

“Xueming, do you have inspiration again!? You say there’ll be a manuscript, and suddenly you have one!?”

Feng Jiayou nodded. Since he’d already promised Yanjing Literature, it wouldn’t be right to switch to her mother’s October.

But from his tone, was he really going to write another piece for her mother? Was he truly that amazing? Inspiration coming just as needed, a manuscript ready whenever he said?

“Inspiration is… well, as long as you’re supportive, I’ll have plenty!”

“Wife, since I’m helping you write a manuscript for Mom, shouldn’t we celebrate?”

As the conversation turned to inspiration, Cheng Xueming couldn’t help but point out where his own inspiration came from!

“Celebrate? You rascal! Cheng Xueming, what nonsense fills your head? Day in and day out, all you think about is that!”

Feng Jiayou, startled like a frightened bird, quickly moved away from him, keeping her distance.

“With such an outstanding mind, what else could fill it? It must be pure brilliance!”

“Come on, wife, help me find some inspiration!”

“Arrogant fool, no way…”

…

In the end, he got nowhere. Feng Jiayou was very principled—she insisted there’d be no celebration until the manuscript payment slip arrived. She wouldn’t allow any shortcuts!

Since that was the case, Cheng Xueming promised her he’d write the piece for her mother as soon as possible.

Once he finished, she’d have to uphold her end of the deal and help him celebrate properly.

She conceded a little—fine! Even without the payment slip, as long as the manuscript was ready for her mother, she’d fulfill her promise and let him enjoy a treat.

The arrangement left Cheng Xueming in an energetic mood the next morning as he wrote, bursting with excitement.

In just three hours, he had written over ten thousand words. With a bit more effort in the afternoon, his nearly twenty-thousand-word short story would be finished!

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At lunch, Feng Jiayou invited Huang Beijia and Cha Jianying to join her—was she about to come clean?

Cheng Xueming braced himself, ready to receive their reverent praise.

“‘Horse Wrangler’ is really a hit. Every sales point outside our school has sold out!” Huang Beijia exclaimed as she sat down with her lunch tray.

“It’s not just Yan University; Shuimu next door, and even Yanshi Normal are going crazy. This author, Lao Xu, is truly famous!” Cha Jianying agreed as she joined them.

“And it’s only the first day, the first morning of release! Magazines sent to the rest of the country are still en route. Just wait—soon it’ll be nationwide!” Huang Beijia nodded excitedly.

“We’d better hurry and finish our review to send it in!” Cha Jianying remembered their braised pork incentive and grew anxious.

“We’ve already been a bit slow. I heard some people finished their drafts overnight and have already sent them out!”

“Who?! That’s a bit much, isn’t it?!”

Cheng Xueming listened quietly, having paid little attention to the outside world—he hadn’t realized how wildly this issue of Yanjing Literature was selling.

He looked at Feng Jiayou, expecting her to reveal to them that the author of “Horse Wrangler,” the “Lao Xu” they kept praising, was her husband.

But to his surprise, Feng Jiayou never said a word, leaving him baffled.

He was all ready!

After lunch, once they parted ways, Cheng Xueming pulled Feng Jiayou aside and asked, “Wife, weren’t you going to ask Cha Jianying for a manuscript? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was about to, but suddenly I realized—it would be so cruel to them!” Feng Jiayou shook her head, her expression thoughtful and sympathetic.

“Cruel to them? How so?!”

Cheng Xueming was momentarily confused, but quickly realized she was being vain: Huang Beijia and Cha Jianying’s praise was so flattering, she couldn’t bear to spoil it.

“They’re almost obsessed, itching to write to ‘Lao Xu’ and become pen pals! How could I just tell them that the ‘Lao Xu’ they admire is my husband, Cheng Xueming?”

“How could I tell them you’re the author of ‘Horse Wrangler’? That you’re ‘Lao Xu’?”

“Forget it. Let’s wait until we receive their letters—then we’ll see.”

Just as Cheng Xueming suspected, Feng Jiayou was floating on air; she wanted to hear more of their praise. The more beautiful their words, the better her husband’s writing seemed, and the happier she felt.

It was such a wonderful feeling!

And she truly hoped to receive letters from Cha Jianying and Huang Beijia. If she confessed now, she’d lose it all!

“Is it really that bad?”

“So, I’m almost done with the manuscript—should I give it to Mom?”

“Of course!”

“October just came out; the next issue is still two months away. We’ll talk to Jianying later!”

“And Xueming, you can’t just write for the sake of celebration! Even if you’re Lao Xu, Mom will still ask you to revise if the quality isn’t good enough!”

Feng Jiayou was worried about the quality, given how quickly Cheng Xueming was writing.

“You’ll see for yourself when you read it! My real concern is, even if I give it to Mom, will she dare use it?”

Cheng Xueming laughed.

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“Pfft! Are you underestimating your mother-in-law? Li Qingquan dared to put you on the front page—do you think Mom wouldn’t dare use your work?!”

“So, what did you write for her this time, Xueming?”

…

No. 7 West Chang’an Street, Yanjing, Cultural Bureau Compound, Yanjing Literature Headquarters.

“The response is so fast? We’ve only officially released for one morning, and several university outlets in Yanjing are already sold out?!”

Today was the first day of publication for Yanjing Literature’s latest issue; many copies were still in the mail.

But as Li Qingquan returned from outside, Zhou Yanru informed him that several university sales points in Yanjing had sold out completely!

The printing factory had been calling nonstop all morning, nearly blowing up the editorial office phone, all asking for reprints and restocks.

Li Qingquan was astonished.

He had anticipated this issue might be a hit, that “Horse Wrangler” would be popular, but he never expected such immediate feedback!

Just one morning? At this point, magazines destined for the rest of the country were still en route.

Normally, it would take ten days or half a month for reader responses to ferment!

But now, several university outlets in Yanjing had sold out in just one morning?

Was it really this exaggerated?

“Sold out! The first batch of restocks has already been delivered! But at this rate, Li, I think we need to reprint soon, to prepare for orders from across the country!”

Zhou Yanru’s face was bright with excitement—they were about to become famous!

“Yes, we need to reprint! Zhou, please call the printing factory. Let’s add three… no, add fifty thousand copies!”

Li Qingquan was equally excited, instructing Zhou Yanru to call the printing factory and print fifty thousand more copies.

“Fifty thousand more? Li, isn’t that too much?!”

They did need to reprint, but Li’s request to double the print run seemed excessive. Yanjing Literature’s usual circulation was only fifty thousand per issue; now Li was doubling it—wasn’t he being too bold?

“It’s not too much! Zhou, hurry and make the call!”

Li Qingquan waved her off, certain it wasn’t excessive.

With just the universities in Yanjing so hot, once the rest of the country was covered, he suspected even fifty thousand extra wouldn’t be enough!

“Li, aren’t you already on the phone?”

Zhou Yanru nodded, seeing Li Qingquan pick up the receiver, and couldn’t help asking.

“I’m calling Liu from ‘October,’ asking if he’s read our latest ‘Horse Wrangler’ yet!”

Li Qingquan chuckled.

“Li, aren’t you going too far?”

…

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