After two articles, both were still front-page headlines? (Please keep following the story.)

"Feng Jiaoyou, keep quiet for now!" Father Feng decisively cut her off, then turned to Cheng Xueming and asked, "Xueming, did you write this article? When did you write it? What made you think of this topic?"

"Or is it that someone encouraged you to write it behind the scenes?"

Father Feng simply couldn't make sense of it. How could his son-in-law, a man from the countryside, have the insight to produce such a piece? And at this time—how could he dare to write something like this? Surely someone was egging him on, someone wanted to use the Feng family’s pen to stir up a particular narrative.

Who could it be?

Father Feng mentally ran through the people and things his son-in-law might have encountered, but none seemed likely.

"Dad! Xueming wrote it, what do you mean someone encouraged him?" Before Cheng Xueming could answer, Feng Jiaoyou seized the chance to deflect blame, "And if anyone encouraged Xueming, it would be Mom!"

"Feng Jiaoyou, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever urge him to write this?" Mother Feng, seeing her husband’s unusually serious tone, pressing her son-in-law about outside influence, immediately sensed there was something problematic about the article in her hands.

But before she could even glance at it, her troublesome daughter had already shifted the blame onto her!

How ridiculous!

Since when had Gu Xueqing, her mother, ever encouraged her debt collector of a husband to write such an article? As if she'd go to him for contributions!

His Chinese essays were notoriously weak—what good piece could he possibly write? Truly unbelievable!

"Xueming, why are you pulling me? It really was Mom who pushed you to write it!" Feng Jiaoyou had picked up on her father's tone, realizing he had opinions about the article and that maybe they'd been too hasty—this manuscript probably should have been revealed later, just at the right moment!

Originally, Cheng Xueming had planned to submit it a couple of months later, when the timing would be perfect. But now, with her father seeing it, the atmosphere was tense and suspicious.

Seeing Feng Jiaoyou gearing up for a confrontation with her mother, Cheng Xueming discreetly tugged at her, urging her to stop arguing and come clean.

But Feng Jiaoyou had other ideas, shaking off Cheng Xueming and pressing on, "Mom’s been dying to know who wrote the front-page article for this issue of Yanjing Literature, hasn’t she?"

"Hasn’t Mom been trying to contact the author of 'The Horse Herder,' Old Xu, for a commission?"

"Isn’t that right, Mom?"

After saying her piece to her father, she turned to her mother.

"Fine, since there was no intention to hide it: Mom, the author you’ve been thinking about for months, Old Xu of 'The Horse Herder,' isn’t my classmate Cha Jianying—it’s your son-in-law, Cheng Xueming."

"The author of 'The Horse Herder' is Cheng Xueming. He wrote it a while back, and I personally accompanied him to submit it to Yanjing Literature."

"The editor-in-chief, Li Qingquan, really appreciated his article—approved it on the spot for the front page!"

"Oh, and Aunt Zhou was there too, so everyone knew Xueming was your son-in-law."

Feng Jiaoyou confessed everything, but seeing her mother looking dumbfounded, as if she couldn’t believe it, she pressed on, "Mom, you don’t believe me? Fine, just wait!"

With that, Feng Jiaoyou got up and went to her room, apparently to fetch something as proof.

"Old Cheng, is what my sister said true? Did you really write 'The Horse Herder'?" Feng Jiamei, wide-eyed, asked in disbelief.

She knew that Yanjing Literature had produced a Xu Lingjun, and today the magazine was circulating wildly in her class and her school!

"Is it your place to speak when the adults are talking? Go inside and do your homework—does my word mean nothing to you?" Mother Feng, face pale with shock, couldn’t believe what her daughter had said. And with Jiamei chiming in, she snapped angrily.

"Hmph, I’ll just listen, not speak, okay?" Jiamei retorted, sulking off to the side.

"...Mom, Dad! Jiaoyou’s tone is a bit harsh, but no one encouraged me to write this article," Cheng Xueming said sheepishly.

"Actually, I wrote it because Jiaoyou said you could earn manuscript fees from writing. While at the Yanda Library, I happened upon a report in Ningxia Daily about the moving story of Yan Jitong and Wang Bailing, a couple from Lingwu Farm in Ningxia. That inspired me to adapt their story into 'The Horse Herder.'"

"I just wrote it casually, hoping if it got accepted, I could treat Liqin and Liwen to some roasted duck to satisfy their cravings!"

But who would have thought, Editor-in-Chief Li Qingquan at Yanjing Literature saw my article and immediately decided it would be the cover story. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d written anything particularly good!"

"Why didn’t you submit to my 'October'?" Mother Feng, Gu Xueqing, looked utterly thunderstruck. When Jiaoyou had repeatedly hidden the truth, she wondered if the debt collector had suddenly had a breakthrough and secretly submitted 'The Horse Herder' to Yanjing Literature.

But she never imagined that the article Li Qingquan had so confidently chosen for the cover—the one Liu Xinwu had been obsessing over—would turn out to be written by her own country-bumpkin son-in-law!

It was even more shocking than the night her daughter had brought her husband’s exam paper for her to grade, seeing the scores for herself.

And wasn’t this guy supposed to be weak in Chinese composition?

Yet now, they’d produced such a bombshell for their mother-in-law?

What’s more, the article was written—why didn’t he submit it to his mother-in-law’s 'October,' but instead sent it to Yanjing Literature?

"Because I was afraid you’d demand strict revisions! I’ve learned my lesson—your son-in-law knows better than to risk submitting to your 'October'!" Feng Jiaoyou burst out of the room, picking up where her mother’s interrogation left off, sounding aggrieved and defensive.

"Look, here’s the Yanjing Literature payment slip—delivered with the complimentary issue yesterday, personally handed to your son-in-law by the Yanjing Literature editor!"

Showing off, Feng Jiaoyou triumphantly slapped the three-hundred-plus payment slip onto the stone table for her mother to see!

"And originally your son-in-law intended to submit it to you, Mom, but I couldn’t stand being subjected to your revision demands again. I figured Yanjing Literature was easier to get published, so I dragged him there instead. It’s not his fault!"

"If you feel embarrassed at 'October' for not getting 'The Horse Herder,' and want to blame someone, blame me! It’s got nothing to do with your son-in-law!"

"And, knowing you wanted to commission the author of 'The Horse Herder,' your son-in-law stayed up late last night to write you a new, even better article!"

"But as he predicted, Mom, you probably won’t dare to use it!"

After her display, Feng Jiaoyou stood righteous and resolute—what’s done is done, let the chips fall where they may!

Alright!

Cheng Xueming realized he’d underestimated her—he’d been worried she’d shift all blame onto him, but she’d taken full responsibility!

He’d prepared to retaliate and shift blame back, but now felt ashamed and vowed to pamper her that night.

"Fine! You’re really something, Feng Jiaoyou! Just to avoid revisions, you’d rather give it to Yanjing Literature than to your mother!"

"Fine! Very well! I, Gu Xueqing, truly raised an excellent daughter!"

Regaining her composure, Mother Feng was at a loss for what to say about her debt collector daughter!

So it really was just to avoid revisions that she gave her husband’s 'The Horse Herder' to Li Qingquan at Yanjing Literature!

That explained everything!

No wonder Li Qingquan suddenly called Liu’s office that day, saying he was so grateful, promising to treat them to a meal!

Turns out he’d gotten her son-in-law’s article—the very one meant for 'October'—and was showing off in return.

He’d told them 'October' would be dazzled by their brilliant new star at Yanjing Literature!

Fine, excellent!

Just as Li Qingquan predicted, if Liu at 'October' learned that 'The Horse Herder' was written by someone within 'October,' by her own country-bumpkin son-in-law, who knows how many jealous teeth he’d lose!

Right now, Gu Xueqing herself was feeling the sting!

'The Horse Herder!' Written by her son-in-law, but submitted to their 'archrival,' Yanjing Literature!

Debt collector, do you know Li Qingquan called today, boasting that this issue of Yanjing Literature was so hot they’d reprint a hundred thousand copies!

Do you know what reprinting a hundred thousand copies means?

It’s enough to drive Liu mad with envy!

"Mom! We won’t dare next time! Xueming and I promise never again! If we have a good article in the future, it’ll go straight to your 'October,' as long as you can match the price!"

Feng Jiaoyou’s apology was sincere, but she always managed to twist the knife at the end!

Why bring up payment rates during an apology?

"That payment’s not right! How come it’s over three hundred?" Mother Feng glanced at the payment slip and saw it was indeed from Yanjing Literature, marked at three hundred and fifteen yuan!

But comparing it to the cover story in Yanjing Literature, she saw 'The Horse Herder' was only eighteen thousand words!

How did the payment add up?

"See, Mom, you’re sharp! Xueming actually submitted two articles at once, and Yanjing Literature accepted both without a single revision!"

"And they paid the top rate—seven yuan per thousand characters. So based on that, your 'October' really couldn’t compete!"

It really wasn’t their fault—Yanjing Literature simply offered too much!

"Both accepted? What was the other one? Was it 'That Stand of Birch Trees'?" Mother Feng was again stunned that her country-bumpkin son-in-law got both articles accepted on his first submission, with not a single revision requested.

As for the seven yuan per thousand characters, she dismissed it—if Yanjing Literature could pay that, why couldn’t 'October'? Did you even ask your mother before submitting?

"That was Jianying’s article—we couldn’t take it! Your son-in-law’s two articles were both excellent, and Yanjing Literature plans to publish them in two consecutive issues, so the other one will come out next month."

"And it’ll be the cover story again!"

Infuriating! Must you always add one last jab?

Another cover story—what are you showing off about? You didn’t even write the article!

"Can you withdraw it?" Mother Feng, dreading another round of Li Qingquan’s boasting next month, thought to intercept and reclaim the article.

"Mom! The payment’s already settled with your son-in-law—how could it be withdrawn?" Feng Jiaoyou rolled her eyes, "Besides, your son-in-law wrote you an even better one!"

"He said if 'October' dares to publish it, you’ll make the first splash—outshine 'Shanghai Literature’s' 'Scar,' and this month’s 'The Horse Herder' in Yanjing Literature!"

Feng Jiaoyou pointed to the manuscript her father had just taken, declaring boldly!

"Xueqing, haven’t you read it yet? Take a look—I’ll talk with Xueming."

Father Feng, unable to suppress his complicated feelings after reading the latter half, wanted to talk to his son-in-law.

"Lao Feng, what’s the matter with this article?" Mother Feng sensed her husband’s unusual behavior after reading it.

Hearing Jiaoyou claim it could outshine 'Scar' in 'Shanghai Literature' and the current 'The Horse Herder,' Mother Feng grew more suspicious and hurried to read it.

It was a bit too soon to reveal it!

Seeing his father-in-law’s cautious and serious expression, Cheng Xueming regretted his timing.

...