Changping Village.

When Zhang Ban and Xiaojie came back to his father-in-law's house in Changping Village, the eldest Sun prepared a table of food for him, and Yang Huazhong and the Sun family were naturally invited.

Everyone was sitting around the dinner table, drinking the wine brought by Zhang Ban, and the topic naturally turned to Zhang Ban's story writing.

"Zhang Ban, please tell us in detail about your story writing." Mrs. Sun couldn't help but inquire curiously.

Xiaojie also looked at Zhang Ban with a smile, hoping that he could talk to everyone.

Zhang Ban then put down the chopsticks in his hand, sat upright, and cleared his throat.

"Thank you for your concern, aunt. Actually, the thing is like this..."

Zhang Ban wrote a story in a few words, and then through a relationship with a classmate in Wanghai County whose family was rich and who opened a book store in the county, he copied about ten copies of the stories he wrote and placed them in the book store of his classmate's home.

Whenever a customer wanders into the book store, he or she will find several stacks of story manuscripts on the bookshelf.

Those who are interested will pick it up and look through it a few times. They think it’s pretty good and buy it together.

Some felt it wasn't very interesting, so they put it back.

There is also a type of customer who is very smart and likes to read the stories in it, but is reluctant to spend the three to five pennies, so he just stands in front of the bookshelf and scans ten lines at a time to the end.

At this time, my legs were sore, my eyes were numb, and my neck was stiff.

"Zhang Ban, how many stories have you written during this period?" Sun asked again.

Zhang Ban thought for a moment, "I wrote two stories in half a month, and they are not very long."

"If it's not long, then how long is it? How many characters?" Sun asked.

Zhang Ban did the math and said, "Each story is about 5,000 words, and the two stories combined have 10,000 words."

"Ten thousand characters?" Ms. Sun clicked her tongue, as if she could see the thick stack of paper that Da'an used to write on. It was so densely packed with small characters that it made one's scalp numb just by looking at it.

"How much can tens of thousands of words be sold for?" Yang Huazhong also became interested.

Zhang Ban said: "Uncle, this is not sold based on the number of words. I bound the two stories into a booklet, and each book costs five cents."

"Ah, you wrote so many words and you only sold them for five cents?" Yang Huazhong was surprised.

Usually when there is something in the village that needs to be written, or when there is a couplet to be written during the New Year or festival, Yang Huazhong feels that writing is very laborious, with grinding and other things, and his hands are broken.

Zhang Ban wrote tens of thousands of characters in half a month. Maybe there are some modified and discarded characters among them, so why would he sell them for five cents a copy?

"It's too tiring, and it's not worth it. It's better to rest!" Mrs. Da Sun directly expressed everyone's feelings.

Sun also said: "It's really not easy!"

I had several hens in my backyard, and I could earn five cents from collecting eggs every day. It was really hard to supplement my family income by writing stories and selling them.

Hearing these heart-wrenching words from the elders in the family, Xiaojie said: "Mom, aunt, our family doesn't rely on these stories to make a living. Zhang Ban has his own errands. He uses his rest time to write stories. To put it bluntly, this is his

Interests and hobbies, selling three melons and two dates is just incidental. Customers can appreciate it, so we happily accept the three melons and two dates. Customers can’t spend money to buy it, and we don’t force it. We can write whatever we want.

Write, isn’t it true that people live in this world just to make the most of it?”

Yang Huazhong said: "Xiaojie's words have touched my heart. Yes, we can't just see money when we are doing things, we also have to see something else. Niece-in-law, please write well and don't be discouraged. My uncle is optimistic about you!

"

Zhang Ban nodded gratefully and said: "I am not an ambitious person. I understand my mediocrity. I like reading books and listening to stories. I also like to adapt the stories I hear and turn them into my own stories."

Come out and share it with more people who like to read stories."

"Although the story I spent half a month carefully crafting cannot be sold for much money, at least someone is willing to spend money to buy it. This is an encouragement and a proof to me. I will continue to write it with all my heart.

Go write.”

Many dissatisfactions, many regrets, and many fantasies in real life can be blended into words and vented on paper.

This is a release for myself and a catharsis.

He succeeds by not rushing for success, crafting every story carefully, and writing each story carefully so that people who read his stories can feel what he wants to vent.

Beside, Xiaojie continued: "Auntie, mother, there is one thing you haven't figured out yet."

"Although Zhang Ban only sells a book of stories for five cents, ten of them can be sold for fifty cents. As long as his stories are well written and people like to read them, he will print more booklets and sell them.

If we gather together as a small group, we may not be able to do the college errands one day, and we won’t be desperate and begging on the streets. Zhang Ban, don’t you think so?”

Faced with Xiaojie's trust and support, Zhang Ban's chest felt warm and flowing.

He nodded vigorously and said solemnly: "I will work hard to write more wonderful stories so that you and your children don't have to worry about your livelihood!"

Xiaojie smiled shyly.

The other elders at the table also laughed heartily, and the eldest Sun even took the initiative to put a chicken leg into the bowl for Zhang Ban.

"You write stories every day, which is a waste of your brain. Eat a chicken leg to replenish your brain."

Zhang Ban looked grateful.

But he dragged the chicken legs in the bowl to Xiao Jie's rice, "I eat chicken to nourish my brain. Xiao Jie loves to chew chicken legs, so let her eat."

Da Sun was smiling in her heart, but her face was deliberately pulled down: "She doesn't write stories, so she won't use her brain, so you should just eat it yourself!"

Zhang Ban shook his head, "She takes care of the children and takes care of the housework, which is no easier than me. Besides, I'm a man and I don't pay that much attention to food."

…

After returning from Sun's house, Yang Huazhong said to Sun: "Look at Yongxian, and then look at Zhang Ban. What he is doing, he is telling us that he has a clean record and has nothing to hide."

"Even if he makes little money, we will not look down upon him. People who make a living by relying on their own abilities are great."

Mrs. Sun was also full of emotion, "Zhang Ban is more practical in his work. Although he doesn't talk much, he says what he wants. The previous conflict with Xiao Jie was because the young man couldn't resist the temptation and went off the rails."

"Fortunately, nothing big happened. It was just two letters exchanged. Now that we see Zhang Ban and Xiaojie looking so sweet, we feel relieved."

Yang Huazhong said "hmm" and agreed with Sun's words.

"Next time I go back to the county town, I will also take a look at Shupinzai. If I see Zhang Ban's books for sale, I will buy a few more, do you think so?" Yang Huazhong asked Sun again.

Sun couldn't help but laugh.

"That's good, that's good, but I still advise you not to do that kind of thing. When they find out, even though we have good intentions, I think that kid Zhang Ban is down-to-earth and arrogant, so we can't cheat," said Sun.
Chapter completed!