Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Before long, Jin Mucong was even more engrossed than Shen Lang, tirelessly taking dictation. Every day after class, he would dash straight to Shen Lang's room. Could you believe he wrote over twenty thousand characters a day? And with a brush, no less!
Had Shen Lang completely plagiarized the novel *The Plum in the Golden Vase*? Not entirely, but he had copied most of it, only altering parts of the plot and background to fit this world. He also added more of Xu Qianqian's story, to the point where her part was nearly as substantial as Pan Jinlian's.
In the original work, Ximen Qing's daughter, Miss Ximen, was only twelve or thirteen, but in Shen Lang's book, she was nineteen. Coincidentally, Xu Qianqian was also nineteen. Furthermore, in Shen Lang's *Boundless Wind and Moon*, Xu Qianqian was a renowned talent who married the son of a high official. And the high official's son was named Zhang Jingji, another very convenient coincidence.
Building on the original work, Shen Lang greatly enhanced the plot concerning the amorous affairs between men and women. It was written so well that it could stir one's heart and captivate one's soul. Especially in the parts involving Xu Qianqian, he felt compelled to describe every single one of her toes in detail. As Jin Mucong transcribed it, his blood boiled, and his breathing grew heavy.
"Brother-in-law, we're both men, so why are you so talented? You write so well. I can almost see the scenes as I write. How do you do it?"
Shen Lang looked up at the sky, a lump in his throat. Why was Shen Lang so outstanding, so capable of writing such good prose? The reason was... he was a virgin. Only a virgin could, based on fantasy, describe everything so beautifully, fantastically, and erotically.
"A perfect man like me is naturally talented in all aspects. I'm used to it, so it's nothing special, but I suppose it seems strange to an ordinary person like you."
*Snap!*
The brush in Jin Mucong's hand broke. Then, with a deadpan expression, he took out another one. Four days later, Shen Lang and Jin Mucong completed the first volume of *Boundless Wind and Moon*. It was a book of a staggering one hundred and twenty thousand characters. The remaining work was something Jin Mucong couldn't do, so Shen Lang decided to do it himself. It was drawing the illustrations, which were rather explicit.
Shen Lang used Western realistic painting techniques to draw the woman's figure with extreme realism. The curve of her waist, in particular, was enough to make one's heart race, and the woman seemed ready to leap off the page. For a moment, Jin Mucong stared so intensely at the drawing that he looked as if he might burn a hole through the paper, his body trembling.
"Brother-in-law, we're both men, so why are you so good at drawing too?"
"Women flock to a man like me like moths to a flame. I can't even stop them. That's why I know women so well and can draw them so realistically."
In truth, it was all thanks to movies and videos. When it came to the bodies of living women, Shen Lang was just as inexperienced as Jin Mucong.
"Brother-in-law, why do the faces of the women in all the illustrations look so familiar?"
"Do they?"
Jin Mucong suddenly realized.
"I know! The faces of all the unclothed women resemble Xu Qianqian."
"A coincidence. It's all a coincidence."
A few illustrations were quickly completed. Now that the manuscript for the first volume was complete, all that remained was to carve it onto wooden blocks and print it.
Shen Lang said to Jin Mucong.
"We need to print this quickly. Don't worry about the cost; we must have the books printed within half a month."
This was because Xu Qianqian's engagement ceremony was only twenty-five days away. How could he be late with an engagement gift for his ex-wife? Once printed, this book would surely become a sensation in the surrounding commanderies and dozens of cities. Wouldn't Xu Qianqian be shocked to receive such a gift?
Shen Lang was certain that after reading *Boundless Wind and Moon*, many men would look at Xu Qianqian differently.
"Release it within half a month? With enough manpower and money, that shouldn't be a problem. But brother-in-law, what should our pen name be?"
Shen Lang thought for a moment, then said.
"Let's go with 'The Scoffing Scholar of Langling'."
"Ugh... a fine name."
Then, Jin Mucong blushed as if embarrassed.
"Brother-in-law, I can take this manuscript tomorrow for typesetting and printing, right?"
Shen Lang narrowed his eyes and asked.
"What do you want it for?"
"This book is so interesting. I was in such a rush transcribing it that I didn't get to read it properly. Can I borrow it tonight and read it carefully?"
Shen Lang stared for a long time at the fatty's face, who looked like he was about to die of embarrassment.
"Sure, take it and read it. Just don't get it dirty."
Shen Lang pulled the illustrations out of the manuscript. Jin Mucong looked regretful and disappointed but ultimately said nothing.
"I'm taking these out for your own good. I was worried you might do something... unspeakable with these illustrations."
The fatty was so ashamed that he quickly fled.
* * *
Would Shen Lang's book be popular? That went without saying! This book held an irresistible charm for anyone who called themselves a man. It would attract everyone from learned gentlemen to commoners in the marketplace, and even illiterate men.
To be serious, this book was of such high literary quality that it was considered one of the Four Great Classical Novels of ancient China and classified as the greatest work of realism. Moreover, in academic circles, its literary merit was considered second only to *Dream of the Red Chamber*, hailed as an immortal masterpiece worthy of being passed down for a thousand years.
Therefore, this book was a truly unparalleled work that could be appreciated by both the refined and the common. The greater one's literary knowledge, the higher one's status, the more one could appreciate the extraordinary nature of this book.
* * *
Late at night, Shen Lang was looking at the illustrations by lamplight. *They really are drawn very realistically.* Just then, he heard urgent knocking at the door.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, quick, run! Father is coming for you!"
Shen Lang was startled.
*Father-in-law is coming for me?*
He quickly got up and opened the door, only to see a battered and bruised Jin Mucong.
*He's been beaten quite badly.*
"Brother-in-law, I-I was so absorbed in reading the manuscript that I didn't even notice Father coming in. A-after that... Father beat me half to death, flipped through a few pages of the manuscript, and then left in a rage. He took the manuscript with him and said he was going to beat you to death."
"You damn fatty, what were you doing while you were so engrossed in the manuscript? How could you not notice a man as large as Father entering the room?"
Jin Mucong, looking even more mortified, covered his face with his right hand, then, after a moment of surprise, quickly switched to his left.
"I'm leaving. You should run too, brother-in-law. Father might really kill you."
Jin Mucong hurried away.
My goodness! Shen Lang couldn't even begin to imagine how awkward the situation must have been. How was he to deal with his father-in-law, who would soon storm in, radiating killing intent? Shen Lang couldn't fathom the extent of his father-in-law's fury. For such a conservative and stubborn man to discover that his son-in-law and son had collaborated on an erotic book, he would probably want them dead.
Shen Lang racked his brain, trying to figure out how to overcome the impending disaster. However... Shen Lang waited for an hour, but his father-in-law did not appear. Two hours passed, then three, and still, his father-in-law did not storm in.
*Did something I don't know about happen?* Worried, he waited with his eyes open as if to stay up all night, but there was no sign of his father-in-law. Unable to fight off the encroaching drowsiness, Shen Lang fell asleep. Not long after, Shen Lang awoke to find his father-in-law standing before him, holding the manuscript.
For some reason, Shen Lang thought his father-in-law looked a bit tired. Like a model in a modern-day energy drink commercial, he had dark circles under his eyes. In a way, it almost looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Shen Lang, did you write this?"
"Yes."
He wanted to frame Jin Mucong, but his father-in-law would never fall for it.
"Hold out your hand."
Shen Lang held out his hand.
*Smack, smack, smack.*
His father-in-law struck him three times with a ruler. He used moderate force, so it hurt a little. But Shen Lang didn't let his guard down, bracing for the real storm to come. This incident was too blatant, and Shen Lang himself knew he was greatly at fault.
Not only had he co-authored a vulgar erotic novel with the heir of the Count's Estate, but the fatty had also been caught doing unspeakable things while reading it by his father-in-law. Shen Lang was sure he would be beaten to death this time. So he ducked his head and meekly waited for his father-in-law's wrath.
His father-in-law looked at Shen Lang for a long time, then spoke.
"You've written this book quite well!"
"Huh?"
The Count emphasized again.
"No. You've written it exceptionally well."
For a moment, Shen Lang was even more surprised, then he became angry.
*Damn it, you hit me even though I wrote it well?! You old coot, if you weren't my father-in-law, I'd hit you just once... Fine, I'll let it slide.*
"The literary skill is of a high caliber. Moreover, it exposes human nature and the essence of society, and its piercing analysis cuts to the bone. It can be called a masterpiece, the likes of which are rarely seen these days."
Shen Lang replied, extremely puzzled.
"Ah, yes..."
Shen Lang knew this book was a masterpiece that would be passed down for generations, but he never expected someone as traditional as his father-in-law to praise it so highly. In fact, the Count had initially been furious, beating Jin Mucong half to death before intending to punish Shen Lang as well.
Previously, Shen Lang was a newly arrived live-in son-in-law at the Count's Estate, like a guest, so it was difficult to lay a hand on him out of courtesy. But now, Shen Lang had performed several great deeds, becoming an important figure in the Count's Estate, known to all. He was now like a son, so the Count felt he could discipline him without standing on ceremony and was prepared to teach him a lesson.
Before beating Shen Lang, the Count's curiosity was piqued as to what this was all about, so he read Shen Lang's *Boundless Wind and Moon*. It was only a few tens of thousands of characters, but the Count became engrossed in it. Because it was a remarkable book. Every paragraph, every sentence in the book revealed the author's disdain for the world, but also a deep and profound literary talent. Such style and prose! It was enough to make one slam the table and exclaim in admiration.
The conservative and stubborn Count did not possess much talent in the literary arts himself, but as a nobleman from a century-old family, he had read countless books and thus had the ability to appreciate high-level literature. He could tell at a glance how superior the literary skill in Shen Lang's book was. In the end, he read all one hundred and twenty thousand characters in one sitting.
After finishing the book in one go, the Count then shared it with the Countess. Sharing it wasn't the problem; the real issue came afterward. He managed a number of rounds he hadn't achieved before. The Count was over fifty, so his body felt completely drained, as if everything had been emptied out. That was why he only came to see Shen Lang much later.
* * *
"I was originally going to tear this manuscript to shreds, but thankfully, I didn't. Otherwise, I would have become a sinner for the ages."
His father-in-law handed the manuscript back to Shen Lang and began to mutter, as if lost in a certain passage of the book.
"Although I have a reputation for being old-fashioned, a corner of my heart is full of passion for art and literature, and my capacity to embrace them is quite broad. Even what you call plays, I consider a medium for expressing literature and art. In fact, it's not just you; many of today's great literary masters are also writing works in this vein."
*Really?*
*Is this world really so open-minded?* In truth, that wasn't strange at all. Ancient China also had periods where literature was very open and explicit works appeared.
But was his father-in-law saying that writing erotic novels was a very noble act? Not quite. Of course, if it was well-written, it could be called noble. The carnal prose within could be said to have been written out of artistic necessity. But a poorly written piece was nothing more than a vulgar erotic novel.
It was the same principle by which Stanley Kubrick's *Eyes Wide Shut* or Bernardo Bertolucci's *The Dreamers* are classified as art, while other third-rate pornographic films are classified as vulgar erotica.