Write toward vulgarity!

This…

Song Zhi lowered his eyes and said honestly: “I can’t write those things.”

Troupe Master Tao said: “These things are originally written by people. When it comes down to it, you’re stubborn.”

“I…”

“But I don’t blame you. After all, you’re a poet, a distinguished great literary man! Since that’s the case, why must you come to write these theater scripts? Aren’t you just making yourself suffer?” Lao Tao sighed.

“I…”

“Your mind works well, and you have talent. You should go back to writing poetry—it would certainly be better than now.”

“I…”

Lao Tao continued: “Those who write theater scripts nowadays are all literary scoundrels. You’re a proper literary man—you’d better not get involved.”

Song Zhi’s words were repeatedly interrupted by him. He simply waited for him to finish, then slightly bowed and said: “Why don’t you take a look first?”

“Little Song! You…”

“If it doesn’t work this time, I’ll seal my brush and stop writing. Just this once.” Song Zhi had made up his mind.

Lao Tao released his hand, his face full of conflict.

If he looked at it and didn’t buy it, he couldn’t get past it emotionally. But if he didn’t look, Song Zhi was so insistent.

Song Zhi saw his concerns and said: “I won’t make things difficult for you. Just take a look—it won’t take much time. If it works, it works. If not, I’ll leave.”

Since he put it that way.

Troupe Master Tao could only nod: “Alright then.”

So Song Zhi took out the script he had written and carefully handed it to him.

Troupe Master Tao held it carefully and looked at it seriously.

Song Zhi waited quietly beside him!

Lao Tao originally held no hope at all. He thought it was just going through the motions, looking casually, and later he’d find some point to reject it.

But—

The more he read, the more solemn his expression became.

His brows furrowed together.

This script was short, but he read it over and over again.

The solemn expression gradually dissipated.

He finally closed it and just sat there quietly, not saying a word.

Song Zhi thought to himself that his script probably wasn’t appreciated again. He silently stood up, bowed to him, and said: “Then Song will not disturb you further.”

He was just about to leave—

“Wait!”

Troupe Master Tao immediately called him back.

“Troupe Master Tao needn’t feel troubled. I already said just now that if it doesn’t work, I won’t make things difficult for the troupe master.”

“No, no, no! You misunderstand.” Troupe Master Tao hurriedly stepped forward and grasped his hand, saying excitedly: “Little Song! No, I should call you Master Song. This script you wrote is truly excellent—it’s the best you’ve written in all these years. I really like it.”

Hearing him say this, Song Zhi’s expression remained quite calm as he said: “As long as the troupe master likes it.”

“More than just like? I dare guarantee this play will be a hit!”

“Then I can rest assured.”

“You’re simply divine—this story is written so well, so well.”

Song Zhi: “…”

“It’s just… how did you come up with this script?” Lao Tao had a question in his mind.

Song Zhi withdrew his hand from his grasp and said: “This story came to me while I was shut in—it inexplicably grew in my mind.”

“Literary men are literary men—such good minds.” Lao Tao looked at him with great appreciation, as if he had unearthed a treasure. He said: “Master Song, from now on you just peacefully write scripts for my Zhao Family Troupe. As long as you write, I, Lao Tao, will definitely buy them. However many you write, I’ll buy that many.”

“Then this play?”

“Of course I want this play—I guarantee it will be a hit.”

Troupe Master Tao misunderstood his meaning.

He didn’t care about these things now.

What he cared about was: “Then the manuscript fee for this play?”

Lao Tao’s cheeks twitched. Touching on this sensitive topic, he appeared somewhat evasive, only saying: “Let’s not talk about manuscript fees for now. This script must first generate revenue before I can pay you. In any case, if we earn a lot later, naturally you’ll get more too. This is much more profitable than giving you a lump sum of silver at once, right? Besides, I have great confidence in this script—it will definitely be a hit, definitely profitable, and then…”

He patted his chest in guarantee!

Although Song Zhi wasn’t a greedy person, wasn’t writing this script precisely to get a few sets of clothes and repair his roof?

He said: “Troupe Master Tao, winter is almost here. You know my situation.”

“I know, I know. In a bit I’ll have someone give you a bag of rice to take back first. After I have someone adjust this script and it goes on stage and earns money, I’ll give you plenty of silver.”

“This…”

“Time is pressing—let’s settle it like this!”

Song Zhi was a bookworm, but not a fool.

He knew what Troupe Master Tao was calculating. Put plainly, if the script later made money, how much or how little wouldn’t it be Troupe Master Tao who decided? What reached his hands would probably be very little.

But the urgent matter now was to solve the problem of food and warmth!

After all, there was no more rice for the pot.

“Alright then, everything will be according to Troupe Master Tao’s wishes.”

So Song Zhi left the script behind and carried a heavy bag of rice home.

Troupe Master Tao then cheerfully held the script and began intensive discussions with the people in the theater troupe.

Hoping to present the play as soon as possible!

…

On the other side.

Jingrong and the others had walked for nearly a month before passing through Yicheng and arriving at Huyi.

In December, the weather was extremely cold.

Whether on the roads or in the forests, frost had formed almost everywhere. The tree branches were covered with icicles, crystal clear and glistening with cold light.

The bitter wind whistled, scraping across faces like knives.

That evening, everyone checked into an inn in a forest.

The inn had all sorts of people—not only Huyi people but also many Da Lin merchants staying here.

This wasn’t strange. Da Lin people and Huyi people had much commercial exchange, coming and going—it was very common.

To avoid revealing his identity, Jingrong also disguised himself as a merchant coming to Huyi to do silk business!

Everyone sat around the table and ordered a few small dishes.

The waiter asked: “Gentlemen, would you like wine?”

Jingrong: “No need, just bring up a few dishes.”

“Right away!”

The waiter left.

When traveling outside, especially at a mountain inn, drinking wine would always cause trouble.

Ji Yunshu surveyed the surroundings—all were some merchant travelers stopping here for the night.

They had almost filled the entire first-floor hall. After all, it was already winter, with cold wind whistling outside. Staying out for one night would probably freeze one to death!

And when there were many people, naturally it became lively.

Jingrong told the people around him to stay alert and not let their guard down.

He said: “We should be able to reach Yiwu the day after tomorrow. I hear that place has clear mountains and beautiful waters—it’s a good place suitable for living. If we’re tired, we can stay there for a few more days without rushing.”

Ji Yunshu nodded: “That’s fine.”

At this moment—

A Da Lin person at a nearby table suddenly raised his voice and said: “That play we saw the other day was truly excellent. Next time we come again, we must go see it.”

“Absolutely!” someone echoed.

“What I liked most was still those few lines the ghost bride sang.”

“Which lines?”

“‘Watching husband under the tree shed his bones and turn to smoke, I could only plant yellow earth for you before the grave.'”