Because Zhou Youde specifically instructed him to do so, Zhou Dafu acted very carefully.

He sent people to test the old man from the Xu family repeatedly, and only asked people to contact him after confirming that everything was safe.

Furthermore, the person he sent to contact the old man was a harmless woman. Even if the Xu family were shrewd, they would not be able to trace the clues back to the Zhou family.

It took Zhou Dafu a lot of effort to buy off this old friend. Naturally, he hoped to get the value quickly.

Miaofeng Hall is currently undergoing renovations, so there is definitely no time to print new chapters.

This gave the Zhou family a great opportunity.

If we can publish the latest chapter before Miaofengtang, we can win back the old customers we have lost.

Zhou Dafu folded the manuscript and held it in his palm like holding a salt permit.

Even though it's just a thin stack of money, it can make you countless wealth.

He was eager to present the treasure, so he was in a hurry and even tripped over a stone and fell hard.

After getting up in a somewhat embarrassed manner, Zhou Dafu's first reaction was to read the manuscript.

I was relieved to see that the manuscript was not damaged.

He hurried to Xiao Penglai and saw the master listening to opera as usual. He couldn't help but wonder: Is this southern opera really so good? In his opinion, Kunshan opera is just so-so.

If you can't figure it out, just stop thinking about it.

Shaking his head, he walked quickly towards the pavilion where the master was.

Zhou Youde has been fascinated by "The Story of the Precious Sword" these days. He listens to the opera during the day and hums it at night.

He can sing many of the lyrics and even comment on them.

For example, when the play "Night Run" was released, he felt that there were areas that needed improvement.

"The autumn moon shines through the ages, while spring flowers fill the pavilions. After the spring flowers have fallen, they bloom again, and the autumn moon remains year after year. Life is but a dream; remember that the passing water cannot be reversed. Laugh and drink when you can, for the beauty in the mirror is easily changed."

"A high-pitched song invites the jade cup, opening and collecting the wind and moon into the poetry bag. Gold and jade are replaced with new tutors, feathers are replaced and the palace is moved to the old tune. Punish the slanderers, show loyalty and goodness, uphold the truth and replace the false to revive the moral principles. The gains and losses of ancient and modern times, rise and fall, are clearly a dream in my eyes."

At this moment, he was humming along with the tune. Seeing Zhou Dafu coming, he asked impatiently, "Don't talk about anything important."

"Sir, I've got the manuscript for Journey to the West!"

Zhou Dafu smiled and said, "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir!"

Zhou Youde was stunned.

"You got it so easily?"

"I gave that Xu fellow quite a few benefits."

Zhou Dafu explained: "Don't worry, sir, there are no traces left."

Zhou Youde took out the manuscript, opened it and read it for a while before putting it down.

He wasn't a fan of the book and had little interest in the manuscript itself. He only cared about how much money the manuscript could bring him.

"You did a good job."

Zhou Youde, who was very stingy, rarely praised the manager.

"But don't rush to print it yet, press it first."

"this..."

Zhou Dafu looked embarrassed.

"Master, why is this?"

"Are you really stupid or are you just pretending? Just as Miaofeng Hall burned down, our weekly journal published a new chapter of Journey to the West: The Evil's Resurrection. Are you so disgusted that you're pouring a basin of shit and piss over your head?"

After being scolded, Zhou Dafu suddenly understood.

This is not the right way to make money in a hurry.

"Excuse me, sir, when will the sale start?"

Zhou Dafu asked cautiously.

Zhou Youde thought to himself, what an idiot, asking me everything, what else do I need you for?

"We can only start selling books if Miaofengtang dares not to sell them in Hangzhou anymore!"

Zhou Dafu pondered Zhou Youde's words for a long moment, then clapped his head and said, "Master, what you're saying is that we only took over Journey to the West after the Xu family voluntarily withdrew. This way, it's legitimate. After all, authors need to make a living, and it's just a matter of selling the manuscript to someone else. But...how could the Xu family give up so easily? Besides, if they withdraw, then we, the old friends, will be useless. We won't be able to get the latest manuscripts either."

Zhou Youde was almost fainted from anger.

"Just pick up the latest chapter, and then you can find someone else to continue writing. As long as the overall content is consistent, do you think anyone can notice it?"

From the very beginning, Zhou Youde had no intention of completely poaching that Xu fellow, but rather using him to obtain the manuscripts of the next few chapters of Journey to the West.

It is okay to spend some money in this process. After all, any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.

But he doesn't like being controlled by others, nor can he accept being threatened.

Therefore, this clerk of Xu Family Bookstore was destined to be a discarded pawn who would be kicked out after being used.

"Master, do you mean to hire someone to continue writing Journey to the West?"

Zhou Dafu said in surprise.

"The premise is that the Xu family dares not open another store in Hangzhou."

Zhou Youde pointed out simply and clearly.

As long as the Xu family no longer runs a bookshop, the Zhou family will be the only one who has the manuscript of Journey to the West.

As long as the quality of the first chapters is guaranteed, regular customers will be convinced that Zhou's Journey to the West is the orthodox version and willing to pay for it. Once they develop a reading habit, even if someone else writes it, it won't make any difference.

The author of the original book is far away in Dinghai and has no sales channels, so he will not pose any threat to the Zhou family's "fakes".

Substituting one thing for another and hiding the truth from the world.

This is exactly what Zhou Youde wanted.

At this moment, Zhou Dafu was full of admiration for the master.

This is truly a brilliant move, one move after another.

"I don't need to teach you how to do it, right?"

"Don't worry, sir. I'll take care of everything."

Zhou Dafu patted his chest and promised.

...

...

Villa in Santai Mountain.

On the second floor of the bamboo building, Xu Wei sat on a rosewood official's hat chair, listening to Xu Zhen's account of the entire process of his meeting with someone today, and thought to himself that the fish had finally taken the bait.

"You said the person you contacted was a woman. She gave you a banknote, took the manuscript, and left."

"Exactly. I followed the shopkeeper's instructions and gave her the manuscript before leaving. I didn't follow her."

Xu Zhen answered respectfully.

"You did a great job."

Xu Wei nodded. "You can go home and rest. If they come looking for you again, just follow the plan."

"I obey your command."

Xu Zhen clasped his fists and retreated respectfully.

So far everything has been as Xu Wei expected.

He expected that those who were against the Xu family would not reveal their true identities, but would use other people to cover up their tracks.

But it doesn't really matter.

He didn't need to know who it was now. As long as the other party reached out, he would be caught.

Xu Wei and Xu Yan had discussed the entire plan, and it was indeed flawless.

The evil person who extends his hand will never realize that he is actually digging his own grave until the very end.

It’s a pity that Miaofengtang will have to sacrifice profits for a period of time for this.

But this is absolutely necessary. If the mastermind behind the scenes is not caught, how can the Xu family do business in Hangzhou peacefully?

...

...