Chapter 84

Just days after the official account of the production team of "Code Name: Dodder Flower" released photos of the wrap-up, another drama starring Zhang Sandao and Sun Xiao, "The Record of Misty Mountains and Rivers," also announced that filming had wrapped.

The two dramas are unrelated, even their themes are different, and even though they were filmed one after the other, no one connected them.

Who knew that a few days later, a lot of marketing accounts suddenly appeared online, linking the two dramas together and even comparing them from beginning to end in terms of cast and promotion.

"......

Zhang Sandao is, after all, a veteran in the screenwriting circle. Putting aside everything else, just take the recent Feihua Award for Best Screenplay, where he beat "Wu Zetian" to win the award. The recognition from authoritative awards is still very valuable.

Therefore, in my opinion, "The Legend of Misty Mountains and Seas" is superior in terms of screenwriting.

Of course, the success of a drama depends not only on the screenwriter, but also on the director, actors, and other factors.

Let's take a look at the directors of the two dramas, Liu Mingchun and Sun Xiao. There's not much to say about the directors; everyone knows Liu Mingchun is one of the top directors..."

Although the marketing accounts use the guise of being superior in all aspects, it's clear to anyone with eyes to see that they are actually praising one person while belittling another—praising Zhang Sandao and belittling Eryuetian.

One is a period martial arts drama, the other is supposedly a modern spy thriller—what's the comparison between these two? [scratching head]

- It seems like February Sky has been entangled with something; this old thing hasn't stopped since the Flying Flower Award.

- Hahaha, what a sharp tongue.

-This is ridiculous. Zhang Sandao (a character from Journey to the West) needs to piggyback on the fame of a new screenwriter who's only been around for a couple of years? How can your company be so shameless...?

To be fair, Zhang Sandao is quite skilled. Judging from the editor's introduction, I'm quite interested in "The Record of Misty Mountains and Seas".

- Zhang Sandao and Sun Xiao are almost a hundred years old combined, yet they still try to scam director Liu Mingchun. They've wasted all these years.

- Netizens, please don't start attacking each other randomly, okay? If you want to criticize, criticize the editor. "The Record of Misty Mountains and Seas" is a completely unwarranted disaster.

......

Zhang Sandao was determined to make trouble for "Code Name: Dodder Flower".

Liu Mingchun was very unhappy when he saw the various videos online showing the combined fighting between "Code Name: Dodder Flower" and "Records of Misty Mountains and Seas".

He only rejected Zhang Sandao once, why is he being so relentless, even bundling his own show with Zhang Sandao's for marketing?!

However, Sun Xiao was even more unhappy than Liu Mingchun about this matter.

When Zhang Sandao bought the article, he didn't care about Liu Mingchun's life or death. Even if he knew that his directing skills were not as good as Liu Mingchun's, it didn't mean that he liked being told that he was worse than Liu Mingchun.

What angered him even more was that the investment promised by Zhang Sandao before the TV series started filming never materialized. To be precise, the money was laundered and returned to the investors before it even passed through his hands.

What is the point of all that hard work?

He wouldn't even glance at the few hundred thousand yuan Zhang Sandao offered. Did he think he was someone who needed such a paltry sum?!

Xu Ying also disliked this kind of binding behavior, but the overwhelming number of marketing accounts still had some effect. Whether she liked it or not, now when people mention it, they think of "Code Name: Dodder Flower" and "The Record of Misty Mountains and Seas" fighting each other.

Let's fight then.

Although Xu Ying didn't particularly like the production team, she had to admit that the cast of "Code Name: Dodder Flower" was indeed impressive. If Zhang Sandao was so foolish as to use this drama as a stepping stone, then he had really picked the wrong stone.

Xu Ying was no longer involved in the ups and downs of the internet.

She turned off the main light in the room, turned on only the small desk lamp, and sat down in front of the computer to start brainstorming new ideas.

Ever since she asked Zhou Xingyun, she had been thinking of a story that fit the theme. After much thought, she felt that only Zhu Yuanzhang was the most suitable.

Who could be more inspiring than him, starting with a bowl and ending by unifying the country?

But she had just written about the emperor.

No, to be precise, it was just filmed. "Wu Zetian" is the story of an empress. Is she going to write another story about an emperor now...? She's worried that readers won't find it interesting.

Forget it, Zhou Xingyun is the sugar daddy, let's ask her opinion.

She called Zhou Xingyun.

"So what? Even if we're both emperors, I believe you can write a different story. Just write it, and I'll make it into a film!"

That's really impressive.

Xu Ying liked people who supported her financially.

"good."

Without further hesitation, Xu Ying began typing out the outline for "Starting with a Bowl" on the keyboard. Yes, that's the name of the book. How adorable!

In the past, she certainly wouldn't have dared to use such a nonsensical name. But times have changed. Now she's a well-known author at Feihong Bookstore, so even if she has a strange name, she won't lack readers.

Xu Ying posted the pre-orders for "Starting with a Bowl" that very night.

Zhou Xingyun acted swiftly, contacting Yueyin the very next day and purchasing several copyrights from Feihong. Now, she has become their exclusive editor.

Yueyin looked shocked: "You want to buy the pre-order rights?"

She wants to buy the copyright before even publishing the book... Her authors have finally taken this step, it's so incredibly satisfying.

"Sell!"

Sell ​​it immediately.

Without delay, Yueyin contacted the copyright department and the person involved, Xu Ying, and settled the matter and signed a contract in one afternoon.

Novels whose copyrights have been sold will have a small icon displayed below them.

Before fans could even celebrate the pre-order launch of "February Sky" (二月天), they saw the update on the book's back page: What?! The film and television rights to this book have already been sold?!

February is awesome.

-The copyright to DaDa's new book has been sold! Unbelievable, so fast!

Earning millions without writing a single word, another day of envy and jealousy... Waaaaah, when will I be able to reach that level...?

-Are you an author upstairs?

-Just a nobody.

Don't try to emulate February Sky's life; she's a complete failure. If you try to emulate her, you'll find your own life is a complete failure.

- Hahaha, that makes sense. Just be happy for them.

Doesn't anyone think the new book's title is strange?

- "Starting with a Bowl" is indeed strange. It feels like she chose the title so casually; isn't it a bit disrespectful to the readers?

-Holy crap, did you guys notice? She checked the male lead in the protagonist section, which means this novel is written from the male lead's perspective.

-Oh my god, I just noticed!

-Male protagonist stories are different from female protagonist stories, be careful not to write one that doesn't suit the readers' tastes and backfires.

- It really is the male lead; this seems to be the first time she's written a novel with a male lead.

Why write male protagonist stories? Why not just write female protagonist stories? I hate these authors who wander around everywhere.

-Are you sick? The author can write whatever they want; if you don't want to read it, just leave. Why come here looking for trouble?

......

As soon as February Sky started posting, unsurprisingly, the Ta Xue Forum had already started a fight.

This has almost become an ironclad rule.

As soon as February Sky starts writing, the two groups of people on the other side start arguing like NPCs that have triggered some fixed command, causing chaos and disrupting the forum's peace.

If initially, those netizens who were indifferent to the matter found the online arguments annoying and hostile, now everyone just treats them as entertainment.

Many forum users have even reached a consensus that as long as February Sky makes a move, there will definitely be something interesting to watch on the forum.

-Whose virtual pets are fighting again? Hahahaha!

- Go check this out, [link][link], the people in it are so funny.

- I'll go tease them.

Netizens have their own unethical things to do.

"As expected of February weather," everyone was delighted with her actions, and Li Qinqin was watching the video on her phone with a smile.

*

Xu Ying didn't dawdle for long.

She started a new story less than a week after the pre-sale was released.

The title "Starting with a Bowl" is a bit puzzling, but Fei Hong's readers are very loyal. Based on the principle of trusting the author, readers flocked to the book as soon as it started.

After watching it, everyone was somewhat stunned.

What is the boss doing?

Why choose a male lead who is neither handsome nor from a wealthy family? It's one thing to be unattractive and poor, but at least he shouldn't be a beggar...

No wonder this book is called "Starting with a Bowl," it means the protagonist spends all his time begging for alms while carrying a bowl around.

Li Qinqin also read the first three chapters of the new book.

However, her focus was rather peculiar; she felt there was nothing to criticize about the monk-beggar male protagonist.

She was amused by the names of the characters in the first few chapters. The male protagonist was already funny enough because he was called Zhu Chongba, but then his father was called Zhu Wusi, and his brothers were called Zhu Chongsi, Zhu Chongliu, and Zhu Chongqi.

If we trace back one generation further, the male protagonist's ancestors were named Zhu Chuyi and Zhu Chuer...

The family couldn't come up with a proper name.

Hahahaha!

Li Qinqin laughed wildly in her living room. After she finished laughing, she opened the comments section and realized that the tone was a bit off; it seemed like nobody really liked the male lead...

-What is the appeal of this male lead so far? Isn't it that he earns more goodwill by doing hard labor than by being a beggar?

- What's wrong with you, author? This doesn't sound like the kind of novel you would write. If you've been possessed, just say something.

?

Li Qinqin was completely puzzled.

Aren't the first three chapters of February Sky's new book just perfectly normal plots?

The story uses a classic "suppression before elevation" trope. The male protagonist's initial pitiful and down-on-his-luck state is definitely a setup for his later rise to power. With such a simple and satisfying plot, she doesn't believe these readers are all fools who can't see through everything!

Someone is deliberately stirring up trouble.

As she thought this, she left the novel page and opened the Taxue Forum.

Sure enough, the forum was filled with pessimistic voices.

One by one, self-proclaimed experts have taken the lead in criticizing Eryuetian, accusing her of being arrogant, ignorant of her place, and disregarding her readers now that she has money.

These posts are all nonsense.

However, reading too many posts like this can inevitably leave some psychological suggestions. Even Li Qinqin, who didn't initially think there was anything wrong with Eryuetian's writing, couldn't help but feel a bit anxious after reading too many negative comments.

The author is too focused on his own writing style; it would be better to stay within his comfort zone.

As an adult who had been working for several years, Li Qinqin immediately realized her problem; she was being affected by these posts.

She decisively shut down the forum, and the world immediately became quiet. She breathed a sigh of relief and decided to stick to reading the book properly from now on and stop browsing the forum.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Thanks to the readers in the comments section for the inspiration. Actually, I didn't initially think of Zhu Yuanzhang, but he does fit the bill quite well [doge emoji].