Nian Jiaojiao first thought of the four great classical novels.
*Dream of the Red Chamber* was out; the storyline was too long, and popularity would likely only explode in the middle to late stages.
*Water Margin* depicted a peasant uprising. If it were later brought up and used for political commentary, it would probably cause headaches.
*Romance of the Three Kingdoms* also illustrated the historical cycle of "division for long periods, unity for long periods," which wasn't suitable, not suitable...
As for *Journey to the West*...
The story itself was fitting. When she watched the TV series before, the four pilgrims' encounters with demons and monsters were captivating in every episode, quite brilliant.
However...
Nian Jiaojiao suddenly thought of Monkey King transforming into a female monkey and Zhu Bajie transforming into a female pig, and she couldn't help but chuckle.
Let's just forget it then...
Nian Jiaojiao got out of bed and went to the desk. After a moment of contemplation, she finally picked up her brush and wrote *Strange Men of Liaozhai*.
The original *Strange Women of Liaozhai* series consisted of four stories, and each story could be divided into an upper and lower volume, making it eight volumes in total.
Nian Jiaojiao continued to write:
Liancheng (Volume One)
The county magistrate had a sole son named Liancheng, gentle and refined, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting...
Noon.
The sunlight, which had been shining on the windowsill, quietly shifted to the desk, casting dappled shadows through the dense foliage onto the Xuan paper.
Nian Jiaojiao raised her slightly sore neck, put down her brush, and stretched.
Mmm~
Finally finished!
"Wife Master, are you done?"
Xingyun suddenly poked his head in from outside the window.
"Mm, is it time for a meal?"
Nian Jiaojiao touched her slightly hollow stomach.
Xingyun, however, stared at the paper Nian Jiaojiao had just finished, his cat-like eyes shining like stars. He asked excitedly:
"Wife Master, did you write a new story?"
Nian Jiaojiao raised an eyebrow: "Yes."
Upon hearing this, Xingyun immediately withdrew his small head from the window and ran off.
Nian Jiaojiao: ???
So... is it time for lunch?
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was feeling confused, she saw Xingyun excitedly dragging Nan Qing in.
"Second Brother! I want to hear this story!"
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
Finally, after Nian Jiaojiao's persuasion, Xingyun reluctantly agreed to wait until after lunch before Nan Qing would tell him the story.
In the courtyard.
"One day, Liancheng suddenly fell ill with a strange sickness. The county magistrate sought out a renowned physician to diagnose young Master Liancheng. The physician prescribed a medicinal recipe that required a woman who loved him to cut off a piece of her chest flesh as a guiding ingredient to cure him..."
The several husbands listened with great interest, and Nian Jiaojiao also found it very enjoyable.
Nan Qing's storytelling wasn't like that of a professional storyteller with dramatic intonation, nor did he have exaggerated facial expressions like Nian Jiaojiao.
His voice was ethereal and soothing, as if he were merely recounting a factual event in a detached manner.
Because of this, the story sounded as if it had actually happened.
After the story concluded, Xingyun's eyes were teary:
"Wuwu, it's so moving! I never thought such a woman could exist in this world!"
Yu Chuan also agreed with Xingyun's sentiment. However, he looked at Nian Jiaojiao curiously, thinking:
Where did Wife Master get so many strange and peculiar ideas?
Does the underworld truly exist in this world?
[The Great Yue Dynasty has no concept of the underworld. It is merely a folk belief that after death, people transform into any form of existence in nature, perhaps the wind, perhaps the water, or perhaps mountains, rivers, and plants...]
At this moment, Xuan Yi's thoughts were different from everyone else's. He frowned and pondered for a while before saying in a deep voice after a pause:
"After cutting off flesh from the chest, can one really survive?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Xingyun's chest, seemingly considering whether to try it...
His gaze startled Xingyun, whose tears had already welled up, causing him to quickly hold them back.
Xingyun pouted in dissatisfaction:
"Big Brother, why are you saying such scary things? You've ruined the atmosphere of this beautiful love story!"
Xuan Yi asked in confusion:
"Aren't we talking about a story of demons and monsters?"
Xingyun: ...
This statement... didn't seem wrong...
"Cough cough!"
Nian Jiaojiao suppressed her laughter and said to Yu Chuan:
"Chuan'er, you've always managed the money. Shall we go to a nearby bookstore? If the price is right, we'll negotiate terms there. It'll also be a chance for you to get acquainted with the bookstore owner, and you'll be the one to collect the money from them in the future."
Of course, if the bookstore offered too low a price, Nian Jiaojiao would naturally look for another one.
Yu Chuan nodded obediently.
The two turned left and walked straight for about half an hour before finally spotting a bookstore.
"Yunlai Bookstore," Yu Chuan murmured softly.
Nian Jiaojiao immediately raised her thumb and praised:
"Not bad! It seems you're about to graduate as a student!"
Yu Chuan's ear tips turned slightly red, and he dared not look at Nian Jiaojiao's expression, only saying:
"Wife Master, please don't tease me."
"Alas... I'm heartbroken. My true feelings are being misunderstood like this..."
Upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao say this, Yu Chuan quickly turned around, wanting to apologize:
"I didn't mean..."
However, before he could finish speaking, he met Nian Jiaojiao's smiling eyes. Knowing she was joking, Yu Chuan turned and walked directly towards Yunlai Bookstore.
Nian Jiaojiao followed, laughing uncontrollably behind Yu Chuan.
"Haha, Chuan'er? Is Chuan'er shy?"
Yu Chuan quickened his pace, sensing the gazes of those around him, and lowered his head.
Bang—
Because he wasn't watching where he was going, Yu Chuan bumped into a man who was coming out.
He was fine, but the man on the opposite side let out a delicate cry of pain after falling to the ground.
Nian Jiaojiao quickly stepped forward, grabbed Yu Chuan, and asked with concern:
"Are you alright? Did you hit anything?"
Yu Chuan shook his head, indicating he was fine.
The man lying on the ground saw the loving couple, and a flicker of jealousy flashed in his eyes.
As men, why were others so fortunate?
Moreover, he observed that this man was of ordinary appearance, hardly worthy of such a stunning Wife Master!
"Young Master Mei Lan, are you alright?"
A woman emerging from Yunlai Bookstore asked with concern and helped him up.
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao's expression became somewhat peculiar.
Because of the concerned inquiry and the fact that not just one, but four women were helping up the young man called "Mei Lan."
Since both parties had collided, there was certainly some fault on both sides. She turned to Mei Lan and apologized:
"I'm sorry, are you alright?"
Mei Lan did not speak, but stared at Nian Jiaojiao with shyness.
Looking at the beautiful women apologizing to him at this moment, his legs felt weak, and he had an immediate reaction.
The four women supporting Mei Lan saw his expression and immediately understood why.
They were notorious flirts who considered the pleasure quarters their home!
One of the women looked at Nian Jiaojiao with jealousy and accused:
"Can't you watch where you're going! Young Master Mei Lan is so delicate, how can he withstand a collision from a rough fellow like you!"
Seeing his Wife Master taking the blame for him, Yu Chuan anxiously wanted to step forward and explain, but Nian Jiaojiao stopped him.
Nian Jiaojiao stood in front of Yu Chuan, looking up and down at the woman whose eyes seemed shadowed and looked as if her body was being drained, and said:
"I say, Auntie, the person who was bumped hasn't said anything, so why are you making such a fuss? Were you raised on salted vegetables?"