Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

He ate the tofu openly and honestly, his face remaining calm and composed.

"Given Miss Ouyang's sincerity, it would seem unreasonable of me to refuse."

Ouyang Qing was helped to her feet by him, her cheeks slightly flushed. She quickly took a half step back, lowered her eyes, and said, "Young hero, you are so righteous."

Ouyang Ce, who was standing to the side, beamed with joy and quickly smoothed things over, "Good! Good! With your words, young hero, my bookstore is saved!"

Xie Xiaoyi thought to himself:

It's no big deal if I help Ouyang Ce plagiarize a few ancient poems; at most, he'll treat me to drinks and a meal after I finish writing them.

Wouldn't his daughter then become like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, visible but untouchable?

Such a voluptuous beauty is like a delicacy laid out on a table; it's so tempting not to take a bite!

If that's the case...

It's better to plan ahead a few steps; we can't let the sweet treat we've almost tasted slip away so easily.

Having made up his mind, his smile faded slightly, and his tone became more insightful: "Boss Ouyang, don't be so quick to celebrate."

I want to say that even if I could write a few catchy poems today, attracting the temporary admiration of writers and poets,

That would only solve your bookstore's immediate problem; it's merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Ce's smile froze instantly. He immediately bowed and kowtowed, his tone full of urgency and earnestness.

"Young Master Xie's words hit the nail on the head! This is exactly what I've been worrying about these past few days. I only beg you to generously offer your guidance and point me in the right direction!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ouyang Qing, who was standing to the side, also looked up at Xie Xiaoyi. The redness in her eyes had not faded, but it was filled with genuine curiosity and anticipation.

"Young Master Xie has insightful views. I hope you can tell me the key point. I am willing to listen attentively."

Xie Xiaoyi looked up to meet her gaze, his voice carrying a hint of control: "Miss Qing is insightful."

No matter how good the poems, lyrics, and prose are, they can only attract people's attention for a short time. After reading them a few times, people will lose interest.

If you want your bookstore in Beijing to gain a foothold and be packed with customers every day, why not publish a unique storybook just for your store?

Ouyang Ce was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your insightful advice, young hero! I was just struggling to find a good solution, and I would be grateful if you could enlighten me!"

Ouyang Qing, standing to the side, also looked up at Xie Xiaoyi, her attentive expression even more alluring than her words.

Xie Xiaoyi's mind raced, and he went through all the stories he knew by heart before he transmigrated.

Finally, he thought of the complete version of "Jin Ping Mei" that he had read by heart.

The book's depiction of everyday life and the tender emotions between men and women is deeply moving, and should appeal more to ordinary people.

I read it countless times before I traveled through time. To completely replicate it would be wishful thinking, but I remembered all the key points.

Although the book's depiction of romance touches upon societal norms, as long as the explicit language is restrained, the use of metaphors to subtly explore the subject is kept to a minimum, and any content that violates ancient taboos is removed, it will certainly be compliant with regulations.

Um......

Perhaps I'll have to become the Laughing Scholar of Lanling in this world for once.

"To be honest, Boss Ouyang and Miss Qing, I've had a thought in my mind for a long time, and I've been thinking about writing a book."

"Please speak, young hero. I am all ears!"

"I'd like to write a story about everyday life. If Boss Ouyang is interested in giving it a try, I'll find an inn to stay at..."

"Why stay at an inn!"

Ouyang Ce immediately slammed his hand on the table and stood up, "Young Master Xie is already a great blessing to the bookstores of the capital for condescending to give us his manuscript. How can we let Young Master Xie suffer the inconvenience of staying at an inn?"

They can stay in the backyard of my bookstore, with all their needs met, so I can consult them from time to time!

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Qing blushed slightly, looked up at Xie Xiaoyi, and softly replied:

"If that's the case, then this humble woman is willing to grind ink and prepare paper for you every day, so that I can learn some techniques from you."

Haha!

The big fish has taken the bait!

Xie Xiaoyi was secretly pleased.

It's good that Ouyang Qing grinds ink, but I want her to grind more than just ink!

......

After noon, the guest rooms in the backyard of Jinghua Bookstore were already prepared with writing materials.

As soon as Xie Xiaoyi sat down, Ouyang Qing quietly brought in an incense box, lit a stick of sandalwood incense, and inserted it into the jade censer, the faint smoke curling around the table.

Xie Xiaoyi smiled slightly: "Now that I have a beautiful woman by my side, it's the perfect time to lay out paper and pick up my brush, to write about the everyday life and the tender feelings between men and women."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Qing blushed slightly, lowered her eyes, smiled faintly, and remained silent. She simply picked up the ink stick and slowly ground it in the inkstone.

Xie Xiaoyi picked up his wolf-hair brush, dipped it in thick ink, and first wrote the opening warning:

Wine, women, wealth, and anger are four walls.

Everyone is hiding inside.

If we could jump over the wall...

Even those who aren't gods live long lives.

After finishing the question and pondering for a moment, he wrote down his four-character pen name: "Discard the millstone and kill the donkey."

Ouyang Qing leaned closer to look at the four characters, her brows furrowing slightly before she suppressed a laugh: "Young hero, your pen name is truly... unique."

Xie Xiaoyi raised an eyebrow and smiled: "As long as it's easy to remember, it's better than a fancy, pretentious name that suits the tastes of the common people."

Having said that, he picked up his pen and wrote three or four pages in one go.

The text seems to depict everyday life and romantic love, yet it manages to stir the heart and itch with desire.

Ouyang Qing stood quietly grinding ink at the table, first captivated by the warning, then mesmerized by the words on the pages.

At first, she maintained the gentle demeanor of a well-bred young lady, but after reading a few passages, she blushed at the subtle emotions flowing between them.

Gradually, she slowed down her ink-grinding movements, her cheeks burning hot. The more she looked at it, the more engrossed she became, and she unconsciously let out a soft moan.

Sometimes she frowned and concentrated, sometimes she gently bit her lip, even her breathing was very soft, for fear of disturbing the sentiment in the ink and brush.

......

After several days, Ouyang Qing often came to the guest room during the day to lay out paper, grind ink, serve tea, and add refreshments for Xie Xiaoyi. Over time, the two became increasingly familiar with each other at the table and at the dinner table.

Xie Xiaoyi would often use the excuse of grinding ink and handing over paper to occasionally brush against her chest and touch her waist, taking advantage of her in small ways. After that, he would write with even more ease.

Men and women working together makes the work less tiring.

He could write four or five chapters a day, and after several days, he had just managed to accumulate more than forty chapters of his story.

After each chapter was written, Ouyang Ce would personally take it away and order the copyist to make several copies overnight.

During the day, some were displayed prominently in bookstores, while others were carried by shop assistants to teahouses, taverns, and brothel alleys for retail sale.

It is said to be a newly released romance novel, depicting the everyday life of ordinary people, with a captivating and suspenseful tone.

At first, only a few people read it, but within three to five days, the news spread throughout the capital.

In teahouses and taverns, people debated the characters in the book, urging for new chapters. Even young ladies from secluded mansions secretly sent their maids to find new chapters.

Ouyang Ce immediately saw the business opportunity and hurriedly pulled Xie Xiaoyi aside, begging him to write more chapters and update daily so as to seize this momentum.

Xie Xiaoyi, however, pretended to hesitate, saying that good books should be carefully studied and polished, and cannot be rushed.

Ouyang Ce was a cunning old fox, so he could see through Ouyang Ce's intentions and immediately decided to split the profits 20/80.

Xie Xiaoyi simply smiled and remained silent, offering no rebuttal, clearly demonstrating that he was using a strategic retreat to advance.

This made Ouyang Ce feel uneasy, so he voluntarily agreed to a 40/60 split.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xiaoyi's eyes instantly lit up with golden light...