Chapter 1146: *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* Officially Published
May, the tenth year of Chongzhen.
Gao Family Village, the main village, at the Gao Family Village Bookstore.
Song Yingxing stood before a bookshelf in the bookstore, his face alight with excitement as he gazed at a row of new books.
*The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* it was, exquisitely printed with a thick cover. On its front, bold characters proclaimed: Written by Song Yingxing.
Seeing his name emblazoned on the cover, Song Yingxing’s heart swelled with pride and contentment—the greatest moment of joy for any author.
This tome, *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*, was a treasure he had painstakingly refined over many years, pouring his life's blood into its creation. It meticulously cataloged every novel machine and ingenious invention he had witnessed throughout his lifetime.
It hadn't been easy, no, not easy at all.
But would anyone even read it?
Song Yingxing discreetly retreated to a corner of the bookstore, ordered a cup of tea, and used a book to partially obscure his face. From his hiding spot, he furtively observed the incoming customers, wondering if any would purchase his newly released work.
Their simple attire immediately marked them as laborers. As the two men approached the shelves, Song Yingxing's eyes tracked their every move, darting back and forth.
He watched them peruse the shelves, one even picking up *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* and flipping through a few pages. Song Yingxing's heart soared: *Buy my book! Buy my book!*
Alas, the worker eventually set *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* back down. Turning, he picked up *Continent of War Gods*, penned by Gao Sanwa, from a different shelf, then headed to the counter, paid, and left.
Song Yingxing clutched his chest, a mournful groan escaping his lips: "Ah! I've been bested by Gao Sanwa!"
He could only console himself: "It's fine, it's fine. Those two were laborers; they likely aren't very literate, so they prefer reading comic books instead of *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*. That's perfectly understandable, completely understandable."
Just then, two men, dressed in scholar's robes and clearly men of some learning, entered. They looked like minor administrators from the Gao Family Village Council.
Song Yingxing's spirits lifted. "These two should recognize quality," he murmured.
He watched as the two scholars approached the shelf, also picking up *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*. They flipped through a few pages, then one chuckled, "This book is quite intriguing."
Song Yingxing's heart pounded: *Intriguing, isn't it? Go on, buy it and study it thoroughly!*
Yet, the two scholars promptly returned the book to the shelf. Turning away, they selected another title from a different section: *How to Handle Public Relations*, by San Shier.
With their choice in hand, they walked to the counter, paid, and departed.
Song Yingxing let out another cry: "Ah! Bested by San Shier!"
Next, a senior technical engineer, identifiable by his Blue Hat, strode in. Seeing him, Song Yingxing brightened considerably. "No problem this time," he thought. "He's a Blue Hat; he's bound to appreciate my book."
Just as his hopes soared, he watched the Blue Hat walk directly to the miscellaneous non-fiction shelf and pick up *Earn Your First Hundred Thousand Taels*, by Wu Shen—a self-help book about striving for success.
The Blue Hat flipped through it, highly satisfied, then paid and left.
Song Yingxing let out a desperate groan, clutching his chest before collapsing onto a nearby table.
"I'm finished," he lamented. "All the technical information I painstakingly compiled... no one even wants to read it." Song Yingxing's mood was worse than if he had suffered a heartbreak.
He was so despondent, he felt like weeping.
Suddenly, Gu Yanwu appeared from the bookstore entrance, a smile gracing his face. "Shopkeeper," he addressed the man behind the counter, "didn't you say that Master Song Yingxing's monumental scientific work, *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*, would be published today?"
The shopkeeper smiled. "Indeed, sir. They're right over there on that shelf; that entire row is dedicated to it."
Gu Yanwu's eyes lit up. "Many thanks, shopkeeper."
He strode to the shelf, picked up *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*, and with a quick flip through its pages, his face immediately shone with delight. "It's all here! So comprehensive! This is practically a complete compendium of all the scientific inventions across our great Ming Dynasty, with the added bonus of Gao Family Village's new technologies appended at the end. This is precisely the book I've been looking for. It's magnificent!"
Hearing this, Song Yingxing's spirits instantly soared: *He's definitely going to buy it!*
True to his prediction, Gu Yanwu clutched a copy of *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* and practically dashed to the counter.
Song Yingxing secretly rejoiced. *Finally, one copy sold! Oh, such joy!*
Gu Yanwu addressed the shopkeeper: "I'll take two hundred copies to start."
"What?"
Song Yingxing was utterly stunned. This fellow... wanted two hundred copies? He'd thought selling just one would be a miracle, but two hundred?
The shopkeeper, too, seemed a bit bewildered. "Uh... Master Gu, why would you need so many? My humble shop assumed this book wouldn't be a bestseller, so the first printing was only a hundred copies."
"Only a hundred copies? That's certainly not enough!" Gu Yanwu exclaimed. "The school I established in Luoyang has already opened. While we don't have many students yet, if each of them receives a copy, one hundred simply won't suffice. Considering that students might misplace or damage their books, we need to prepare many more. Shopkeeper, can you please arrange for another batch to be printed as quickly as possible?"
The shopkeeper gasped, "Ah, so it's to be used as a textbook?"
Gu Yanwu chuckled. "Of course! This book is absolutely perfect as a textbook."
No sooner had he spoken than the Puppet Heavenly Lord and Gao Yiye entered, hand in hand and beaming with happiness. The moment they stepped inside, the Heavenly Lord spoke: "Shopkeeper, *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature* is officially published today, isn't that right?"
The shopkeeper quickly bowed and replied with a smile, "Reporting to the Heavenly Lord, that is indeed the case."
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "The Thirty-Two Middle School in Gao Family Village needs five hundred copies for textbooks. The schools in Xi'an will require another thousand. How many did you print in the first batch? Will it be enough?"
The shopkeeper immediately broke into a cold sweat. "Uh... your humble servant only printed a hundred copies, *cough, cough*... Master Gu Yanwu already wants two hundred, which is more than I have. Heavenly Lord, your humble servant will arrange for an immediate reprinting, right away. The printing blocks are still here, still here. They can be printed very quickly."
"Only a hundred copies?" Li Daoxuan smiled. "How little faith did you have in this book?"
The shopkeeper stammered, "Er, well..."
Hidden in the corner, Song Yingxing, who had been eavesdropping, felt his entire body go numb. *What? Even the Heavenly Lord's schools want to use my book as a textbook?*
Such joy!
He felt like he could float away from sheer happiness.
Song Yingxing suddenly burst out from his hiding spot. "Heavenly Lord!"
Li Daoxuan turned to look, a smile on his face. "Ah, Master Song, you're here?"
Song Yingxing spoke with fervent excitement. "Heavenly Lord, your humble servant... your humble servant truly doesn't understand. You possess so many incredibly powerful Heavenly Books, why would you still choose to use this... humble book of mine as a textbook? Wouldn't your Heavenly Books be far more suitable?"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "The Heavenly Books are too celestial; they are somewhat detached from the practical realities of current society. Your book, however, is a scientific publication developed from the existing progress of our world. Every piece of equipment described in your book uses technology that has already been put into practical use. Therefore, using it as a textbook truly allows for applied learning. As for my textbooks, they are better suited for those who wish to advance further and create the future."
Comments