Chapter 076: Searching and Seeking

The sales figures for the traditional Chinese edition arrived from Fresh Culture two days before Zhang Tan’s final exams. Over the course of a month and a half, a total of 28,000 copies had been sold across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asian Chinese communities—an unexpectedly strong performance. Another 4,000 copies were still in circulation. Altogether, the book had gone through three print runs, totaling 32,000 copies.

Thirty-two thousand copies—this was just about on par with the output of established authors. It was an exhilarating piece of news, though marred by the fact that the royalties from Fresh Culture might not be disbursed until the following year. Based on the sales numbers, after taxes, royalties for "The Four Constables Shake the Northeast" amounted to 532,480 New Taiwan Dollars, which converted to over 130,000 yuan. Combined with the 28,000-plus yuan earned from the serialization in "Legends of Past and Present," this single novel had brought Zhang Tan nearly 160,000 yuan in net income.

At 160,000 words, "The Four Constables Shake the Northeast" had effectively earned him a yuan per word. Fame might not have brought him much else yet, but the money was very real. The thought that he’d made so much in just half a year left Zhang Tan in high spirits, and he faced the coming finals with a calm he’d never felt before. He’d ranked thirty-sixth in the last midterm; if he could hold onto that spot, it would suffice. He wasn’t overly concerned about his grades, but no one wants to fall too far behind.

End up at the bottom, though, and it would be hard to save face.

With more than three weeks to go before the New Year, Shuangdun Middle School held its three-day final exams. Except for Chinese, in which Zhang Tan spent a long time contemplating how to write his essay to uphold his “writer” reputation, he was the first to hand in his paper in every other subject. Especially in physics and chemistry—he handed in his papers in less than half an hour. To him, those subjects were like hieroglyphics, and he wondered if he’d even manage to pass the university entrance exams the following year.

So it was, after three days of struggle, that he packed his things, ready for the holiday.

After the last subject, Yu Na gathered all the students for a short meeting to mark the start of the break. She reminded them to collect their report cards in a week, not to slack off during the winter holiday, to revise their lessons, to keep the dormitory doors and windows locked, and not to leave anything behind, among other things.

Female teachers tend to be long-winded, and Yu Na was no exception.

“Chief, I’m not taking my stuff home. The dorm isn’t safe—too many thieves around here. Can I leave it at your place?” Cao Yuchuan asked.

Zhang Tan nodded. “Sure.”

His rental had burglar bars on the doors and windows, and he’d changed the locks so that even the landlord couldn’t get in. It was very secure.

Hearing Cao Yuchuan’s question, Gao Jie and Zhu Dandan also turned around, hoping to leave their things at Zhang Tan’s place as well. Zhang Tan agreed without hesitation; after all, he’d rented two rooms, and one could easily hold a mountain of luggage. It was no trouble at all.

After Yu Na’s repeated reminders about staying safe, the winter holiday finally began.

All the students hurried off with their luggage to catch buses home, while Zhang Tan took his time, helping Cao Yuchuan, Gao Jie, and Zhu Dandan store their things in his rented place.

On the way, a few more classmates cornered him with the same request—to store their belongings at his place.

Since he’d already agreed to Cao Yuchuan and the others, he couldn’t very well refuse the rest. In the end, seven or eight classmates ended up leaving their things at his place.

Half the room was filled with luggage.

“Chief, aren’t you leaving today?” a classmate asked after dropping off their things.

Zhang Tan shook his head. “I’m not leaving tonight. I want to go into the city tomorrow and buy some things for my family.”

“Chief, you’re amazing. You can earn your own money and buy gifts for your family,” Cao Yuchuan said enviously.

Among all the students, Zhang Tan was probably the only one who could write books, earn money, and buy presents for his family.

Zhang Tan just smiled and said nothing.

“We’re off then, Chief. See you next year—and happy New Year in advance!”

“And happy New Year to you all.”

Everyone left—except for one, Li Dong.

Under Zhang Tan’s influence, Li Dong was no longer as obsessed with the internet as before. He now played soccer and basketball with Zhang Tan, and they got along well. He’d just been helping the others—especially the girls—carry their things.

Once everyone had gone, Li Dong said, “Chief, you’re not leaving, right? How about coming to my place for dinner tonight?”

“Will it be convenient?”

Li Dong was quick to reassure him. “No problem. I’ll tell my mom so she can pick up some things from the market. We’ve still got time for a game of basketball before dinner, then we can wash up and hit the internet café for an all-nighter. How about it?”

“Won’t that be too much trouble for your mom?”

“It’s fine. My mom knows about you. I told her someone in my class wrote a novel that got published—she and my dad were amazed. They think you’re really talented. If I go out to surf the web with you, they won’t say anything.”

“So that’s your plan—to use me as your shield for going online.”

“No, I really want to treat you to dinner. Let’s go.”

Zhang Tan fancied a shower anyway, so he nodded. “Alright.”

…

Li Dong’s parents were very warm, peppering Zhang Tan with questions and praising his talents, then asking him to keep an eye on Li Dong at school so he wouldn’t fall in with the wrong crowd.

After much urging from Li Dong, who was eager to get going, Zhang Tan, who had hit it off with Li Dong’s parents, finally digested his meal and accompanied Li Dong to the town bathhouse.

The bath tickets were provided by Li Dong’s parents, who both worked at the local bank. When people came in to ask for loans, they’d give out bath tickets as gifts, and over time, they’d accumulated far more than they could ever use.

It was an old-fashioned bathhouse—one large pool and a row of showers.

After less than half an hour, Li Dong grew impatient, urging Zhang Tan to hurry up so they could go online. “I haven’t been on the internet in a week! Can you go any slower? You bathe like a girl!”

Zhang Tan lay back in the water, enjoying himself. “Is there anyone here to give back scrubs?”

“No.”

“What about a sauna?”

“No way.”

“Then I’ll just soak a bit longer. By the way, tell the owner to send in some more steam when you go out—the water’s not hot enough.”

“Come on, are you planning to sleep in there? The water’s filthy—who knows how many people have peed or farted in it. And you’re still soaking?”

Zhang Tan rolled his eyes. “Would it kill you to keep quiet? Such a buzzkill.”

Li Dong’s remark quickly killed his mood for bathing. Zhang Tan had a slight cleanliness fetish, and it was one thing not to think about it, but now he couldn’t help picturing all sorts of unsavory scenes—men farting and scratching their feet in the pool. The more he thought about it, the less he could stand it.

He quickly climbed out and went over to the showers to lather up.

As he scrubbed, he glanced at his own body. Thanks to regular exercise, his arms were now thicker, and his abdominal muscles were beginning to show. Though still thin from a recent growth spurt, at least he no longer looked scrawny.

He was lean but toned.

“Hm, and even down below, there’s been improvement!”

“It seems good nutrition during adolescence really is important. I’ll need to keep training and build a solid foundation—after all, a strong body is the foundation for everything, including chasing girls.”

For the sake of growth, a little massage was essential.

He lathered up and washed, humming to himself:

“I am just a little, little bird, longing to fly, but I never get high. I search and search, again and again, for a warm embrace—surely that’s not too much to ask?”

Bathing—what a pleasure.