Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

As Zhang Meng walked back with Gong Hui, Lu Xiaobu found several good novels.
Most of these authors have already abandoned their writings.
Liang Lan noted down the names of these novels by the side, these authors were the targets Young Master Bu wanted to capture into the dark room.
Indeed.
"Li Jin, I’ll leave this task to you. Go and capture all these people into the dark room for me," Lu Xiaobu commanded.
"Yes, Young Master," Li Jin accepted the order.
He faintly felt a pang of liver pain.
Those novel authors would probably never expect that a joking phrase among book friends would turn into reality in Young Master Bu’s hands.
"Hold on," Liang Lan stopped Li Jin with a hand gesture: "Young Master, why don’t you clarify the benefits first? I’ll draft some contracts for Li Jin to take along, after all, getting people here empty-handed isn’t very realistic."
"That makes sense," Lu Xiaobu stroked his chin and snapped his fingers: "Here’s the deal, any novel I fancy, uniform price, one hundred per thousand characters, tips not included, but minimum twenty thousand characters a day."
"Alright, let’s draft the contract in the style of a studio then," Liang Lan said helplessly: "Young Master, I’ll go apply for a studio now."
Where on the current market can you find a price of one hundred per thousand characters?
Not to mention those who have hit rock bottom, they’d probably come eagerly even for thirty per thousand.
The young master is really capricious!
"Go ahead, I’ll keep looking."
Lu Xiaobu nodded and rose from leaning on Liang Lan’s knees.
Once Liang Lan finished the paperwork and printed the contracts, Li Jin left with them.
...
In the afternoon.
With the high incentives, security of the contracts, and Lu Xiaobu’s online reputation guarantee, the failed authors arrived one by one at the front of Lu’s Villa.
It’s fair to say, the online literary circle isn’t too big nor too small.
Everyone is feeding from the same pot, especially those who have failed, and they quickly started chatting together.
The irritable shrimp spoke dizzily: "Hey, do you guys think this is real? Although I’ve signed the contract, it still feels like a dream. One hundred per thousand characters, just typing ten characters makes a buck! Will Young Master Bu really give it to us?"
The one and half meter tall blue dragon is baffled too: "Right? Even my writings which can’t pass the mark of ten per thousand characters turning into a rate of one hundred?!"
"I felt like dreaming all the way here, if it wasn’t for the wealthy Young Master Bu, I would never believe it."
Ping Sha Luo Yan expressed some worries: "Do you guys think Young Master Bu has some special quirks? Otherwise, why would he fancy a bunch of failures like us?"
Back Entry Qigong Wave’s face flushed with excitement: "I don’t care, I’m betting it all. I even quit my job!"
"One hundred per thousand characters! Just fulfilling the task earns two thousand a day, sixty thousand a month! Seventy-two thousand a year! A day’s work now equals half a year’s worth of income from my past writings, this is huge! Long live Young Master Bu!"
The irritable shrimp was surprised: "Really? You quit your job? Didn’t you say earlier it’s okay if it didn’t work out, no worries?"
Ping Sha Luo Yan curled his lip: "Quitting a job is nothing. For this sixty thousand, I’ve even given up on my girlfriend."
One meter old blue dragon playfully scolded: "Don’t think I don’t know you’re talking about your right hand."
Carrot pointed: "Who is that sleeping soundly over there?"
Lover of Hot Dry Noodles glanced over: "I know that one, pen name Wind Thunder Brewing Wine, heard he was the first to arrive. Just keeps sleeping since getting here, probably drank too much."
"..."
"Young Master Bu has arrived."
Following Li Jin’s announcement, the group of failed authors quickly lined up, waiting for their new boss.
"Hello everyone," Lu Xiaobu emerged from the doorway, speaking, "You’ve all signed the contracts, right? If there’s nothing else, go ahead and start writing."
"Young Master Bu," Ping Sha Luo Yan raised his hand, "May I ask a question?"
Lu Xiaobu: "Go ahead."
"Do we really just need to write? Twenty thousand words a day, one hundred per thousand?" Ping Sha Luo Yan asked excitedly.
Hearing his question, the surrounding authors also grew excited, hoping for an affirmative answer!
"No mistake, salary paid daily," Lu Xiaobu snapped his fingers: "Everyone’s had a tough journey today, five thousand each to start."
Zhang Meng promptly pulled out cash, fluttering bills as he counted.
Seeing the stack of genuine RMB being handed over, the eyes of these authors turned red!
Ping Sha Luo Yan shouted in joy: "It’s true! It really is true!"
Lover of Hot Dry Noodles yelled out: "Long live Young Master Bu!"
Radish clenched his fists: "No way, I need to call my mom. I’m not going back! I’m staying here to write novels for Young Master Bu for a lifetime."
At one meter five high and already old, he clutched his chest: "Quick, support me, my heart can’t take it! This earns more than a whole year of my writing combined! Young Master Bu, I love you!"
"Those who say they love me, roll out first, then what other issues?" Lu Xiaobu smiled.
"Young Master Bu, where should we type? I feel inspired, I’m desperately thirsty for it!" The hot dry noodles lover said excitedly.
"Yes, yes, yes, let’s start typing, I’ve never felt so good before!" Ping Sha Luoyan said excitedly.
"Just there, see it?" Lu Xiaobu pointed at the villa not far away.
"Uh..."
Everyone was dumbfounded!
Ping Sha Luoyan’s mouth twitched: "Sm... sm... small dark room?"
The hot dry noodles lover also felt a liver ache: "This, this name, feels so painful!"
Radish was on the verge of tears: "In the past, I used to envy those great writers urged by the ’small dark room’; never thought we’d experience it personally today, even great writers don’t have this treatment."
Irritable shrimp rubbed his hands: "Um, Young Master Bu, a small dark room is fine, but please, let’s skip the part about sending blade pieces."
Everyone was shocked!
Right!
They had forgotten, besides being locked in a small dark room, sending blade pieces was the most common threat!
Before, if they saw this kind of threat, they would just laugh it off, not caring.
But now it’s different!
It’s right at close range!
If a blade gets sent, it could be deadly!
"Uh? Blade pieces? Let’s not!" Lu Xiaobu waved his hand.
"Sigh!"
The authors breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister Lan, go dig up a few editors for me, and get some Heavenly Swords, Dragon Slayer Blades, Green Dragon Crescent Blades, Eight-foot Spears from our bar, one for each person, make them keep a close eye on these guys, and if they slack off, don’t hesitate, just give them a shout," Lu Xiaobu turned his head and said.
Who says writers aren’t imaginative? Hearing Lu Xiaobu’s words, the group of writers suddenly pictured this scene in their minds.
Editors, who usually barely speak, now looked like private tutors, one for each person.
If only it were just that.
But the scariest part was, these editors each held a weapon, ready to strike if you slack off!
That scene!
Suddenly!
The group of writers’ faces turned pale!
Oh my goodness!
Young Master Bu, this isn’t fair!
Readers just send blade pieces.
But how did you switch to Green Dragon Crescent Blades?!
These are deadly!
"Yes! Young Master!"
Liang Lan on the side, almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Li Jin this guy also started to play bad, hearing this, his eyes rolled around, and he somehow pulled out a realistic toy knife from the Night Drowning bar, stepped forward two steps, with a threatening pose, full of menace: "Young Master, like this?"
"Yes, a bigger one would be better." Lu Xiaobu nodded.
"Gap!"
A group of authors stared at the shining big knife, and almost passed out.
Oh my goodness!
Is this for real?
Young Master Bu!
This knife, with one swing could chop off three heads, and you still think it’s small?
But this was not the end!