Seeing Andrew Carter with a questioning look, Franklin thought he felt the money was too little, and hurriedly said, “Young man, your story is good, but it’s too short. It can only serve as a short opening segment. Only a long, substantial story can fetch a good price. I’m an old man, I wouldn’t take advantage of a child.”

Andrew Carter suddenly burst out laughing. “Uncle Franklin, I just think it’s not right to ask for a whole string of coins for such a short story. Let me give you another one.”

“Oh? There’s more?”

“Listen up!”

Andrew Carter continued enthusiastically, telling Franklin another story.

As a writer, Andrew Carter had read countless novels and legends from ancient to modern times, from classics to unofficial histories, from storytelling scripts to martial arts, and even xianxia and fantasy—his mind was packed with material. In his previous life, this was just basic knowledge for a writer, but in the Song Dynasty, it became an endless treasure trove for making money.

Not to mention, judging by Franklin’s words, earning dozens of strings of coins would be a piece of cake!

Richard Carter had to pawn the family’s horse just for four strings of coins—dozens of strings was no small sum.

Of course, Andrew Carter knew that running out to sell a story for money wouldn’t work. It was better to use Franklin’s mouth to spread his name, and once he gained some fame, he could bring out the really good stuff.

If he wanted to make a splash, he couldn’t be careless. Andrew Carter told Franklin the story of “The Agarwood Bed”—Philip Grant was a scholar traveling to the capital for the imperial exam. He became infatuated with a courtesan, failed the exam, and fell deeply in love with a songstress. When they parted, Philip Grant pulled out a tooth as a token of their love, swearing eternal devotion.

After returning home, Philip Grant begged his father and brought precious gifts, including a large bed made of agarwood, and returned to the capital to marry the songstress.

Who would have thought she had already found a new lover? Philip Grant was furious and demanded the token of their love. The songstress produced a drawer full of teeth...

Philip Grant suddenly realized the truth. Right there on the street, he burned the agarwood bed. The fragrance lingered for days. All of the capital knew the young man was true, but the songstress was faithless. Everyone secretly mocked her for being blind to his worth. In her grief and shame, the songstress hanged herself.

……

“What a shameless, blind wretch! She got what she deserved!” Franklin was filled with righteous indignation. He had told stories all his life, but Andrew Carter’s two tales completely outshone his own.

If he brought these back to Cangzhou and told them in public, his fame would surely grow, and his income would naturally increase as well.

“Thank you, young man. This old man is truly grateful.”

“Hahaha, it’s nothing. I have hundreds of long stories and countless short ones. Uncle Franklin, if you ever run out of fresh material, just come to the Wang family and find me!”

“Alright!”

Franklin really wanted to buy a few more, but it was getting late, and he was out of money, so he had to take his leave for now.

“Haha, we’ve got money now!”

Andrew Carter jingled a large string of copper coins. Stephen Carter and Samuel Carter, the two little ones, were stunned, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Big brother is amazing!”

Andrew Carter hadn’t expected that selling stories could actually make money. He suddenly felt as if he had a huge treasure trove inside him, and was filled with pride.

“You two little gluttons, let me show you your brother’s skills!”

Chapter 8 Like Father, Like Son

That night, Andrew Carter personally went to the neighboring Uncle Miller’s house. Compared to before, he was much more generous. He bought a bag of millet, a few flatbreads, and an old hen from Aunt Miller, all for just fifty coins—a whole string of coins would last them quite a while!

When was the last time they had meat?

At least two or three months ago. The two little ones had forgotten what meat tasted like. They circled around Andrew Carter, clapping and laughing, as if it were New Year’s. Who would have thought that just one meal with meat could bring such happiness!

Andrew Carter used the small stove to boil a big pot of chicken soup. The home-raised old hen was delicious, the meat firm and fragrant, especially the layer of golden chicken fat, which drove the two little ones—who rarely saw meat—crazy. Drinking soup and eating meat, most of the old hen ended up in Samuel Carter and Stephen Carter’s little bellies.

“From now on, just stick with your big brother, and I guarantee you’ll have meat at every meal!” Andrew Carter declared proudly.

The two little ones nodded vigorously. The next day, Andrew Carter cooked millet porridge. He had saved a piece of chicken breast from yesterday, which he cut into the porridge, and with salted duck eggs, they had a wonderful meal. Samuel Carter and Stephen Carter’s bellies were round as balls.

“Get up, let’s go out with big brother. You can’t just eat and turn into little chubby balls!”

Andrew Carter took the two little ones out, but hadn’t gone far when Uncle came running after them, panting.

“Erlang, the old lady is calling everyone to the ancestral hall.”

Andrew Carter was taken aback. Didn’t they just go there? Why again?

He moved closer to Uncle and asked curiously, “What’s going on?”

Uncle tried hard not to laugh, mocking, “Don’t ask. Anyway, the second one is in for a show. Let him be proud—now he’s taken a big fall. Still dares to call himself a scholar? He’s read himself stupid!”

Uncle walked quickly, afraid to miss the spectacle.

Andrew Carter didn’t understand, but didn’t dare delay. He grabbed the two little ones and ran to the ancestral hall. As soon as he entered, he saw a man in his early thirties kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.