How many young hearts will this "Horse Herder" touch and move?

“Beijia, do you think it’s actually better written than ‘Scar’?”
Huang Beijia’s sudden comment caught Bai Ling off guard. Wasn’t she supposed to say it was truly a blockbuster?
No one seemed to have compared ‘The Horseman’ with Lu Xinhua’s ‘Scar’ before!
But Bai Ling knew that everyone in the Yanjing Literature editorial department believed that Xu’s ‘The Horseman’ was superior to Lu Xinhua’s ‘Scar.’
Yet, they weren’t boasting like a vendor praising their own melons; they had refrained from spreading the word, deciding to wait for readers’ feedback after publication.
Huang Beijia and Cha Jianying were the first readers of this issue of Yanjing Literature. Hearing Beijia’s remark after reading, did this mean that their ‘The Horseman’ was already halfway to success?
“Sister Bai Ling, it really is better than ‘Scar’! The love between Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi is so deeply moving—I don’t even feel it’s scar literature!” Cha Jianying spoke with a choked voice, clearly immersed in the story, having empathized and resonated with it.
“Yes! This newcomer called Old Xu is truly remarkable, able to write such a beautiful manuscript. The love between Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi is portrayed so touchingly! Could it be the author’s own experience?”
Huang Beijia followed up, “Sister Bai Ling, where is this ‘Old Xu’ from? What does he do now? Is he like Xu Lingjun in the novel? I’d really like to meet this Old Xu!”
“‘Old Xu, if you want a wife, just say the word and I’ll find one for you right away!’ Beijia, you don’t mean you want to be the real Li Xiuzhi and meet the author, ‘Old Xu,’ do you?”
Cha Jianying teased Huang Beijia, quoting a line straight from the novel.
“Don’t you want to meet the author who can write such a beautiful love story?” Huang Beijia glanced at Cha Jianying, asking frankly and boldly.
“I am indeed curious what kind of person ‘Old Xu’ is, to be able to write such a manuscript. Scar literature can be written like this—amazing!” Cha Jianying agreed, sighing in admiration.
“This ‘Old Xu’… is a writer from Dening. I don’t really know much about him,” Bai Ling replied sourly, casting a glance at Feng Jiayou. Old Xu was none other than their classmate Feng Jiayou’s beloved.
Everyone wanted to meet Old Xu!?
Sadly, Bai Ling herself spent five or six years at Chengjiawan as an educated youth, pining all that while—yet, it was a case of love unrequited, for Old Xu’s affections were solely for his ‘Li Xiuzhi’—Feng Jiayou!
She wondered what their expressions would be when they learned that Old Xu was Feng Jiayou’s lover, and the novel’s Li Xiuzhi was none other than Feng Jiayou among them.
And Feng Jiayou herself—wasn’t she a bit too composed? Even as her classmates marveled and fantasized about meeting her beloved, she remained silent, holding her composure admirably!
“He’s from Dening? Wait, where is Dening now? Where did she go?”
Huang Beijia and Cha Jianying were surprised that Bai Ling didn’t know much about Old Xu.
They realized Dening was absent and asked about her.
“There’s another author here; Dening went over to greet and arrange a manuscript,” Bai Ling replied casually. Yanda had more than just Huang Beijia and Cha Jianying as contributors.
Huang Beijia didn’t pay it much mind. Seeing Feng Jiayou still absorbed in the magazine, she asked:

“Jiayou, haven’t you finished yet? What do you think—Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi, isn’t their story wonderfully written? I have a feeling this issue of Yanjing Literature might become a sensation—it really is launching a major satellite!”
Without waiting for Feng Jiayou’s reply, she continued excitedly, “If we make it clear that Old Xu, author of ‘The Horseman,’ is a newcomer, he might rival Lu Xinhua, author of ‘Scar,’ in popularity!”
Cha Jianying nodded repeatedly, echoing Huang Beijia—Old Xu’s ‘Horseman’ could truly become famous!
“It’s indeed beautifully written. I almost envy the love between Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi in the novel,” Feng Jiayou answered honestly. If not for fear that Huang Beijia might kill her later, she would have feigned indifference and said, ‘It’s just average!’
…
“Excellent writing!”
“I never imagined, Xueming, you’d be so talented. I think you could submit this manuscript to ‘People’s Literature’ and get it published!”
Here, Chen Shumin had finished reading the manuscript in his hand, his gaze full of surprise as he looked at the young man, Cheng Xueming, and praised him generously.
“Uh… Teacher Chen, you think it could be accepted by ‘People’s Literature’?”
Cheng Xueming knew the quality of his work without needing Chen Shumin’s praise—paying homage to famous authors and works was sure to yield good results.
But what excited Cheng Xueming was the possibility that, as a newcomer, he could submit to ‘People’s Literature’ and get accepted.
That was ‘People’s Literature’!
Its historical status among literary magazines was as weighty as ‘Xinhua News Agency’ among newspapers—a heavy-hitter at the same level. Old Chen’s candid suggestion to submit there stirred Cheng Xueming’s ambitions!
“Xueming, if you can maintain this level, I don’t think ‘People’s Literature’ would be a problem!” Chen Shumin nodded repeatedly, then asked, “By the way, Xueming, where are you living now? Will you be staying around the library to finish this manuscript?”
“Teacher Chen, I’m temporarily living at my wife’s parents’ home. As for this manuscript… I might finish it at Yanda High School.”
Cheng Xueming sensed that Old Chen was worried he’d disappear, so he was trying to find out where he lived.
“Yanda High School?” Chen Shumin didn’t immediately grasp how it had jumped to high school.
“I followed my wife back to the city, you know? She got into Yanjing University and encouraged me to take the university entrance exam next year so I could get in too. So, I’m repeating and preparing for the exam there.”
Cheng Xueming spoke sincerely, feeling a connection with Old Chen, so he shared a bit more.
“You’re preparing for the exam? Your wife wants you to get into Yanjing University, too?” This surprised Chen Shumin greatly.
It sounded as if getting into Yanjing University next year was as easy as picking something out of a pocket—such confidence!
When did Yanjing University become so easy for applicants to get into?

“I do have that goal, but it depends on how I perform next year. Still, I don’t think it’ll be too difficult.”
Cheng Xueming was honest, not boasting in the slightest.
“Impressive!” Chen Shumin’s lips twitched—what else could he say but ‘impressive’?
He added, “Well, Yanda High School isn’t far. When you finish the manuscript, I hope I’ll be the first to read it—I’m very curious how you’ll continue!”
“Absolutely! Thank you, Teacher Chen, for your praise!” Cheng Xueming replied modestly and courteously.
“Good! When your manuscript is finished, I’ll introduce you to submit to ‘People’s Literature.’ In my opinion, it shouldn’t be a problem!”
At the end, Chen Shumin dropped all pretense—he was genuinely taken with Cheng Xueming’s manuscript!
“Submit to ‘People’s Literature’? Cheng Xueming, you have another manuscript?”
“Whoa! You walk so quietly—I nearly jumped!”
A female voice sounded from behind, startling Chen Shumin. He turned and spoke.
“Hello, Teacher Chen. Our Old Zhou often talks about your manuscripts!”
“You’re something else—helping ‘People’s Literature’ poach our ‘Yanjing Literature’ manuscripts. I’ll tell Old Zhou about this!”
Bai Ling clearly knew Chen Shumin and greeted him playfully.
“You’re from Yanjing Literature?” Chen Shumin was stunned, realizing the girl who appeared suddenly was from Zhou Yanru’s team at ‘Yanjing Literature.’ He’d been caught red-handed!
“Yes, Teacher Chen! I’m Zhang Dening. I’ve been at Yanjing Literature for over a year. Old Zhou always complains you haven’t submitted manuscripts. Now, it seems you do!”
Zhang Dening teased Chen Shumin, then turned to Cheng Xueming, asking, “Cheng Xueming, is this your new manuscript? Are you really going to submit it to ‘People’s Literature’?”
“Uh… Dening, what brings you here?” Cheng Xueming smiled sheepishly, dodging the question and changing the subject.
“I’m accompanying Bai Ling to deliver sample issues and payment slips to her authors,” Zhang Dening replied. Her attention was already on the manuscript on the table—picking it up, she became engrossed, lost in the text.
“Then, you all chat—I’ve got something to take care of,” Chen Shumin seized the opportunity to withdraw, not forgetting to remind Cheng Xueming, “Once you finish the manuscript, let me see it!”
…