Universe Infinite Canteen-Chapter 618 - Reviewing the Manuscript

"Ao Shaobao can't type 8,000 words."

"He can!"

"He can't, he doesn't even have a computer."

"He can!!!" Mushroom-head insisted, his neck stiff and his face beet red.

"Fine, you win. Which ward is the Big Writer in?" Ma Lu asked again.

"Which Big Writer are you asking about?" Mushroom-head was puzzled. "I know many Big Writers, such as Lev Tolstoy, Dazhongma, He Zhizhang, Yu Xuanji, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie..."

"What about Ao Shaobao?"

"Ao Shaobao is Batulu, not a Big Writer."

"Now you remember."

Fortunately at that moment, a mental girl with tattoos all over her neck and a lip ring passed by.

"If you're looking for Zheng Qian, go to the room at the end of the corridor on the right. He spends all his time there, except for meals and using the restroom."

"We're not looking for Zheng Qian," said Ma Lu, "We're looking for the Big Writer."

"Zheng Qian is the Big Writer. It's a nickname the people here gave him because he always believed he would become a Big Writer one day.

"For that, he dropped out of college in his freshman year and stayed home writing novels. After two years, he got a contract and was serialized for six months on Qidian, earning a total of 4133.4, of which 3600 was a full attendance bonus from the website.

"His parents thought there was something wrong with him." The mental girl pointed to her head, "They sent him here for treatment, and yet he continues to write here."

"Isn't it forbidden to bring anything into this place?" Ma Lu asked.

"Yeah, but when Zheng Qian was brought in, he clung to his notebook, fighting with anyone who tried to take it from him. Even four male nurses couldn't hold him down.

"Two more people came, and finally, they took his computer away. Then, Zheng Qian began a hunger strike; even if food was forced into his mouth, he would spit it out.

"After four days of starving, there was hardly any life left in him, and the hospital staff, afraid to have to explain to his parents if he died, gave him his computer back."

Hearing this, Ma Lu sighed, "With that kind of dedication, if he had done something else, he would have succeeded by now."

"Who knows."

"What about you? You seem pretty normal. Why were you admitted?" Ma Lu said as he yawned. "Strange, it's only a little past seven, why am I so sleepy?"

"Did you take any pills they gave you when you came in?" the mental girl said. "They contain sleeping pills that make you drowsy."

"As for me, I have manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder. When it hits, I've attacked several people, even bitten off an ear of a hotpot restaurant owner where I worked, because he owed me three months of wages. Also, I've attempted suicide twice.

"The last time I almost succeeded, and then I was brought here.

"I look normal now because I'm in a remission period. Otherwise, to prevent me from attacking other patients when I have an episode, the medical staff here would lock me up alone, and you wouldn't see me."

"Okay, take care of yourself then; we have to hurry too," Ma Lu said to Old Wang. "Let's find Zheng Qian quickly."

But at that moment, the mental girl spoke again, "I did you guys a favor; can you do one for me?"

"Seems fair. How can we help you?" Ma Lu stopped in his tracks.

"Bring me some cigarettes. Not too many, one pack, no, make it two, and I'll pay you once we get out. They took all my cigarettes when I was admitted, and I haven't smoked in a long time."

"I guess we could, but how are you so sure we'll be out before you? What if you're the one bringing us cigarettes?" Ma Lu asked curiously.

"Because it's obvious you aren't sick," the mental girl said. "Especially you, you have a scent I don't like."

"What scent?"

"The scent of a capitalist. I don't know why you're here, and I don't care, just remember our deal."

"Don't worry, I definitely won't forget," said Ma Lu.

After saying goodbye to the girl with manic depression, Ma Lu and Old Wang finally arrived outside the ward she mentioned.

Through the half-open door, they could see a figure in hospital clothes hunched over on the windowsill.

The cursor was blinking on his eyeglasses.

He had been sitting there for a full hour, and the meal brought by the nurse had cooled down, yet he still couldn't figure out what to write next.

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Ma Lu leaned in and read, "Shangguan Jianan seemed to hear something incredibly ridiculous, couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the sound startled all the birds in the valley."

The patient was startled by the sound, quickly closed his laptop, and turned to look at Ma Lu, panicking. "Who... who are you? Why are you here?"

"I'm Ma Lu, the owner of Universe Infinite Canteen, and this is my partner and head chef, Old Wang. The City Manager sent us."

After Ma Lu finished speaking, the patient did not react and remained wary.

Worried he hadn't heard, Ma Lu repeated, "The City Manager sent us."

"You must be seriously ill," said the patient, pushing up his black-rimmed glasses.

Ma Lu and Old Wang exchanged glances, then asked, "You are Zheng Qian, right? Nicknamed Big Writer."

"I am Zheng Qian, and I think giving nicknames is impolite."

"Then you don't recognize the City Manager? It looks like a Pigeon; it sent us to find you, saying that you know where we should go to find this time's guest."

"I don't know any City Manager," Zheng Qian still shook his head.

"Stop pretending; we're all in this together," Ma Lu patted Zheng Qian's shoulder. "Even though I'm an Earthling, Old Wang is a robot. We often deal with the City Manager; I've even seen it poop, haha."

Zheng Qian remained expressionless.

Ma Lu's smile faded, "Damn, this guy really is just an ordinary person."

"If you don't have anything else, please leave. I have to write. I haven't even typed a thousand words of today's 4,000 quota."

Regarding the remaining 40,000 Star Currency, Ma Lu, of course, wouldn't give up so easily.

So he leaned in again, "What are you writing, young Zheng? Let us help too."

"Literature is something you won't understand and can't help with."

"Of course, the writing must still be done by you, but we can help you review it, give some ideas, as they say, 'Two heads are better than one,' like the saying goes about Zhuge Liang being on par with three ordinary strategists.

"And I also am a fan of web novels; I've read all the famous ones in recent years, like 'Master of Mysterious' and 'Taoist Strange Immortal.'"

Zheng Qian seemed tempted, mainly because it's hard for small authors to refuse a review, even to get criticized.

Especially in a mental hospital where there are few sane people, Zheng Qian seldom finds someone to review his writing.

"So, I'll let you take a look...but only at this chapter I'm writing. I've written a lot already, so let's be clear, I may not take your suggestions, especially if they affect the overall story."

"Sure, no problem."