What was the difference between the open and the dark in novels?
In novels, the difference between overt and underhanded plots usually referred to the main clues expressed in the plot and the way the plot developed. Bright lines referred to the clues that were directly presented in the work and could be directly perceived by the readers, such as the relationship between the characters, the plot, the character's personality, etc. Bright lines usually show an obvious direction and ending. Through the bright lines, readers can understand the main plot and the relationship between the characters. For example, the love line between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu in 'Dream of the Red Chamber', was an open line. Through this line, readers could understand the ending of the story and the fate of the characters. The hidden lines referred to the clues that were not easily perceived through hints and metaphor, such as the background story, character experience, social and cultural background, etc. The hidden plot usually played the role of guiding the plot, allowing the reader to understand the main plot and the relationship between the characters through other means. For example, the relationship between Song Jiang and Lu Junyi in Water Margins was that the undercover readers could understand the character and relationship of this character through Song Jiang's behavior and dialogue. The overt and hidden lines were both commonly used narrative methods in novel literature, and they had their own unique charm and function. The bright lines allowed the readers to understand the plot and the relationship between the characters more intuitively, while the dark lines could guide the readers to understand the content and theme of the work more deeply.