What did the author mean by collecting and keeping?

Answer 1

The authors often referred to their novels as 'collections' and 'kept women', which usually referred to paid readers or paid readers. Collecting referred to authors recommending content that interested readers in order to attract more readers. They would usually give some small gifts or coupons to encourage readers to collect. A mistress referred to the author providing some paid services to the readers in order to attract more readers, such as editing the article, continuing the story, providing consulting services, and so on. Usually, the author would imply in the novel that the readers had to pay to enjoy these services.