Ci Jinzhi

  Chapter 43 Outsmarting

  Xin You didn't say much in front of the craftsmen, but turned around and asked shopkeeper Hu to compile a list, and write down the situation of all the craftsmen.

   Shopkeeper Hu was overwhelmed by Xin You's courage to buy a story for five hundred taels, so he carefully sorted out the list.

   "Then you are busy." Xin You lifted her foot and went to the back.

  The things brought from Shaoqing's Mansion were almost packed, Xin You sat down on the beauty's couch, and called Xiao Lian: "Go to the bookstore opposite and buy a copy of Mr. Ping'an's new book."

  Since the profit of the bookstore mainly depends on the best-selling story books, and the words books written by Mr. Ping An are sought after by countless people, it is natural to read more of his books to determine what kind of stories to write.

  Xiao Lian agreed, took off the dusty coat from cleaning up, changed into clean clothes and went out.

   There were still many people gathered outside Qingsong Bookstore, even because of this, a few people walked into the bookstore at random and bought books by the way.

  The shopkeeper of Yaxin Bookstore is surnamed Gu, and when the shopkeeper sees the person walking out of Qingsong Bookstore with books, his expression becomes a bit dignified.

  A little girl, quite good at tossing.

  Thinking about selling these books was attracted by the gimmick of buying stories for five hundred taels of silver, and the shopkeeper Gu's face changed into disdain.

  He wanted to see what good stories he could buy with the five hundred taels.

The book printing industry in Beijing is very prosperous. There are only a few people who buy serious books, but ordinary people who know a few big characters will buy the story books. Rob.

  Don’t talk about Mr. Ping’an, look at the capital, but he knows all the book writers who can write a decent book, and he either signs a contract to raise some potential ones, or maintains a good cooperative relationship.

  Other bookstores are similar, and he does not believe that an outstanding book writer will appear in the capital for no reason.

  Thinking about this, shopkeeper Gu felt at ease, and turned around and walked into Yaxin Bookstore.

   Not long after, Xiao Lian walked in and asked politely, "Mr. Ping An, how can you sell the new book?"

   Before Shopkeeper Gu could speak, the clerk said, "It's sold out!"

  Xiao Lian showed disappointment: "Is it sold out?"

  Mr. Ping’an’s words, the book just started selling.

   "It's really sold out, my sister wants to buy it, and come back when the reprint comes out."

   "When will the reprints come out?"

   "This is not sure, sister can come and visit often."

  Xiao Lian nodded and left disappointed.

   Seeing someone walk out of the store, the clerk immediately said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, the young lady who just arrived is a maid from the new owner opposite. This is to spy on the enemy!"

   Shopkeeper Gu sneered: "Be careful in the future, it seems that the new owner of Qingsong Bookstore is not as quiet as Shen."

  After Xiaolian went out, the wind blows her head, and her brain lightens up.

   Could it be that he was recognized and deliberately not sold to her?

  Thinking of this possibility, Xiao Lian quietly hid aside, waiting patiently for the guests entering Yaxin Bookstore.

  Because of the attraction of the notice from Qingsong Bookstore, not many customers came to Yaxin Bookstore, but people came one after another. Xiaolian patiently waited for the right candidate, a girl in ordinary clothes.

   "Ouch!" The girl who was holding the storybook loosened her hand, and the newly bought storybook fell to the ground, she couldn't help raising her eyebrows at Xiao Lian, "How do you walk!"

  Xiao Lian hurriedly picked up the notebook on the ground, and apologized again and again: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was in a hurry to walk."

  The girl took the storybook and frowned tightly: "It's unlucky that the new book that only cost three hundred cash is dirty."

   "Sister, don't be angry, I'll buy it for five hundred coins, and you can buy a new one."

  Hearing what Xiaolian said, the girl felt embarrassed: "Forget it, forget it."

Xiao Lian stuffed the five hundred wen into the girl's hands, with a sweet smile on her face: "It just so happens that I haven't read the book, and I planned to buy it, so the two hundred wen is just as if I invited my sister to drink tea and make amends." .”

   Before the girl hesitated, Xiao Lian took the story book, apologized again, and walked away quickly.

  The girl had gained two hundred letters for no reason, so she had no reason to be unhappy, so she happily went to Yaxin Bookstore again.

   "Girl, the maidservant is back." Xiao Lian walked back quickly, sweat dripping from the tip of her nose.

  Xin You handed over the handkerchief: "Wipe off your sweat. It's been so long, isn't it going well?"

"Girl is really good at predicting things. The guy at Yaxin Bookstore said they were sold out. Fortunately, the servant girl kept an eye out and quietly watched the people who went to his house to buy books. Only then did I realize that it wasn't that they were sold out, but that they were not sold to others. I seem to have recognized the identity of the servant girl."

  Xiao Lian said unhappily, and handed the script to Xin You, explaining how to get it.

  Xin You's eyes fell on the title of the book. The new book is called "Butterfly Fairy". After flipping through it roughly, she pushed the book to Xiao Lian: "Look at it."

  Xiao Lian immediately looked at it with gusto, and even had her eyes glued to the book when it was time for lunch.

   "How is it?" Xin You asked.

  The little maid raised her head buried in the story book, her eyes were wild: "It's so beautiful!"

  Xin You: "..."

   Among other things, from "The Peony", "Spirit Fox" to Butterfly Fairy, it can be judged that people in Beijing like stories about gods and ghosts.

   In this case, she knew it in her heart.

The news that Qingsong Bookstore would offer five hundred taels of silver to buy stories spread throughout the capital. Book writers, down-and-out scholars, and even low-paid officials and students from the Imperial College secretly wrote stories. These people almost stepped through the threshold.

  People in the world love to pursue excitement, and they can’t help but walk into bookstores out of curiosity and freshness. Even if only two out of ten people buy a book and take it away, the sum is not a small sum.

   Shopkeeper Hu burst into tears: "Boss, you really know how to do business!"

   Before the five hundred taels were spent, many of the dusty books were sold out!

   In this way, not only did Xin You order "The Story of Peony" to be engraved, but shopkeeper Hu also selected a best-selling poetry anthology to be printed.

   "Boss, how about we increase the amount to one thousand taels, so that more people will come here attracted by the reputation."

   As for whether it will really cost one thousand taels to buy a story, ahem, the bookstore has the final say.

Xin You shook her head and denied: "There is no need for this. Five hundred taels is a very sincere price. If you really want to spend one thousand taels to buy a story, the risk of losing money is too great. If you just use the high price as a gimmick, you will not actually buy it. Time After a long time, no one came. In the final analysis, it is still necessary to release popular words.”

   "My boss is right, it's best to pick a good story during this time and revitalize the bookstore."

  Xin You said with a smile: "The shopkeeper seized this opportunity to reprint the poetry collection. It is very good. The already finished version only needs some ink labor, but it must be checked carefully, and the defective products cannot be sold to customers and smash the bookstore's signboard."

   "Don't worry, my boss." Shopkeeper Hu assured, patted his chest.

   The smile on Xin You's lips disappeared, and she raised her hand to press the corners of her eyes.

   Thanks for the ten-thousand-coin rewards of Zheng Zhi Zhuang Xin Yang Si Hai, iampetty, Yue Luo Xing Wuhen, Bai Yun Gone, Mo Yu Mo Yi, and thanks to the book friends who rewarded and voted.

  (end of this chapter)