May 27, 2023Ai Hrist
The two first went to the bookstore where Xiao Hanzheng copied the books, which was also the largest bookstore in the county.
When the shopkeeper saw Xiao Hanzheng, he said with a full smile: “Young Master Xiao is here, do you want to take the book back and copy it today?”
Xiao Hanzheng was the only junior Sanyuan who has been out of Nanxi County for so many years, so he was very polite.
Xiao Hanzheng replied with a faint smile: “I won’t copy books today, I wrote a storybook, I want to show it to the shopkeeper and ask if you can accept it here?”
The shopkeeper was stunned: “Ah, what kind of storybook did Young Master Xiao write?”
Xiao Hanzheng has copied books with him for several years, but he has never written a script.
Before, it seemed that the other party didn’t like those love stories.
So he was a little curious about what script Xiao Hanzheng would write.
Xiao Hanzheng took out the written manuscript and handed it over.
The shopkeeper asked the servant to serve tea for the two of them, as he sat aside and watched.
Originally, he felt a little inexplicable after reading the first two chapters. What was this about?
There was no romance or ghosts.
The writing style was very good, but it was a pity that the story was not good.
But he still endured and read patiently, and then he was fascinated by it.
When he reached the part where the protagonist stepped into the immortal world and was about to enter the sect, the manuscript ended.
He said: “Young Master Xiao’s storybook is very innovative. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone write such a storybook about cultivating immortals. I want to read the follow-up.”
He asked: “Are you planning to write a novel?”
Xiao Hanzheng nodded: “If the price is right and the sales are good, I will continue writing.”
The shopkeeper said with a smile: “According to my experience, this should not sell badly.”
“I just don’t know what price Young Master wants to sell it?”
Xiao Hanzheng had discussed with Shi Qingluo before he came: “I don’t want to sell the manuscript alone and negotiate the price, but I want a share of it.”
This was his little wife’s idea. He thought it was great so that if the book sells well, he will not lose money.
The shopkeeper was puzzled: “What is a share?”
Xiao Hanzheng said: “It means that you will share 40% of the profits of the sale you earn each month after deducting the cost of printing, shop rent, and other costs.”
This was the first time the shopkeeper has encountered such a seller of storybooks.
He said awkwardly: “This, our shop has never received story scripts like this.”
Xiao Hanzheng smiled indifferently: “Then I’ll take it to another bookstore.”
When the shopkeeper heard that he was going to sell it to a different store, he felt bad. He was sure that it will become popular. If it was sold to others, not only would they lose money, but they would also be robbed of a lot of business.
So he smiled shyly and said: “I can’t make the decision. It just so happens that our young master came to the bookstore to check the accounts today. How about I go upstairs to ask for instructions?”
Xiao Hanzheng also knew that the shopkeeper could not decide on such matters: “Okay.”
The shopkeeper said with a smile and went upstairs with the manuscript.
Upstairs, Bai Xu was flipping through the account books of the bookstore, a little dissatisfied with the profits in recent months.
The bookstore opened by the Wu family has published several new scripts in the past six months, taking away a lot of their business.
Just as he was thinking, the shopkeeper walked in.
“Young Master, I have a new storybook here. The story is new and interesting. It’s not the kind of gaudy love affair. I think it might become popular.”
“But the person who wrote the storybook wants 40% of the profit as a reward. I can’t make the decision, so I want you to make up your mind.”
After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he handed over the manuscript.
It was also the first time Bai Xu heard of such a way of selling scripts. He took the manuscript with some curiosity: “I’ll read it first and then talk about it.”
When he sees the main character’s death and turns danger into safety, or when he found a great treasure, he can’t help but pat the table and applaud.
After reading it, he can’t get enough of it like the shopkeeper.
He asked: “Do you have the next manuscript?”
The shopkeeper shook his head, “There is none.” He also wanted to continue reading.
Bai Xu suddenly became interested, “Invite people in.”
He asked again: “By the way, do I know the person who sells the storybook?”
The shopkeeper replied: “Yes, you know him. It’s Xiao Xiucai who won the Sanyuan.”
Bai Xu was amazed: “Is he in good health?”
The shopkeeper nodded: “He looks good, his body should be fine.”
“They said that he has good luck, and is blessed by gods.” He now believed the rumors a little bit.
When Bai Xu heard this, he thought of Xiao Hanzheng’s difficult wife.
“Okay, please let them come up.”
“Yes!”
Soon the shopkeeper took Xiao Hanzheng and the two into the private room upstairs.
Shi Qingluo was stunned when she saw Bai Xu sitting in the private room “So this bookstore is opened by your family!”
This was easier to handle.
Bai Xu always felt that this young lady looked at him like a dog seeing a bone.
Bah, he was not a bone.
He smiled: “Yes, this is the property of my Bai family.”
Then he stood up and cupped his hands to Xiao Hanzheng: “Hello, Young Master Xiao!”
Xiao Hanzheng also cupped his hands to him: “Young Master Bai is polite!”
Bai Xu raised his hand: “Please sit down, both of you.”
Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qinglou sat down opposite him.
Bai Xu asked: “Young Master Xiao, you wrote the story about cultivating immortals?”
Xiao Hanzheng nodded: “Yes, how does Young Master Bai feel about it?”
Bai Xu said truthfully: “The writing is very good.”
He changed the subject: “It’s the way you want to be paid, this is the first time I have encountered it.”
Xiao Hanzheng smiled, “If there is one, there are two, Young Master Bai will get used to it.”
He didn’t go around in circles, “Then what do you think of my compensation proposal?”
Bai Xu tapped the table with her fingertips: “I think asking 40% is too high.”
Xiao Hanzheng was not good at haggling, so Shi Qinglou answered for him.
She stretched out her index finger and shook it: “You are wrong, our 40% is not high at all.”
“Let’s not talk about the profits that this book will bring to you if it becomes popular, It will also improve the reputation of your bookstore.”
She emphasized, “As long as you cooperate with us, you will make a lot of money. If we ask for 40%, you will take advantage of it.”
Bai Xu: “… …”
Did he take advantage of this?
They used to receive scripts and pay all remuneration to those who wrote the scripts, and the sum of them was less than 10% of the profit.
He raised an eyebrow, and said: “Tell me, how can I make a lot of money when I cooperate with you?”
Shi Qingluo replied: “The book is good. If this book becomes popular, my husband will cooperate with your bookstore for the next book.”
“Our family also made tofu that sells well. I don’t know if you have heard of it?”
Bai Xu shook his head: “No.”
The shopkeeper interjected: “Master, I know about this. It’s a new kind of food that has become popular in the past 2 days.”
“My wife bought a piece for cooking yesterday, and it tastes fantastic.”
Bai Xu turned his mind and looked at Shi Qingluo: “What does this have to do with selling story books?”
Shi Qingluo said: “Of course, it has something to do with it. Isn’t the restaurant opened by your family fighting against the Wu family?”
“If you get tofu and other soy products from our house and sell them, let alone in Nanxi County, all your branches will be the first ones.”
“I also know a lot of tofu recipes, and I can give it to you as a gift.”
One big client was good, she will probably have to find Bai Xu to cooperate with others in the future.
Otherwise, it would be too troublesome to rely on scattered sales, she had to mainly take the wholesale route.
