Chapter 680: Profiteer (three shifts)

It's another lively day.
Guozijian and the students from Shanhe Academy once again quarreled with Maimangdi at Wenqing Bookstore.
At present, there are very few people admitted to Shanhe Academy for Jinshi, and there is no conflict of interest with Guozijian for the time being.
However, the record of Shanhe Academy in the examination of talents made the people of the Imperial College realize that Shanhe Academy will be the biggest competitor in the future.
The students who have registered permanent residence in the Imperial College in Gyeonggi are basically sent from various colleges in the Gyeonggi area.
Shanhe Academy robs students from other academies, this is enmity.
As a member of the academy, the so-called friendship between classmates and teachers and students must stand up no matter what, Dashanhe Academy.
It doesn't matter whether you win or not.
But there must be an attitude.
Dignified scholar, how can he not be a little upright.
Shanhe Academy used high scholarships as bait to students from other academies vilely, which was offensive.
Fuck him!
If you didn't have the courage to go to Shanhe Academy, Wenqing Bookstore became everyone's default battlefield.
Quarrel every day, so that Wenqing Bookstore is like a vegetable market.
The shopkeeper didn't care, and other students didn't care.
Buying books, watching the excitement and watching the excitement, everyone does not interfere with each other and coexist in harmony.
The backyard of Wenqing Bookstore is quiet and isolated from the quarrel in the bookstore lobby.
Gu Jiu sat in the flower hall, looking through the manuscript sent by the person below.
Gu Hui was a little nervous, unable to sit still.
Huang Qubing squinted at him and smiled silently.
When Gu Jiu opened the bookstore, Huang Qubing was aware of the opportunities there, so he took the initiative to undertake the task of publishing and distribution.
But Gu Hui took the lead and took the task of the content department.
What is the content department?
The main job of the content department is to create new, best-selling storytelling and legendary novels.
Since the establishment of the content department the year before last, from the initial three people to the current eight people, the successful creation of "Seven Langs Ten Battles against the Flower Thieves", a legendary novel that has been popular across the country, has become a hit.
As a result, Gu Hui took a firm position in the content department.
Gu Jiu lifted the pen, with the scarlet tip, encircling the contents of the manuscript.
She sullenly said: "It's still an old problem, the sentence is verbose, and the words and sentences are contrived, and they are not happy enough.
The reason why "Seven Langs Ten Battles to Pick the Flower Thieves" is so popular is because the story is pleasant to hear and hear, because the plot is all-round. This is a recreational reading for people. It doesn't need great theory or so many gorgeous rhetoric, which will affect the pleasure of reading.
Qi Lang is a hearty man and a passionate young man. His words and deeds should not be depressed. San Niangzi's life experience is pitiful, but she never gave up hope and has been living a positive life. What the are you writing this draft? Sanniangzi became a sick girl, absurd! "
Gu Jiu lost the manuscript, and Gu Hui trembled.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, "This manuscript is not good, I told you last time, this person is not good. The down-and-out literati, self-reliant, asked him to write the manuscript according to the outline, but he was completely adulterated. Since he refused to write in accordance with the outline. , Then fire him and write for someone else."
Gu Hui smiled awkwardly, "Because of friendship, he was given a job, but in the end he refused to do it well. I have done my best, so I will fire him tomorrow."
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Hui.
Gu Jiu also knew the person Gu Hui said.
His surname is Zhao, who is barely considered to be a family of Gu family, and his family is in decline. He went to the bookstore to write legendary novels to solve the problem of food and clothing.
However, there are too many ideas, all of which are out of fashion. He refuses to write according to the outline and wants to show off his talents.
Please, this is a legendary novel, a pastime reading, for making money.
Gu Jiu nodded, "If it is not convenient for you to speak, I will let someone handle this matter."
Gu Hui replied, "Second sister, there is a second draft here. I was worried that Zhao did not write well, so I asked someone to write the second draft privately. Second sister, would you like to read it?"
Gu Jiu stretched out his hand, and Gu Hui quickly took out the second draft.
The second draft was obviously written in accordance with the requirements of the outline, and some parts still need to be revised, and it is generally qualified.
Gu Jiu nodded secretly, "This manuscript is good, and basically meets the requirements. Who wrote it?"
"The writer who was newly recruited last year was named Yang, and he had a reputation as a scholar."
Gu Jiu laughed, "This young man is good, and I can focus on him in the future. However, the style of "Seven Langs Ten Fights the Flower Thieves" needs to be unified, and the narrative style should be similar to the previous twelve episodes.
You go and tell Young Master Yang that if he can modify the style of this manuscript to be similar to the previous twelve times, I will use his manuscript and give him a generous fee based on the number of words. If it cannot be modified, I can only find someone else to modify it. He can only pay for the first draft. "
Gu Hui immediately said, "I'll ask him now."
After speaking, he hurried out of the flower hall.
Huang Qubing smiled, "It will be published in less than ten days. The manuscript hasn't been finalized yet, is it too late?"
Gu Jiu smiled, "Of course it's time. The illustrations have been drawn, and the workshop is taking the time to print color printing. You also know that the most difficult thing about this book is not the content, but the color illustrations."
These days, color printing is extremely difficult.
If you are not careful, the picture becomes a mess.
The hardcover edition of "Seven Langs Ten Battles with Flower Thieves" published by Wenqing Bookstore, each time the content does not exceed 50,000 words, but it can sell three taels of silver. And people who buy it are in droves.
Why?
It's all because of the color illustrations inside, which are truly exquisite, colorful and evenly painted. The character image is clearly visible with a frown and a smile.
Its clarity can quickly catch up with the color printing of Gu Jiu's last life fashion magazines.
It's so exquisite.
Such a clear illustration, with the color printing technology of this era, can be said that before the hardcover edition of "Seven Langs Ten Fights the Flower Thief" was released, people in this era had never seen it. I can't even imagine it.
The portrait can be drawn so realistically and so clearly, as if such a person really flew into the book and turned into a colorful illustration.
In the past, many bookstores published stories with illustrations, or legendary novels. Basically, they are printed in black and white, and the lines are blurred and all abstract. What the characters look like depends on imagination.
Very few bookstores have also published color illustrations. The color matching is a mess, and when printed, the colors are blurred and you can't see it at all.
It was not until Gu Jiu worked directly from the young man's general as a superintendent to dig out people with high salaries. She studied color printing technology at no cost, plus a little inspiration for the craftsmen. After more than two years, she finally conquered color printing technology.
However, technology has overcome, and color printing is still time-consuming and laborious.
First, find someone to draw the manuscript, then color the manuscript according to the manuscript, make a template, and use special paper to separate and print.
For example, for red, first print all the red lines needed for a thousand sheets of manuscript paper. Then print green again.
Very troublesome!
But it is the best that color printing technology can do now.
Trouble is trouble, the printing speed is also very slow, but the effect is particularly good.
Catch up with the color inkjet printing of later generations.
Gu Jiu also thought about making a template, all the colors are harmonized and printed together.
It's a pity that the effect is not satisfactory, the clarity is not up to the point, and the color is often blurred.
The current technology can only print by color separation.
Huang Qubing breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the illustrations are printed well, other things become simple.
Gu Jiu said again: "After the "Seven Langs Ten Battles on the Flower Picking Thieves" is over, we should prepare a new book. Here is a new book outline, you can read it first."
Gu Jiu took out a manuscript and gave it to Huang Qubing.
Huang Qubing picked up the manuscript and gave a "Huh" first.
"The next book writer?"
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea. "To be precise, it is a story about a gifted man, a poor man and a beautiful ghost. Is it very attractive to scholars and deep-girls?"
"It turned out to be a female ghost. Is this writing a ghost novel?"
"Wrong! I said I was a gifted man and beautiful woman."
"But I read this outline, it's a ghost novel."
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes, "It's clearly a love between a gifted man and a female ghost. You are blind, so you can't tell."
Huang Qubing's mouth twitched, and he was physically attacked.
"Well, just treat it as the unparalleled love between the gifted man and the female ghost, sure there is a market?"
Gu Jiu sneered, "I asked you to analyze your target customers last time. What's your experience?"
"They are all sour scholars?" Huang Qubing said disdainfully.
Gu Jiu sneered and said: "Accurately, 50% of customers are unwilling scholars, and 30% are deep-girls. The remaining 10%, fashionable people like you, and 10%, are ignored.
The protagonist of the new book is a down-and-out talented person. Is there a sense of substitution for unwilling scholars? Encountered a female ghost, suffered a series of unfair treatment, relying on the female ghost to get out of trouble, and finally successfully obtained fame, won the appreciation of the nobles, and married a beautiful girl. After reading the book, are you satisfied? I am so satisfied that I can't wait for myself to become the poor talent in the book.
Female ghosts are sentimental and righteous. She was let down by others before she died. After her death, she was loved by the talented person. She succeeded in revenge and helped the talented person to gain fame. Isn't it touching? The deep wives are afraid that they will have to prepare two more handkerchiefs and cry fiercely for the female ghost a few times. There are also various twists and turns in the middle, striving to capture the heart of every reader every time. "
Huang Qubing opened his mouth wide, "Madam is really worthy of a profiteer!"
Gu Jiu sneered, "What did you just say about me?"
Huang Qubing shook his head again and again, "I didn't say anything. I mean the lady's control of people's hearts is really powerful. I admire it! The hardcover version is still three taels of silver? Do you want to increase the price?"
Gu Jiu laughed, "You are a veritable profiteer."
"Haha..."
Huang Qubing smiled awkwardly.
Where did he know before that buying books is so profitable.
And earn a special grade.
Booksellers are different from any merchant.
In the eyes of the world, a bookseller is almost equal to half a scholar.
Can scholars sell books, can they be called business? It is an insult to books.
Huang Qubing murmured again, "Is this story a bit old-fashioned?"
Gu Jiu smiled, "There are no old-fashioned stories, only old-fashioned writing techniques. Isn't the story of "Seven Langs Ten Fights the Flower Picking Thieves" not old-fashioned? People have grown up, and stories similar to heroes saving the United States may have been heard. Versions.
But why is "Seven Langs Ten Battles with the Flower-picking Thieves" once published, it can sell well. Because our story is exciting enough, the writing technique is novel enough, the foreshadowing is enough, and the plot is refreshing enough.
Superfluous descriptions and useless gorgeous rhetoric are all discarded. All you need to do is to tell the story seriously and tell the story well. Don’t people want to see good stories? "
Huang Qubing was stunned.
Gu Jiu paused, took a sip of tea, and continued: "Plus the exquisite color illustrations and wonderful stories, you like to watch it too."
Huang Qubing smiled, "I really like it. Especially San Niangzi..."
The rest is hard to continue. Huang Qubing stopped the topic consciously.
"You like to watch even the well-informed. Can scholars who live in a relatively closed life and those deep-girls dislike it?"
"I like it, I definitely like it. My mother is now obsessed with Sanniangzi, and she urges me to collect Sanniangzi's illustrations all day long. She also asked me to secretly ask you if I can enlarge the Sanniangzi's illustrations to the size of an adult Can be hung on the wall."
Gu Jiu smiled and said: "After the "Seven Langs Ten Battles with the Flower Picking Thieves" is over, I will consider a collection of editions. Twenty people will be drawn and give away portraits of San Niangzi and Qi Lang."
"Great! I'll order a set first. Both Sanniangzi and Qilang want it."
"To draw a lottery!" Gu Jiu said solemnly.
"I pay a hundred taels."
"To draw a lottery!" Gu Jiu emphasized again.
Huang Qubing gritted his teeth, "I give five hundred taels."
"want……"
"Eight hundred taels can't be more."
Gu Jiu squinted and laughed, "I can hardly think about it."
Huang Qubing: "..."
Gu Jiu profiteer! Even his own people are pitted.
He is also one of the shareholders of the bookstore, right? He has no privileges?
Daring to love him as a shareholder is a free labor.