Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 126 Big Sale
Shuntian Prefecture, Chengqingfang Street, is crowded with people and every inch of land is worth a lot of money.

At night, it will be even more crowded and lively here. Even though it is morning now, you can already feel the hustle and bustle of the Lantern Festival.

Confucian scholars wearing Pingding square scarves can be seen everywhere on the streets.

In the middle of Chengqingfang Street, in front of a store, the place was packed with people.

"Shopkeeper, where's the newspaper?"

"any left?"

"Yes, yes, we are rushing to print it."

"Hurry up."

"Come on, come on!"

There were estimated to be more than a thousand newspapers pulled from a distance by donkey carts. As soon as they were put on the shelves, they were all snapped up by readers.

It's just a dollar, no one cares, but the content of the newspaper deeply attracted this group of readers.

Zhu Houzhao and Chen Ce stood in the distance, staring in amazement. Zhu Houzhao was squeezed so hard that his face turned red. He wanted to go forward to buy one, but found that he could not squeeze through at all.

Wang Defa was now able to speak normally, and said to Chen Ce with sweat dripping down his face, "We opened before dawn, and at first there were only a few people. I thought this business was doomed."

"Who knew that more and more people would come. The two hundred copies of newspapers that my boss asked me to print yesterday were sold out in a short time. This is the third batch that I have printed urgently. In total, I have printed more than two thousand copies. I have sold them for two taels of silver in a short time."

Hearing this huge number, Chen Ce couldn't help but be surprised, not to mention Zhu Houzhao who was standing next to him with his mouth wide open.

He was not optimistic about the newspaper business at first, but in just a short period of time he made two taels of silver... What's the difference between this and robbery?
So this is what they call small profits but quick turnover?

It was at this time that Zhu Houzhao noticed that scholars could be seen holding newspapers and discussing things everywhere in the streets and alleys.

Some people were discussing the candidates for this year's spring imperial examination and felt sorry for Tang Yin, believing that he should be predicted as the first.

Some people made faces and commented on the actors and courtesans, arguing fiercely. Some said this courtesan was the best, while others said that that courtesan was the best.

In short, the topics in this newspaper were filled up and passed from person to person, and in the end it seemed as if educated people who didn't read newspapers were lagging behind the times.

Chen Ce felt that he had underestimated the degree of acceptance of new things by the literati of this era. He had originally been on the sidelines regarding the newspapers, and he had never expected it to be so unexpected.

Chen Ce thought for a moment and said to Wang Defa, "This is not a good idea. When you are done with today's work, go buy a printing press tomorrow and print tomorrow's news overnight."

"Hurry up and send money to the contributors. Their royalties should not be delayed for a moment. We need to attract more people to submit their manuscripts."

"Also, I have taught you the reviewing skills. According to this standard, you should hire a few scholars to help review the manuscripts. Don't be stingy with the hiring fee. As long as they are capable, you should pay them as much as possible."

Wang Defa kept everything in mind, but Chen Ce was still worried and needed to pay more attention to it in the early stages, so he asked Zhu Houzhao to join in and help review the manuscript.

Wang Defa is now truly in awe of Chen Ce, he is truly a business genius!

It has revitalized this insignificant and even unpromising newspaper industry!

He was not stingy in flattering Chen Ce.

Zhu Houzhao was so disgusted that he snorted and said, "That's not what you said a few days ago! You said that my little brother's business would lose money."

Wang Defa said calmly, "Mr. Zhu, let's not talk about the second brother, right? Didn't you have the same opinion as me at that time?"

Zhu Houzhao's face turned red from holding it in.

Chen Ce tried to smooth things over, "Okay, okay, get to work and stop arguing."

The potential of the newspaper has not yet been fully unleashed. This is only the first day and there are still many people who don’t know about it. After today, more and more people will buy newspapers.

Let's wait until today is over and see how the newspaper's sales results are on the first day. They should be higher in the early stages and eventually stabilize at a peak. Then we can probably estimate the newspaper's monthly profit.

"Old man." Chen Ce muttered to himself, "Those people are loyal. I will take good care of them for you."

"All the damned people are dead."

"As for the matters in the northwest, don't worry about it. The rewards for their military merits that the imperial court cannot give, I will let the crown prince help you give them!"

"As long as the profit from the sales of this batch of newspapers is appropriate, the reward for the military merits will be paid by me and the Crown Prince."

……

On Chengqingfang Street, Tang Yin and several scholars stayed up all night yesterday at the government office of Cheng Min, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Cheng Minzheng was amazed at Tang Yin's talent, especially his theory of the golden ratio in painting. The two discussed this alone until midnight.

"Brother Tang, what did Lord Cheng invite you to discuss last night?"

"Yes, tell us about it."

Tang Yin laughed loudly and said, "Guess!"

Naturally, no one could guess that he was really envious of Tang Yin. Everyone went to visit the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites together, but Tang Yin was so talented that he was summoned alone by Vice Minister Cheng. How lucky he was!
Wang Wubi smiled and said, "Why are there so many people over there?"

"Go and see."

"What is a newspaper?"

"I'm so angry! What kind of newspaper is this? It predicts that Brother Tang may not be a member of this year's Spring Examination?"

"I want to see how it's predicted!"

Several scholars squeezed in and bought a few newspapers, and then each of them took one and specifically read the part about the imperial examination predictions.

This article predicted that Tang Yin might not get first place in the imperial examination because Tang Yin had been frequenting brothels since arriving in Beijing, and he was too aloof and arrogant, and it was inevitable that he would make mistakes in the imperial examination. However, he also affirmed Tang Yin's talent and was impartial, and finally only ranked Tang Yin second in the Spring Examination.

The first one is about a student named Lun Wenxu from Guangzhou. The newspaper said that he was as talented as Tang Yin, and he had books in his hands every day, was not arrogant or impatient, and devoted himself to his studies, so he might be able to get first place.

Tang Yin snorted when he saw the newspaper. His arrogant self-esteem got in the way and he snorted, "I can guarantee it! This year, Lun Wenxu will not get first place in the Spring Examination!"

"I'll keep this newspaper. When I get first place in the exam, I'll ask the store owner in person who is first!"

"it is good!"

"Brother Tang is confident!"

"This is Tang Jieyuan's courage. How can Lun Wenxu compare with Brother Tang?"

"Then let's see what the newspaper shop owner says!"

……

At dusk, lights were twinkling, and then - ten miles of lights, shining like the sun and the moon, the whole of Peking seemed to be encompassed by the huge lights, as if it were daytime.

Wang Defa excitedly came to Huaihua Hutong with the account book.

Zhu Houzhao and Chen Ce were waiting for the result from Wang Defa. When they saw Wang Defa coming, Zhu Houzhao couldn't wait to say, "Don't talk! Give me the account book, I'll take a look!"

Otherwise this guy will get so excited that he can't speak, which is useless.

After waiting for so long, Zhu Houzhao was really curious about the sales results of today's newspaper.

When he opened the account book, he was... stunned.

(End of this chapter)