Jia Heng suppressed the dissatisfaction of being "exploited by channels" in his heart, nodded, and said with cupped hands: "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for your understanding."
"Easy to say, easy to say." Liu Tong put down the brush in his hand and said with a smile: "The contract for purchasing the manuscript has been written. Mr. Jia, take a look. Is there anything wrong that needs to be discussed or changed?"
With that said, he handed over the written document and a box of red mud.
Jia Heng examined it carefully. There were two hundred and forty chapters in the bibliography, one chapter and two taels, and they were submitted in three months... He nodded and said: "The old gentleman's writing is meticulous and the contract is fair. There is nothing wrong with it."
As he spoke, he picked up the brush resting on the washer, inscribed his name on the two deeds, and made his fingerprints.
Seeing Jia Heng signing the contract, Liu Tong twirled his beard under his chin with his hand, a smile appeared on his face, and said: "Master Jia, according to the rules of the industry, I originally paid the deposit for the first fifteen chapters, but Jia I can trust the young master's background and character. This is fifty taels of deposit, please keep it, Mr. Jia."
As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded fifty-tael banknote and explained: "This is a banknote from Sitong Bank. It can be redeemed on sight."
The so-called deposit, this world also has a "deposit penalty". If Hanmo Zhai defaults, the deposit will not be returned. If Jiaheng defaults, the deposit will be doubled.
Jia Heng collected the banknotes and said, "Don't worry, old man, I will submit the first fifteen chapters at the end of the month."
After the contract was agreed upon, Jia Heng breathed a sigh of relief.
Two hundred and forty taels was also a huge sum of money for him.
This can be compared to the previous life. This amount of money was two to three hundred thousand yuan, which could afford a car of comparable quality.
Once the Romance of the Three Kingdoms became famous, he could negotiate the price if he wanted to sell other manuscripts.
Like Journey to the West?
"Journey to the West" was published in the Wanli period in the previous life. Chen Han established the capital of the capital after the fall of the Jiajing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. Where can there be Longqing and Wanli?
"The four great masterpieces are Water Margin, Dream of Red Mansions... well, I can't write this one. After I finish copying Journey to the West, I'll copy Jin Yong's The Condor Trilogy instead..." Jia Heng thought.
If you want to take the imperial examination and become an official, you can't do business in a big way.
But without merchants, there would be no money. Let’s not talk about the daily waste, let’s talk about the future. Even if it is to raise an army, where will the money and food come from?
"Actually, maybe we can find some... white gloves?"
Jia Heng's eyes flashed, and he thought that maybe Aunt Cai could buy a bookshop, and then support some literati who were struggling to make a living as writers...
Even other businesses are not impossible.
"This matter needs long-term consideration." Jia Heng suppressed the matter in his heart, raised his head and said goodbye to Liu Tong.
Liu Tongtong said: "The old man will send Mr. Jia off."
With that said, he followed Jia Heng down to the second floor.
Jia Heng went down to the second floor of Hanmo Studio and came to the counter. He took the collected collection of contemporary articles from the clerk, saluted Liu Tong from Hanmo Studio and said, "Mr. Liu, stay here."
"Master Jia, let's go slowly." Liu Tong smiled and nodded to Jia Heng, watching him leave the Hanmo Studio gate. He twirled his beard under his chin with his square hands, took the manuscript, turned around and came to the counter, still couldn't put it down, squinting his eyes. Watch.
"I didn't expect that the Jia family still has such a romantic figure." Liu Tong became more and more satisfied as he looked at it.
But Jia Heng left Hanmo Studio and was about to walk home when suddenly he heard a clear call.
"Brother Jia, please."
Jia Heng froze his figure, raised his eyes, and saw a young man in a straight green shirt, holding a folding fan, looking at him with a smile. The young man wore a scholar's square scarf, and his face was elegant, making people feel like spring breeze. There was another person beside him. The young man, taller and taller, looked at Jia Heng with piercing eyes under his thick eyebrows.
"Brother, Jia is so polite." Jia Heng returned the greeting with his hands raised.
Then, the two of them exchanged their first names, surnames, and first names.
The young man in a green shirt was named Han Hui, whose courtesy name was Zisheng; the other was named Yu Zhen, whose courtesy name was Wendu. Both of them were studying in the Imperial College.
Han Hui said with a smile: "Brother Jia just wrote a poem called "Linjiang Immortal". He was so quiet and far away, so heroic and generous. It really opened Xiao Ke's eyes."
Yu Zhen smiled and said: "The atmosphere is majestic and has the style of a great generation. However, the words are broad-minded and desolate, which seems to have other reasons. But the words are so sharp that people dare not look at them."
In a word, the mentality of the words is like seeing through the world, the afterglow of the setting sun in the ups and downs of officialdom, but the words are like the rising sun, its way is bright.
Jia Heng smiled and said: "A few days ago, when I read the history of the Three Kingdoms at night, it was inevitable that I would have a strong iron horse yesterday and a dog's sigh tonight, so it was revealed in my poems."
This is also a reasonable and reasonable explanation.
People's emotions change at any time and with things. For example, many literati have written poems about the history and nostalgia of ancient times. They may not have experienced the harsh conditions of the world. They are more of a kind of emotion when seeing other people and seeing the world.
Even Li Bai once wrote poems about boudoir from a woman's perspective. Could it be that Li Taibai was still a woman?
Yu Zhen's face showed surprise, and he laughed loudly: "No wonder, he is generous, tragic and high-spirited."
Han Hui said with a smile: "Brother Jia, it's noon, why don't we just take a break and not talk. I heard that a new restaurant called Linglong Pavilion has opened in the building. Why don't we talk while drinking."
Han Hui is indeed good at socializing and dealing with people, and Yu Runwu feels comfortable in his silence.
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Since Brother Han invites me, it's better to be respectful than to obey."
He also intended to make friends with scholars. Since he decided to take the imperial examination, such friendships were indispensable.
As they spoke, they headed towards Linglong Pavilion.
This is a five-story restaurant with exquisite decoration. Judging from the carriage parked in front of the door, it is nothing but wealth and wealth.
Han Hui led the way and introduced with a smile, "This restaurant opened at the beginning of the month. I heard that the chef inside is an imperial chef from the palace, and the lion head he makes is also excellent."
Jia Heng followed Han Hui up to the second floor.
I called the waiter and found a side room, which was partitioned off by a screen. The space inside was spacious and several tables were bright. At this time, the rings were jingling, and the fragrance of orchid and musk was floating in the air. There were several women with bright dresses and beautiful looks. Offer refreshments and then retreat slowly.
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "Brother Han, this is the first time we meet, how can I make you spend so much money?"
He and Han Hui had only just met each other for the first time, and it was hard to understand why this man entertained him with such a feast.
This may be somewhat of a persecution paranoia.
Han Hui said with a smile: "Brother Jia, you're welcome. Even if we don't meet Brother Jia, Wendu and I are going to come here to have a try. Brother Jia just sit back and sit quietly. Next time, if you can't decide, just find a noodle stall on the roadside and eat while you are there." Talked."
Yu Zhen also smiled and said: "Brother Han is right. We eat in the Imperial College every day and it's just for this meal."
Seeing the two of them singing along and talking frankly and interestingly, Jia Heng just laughed and said, "I'm rude."
Then, I accepted it calmly.
Han Hui's eyes flashed, and he nodded secretly. This Ning Guogong's son, Jia, behaved well, neither humble nor overbearing. He didn't look like he came from a small family. He thought to himself, he is worthy of being able to write "Many things in ancient and modern times are just a joke." Characters in sentences such as "中".
There is a saying that no noble can be raised in three generations. If one comes from a humble background and meets a powerful person, he will either flatter himself or be arrogant.
Han Hui has a wide circle of friends and may not have other abilities, but this ability of observing faces has been developed through experience.
He brought this down-and-out young man from Ningguo Mansion here intentionally just to see his background.
No matter from the appearance of the pretty maid just now, to the calm look on Brother Jia's face and his clear eyes, to the calmness and calmness after hearing about Chu Hua Tower, he doesn't look like a child from a poor family.
The three of them ate tea and talked.
After talking to him, Han Hui nodded secretly when he saw that his answers were fluent and his knowledge was extraordinary.
As soon as we talked, we mentioned the imperial examination.
