Late June.
Zhang Yue has been studying in the county for more than three months.
Although the hottest period is over, it is still unbearably hot for Pucheng, which is located in Fujian Province.
After eating a bowl of sour soup, I felt a little relieved from the heat.
Zhang Yue recalled this sour soup. The sour taste stimulates body fluids, and the body fluids also produce sweetness. It is definitely the best way to relieve summer heat.
The chief and Zhang Yue sat together on the terrace under the shade of a tree to enjoy the coolness, while drinking sour soup, which was particularly enjoyable.
The mountain breeze blew, and Zhang Yue drank another bowl of sour soup. The taste was unparalleled.
A roommate next to the chief saw that Zhang Yue's bowl was empty, so he picked up his bowl and filled the bucket with soup.
"Senior brother can't help me, I'll go by myself!"
"It's just a little effort." The man smiled.
"Brother Zhang Xian, let him do the errands like this," the chief said with a smile as he sat with his feet crossed, "I didn't expect you to be so young. I never thought that you would be able to do this. After winning the county school carving workshop, I can earn this money."
"Isn't it possible that the income from engraving books will not allow the chief to recover the money he originally spent on the engraving workshop?"
The chief smiled and said: "It's not that easy."
Zhang Yue picked up the newly served sour soup. He was the one who was greedy for this food.
Zhang Yue said: "Chief, this money is nothing. If the chief wants to run the business, then invite a few more craftsmen to come. To be honest, our work is too slow. If we have more people, we can still work in other carving workshops." Make more money before the imitation comes out."
The chief of the village sighed after hearing this. The small carving workshop of the county school did not have an advantage.
"How can we compare to other engraving workshops? It takes two months from engraving to publishing, but the big engraving workshops only take half a month to make a complete copy. If I can sell it for half a year, I can sell at least five thousand copies. That’s it.”
Zhang Yue thought to himself, the main reason is that there is no such thing as copyright in this era. If we really let them have a monopoly and prevent other carving workshops from plagiarism, then they can create a brand of "Two years to solve the test and three years to save the test", and they can make a steady stream of money in the future. .
Zhang Yue said: "I have learned a lot about this. The craftsmen in Dakengfang are more experienced in making paper and ink than we are, and they are also sophisticated in paper and ink printing. For example, the Shunchang book paper they use is not only cheaper than ours, but also has better workmanship." They were even better than us, and they even asked the Fang family to add notes and sources of allusions in the book. When the two families finally compared it, it seemed as if we had copied them, and what was even more annoying was that they sold it cheaper than us."
This can really be described as the feeling of being defeated by db, and then the bad money drives out the good money.
Zhang Yue indeed did not expect that Jianyang bookstores would be so developed at this time.
Taking Chonghua Square in Jianyang as an example, every room is full of books, and there are many merchants and merchants from all over the world. There are two large gatherings on the first and sixth day of each month, and two small gatherings on the tenth day.
The people here can truly be said to be "using knives and hoes, making boards and fields". Although there are many engraving workshops, there is no need to worry about not selling books. Booksellers from all over the world gather here.
In the Southern Song Dynasty, there were similar copyright notices among Jianyang bookstores. This was also the earliest copyright notice. One family was not allowed to imitate books from other stores, but there is no such notice at present.
Zhang Yue said: "There are two ways below the chief. One is to take advantage of the money we make and share it. The other is to use the money to expand the bookstore, hire more craftsmen, and buy some good engravings. ."
Hearing Zhang Yue's words, the chief had a look of hesitation in his eyes, and finally said: "I think it's better to forget it, let's just leave it at that! Saburo doesn't think I'm short-sighted, right?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "The chief is a smart man, and many people don't know what it means to be safe. It's too late for me to admire you."
Zhang Yue really didn't mean to force it. This was something he did casually. Running a business requires a lot of energy later.
This is no easier than a work-study program.
The publishing industry in the Song Dynasty was limited to imperial examination books because of the increasing popularity of schools. But in the final analysis, the Song Dynasty was more prosperous than the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but the literacy rate was not as good as the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Therefore, there was no market for Zhang Yue's several copies of Ming and Qing dialects in the Song Dynasty, but their sales were not large and the market was limited.
If the chief of the restaurant has this intention, Zhang Yue can help him, and he won't have to worry about not being able to sell it. But Zhang Yue did not have such ambitions and did not insist on it. He just let nature take its course when doing things, as long as he did not let nature take its course when it came to studying.
The distinction between primary and secondary must be done well, that is, "seeing the road without taking it", knowing that you can make money but not doing it, because I always know where to put my energy. As for flowers blooming on all sides, that's up to you.
In feudal society, businessmen were just free to eat. Once they lost their asylum, anyone could take a bite out of you. The more money you made, the more dangerous it became. On the other hand, with asylum, it is not easy to lose money.
The chief ordered someone to bring the account book, then he stepped back and said, "Please take a look at it, Saburo."
Zhang Yue smiled, he liked the other party's openness very much, and he did not want to make his fortune in vain.
Zhang Yue didn't say he shouldn't read it. Instead, he read it carefully. He said: "Based on this, we made a total of more than 500 yuan during this trip."
The chief said in admiration: "Saburo must have done business. I also asked the accountant to calculate these accounts. You didn't even need to do the calculations."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that I am a scientific monk. I can understand it if I can’t read classical Chinese before time travel, but I am too inferior if I can’t even understand a four-legged account.
He said: "It's easy to say, I know a thing or two about everything."
The chief said: "I paid for the labor, paper, ink and engraving. Our balance is divided into 37 cents as agreed, which is 152 taels and 632 taels. Sanlang will take a look at it again. In a few days I will I’ll give you the money.”
Pretty much what I expected. Zhang Yue came up with the idea himself and didn't even go to the recording room twice, so he accepted the 30-70 ratio.
Zhang Yue picked up a pen and made notes on the account book, and then said: "If it hadn't been for Xuezheng to bring the questions this time, you and I wouldn't have been able to make this money. Let's not forget the well digger when we drink water, and we have to make up for it with a thank you gift afterwards."
The chief said in admiration: "Sanlang is really a kind man. This thank you gift comes from me. It will not be shabby. I will give it to Xuezheng in your name and mine."
"It's a pleasure to do things with the chief." Zhang Yue nodded and refused.
The chief laughed and said: "Saburo, I am your friend. If you have an idea to make a fortune next time, don't forget that I am the one."
"must."
Zhang Yue calculated that after adding one hundred and fifty-two guan to the previous 30-odd guan, he already had a net worth of 190 guan. Buying back his own house was not a problem, and he could even repay the two hundred guan he owed to Peng Jingyi. After doing the math, he found that an ultimatum was currently worth 200 guan, and this price was enough for him to become a monk.
At dinner, Zhang Yue, Guo Lin, Wu Rang, and Qian Qiming were still eating second- and third-class meals in the restaurant, hoping to become first- and second-class officials.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but stop, thinking that he was a man with a net worth of 190 yuan, but he was still eating second-class food. He really didn't forget his original intention.
"Let's go have snacks together tomorrow and eat some meat!" Zhang Yue suggested.
Guo Lin thought for a while and agreed: "Over the past two months, I have saved half a fortune in the transcription office. How about I treat you to sesame sesame cakes tomorrow?"
"Half money!" Qian Qiming looked envious, while Wu Rang curled his lips.
Qian Qiming said: "After I paid the money for fasting this month, my pocket is empty. Otherwise, I usually rely on three senior brothers for help. In fact, I am asking you all."
The three of them all laughed and said, "Qiming, you are the youngest, so it is natural for us to take care of you."
Zhang Yue said: "Okay, you can eat sesame sesame cakes anytime. How about I treat you to haggis soup cakes tomorrow?"
Qian Qiming's mouth watered when he heard this, as if he smelled the aroma of mutton, and said: "Sanlang is generous!"
"Sanlang is so heroic!"
"Sanlang Shuangli!"
Wu Rang smiled and said, "Sanlang has nothing to say to us."
Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this.
After everyone finished eating and washing dishes, Guo Lin whispered to Zhang Yue: "Junior brother, I actually made more than 700 yuan, but I didn't tell the truth in front of them just now."
Zhang Yue hesitated to speak, and finally swallowed his words and said: "Senior brother, this is really amazing. But senior brother, how much money you make must be kept in your heart, don't tell others."
That's right, Zhang Yue is tight-lipped than Peng Jingyi when it comes to making a fortune in silence.
"I know, I'm just telling you, Junior Brother, that you haven't gone to transcribe the books recently. I said that although the money for the books is small, it will add up over time... Junior Brother, I tell you, don't look down on these small amounts of money. ."
Zhang Yue was not interested in listening to Guo Lin's ramble, so he asked, "How did the two of them look when I went to eat haggis soup cakes just now?"
Guo Lin said: "Junior Brother Qian is fine, but Brother Wu seems to be indifferent when I tell him to eat sesame sesame cakes. When you say that you want to eat haggis soup cakes, your expression is not the same."
After sleeping together for a few months, everyone's personalities gradually emerged.
Qian Qiming is carefree and has no scheming intentions.
This Wu Rang was different. He was very enthusiastic about Zhang Yue at first and often asked about his second brother. When Guo Lin let slip one day and learned that his second brother had not sent a letter to Zhang Yue since he left home, he became a little distant. After all, they are still classmates, but they are just not as enthusiastic as before.
There were no classes at the county school on the first day of the lunar month, so Zhang Yue would go home at that time, while Guo Linze and Zhang Yue stayed at the dormitory school. Wu Rang would go to bed smelling of alcohol during these two days.
Remembering that he had repeatedly defaulted on the school's food allowance, the two of them felt doubtful.
Zhang Yue said: "We don't care about other people's affairs. As long as Wu Rang can get along with us in person, it will be fine. After a while, we will change beds. Wu Rang sleeps with Wu Jingke, so we have nothing to do with him. ”
Guo Lin nodded and said, "Junior brother is right. I don't usually have a playful smile, but when I say serious things, I still have some truth."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but roll his eyes at Guo Lin: "Brother, how is Sanniang?"
Guo Lin...
While they were talking, someone said from outside: "Sanlang, someone is looking for you at home and seems to want you to go home."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be surprised after hearing this: "Go home? I haven't finished my homework yet."
Guo Lin said: "Junior brother, just go on your own. I will discuss it with you over there."
"That's fine."
Zhang Yue quickly walked to the front porch of the county school and saw his neighbor squatting in front of the porch.
The other party seemed a little at a loss.
"Mr. Yang Sanlang, what's going on at home?"
The other party smiled and said: "Sanlang, there are guests at your house. Your elder brother asked me to come here quickly and call you back."
"Guest? It's so late," Zhang Yue asked, "I wonder who the guest is?"
The other party shook his head and said, "I don't know that either. I just heard from Mr. Da Lang that he came a long way from Suzhou."
"Suzhou?"
Zhang Yue immediately remembered, yes, don't the second brother's current parents live in Suzhou? Zhang Yue's heart trembled and he immediately said: "I understand, thank you very much, Mr. Sanlang."
The other party nodded and glanced at the entrance and exit of the front porch of the county school. The students wearing white t-shirts showed envious expressions.
He couldn't help but said: "Sanlang is so awesome. I can't even believe that he was admitted to the county school. This place is so grand, and all the people who come in and out are officials. I envy you so much."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "If this is where you are, I'll ask Mr. Sanlang to come and sit here some other time."
"Okay, excuse me, Saburo."
Zhang Yue immediately went to the door, took out the door book, and signed for staying abroad. But when I saw the disciple, he said: "If you are staying out, you must learn the rules before going out. Only if the chief of the restaurant has a note, can I let you sign a thin note. If the sign is windy, no note is needed."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that students from the county school usually had no excuse to go out, so they often used the excuse of catching a cold to visit the doctor.
I went out for business, not because of the wind. What's more, it's getting late now, and it will be troublesome if you can't go out before the city gate closes.
Zhang Yue said: "I have something urgent. I want to see Xuezheng. The chief of the restaurant goes back and forth to get a note. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it in time. I can make up for it later. I wonder if I can be accommodating?"
Menzi stroked his beard and said, "Rules are rules, it's hard for me to do this."
Zhang Yue knew in his heart that the other party was asking for benefits from him. But he shook his head, and just as he was about to change his signature to the word 'Gan Feng', he saw someone on the side saying, "Isn't this Saburo? You can just go on your own. I'll go back and ask the chief to make up the note."
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Xue. I'll treat you to tea another day."
"Sanlang, you're welcome."
After Zhang Yue left, the disciples couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Master Xue, who is this person?"
The other party said: "Why don't you have eyes? This is Zhang Saburo. He is the chief of the restaurant, and he is a person who is valued by all students. Don't mess with him on weekdays. Is it easy for you to do this job?"
Menzi nodded repeatedly and said: "Thank you for the tip. I didn't know he was Zhang Sanlang. If I had known this earlier, I would never have dared to stop him."
Then Menzi looked at Zhang Yue's retreating figure.
Zhang Yue was worried about the news from Suzhou, so he hurried home and finally got out just before the city gate closed.
At this time, the sky was bright and bright. Zhang Yue calmed down and slowed down his steps. He thought, if he went back in such a hurry, with his head and body covered in sweat, wouldn't he be looked down upon?
Zhang Yue walked to the door of his house and happened to see a carriage with exquisite exterior decoration parked in front of his house.
Just the exterior.
There was a shortage of horses in the Song Dynasty, and most people used mule and donkey carts. This household actually used horse-drawn carts, which was not something ordinary wealthy families could do.
Zhang Yue tried hard to calm down, and he walked in the courtyard [District 8] casually, but he saw his brother and sister-in-law Zhang Qiu were there, and a middle-aged man in his forties was sitting calmly in the hall drinking tea.
As soon as Zhang Shi saw Zhang Yue, he said, "Sanlang, come and see me soon. This is the old governor of your uncle's family."
When the other party saw Zhang Yue, he was stunned, stood up and said with a smile: "Is this Sanlang? We haven't seen each other for many years and you have become such an adult. Time is not forgiving! Okay, okay, okay, my uncle and your second brother asked me I'm here to greet you, they always remember you in their hearts."
