Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty Fifth Remorseful Booksellers

In the front hall, three men were greeting each other.

Chen Sanli, the shopkeeper of Juwentang, said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Ma, every collection of essays for the test is printed by the old man's Juwentang. This dictionary, of course, will not be left alone."

Shopkeeper Ma said with a sad face: "Shopkeeper Chen is very powerful, but I can't handle it. I just came here to get acquainted. Maybe I can have some friendship with Xing Hebo in the future."

Qian Qiang, the owner of another bookstore, said with a smile: "You two are both well-known and big booksellers in Jinling City. I can't compare to you. I just want to meet Xing and Uncle, so that I can brag about it with my wife and children when I go home. .”

Chen Sanli said proudly: "This old man has some friendship with the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War. If they can't print it well, they will probably find Juwentang to help..."

The cool Chen Sanli who was talking saw the other two get up and look outside, so he hurriedly turned to look.

"I've seen Uncle."

"Please sit down."

Fang Xing sat down on the main seat, and said expressionlessly: "Yesterday Fang Shishi said that you said that there are not enough craftsmen to take on Uncle Ben's business, why are you here again today?"

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Since Fang Xing came forward in person, he intended to hand over the business to one of the three of them, but his words unceremoniously tore the fig leaf off the faces of the three of them.

This is not an attitude of cooperation!

The three of them were inevitably a little embarrassed, Chen Sanli coughed dryly and said: "Yesterday, the younger one drank too much, and misremembered the number of craftsmen, please ask uncle to make amends."

Fang Xing nodded, glanced at the other two people and said: "This time, Ben Bo decided to use movable type, and try to use cheap paper. Are you willing to continue?"

type?

Tut tut!

You are Xing Hebo! It's too embarrassing to choose movable type!

Engraving books is a sacred thing. Anyone who can choose rigid type will not choose movable type.

The reason is also very simple: things printed with movable type look dull and boring, and they are just words, without any aesthetic feeling.

Chen Sanli squeezed out a smile and said, "Uncle, the booksellers in Jinling City are the smallest among the three. I wonder how many dictionaries Uncle plans to print?"

"Five thousand copies in advance, follow-up depends on the situation."

Fang Xing still has confidence in this dictionary. The first reason is that he minimized various costs and used movable type and the cheapest paper.

The second is that he compressed the 3,000-word redundant explanations, especially those that are useless to ordinary people, all were deleted, and the explanations of Fang Xue were added, but the length was still reduced.

The third is the matter of the hot air balloon going up into the sky and the lightning being led into the ground. Of these two things, the first one has been spread all over the country, and the second one is believed to be spread out soon.

With these three advantages, Fang Xing believes that this Fangxue dictionary will be popular in Ming Dynasty.

"Fifty thousand copies!"

Fifty thousand copies is indeed a large printing volume, but Fang Xing kept the cost too low.

Like all business models, the gross profit margin of high-end products is always astonishingly high, while low-end products can only make small profits but sell more.

Chen Sanli thought for a while: "Uncle, if there are 50,000 copies, apart from Juwentang, there is no other company in Jinling City that can take over this business alone."

There was self-confidence and a faint sense of superiority in these words, implying Fang Xing: You have no other way but to cooperate with me, Chen Sanli, so let's talk about the conditions.

"What about you two?"

Fang Xing ignored Chen Sanli, but asked Shopkeeper Ma and Qian Qiang.

Shopkeeper Ma and Qian Qiang looked at each other, and said anxiously: "Uncle, I really can't handle this business alone."

Fang Xing's business volume is huge, but most of the profits will be compressed to a very low level.

After taking over this business, most of the time and energy are spent on it, while other lucrative businesses are difficult to take over.

Not worth it!

Seeing that the three were hesitating, Fang Xing took a sip from his teacup, and when he was about to chase them away, Xiao Dao came in and said, "Master, Lord Shang is here."

Shang Yun? What is he here for?

"Bring him in.

"

Shang Yun was still smiling, and bowed as soon as he came in, "Xing He Bo, I am ordered to come here."

Chen Sanli and the others quickly got up and stood to the side. If it was said that Fang Xing was polite to meet them, then after Shang Yun arrived, there would be no seats for them, a relative or an official.

"Uncle Xing, Lord Shangshu ordered his subordinates to come here, and wants to give Fangxue's dictionary to the next one, which will be printed by our Ministry of War."

Shang Yun glanced at Chen Sanli and the others, and said with a smile.

Fang Xing's heart skipped a beat. Since he treated Jin Zhong, the two have never been in contact. He thought that everyone would be like this in the future, but he didn't expect that Jin Zhong knew his plight clearly and directly helped him.

Shopkeeper Ma and Qian Qiang were dumbfounded when they heard the news.

The Ministry of War intervened in this matter, so their hesitation just now seemed ridiculous.

Only Chen Sanli, he knew the situation of Jinling's printing industry like the palm of his hand, and he knew that the Ministry of War would never be able to finish it.

In Jinling City, the most powerful is the Rites Supervisor, and under it is the Ministry of Rites. Does the Ministry of War dare to accept the business of 50,000 copies of such pitiful things printed a year?

Fang Xing smiled and said, "Master Jin is in good health?"

"Okay, my lord's body is getting stronger and stronger, and he is better at going up the steps than going down."

Shang Yun smiled and said: "Uncle Xinghe, my lord said that there are not enough craftsmen in the Ministry of War, but he is sure that he can borrow some people from the Ministry of Households to ensure that the printing of the dictionary will not be delayed."

Fang Xing nodded and said: "Thank you Mr. Jin Gao Yi, this matter is also feasible."

Chen Sanli was dumbfounded when he heard that, you guys are actually engaging in departmental alliances!

Although the profit of this business is low, it is eye-catching. Once it is taken over, the advertising effect is much more powerful than printing Shuowen Jiezi.

Chen Sanli gritted his teeth and said, "Uncle, I am willing to take this business without making money."

"Who is this man? Rude!"

Shang Yun frowned and asked Huang Zhong.

This is knowingly asking! Huang Zhong laughed and said: "This man is the shopkeeper of Juwentang. Yesterday he refused to print dictionaries, but today he is willing to accept it without making money, which makes me a little confused."

Shang Yun's smiling face disappeared, and he said coldly: "Xing and Bo Wenwu are both capable, you dare to neglect his old man's affairs, what crime should you deserve!"

To be honest, it was inappropriate for Shang Yun to vent his anger on Fang Xing, and it was even a bit overwhelming.

But Fang Xing just looked outside expressionlessly, thinking about Shang Yun's intentions in his heart.

Shang Yun has dealt with Fang Xing many times, and in the past they always had a slippery style, neither close nor alienated.

This old fritters suddenly changed their attitude and style of painting, it must have a small plan.

"Little guilty"

Chen Sanli was remorseful. He wanted to take advantage of Juwentang's largest scale and gain the upper hand in the late bargaining process, but he didn't expect the old man from the Ministry of War to intervene suddenly.

Jin Zhong, oh Jin Zhong! How come you didn't die of illness last time!

After Shang Yun turned around, the smiling face returned naturally and seamlessly. Huang Zhong was used to this kind of face-changing stunt in Suzhou Mansion before, but Fang Xing felt that Shang Yun's acting skills were too superb, and no old drama could compare to it.

"Uncle Xinghe, the lower official was filled with righteous indignation for a moment, it is presumptuous, please make amends."

Fang Xing looked at this smiling and friendly face, and said noncommittally, "Bo Lu, send these three people back."

"Uncle, if you are willing to lose money, you will accept it!"

Chen Sanli cried out heartbroken as he thought of the disadvantages of losing this business.

Huang Zhong said coldly: "Don't disturb uncle's work, please."

Xiaodao snorted coldly outside, and Chen Sanli and the others left the front hall with regret.

What a great publicity opportunity! But why am I so obsessed with wanting to make more money!