$139, First Edition for Sale

"Yes, in a few days, we will start selling it on a trial basis in Tokyo and nearby Saitama and Chiba prefectures."

Bai Gui nodded.

The news of the release of the single volume of the Great Qin Empire was not only advertised in the Minjin Daily and the Asahi Shimbun, but also published in many newspapers, so it was not surprising that Akutagawa Ryunosuke knew this.

At this time, people with a little wealth and knowledge had to read and subscribe to newspapers.

"Then I wish you a great success in selling the first issue!"

Akutagawa Ryunosuke congratulated him.

The two shook hands again.

…

April 11, Saturday.

This day is the date set by the Asahi Shimbun for the first issue of the novel The Great Qin Empire to be released.

There are five sales points in Tokyo for the first issue of the novel.

Maruyama Bookstore is a bookstore under the Asahi Shimbun and the only sales point in Bunkyo District.

A total of 500 single volumes were prepared for sale this time.

Outside the store, there were already quite a few readers waiting, about a hundred people, both men and women, 90% of them men, all students from various universities who heard the news and lined up neatly.

Inside the bookstore, the clerk finished laying out the goods and started selling them as soon as the time came.

The time was set at 12 noon.

Bai Gui was also waiting inside the bookstore. He came early in the morning and was a little nervous, not knowing whether the first issue could be sold successfully.

Novels that are well-received but not popular are not uncommon. Subscribing to a newspaper only costs a few dollars, but buying a single volume costs 3 yen... Readers with low loyalty are not willing to pay such a large sum of money...

So this time he came in person, and he was also prepared to rely on his celebrity effect, and he could sign the book when he bought it.

This would increase sales.

This is also the norm for most new writers.

Ordinary big writers don't need this. As long as there is a single volume, they can have many people buy it with their fame. Although Bai Gui is famous, he is not that famous yet. Signing on the day of release is undoubtedly a good way to increase sales...

"Time's up!"

Bai Gui glanced at the bookstore's self-ringing clock and said.

The clerk nodded and immediately changed the small wooden sign hanging on the shelf from "pre-sale" to "on sale".

"I'll buy one!"

"I'll buy three, one for collection, one for reading, and one for transmission..."

"Hurry up, I can't wait."

"..."

Readers poured in.

Bai Gui also signed immediately.

One noon, more than 200 copies of the first edition of 500 copies were quickly sold, leaving less than 300 copies. In the afternoon, there were few people, not as many as in the morning, but more than 100 copies were still sold.

"Editor-in-chief Bai, I went to the other four sales points to inquire. Except for Maruyama Bookstore, which has good sales, the other sales points have only sold more than 100 copies so far..."

Nakajima Nobuo walked into Maruyama Bookstore and said to Bai Gui when no one was around.

Although Asahi Shimbun has the copyright and sells the single volume this time, Bai Gui has a good relationship with Nakajima Nobuo and trusts him, so he asked Nakajima Nobuo to find out the situation at other sales outlets.

"Together with the ones sold at Maruyama Bookstore, there are more than 370 copies."

"The price is still a bit expensive, 3 yen..."

Bai Gui sighed.

If it is an ordinary short, medium or long novel, the sales speed will definitely be much faster than it is now.

However, this speed is also within his expectations, and it is actually not bad. The scheduled sales time for the first issue is ten days. Within ten days, it is estimated that two thousand copies can be barely sold out in Tokyo.

But it still makes him a little disappointed.

Asahi will also investigate the sales of the first issue. If the sales response is good, the second issue will increase the printing volume. But on the contrary, if the sales are not good, although the second issue will not be printed, the number will definitely be greatly reduced.

Now it seems that his sales results have received mediocre response. It's not that bad, but it's not that popular either.

"Brother Meihe, I just came from the embassy. The embassy said that they ordered 100 single copies and sent them to China."

Liu Mingda rushed in.

"Embassy?"

"Does the embassy have money?"

Bai Gui couldn't help but frown. The embassy must have more money than him now, but this is the embassy of a country, not a person. It seems to have a lot of money, but it can't spare much funds and is stretched to the limit.

"This is the money paid by Ambassador Wang privately. First, he encouraged the students studying in Japan to study hard, and second, the novel you wrote has also received good response in China. He plans to donate these 100 copies to schools in various provinces..."

Liu Mingda couldn't help but smile and explained.

Since the students studying in Japan went across the ocean, except for the money they received at the beginning, they have never seen the allowances afterwards. Fortunately, those who study abroad have good family conditions and high education, and it is easy to find a part-time job with a good salary. Otherwise, relying on the allowances sent by the embassy..., they would have starved to death long ago.

"I will also donate 100 copies to schools in various provinces, so there is no need to record it in the sales records."

Bai Gui sighed.

Ambassador Wang was the successor to Ambassador Hu in Japan, and Ambassador Hu had been transferred to China for promotion. Ambassador Wang was also the last ambassador to Japan in history, and later served as Minister of Education, and had a close relationship with Principal Cai.

"Why not record it?"

Liu Mingda frowned, this was the result of his hard work in going to the embassy to promote it.

Bai Gui shook his head and told him the reason.

Asahisha is not a fool. If one person buys a lot and boosts sales, the second issue will definitely still have the same status as the unsold one, or even worse. However, Asahisha not only printed these two thousand volumes, but also had many preparatory books, amounting to several hundred volumes.

It would be easy for him to buy these unsold books.

Anyway, it only costs more than 100 yen!

"Okay, okay, now I will ask my classmates to go to major colleges and universities to promote it..."

Liu Mingda hurried out of the door again.

The sale of Bai Gui's first issue this time is not only important to him, but also a great honor for students studying in Japan. Similarly, Bai Gui is also the deputy minister. He has repeatedly defended them and tried his best to do nothing.

As evening approached, many students suddenly poured in.

"Buy a copy of The Qin Empire."

"Well, it's The Qin Empire written by Bai Meihe. Buy a copy..."

At Maruyama Bookstore, the remaining three hundred copies were sold out immediately.

Books at four other outlets are also close to being sold out. It can be said that the first issue was sold with great success.

"What's going on?"

Bai Gui was slightly startled.

Although there are many students studying in Japan, a considerable number of them are Japanese students, and the school badges on the uniforms are not the same.

He quickly stepped forward to inquire.

Only then did I realize that it turned out that many teachers from colleges and universities had recommended the purchase of the Great Qin Empire a few days ago. It happened that Liu Mingda and others went to colleges and universities to promote this, so they knew the release time and rushed over.

"You have me to thank for that!"

"It was me who asked the professors to recommend this book through my father's connections..."

Female reader Mitsuko Yamada broke in, placed three thick books on the signing table, raised her head, and said seriously.