Six Hundred and Eightieth Chapter Profiteers

Another busy day.

The students of Guozijian and Shanhe Academy once again quarreled with each other at Wenqing Bookstore.

At present, very few people from Shanhe Academy are admitted to Jinshi, and there is no conflict of interest with Guozijian for the time being.

However, Shanhe Academy's record in the examination of talents and candidates made the people of the Imperial College realize that Shanhe Academy will be the biggest competitor in the future.

The students of the Gyeonggi Hukou of Guozijian are basically sent by various academies in the Gyeonggi area.

Shanhe Academy robs other academies of students, this is enmity.

As a member of the academy, the so-called friendship between classmates and teachers and students must stand up no matter what, against Shanhe Academy.

It doesn't matter if you win or not.

But you must have an attitude.

A dignified scholar, how can he not have a little righteousness.

Shanhe Academy despicably snatched students from other academies with high scholarships as bait.

Hit him!

If you don't have the guts to go to Shanhe Academy, Wenqing Bookstore becomes everyone's default battlefield.

They quarreled every day, making Wenqing Bookstore look like a vegetable market.

The shopkeeper didn't care, and neither did the other students.

Those who buy books buy books, and those who watch the excitement watch the excitement. Everyone does not interfere with each other and coexists harmoniously.

The backyard of Wenqing Bookstore has a quiet environment, which isolates the quarrels in the lobby of the bookstore.

Gu Jiu sat in the flower hall, flipping through the manuscripts sent by the people below.

Gu Hun was a little nervous and couldn't sit still.

Huang Qubing gave him a sideways look and smiled silently.

When Gu Jiu opened the bookstore, Huang Qubing realized the opportunity here, so he took the initiative to undertake the task of publishing and distribution.

Gu Hui took the lead and took the task of the content department.

What is the content department?

Creating new, best-selling story books and legendary novels is the main work of the content department.

The content department was established the year before last,

From the first three people to the current eight people, they successfully created "Qilang Ten Battles against the Flower Pickers", a legendary novel that is best-selling across the country and has become a hit.

As a result, Gu Hun secured his position as the manager of the content department.

Gu Jiu picked up the pen, and the red tip of the pen circled the contents of the manuscript.

With a stern face, she said: "It's still an old problem, the sentences are long-winded, and the choice of words and sentences are quite artificial, which is not pleasant enough to watch.

The reason why "Qilang Ten Wars against the Flower Pickers" is popular all over the country is because the story is very popular, because the plot is one loop after another. This is a pastime reading for people. It doesn't need great reason, and it doesn't need so many gorgeous words, which will affect the pleasure of reading.

Qilang is a hearty man, a passionate young man, his words and deeds should not be gloomy. The third lady has a pitiful background, but she never gave up hope and has been living a positive life. What the hell did you write this draft? The third lady has become a sick lady, ridiculous! "

Gu Jiu threw the manuscript away, and Gu Hun trembled all over.

Gu Jiu took a deep breath, "This manuscript is not good. I told you last time that this person is not good. A down-and-out literati, self-confident, asked him to write the manuscript according to the outline, but in the end it was full of private goods. Since he refused to write according to the outline , then fire him and let someone else write it.”

Gu Hun smiled awkwardly, "Because of friendship, I gave him a job, but in the end he refused to do it well. I have exhausted my benevolence, and I will fire him tomorrow."

Gu Jiu looked towards Gu Hui.

Gu Jiu also knew the person Gu Hun was talking about.

The surname is Zhao, and it can be regarded as the family of the Gu family. The family is in decline, and the purpose of writing legendary novels in the bookstore is to make a living and solve the problem of food and clothing.

However, there are too many thoughts, all of which are out of date. He also refuses to write honestly according to the outline, and concentrates on mixing private goods, wanting to show off his talent and learning.

Come on, this is romance, entertainment, money.

Gu Jiu nodded, "If it's not convenient for you to speak, I'll let someone handle this matter."

Gu Hui responded, "Second Sister, here is the second draft. I was worried that Lao Zhao could not write well, so I asked someone to write the second draft in private. Second Sister, would you like to read it?"

Gu Jiu stretched out his hand, and Gu Hun quickly took out the second draft.

The second draft is obviously written according to the requirements of the outline, and some places still need to be revised, which is generally qualified.

Gu Jiu nodded secretly, "This draft is good, basically meeting the requirements. Who wrote it?"

"The new writer recruited last year is named Yang, and he has a reputation as a scholar."

Gu Jiu laughed, "This Mr. Yang is not bad, we can focus on him in the future. However, the style of "Qi Lang Ten Battles against the Flower Pickers" needs to be unified, the choice of words and sentences, and the narrative style need to be similar to the previous twelve chapters.

You go and tell Mr. Yang, if he can modify the style of this manuscript to be similar to the previous twelve chapters, I will use his manuscript and give him a generous bonus according to the number of words. If I can't modify it, I can only find someone else to modify it. He can only get the first draft fee. "

Gu Hun immediately said, "I'll ask him right now."

After finishing speaking, he hurried out of the flower hall.

Huang Qubing laughed, "It will be published in less than ten days, and the manuscript has not been finalized yet. Is it in time?"

Gu Jiu smiled, "Of course it's in time. The illustrations have been drawn, and the workshop is rushing to print them in color. You also know that the most difficult thing about this book is not the content, but the color illustrations."

These days, color printing is extremely difficult.

If you are not careful, the picture becomes a mess.

The hardcover edition of "Qilang's Ten Battles Against the Flower Pickers" published by Wenqing Publishing Co. has no more than 50,000 words in each episode, but it can sell for three taels of silver. And people are flocking to buy it.

why?

All because of the colorful illustrations inside, it has been truly detailed, colorful and evenly colored. The image of the characters, every frown and smile, is clearly visible.

Its clarity is almost comparable to the color printing of fashion magazines in Gu Jiu's previous life.

It's just that refined.

Such a clear illustration, with the color printing technology of this era, it can be said that people in this era have never seen it before the hardcover edition of "Qilang Ten Battles the Flower Pickers". I can't even imagine it.

The portraits can still be drawn so realistically and so clearly, as if such a person really flew into the book and turned into a colorful illustration.

In the past, many bookstores have published storybooks with illustrations, or legendary novels. It is basically black and white printing, the lines are blurred, and it is all abstract. What the character looks like depends on imagination.

Very few bookstores have published color illustrations, the color matching is a mess, and when printed, the colors are a mess and it is impossible to read.

It wasn't until Gu Jiu directly recruited people from the Shaofu general with a high salary, regardless of the cost, to delve into the color printing technology, and with a little bit of inspiration from her to the craftsmen, it took more than two years to finally conquer the color printing technology.

However, the technology has been conquered, and color printing is still time-consuming and labor-intensive.

First, find someone to draw the draft, then color the draft according to the draft, make a template, and use special paper for color separation and printing.

For example, in red, first print all the red lines required for a thousand sheets of manuscript paper. Then print green again.

Very troublesome!

But it is already the best level that the current color printing technology can do.

Trouble is trouble, and the printing speed is slow, but the effect is particularly good.

Catch up with the next generation of color inkjet printing.

Gu Jiu also thought about making a template, mixing all the colors and printing them together.

It's a pity that the effect is not satisfactory, the clarity is not up to, and the colors are often blurred.

The current technology can only be printed in color separation.

Huang Qubing breathed a sigh of relief. Once the illustrations are printed, everything else becomes easy.

Gu Jiu said again: "After "Qilang Ten Wars against the Flower Pickers" is finished, it's time to prepare a new book. Here is an outline of the new book, you can read it first."

Gu Jiu took out a manuscript and handed it to Huang Qubing.

Huang Qubing picked up the manuscript paper and let out a "huh" at first.

"Write a scholar next book?"

Gu Jiu took a sip of tea, "To be precise, it's a story about a talented man and a beautiful woman. Doesn't it appeal to scholars and women?"

"It turned out to be a female ghost. Is this going to write a ghost novel?"

"Wrong! I have said that she is a gifted scholar and beautiful woman."

"But I think this outline is a ghost novel."

Gu Jiu rolled her eyes, "It's clearly the unrequited love between a gifted man and a female ghost. You're blind, so you can't see it."

The corner of Huang Qubing's mouth twitched, unexpectedly being personally attacked.

"Okay, let's take it as the unrivaled love between a wit and a female ghost. Is there a market for it?"

Gu Jiu sneered, "The last time I asked you to analyze the target customers, how did you feel?"

"They're all sour scholars?" Huang Qubing said disdainfully.

Gu Jiu sneered and said: "To be precise, 50% of the customers are unsatisfactory scholars, and 30% are boudoir women. The remaining 10% are fashionable people like you, and 10% are negligible.

The protagonist of the new book is a down-and-out talented scholar. Doesn't it feel very substituting for the frustrated scholars? Encountering a female ghost, encountering a series of unfair treatment, relying on the female ghost to get out of trouble, and finally successfully getting fame in the exam, being appreciated by the nobles, and marrying a beautiful lady. Are readers satisfied after reading it? Satisfied so much that she wished she could become the down-and-out wit in the book.

The female ghost is affectionate and righteous. She was let down by others during her lifetime, and after her death, she was loved by a talented person. She succeeded in revenge and helped the talented person to obtain fame. Isn't it touching? The women in deep boudoirs probably need to prepare two extra handkerchiefs to cry a few times for the female ghost. All kinds of twists and turns are added in the middle, trying to catch the hearts of every reader every time. "

Huang Qubing opened his mouth wide, "Ma'am is really worthy of a profiteer!"

Gu Jiu sneered, "What did you just say about me?"

Huang Qubing shook his head again and again, "I didn't say anything. What I mean is that Madam's control over people's hearts is really amazing. I admire it! Is the hardcover version still three taels of silver? Do you want to increase the price?"

Gu Jiu laughed, "You are a real profiteer."

"Ha ha……"

Huang Qubing smiled awkwardly.

How did he know before that buying books can make money like this.

And earn a special grade.

A bookseller is unlike any businessman.

In the eyes of the world, a bookseller is almost equal to half a scholar.

Can scholars sell books, can it be called a business? It's an insult to books.

Huang Qubing muttered again, "Isn't this story a bit old-fashioned?"

Gu Jiu smiled, "There are no old-fashioned stories, only old-fashioned writing techniques. Isn't the story of "The Seventh Man's Ten Battles against the Flower Pickers" old-fashioned? People have heard stories like heroes saving the beauty three times since they were young. versions.

But why "Qilang Ten Battles against the Flower Pickers" became a bestseller once it was published. Because our story is exciting enough, the writing technique is novel enough, there are enough foreshadowings, and the plot is refreshing enough.

Redundant descriptions and useless rhetoric are all discarded. You only need to tell the story seriously and tell the story well. Don't people want to read good stories? "

Huang Qubing was taken aback when he heard that.

Gu Jiu paused, took a sip of tea, and continued, "Add to that the exquisite color illustrations and wonderful stories, you'll like it too."

Huang Qubing chuckled, "I really like it. Especially San Niangzi..."

It's not good to continue talking about the rest. Huang Qubing consciously stopped the topic.

"Even you, who are well-informed, like to watch it. Can you not like scholars who live a relatively closed life, and those women in deep boudoir?"

"I like it, I definitely like it. My mother is now obsessed with San Niangzi, urging me to collect San Niangzi's illustrations all day long. She also asked me to secretly ask you, can you enlarge the illustrations of San Niangzi and make it the size of an adult , can be hung on the wall."

Gu Jiu said with a smile: "After "Qilang's Ten Battles against the Flower Pickers" is finished, I will consider making a collector's edition. Twenty people will be drawn and life-length portraits of San Niangzi and Qilang will be given away."

"Great! I'll order a set first, both San Niangzi and Qilang."

"There's a lottery draw!" Gu Jiu said solemnly.

"I'll pay one hundred taels."

"There is a lottery draw!" Gu Jiu emphasized again.

Huang Qubing gritted his teeth, "I'll pay five hundred taels."

"want……"

"Eight hundred taels can't be more."

Gu Jiu narrowed her eyes and laughed, "I'm reluctant to think about it."

Huang Qubing: "..."

Gu Jiu, a profiteer! Even his own people are cheated.

After all, he is also one of the shareholders of the bookstore, so he has no privileges?

Dare to love him as a shareholder, it is a free labor.