Daming: Wanted to be a small landlord, but was forced to ascend the throne

Chapter 188 How Did You Steal Those Things?

The reason why Qin Shao is so persistent is not only considering the potential of the cultural industry.

Another most important reason is that he happened to meet a book store that was reselling it.

The location is near Xuanwumen.

The boss is a family member of a first-rank and fifth-rank official of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Because he was dispatched to other places as an official, his family members had to move to other places, so he wanted to resell the book.

In fact, another important reason for reselling is that it does not make much money.

There are quite a few bookstores in Shangjing, but this bookstore does not have much competitive advantage.

They printed a lot of books before, but they didn't sell them, which caused a squeeze, and they still haven't earned back their capital.

"Mr. Qin, if you are interested, I will sell you those engraving boards at a low price. I don't intend to do this business! There are so many scholars in Shangjing who can't make money. Our master is now sent to Guangdong, which is remote. , there are not many people who read books, so it is useless to keep them."

The boss, surnamed Liu, is the official's elder brother.

Being able to stay in Shangjing to do business is also supported by his younger brother.

Now that his younger brother has also left, he has nothing to rely on if he stays here, so he simply moved to Wangyue with his younger brother to see if he could find another place to do business.

"Also, I have a few sculptors here, all of whom are honest and reliable. Once I leave, they will lose their jobs. If Mr. Qin wants to start the business of bookstores, you can consider using these people. This also counts as me. This old club can finally do something for them."

This boss is really a real person.

Qin Shao had a good impression of him.

But it is actually very difficult for people to make money in business, and the mind is often not flexible.

Qin Shao observed the boss and found that he was such a person.

This house is actually not too small. The front is a two-storey large front room. It used to be a few connected rooms. It was opened up for the opening of the bookstore. The second floor is not small, but it is only empty for some sundries, and the back is printed books. small yard.

Qin Shao liked the layout here.

On the second floor, he was just thinking of doing something else.

Although the house is facing the street, in Daming, the price of the house is generally based on the number of rooms, and has little to do with the size of the yard.

The house plus the original engraving and various remaining materials, Qin Shao paid the boss 350 taels of silver.

There are also some books that have been squeezed and not sold, not many.

Qin Shao discussed with the boss and counted the number of books. He can help sell them. If they are sold, he will take [-]% of the original book price.

The boss thought that those books were hard to sell and would be kept in his hands. If he asked the caravan to bring them back, it would be a big expense.

If he sells it for [-] cents, he can not only recover the cost, but also make a little profit.

Immediately, he bowed down and saluted to express his gratitude to Qin Shao.

……

When An Yongzhen heard the news, Qin Shao had already sold the house.

Wang Yin, Han Jinrong, Xiao Sanzi and others have already started cleaning the house.

The layout of the first floor has not changed much, the original bookshelves are still there, just a little decoration.

After reading those books, Qin Shao lamented that there was actually a reason why the original boss didn't make money.

Near the door are some almanac books, which are ancient calendars, which are generally used to tell the day.

If which day is a good day you can get married or funeral, which day is the most auspicious to go out and so on.

This is what many families need.

But many bookstores will have them, and they will not be out of stock.

If you don't know how to promote and market, of course it will not be easy to sell.

Next to the almanac are some textbooks, which are literacy and scientific examinations: Three Hundred Tang Poems, Enlightenment, and Examination for Talents.

A set of engraving blocks of this kind of book has been used for many years, the demand is high and the cost is low, but it is also a popular commodity, and every bookstore has it.

Others are some more popular vernacular books in the Song Dynasty. Qin Shao has also read them in other bookstores.

In short, the original books of this bookstore are basically common books with no competitive advantage.

And this boss has a lot of prints, so it's no wonder they can't be sold without a backlog!

The most famous and well-established bookstore in Shangjing today is Zhengshutang, which is located next to the Imperial College.

In addition to these rotten books on the street, there are mainly many hand-copied books.

Even though it is very expensive and many people cannot afford it, it is very face-saving to put it there.

Of course, the most important thing is that Zhengshutang also sells books of some famous people, such as some calligraphy and paintings of Kekao Sanyuan, and books of big men from the court and China.

Just like publishing a book for a celebrity in a previous life!
In short, it is to attract fame.

Qin Shao has not yet found out who is behind the bookstore.

There is also a Yipin Bookstore, which is small in size and has a good business.

Qin Shao went to visit and found that the bookstore not only has high-end goods, but also many interesting books.

For example, "Two or three things about Zhang Sheng Cui Yingying", "The Elopement of the Red Buddha Girl", "Things that the Tang Sanzang and the King of the Daughter Kingdom have to say" and so on.

Qin Shao thought that those scripts had changed their names to attract people.

When I opened it, I found that it was a lingering, heart-pounding book, with occasional illustrations.

This man of Ming Dynasty is really straightforward!

Qin Shao saw with his own eyes many servants hurriedly giving money to the boss, and then leaving with the books.

I don't know which young master or master's family has such a hobby.

"Ziming, you are going to open a shop here, so don't say anything! I said you have been quiet these days, so you are busy here!"

Qin Shao was talking to An Yongzhen about how to arrange books in the bookstore, when a hearty voice sounded.

Qin Shao looked up, and it turned out that Lin Tong was coming, followed by Wang Yun.

"Why are the two brothers here?"

Qin Shao was a little surprised, the two of them kept bathing today, why did they come here?
"Huang... General Raptor Workshop has been working hard recently, and we have a special two-day holiday to rest. We are both fine, so we wanted to find you, but when we arrived at your house, there was no one at home. After inquiring, I found out that you bought a house here and opened a book. Four."

Wang Yun laughed.

"I said self-evidently, selling books is also a hard job. I heard that it is a trouble to print a lot, one edition after another. I don't like reading, and I get a headache when I read it. You scholars are not troublesome." !"

Lin Tong didn't like reading, and when he looked at the books on the bookshelf, he showed a painful expression.

"Brother Lin doesn't like reading, how does he know about book printing and engraving?"

Qin Shao was a little surprised.

These days, the industry is separated like a mountain, and it is difficult for many people who are not engaged in other industries to get in touch with Taoism.

Special printing is a technical job, while Lin Tong has been engaged in military work.

"Didn't I work with the governor? I followed him to the Rites Supervision Factory, specializing in printing. I heard that you haven't done this before. If you don't know too well, I will take you to the Rites Supervisor another day." Run a factory, see how it is done there, and learn from experience.”

Lin Tong replied.

"Can we go to the Sili Supervisory Factory for a visit?"

Qin Shao was very surprised.

He also inquired about it, and heard that the printing factory of the Supervisor of Rites is the printing factory with the largest area and the most advanced technology in Ming Dynasty. If he could visit it, it would be really...

"Why not? Let me tell the governor, isn't it a simple sentence if you want to go?"

Lin Tong patted his chest and said.

There are people in the court who are good at handling things!
Sure enough, it has been like this since ancient times!
...

Lin Tong is impatient.

As soon as Qin Shao woke up the next day, he came to Qin Shao, said that he had already said hello, and took him to see the printing factory of Silijian, which is also called the Jingchang.

Although Qin Shao had done psychological training, he was still shocked when he saw the printing factory of the Lijian in Daming.

He didn't expect such a large area and so many people to work.

In his previous life, he also had contact with some printing houses.

Because they are all machine operations, the scale of the printing factory is not very large.

The printing factory here is four or five times bigger than what he saw in his previous life.

Lin Tong greeted people, and a little eunuch showed them around.

There are 350 engraving craftsmen, 134 printing craftsmen, 199 promotion craftsmen, 293 bookbinding craftsmen, and dozens of pen and ink making craftsmen.

The total number basically exceeds 1000 people!

And these are just to print some books and documents for the court.

I heard that the Sixth Ministry and other departments also have their own printing organizations.

The prosperity of the printing industry in Ming Dynasty was beyond his imagination!
Qin Shao learned that the most printed ones are "Buddha Cang", "Tao Cang", "Fan Cang" and the annual "Almanac".

The engraving and paper and ink of the factory printed version are generally excellent.

It is said that there is only a part in Shangjing, called Beijian, and there is another one in Nanjing that is larger than this and has a higher printed book, called Nanjian.

"What's this lump?"

When passing by a warehouse, Qin Shao saw small copper blocks lying on the ground on one side, piled up in a pile.

"This is a movable font made before. It was used in the early years, but it is rarely used now! It's not easy to use!"

The little eunuch explained.

It turns out that Daming Guanfang Printing Factory really made movable type!

It's just not necessary, it's a pity to put it here!

Qin Shao flipped through those fonts several times, and was very surprised.

The printing factory is too big, so Qin Shao followed Lin Tong out without looking for it after visiting the time.

"You wait for me at the door, I'll go in and come out later."

Lin Tong said suddenly.

Qin Shao guessed that he had something to do, so he nodded, and walked out of the gate of the factory first.

In less than half an hour, Lin Tong came out.

He was leading the horse, and there were two cloth bags hanging around the horse's neck, and the bags were bulging.

"What did you bring out?"

Qin Shao didn't remember that Lin Tong brought something when he went in, why there were two extra bags on the horse.

"Look what I brought out?"

Lin Tong said mysteriously, and opened one side of the cloth bag for Qin Shao to see.

"Brother Lin, how did you steal those movable characters?"

(End of this chapter)