The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 88

"Moxue Bookstore", with four gold-plated characters on the blue-bottomed signboard, is shining with golden light, giving people the feeling of elegance and richness.Jia Huan stood in front of the door of this Moxue Bookstore and looked at it for a while. He found that the front door was quite grand, but it was deserted. The steps in front of the door were covered with moss, and there were even spring grasses half a foot high.

Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, and took his servant Jin Shu into the gate of Moxue Bookstore. He found that there were many bookshelves in the lobby, but the bookshelves were empty, with only a few old books. A clerk was there wiping the dust on the bookshelves.

Seeing this, Jia Huan immediately lost interest. The bookstore is probably not doing well and is about to close down. It is unlikely that he will buy the copyright of "The Palace of Eternal Life", so he planned to leave. At this time, the guy who was a foreigner found him, and came over enthusiastically, asking: "This little guest officer wants to buy books?"

"Do you still sell books here?" Jia Huan deliberately glanced at the empty shelves.

The clerk sneered and said, "There are no new books, but some old books that need to be disposed of will be sold at [-]% off the original price. You might as well take a look, maybe there is something you need."

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "I don't buy books, but come to sell drama scripts, will your shopkeeper accept it?"

Hearing the words, the clerk immediately lost his enthusiasm, shook his head and said, "I won't accept it now."

"Why?"

The guy said angrily: "This little brother looks very smart, can't you still not see it? The store is about to close down, how could it be possible to accept scripts, and after a few days of work and get paid, I will also pack up and leave."

The buddy seems to be very angry, maybe he hasn't paid any food for several months.

At this time, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and a middle-aged man in charge came down from the second floor and asked, "What's the matter?"

The clerk lazily said: "Hey, this little guest officer said he wants to sell drama books." After speaking, he left and continued to wipe the bookshelf.

A hint of anger flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged steward, but he couldn't get angry in front of Jia Huan. He managed to force a smile and said, "I'm sorry, my young master. Moxue Bookstore is about to close down, so we can't accommodate you."

Jia Huan nodded, turned around and was about to leave, the middle-aged steward suddenly said: "Wait a minute, can the young master's script be read by me?"

It was the first time for the middle-aged man to see someone so young selling scripts, so he was a little curious.Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, finally nodded, and took out the script of "The Palace of Eternal Life" and handed it over.

The middle-aged steward thanked him and accepted the script, and seeing the words "Palace of Eternal Life" written on the cover, he smiled and said, "Could it be the story of Tang Xuanzong and Concubine Yang?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "Your Excellency has good eyesight."

The middle-aged steward smiled. He opened the first book and read it. At first, he was a little disapproving, but his face gradually became serious. After reading the first book, he immediately opened the second book, and his expression became more exciting. However, just as he was about to open the third book, Jia Huan had already reached out and took the book back. He smiled and said, "Since you are in this business, you should know the rules."

The middle-aged steward smiled awkwardly and asked, "May I ask you, who made this play?"

The middle-aged steward is an experienced practitioner, equivalent to the current level of editor-in-chief, so his eyesight is still very bad. Although he has only watched two episodes in a hurry, he has already seen the extraordinaryness of this opera. Whether it is the words and sentences, or the structure of the plot, it is quite sophisticated.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "What's your name?"

The middle-aged steward replied: "I am the chief steward of Moxue Bookstore, surnamed Yuan."

Jia Huan clasped his fists and said, "So it's Steward Yuan. Let's put it this way, if Steward Yuan is interested in this "Palace of Eternal Life", then we can continue talking. If not, then we don't need to waste each other's time."

Steward Yuan took a look at Jia Huan, who was far more mature than his appearance, and said hesitantly, "How much money do you plan to sell for this "Palace of Eternal Life" young master?"

This is a good drama, Yuan Guanshi is obviously a little moved!

Jia Huan smiled and said, "I don't understand the market, so Guanshi Yuan might as well make an offer first."

Yuan Guanshi was a little embarrassed and said: "Then I will say it bluntly. The beginning of the young master's script is still good, but I don't know how it will be written later. I only read the first two, so it is not easy to ask for a price."

"I can assure you, it will only get more exciting in the future!" Jia Huan said confidently.

Yuan Guanshi smiled and said, "Everyone who sells things in the street will sell their own things. How do you know that the "Palace of Eternal Life" by the young master is not anticlimactic?"

Jia Huan frowned and said, "Then how can Guan Shi set a price?"

Guanshi Yuan rolled his eyes and said, "Then... you have to read the whole book."

Jia Huan immediately said: "No, I can see ten at most, at worst I can find someone else." After speaking, he turned around and was about to leave.

Steward Yuan hurriedly said: "Young master, wait a moment, let's discuss it again."

This drama is really good, this Guanshi Yuan was obviously a little bit reluctant, so he called Jia Huan to stop him. After some haggling, Jia Huan finally took a step back and allowed Yuan Guan to read the first fifteen episodes in advance.

At that moment, Steward Yuan asked Jia Huan to sit down, served tea himself, and couldn't wait to look through it. "The Palace of Eternal Life" is one of the four legendary dramas of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has been prosperous for hundreds of years, and its skill can be imagined. Therefore, the more Yuan Guanshi watched it, the more surprised he was, and the more he watched it, the more fascinated he was, so much so that after watching No.15, he still wanted to open it and read No.16.

Jia Huan took a sip of tea and said, "Guan Yuan has also finished watching, so why not make a price."

Steward Yuan pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "50 taels."

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "50 taels is too little, don't sell it!"

Yuan Guanshi hurriedly said: "Young Master, I don't know something. The market is not good now. You can see that our bookstore can't continue. If it weren't for the drama of Xiaogongzi, I would not buy it, and the price of 50 taels is already very high. If you don't believe me, you can go to other bookstores and ask. There will definitely be no higher price than this."

"Farewell!" Jia Huan took the script and left without the slightest hesitation. He wanted to buy out the copyright of the four famous dramas of Ming and Qing Dynasties for 50 taels.

Seeing this, Yuan Guanshi knew that although he was young, he was not easy to fool, so he hurriedly said: "Young master, stay put, the price can be negotiated, how about this, I will give you another ten taels of silver, 60 taels!"

Jia Huan stretched out two fingers and said, "Don't buy anything less than 200 taels!"

Guanshi Yuan was dumbfounded, and smiled wryly, "200 taels? Young master, you really dare to ask for a price. Even 100 taels of silver may not be able to return the original price, let alone 200 taels. I am not afraid to repeat my words. No one does business at a loss. Even if my young master searched all the bookstores in the capital, no one would be willing to pay 200 taels for your script."

Jia Huan frowned, thinking, people nowadays have no awareness of copyright, not even the term copyright, and the country has no legislation to prohibit piracy, and the development of copyright is also very simple, unlike later generations, who develop a big IP and can easily earn tens of millions. It is also the reason why most of the ancient authors were impoverished.

For example, Cao Xueqin, the author of "A Dream of Red Mansions", is a ready-made example.Red school is so popular, it has been prosperous for a long time, I don’t know how many experts and professors, and even web writers have been supported, but Cao Gong is so poor that he is not ordinary.

Thinking of this, Jia Huan said: "Forget it, I will take a step back, 150 taels. If Guanshi Yuan buys it sincerely, then the transaction will be made. If he is not sincere, then I will leave."

Guanshi Yuan saw Jia Huan's firm attitude, it was obviously impossible to compromise, he pondered for a moment and said, "I can't make up my mind on this matter, how about this, please wait a moment, young master, I will go upstairs to ask for instructions."

Jia Huan nodded and sat down again. Steward Yuan took the script and went upstairs slowly. After about a cup of tea, he came down again, and said politely: "The master wants to talk to the young master in person, please move up the stairs."

Jia Huan didn't mind the trouble, after all, 150 taels was not a small amount, and this bookstore was about to close down, and the owner probably had difficulties, so it was reasonable to be cautious, and it proved the sincerity of the other party's purchase, so he went upstairs with Steward Yuan.

Let’s say Jia Huan went up to the second floor, only to find that there was a screen in front of him, and a slender figure was sitting vaguely behind, only part of the skirt could be seen exposed, it looked like it should be a woman.

Steward Yuan stood in front of the screen and bowed respectfully, "Girl, the young master who sells scripts will bring you here."

"Well, what is the name of this young master?" A gentle and pleasant voice came from behind the screen.

Jia Huan's heart moved, he cupped his hands and said, "My surname is Jia."

The person behind the screen paused for a moment, and then said: "It turned out to be Mr. Jia. I took a quick look at this "Palace of Eternal Life". It is no wonder that Mr. Jia asked for 150 taels, but this price is still unbearable for me. What do you think of 120 taels? I sincerely want to buy it."

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "150 taels, it can't be lower."

The woman behind the screen sighed and regretted: "Forget it, the little girl can't afford it, Yuan is in charge, and return the script to Mr. Jia."

Yuan Guanshi stepped forward to accept the script with regret. At this moment, Jia Huan stretched out a jade hand as bright as frost and snow behind the screen. Although it was only a glimpse, it was extremely amazing.

(End of this chapter)