"Shopkeeper Peng, the ban on "The West Chamber" has been released, and you still haven't taken out the last three volumes. This is a bit too much!"
"Just tell me how much you want, don't beat around the bush like that!"
"It's just, don't you see there are so many people waiting!"
…
Shopkeeper Peng of Songzhuzhai was blocked outside as soon as he walked out of the shop.
He looked at the crowd gathered around him and said loudly: "Everyone, listen to me. The manuscripts of "The West Chamber" and "The Peony" have been searched and destroyed by the officials. I am trying my best to contact Mr. Li Qing. Don't worry, everyone.
As soon as there is any news, I will notify everyone immediately!"
He was anxious and helpless. Mr. Li Qing always wore a cloak every time he met him. He only knew that he was a man and he was not very old. Other than that, he knew nothing else.
.
If the other party doesn't come to him, he is determined not to find him.
Just when he was anxious, a child ran over with a candied haws in his hand, handed him a bundle, and said: "Uncle, this is what a big brother asked me to give to you!"
After saying that, he held up the candied haws and ran away quickly.
Shopkeeper Peng took the bundle in a daze, opened it, with a look of ecstasy on his face, and strode into the bookstore.
Not long after, a sign was hung outside Songzhuzhai.
From now on, Songzhuzhai will continue to publish the follow-up content of "The Romance of the West Chamber" and "The Peony Pavilion". The quantity is limited and it is first come first served. If you want to order it, hurry up...
In a bookstore opposite Songzhu Zhai, two people saw the content on the wooden sign, their expressions changed, and they quickly walked into Songzhu Zhai. After a while, they walked out again and stared blankly at the people walking on the street.
"Then Li Qing didn't come?"
"Then where did their stuff come from?"
"No matter what, go back and report first!"
…
The last volume of "The Romance of the West Chamber" was published yesterday, which undoubtedly triggered another wave of craze in the capital.
It is said that the clerks and craftsmen of Songzhuzhai have been working non-stop for the past few days to add more issues and prints. Even so, the supply still exceeds the demand.
Tang Ning could understand why Shopkeeper Peng was so desperate. There was no copyright law in Chen State, and there was no concept of genuine piracy. The advantage of Songzhuzhai over other bookshops was the three to five days of first-mover advantage.
Once other bookstores react and publish the same content, Songzhuzhai loses its first-mover advantage and cannot monopolize the market. The profits will naturally be shared by others.
Especially those powerful big bookstores, after launching the illustrated edition and hardcover edition as quickly as possible, Songzhuzhai has lost even the last bit of advantage.
Tang Ning went out less often these days. After all, the days for the provincial examination were numbered. Even if he didn't feel any pressure, he couldn't act too dissolute at home.
After dinner, he went out with Peng Chen on the excuse of digesting food.
Shopkeeper Peng had just returned home from Songzhuzhai, and after dinner, he planned to go to the bookstore to stare at it for a while.
Although those guys would not be lazy at ten times the salary, but seeing them work with his own eyes made him feel more at ease.
As soon as he walked into the courtyard, he saw a figure wearing a bamboo hat sitting on the wall.
He was startled at first. After he came to his senses, he said in surprise: "Master Li, why are you here!"
Tangning jumped down from the wall, and Shopkeeper Peng immediately said: "This is not the place to talk, come in and talk, come in and talk!"
After entering the room, he looked at Tang Ning and reminded: "Young master, you must be careful these days and never approach Songzhuzhai. There are people there looking for you. I'm worried that they will be harmful to you."
Tangning nodded, looked at him and said, "This is the last time I come to see you."
Shopkeeper Peng was startled, and immediately said: "I will prepare a banknote for you immediately. We will also publish a hardcover version of "The West Chamber" in the future, and we should make more money, so this time, I should give you twice as much."
"The Peony Pavilion" has not yet been printed. Otherwise, I will leave the banknote in the same place next time, and you can ask someone to pick it up..."
Tangning waved her hand and said, "There is no need for the hardcover version. You can keep it. These two books have also brought you some trouble..."
"Young master, what are you talking about!" Shopkeeper Peng shook his head and said, "This is what we have discussed before. When we do business, we agree on what we say. Even if you don't want it, I have to give it to you..."
He took out a big box from under the bed and said: "If it weren't for those bookstores, we could make more money. Those shameless ones like Wanjuanlou Shuxiangge would just print our books and have people write erotic versions.
, built a black workshop in the backyard and secretly published it. On the surface, he looked like a dog, but secretly he was very evil..."
The sales volume of banned books is actually the best. Major bookstores in the capital will secretly publish some banned books. Although they cannot be sold openly, there are some black markets that only insiders know about.
As for medium-sized bookshops like Songzhuzhai, they do not yet have the strength to open black workshops.
The cooperation with Songzhuzhai has almost come to an end. He has taken some risks in the process, but the rewards are also amazing.
After the imperial examination is completed, Tang Ning plans to open a bookshop by herself. Of course, with her fame and fame, it is not easy to do business directly. When the time comes, she can persuade Tang Yaoying to open a bookshop in the capital, and everyone will discuss how to share the accounts, so that the money will not go to outsiders.
While eating breakfast, Zhong Mingli put down his chopsticks, looked at Tang Ning, and said, "There are only a few days left for the provincial exam. In the next few days, don't read anything new. Just check and fill in the gaps."
There was nothing Tangning could miss or miss out on what he had seen, but he still nodded.
Zhong Mingli stood up and said, "You guys eat first tonight, you don't have to wait for me."
His mother-in-law helped him and Zhong Yi pick up some food, then looked at Zhong Mingli and asked, "Is there another errand?"
Zhong Mingli nodded and said: "Although the imperial court has lifted the ban on some books a few days ago, it has become more strict on other banned books. It has strictly ordered all major county offices to thoroughly inspect the bookshops that print banned books, but these black shops are very well hidden.
It’s hard to find.”
It is true that the black workshops are well hidden and difficult to find, but I am afraid that part of the reason has to do with the county government officials.
These people have lived in the capital and grew up in the capital. They are very familiar with everything here. How can they not find a few black workshops?
First of all, my father-in-law has taken up a new official position and lacks prestige. His authority in the county government is probably not as good as that of the Ping'an County Magistrate.
Secondly, those bookshops were able to open in the capital and secretly publish banned books without incident for so long. Naturally, they had some connections with some people in the yamen, and some yamen officials also received benefits from them.
Tang Ning sighed in her heart. She couldn't even carry out this small thing. I'm afraid it won't be that easy for my father-in-law to secure his position as Ping'an County Magistrate...
He thought for a while and said: "I heard that some large bookstores will build a black workshop in the backyard to print banned books and sell them on the black market. For example, Wanjuan Tower, Shuxiang Pavilion, etc., the court will search
When visiting, they often only search their workshops in front of people, and will not go to the backyard..."
Zhong Mingli was stunned for a moment and asked: "Is this happening?"
…
In early March, the new Pingan County magistrate sent people to seal down five bookshops, including Wanjuanlou and Shuxiangge. A large number of books banned by the imperial court were found from the black workshops in the backyard. For a while, the streets were kicked with both hands in their arms.
There are far fewer sneaky figures.
The imperial court has searched for banned books several times, but to no avail. The seizure of several bookshops in Wanjuan Tower and Shuxiang Pavilion still caused some disturbances in a small area. This is also the first time that the new Ping'an County Magistrate has come into the public eye.
From the beginning of "The Romance of the West Chamber" to the seizure of these large bookshops and the imperial court's ban on books, people began to pay more attention to the upcoming provincial examinations.
It was already the sixth day of March when Tang Ning noticed that both Zhong Yi and Su Ru had become nervous, and even Tang Yaojing was no longer in front of his eyes.
At this time, there are only three days left before the provincial examination.