Northern Song Dynasty Text Copyist

Chapter 8 Saving the Fallen Woman

As soon as the printing terms for "Du Shiniang" were written down, before the ink was even dry, Rong Liulang, Yin Xiaoer, and Li Jianpu could no longer contain themselves. They all stood up, clasped their hands, and prepared to take their leave to go back and arrange the woodblock printing.

Zhou Cairen also stood up, about to say goodbye, but Shen Zhong'an spoke first and called out to him.

"Mr. Zhou, please wait a moment. I have another question to ask you."

Zhou Cairen was taken aback, and the three shopkeepers also stopped in their tracks and looked over.

"Given your many years of experience in the theater industry, how long can the popularity of 'Du Shiniang' last?"

Zhou Cairen glanced subconsciously at the three bookstore owners beside her, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke directly:

"To be honest, Mr. Bai, 'Du Shiniang' is indeed a rare masterpiece in recent years."

But now, with three shows a day for almost half a month, tens of thousands of people in Bianjing have heard it, and many have heard it several times. No matter how popular a story is, it can't withstand such repeated performances.

In my opinion, if no new works of the same caliber take its place, it can only last for another half a month at most. Once the novelty wears off, its popularity will plummet, and it will likely lose its status as a top-tier artist and have to be relegated to a mid-tier one.

If another studio releases a blockbuster new work during this period, it will be even faster; within ten days, it might be pushed back to a smaller studio.

Although the words were harsh, they were the true situation in the village, without any exaggeration or falsehood.

Even the best story gets boring after a few times; the entertainment of the common people is all about novelty.

Shen Zhong'an nodded slightly, not surprised, and asked again, "Since you have this concern, do you have a solution?"

"There are certainly strategies; we will replace the old with the new and exert continuous efforts."

Zhou Cairen gave a bitter smile.

"However, good words are something you can only come by chance."

Since the success of "Du Shiniang," countless imitations have appeared on the market, but most are poor imitations, failing to capture even a fraction of the spirit and utterly unable to hold their own.

"In that case, please take a look at my new work, Mr. Zhou, 'Zhao Pan'er Saves the Courtesan,' a sister piece to 'Du Shiniang.' Do you think it's worthy of your attention?"

The moment he finished speaking, Shen Zhong'an took out a brand-new hemp paper manuscript from his bag and handed it to Zhou Cairen.

The three shopkeepers, who were in a hurry to take their leave, froze on the spot upon hearing this, their eyes lighting up instantly. If it weren't for their status and dignity, the three of them would have loved to immediately gather around Zhou Cairen and read the book together.

Zhou Cairen suddenly jolted awake, as if from a dream. Without even sitting down, she stood there and began to read the book carefully.

This scroll tells the story of Song Yinzhang, a famous courtesan in Bianliang, who was easily swayed by Zhou She's sweet words and mistakenly entrusted her life to him. After marrying into the Zhou family, she suffered endless torment and misery.

Zhao Pan'er, also a woman of the night, cherishes the sisterly bond of the past. Relying on her intelligence and experience in the world of courtesans, she cleverly sets a trap and outwits the villains, ultimately rescuing Song Yinzhang from her misery and upholding justice.

Shen Zhong'an further elaborated on the original work, describing how the two had relied on each other in their early years and helped each other through hardships, making Zhao Pan'er's act of risking her life to save him even more reasonable and justifiable.

The plot is full of twists and turns, the pacing is well-balanced, and the characters are vivid and lifelike, leaping off the page.

Zhou Cairen became more and more engrossed in the reading, and whenever she came across a key part, she couldn't help but slap her thigh and whisper a cheer.

His absorbed and amazed expression made the three shopkeepers beside him as anxious as ants on a hot pan, pacing back and forth, yet they dared not disturb him, and could only wait impatiently, itching to see what he was doing.

After a long while, Zhou Cai finally let out a long sigh, closed the manuscript, and bowed deeply to Shen Zhong'an.

"Sir, you are truly a genius! While 'Zhao Pan'er Saves the Courtesan' may not be as poignant as 'Du Shiniang,' it surpasses it in chivalry, wit, and sisterly affection! Though both are stories of courtesans, it opens up a completely new chapter, making it another masterpiece worthy of causing a sensation in Bianjing!"

Upon hearing this, the three shopkeepers could no longer contain themselves. Before Shen Zhong'an could speak, they almost simultaneously reached out and snatched the manuscript, their heads pressed together as they read it intently, holding their breath.

Seeing that Song Yinzhang had married the wrong person, he sighed with regret; reading about Zhou She's cruelty and tyranny, he angrily rebuked him; and when Zhao Pan'er cleverly devised a plan and proceeded step by step, he secretly applauded her.

In an instant, sighs, low curses, and soft praises rose and fell in the private room, making it even more lively than when they were fighting for the printing rights of "Du Shiniang" with cash.

Before he could finish reading the entire text, Rong Liulang could no longer contain himself. Abandoning his previous composure, he took the lead in bowing and saying:

"Mr. Bai, this masterpiece is in no way inferior to 'Du Shiniang'! My Rong Liulang Bookstore humbly requests that you entrust the printing rights to me, and all fees and profit sharing shall be exactly the same as the original 'Du Shiniang' model, without any reduction!"

"Mr. Bai, my Yin family bookstore also requests this book! The conditions are the same as before, without any objection!"

"Mr. Bai's article is excellent in both style and spirit, and is just right for scholars to read at leisure. The Li family also requests it, and the payment will be shared according to the previous agreement."

"Since you managers find it appealing, I will naturally not be stingy."

Seeing this, Shen Zhong'an smiled and cupped his hands in reply.

"Now that I have presented this book to you three today, the right to print it is to entrust it to you."

However, I do have a few humble opinions on the way of selling, and I would like to ask the three shopkeepers and Mr. Zhou to consider them together to see if they are feasible.

Shen Zhong'an spoke humbly and politely, but the people at the table each had their own thoughts.

Shen Zhong'an was only twenty years old and the registrar of Chenliu County. He was a proper scholar in the officialdom. In their eyes, he was mostly just talking theory on paper when it came to making money in business. What mature insights could he possibly have?

But now that I need his help and have the manuscript in hand, there's no reason for me to refuse.

The four exchanged a glance and then bowed in unison.

"Please speak freely, sir. We are all ears."

Shen Zhong'an didn't pretend to be mysterious and slowly explained the three strategies he had already planned.

"The first strategy is called bundling and bundling."

The two books, "Du Shiniang Angrily Sinks the Treasure Chest" and "Zhao Pan'er Saves the Courtesan," are combined into a set, priced as a set, which is three coins cheaper than buying the two books separately.

By offering small profits to boost sales, book buyers feel they're getting a good deal and are naturally more willing to buy sets.

"The second strategy is to offer discounts to both the bookstore and the brothel."

Anyone holding a voucher for listening to storytelling at Sangjia Wazi or Mudanpeng can get a two-cash discount when purchasing these two storybooks; conversely, anyone who purchases a storybook can get a two-cash discount on their ticket when entering the venue to listen to the story.

Books gain fame through storytelling, and storytelling attracts readers through books; both benefit.

The third strategy is to attract new customers by having existing customers refer new customers.

For regular customers who bring new customers to buy books, each will receive a two-cent discount. Alternatively, if they do not wish to receive a discount, they will receive a complimentary rue-scented bookmark, which serves both to protect against insects and as a thoughtful gift.

Of the five people present, all except Shen Zhong'an were seasoned veterans who had been immersed in the business of Bianjing's streets and bookstores for many years.

At first glance, it seemed novel, even a bit absurd. How could there be a business that would simply offer discounts and reduce prices?

After carefully considering these three strategies, the expressions of everyone present gradually became serious.

At present, "Du Shiniang" is very popular. A single copy is priced at twenty-five coins, but the cost of a single copy is only ten coins. With a print run of over three thousand copies, the cost can be reduced to around eight coins.

After deducting the three coins of interest given to Shen Zhong'an, each book still had a net profit of several dozen coins.

Nowadays, by offering discounts of just a few cents, we can attract new customers and retain old ones. With high volume and low profit margins, the total volume doubles, and the profit will only increase. It is by no means a loss-making business.

What's even better is that this method is not only applicable to these two stories, but can also be applied to any new book in the future.

After figuring out the key points of these three strategies, a storm brewed in the hearts of the four men.

This all-knowing scholar, despite his young age, is deeply versed in the fundamentals of commerce. He uses small profits to gain large profits and expands sales channels through collaboration. His vision and methods far surpass those of ordinary booksellers.

If he abandons Confucianism and goes into business, within a few years, the Bianjing bookstores will surely have another formidable rival.

Fortunately, their ambitions lay in officialdom, and they wrote under pseudonyms. This ingenious plan was a stroke of luck, a stroke of good fortune for them.

"Mr. Shen's plan is brilliant! We will follow your advice without question!"

The three managers, all of whom were in charge of the bookstore, discussed the matter briefly and immediately made a decision to proceed according to the plan.

Only Zhou Cai Ren, though she understood the crux of the matter, was not someone whose word carried weight in the theater. She needed to report back to the theater master before making a decision, so she could only shake her head helplessly.

"We still need to discuss this with the owner of the tile shop; we will get a response within three days."

The group immediately agreed to meet again at the same place three days later to finalize the contract terms. After chatting for a few more minutes, they took their leave one after another.

Inside the private room, Shen Zhong'an was left alone in a short while, with a table of almost untouched food and wine.

"Pack up all the food on the table and store it properly in the kitchen. I'll come back to pick it up later..."

Shen Zhong'an did not possess the pretentious and pedantic habits of Northern Song literati. He immediately beckoned to the waiter, gave him instructions, and then pointed to two plates of meat dishes that were still mostly empty.

"Take these two plates, have some extra food."

Finally, he took out five copper coins from his pocket and handed them over as a reward.

Although Qingfenglou was a prestigious restaurant in Bianjing, its fame had nothing to do with the waiters and other staff.

In the past, the leftover food from banquets, especially meat dishes, was always cleared away by the kitchen staff. The waiters in the outer halls didn't even get a taste. If they could occasionally get half a plate of vegetables, they were considered extremely lucky.

Today, not only will we receive two large plates of meat and vegetables, with each person getting at least two pieces, but we'll also receive an extra five coins as a reward. It's truly a double blessing.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! I will get everything ready immediately and will not dare to delay!"

After leaving Qingfeng Tower, Shen Zhong'an did not return directly, but turned around and headed towards the bookstores in the market.

Although he had just met with the three shopkeepers, the shop assistants did not recognize Mr. Shen Zhong'an. Based on market prices, they selected seven sets of high-quality writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones and wrapped them up carefully.

Then they went into a pastry shop and bought some steamed cakes, candied fruits and other snacks that are easy to store and filling.

He then exchanged some coins at a money shop for smaller, finer coins, which would be convenient for use on the road.

After making all the fuss and getting everything sorted out, Shen Zhong'an returned to Qingfeng Tower to retrieve the leftover food he had previously stored and packed. Carrying his bags and packages, he hurried to the street corner to meet Tang Geng and the others, and together they boarded the carriage and returned to Chenliu County Government Office.

The driver cracked the whip, and the carriage slowly made its way along the Bian River official road toward Chenliu.

They had been mostly silent and reserved on the way here, but after touring around the capital region, they were much more relaxed in their conversations. Tang Geng was in particularly high spirits, chatting and laughing all the way.

"Today I listened to two performances of 'Du Shiniang' at the Beijing Theater, which was truly enjoyable. It's just a pity that bookstores haven't yet obtained the right to print it, so I can't take it home to read carefully. It's a real shame."

I wonder which bookstore will ultimately acquire such a wonderful story. If it can be published soon, we must buy a copy to keep for ourselves.

Shen Zhong'an smiled faintly and did not reply. He took out a small bag of snacks from his bag and distributed them to the people in the carriage.

The atmosphere grew even more lively as the cakes and pastries entered the mouth.

A clerk in the same carriage glanced around, leaned closer, and whispered to Shen Zhong'an:

"Shen, the registrar, was young and highly talented. Not long after taking office, he organized the county's Chinese calligraphy records in a very orderly manner, which impressed us all."

However, I must venture to point out that Wang Dianli, though seemingly kind, is actually narrow-minded and vindictive.

The registrar's recent rectification of documents was well-organized and methodical, but it also affected his vested interests based on past practices. We must be more vigilant in the future to prevent him from secretly sabotaging us and seeking revenge later.

At this point, the man fell silent and said no more.

Shen Zhong'an understood. He had only a superficial relationship with this official, and it was already a courtesy to stop there. There was no point in asking any further questions, so he nodded and thanked him.

"Thank you for your guidance, brother. I will remember it forever."

Back in the clerk's courtyard, the night was cool and still. A few dogs barked outside the courtyard occasionally. The candles inside had been extinguished early. Shen Zhong'an was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Nothing more was said that night.

The next day, before dawn, as the sky began to lighten, Shen Zhong'an got up to wash and dress, putting on his plain official robes and arriving at the county office before dawn.

After the ceremony of drawing the horn was completed, Shen Zhong'an went straight to the office of the registrar.

Five or six steps away from the office, one could see that the room was brightly lit, with the dim candlelight reflecting on the window paper. Faint whispers of voices could be heard coming from the window cracks, mixed with a few low complaints.

The six scribes who were originally sent to assist Shen Zhong'an in sorting out documents had already arrived. The group huddled in a corner of the chief clerk's office, standing around a low table and chatting idly, their tone full of complaints about Shen Zhong'an.

As scribes, they were responsible for organizing case files and documents, but in the past, they would simply classify them roughly and put them on the bookshelf, which saved them time and effort.

Now that Shen Zhong'an has organized things so thoroughly, checking each volume and classifying and labeling them, it makes them seem like they were perfunctory and inefficient in the past, and they have inadvertently earned a reputation for being lazy and negligent.

Moreover, the documents were organized in a clear and orderly manner, and the ways that Wang Dianli and other clerks used to take advantage of the documents to extort money and bribes were completely cut off. These powerless clerks did not get any benefit from it. On the contrary, they had to suffer the scorn and ridicule of the clerks. They really did not get any benefit and instead got themselves into a bad situation.

As they talked, they all raised their hands to rub their sore wrists, complaining that the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones provided by the county government's treasury were of poor quality. The brush handles were rough to the touch, the ink was grayish, and the paper was rough and easily torn. After a day of copying at their desks, their knuckles ached, their wrists were stiff, and they felt uncomfortable all over. It was really hard to bear.

Shen Zhong'an stood quietly outside the door for a moment, waiting for the conversation inside to subside before calmly pushing the door open and entering, as if he hadn't heard anything at all. He smiled and greeted everyone with a cupped-hand salute.

Good morning, everyone.

Upon hearing this, the men froze, quickly abandoning their complaining expressions, and stood at attention, bowing in unison: "Greetings, Registrar Shen!"

Shen Zhong'an seemed not to have heard the discussion of the others. He took out a package of pastries wrapped in oil paper from his bag and first gave a few pieces to the six scribes and the silent Liu Laocao and the others. He then placed the rest on the tea table by the window in the corridor.

"These are osmanthus cakes brought back from Bianjing yesterday. You have all worked hard these past few days. If you are hungry, please take some to tide you over. Consider it a small token of our appreciation from the Registrar's Office."

The seven people accepted the pastries and were about to express their gratitude when Shen Zhong'an took out seven sets of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from his bag.

The brush is made of a mixture of wolf and sheep hair, with a perfect balance of softness and firmness; the ink is made of top-quality pine soot, finely ground; the paper is even and clean bamboo paper, suitable for both writing and copying; and the inkstone is a regular bluestone inkstone, excellent for producing ink.

Although these are not rare or precious items, they are several times better than the crude tools issued by the public treasury, making them ideal for copying official documents on a daily basis.