Free Web NovelChapter 234: Chapter 234: The Plan
He had found some street urchins to run around and unload the unsellable stock from his warehouse, but this was a complete departure from his original plan, veering far off the course he had set.
Moreover, to motivate these temporarily hired vendors to actively sell the official gazettes, he only charged them six copper coins—just one copper coin above his cost.
To Qiu Tao, this paltry sum wasn’t even real money. The whole endeavor had taken a great deal of effort, but the bookstore had earned practically no silver.
It was no surprise he looked so sour.
His only choice was to first quickly get rid of this backed-up, old inventory. Then, he would produce a new, better-quality batch and use a price slightly lower than Guanwen Hall’s to dominate the stock orders of every bookstore.
Ming Lingyi and Feng Shuyu sat in the carriage, exchanging a look.
"Catch them in the act?" Ming Lingyi asked.
"What do you think?"
Ming Lingyi smiled. She leaned out and whispered a few words in Xiao Chun’s ear.
Xiao Chun looked disapproving. "Will this work?"
Although Ming Lingyi had been whispering to Xiao Chun, she hadn’t hidden it from Feng Shuyu, who had naturally overheard.
However, it was clear that from the look Ming Lingyi and Feng Shuyu had exchanged, both had other plans in mind.
And from the looks of it now, their plans might actually be aligned.
When Xiao Chun saw her mistress nod, she took the men with her and charged menacingly toward the entrance of Hongyun Bookstore, even though she still didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Ming Lingyi’s arrangement.
Meanwhile, Feng Shuyu had the coachman move their carriage to the side to avoid being too conspicuous parked in the middle of the road.
"You just sent Xiao Chun to teach the people at Hongyun Bookstore a lesson," Feng Shuyu said. "But if we don’t show our faces, she’s just a young maid. I’m afraid Qiu Tao won’t take her seriously at all."
"I know," Ming Lingyi said. "But isn’t that what you were thinking too?"
Feng Shuyu laughed. "That’s right. I was indeed thinking we should let Qiu Tao off the hook this time. Because I’ve suddenly had another idea—one that will make him lose everything next time!"
It wasn’t that she had a sudden burst of benevolence and wanted to let Qiu Tao escape punishment this time; she just had a different idea.
Ming Lingyi gestured for Feng Shuyu to share her thoughts first.
"Qiu Tao is definitely not the type to admit his mistakes and change his ways," Feng Shuyu said. "He hasn’t gotten much of an advantage over us this time, so he’s bound to have another move planned. But no matter what method he uses, his goal is to steal our bookstore’s sales. So, I have to come up with a way to ensure that no matter what trick he pulls next, the common people won’t buy his products."
She couldn’t be bothered to think up some underhanded scheme to make Qiu Tao suffer a major defeat. It would be far better to devise a clever plan that would make the people of all Shangjing City only want to buy the official gazettes published by their bookstore.
Ruin Qiu Tao completely, using the most open and honest methods.
"When you first came to me about making these official gazettes, I quoted a high price, but it wasn’t without reason. You know that single-page publications like this are certainly not as easy to preserve as regular books. That’s why the paper I used back then was very thick and stiff, comparable to the cover of a typical collector’s edition book. So, for the next release, I plan to tell all the customers who bought our official gazettes before that if they bring in their old copies, our bookstore will bind them into a book, free of charge," Feng Shuyu said. "And what’s more, after some time, once the number of gazettes has grown, I want to create a new book to compile all these excellent poems and writings. I just hadn’t discussed this with you before. Now that I’ve brought it up, I wonder, Boss Ming, what are your thoughts?"
Ming Lingyi’s eyes lit up.
Feng Shuyu really did have a lot of good business ideas.
"If we can publish it as a book, that would be for the best. When I first wanted to print them as official gazettes, it was because each issue only had three poems. With so few words, it wasn’t enough to print a whole book. If, after some time, we could collect the best works from several months and compile them into a book, that would be wonderful," Ming Lingyi said. "And your idea about taking the previously sold gazettes and binding them into a book for free—I think that’s brilliant. A book isn’t cheap to begin with, and you use such fine paper and ink. Anyone who knows quality will see the value. Who knows, with a promotion like this, people might even start wanting the old issues that have already sold out!"
Feng Shuyu had always been quite confident in herself. After all, whether it was during her years with the Hu family or in the years since her divorce, she had proven she had a real talent for business. But there was a difference between her own self-assessment and receiving such enthusiastic praise from Ming Lingyi, and she couldn’t help but feel a little bashful.
"Even if people want to buy the ones we printed before, I don’t plan to reprint and sell them," Feng Shuyu said.
Ming Lingyi understood instantly. She met Feng Shuyu’s gaze and said with a smile, "Exactly! That way, when we release the compiled collection later, it’s sure to attract even more buyers!"
Feng Shuyu excitedly clutched the handkerchief in her hand. ’It feels so good to have someone who’s always on the same wavelength!’
"Then what did you mean earlier?" Feng Shuyu asked.
Just as she finished asking, the sounds of Xiao Chun arguing with the people from Hongyun Bookstore drifted in from outside.
Xiao Chun knew she didn’t have to win a full-blown victory today. But as soon as she went over and demanded to know how the Shopkeeper of Hongyun Bookstore could copy the official gazette her mistress had invented, the man had the audacity to turn the tables and accuse them instead.
"Your restaurant doesn’t even focus on its own business, and now you want to pretend to be scholars and make books? Bah! Take a look at yourselves, are you even worthy? You’re colluding with those Guanwen Hall people, selling things at such high prices! You’re crooked merchants, a disgrace to all of us in business! We’re doing this so that ordinary people can afford it, and you have the nerve to come here and lecture me?"
Xiao Chun had never met such a shameless person.
After listening to Qiu Tao’s words, she was so angry she nearly punched the old coot.
"My mistress can do business however she wants! What right do you have to stand here and criticize her? Everyone, come look, come listen, since you’re all passing by anyway! My mistress came to your bookstore before, wanting to cooperate with you. And what was the result? Wasn’t it you who spouted that nonsense about women having no place in business? Now you see my mistress and Boss Feng’s collaboration flourishing, and you’re green with envy, aren’t you? You were just spouting so much nonsense. If you’re not jealous of my mistress’s business, then why are you copying her?! Are you my mistress’s little shadow? Does she do something, and you just have to copy it?"
Though Xiao Chun was too angry to actually punch the man, her torrent of words was enough to leave him speechless and unable to look up.
"You’re clearly just greedy and jealous, so stop posturing with your grand principles! It’s all bullshit!" Xiao Chun said bluntly.
Clearly, Xiao Chun’s words had some effect.
Qiu Tao was enraged.
