Therefore, once the newspaper's reputation is enhanced through poetry and lyrics, and as a top priority in the future publicity field, the printing house will definitely become a key protected object.

In the future, Zhao Jun also plans to designate this place as an official agency and directly state-run it, like a news publishing house.

Just like the People's Daily later, when it became the official mouthpiece, it naturally had to be mainly state-owned and private participation was not allowed.

Thinking of this, Zhao Jun shook his head and said, "This printing house is very useful to me, I'm afraid it can't be used as a merchant share."

"I see. I was abrupt."

Meng Chengqi felt a little regretful.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Jun thought for a moment and said, "But maybe we can do other business. I heard that Mr. Meng's family is a grain merchant?"

Meng Chengqi nodded and said, "Yes, our Meng family did start out by selling grain."

"If the boss is willing, we can discuss the matter of cooperating with the court to sell grain later. Prime Minister Li is currently talking to some tea merchants and plans to invest with some major tea merchants, half privately and half officially."

Zhao Jun suggested, "For things like grain, salt, and tea, purely government-owned or privately sold, there are significant problems. A semi-government, semi-private, half-government sale could address many of these issues. If Mr. Meng is interested, I'll talk to Prime Minister Li about changing the government grain policy."

"ah?"

At that moment, Meng Chengqi was not frightened, but dumbfounded.

Talk to Li Xiang directly?

Who is this person?

"how?"

Zhao Jun asked, "What does the boss think?"

Meng Chengqi's thoughts changed for a moment, then he smiled and said, "If I could meet Prime Minister Li and discuss this matter, that would be a good idea."

"Um."

Zhao Jun didn't understand the hidden meaning and said, "I'll ask Prime Minister Li tomorrow. The Song Dynasty's grain, salt, and tea businesses have too many drawbacks and really need to change."

This was also what he had told Zhao Zhen and others before, and then Zhao Zhen passed it on to Li Zi.

Because official sales led to rampant corruption, people were more willing to sell their grain, tea and salt to private merchants. In addition, there were many drawbacks in official businesses, such as forced buying and selling, and officials personally engaging in business, which were very detrimental to people's livelihood.

Therefore, Zhao Jun also planned to gradually liberalize the state-owned monopoly system and introduce private merchants into the official sales. This would prevent the Western model of a complete capital market, where large merchants monopolize and drive up prices. It would also prevent rampant corruption in official sales, which could lead to government-owned capital being manipulated.

The two then discussed other matters, ultimately agreeing to purchase the printing house, including the title deed, tools, and property, for seven thousand strings of cash. In addition, over twenty workers, who had signed contracts with Meng Chengqi, were also transferred to Zhao Jun.

The Song Dynasty's labor contracts were similar to those of later generations. They were no longer contracts of selling one's body, but rather work contracts. Workers could come and go more freely. Now that the contract was in Zhao Jun's hands, it was natural that he would be the one to pay the wages.

Zhao Jun made an agreement with Meng Chengqi to go to the government office together tomorrow to sign a contract. After handing over the money and the land deed, he left the printing house.

Song Cai did not interrupt his conversation with Meng Chengqi at all.

Just watch quietly from the side.

Even when talking about some key points, he would deliberately walk away to look at the things in the printing house.

After coming out, Zhao Jun saw that he had been silent, so he smiled and asked, "Brother Song, what's wrong? You used to be very talkative, but today you are silent."

Song Cai smiled awkwardly and said, "I originally thought Brother Zhao was going to buy books, but he turned out to be so generous as to buy out the printing house. I am ashamed of myself. I have never seen 7,000 strings of cash in my life, so I can't be of any help."

"No problem."

Zhao Jun smiled and said, "You and I are friends of gentlemen. Brother Song was just trying to introduce me to books out of kindness. If I couldn't help, then I didn't. There's no need to blame yourself."

Song Cai hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not ask what she wanted to ask. Instead, she whispered, "If Brother Zhao needs me for anything in the future, please let me know."

"It's not really an order."

Zhao Jun thought for a moment and said, "Brother Song, what are your plans for the future?"

Song Cai said, "The results of the exam will be out in October. If I pass and become a Juren, I will concentrate on preparing for the Jinshi exam next year."

"Well, that's good too."

Zhao Jun nodded, then asked, "Are you from Bianliang?"

"Yes."

"Then do you know which foreigners there are in Bianliang?"

"Foreigner?"

Song Cai perked up when this was mentioned. "Brother Zhao, are you asking about the various tribes? It turns out that Brother Zhao likes the tribes. If we talk about this, no one knows more than me."

He then winked and said, "There are two kinds of barbarians, black and white. The white ones are beautiful, and the black ones have a unique flavor."

Zhao Jun: “.”

Zhu Mu of the Song Dynasty wrote in his "Fang Yu Sheng Lan" that "the various tribes are divided into two groups, black and white, and both live in Quanzhou, known as 'Fanren Lane.' Every year, they travel back and forth in large ships across the sea, bringing with them elephants, rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, pearls, glass, agate, exotic spices, and pepper."

It can be seen that Guangzhou was already an international metropolis in the Song Dynasty, where Western whites, Central Asian Arabs, Jews, Persians, and even African blacks already existed.

But these were still too far away, and Zhao Jun had no intention of moving for the time being, so he said unhappily, "I'm talking about the Japanese."

"So they are Japanese."

Song Cai suddenly realized, "The Japanese aren't bad, but they're a bit short. Those Japanese women are particularly fond of the Song Dynasty. I've heard that there are often wealthy Japanese businessmen who bring their wives and daughters to the Song Dynasty specifically to borrow sperm from scholars. I haven't encountered this before, but if Brother Zhao likes it, I'd like to hear about it."

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