"There's been a huge uproar at the Imperial College. They're accusing us of being in it for the money, and they have no bottom line. 'Da Zhou Life Show' is sensational and devoid of substance. Having a bunch of servants writing the show is an insult to scholars."
The servant Samsoon kept talking and yelling.
He kept a close eye on what was happening in the Imperial College, and when he got the news, he ran to Huang Qubing to complain.
"Bullshit!"
Huang Qubing is worrying about the content of the next issue.
As a result, when he heard the Imperial College insulting him personally, he couldn't help it.
He rolled up his sleeves and shouted, "Two cents a copy of 'Da Zhou Life Show', and we've only sold ten thousand copies in total. Calculate for me, how much silver is that? This little money isn't even enough for a meal."
If I really want money, I can just publish a book and make a commemorative collector's edition of "Love between Humans and Ghosts in Past and Present Lives" and make a lot of money.
Why not do something so thankless as the "Da Zhou Life Show"? Not only can you not make any money, but you also get a bad reputation. It's so infuriating! I quit!"
Huang Qubing got angry and simply quit the job.
"Da Zhou Life Show" is really not something that humans can do.
He had to publish an issue every three days, and just selecting and finalizing the manuscripts was enough to worry him to death.
Ten thousand copies may sound like a lot, but in the end it’s just a mere twenty or thirty taels of business.
Is it worth investing so much manpower, material resources, and financial resources, and taking up so much time, for such a small business?
Not worth it at all.
He was so angry.
The servant Sanshun looked very happy.
He said happily, "I have good news for you, sir. The first episode of 'Da Zhou Life Show' received a very good response. Red Moon House sent us 500 taels as a reward, asking us to praise them more in the next episode. Blue Moon House also sent us 100 taels as a reward, saying they were thanking us for our rigorous, truthful, and elegantly worded report without exaggeration."
By the way, the Zhu Family Grain and Oil Shop is planning a ten-episode promotional run on the "Da Zhou Life Show." The price is negotiable. Several rouge and powder shops have also contacted us. Also, I've received several submissions. Guess what they're about. There's a big surprise inside!
Huang Qubing, who had given up on his job in the previous second, became full of enthusiasm and passion in the next second.
"Madam said before that 'Da Zhou Life Show' itself doesn't make money, it only makes money through influence. I guess that's what she meant. Have you calculated how much money it's made in total?"
"Sir, are you asking about the first or second period?"
"Did we make money in the first issue?" Huang Qubing was busy selecting and finalizing the manuscript and had no time to pay attention to accounting issues.
Sanshun said, "After deducting the expenses, I made a small profit of one hundred taels in the first period."
Huang Qubing said with disdain, "It's only a mere one hundred taels."
He just came up with a gimmick and published a book, and 100 taels of silver was just a small amount of money.
Samsoon complained to him, "Young Master is so greedy. You should be happy that you can make money on your first newspaper. I also have to thank Blue Moon Tower. If they hadn't paid me a fee, the first issue would have been a loss. Even if you asked me to write an article praising Blue Moon Tower, it would be worth hundreds of taels of silver. This money is really easy to make."
Huang Qubing was obviously very proud in his heart, but he had to complain in a humble way.
"If I hadn't stepped in and asked Cui Qi to help polish it, would your manuscript be presentable? Okay, stop talking nonsense. You just said you received submissions, let me see them all."
Sanshun took out the manuscript with excitement.
"Young Master, you'll never guess who this manuscript is about. Hahaha, it's about Huyang, and it's full of insults against Princess Huyang. The big gossip you wanted is finally here!"
When Huang Qubing heard that it was gossip about Princess Huyang, he was not happy but shocked.
Anyone who dares to submit an article insulting Hu Yang is definitely not an ordinary person.
Huang Qubing had just been subtly scolded by his mother, Princess Fu Ya.
He had just boasted in the newspaper that Hu Yang was well-maintained and looked like a man in his mid-thirties, but his mother accused him of false reporting, nonsense, and dishonesty.
It was just a matter of whipping his soul.
Oh, oh, oh…
Women's jealousy is terrible.
Could it be that this submission was written at the suggestion of his mother?
Huang Qubing snatched the manuscript and read it word by word.
I don’t think so.
This article is too vicious.
It should not have been written at the instruction of his mother.
Considering that Hu Yang had offended so many people, there were even more people who disliked her, and almost everyone in the royal family knew about her affairs.
Huang Qubing folded the manuscript and put it in his arms.
"Whether or not to adopt this manuscript, I need to think about it again. Are there any other manuscripts worth looking at?"
"There's a storybook about Dalang beating Ba Pijiu with a stick. I think it's worth publishing."
After saying that, Sanshun picked out a manuscript worth reading from among the many manuscripts and gave it to Huang Qubing.
Huang Qubing was very strict in reviewing the manuscript. He frowned and said, "The story is good, but the wording and sentence structure are not realistic enough. If this manuscript is to be used, it needs to be revised."
"Sir, please look below. The contributor has written it. We can revise his manuscript, but it is limited to 200 words."
"No contact information?"
"I only left an account with the Shaofu Bank, and they asked me to deposit the writing fee directly into the account."
Huang Qubing immediately made the decision, "Ask those gunmen in the backyard to help polish this manuscript. We can reserve a page for this manuscript in the fourth edition of the second issue."
"Okay!"
Samsoon was beaming with joy.
If there are more submissions in the future, will they no longer have to write the manuscripts themselves?
It’s so wonderful to think about it.
Huang Qubing went up the mountain with the manuscript insulting Hu Yang to ask Gu Jiu for advice.
He slammed the manuscript on the table. "It's only the first issue, and I've already attracted such a big shot. The Imperial College even attacked me fiercely, saying I'd fallen so low for a few bucks. Bullshit."
If the "Da Zhou Life Show" continues, I'll eventually be cornered in an alley and beaten up, shortening my life by ten years. If it were profitable, I'd put up with it, but this newspaper isn't making any money at all. It's infuriating."
Gu Jiu couldn't help laughing.
"Have some tea first and calm down. I'll take a closer look at this manuscript."
Gu Jiu was calm and composed, which made Huang Qubing look like an inexperienced child.
Huang Qubing smiled awkwardly and sat down obediently.
He asked casually, "Is His Highness not here?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "He attends court every day and is basically away during the day."
"Do you intend to live in the mountains forever?"
"I'm looking for a suitable house. Houses in the Imperial City and below are impossible to buy even with money. Finding a house of the right size and location is even harder."
"I've heard you say you want to buy a house, but you haven't bought one yet."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "It's hard to buy a house in the capital. If you don't buy a house in the imperial city, there are several suitable places to choose from."
She has finished reading the manuscript.
She smiled and said, "This manuscript is quite interesting. Do you know who wrote it?"
"It must have been written by someone who dislikes Huyang. Do you want to use this manuscript?" Huang Qubing's eyes widened. He didn't want to die.
Gu Jiu smiled and shook his head. "Don't be too nervous. After reading this manuscript, I have an idea. How about writing a manuscript about stealing snacks, interspersed with the funny stories of Hu Yang stealing snacks as a child? I even thought of a title for you. How about 'Our Embarrassing Stories, Stealing Snacks'?"
Huang Qubing snatched the manuscript away, and the manuscript indeed mentioned that Huyang had cheated on people in the palace when he was a child.
"Do you really want to write it like this?"
"You're not happy?"
"I'm angry about those bastards at the Imperial College slandering me behind my back, so I want to write an article to criticize the Imperial College."
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea and said, "You mean to go to war with the Imperial College?"
Huang Qubing slammed the table and said, "The Imperial College is just about to point its finger at my nose and curse me. How can I swallow my anger?"
Gu Jiu smiled. "If we want to wage war against the Imperial College, we can't just skim the surface like in previous articles. We have to delve into the Imperial College in detail, thoroughly exposing it from head to toe, leaving them with no way to refute us. We could even do a special feature for ten consecutive issues."
Huang Qubing felt guilty when he heard this, "Are you really going to do this?"
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Are you scared?"
"I'm afraid of causing trouble."
"Didn't you say that the Imperial College was scolding you?"
Huang Qubing pretended to be magnanimous and said, "For the sake of the overall situation, I can endure it."
Gu Jiu laughed heartily. "Those people in the Imperial College are not as good at talking as they are at writing. Believe it or not, they will soon publish an article in the Imperial College Newspaper publicly accusing you and Wenqing Bookstore."
"Damn it, if the Imperial College dares to do this, I will do it too." Huang Qubing was angry.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry. We will fight back after the Imperial College Newspaper publishes an article targeting us. We cannot initiate a war. We must firmly occupy the position of the victim and write an article to refute it from the perspective of the victim to win the sympathy of the majority.
In short, we can't initiate trouble; we have to let the Imperial College start it first. Therefore, it is necessary to insert content about Huyang into this article about stealing snacks. Use Huyang to stimulate them."
Huang Qubing was very excited. "Who will write the article exposing the Imperial College?"
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