Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Sold Out
Qianlong had not yet thought about guarding against his own son, but he was very wary of Hongxiao.
Qianlong was worried that scholars would gather around Hongxiao under the pretext of publishing a newspaper, just like how Prince Cheng relied on compiling books to win over a group of Han officials.
Since ascending the throne, Emperor Qianlong has been suppressing Han officials and preventing them from forming alliances. It is even more impossible for him to allow them to gather around an iron-hat prince.
This is also the reason why Qianlong insisted on letting Yonglian participate in "Guochao News". In his view, if the newspaper is in Yonglian's hands, it is equivalent to being in his own hands.
Yonglian was slightly stunned when he heard this. Khan Ama was too direct.
But he didn't expect to make money from this newspaper, and Uncle Hongxiao probably didn't have this idea either.
Yonglian agreed and asked Nanzhipu to delete the list of editors.
When Hongxiao learned about this, he understood Qianlong's intention.
This newspaper will be handed over to Yonglian sooner or later.
This is better. If something really happens, I don’t have to take responsibility.
In early February, the "Guochao News", still smelling of ink, appeared in major bookstores, priced at five cents a copy, while street vendors sold it for six cents.
Yonglian asked Luang Pu to find these newsboys from among the beggars in the outer city. They were required to be in good health, have a pleasant voice, and a good memory.
The youngest was only about ten years old, the older ones were sixteen or seventeen. They could earn money by shouting a few times and selling a few newspapers. These people were extremely happy, walking around the streets with newspapers and shouting with all their might!
"Shocking! This young, strong man has been abandoned by his friends and is now begging on the streets. Why is he doing this?"
"Lord Akdon will teach you three tricks to win the Spring Examination!"
"The imperial poem celebrating the New Year amazed everyone!"
"Xinji Optical Shop has opened, the prices are unimaginable!"
The common people had no interest in it at all. Six cents was not cheap, so they would not buy it.
Moreover, most people cannot read, and may not be able to understand what they buy.
But after hearing what these vendors were shouting, many people were curious.
"Why on earth is this young, strong man begging on the street?"
"Let's gamble."
Someone stopped the newsboy and wanted him to tell them the answer.
Newsboy: "I don't know! I can't read the newspaper either." These were the words they had memorized in advance, and those who were not familiar with them were eliminated.
People: “…”
It was the first time for the people to hear such a way of hawking, and they surrounded the newsboy and wouldn't let him leave.
Soon, the scholar on the street was called out. He couldn't sit still when he heard about "three moves to win the Spring Examination". It was the method used by the former chief academic officer of the Imperial College. Not to mention six cents, he would buy it even if it was sixty cents.
As soon as the scholar took the newspaper in his hand, the neighbors gathered around him and asked, "Help me see why the strong man is so deserted by his friends."
"Read me the Emperor's poem."
“How cheap are Xinji glasses?”
The scholar would not tell them and quickly hid back home with the newspaper.
Some readers are kind-hearted and will share the contents of the newspapers they buy with people around them.
The neighbors would not listen to the news for nothing, so they gave him some food as a return gift.
The vast majority of scholars were attracted by "Three Tricks to Help You Win the Spring Examination", and some people wanted to read the poems of nobles.
Some merchants want to see the activities of Xinji Optical Store. The cost of glasses is there, how much cheaper can they be?
The "Guochao News" in the capital was sold out in one day, and Nanzhipu urgently reprinted 200 copies.
In other places in Zhili, the glasses were sold out almost within a day or two. The advertisements in Tianjin and Baoding were different from those in the capital, but they also promoted the glasses shops.
The eyewear shops in these two places were opened by several members of the royal family with the surname Hong. Emperor Qianlong required that shops related to glass products must hang the "Xin Ji" sign and must purchase goods from the glass factory of the Imperial Household Department.
Hongchang and the others had no choice but to accept it, and with the Xinji brand name around, no one would dare to compete.
Hong Zhou was very pleased with his brother's request, as he had opened the first Xinji Optical Shop. He was worried that Hong Chang and his optician shop would compete with him. However, if everyone used the Xinji brand, prices would have to be kept within a certain range, and the competition would be much smaller.
Everyone's glasses lenses are similar, what matters is the frames and cases, to see who can find the best craftsman to make them.
Hong Zhou originally thought that he could only innovate in these areas. When he entered the garden to pay his respects to his brother the Emperor that day, he met Yonglian, and his nephew reminded him again.
"I heard that glasses nowadays are thicker or thinner according to age, but everyone's situation is different! I heard that Mr. E's eyesight was very poor. He couldn't see clearly even with glasses and had to use a handheld magnifier. Zhang Tingyu was older than him, but his eyesight was better than his."
Hong Zhou nodded. "That's right. You mean you want custom lenses?"
Yonglian nodded and explained his idea for the eye chart.
Qianlong was listening and couldn't help rubbing his son's head. "You can't memorize the book, what are you thinking about all day?"
Yonglian was left alone today because his endorsement failed.
Qianlong told him not to learn painting anymore, and to return to the depths of the cave when he could memorize it.
Hong Zhou came to his nephew's rescue, "This is very important. It's not just about selling glasses, but about allowing more people to see things clearly. Not to mention the distance, the old officials in the court have poor eyesight and are very slow in reading documents. If there are suitable glasses, everyone's work efficiency will be improved."
Yonglian nodded repeatedly, saying that his fifth uncle was a really good man.
"But this is not something a little prince like you should worry about." Qianlong nudged his son and said, "Go inside and memorize the text. Once you've memorized it, I'll take you to see Yongsheng."
When Yonglian heard that he could see his fourth brother, his eyes lit up immediately and he quickly ran to the inner room to recite his lessons.
Yonglian had never seen his fourth brother, who was almost a month old. Neither Emperor Qianlong nor the Empress would take him to see them, so he dragged his eldest brother to see them, but was stopped by the nanny.
After listening to the nanny's explanation, Yonglian realized that his fourth brother was a night cryer. He would start crying as soon as it got dark, and would sleep during the day when he got tired of crying at night.
In order to let the child sleep for a while during the day, Jiapin didn't want anyone to see the child.
Qianlong was originally very happy to have a son, but he went to see the child twice, but the child was always asleep and Jiapin also looked tired. Qianlong did not want to go again. When a member of the royal family asked about the little prince's condition, Qianlong could not help but complain a few words.
It was Prince Lu Yunlu who found a solution. He gave some folk remedies for treating children's night crying and finally corrected Yongsheng's problem.
Qianlong finally saw that his son was no longer crying or making a fuss and was conscious. He also thought that his youngest son was very cute, so he agreed to take Yonglian with him.
Although Xiao Yongcheng has a reversed day and night cycle, he is still in good health. He is plump and fair, with a pair of black and bright eyes.
Qianlong held his son in his arms and weighed him, then said to Yonglian, "He's fatter than when you were a child."
Yonglian: "..." Hey, hey, hey! How can you talk like that?
Yonglian took a deep breath and didn't argue with the mute Khan Ama. "It proves that Fourth Brother is in good health," he said, extending his hand, "Can you give me a hug?"
Qianlong carefully handed the swaddling clothes to Yonglian. Yonglian took it, shook it, and his eyes curved.
This younger brother was later adopted by Khan Ama to his twelfth uncle and did not live past the age of forty.
Yonglian was really worried about his younger brothers. Why didn't they inherit the longevity genes from their mother, the Crown Princess, and their father, the Khan?
When Qianlong saw Yonglian's expression changing again and again as he looked at the baby in the swaddling clothes, and he frowned and sighed, he felt a stir in his heart. Would Yonglian feel that Yongcheng had taken away his favor?
Not only himself, but even the Queen Mother and the Empress have been worried about Yongsheng recently.
Because Yongsheng was the first little prince born after he ascended the throne, people in the palace said that Yongsheng was blessed. Even his crying at night was said to be a sign of intelligence.
After coming out of Jiapin's Courtyard, Qianlong said that he wanted to go to the depths of the cave with Yonglian to help him with his homework.
Yonglian: ???
What had he done wrong? He'd been forced to prepare for an hour this afternoon, and now he had to tutor him?
"Khan Ama, have you finished reading all the memorials?" Yonglian asked.
Qianlong ordered Li Yu to deliver the memorial to the depths of the cave.
Yonglian: “…”
Yonghuang, Hongzhou, Balzhuer and others were doing their homework in the house. When they heard that the emperor had gone to Yonglian's courtyard, they hesitated whether to go and pay their respects.
Hongzhou had already seen how nagging his brother could be, so he didn't really want to go. Balzhuer and the others didn't dare to go.
Yonghuang was worried that his brother would be scolded, so after a moment of hesitation, he put down the book and went to the next room to take a look.
As a result, he was kept by Qianlong and Yonglian received tutoring from him.
While explaining "Mencius" to his two sons, Qianlong was thinking that Yonghuang was not that stupid. He knew that he was giving Yonglian special treatment, so he hurried over.
Yonglian felt sympathy for his elder brother. He could have rested after finishing his homework, but now he had to add another class.
After Qianlong finished expressing his views, he checked whether the two children had understood and asked them to write an essay and hand it in the next day.
Yonglian: “…”
Yonglian felt even more sympathetic towards his elder brother.
Qianlong thought he had shown his fatherly love and left contentedly, not forgetting to instruct Li Yu, "The Fourth Prince no longer cries at night. Tell the servants below not to discuss this matter anymore."
Li Yu responded. Those people below thought that by praising the Fourth Prince, they were trying to please the Emperor and curry favor with Concubine Jia, but they didn't know that they were actually harming the Fourth Prince!
Deep in the cave, the two brothers looked at each other in bewilderment. Yonghuang had never expected that he would have an additional task for no apparent reason.
But it doesn’t matter, as long as Khan Ama didn’t scold his brother.
As soon as Qianlong left, Yonglian relaxed and even wanted to play chess with Yonghuang.
Yonghuang was a little worried about his silly brother. "Next time we have a recitation task, let's check each other's work first. That way, when Khan Ama tests you, you won't be caught off guard."
Yonglian: "...No, that's not necessary. I will definitely memorize it on time next time." Isn't this because I drew cartoons for the second issue of "Guochao News" last night?
"I am your elder brother, you have to listen to me." Yonghuang was really afraid that his younger brother would be taken away by Khan Ama. He was so nervous when learning foreign languages this afternoon that he could only pretend to be serious.
This was the first time Yonghuang acted like an older brother. Yonglian couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, okay, I'll listen!"
Yonghuang made an appointment to see Yonglian every day before going to bed to check each other's content to be memorized.
In the past, Yonglian would sometimes delay cramming until the next morning in order to go to bed on time, but now he can't delay anymore. If Yonghuang finds that he hasn't memorized well enough, he will watch him recite.
Yonglian dared to bargain in front of Khan Ama, but felt embarrassed to delay in front of his elder brother.
Qianlong found that his son had no more difficulties in memorizing his lessons recently. After asking him in detail, he found out that the two brothers were actually encouraging each other, mainly Yonghuang encouraging Yonglian.
Qianlong was in a complicated mood. He was of course happy that his two sons encouraged each other to make progress, but he was also a little unhappy that Yonglian was so honest in front of Yonghuang.
"It's a good thing you listened to him. You turned a deaf ear to everything I said to you." Qianlong said sarcastically.
Yonglian: "..." Why does this sound so familiar? Isn't this Lin Daiyu's line?
"Forget it. If you can't recite it next time, I will ask your elder brother." Qianlong found a good way to control his son.
Yonglian was immediately anxious when he heard this, "No, no! Big brother is big brother, not my study partner, you can't do this."
"If you can't recite it, I will punish Mingrui." Qianlong said.
"No!" Yonglian quickly hugged Khan Ama's arm, "You should punish your son!"
Qianlong: "...Shouldn't you promise not to be lazy next time?"
Yonglian: "I'll try my best!"
Because Ruyi Pavilion was close to the school deep in the cave, Yonglian not only learned painting from foreign painters, but also occasionally went to Ruyi Pavilion to see their works.
The first issue of the anti-drug comic strip in "Guochao News" received a good response. Many people had only heard the village head talk about the harm of opium before, but had no specific concept. After reading this comic strip, they realized that opium is poisonous and the consequences of smoking it are very serious.
In the second issue, Yonglian continued to promote drug control and drew several methods used by opium traffickers to induce people to smoke opium.
Leo's eyes flashed when he saw the comic strip about the second prince. He knew that the English East India Company was growing poppies on a large scale and promoting them to many countries including the Qing Dynasty.
"How did you know that opium is so harmful?"
Yonglian said, "I heard it from Khan." He wasn't afraid of the foreigners finding out. Only the Qing dynasty banned opium, and other countries allowed it. Sooner or later, the Qing dynasty would be affected, too. If possible, he hoped the whole world would realize its harmful effects.
"I don't think so. Perhaps His Majesty the Emperor has some misunderstanding about opium." Leo said. He had only heard of opium addiction and really didn't know that opium could cause such serious consequences.
"Is that so? Then you can provide evidence to prove your point." Yonglian said, "Khan Ama has a lot of evidence that opium is harmful."
Leo thought for a while and said, "If I were in England, I could do experiments, but I am in the Qing Dynasty, and there is no opium in the Qing Dynasty, so I naturally cannot provide evidence." He smiled and changed the subject, taking the paint to color Yonglian's painting.
In the second issue of "Guochao News", Qianlong's poems were still placed in the most prominent position, followed by the poems of Yunxi and Hongxiao.
Another edition of the Jinshi Interviews interviewed Zhang Ruoai, the Imperial Lecturer and son of Zhang Tingyu, the Grand Councilor.
Zhang Ruoai was chosen by Emperor Yongzheng as the third place in the imperial examination, but because Zhang Tingyu requested that the position be given to a poor scholar, he was ranked first in the second class.
Zhang Tingyu's reputation among scholars and Zhang Ruoai's own talent made the second issue of "Guochao News" even more popular, and it was almost sold out.
Housing applicants from all over the country were so excited that they printed more copies overnight.
With the first experience, the newspaper office figured out the printing cost of the newspaper and could make a profit by printing a few hundred more copies.
Hongxiao was very happy when he saw the sales data submitted by several real estate agencies in Zhili. He asked someone to send it to Yonglian to see. The sales volume in the first three days had nearly doubled.
Not only did the newspaper shop make money, but the little beggars also became newspaper boys. According to Luang Pu, more than a dozen newspaper boys used the money they earned from selling newspapers for two months to buy food and make clothes. They also planned to save money to rent a small courtyard together so that they would no longer have to endure hunger and begging on the streets.
The second issue of the advertisement was also very effective. The advertisement was placed in a shop selling inkstones near Liulichang. Because of the newspaper publicity, the shop has been flocking to the store in recent days.
Yonglian happily went to Qianlong to report the good news. Qianlong also praised Hongxiao and said that he was dedicated in his work.
As for Yonglian, this kid, apart from drawing comic strips, was just a hands-off boss and just talked a lot.
Qianlong was worried and occasionally called the editorial team of "Guochao News" to give him some advice.
Yonglian didn't know that Khan Ama was so worried, and he thought that these scribes were naturally efficient.
Even more businesses wanted to advertise in the third issue, and even officials from the Imperial Academy volunteered to be interviewed. Just as the editorial department of Guochao News was working feverishly to prepare for the third issue, a new voice suddenly emerged.
"Comic strips are fascinating, interviews with scholars are popular among scholars, and even advertisements attract attention from businesses. Only the imperial poems are ignored."
"Yes, it's placed in such a prominent position, but it becomes a foil."
"Even Prince Shen's poems are widely praised, but the Emperor's poems..."
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