After hearing what the round-faced woman said, Shen Cui answered in her heart: It really won't take three years, as long as this one sells well, she can continue writing in three months!
She sat there quietly for a while, and Cui Wuniang came over to entertain the guests.
Although she was not of high generation in the Cui family, she was the head of the family after all, and she had to entertain guests personally, so no female guest would feel neglected.
There were so many relatives present, and many of them were unfamiliar with each other, but as soon as Cui Wu Niang came over, she called everyone one by one.
Even though she had never met some of the relatives from the Sun family, she was able to match them up from the information she had learned in advance.
After a gracious reception, both the host and the guests were in great joy. Cui Wuniang then took the opportunity to introduce the headmaster Chen Cui to everyone.
Although everyone didn't avoid Chen Cui when they talked, they didn't know her, and seeing that she didn't speak actively, they didn't talk to her much.
Now that I know her identity, and I heard Cui Wuniang point out that the academy she opened is full of scholars and her own son has won three top honors in the imperial examinations, that’s a different story.
They suddenly became more enthusiastic about Shen Cui. Some said that they thought she was only 25 or 26 years old, so they asked her how she maintained herself. More people asked her about her parenting experience, and some asked if other young men in their academy were married.
Shen Cui answered patiently, but as for marriage and the like, she said she didn't know. After all, the boys were currently focusing on their studies, so it still depended on their wishes.
"You shouldn't interfere with other people's marriages. How old is your son?"
Seeing that some people were targeting their fat son, Shen Cui said, "He is only fourteen, he doesn't know how to handle things, so don't worry."
"You're already fourteen? You're not in a hurry?"
"Yeah, I'm not asking you to find a wife for your son right away, but you should start looking for one. And you should also find out what kind of girl he likes so you can prepare early!"
They were very enthusiastic and had no ill intentions. They didn't come up with any intention of matchmaking or anything like that. They were just full of concern.
Shen Cui had to be careful when she refused, and she couldn't just tell people that her son had become smart in his studies but was still as foolish as before in terms of emotions.
Just at this time, another maidservant beside Cui Wuniang came over and said that Cui Wuniang wanted her to come over.
This is the one who came to rescue her. Shen Cui let out a long sigh, apologized to everyone, and then followed the maid away.
Cui Wuniang was in the corner pavilion near the banquet hall, talking to someone.
When Shen Cui went over, she had just finished talking to the other party.
Chen Cui couldn't help but take a second look at the person who was talking to Cui Wuniang, because that person was none other than the round-faced woman who had been praising the storybook in front of others.
The other party also gave her a kind smile and then went back to the banquet hall.
Shen Cui understood everything after hearing it, and said with a smile: "So that lady was promoting the event so hard, it turned out that you invited her to help. I felt a little hot in my ears when I heard her praises just now."
Cui Wu Niang smiled and nodded, "It is true that I invited the person, but it is not completely false, there is a reason behind it."
It turned out that the woman was Sun Ruowei's aunt, and the things she had told others at the table were all true.
When we were talking about publishing, Sun Ruowei said that after the book was published, she would give it away to all her sisters and friends.
When the book was actually published, she did the same thing - her aunt was only five or six years older than her, and they got along like real sisters.
Moreover, the little aunt of the Sun family was a person who loved to read storybooks. The storybook that Sun Ruowei had secretly read earlier was also secretly given to her by her little aunt.
Later, the young aunt from the Sun family finished reading the storybook and was eager to read the rest of the story, so she sent someone to ask Cui Wu Niang when she could see the sequel.
Cui Wuniang took time out to ask her to meet. Firstly, she really valued "Rouge Xiuxian Ji" and wanted to hear real customer feedback. Secondly, I would like to ask Aunt Sun to recommend it to relatives and friends and help promote it.
"You have to take care of the family business, and recently you've been busy arranging Ah Fei's wedding, and you also have to find time to worry about the publicity."
Cui Wuniang was indeed tired. There was no one around, so she stretched and said, "When doing business, you have to do a lot of things yourself. Don't think that we will only print a hundred copies of this book at the beginning. I plan to print another hundred or even a thousand copies later. Everything is difficult at the beginning. I know you are a little worried. I still say that you can leave it to me."
Shen Cui asked again: "What about the publicity expenses..."
A wealthy lady like Aunt Sun, who has no worries about food and clothing, must have paid a price that would make her pleasing if she was invited to help with publicity.
Chen Cui inquired about this because she was thinking that if what Cui Wuniang said was true, and the first hundred books were sold, they could enter the subsequent profit-making stage. The publicity and promotion expenses should also be included in the bookstore's costs, and after deduction, the two of them will split the profits 50-50.
Based on her understanding of Cui Wuniang, if she didn't ask, Cui Wuniang would definitely give her as much money as possible.
It's funny to talk about this. I used to hear people say that you can't do business with friends because if there are conflicts of interest, you may not even be able to be friends anymore.
She is in partnership with Cui Wuniang, but she is afraid that Cui Wuniang will suffer losses.
"There really is no such fee." Cui Wu Niang said with a smile, "So I said that this matter is all a fraud. The young aunt of the Sun family didn't ask me for anything. She just asked me to promise that after these 100 copies are sold, she would immediately urge 'Fang Cao Ke' to write a sequel. When it is finished, I have to show it to her before publishing it! Of course, she also said that she wanted to meet a wonderful woman like 'Fang Cao Ke', and I promised her that I would arrange it if I had the chance. Today you have met and gotten to know each other, so I have completed the latter item, and the only thing left is the former..."
Chen Cui nodded immediately and said, "I will start writing after I go back today. It will take me three months at most to finish. If our storybook doesn't sell well after I finish it, I won't print any sequels. I will just give it to Aunt Sun to read and repay her for her kindness."
Although Chen Cui wrote storybooks to make money at the beginning, when she met a reader who really liked her work, she had nothing to do during the day, so she was willing to take time out to make this number one reader happy.
Cui Wuniang smiled and nodded, the two chatted for a while, and then the lunch meal began.
Cui Wuniang and Shen Cui returned to the table together. With her around, she was able to easily fend off the overly enthusiastic questions from others with just a few words.
Chen Cui no longer had to worry about socializing and was only responsible for enjoying the food on the table. She had a very comfortable meal.
After the lunch banquet, the guests can go to the stage in the backyard to watch a show.
The opera scripts were handed to the guests of higher seniority, who then chose the operas to be performed.
The first pieces ordered are naturally classic pieces such as "The Peony Pavilion", "A Bed Full of Hu" and "Begging for Skill". After a round of orders, the troupe will also sing their new plays.
Chen Cui followed and watched for a while. She didn't quite understand what was being said, but she had another idea in mind - nowadays, when wealthy families hold weddings or celebrate festivals, they will invite opera troupes to perform in their homes.
If we adapt our own script into a play script, wouldn't it be the same as the effect of putting on television commercials in later generations?
After all, for a woman like the young aunt of the Sun family who has a wide range of social contacts, her social circle is always limited. Relying on word of mouth will definitely have an effect, but it will definitely be slow. If the goal is to sell one hundred copies, it is relatively easy to accomplish. But if you want to sell hundreds or thousands of copies later as Cui Wuniang said, it won't be very useful.
If the promotion is carried out through opera, a troupe can reach many more target customers!
After coming up with the idea, Shen Cui decided to find an opportunity to talk to Cui Wuniang about it.
As the head of the main family, Cui Wuniang is naturally busy today, but compared with her usual life, this kind of busyness is already very leisurely.
There was no need for Chen Cui to mention it specifically. Halfway through the play, Cui Wu Niang used the excuse of changing clothes to take Chen Cui for a walk in the garden.
"Your idea is novel, but the script for a story is different from the script for an opera. We need to hire someone else to revise the singing part. Our bookstore has never cooperated with an opera troupe before. I will find someone to revise the script later and then discuss cooperation with the opera troupe."
In the evening, the singing on the stage stopped, and the highlight of the day finally arrived - it was time for the newlyweds to worship heaven and earth.
Both male and female guests went to the main hall to watch the ceremony.
The matchmaker helped Sun Ruowei out of the bridal chamber and stuffed a piece of red silk into her and Cui Fei's hands.
The two men stood side by side, first worshipping heaven and earth, and then worshipping their parents.
Chen Cui had been with Cui Wuniang, and at this time, Old Man Cui was sitting on the other side of Cui Wuniang.
Seeing that the newlyweds were about to bow in her direction, Shen Cui immediately prepared to move a few steps to the side.
But before she could raise her foot, Cui Wuniang noticed it and grabbed her wrist.
"Bow twice to your parents!" Following the chanting of the praiser, Chen Cui received a very firm bow from the newlyweds.
After the couple bowed to each other, the newlyweds were surrounded by guests and went to their bridal chamber.
Shen Cui looked at Cui Wuniang helplessly, and Cui Wuniang just smiled and said, "I have already told A Fei and Ruo Wei about this in advance, but I was afraid that you would refuse, so I didn't tell you. A Fei has been reborn thanks to you, and now he has a good marriage. You are definitely worthy of this."
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