Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 13 Newspapers are not for sale
The Wanli Xinbao newspaper became a hit, and by the next day, it had become the talk of the town.

In the past few days, Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu found an inn near Jianyang Bookstore and secretly stayed there.

At this very moment, Zhang Juzheng was still issuing a city-wide warrant for the arrest of the two brothers.

The fact that no officials were involved was probably because my father wanted to save face.

Of course, Zhang Yunxiu's worries were not about this at all. He leaned against the window, holding a red pear in his hand, taking a bite every now and then.

His gaze fell on the street in front of the inn.

It can be seen that the porters, dressed in blue robes, gathered in groups of three or five, and those who could read would pick up newspapers and read them aloud to the others.

Whenever someone reads the newspaper, ordinary people gather around, some even listening more than once.

The old man selling steamed buns at the alley entrance also held a newspaper in his hand, using the few words he had roughly learned to check the various auspicious days in the newspaper.

The shopkeeper of the silk store across the street was sweating profusely as he fiddled with the price list from the newspaper on his abacus.

Judging from this small glimpse, the newspaper has already been successfully completed thanks to Zhang Yunxiu's three decisive moves!

This was not only due to the storyteller's efforts, but also because Zhang Jianxiu's Imperial Guards contributed.

Even so, the fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu, didn't seem very happy.

Looking out the window at the bustling crowds on the street, Zhang Jianxiu thought of his father's rage and the tragic fate to come. He could no longer laugh.

He finally couldn't help but say to Zhang Yunxiu with some reproach.

"Fifth brother, you've ruined my life! I told you it wouldn't work! When will this newspaper ever make any money? When will we be able to go home? Are we really going to keep hiding like this? The capital is only so big. We can hide for a while, but can we hide forever?"

Zhang Yunxiu spat out the pear core and retorted without any politeness, "Fourth Brother, calm down. Good fortune may be followed by misfortune. You were daydreaming on Xiang'er's bed, so you should be able to withstand Father's punishment."

And you must have faith in your younger brother! Isn't our newspaper good enough?

"This newspaper is certainly good."

Zhang Jianxiu was conflicted.

He did approve of the newspaper, and his opinion of his younger brother changed.

Which spoiled brat would write "The Legend of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty" and contain so much novel knowledge?
The only explanation is that the younger brother was very smart before. He kept a low profile and studied hard in secret, just to make a name for himself at this moment!
Even so, Zhang Jianxiu still had no hope for the newspaper.

"Fifth brother, it's not that I don't trust you, but although this newspaper is good and your methods are quite ingenious, it's sold too cheaply. What can you buy with five coins?"
The capital city has a population exceeding one million, yet even if everyone bought our newspaper, it would only amount to five thousand taels of silver. How could we possibly make up for the omissions in this depiction of immortals?

Zhang Jianxiu was a bit less intelligent than his older brothers, but he was still good at doing calculations. Why wasn't this newspaper favored?
Their current situation is proof of this.

Even though Zhang Yunxiu made the newspaper so attractive, and there was also the gimmick of a storyteller.

If it's cheap, the profit margin is low; if it's expensive, ordinary people can't afford it.

To the average person, this is simply an unsolvable problem.

Ultimately, this whole thing was more like Zhang Yunxiu's willful and reckless tantrum.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head: "Fourth Brother miscalculated."

"A miscalculation?"

“Yes.” Zhang Yunxiu climbed down from the windowsill and sat down at the wooden table to calculate for his older brother.

“We sold the painting of immortals for nine thousand taels of silver. I took six thousand taels and you took three thousand taels. When Yu Xiangdou and I opened Xinming Bookstore, I invested three thousand taels of silver, Yu Xiangdou invested two thousand taels of silver, and you invested one thousand taels of silver.”

I have three thousand taels left. I originally planned to run my own bookstore, but now I'm relying on Yu Xiangdou's bookstore, which has saved me a lot of money. For example, the cost of making movable type, paper, and ink, all these miscellaneous expenses, added up to less than two thousand taels of silver.

Therefore, I still have four thousand taels of silver available for withdrawal.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Let Yu Xiangdou suffer a little and let him contribute more. As long as we earn a thousand taels of silver, it should be enough to make up for the shortfall. Even if we can't send the Immortal Map back, with the bookstore's assets, Father will scold us, but he won't go too far."

Zhang Jianxiu was clearly not convinced: "Your calculation is wrong. Even if it's 1,000 taels, we would need to sell 200,000 copies to make a profit! Besides..."

"Besides what?"

Zhang Jianxiu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and covered his head as he spoke.

"Besides, I've already used the remaining two thousand taels of silver to redeem Xiang'er from her servitude! There's simply not enough to make up for it!"

"Oh!" Zhang Yunxiu exclaimed in surprise. "Brother, you're such a spendthrift! Two thousand taels gone just like that? Didn't I tell you long ago that you can't trust those prostitutes? Just play around with them, but do you really want to marry her?"
At least I still own a bookstore. If Dad knew you'd bought a prostitute, he'd definitely break your legs!

Zhang Jianxiu: "???"

"me."

Zhang Jianxiu's face turned a deep purplish-red. He really wanted to say, "Wasn't it you who encouraged me to redeem Xiang'er from her servitude?"
However, Zhang Yunxiu had indeed reminded himself not to be misled by women of the night and to spend the three thousand taels of silver sparingly.

"It's over!!!"

Zhang Jianxiu could already imagine the extent of Zhang Juzheng's anger upon learning of this matter.

From a young age, Zhang Juzheng strictly disciplined his children. Even after he became Grand Secretary, he restricted his sons' interactions with court officials, forbidding them from having any contact with people in the court, and his studies were even more rigorous.

Of course, Zhang Yunxiu, who was too young, is not included. By the time he reached school age, Zhang Juzheng had already devoted himself entirely to the new policies.

In short, Zhang Juzheng's authority was almost unshakeable in the eyes of Zhang Jianxiu and his brothers.

Especially in ancient patriarchal societies.

He was much older than Zhang Yunxiu, and the things he did were even more absurd.

If Zhang Yunxiu is alright then, then I'll be in trouble.
Suddenly, Zhang Jianxiu realized something was wrong and looked at his younger brother suspiciously.

Suddenly realized something.

Zhang Yunxiu's face stiffened, and he immediately came up to comfort him, saying, "Fourth Brother, don't worry, things aren't that bad. Our newspaper can earn two thousand taels, or even ten thousand taels."

"."

Zhang Jianxiu felt like he had been cheated and was even helping the other party count the money.

He said dejectedly, "Fifth brother, please stop teasing me. It seems that our best course of action now is to return to the manor as soon as possible and apologize to Father!"

He made a decision: from now on, he would never believe a single word his younger brother said!
Zhang Yunxiu refused to give up: "Hold on a little longer, Fourth Brother, if you just hold on a little longer, hope will come."

Zhang Jianxiu was furious. He stomped his foot and said.

"Zhang Yunxiu! Stop playing around! I can't outsmart you! Your newspaper may be good, but ultimately he can't make any money selling newspapers!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Yunxiu looked at Zhang Jianxiu as if he were an idiot.

"Who told you that I make money by selling newspapers?"

(End of this chapter)