“Is the side story of The Rise of the Tang Family coming out?”
“They say the volume of the side story will be decided by the popularity of the main set.”
“The volume will be determined by popularity, huh? As the top courtesan of Hubei, I can’t stand it. Let’s head to the Tea Bookstore right now!”
The main set I’m buying will decide the fate of the Tang family’s tale.
It’s a captivating marketing strategy, but in a situation where The Rise of the Tang Family seems like it will be serialized for a long time, racing towards an unknown finish line can feel too distant.
In such moments, creating a stopping point like an orc chieftain from fantasy, a martial artist from Wuxia, or a convenience store part-timer heroine from gender-bender novels would do the trick.
The mid-point I thought of was side stories featuring different heroines.
The problem is, if I’m not careful, the side story can come off as a cruel marketing ploy.
“I personally asked Author Ho Pil for the side story.”
I could just go public with the opinion throughout the community.
“Manager Kang did it himself?”
“As the manager of the Tea Bookstore, I wondered if I could repay our beloved Tea and Book Club members with something. Just then, I thought it would be great if a side story about the heroines that appeared earlier came out, so I visited Author Ho Pil.”
“What did Author Ho Pil say?”
“He seemed reluctant. He’s pouring all his efforts into planning volume 4, and asking him to write a story he had no intention of writing was only natural.”
I exaggerated Ho Pil’s troubled expression in front of the Tea and Book Club members while explaining the situation.
“But how is a side story coming out?”
“Author Ho Pil said the side story was impossible and instead offered me all the profits from volume 3. He said I deserved it for risking my life to protect The Rise of the Tang Family.”
“All the profits from volume 3?”
“My goodness!”
Looking out the window of the Tea Bookstore, people are still lined up endlessly.
Thinking that Manager Kang Yoon-ho could monopolize all the profits from volume 3, it’s not surprising to be shocked.
Whoever thinks it, it’s foolish to refuse.
“I outright declined.”
I said to the Tea and Book Club members with an expression of a refined individual unbothered by money.
“Why!”
“Isn’t it only right that Author Ho Pil’s profits go to him? I believed the members of the Tea and Book Club were more important than money.”
Manager Kang isn’t an evil merchant who thinks money is always right. It’s time to make a case.
“We?”
“If I was going to crumble in front of money, I wouldn’t have even been dragged into the Sichuan Tang Family. I merely earnestly requested a piece that could quench the thirst of the devoted readers of The Rise of the Tang Family. In the end, Author Ho Pil consented.”
“Indeed! Even Author Ho Pil wouldn’t be able to ignore the fact that a friend risks his life to protect his book!”
“To think Manager Kang sees us that way.”
The members of the Tea and Book Club looked at me, touched.
The side story of The Rise of the Tang Family isn’t a marketing strategy but a gift for loyal readers. The Tea and Book Club members would surely have my story about the side story during the succession battle.
Manager Kang gave up the chance to have all profits from volume 3 and persuaded Author Ho Pil.
Moved by the manager, Author Ho Pil decided to produce a side story he hadn’t planned to write.
It would undoubtedly become a heartwarming tale to anyone who heard it.
Though the problem is, they are both me.
But even if it’s later, the fact that it was fan service won’t change.
“I’ll take 50 Cheonghong sets.”
“Fifty?!”
“Looks like the new hires have deep pockets!”
“Not possible.”
I immediately rejected the new member.
“Why not?”
“The main sets are a measure of how much the The Rise of the Tang Family fans like the characters. To prevent reckless purchases just for votes, I have to stop it.”
Vote buying is fine. But if it morphs into a competition for a minority of votes, the majority participating may feel powerless.
The main sets will continue to be a major product of the Tea Bookstore. If the purpose is to make quick money, that’s one thing, but such orders aren’t good in the long run.
“Ugh. It can’t be helped. Then just give me one set.”
“I must have misunderstood Manager Kang.”
“I thought you were a money-grubbing demon!”
“To give up on the profits from volume 3 and still refuse a bulk purchase of the main sets.”
How do you view me? I’m a merchant who only uses sound business practices.
“No matter what anyone says, I’m the first member of the Tea and Book Club. I just wish for Author Ho Pil’s success and that the readers enjoy themselves.”
I smiled toward the Tea and Book Club, acting with a face devoid of selfish desires like a pure fan running a shop.
“You’re right! We knew we were seeing the right person!”
“Seems like a true first member of the Tea and Book Club!”
“Impossible. No way….”
Im Ha-yeon. Why are you mumbling at the back?
“Give me one more Cheonghong set.”
“You just ordered one, didn’t you?”
As we talked about the side story with the Tea and Book Club members, the person who had just been refused after ordering 50 sets came back to order again.
It hadn’t been long since they ordered.
“I finished it all. Give me another set.”
The person who re-ordered returned the empty teacup and plate to me.
Didn’t I say you can’t place bulk orders? Did you just eat quickly and reorder?
“Did this person not hear Manager Kang? If you keep ordering like that….”
“Sure! They said they finished, so just take the order.”
“Manager Kang?”
Why did they eat it all? So they can order again.
———————-
The news of the side story release brought a surge in sales on the second floor.
“Sis Ha-yeon, we just got another batch of Cheonghong sets!”
Thanks to that, the staff were facing busy days, waiting for their lunch break as if their necks were stretched.
“I, Hubei’s top courtesan, am making Cheonghong sets….”
Im Ha-yeon looked as if vitality was draining from her face.
“Unnie?”
“To think I’m the leader of evil marketing tactics….”
This is the same Im Ha-yeon who accused me of being a wicked merchant. Now that she’s making the crystallization of that marketing herself, it must feel different for her.
“If you don’t want to do it, just say so. I can do it instead. But there will be a penalty.”
I said, watching Im Ha-yeon’s comically frustrated expression.
“Get out of the way! If you do it, the tea will brew!”
Oh! Quite a skilled hand.
It’s like the office worker complaining every day about not wanting to come to work but turning out to be the most efficient when actually at work—they’re the same type of person.
“I’ve made them all. Hurry and take them.”
“Sis! Another batch just came in!”
“Ugh! Why on earth are orders coming in endlessly?”
“The members of the Tea and Book Club aren’t enjoying tea together; they’re inhaling it!”
“Until our Cheonghong set sales surpass that of the other Jeong group, our Cheonghong group won’t stop!”
“Of course!”
“Ugh!”
Despite Im Ha-yeon’s painful screams, the sales at the Tea Bookstore soared daily.
Profits from The Rise of the Tang Family, second-floor sales, and increased customers even affected the book sales revenue.
The sales ledger of the Tea Bookstore set new records daily, right as we were about to separate the booster stages and engage the second stage.
“Manager!!! This is bad!!!”
“What happened?”
“The printer broke!!!”
The booster has exploded.
——————–
“It seems it’s time to die.”
The elderly printer technician I often called upon said coldly, sharing the grim prognosis of the printer.
“Is it hard to repair?”
“The printer is too old, and there are no compatible parts. I’ve set up a temporary fix, but it won’t last long.”
“Isn’t there any way to get the parts?”
“None in Yichang. If you contact Wuhan, you might be able to find some. It could take a month, though.”
“A month?!”
“I managed to keep it going this long with maintenance. No older printer than this one exists in Yichang.”
“I’ve oiled it daily and kept it clean.”
I took care of that printer like a first car, worrying about any potential problems. To hear it’s broken is frustrating.
“You can tell at a glance. Even if we find parts in a month, it’s an issue. It’s too old. Even if we repair it, it’ll just break again somewhere else. The next part could take half a year to find.”
“Is there truly no solution?”
As I insisted, the elderly technician looked at the printer and finally spoke.
“This thing! I was here when I started working! Looks like I’ll keep working until I die! You’re just going to curse me, huh, when you’ve exhausted all your options and blame me for everything!”
Just tell me to buy a new one.
“How much would a new one cost?”
“If I make one from scratch, it’ll be cheaper, but that’ll take a long time. Getting one from Wuhan won’t be cheap either. About this much?”
“Wow.”
I doubted my finances for a moment.
“Or. As a regular customer, I’ll let you in on a tip.”
“What’s that, old man?”
I asked politely, like a newbie trying to get advice from an unfriendly but knowledgeable player.
“In a few days, there will be news about a printer being disposed of by the government. If you can place a bid and get it, you might get a decent printer at a good price.”
Indeed. This was a valuable piece of information coming from a technician who manages printers.
Is this the fastest and most reasonable way to get a printer? It’s good news, but the cost is still too steep.
I was hesitant to jump at the chance since I have many debts and expenses to deal with.
“I’ll think about it. Thank you. Here’s the repair fee.”
“Forget it. I won’t take it.”
The technician waved his hand, rejecting the envelope.
Wow. Is he refusing the repair fee out of sympathy for a printer facing its end of life? That’s why regulars are great!
“But you can’t just use a technician for free.”
Even if he refuses my repair fee, it’s essential to keep my reputation intact. After one more rejection, I planned to stuff the money in his pocket immediately.
“Who said I wouldn’t take a service fee?”
“What?”
“Just pay me in books. All volumes of The Rise of the Tang Family. My grandson has been nagging me to see it.”
Excuse me, but how old is your grandson?
———————-
This guy’s life seems to revolve around landing punches like a boxing Dempsey roll any chance he gets.
“Parts for a printer over fifty years old? There’s none here.”
“The order for printing The Rise of the Tang Family? Why can’t they handle it with just one printer? Why don’t you sell it through our bookstore? I’ll give you a good price per volume.”
“If you’re not gonna let me sell The Rise of the Tang Family to you, nobody’s going to take your printing orders. No one’s going to miss out on an opportunity when it’s clear the printer is broken.”
In this world, everyone fights hard for their survival. Someone else’s misfortune is someone else’s opportunity. I visited several suppliers, but no particular solution appeared.
“I can’t give up on the exclusive rights to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
I can’t lose the exclusive publishing rights I’ve so painstakingly maintained. While people don’t ignore the rules of old like they once did, some are still keen on snatching publishing opportunities for The Rise of the Tang Family.
If I want to keep my exclusivity and keep printing, I’ll need to reduce the operating time of the printer, but considering the volume sold each day, managing resources wouldn’t be easy.
In the end, it’s clear that the best solution is to purchase a new printer. However, the cost of a printer equates to an asset that earns money for me.
The price of a printer boasted a price that I didn’t make in all of my diligent work.
I aimed to pay off debts from my hard work, yet I found myself confronted with a massive expenditure.
“No choice is easy.”
Waiting for parts to be found while continually repairing it or choosing to purchase a new printer.
“Why do you look so exhausted? Did something not go well?”
As evening approached and it neared quitting time, Im Ha-yeon asked me, her face concerned.
“Don’t worry about it.”
It’s not my employee’s job to worry about the boss. I relaxed my tense expression and spoke to her.
“I’m not worrying about you or anything?! Just eat some coffee and snacks. If you eat something sweet and wash it down with coffee, you’ll feel better.”
Im Ha-yeon pouted like she was displeased, but skillfully brought over the coffee and snacks.
Has my image towards her improved a bit? At first, she was eager to tear me apart, but now she’s even packing snacks for me.
“Thanks.”
“Just hurry and eat it.”
I nodded, feeling the caffeine surge as I drank the coffee. This is indeed the potion of office workers.
Seeing me gulp down the coffee, Im Ha-yeon proceeded to mark something on one side of the chalkboard.
[Hyang-a coffee set. Du Eung-hyang: 正.]
“Wasn’t it free?”
“Every vote is precious right now.”
You’re counting what I eat as a vote? Give me back my sense of emotional impact.
“I left dinner in the usual place.”
“Uh… If dinner is a burden, there’s no need to give it.”
Im Ha-yeon said to me with a dark expression.
“Why are you saying such things all of a sudden?”
“I heard you need to buy a new printer, right?”
“Forget it. If I save for dinner… wait, huh?”
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just go home early. I’ll go see what’s going on.”
I left the bewildered Im Ha-yeon behind and went upstairs to the attic.
‘I wasn’t thinking clearly.’
Even if the world around me changes, my fundamental way of thinking hasn’t changed.
If I incur debt, I use the money coming in each month to pay it off.
Even with a long-term loan for a two-story building with a red roof, I believe if I steadily pay it off, it will eventually be my home and a part of my stable life.
‘I’ve tried to settle down too much.’
I was a beggar. A broker. A novice writer. It was a tough two years where my life hung in the balance.
Just because I’m in a position to take a breather, I was too laid back in my thinking.
Should I slowly pay off my debts before taking any action?
When will that happen?
Even now, the women in my life are resisting fate.
“I need to keep moving.”
I hadn’t found stable ground. I was barely finished preparing to stand at the starting line.
So what should I do now?
“Let’s expand the business.”
