For the first issue of the newspaper, Song Ci and the others worked so hard that they forgot to eat and sleep.
Shen Huaizhou was in charge of collecting information. He scattered silver everywhere, recruited beggars and street children, and scoured the entire Capital City for news.
Street anecdotes, weird tales and rumors, secret affairs of the boudoir, schemes in the back courtyard... useful or not, he collected it all.
For convenience, local ruffians were also beaten into submission by Shen Huaizhou.
To avoid trouble.
Fortunately, the result was good.
The information overflowed.
After all, with the foundation from the previous public opinion battle between Song Ci and the Zhao family, Shen Huaizhou managed it quite well.
Then came the information screening.
Led by the editors from various departments, the subordinates categorized the information.
Because it was the first time, everyone was not sensitive to the information. Many times, Song Ci and Shen Huaizhou had to vet it.
The sensational and marketable ones were kept, the ordinary ones were archived, and the rubbish was disposed of.
Finally, the information was summarized. Li Ji'an coordinated and planned, arranging it under various sections of the newspaper.
To avoid mistakes, Li Ji'an almost went mad.
He ate and lived at headquarters, staying up all night every night.
As soon as he had time, he would drag people into meetings.
Song Ci could only feel helpless. A proper scholar had actually learned to work like a 996er?
Fortunately, for the success of the first issue, everyone pulled together as one rope, and no one minded.
After all, everyone cherished this rare job.
Only Song Ci, as a worker, could barely stand it.
Ancient people working overtime were even more crazy than modern people.
Because of the busyness, Shen Huaizhou lost weight, losing weight every day.
Cai Tingshu was in charge of logistics. Seeing Song Ci and the others staying up all night every night, she couldn't help but feel heartache.
She knew her own daughter. From a young age, she had always been a "juan wang," competitive in school, competitive at work, and even after becoming an expert, she still competed.
Now, as the Marquis's Daughter, Song Ci at least counted as a Noble, so she could avoid competing.
But Song Ci still competed. No way, who asked her to be a Fake Heiress.
She must compete.
Song Ci tried to leave early and return early, to avoid being watched.
Song Qianqian had kept a low profile, not died.
She didn't want to become a target.
After one all-nighter after another, the result was gratifying.
"It's done..."
Li Ji'an held the first printed newspaper. His eyes couldn't hide excitement and ecstasy, and his hands trembled with excitement.
Shen Huaizhou also looked surprised.
"Let me see quickly."
"Not bad."
Song Ci watched the finished product and nodded repeatedly. Although the printing was a bit rough and still needed improvement, at least it was a success.
Cai Tingshu rushed over excitedly.
"Let me have the first look."
She did not expect these children to overcome numerous obstacles and actually print the newspaper.
"Not bad, very good. Let's call it Jinghua Times!"
"Jinghua Times..."
Everyone murmured. A good name.
They excitedly held the newspaper and passed it around.
Song Ci immediately ordered people to print.
Working overtime, 1,000 copies were printed.
Song Ci held the freshly printed newspaper with a serious expression.
"Everyone, we are about to face a bigger challenge: selling newspapers."
"I'll sell." Li Ji'an raised his hand first.
"I can too."
"And me!"
Everyone responded in succession.
Song Ci shook her head.
"Everyone's enthusiasm is commendable, but you are not salespeople."
Just then, Amber stepped forward.
"Miss, all personnel are ready. Please give the order."
"Distribute the newspapers."
Behind Amber was a team of people. They were all boys about ten years old, uniformly dressed, uniformly equipped with sling bags. They came forward to receive the newspapers.
Song Ci cleared her throat.
"Each person is responsible for one street. There will be a commission after selling. One newspaper, one point."
"Yes, ma'am."
The boys responded in unison. Under Amber's lead, they walked out of the hall and quickly dispersed.
Everyone looked at Song Ci in surprise.
They didn't understand what her move meant.
Amber was also a bit nervous.
"Miss, will this work?"
"Let's wait and see."
Song Ci didn't make any promises, just smiled lightly.
But Shen Huaizhou gave her a thumbs up. Little Sister stayed up all night and still had time to set up a newspaper-selling team.
It was impressive.
The newspaper printed 1,000 copies, but there were only twenty newspaper boys. These children couldn't sell them all even if they ran their legs off.
Fortunately, Song Ci had prepared early. She equipped fixed-point sales: bookstores, restaurants, tea houses... anywhere people gathered, Song Ci didn't miss.
For this, she specially hired ten storytellers, all talking about the highlights of the Jinghua Times content.
After Cai Tingshu finished looking at her arrangements, she also looked gratified. This child always surprised people, actually able to cover all aspects.
Everything was ready, only the east wind was needed.
"I want 100 copies."
Shen Huaizhou advised, "Take them away."
"One thing is one thing. Count it as money."
Cai Tingshu insisted on paying. She must separate public and private.
She ordered people to send the newspapers to the back courtyards of various mansions, gifting them to ladies and madams with connections.
Song Ci understood. Her mom was giving them an east wind.
Don't underestimate women's gossip.
Jinghua Times specially opened a separate section for this.
Everything was ready, just waiting for news.
Soon, streets and alleys were filled with the figures of newspaper boys.
"Extra! Extra! First Issue of Jinghua Times! It has gossip and entertainment, insider news, romantic legends, street anecdotes, Yamen quick news... everything you could want! Today's special offer: 100 wen per copy! You won't lose out buying it, you won't be cheated! Come and see!"
"What is that?" People stopped one after another.
"Let's go check it out."
Soon, people crowded around the newspaper boys.
Tea houses and taverns were also very lively.
With the storytellers' lectures, it aroused the curiosity of quite a few people.
Especially scholars.
They took out money to buy one after another.
Only 500 wen.
You know, in this era, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were the most expensive. A book cost at least one tael of silver.
500 wen couldn't even buy a storybook; only toilet paper.
There were also people who questioned why the ones sold on the street were cheaper. Song Ci specially kept people to explain: the reason the street sales were cheaper was because there were fewer pages and less content; the ones in restaurants and bookstores were premium editions.
On hearing it was premium, that person immediately took out money.
Some bought, and others followed suit. Soon, the salespeople were surrounded.
Upon getting the newspaper, they immediately took a first look. The more they read, the more amazed they were.
Wow!
It covers everything, even more interesting than a storybook?
In an instant, they felt like they had obtained a precious treasure.
They were utterly captivated, but one newspaper was quickly finished.
"What next?"
The salesperson was bewildered: "Sir, today is the first issue of Jinghua Times. If you want to see the continuation, you'll have to wait for the second issue."
"How long?"
"Ten days."
Newspapers were a first in the Great Xia. Song Ci did not start with daily publication, since new things needed an acceptance process.
That person wailed.
"So long? What happened later in the story?"
"I don't know. You wait a bit more."
The salesperson also didn't anticipate this situation, and hadn't been trained for it.
Wait?
That person felt like dying.
Do you know how painful it is to have a storybook left unfinished halfway?
The scholars of the Great Xia Dynasty tasted the feeling of waiting for the next update for the first time.
They roared.
"Hurry up and write, stop selling!"
"Sir, if you have any opinions, you can go to the Jinghua Times inquiry office."
That person left cursing, clutching the newspaper tightly in his arms. Even when classmates came to borrow, he wouldn't lend.
Some praised, some cursed.
"This is all bullshit! What is this? Putting everything together, it's an insult to the sages."
"Don't read it then, give it to me."
"Get lost."
"Excellent! Excellent! It's really good."
"Indeed, the person who created Jinghua Times is truly brilliant."
"Right, for just 500 wen, you can know everything."
"I want five copies!"
"Give me seven copies!"
"I want some too!"
People's desire to buy surged, taking out silver one after another.
Some couldn't even grab a copy.
The salesperson pointed outside.
"Everyone, it is available at various bookstores, tea houses, and restaurants."
People rushed to tell each other, afraid they wouldn't be able to buy.
A passerby was puzzled: "Where did this group of fools come from?"
"What are they buying?"
"Actually queuing?"
The same situation was playing out everywhere.
Jinghua Times, with the speed of lightning, swept across the entire Capital City. Even the ladies and madams in the inner courtyards sent maids and old women to buy, afraid they wouldn't be able to get a copy.
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