Chapter 1731: Chapter 1552: Entertainment Tycoon from Another World 12

A month later, the auction was held as scheduled at Zhen Shu’s tavern. Jian Shuangshuang had prepared a total of thirty books, each roughly eighty thousand words-long stories.

Such a word count in a storyteller’s mouth would be enough for two months of storytelling. If more books could be auctioned, one could have a year and a half worth without repetition, definitely earning a lot of money.

Auctions are not unfamiliar to people in this world, particularly common in major cities, although usually attended by aristocrats and wealthy merchants.

This was the first time Jian Shuangshuang auctioned storytelling stories, breaking new ground, so those attending the auction were quite curious.

Jian Shuangshuang entrusted everything full-heartedly to Zhen Shu to handle, and Zhen Shu did a respectful job of it, clearing out the entire tavern hall, with the stage for opera and storytelling transformed into an auction platform.

Facing the stage was a row of chairs where the participants could sit, while Zhen Shu acted as the auctioneer, standing on stage to wield the hammer.

Zhen Shu wore a powder-blue waist-length dress today, covered with sleeves of the same color, embroidered with red plum blossoms at the hem and cuffs, giving her a look less dazzling, more elegant.

She swept a glance over the crowd waiting for the auction from the high stage, lips slightly curving: "Everyone present today is here for my Sister Shuangshuang’s story. I won’t waste words.

Let’s get straight to the point. Each of my sister’s books is about eighty thousand words long; I don’t need to tell you how long you can tell these stories for, you experts already know.

In a moment, I’ll have the staff read the synopsis of each story to be auctioned. If you’re interested, bid; if not, you can wait for the next book.

Each storybook starts at five gold coins, with each bid increasing by no less than one silver coin. The highest bidder will get the story."

After Zhen Shu finished speaking, someone on the opposite side frowned immediately, obviously thinking the price was too high. Among them, a middle-aged man’s expression was the ugliest.

He looked at Zhen Shu with great dissatisfaction and said: "Isn’t five gold coins too expensive? Where can you find a storybook for this price? Five gold coins can fill a room with books from a bookstore.

Manager Zhen, Mr. Jian, don’t be too greedy. A single story priced so much in gold coins, how long will we have to tell stories to recoup that money? Isn’t this a scam!"

As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, several men and women nearby echoed his sentiments, thinking that five gold coins for a book was indeed too expensive.

However, Zhen Shu raised an eyebrow and sneered, looking at the middle-aged man who spoke first: "Mr. Wang, are you pretending to be clueless or are you taking advantage of our young Sister Shuangshuang.

You’re also a storyteller, I heard you’re saying stories Sister Shuangshuang already told; you have no count of how much money you’ve made off my Sister Shuangshuang’s stories?

I bet you’ve earned at least fifty gold coins already. Now we’re giving you new stories our Shuangshuang hasn’t told, you surely know how many people they could attract.

Being too greedy doesn’t do you any good. You’re all aware of the popularity of our Shuangshuang’s storytelling, stop playing dumb to gain advantage, or we’ll cancel the auction today.

These stories we can have Shuangshuang tell little by little, earning even more than selling them to you would. Truly, greed knows no bounds, snake swallowing an elephant.

If it weren’t for Sister Shuangshuang’s kindness, thinking of sharing the feast, would you even be here looking to take advantage? Once you’re gaining benefits, don’t forget to curb your demands continuously!"

Zhen Shu surveyed the people around her, continuing to sneer coldly: "Is this auction about storybooks? This is auctioning the tools for your future earnings! It’s your livelihood!

This book is a storybook, but can it merely be sold as a storybook? If you agree with Mr. Wang that five gold coins can buy a room full of books, that’s easy to resolve.

No auction today, I’ll immediately have people print these stories and send them to bookshops. That way you can buy a room full of them for five gold coins, and my Sister Shuangshuang earns more than auctioning them to you!"

Zhen Shu’s temperament is explosive, her words are harsh; she is a Xuan Master, her status and position inherently different from ordinary people; even if her words were nasty, Mr. Wang and others didn’t dare lose their temper.

Today’s event was indeed unscrupulous of these people; although they didn’t know exactly how much Jian Shuangshuang earned during this period, they were all in the same trade. Estimating was enough to get a pretty good idea.

Even if it’s not five gold coins, even ten gold coins—the deal is still highly profitable; thus despite Mr. Wang and a few being scolded by Zhen Shu til their faces were red and turning pale, they dared not retort.

Not only did they not dare to retort, but instead they grew anxious. If these books were truly sent to bookshops to sell, with Jian Shuangshuang’s storytelling ability, they would surely become a hit.

Then Jian Shuangshuang would earn a significant share, certainly more than auction earnings; then even if they bought a room full of books for five copper coins, it would be useless. The allure of a tale that hasn’t been told versus one that has, isn’t the same.

Many people began to speak favorably to Zhen Shu and Jian Shuangshuang, criticizing Mr. Wang and others while currying favor with Jian Shuangshuang, fearing that Jian Shuangshuang might indeed cancel the auction listening to Zhen Shu’s words.

"Not expensive, not expensive, Mr. Jian has a benevolent heart, we know. You guys truly are black-hearted; already getting a bargain and still not satisfied. If you don’t want to participate in the auction, you can leave; gives us the chance to bid on more books."

"Indeed, the price set by Mr. Jian and Manager Zhen is absolutely fair. I’m definitely buying; if you’re not, don’t waste Manager Zhen and Mr. Jian’s time."

"Moreover, you’re delaying our time, you know. Everyone’s waiting for the auction; if you don’t want to participate, kindly step outside and stop obstructing."

To appease Zhen Shu and Jian Shuangshuang, they did everything to ridicule Mr. Wang and the others, to buy favor from Zhen Shu and Jian Shuangshuang, making Mr. Wang and the others increasingly suffocated.

Although inwardly irritated, their faces growing pale, Mr. Wang and others seemed glued to their seats, unmoving, ignoring the audience jeering them and refusing to leave.

With a grim face feigning ignorance, Mr. Wang sat there without leaving; what’s a little embarrassment? It’s money that matters. Previously, he had enjoyed plenty of such sweet profits.

In these months, by retelling Jian Shuangshuang’s stories, Mr. Wang had made close to a hundred gold coins; his house was expanded and renovated, even his son’s marriage relied on the earnings from these months.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the confidence to be here at Jian Shuangshuang’s story auction. His earlier comments were intended for moral coercion, to incite the crowd into lowering the price.

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