134

Chapter 134 - Uninvited Guest - 1

"Don't cut the line!"

"Will I be able to purchase it today?"

"I came too late yesterday, and they were all sold out."

A novel that made it onto the morning paper. The 'Colored Cooperative Papers' endorsed by the Literary Association. To buy it, there was always a line on the first floor of the Daseogak.

The second floor of Daseogak had also become famous as a place for fans who had nowhere else to channel their passion for the saga of Tang Family's Turbulence.

"I acknowledge that Du Eun-hyang is of pure body. But it is also true that in her life, she has sold laughter to many men. On the other hand, Gu Suk-jeong has only ever shown her smile to her true love, Tang Jeong, making her the true principal wife, doesn't it?"

The most fervent participant in the Daseo Association's meetings was none other than the younger sibling of Mr. Hwang, strangely enough.

The new member of the Daseo Association, Mr. Hwang's younger sibling, presented his logic to the believers of the 'Ho Book's Number One Beauty', Du Eun-hyang, with burning passion.

"Ugh..."

A man from the Hyang-ah Group grimaced as if struck in the heart by Mr. Hwang's sibling's sound reasoning.

"Therefore, quickly abandon the woman who has sold her smiles to other men, and return to the embrace of a woman who has reserved her smiles solely for one man."

Mr. Hwang's sibling nudged a set of Sukjeong tea toward the man in front with a smile.

"Are you wavering now?"

Mr. Hwang asked in surprise, watching this scene unfold.

"I am, a bit shaken."

"My friend. Are you being swayed by the sophistry of a newcomer who has just joined? Listen well. When Du Eun-hyang smiled while pouring wine for Tang Jeong, did Tang Jeong fall for her then?"

"No."

"That's right. Tang Jeong wasn't swayed by Du Eun-hyang's beauty, and it was mutual. It was because Tang Jeong appreciated who she truly was on the inside, not just her appearance."

"That's correct."

"To call someone a principal wife just for smiling once, that's preposterous. The so-called 'Sichuan's Number One Beauty' Dan is nothing but a group of superficial people who value outer appearances over inner beauty. And we, the Hyang-ah Group, are the true believers in valuing the inner beauty - the true followers of principal-wife-ism."

"I was almost misled."

The man who received the preaching seemed to have an epiphany, thumping his chest as if in revelation.

"Brother! Your words are too harsh. Are you saying that Sichuan's Number One Beauty's inner beauty is inferior to some mere courtesan?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"I can't stand by this statement, not even from you, Brother!"

"Are you challenging me now? I must not have taught my younger sibling right!"

"Hmmph."

With a cough, I drew the attention of the arguing crowd and pointed toward the door.

"The manager says if it happens one more time, you'll be thrown out. Let's keep it down."

"I was about to win him over..."

"The Hyang-ah Group isn't swayed by such trivial arguments."

"No matter how much you try to dissuade the others, the trend will not change. Look at the chalkboard over there."

Mr. Hwang's sibling pointed to the popularity vote board. I too followed his hand, staring at the board that became the center of recent controversy.

It's a problem. Quite the problem.

Is it because Du Eun-hyang is of Korean descent, or is it because she's a courtesan? The popularity contest for Tang Family's Turbulence was undisputedly led by Sichuan's Number One Beauty, Gu Suk-jeong, albeit not by a huge margin.

"I have not yet given up. Just as Tang Jeong does not give up until the very end, I too will not give up on Du Eun-hyang."

That's right. Don't give up, please.

"This means Du Eun-hyang is going to lose, huh? Aish. I have no money, guess I'll have to settle for an iced Americano instead of Hyang-ah coffee. Manager! An iced Americano over here!"

Mr. Hwang's will is strong, no doubt, but there certainly is an issue.

If the margin between the contestants widens too much in the popularity vote, it diminishes its value as a marketing strategy. If the gap seems unbridgeable, people start to give up.

Indeed, lately more members of the Daseo Association have been showing such signs of giving up.

Should I try a different approach? There's an option to show only the day's results and conduct the total vote count as a blind vote.

This way, the gap cannot be discerned properly, which might keep interest alive. But the gap that has already formed has become the subject of gossip – what to do?

I could announce like a school trip recreation instructor that today's special set votes count double. Isn't that a bit too ruthless?

While I was pondering, an unexpected visitor arrived.

"So this is the famed Daseogak I've heard of in rumors. Very well-decorated."

An elder accompanied by a group made his appearance at Daseogak.

Oh? Is that who I think it is?

"Chairman! What brings you here?"

The visitor to Daseogak was the head of the Yi Chang Merchant Association, someone who had been of help during the incident with the pirated copies of Tang Family's Turbulence.

"Just passing by and thought I'd drop in to say hello. A popularity vote, huh? Such marketing strategies never crossed the mind of an old man like me."

The chairman briefly glanced at the popularity vote board then chuckled and spoke to me.

"It's just a small technique to gauge the reactions of our devoted readers."

Marketing ploy, he says. It's merely an assistive tool to support our readers in their showdown of principal wives, after all.

"Heh heh. Quite the interesting young man. With your mouth, hands, and head, you continue to stir up ripples here in Yi Chang."

The chairman knows who I am.

I had to make it clear that the right reasons were on my side in order to ask for the chairman's help. Without revealing the fact that I was Ho-Pil, it would have been impossible to receive assistance.

"You always think too highly of me, I hardly know how to thank you."

I bowed deeply to express my gratitude to the chairman, who seemed pleased with my gesture and nodded before looking back at the popularity vote board.

"Tsk tsk. How can Ho Book's Number One Beauty be trailing behind Sichuan's Number One Beauty."

"Ha-ha. I, too, am troubled by it."

If this gap widens, the popularity vote will wither away.

As I glanced at the board, the chairman made an unexpected offer.

"I'll buy 1,000 sets."

"What?"

"Are you hard of hearing, young man? I'm placing an order for 1,000 sets of Hyang-ah coffee."

The chairman indicated the Hyang-ah coffee while declaring his intent to resolve this popularity vote with an assertive look.

"The chairman is a member of the Hyang-ah Group!"

"Ooohhh! Isn't this going to be a landslide victory the other way around?"

"Daseogak is completely selling out today."

1,000 sets. What a move.

Accepting this order could mean no more worries about the votes. Introducing the 1,000 sets of votes gradually, we could make it seem like an ongoing close race.

On top of that, the enormous revenue from 1,000 sets. With this much, I could call it a day with the business. I could even take the day off and enjoy some good food with Hwarin.

But.

"I am sorry, but I must decline that order."

This order should not be accepted. I immediately refused Chairman's offer.

"Why is that?"

The Chairman looked at me, puzzled.

"Author Hopil wants to see the reaction of the masses, not the influence of a single individual."

"But I've heard there are people ordering multiple sets?"

"That only involves people who drink several cups a day or those who are buying on behalf of others. Author Hopil would not want the vote to end this way."

"That may be what Author Hopil wants. What about Manager Kang?"

The Chairman probed, implying that as a writer, I may have such a stance, but as a merchant, why would I reject this order?

"I feel the same."

"Why is that?"

"Because I promised that this vote is to gauge the opinion of the many. It may seem like a small strategy, but as a merchant, I believe one must not break faith."

In truth, this does not mean that a merchant should always be sincere and never engage in petty tricks.

Am I not using the strategy of using wealth to influence votes? However, there are lines that should not be crossed when it comes to money.

Especially when it's not a small marketing ploy done quietly under the radar, but one that is out in the open, receiving public attention.

"Even if it yields a large profit?"

"The moment you betray the merchant's way, you cease being a merchant and become nothing more than a swindler or a con man. I want to earn big money by keeping to the merchant's way, not as a swindler."

I am not a wandering foreigner who doesn't have to worry about reputation. I am the manager set up at Daseogak.

Since I announced that the special sets were being sold to check the popularity of the heroines, there's no need to earn a bad reputation doing business.

"Many stick to the merchant's way but fail to make a significant profit. Isn't it a loss to let such an opportunity pass by?"

"That's because they don't know the path ahead."

"They don't know the path?"

"Great wealth smiles upon those who tread on uncharted paths without fear. And I am confident I can lead more than anyone else."

Having achieved my first success, I'll ensure that the subsequent second and third successes follow suit. Both as Author Hopil and as Manager Kang Yoon-ho of Daseogak.

Even if I employ cunning strategies, I cannot afford acts that would crumble my reputation.

"Hahaha! Indeed! You're quite the rare young man these days!"

The Chairman looked at me with a proud expression.

"I am sorry for declining such a generous offer from you."

"Not at all. It saves me money after all. Oh! Today I plan to head to Wuhan."

Suddenly he mentioned a travel destination.

"That's quite a journey."

"I'm planning to meet with Zhang Noya of Man-Geum Trading there in Wuhan. It looks like I'll have an interesting tale to take with me."

"Please speak well of Daseogak."

One of Daseogak's main creditors is Zhang Noya of Man-Geum Trading. We're doing good. Please don't suddenly send over debt collectors.

"I will do that. And if I can't drink 1,000 cups myself, I'll tell my staff to keep ordering regularly. That should be fine, right?"

"You are welcome anytime."

"Good. Then I shall take my leave. Keep up the good work."

"Take care."

I called Hwarin from the print room, who was working hard, to see the Chairman off. My gut ached a bit at the thought of missing out on the sales from 1,000 sets.

After the Chairman left, the popularity vote reignited thanks to the employees' votes.

"A 200-vote difference!"

"Finally a 100-vote difference!"

"No way! Why did it increase to a 130-vote difference again!"

"Today is an 80-vote difference!"

Thanks to that, it looks like we can keep selling the special sets until the third volume is released.

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"Let's do some happy business today as well!"

Sales soaring vertically day by day. If it continues like this, both soaring my reputation and paying off Hwarin's debts seem easy.

The situation at Daseogak is continuously auspicious.

"I hope it keeps going just like this."

If only someone wouldn't douse this atmosphere with cold water, if only these good days could keep repeating. But such thoughts were brief. Was it wrong to even wish it?

An unwelcome visitor I sincerely hoped would not ap

pear showed up.

"Who wrote this?"

The man pushing 'Tang Family's Turbulence' in front of me, asking for the author.

Clearly visible purple hair. The same hair color as Hwarin.

The stern-faced man standing before me was from the Sichuan Tang Family.