In the town of Shanshui, there were only two bookstores. As soon as Nian Jiaojiao alighted from the ox cart, she found the one closest to the drop-off point.
San Chi Bookstore.
This bookstore was rather interesting.
In her previous life, there was the saying of a "three-foot lecture platform." Today, there was also a "three-foot bookstore" here.
However, Nian Jiaojiao, looking at the doorway just wide enough for one person to enter, estimated that the interior space would not be large.
Upon entering the bookstore, Nian Jiaojiao discovered it was a world of its own.
From a top-down perspective, the bookstore's floor area was not large, perhaps only about thirty to forty square meters. But as she looked up, a winding wooden staircase along the surrounding bookshelves reached a height of three stories.
Due to the weather, business in the bookstore was not good today. Only a sparse few women in scholar's robes were browsing books of interest in front of different shelves.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao enter alone and look around, a young woman wearing a peach-pink padded jacket, her hair half-tied with a silver hairpin, quickly approached.
"Madam, this is your first time at our San Chi Bookstore, isn't it? You look unfamiliar."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
The woman smiled and said:
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. This little shop is owned by me. Customers who come here to read books call me San Chi Nan Qing Yuchuan Niang. May I know your name, madam?"
Hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao nodded in acknowledgment:
"So you are the proprietress. My surname is Nian."
"Nian Madam, what kind of books are you looking for this time? Don't be fooled by our seemingly small size; we have a very complete selection, including exam preparation books, various novels, tales of the strange, romance novels... and also..."
At this point, San Chi Niang paused, leaned closer to Nian Jiaojiao, and with a knowing smile, nudged her with her elbow, continuing:
"Also, that... all sorts of exciting and varied content!"
"Cough, cough, cough."
Nian Jiaojiao choked on her own saliva. She patted her chest and said to San Chi Niang:
"I'm not here to buy books today, but to sell them."
"Oh?"
San Chi Niang looked surprised and scrutinized Nian Jiaojiao again.
The young woman in front of her was dressed like a peasant, not at all like a scholar. However, she did not show any sign of looking down on her, merely offering a polite smile:
"Our San Chi Bookstore welcomes submissions of all kinds, and the more, the better. However, we do have requirements for manuscripts. May I ask what genre your writing is, Nian Madam?"
"Novels."
San Chi Niang nodded.
Most people who submitted manuscripts to bookstores wrote novels because the barrier to entry was relatively low, and there was a large readership and market. Therefore, scholars liked to write novels.
Firstly, it was for money, and more importantly, for fame.
As for writing literary or academic works, that was generally done by scholars with established reputations or poets.
Therefore, it was normal for Nian Jiaojiao to submit a novel.
San Chi Niang added:
"Novels have many genres, and... some niche novels, even if well-written, require us to consider carefully before accepting them."
Nian Jiaojiao pulled out a slightly creased manuscript from her embrace and handed it over, saying:
"I am writing a romance novel. Because the content of the novel is extensive, this is only a part of it."
San Chi Niang glanced at Nian Jiaojiao, silently took the manuscript, and began to read.
Nian Jiaojiao was not in a hurry and stood to the side, calmly waiting.
Indeed, after reading for a while, the other party looked deeply at Nian Jiaojiao and said:
"Please follow me."
Nian Jiaojiao followed San Chi Niang up to the third floor. The proprietress pushed open a hidden door, and the interior opened up suddenly.
Nian Jiaojiao marveled inwardly. Though the visible space seemed so small, there was actually a room of the same size.
"Please sit!"
Soon, incense was lit in the room. San Chi Niang brought over a teapot and cups, poured tea into the cups, and handed them over.
"Here, try this. This is top-grade Maojian. In our Shanshui Town, there are no more than three establishments that can offer this to guests."
San Chi Niang finished speaking with a hint of pride, and without waiting for Nian Jiaojiao to taste the tea, she eagerly began to read the remaining manuscript, her hands moving faster and faster, and the light in her eyes growing brighter.
Finally, after an hour, San Chi Niang finished reading the manuscript.
She let out a long sigh.
Nian Jiaojiao was a little confused:
"What? Is the book not up to your establishment's requirements?"
San Chi Niang shook her head:
"No! This book is excellent! But... it's too excellent."
San Chi Niang caressed the manuscript with reverence, as if looking at a peerless treasure.
Nian Jiaojiao was even more bewildered:
"Then... what do you mean?"
San Chi Niang reluctantly took her eyes off the manuscript:
"Your handwriting... is very good!"
Before Nian Jiaojiao could reply, she continued:
"It's precisely because it's so well-written that if the subsequent parts cannot maintain this standard, the novel will completely fall apart."
Some novels are mediocre from beginning to end, but as long as they catch the trend, they can still sell well for a period.
However, some novels are exceptionally brilliant at the start but become increasingly ordinary later on, leading to a decline in the novel's reputation and readers losing interest.
This is essentially a matter of expectation.
If the expectations are consistently moderate, then there is no issue.
But if the expectations are set too high, it can cause a psychological gap for readers, leading them to resist the book.
Nian Jiaojiao understood what San Chi Niang meant, but since she couldn't provide evidence of the exciting subsequent story, she said:
"Rest assured, San Chi Niang, I have already conceived the follow-up story, and it will only be more exciting than this. Of course, I also know that empty words are not proof."
Nian Jiaojiao took another sip of the fragrant Maojian tea and continued:
"How about this, I'll sign an agreement with you."
Hearing Nian Jiaojiao say this, San Chi Niang's eyes lit up.
Right!
This was a good idea!
"May I ask how you intend to draft this agreement, Nian Madam?"
Nian Jiaojiao, however, turned the question back:
"I'd like to hear what San Chi Niang has to say first. Of course, I hope to see San Chi Niang's sincerity. After all, I've heard of the great reputation of San Chi Bookstore for a long time, which is why I came straight to your establishment after getting off the carriage."
San Chi Niang naturally understood Nian Jiaojiao's implied meaning. If the price she offered was unreasonable, the other party would likely take her manuscript to her competitor immediately.
After all, good manuscripts always find their patrons.
San Chi Niang gave Nian Jiaojiao a chiding glance and said with a smile:
"I didn't expect Nian Madam to be such a businesswoman. Since that's the case, I'll be upfront!"
"Our bookstore has four levels of authors:"
"The first level, and the most basic, are new authors. Each novel is five taels of silver."
"The second level, experienced authors, who have a certain reader base. Each novel is ten taels of silver."
"The third level, famous authors, who have written many novels, and whose novels are bestsellers and have a certain reputation. Each novel ranges from 20 to 100 taels of silver."
"The fourth level is special. There is no fixed price; a certain commission is given for each novel sold."