Chapter 208.2
Subsequently, through the channels of the Demon Sect, Great Xias paper was quickly sold all over the world.
For instance, the Demon Sect had set up a general store in the Great D Dynasty, and now they were supplying Great Xias paper.
At that moment, a scholar happened to pass by.
Seeing the paper displayed on the counter, he was surprised, You sell paper here too?
In his memory, it seemed that only stores owned by noble families sold paper.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man around 40, looking very amiable, smiled and said, Yes, from today onwards, we also sell paper. Why not come in and take a look?
The scholar thought for a moment and nodded, Alright!
He walked into the shop, took the paper handed over by the shopkeeper, and was surprised once again, This paper is as thin as cicada wings, smooth and even, and especially white Where is this paper from?
This is a paper produced by the Great Xia Dynasty. How about it? the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
Great Xia
The scholar murmured to himself while caressing the white paper.
He knew of the Great Xia Dynasty, a powerful country that had developed from a small kingdom into a dynasty in just two years!
They had reformed the imperial examination system, discarded the scion of noble families, and given many lower-class scholars a chance to rise.
If it hadnt been for the long journey and his family back home, he would have wanted to go there to take part in the imperial examination.
However, this did not stop him from having a favorable impression of Great Xia.
Not bad at all, I really like this paper. How much is it? the scholar asked.
20 wen per bundle! the shopkeeper replied with a smile.
The scholar was stunned, How much? What did you say again?
20 wen per bundle, its only 20 wen! the shopkeeper repeated.
The scholar blurted out, Such good quality paper for only 20 wen?
Previously, when he went to the noble familys shop to buy paper, a bundle would cost at least 40 wen!
And a bundle only had 20 sheets, averaging two wen per sheet, which really shocked him!
Its really only 20 wen here?
You heard right, it indeed is only 20 wen! the shopkeeper emphasized again.
The scholar immediately became excited. He didnt understand why such good quality paper was being sold so cheaply; he only knew that opportunities like manna from heaven didnt come often!
If not now, then when?
Boss, give me five bundles no, make it 20 bundles!
After the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the scholar ran off excitedly with a pile of white paper as if he had just snagged a great bargain.
Then, more and more scholars discovered that this place also sold paper.
The paper here was not only of good quality but also very cheap, so they didnt hesitate to buy it!
In no time at all, the place was bustling with customers.
Meanwhile, the shops of other noble families became deserted.
In a luxurious mansion in the local area, Lins family residence.
A person who looked like a steward rushed in, flustered: Master, theres trouble!
Whats the matter that youre so panicked? said a man in official attire with an authoritative expression.
He was Lin Yuandong, an important member of the Lin noble family placed in Great D Dynasty, who had now risen to the position of Minister of Justice.
The steward said in a panic: Master, a new type of paper has appeared on the market, produced by the Great Xia Dynasty. Its quality is better than ours, but the selling price is only half of ours! Master, we cant sell our paper anymore. What should we do?
Ah? Its come so soon? Lin Yuandong was shocked.
He had already communicated with other members of his family about this matter.
But he had never imagined that it would happen so quickly.
They had not yet found a way to further reduce the cost of paper production, and paper from Great Xia was already being sold here
Master, please look, this is the paper they are selling! The steward handed over a bundle of white paper.
Lin Yuandong examined it carefully and found the quality indeed good, which intensified his sense of crisis.
Immediately send someone to smash their shop, do it secretly and dont let anyone know it was us, understand?
Master, I understand!
As a result, the group went off arrogantly and came back with broken arms and legs.
Master, they have tough guys over there too. We couldnt handle them!
Lin Yuandong waved his hand: Then call the officials!
But the officials were unexpectedly unmoved.
That evening, the Governor himself paid a visit.
Minister Lin, you almost brought disaster upon me! the Governor said with a wry smile.
Lin Yuandong was very puzzled: Whats the problem? It was just about dealing with a simple shop!
If it were an ordinary shop, that would be one thing, but this shop is not ordinary! Because behind that shop The Governor dipped his finger in tea water and wrote the character (demon) on the table.
Lin Yuandongs pupils shrank!
Minister Lin, you should know about those people they truly are lawless and capable of doing anything! If I had smashed that shop, my head might have been relocated the next day!
The Governor said with a wry smile: Now you understand why I have been hesitant to act?
Thank you for informing me, Governor!
Lin Yuandong was still not content.
On the second day of his court attendance, he reported the matter.
He mentioned that there was support from the Demon Sect behind the store and feared that there might be some sinister plot, requesting His Majesty to intervene and seal the store.
However, the Emperors attitude was ambiguous.
Minister, this is a normal commercial activity. They are merely selling paper and havent done anything illegal or disorderly! We cant just seal someones business because they have the backing of the Demon Sect, can we?
But Your Majesty, the Demon Sect is treacherous and cunning; we must be cautious!
Indeed, we must be cautious, but we are the imperial court, arent we? We need to have evidence for everything, right? At the very least, the procedures must be legal, and thats what you told me. Have you forgotten?
But Your Majesty
Great D Emperor waved his hand dismissively: Alright, you may leave if theres nothing else!
Watching Lin Yuandongs retreating figure, Great D Emperors face revealed a mocking smile.
The fiercer the two of you fight, the better!
Thus, Lin Yuandong was left without a solution.
Such situations were not unique to the Great D Dynasty but also occurred in other countries.
The offspring of various noble families were eager to seal the Demon Sects stores to protect their own family interests, but given the Demon Sects influence, they were helpless.
They could only watch as the other partys paper sold increasingly well while their own paper could not be sold.
Out of necessity, they had to lower the price of their paper to match that of their competitors.
They were making hardly any profit at 20 wen per bundle of paper.
Even so, the paper still did not sell.
Given the same price, the quality of Great Xias paper was superior.
The scholars were not blind; how could they not see the difference?
The noble families started to panic: Family head, what do we do now?
The heads of the great families said: We must lower our prices even more!
Lower the prices? Then well have no profit at all!
Forget about profit for now; this is a matter of survival! We must lower the prices and rely on our strong foundation to crush them! Otherwise, they will take over the paper market in the future!
Consequently, the paper prices from the great noble families were reduced by two wen.
But still, there were hardly any customers.
Two wen did not mean much to many scholars.
They were content and willing to pay a little extra for better-quality Xia paper.
Therefore, the paper prices from the great noble families were reduced again, this time to 16 wen.
Surprisingly, their paper still did not sell much.
By now, Xia paper had become trending.
You were considered lame if you didnt use Xia paper.
Scholars also liked to follow trends, and they were willing to pay those extra coins for the sake of vanity.
Thus, the great noble families had no choice but to lower their prices again.
When the price dropped to 14 wen, their sales finally started to compete with Xia paper.
***
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