Chapter Seventeen: Methods of Promotion
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Jiang Han first arrived at the city market and found a mounting and framing shop to have the couplet written by Zhong Liyou mounted. He also ordered several horizontal banners. Then he strode toward the Dark Fragrance Academy.
In truth, there were plenty of down-and-outs in Yunyang County who could be hired cheaply to do one’s bidding. But Jiang Han had no intention of employing those destitute folks; this perfume was positioned as a high-end product, and hiring such people would only lower its status. Besides, those down-and-outs were notorious for laziness, and might not work obediently even after being paid.
Jiang Han had other options.
He waited at the gate of the Dark Fragrance Academy until classes ended, then saw a group of energetic students spill out, gathering in small clusters to chat and laugh. The scene momentarily made Jiang Han feel as if he had been transported back to his student days in a past life. Unfortunately, those days were irretrievably gone.
Shaking his head, Jiang Han pulled out a handful of copper coins from his pouch and tossed them back and forth between his hands: “Dark Fragrance Dew is hiring now! Anyone who wants to make money, come with me! One hundred wen a day, with two meals included!”
The students were immediately drawn to him.
“Hey, look! Isn’t that Jiang Han?”
“Isn’t he the one who failed at literature, failed at martial arts, went bankrupt in business, and was even rejected by the Gu family?”
“Shh! Quiet, he’s the son of the Academy Lord. Be careful not to let the Academy Lord hear this.”
“I heard the Academy Lord was so furious with him, he sent him away to another courtyard… What’s he doing here? Dark Fragrance Dew? Could he be trying to do business?”
“One hundred wen a day? Really? My father doesn’t even make that much in a day.”
“If it’s Jiang Han, it might be true. After all, his father is the son of our Academy Lord, so he’d have the money… But what kind of business does that fool think he can start? Still won’t give up, huh?”
These murmurs reached Jiang Han’s ears, leaving him somewhat speechless, but he continued to shout: “If you want to make money, come with me! I need ten people, work starts immediately, pay given daily, fair and square!”
Finally, a young man, tempted, stepped forward: “Really? One hundred wen for a day’s work?”
“Do you think I’d lie? Can I deceive you? Can my father deceive you? You can run away from the monk, but not from the temple. If I don’t pay you, you can always go ask my father.” Jiang Han said matter-of-factly, invoking his father’s name without hesitation.
“If you want to make money, sign up now. Work starts tomorrow, pay given daily.”
The young man, eyeing the copper coins in Jiang Han’s hand, nodded hesitantly: “Alright. What’s the job?”
“Hold my signs and shout my perfume’s slogans along the street.”
“Ah, we actually have to shout along the streets?”
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“If not, I’d give you that hundred wen for free.”
Tempted by the hundred wen, the student bit his lip and nodded: “Alright.”
Once the first was secured, the rest followed. Not all students of the Dark Fragrance Academy came from wealthy families, and the lure of a hundred wen a day was powerful. In no time, Jiang Han had recruited ten young lads.
He gathered them together and told them to meet at a fixed location the next day.
Inside the Dark Fragrance Academy, in a study room, a tutor entered and reported: “Academy Lord…”
“What?” Jiang Zhensheng looked up, frowning deeply. What mischief was this wayward son up to now? Where on earth had he found the money to hire these students? And paying a hundred wen a day? Absurd!
This was using his name to cause trouble and seek attention!
Jiang Zhensheng was furious, rising to his feet, about to send the tutor out to warn the students not to believe Jiang Han’s words. Suddenly, he recalled what Jiang Han had said in the other courtyard that day.
That brat’s demeanor seemed to have changed completely!
By some mysterious force, Jiang Zhensheng did not send the tutor. Instead, he snorted heavily:
“Let him make a fuss! This time, he won’t get a single wen from me!”
...
The students showed up promptly the next day at Jiang Han’s courtyard.
Jiang Han said, “What I need you to do is hold these banners and shout the slogans I wrote as you march along the street.”
Looking at the slogans Jiang Han had written, the students hesitated: “We have to shout such embarrassing things? Also, isn’t it improper to invoke the name of such a great Confucian scholar?”
Jiang Han said, “What are you afraid of? I wrote them. If Master Zhong Li wants to blame anyone, blame me. Don’t want to earn the hundred wen?”
The first student to sign up yesterday was named Zhou Ming, a clever fellow who gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, but you have to pay half first.”
“Afraid I won’t pay? Fine, I’ll give you half now.” Jiang Han generously handed over the money.
Thus, an unusual scene appeared in the early morning of Yunyang County: ten scholars holding eye-catching banners parading through the streets, shouting strange slogans.
The bizarre procession and shocking slogans immediately drew the attention of passersby.
Under so many eyes, these scholars, thin-skinned after all, blushed and could only wave their banners, whispering the slogans in barely audible voices.
This strange form of advertising quickly spread throughout Yunyang County, eliciting much ridicule.
“Have you heard? That fool Jiang Han opened a shop called Dark Fragrance Dew, hiring some scholars to shout along the streets, even using the names of Master Zhong Li and Master Gu.”
“What? Jiang Han has lost his mind? How dare he use the names of those two great scholars?”
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“Master Zhong Li praised it highly and strongly recommended it; Master Gu was silent for a long time, as if wandering the heavens and earth… This fool is just trying to make a spectacle! Doesn’t he fear angering these two great scholars?”
“Hmph! He must be sure those two masters won’t find out. Even if they do, they won’t bother with him, or he wouldn’t dare act like this.”
“This is intolerable, absolutely intolerable! Master Zhong Li is one of the Seven Great Families of Great Yu. How dare this fool tarnish his reputation! That Dark Fragrance Dew, let’s all go find him, force him to apologize and shut down his shop! If he refuses, we’ll smash his store!”
“Wait, his shop hasn’t even opened yet. Let’s wait until the opening day, then go make a scene and force him to close!”
“Yes! Make that fool close his shop!”
Thus, a group of indignant scholars plotted to confront Jiang Han on the day his shop opened.
...
At Cuiyun Garden, in the courtyard.
“He actually hired some scholars to shout for him along the streets?”
Qin Yunmian looked at a piece of paper handed over by her personal maid Qing Ping. On it were the slogans Jiang Han had written, and she couldn’t help but smile slightly.
That man… he really has a lot on his mind. These words are quite interesting.
“The scholars were furious when they heard about it and plan to cause trouble at his shop’s opening. This time, Jiang Han might really stir up big trouble,” Qing Ping said.
Qin Yunmian frowned slightly. This was troublesome; if the scholars caused a scene, his perfume shop was bound to fail.
She had to help him.
“Go invite the daughters of the Ningguo and Zhongguo Mansions, as well as my fourth sister…” Qin Yunmian took three glass bottles from a cabinet, then after thinking a moment, put two back and instructed, “Get a few more glass bottles and divide this perfume into three portions. I want to give them away.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As the maid was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something. “By the way, the poetic master Li Qiushui, one of the Four Great Talents, has arrived at Cuiyun Garden and is waiting outside, wishing to see you.”
“Do not see him.”
“He refuses to leave. He is also attending the literary gathering and wants to know the results.”
Qin Yunmian frowned again, took a sheet of paper, and copied three poems onto it. “Send this to him. Tell him this is the champion of the literary gathering.”