CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 267 FIRST BATTLE_2

Put simply, if we sell 2,000 out of 3,000 newspapers, we’ll break even and turn a small profit. If we only sell 1,000, we’re at a loss."

Li Banfeng shook his head, "We can’t sell them like that. Print 5,000, and sell each newspaper for twenty cents."

"Sell for twenty cents?" Ma Wu shook his head repeatedly. "We can’t do that. Even if they all sell, we won’t make back our investment."

"You’re really business-minded," Li Banfeng said with a laugh. "Do you really expect to make money from this?"

Ma Wu slapped his forehead. As a businessman, he was accustomed to considering profit and loss, almost forgetting the real matter at hand.

"I’ll listen to you, twenty cents."

The hand-operated printing press churned out an additional 2,000 copies, and they had to hire people to fold the papers. After busying themselves until dusk, the first issue of "Night-blooming Jasmine" was finally sent out.

With works by famous authors and cheap prices, those who knew their stuff and recognized the good value emptied the newsstands that same evening.

The next day, the newsstands requested more copies. Ma Wu printed another 5,000 while Li Banfeng urged the writers to rush the second issue. One printing press was no longer enough.

Ma Wu called Chuanzi to buy two more printing presses, and with three machines running, they sold 25,000 copies of the second issue of "Night-blooming Jasmine."

The large and small newsstands still wanted more copies.

Ma Wu went to buy more presses and hire hands. The factory was a hive of activity.

The third issue of the newspaper was out, as was the first issue of the magazine.

The front-page news of this newspaper issue wasn’t copied from the major papers but written by Bai Qiusheng and Yu Wenqi themselves.

"Blood Gun Detective III" premieres tonight at Sanfu Cinema. The cinema is offering a 40% discount in honor of the event.

Almost half of the articles in the magazine were a series of reviews of "Blood Gun Detective."

Once the newspapers and magazines were properly packaged, Ma Wu was about to arrange deliveries when someone came knocking.

Li Banfeng thought it was the Strict Law Society showing up, which wouldn’t be easy to deal with at this time.

Yu Wenqi reminded him softly, "Seventh Master, don’t forget, the Strict Law Society has three tactics: beating with sticks, pulling on braids, and putting on hats. You have to be very careful how you handle this."

But when Bai Qiusheng checked outside, it wasn’t the Strict Law Society but a gang of men in their twenties and thirties, who had scattered packed newspapers and magazines and started kicking and hitting the workers who folded them.

The workers of Black Stone City were no cowards. As they stepped forward to tangle with the ruffians, Bai Qiusheng quickly went to restrain them.

Inside the factory, Yu Wenqi whispered to Li Banfeng, "They’re from the Green Fire Gang, and they’re not easy to deal with."

"How so?"

In Puluo State, doing business inevitably involves navigating two thresholds: the major families and the Gangs. No matter which side you take up with, Hua Hong must be paid.

Yu Wenqi said, "The Green Fire Gang is ruthless when it comes to money and violent in action. They’ll burn down shops, kill people, do anything. Seventh Master, should we play it tough or soft with them?"

Li Banfeng smiled, "Their timing couldn’t be better. These guys can be very useful. Let’s start with the soft approach."

Yu Wenqi didn’t understand how this group of thugs could be of any use.

The small-time leader of this gang was Zeng Wenbing. He was the second oldest at home and went by the moniker Second Master Zeng.

Bai Qiusheng recognized him and greeted him with nods and bows, "Second Master, when did you arrive? You didn’t even give a heads-up. Please come inside..."

Zeng Wenbing slapped Bai Qiusheng across the face. "Don’t try to get chummy with me. Do I even know you? You’re doing business on our turf without even a greeting. Do you have any idea of the rules?"

Bai Qiusheng dared not say more. Having been struck, he still forced a smile on his face. "Second Master, I just started this business and haven’t had a chance to inform you..."

"Cut the crap! Bring out 20,000 yuan right now. That’s your entry fee. We’ll discuss the Hua Hong at the end of the month separately."

"Second Master, our small business hasn’t made any money yet. You’re asking for 20,000 yuan right off the bat..."

"Are you asking for another slap? Let me tell you, I’ll smoke a cigarette here, and if you don’t bring the money before I finish, I’ll burn this place down."

Bai Qiusheng hurried back to the factory and told Li Banfeng, "He wants 20,000."

Li Banfeng said, "Give it to him. Remember the slap you just received and the roughing up of the workers. We’ll need to get it all back, with interest, in a couple of days."

After Bai Qiusheng handed over the money, Zeng Wenbing and his men left.

Ma Wu instructed his people to tidy up the books and papers and deliver them to the various newsstands.

The next evening, with everything arranged, Li Banfeng sat quietly behind the cinema’s rooftop sign, waiting.

Quite a few people turned up in front of the cinema. The promotion for "Night-blooming Jasmine" had been extensive, and "Blood Gun Detective" was very attractive.

Another key point was that the people of Black Stone Slope were daring.

As long as the cinema dared to show it, they dared to watch!

Half an hour before the screening, the hall was already packed with people.

Elder Tang Peigong of the Black Stone Slope Strict Law Society arrived with his followers.

He was accompanied by over a hundred disciples. Ai Chixiang led the way, shoving through the crowd and shouting, "You can’t sculpt rotten wood nor plaster a wall with dung! Do you not know the meaning of shame? The virtue of being human has been completely corrupted by you!"

Yu Wenqi said, "Seventh Master, they have started with their beatings."

When they reached the entrance, Tang Peigong shouted, "Ma Junyang and Huang Yin, these shameless villains, have done innumerable disgraceful things throughout their lives..."

Tang Peigong started to list the crimes of Ma Junyang.

Yu Wenqi said, "Seventh Master, now they’re pulling on braids."

After reciting the litany of offenses, Tang Peigong continued fiercely, "The likes of films are not the true essence of theatre! The peculiar skills and clever devices of the Western Oceans used for entertainment are the source of degeneration! Shameless scoundrels making such despicable films, and you all, oblivious to the truth, willingly subject yourselves to its harms, Tang can’t help but feel deeply pained and agonized,"