The next day, Tong Sanlang and Qiao Xiaomai took a carriage to the town.
The town had only one bookstore, which mainly sold books for the Imperial Exam, along with a small collection of travel writings, unofficial histories, romantic tales, and the like. Upon entering, Tong Sanlang casually browsed and picked up a stack of paper meant for the privy before inquiring of the shopkeeper, "I've written something and I'd like to have it printed into a book. How would you price this?"
There wasn't a person in Bailu Town who didn't recognize Tong Sanlang. Hearing this, the shopkeeper asked with a smile, "Master Tong, what kind of work is it?"
"Just an ordinary romantic tale."
"Ah, romantic tales, there are two ways we handle these. One is you sell the story to our bookstore outright. We pay a lump sum, and whether we turn a profit or loss on the sales, it's all on us, and you have no further involvement."
