July 16, 19th year of Emperor Jingkang

North City, Zilin Street

Early in the morning, a large item came to the shopkeeper Qian's pawnshop. Because the things that the people who came to pay were too expensive and were also dead, he and the masters in the shop were afraid of losing their mistakes.

He specially found other experts to help identify the authenticity of the things. After confirming the authenticity of the things, Manager Qian argued with the people who came to pay for it. He worked hard all morning and finally won the money successfully.

After sealing a red envelope for several experts who came to help, the shopkeeper Qian paid a few taels of silver from the cabinet and ordered a manager to lead the few people who had helped and the masters in the store to have a drink.

After everyone left, Manager Qian shook the ticket in his hand and returned to the back hall leisurely, his eyes narrowed into a slit.

He made a lot of money in this deal just now...

………

The way of making profits in the pawnshop business is a bit like bank loans in later generations. Baidu's explanation is: an institution that collects movable and real estate as collateral to provide capital turnover to the mortgagee...

Simply put, if you are short of money, you can mortgage something valuable in the pawn shop. The pawn shop will lend you money according to the actual value of the thing, but this value estimate will generally be discounted, and the discount will be very large.

There is a plot in later TV dramas where Bai Jingqi took a luxurious coat to pay for it. He thought that he would be worth a few dollars, but the pawnshop owner glanced at it and shouted, "The insects eat rats and bite it, the bare board is hairless, and a torn coat is a piece of ragged coat."

He made a luxurious coat worthless, which shows how dark the pawnshop is.

After the price is set, the two parties have agreed on a date and wrote down the ticket. Within the specified time, the mortgagor will take the money and tickets to redeem the ticket, but the pawnshop will have to pay a certain interest.

If the redemption is not redeemed for the period exceeding the date, or the certificate is lost, the mortgaged goods belong to the pawnshop. This is a living act, and a dead act is even simpler. It is equivalent to selling things and exchanging goods for money.

The idea of ​​pawnshop profit is to make a living interest, sell dead items and those that expire after the current period, earn the difference. At the same time, there are also many pawnshops, which have always been the channel for black market accounting...

………

Today, the one that Qian Zhanggui collected was a famous painting from Taizu, and it was expensive.

If it were normal, it would cost at least a thousand taels to get it, but today I only used less than eight hundred taels. If the person who came was really anxious to use the money, he would probably not have bought it at such a low price.

At the current price on the market, if the shopkeeper Qian sells it, the profit will be at least 200 taels, and it may be more if he encounters a sucker.

I made so much money today when I just opened my door. How could the shopkeeper Qian feel unhappy?

………

The painting had been collected, and the shopkeeper Qian put it as a ticket again, and then went to the shop in front for a while. There was no business, but he didn't care.

Today's income is enough for his pawn shop for half a month, so even when he looked at the few customers in the store, Manager Qian had no intention of worrying.

After wandering around for a few moments, Manager Qian felt hungry and thought that he had made a lot of money today, so why not invite a few old friends to Dingxianglou for a meal?

Thinking of doing it, he explained to the manager of the shop to see the shop. Manager Qian heard that his big belly came to Baibaoxuan not far away.

………

As soon as he entered the store, Manager Qian saw Manager Hao, who was lowering his head and making plans. He looked around again, and didn't even see a customer's hair. His fat face showed a humble smile.

"What, Lao Hao, your business is not good."

Manager Hao glanced at him with a squinted look and cursed: "You know what you know. We sell antiques. What we care about is that we don't open for three years and eat for three years. Besides, your broken pawnshop is better than me. There aren't many people entering this day..."

Speaking of this, Manager Hao suddenly stopped for a moment, frowned and looked at Manager Qian: "No, you old guy will not come to me when you are idle and have nothing to do. Look at your face that you smile like a flower, you have already caught a big one."

Manager Qian's smile became more and more proud: "Why don't we two be good? You'd better understand me."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Manager Hao neatly put the account book together and the abacus was straightened: "Go to have a treat."

Manager Qian covered his big belly and laughed like a Maitreya Buddha: "I'll call Lao Wu, you can find Lao Du, and order Dingxianglou whatever you want, I'll be the host."

"Be particular." Manager Hao gave a thumbs up.

………

After two incense sticks.

The four shopkeepers Qian, Hao, Wu, and Du looked at the crowded Dingxianglou, looking at each other, and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.

"Is Ma Jin back to tell me?"

Manager Du said a little uncertain. In his memory, although Dingxianglou's business was good, it had not reached this level of popularity. There was an exception, when Ma Jin was speaking in an old shop in Beicheng.

It was so lively, there was no place to get off the ground after coming later...

"impossible."

Manager Wu said decisively: "As Zisheng's current identity, he asked him to come to the restaurant to publish a book, which is a fantasy."

Manager Hao touched his beard under his jaw, his eyes flashing: "Will it be related to what was newly posted yesterday?"

As soon as these words came out, the other three shopkeepers were awakened. Yes, Dingxianglou was in the limelight yesterday.

I won’t mention this regular advertisement for food talks. I recently posted the gossip section yesterday, but Haosheng introduced the storytelling and four "Ma Shimen".

Needless to say, Ma Jin's reputation in the capital is not an exaggeration to call him "It's known to everyone", but his reputation was mostly linked to his son-in-law in novels.

The storytelling that Ma Jin used to become famous for its first time has gradually disappeared from the public over time and has only been circulated among a small number of people. Many people even do not know that the "ancestor" of the storytelling gentlemen who are famous in the capital is actually the current fifth prince-consor Ma Jin.

This "gospel" turned on this matter, and everyone knew that Ma Jin carried forward the novel and storytelling was also pioneered by him. He had four excellent disciples under his command, and he took the stage to tell the storytelling in Dingxiang Tower every day.

………

The word "storytelling" has become popular!

The common people don’t understand the difference between opera and storytelling, nor do they understand the art category.

Even the articles about "gossip" that Ma Jin and Shi Tianshi said before, such as the potential, development, comparison of the opera, etc., are mentioned, which are easy to understand and practical, but other things are not caring about, except for those who are experts, ordinary people don't care about these things at all.

What they care about is Ma Jin's name. To put it bluntly, with Ma Jin's current reputation and storytelling, the purpose and expectations of his publicity have been fulfilled by most of them.

With Ma Jin, the "ancestor", there is naturally a newbie who is curious and enters the trap step by step...

………

After roughly understanding the reason, the four shopkeepers looked at each other. After a long time, shopkeeper Wu said, "If it doesn't work, let's change the place..."

Before he could say he wanted it, the manager Qian, who was the boss, objected.

"If you don't change it, I'm used to eating the dishes from Dingxianglou. I can't eat other restaurants. Let's go in and take a look. Maybe there are many people, but there are few people eating seriously.

At worst, I can ask Jinbao to help me squeeze in a seat. Our old customers for so many years have old friends with their boss, so I can’t help but sell our face.”

Just as they were talking, Manager Du ran to the side to ask someone for a few questions. After a while, he ran over with an excited look on his face.

"I'm here today because Peng San opened two books today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and what he said was nothing else, the new Three Kingdoms "Warm Wine Killing Hua Xiong" yesterday."

“Really or not.”

Manager Hao's eyes shone: "Didn't the Three Kingdoms just released yesterday? Then Peng San came out with a storyteller so quickly."

Manager Qian curled his lips: "Don't you understand this? This kid Ma Jin has a manuscript in his hand. He let his apprentices practice this "warm wine killing Hua Xiong" early, and then wait to come out to attract customers."

"Tsk tsk, this kid is still so thief in business..." Shopkeeper Du sighed with a shaking head.

"Don't care about him."

Manager Qian waved his fat hand and had a strong momentum: "Since you have a new book, you can't go to another house. Let's go and find Jinbao."

………

Dingxiang Building

Jinbao was busy at this time and directed his men to serve the guests in the store without touching the ground.

The four old shop guys, Shuigen, Quanfu, Jinbao, and Erhei, are all rising. Now, Quanfu, who has experienced seniority, Shuigen has been buying and buying, and the other has become a big shop guy.

Jinbao, who has a weak experience, did not go out and remained in the old store and became a big shot, but Jinbao was also very satisfied.

The old man from the countryside of Beijing came out to do work for Dingxianglou, but he was just a good meal. He didn't expect to be able to sit at this position today.

He has more than ten guys under his command, his monthly money is very considerable, and he is trusted by the shopkeeper, and his prospects are promising. When he walks outside, he says he is a big guy from Dingxianglou, and others look up to him.

His career is booming and love comes with it. During this period, Jin Bao's family is looking for his wife. The other party is a famous handsome girl from a village in all corners of the country. Jin Bao once went home to see her once and was very satisfied. Now the two families have already discussed the bride price and are expected to get married next year.

Jinbao’s biggest wish now is to make more money. He can’t afford a house in the capital, but it is still very promising to buy a blue brick house in the countryside.

When I think of the wonderful days in the future, Jinbao is more motivated...

………

"Brother Bao, Brother Bao."

Just as Jin Bao led a guy to serve the food for the customer, a guy ran over in a hurry.

"Speak quietly, haven't you seen so many guests?"

Jin Bao glared at the young man fiercely. He had been a big guy for more than a year and was very intimidating to the guys in the store. When he glared, the young man was startled on the spot and immediately shut up.

When the guests who saw the noise smiled, Jin Bao called the guy to the corner and said angrily.

"Say, what's the matter."

After learning a lesson, the young man didn't dare to shout again: "Shopkeeper Qian, Shopkeeper Hao and others are here. I told them that there is no seat in the store, so they insist on finding you."

Jinbao immediately realized that Dingxianglou's business has always been good. Although it is not as full as today, there are many cases of full private rooms and elegant seats.

Therefore, many people want to take up seats through relationships. Jinbao is no longer surprised by this kind of thing, and most of it is his own hands.
To be continued...