Even in later generations, visiting your home at will is something that only friends with good relationships can do. Generally, they will contact you first and inform you.

Especially in this era, Ouyang Xiu and Cai Xiang are just colleagues in the officialdom, and they should pay more attention to etiquette.

So Ouyang Xiu quickly sought a letter of visit and asked the servant to send it to Cai Xiang to ask for Cai Xiang's opinion. If Cai Xiang agreed and brought a message back with the servant, Ouyang Xiu would go tomorrow.

If Cai Xiang doesn’t have time, Cai Xiang will prepare a note to ask Ouyang Xiu to come to the door. Of course, it is not the prescribed time, which means finding another time to make an appointment.

In fact, these etiquettes did not disappear in later generations, but just existed in a different way after a change of appearance. In the final analysis, it is just a sense of boundary between people.

The servant came back soon, and Cai Xiang's note was on the note - Uncle Yong came, and he was very honored to have a little wine, waiting for it.

Well, this means that you will come tomorrow, I will be ready for dinner and drinks, and I especially welcome you.

It's OK.

Ouyang Bian quietly put away his letters.

This is a common work by Ouyang Xiu and Cai Xiang, and it also records such an important matter of friendship between the two. It is an important cultural relic in later generations. If it is taken out for auction, it will be sold for tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars without any pressure.

However, Ouyang Bian didn't want to keep it for sale, and he couldn't live that time. He thought about recording his existence on it, and that's what he wanted... well, it was not for making a name for himself, but just recording the scenes of Ouyang and Cai Xiang meeting.

Ouyang Bian looked at the note carefully and found that Cai Xiang's calligraphy was really good-looking. Unlike those calligraphers who like rugged and ambitious, Cai Xiang's calligraphy is the kind that makes people know it looks good at a glance.

Just looking at this line of words, I feel that his calligraphy is rich and dignified, simple and graceful, and is self-contained.

I suddenly felt a ray of spring breeze blowing on my face, full of beautiful and elegant atmosphere.

"It's true that he is one of the four great calligraphers of Su Huang, Mi and Cai in the Song Dynasty!"

Ouyang Bian praised.

"What?" Ouyang Xiu seemed to have heard something.

Ouyang Bian quickly shook his head: "It's okay, I'm asking, do I want to ask Lord Cai for advice on the wealth theory?"

Ouyang Xiu thought for a moment and nodded: "That's fine. Junmo likes to collect books. If you take them, you probably won't be able to get them back. Do you have any backups?"

Ouyang Bian proudly proposed a bundle of books: "Look, this is what I have written. Can you see this handwriting?"

Ouyang Xiu was so jealous that he was deformed: "Oh, this...is this too wasteful, right?"

It’s not just a waste, it’s simply inhumane!

How much does it cost to print a book in the Song Dynasty?

In the third year of Chunxi in the Southern Song Dynasty, Shuzhou Minister Ku Kezeng's "Da Yi Cuiyan", and there was a confession from the carving institute at the end of the book:

"...I am now containing a "Da Yi Cuiyan" and a total of two volumes. The number of papers used, printing and ink money is included:

The paper pair consumed a total of 1,300 pieces;

30 pieces of green paper with back;

30 pieces of blue and white paper on the back;

The total amount of money for palm, ink, medicine, and printing backs is craftsmanship and food is 500 yuan;

The money for renting a board is always 200 yuan..."

Make a little calculation:

The large paper of the Northern Song Dynasty was 0.115 text per piece, and the large green and white paper was 7.33 text per piece;

In other words, each piece of "Da Yi Cuiyan" costs 3 coins and 290 texts!

After deleting and supplementing the wealth of the country, plus Ouyang Bian's private goods, it has a total of 700,000 words, and it is printed in woodblocks to make a real big piece.

Ouyang Bian considered that he was here to give it to someone, so he didn't care about getting the work. He used the middle and upper-level bindings. After roughly counting... Each piece cost about 4 cents!

"How many copies have you printed this time?" Ouyang Xiu asked.

Ouyang Bian replied indifferently: "There are not many, just print a thousand copies."

Ouyang Xiu widened his eyes: "One thousand copies?!"

When Ouyang Bian heard Ouyang Xiu's voice change, he couldn't help but look up: "Yes, a thousand copies, you can print more at one time. Didn't you say you're not afraid of trouble? I think you will definitely give more people in the future. If you print more, you won't have to worry about it."

"But this... a book must be worth two or three guan. For this thousand books, that's two or three guan?"

Ouyang Xiu felt his heart trembling. Two or three thousand guan, that was two sets of yards!

Ouyang Bian glared at his eyes and slapped the pages with his hands vigorously, like a street seller: "Not that cheap? Look at this paper, this binding, and this bag of edge packs. This book cannot be downloaded without four cents of money!"

"So...you spent four thousand guan?"

Ouyang Xiu was trembling. His annual salary was only how much, and this kid spent 4,000 guan without blinking!

Four yards!

Ouyang Xiu, who regards money as dirt, feels that his three views have been greatly impacted.

Ouyang Bian smiled and asked a pack of books from one side: "More than that, I spent a total of 6,000 guan. I will print a thousand collections of articles for you. Your number of words is small, only two guan per book is quite appropriate."

Ouyang Xiu took the book handed over by Ouyang Bian, title of the book [Ouyang Xiu's Collection of Essays]. When Ouyang Xiu opened it, he almost burst into tears. He recorded almost all the poems and articles he had written in it, which was quite comprehensive.

Ouyang Bian introduced: "...the poems and articles in it are all publicly distributed. In the future, when you get older, you will give you a collection of personal letters, discussions on political affairs and other materials. Try not to let these things be lost, otherwise it would be a pity."

Ouyang Xiu's face was rosy, and he was flipping through the pages happily, commenting: "Oh, not bad, this paper texture is really good, one book and two pillars, not expensive... If you ask them to keep the carved version, you will have to print it in the future!"

Ouyang Bian looked at his hungry father with a smile.

You see, this is the meaning of making money.

Scholars regard money as dirt, but they are extremely persistent in establishing morality and meritorious words. However, if you want to write words, the difference between having money and not having money will come out immediately.

Ouyang Xiu said happily: "Tomorrow is over, I will bring my collection of essays with me, Oh, I have to make a list to see who else has to give me one or two copies. Well... I can't deliver it to my door by myself, otherwise it would be too deliberate."

Ouyang Xiu looked at Ouyang Bian.

Ouyang Bian immediately raised his hand: "I printed this book, so I naturally have to send it to you. My father should not interfere in this matter."

Ouyang Xiu nodded with satisfaction: "Don't give it to anyone you see, but give it to someone who knows how to appreciate it."

Ouyang Bian nodded repeatedly.

Ouyang Xiu went to the list with great enthusiasm.

Ouyang Bian smiled and sorted out the gift he wanted to give to Cai Xiang.

"Well, I'll give you a few books on Guofu Theory, and I have to bring my father's collection of essays... Cai Xiang has made Xiaolongtuan famous tea himself, so he should be a tea lover.

Giving new dishes, trying new dishes, Beiyuan Xianchun’s three kinds of tea are all expensive and rare, so you should like it. Giving books and tea leaves are all elegant things, well, there is no problem.
Chapter completed!