Chapter 128: Being Careful
“What pirated copy? And what is a fake fan?”
Xu Zhiqian looked at Zhang Fei with curiosity.
Zhang Fei explained, “Piracy refers to those collections of poems you bought, which were printed into books and sold for profit without Mr. Su’s permission.”
“As for a fake fan, it’s people like you who make piracy profitable, causing Mr. Su to suffer losses in both reputation and benefits.”
Xu Zhiqian argued, “You make some sense, but Mr. Su hasn’t really suffered any losses in reputation or benefits!”
Zhang Fei scoffed, “How can you say that? Let me ask you, in the poetry collections you bought, aren’t there some poems that weren’t written by Mr. Su?”
Xu Zhiqian nodded, “There are a few that don’t seem like his work.”
“That’s what we call ‘padding’.”
Zhang Fei continued to explain, “People who know Mr. Su’s work can tell those weren’t his poems, but those who don’t may think those poorly written poems are his, damaging his reputation.”
“As for benefits, others make money off Mr. Su’s work while he gets nothing. Isn’t that infringing on his benefits? You’re all accomplices.” The more Xu Zhiqian listened, the more embarrassed she felt, her cheeks slightly reddening. “I… I didn’t mean to, but… but Mr. Su doesn’t sell his own collections, so how could I buy anything other than pirated versions?”
“That’s the problem,” Zhang Fei said. “We need an honest and kind-hearted merchant to help talented people like Mr. Su sell their collections and give them a share of the profits.”
Xu Zhiqian asked, “An honest and kind-hearted merchant?”
“What’s with that look? Those aren’t oxymorons.”
“Pfft!”
Xu Zhiqian laughed, “They may not be oxymorons, but close enough. Where would you find such a merchant?”
Whoever prints books and shares profits with authors would be considered foolish.
Sharing profits means increased costs, and selling prices would have to be higher, at least higher than the pirated versions. How could they sell?
“Isn’t one standing right in front of you?”
“You?”
“Yes! Am I not honest and kind-hearted enough?” Zhang Fei shrugged and laughed, “Look at the cases I’ve fought.”
Xu Zhiqian was surprised, “You’re going into this business?”
“I am thinking of it,” Zhang Fei nodded.
Xu Zhiqian asked, “Are you changing careers?”
“Of course not,” Zhang Fei shook his head with frustration. “When we fought the Shi family case, didn’t we mention the issue of public opinion? If I don’t break their monopoly on public opinion, it will be very disadvantageous for us in the future. We could easily be counter-sued.”
Xu Zhiqian’s eyes lit up, “You want to use printing to disrupt their control over public opinion.”
Zhang Fei nodded.
Xu Zhiqian pondered for a moment, then shook her head, “That’s unlikely.”
“Why?” Zhang Fei asked.
Xu Zhiqian explained, “Because the imperial court can impose regulations. For example, books on astronomy and geography are prohibited from being printed privately, as are books on military strategy. If you intend to break their monopoly on public opinion, how could they let you succeed?”
Zhang Fei was curious, “Why are these books prohibited from printing?”
Xu Zhiqian said, “Because these books could endanger national security. Astronomy books relate to celestial phenomena, which can’t be easily divulged. As for geography, if sold to the Liao Empire or Western Xia, the consequences would be unimaginable. Military strategy books need no further explanation.”
“I see.”
Zhang Fei nodded slightly.
Xu Zhiqian continued, “Words can be damaging, and when written down, they become undeniable evidence. If you plan to use printed books to control public opinion, it’s easy for them to fabricate charges against you.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “That’s why I don’t plan to change careers. I must provide legal protection for my printed works.”
Xu Zhiqian still shook her head, “That would be very difficult.”
Crimes relating to speech were catch-all offenses. What was legal now might not be ten years later, and opponents could always dig up old issues.
“No matter how difficult, we have to try. We can’t out-talk them with just our mouths.”
As he spoke, Zhang Fei raised the pirated poetry collection, “We’ll start with these collections. If I can prevent their piracy, we can try to prevent my works from being considered illegal.”
He had long considered breaking the literati’s monopoly on public opinion through printing, but he had his concerns, given the era he was in. It could easily backfire.
Zhang Fei was cautious, taking it one step at a time.
Xu Zhiqian was surprised, “How will you guarantee it?”
“By filing lawsuits!”
With that, Zhang Fei took out the contract signed with Su Shi and handed it to Xu Zhiqian.
Xu Zhiqian looked at it for a while, then suddenly exclaimed, “This is Mr. Su’s handwriting.”
Zhang Fei was surprised, “You recognize his handwriting?”
Xu Zhiqian glanced at him, “What’s so strange about that? Mr. Su’s handwriting is easy to recognize.”
Saying this, she examined it more closely.
Zhang Fei smiled inwardly. A true admirer indeed. I wouldn’t recognize Li Qingzhao’s handwriting at all.
After a while, Xu Zhiqian looked up, “So Mr. Su entrusted you with this lawsuit.”
Zhang Fei nodded, “What do you think?”
Xu Zhiqian pondered for a moment, “I think this case is quite easy to win, easier than any of the previous ones.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Why do you say that?”
Xu Zhiqian said, “Don’t you know? Many officials in the court are dissatisfied with this phenomenon and have punished some booksellers. If you file a lawsuit, the court officials will support you.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “So, if Mr. Su raises the issue, the officials will punish this Gathering the Capable bookstore.”
Xu Zhiqian nodded, “This has happened before.”
Zhang Fei asked, “If that’s the case, why did Mr. Su come to me?”
Xu Zhiqian blinked, “Yes, why did Mr. Su come to you?”
Zhang Fei smiled, “Look at the contract carefully. Mr. Su’s request isn’t just to punish this bookstore but to eliminate this phenomenon.”
Xu Zhiqian examined it again, then said, “This only shows that the booksellers are unethical but not necessarily breaking the law. Poetry isn’t like material goods, it’s hard to determine if it’s theft. If using poetry without permission is illegal, who would dare recite others’ poems in the future?”
“Moreover, it’s not just the booksellers; scholars also copy each other’s works to compile collections of literary works. Does that count as being illegal? If you just want to win this case, it won’t be difficult, but if you want to establish a law to prevent such things, it will be very challenging. The scholars won’t agree, and they might be breaking the law too.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “We can’t give up fairness and justice just because it’s difficult. If it’s unethical and harms others’ interests, the imperial court should legislate.”
Xu Zhiqian gave him a sidelong glance, “You’re just a pen-in-cap, simply applying the law in your arguments. You don’t have the power to legislate.”
Zhang Fei pondered for a moment, “I have my ways. For now, let’s focus on how to fight this case.”
Xu Zhiqian thought for a while, “The best way is to sue for theft. It might not even go to court, given it involves Mr. Su.”
Zhang Fei said, “That would be meaningless. Mr. Su doesn’t simply want to make an example out of one case.”
Xu Zhiqian said, “But if not for theft, what other laws can we use for litigation?”
Zhang Fei said, “We need to go back and research. If we can handle this case well, it will benefit us greatly. Let’s go back and study it.”
“Now?”
“Yes! Do you have something to do?”
“No, but didn’t your shop just reopen today?”
“So what? There’re no customers. Why stay?”
“…..”
Xu Zhiqian said, “So you’re not worried at all.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
Zhang Fei said, “A tree takes time to grow. Now is still the planting stage. I just need to ensure I’ll be the one enjoying the shade later. Let’s go!”
Xu Zhiqian had no choice but to get up and follow him outside.
“Brother San, where are you going?”
At the door, they met Fan Li.
Zhang Fei said seriously, “A big case.”
“A big case?”
Fan Li was excited, “Is it related to Mr. Su?”
“Confidential!”
Zhang Fei made a shushing gesture and whispered, “If we win this case, it will sustain us for three years.”
Three years? Fan Li nodded eagerly, “Understood! I won’t say a word.”
Zhang Fei said, “I’ll leave this place to you. I’m going back to study the case.”
“Okay!”
Fan Li nodded, then said, “Wait, Brother San, if one case can sustain us for three years, let’s just focus on lawsuits and forget the tax business. It’s not going anywhere anyway.”
Zhang Fei said, “Think long term. It doesn’t hurt to keep it open.”
Fan Li said sheepishly, “But it’s such a loss of face.”
“Can you live off of face?”
“No, I guess.”
“Then it’s settled. I’m leaving.”
With that, Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian left the bookshop and took a carriage to Lushi Alley.
From the second floor of the building across the street, two middle-aged men dressed as scholars watched them leave.
These two were Shen Huaixiao, Secretary of the Financial Commission, and Tang Ji, Associate Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
“Look, that guy left quickly.”
Tang Ji smiled smugly.
Shen Huaixiao said, “In a few days, arrange for someone from the Capital Merchants Tax Bureau to visit their shop, saying that the bureau wants to assign people to provide tax accounting services at their shop.”
Tang Ji asked, “Why? We could easily crush him now.”
Shen Huaixiao said, “Unless we cut off his tongue, he remains a threat. We’re not worried about his tax business but his litigation skills. The best solution is to bring him to our side, making him one of us. That way, we can eliminate the threat once and for all.”