Werner followed suit and immediately contacted Sekoro, conveying Sokov's message and asking the other party to strengthen the promotion of the book.
After hearing this, Xie Keluo said apologetically to Werner: "Werner, this is my negligence. I just thought that Comrade General wrote a good book, and it would still have good sales even without publicity.
But I didn’t expect sales to be so bad on the first day.”
After hearing what Xie Keluo said, Werner realized that the other party might have already mastered the sales data on the first day, so he tentatively asked: "Xie Keluo, have the sales data come out?"
"Yes, it's already out."
"Can you tell me how many copies were sold on the first day?"
Xie Keluo paused for a moment and replied with difficulty: "A total of 41 copies were sold."
"What, only 41 copies were sold?" When Werner was on the phone with Sokov, he knew that the sales situation of the book "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" was very unsatisfactory, but he did not expect it to be so bad, he murmured.
: "Oh my God, with such a small sales volume, how can I tell General Sokov?"
"Werner, when you have the opportunity to meet the general, remember to express to him my apology for the low sales of his books due to my negligence at work."
Werner knew that Sekoro was still on a business trip to Kuibyshev, so he said dissatisfiedly: "Sekoro, I'm not telling you, before you went to Kuibyshev on business, you must have forgotten to tell your people to prepare the new book.
Publicity work. As long as they do a little publicity, the sales of the book will not be so bad."
"Yes, yes, this is all my fault." Shekro admitted his mistake straightforwardly and said to Werner: "Werner, I will call Chakovsky later.
Let him help promote General Sokov's new book in the newspaper, which may help to increase the sales of the new book."
"I think it is very correct to let Chakovsky do propaganda in newspapers." Werner said: "He is not only an excellent war reporter, but also an excellent writer. Readers are very familiar with him.
.If he promotes General Sokov’s new book, I think the sales of the book will be greatly improved.”
"I think so too," Sekoro had several ideas at once, but he also prepared a back-up plan: "In addition to Chakovsky, I also plan to contact Comrade Simonov to bring the general's
Let him read this book and let him promote it at the appropriate time. You know, he is much more famous than Chakovsky."
"Simonov?!" Werner seemed very hesitant when he heard the name mentioned by Shekro: "I heard that he has encountered some emotional setbacks recently, and he looks very decadent. Let him do publicity.
,Does it fit?"
"What kind of emotional setbacks can he have?" Xie Keluo asked puzzledly: "Werner, have you heard any gossip?"
"I heard from others that Simonov's wife Serova seems to have some kind of story with Marshal Rokossovsky." Werner said cautiously: "And General Sokov is Rokossovsky.
Marshal Ki’s subordinates. If Simonov is dissatisfied with Marshal Rokossovsky, will he take his anger out on General Sokov?”
"Werner, the amount of information you said is a bit large. I want to analyze it carefully to see if I should ask Simonov to help General Sokov in propaganda."
"I think Chakovsky is enough." Werner expressed his true thoughts: "If his recommendations can't increase the sales of the book, then we have to consider where the problem lies.
Problem."
"In addition to asking Chakovsky to do publicity, I also plan to do what General Sokov said and have a blackboard hung at the door of each bookstore with the words "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" on it.
And put a bookshelf directly opposite the door of the bookstore to display the books of Comrade General."
"Well, if we do this, the sales of books will definitely increase to a certain extent." After Werner said this, he suddenly remembered a key question and asked directly: "By the way, the 41 books sold,
Which bookstores sell them?"
After Xie Keluo reported the names of several bookstores, he suddenly discovered a strange phenomenon: "Werner, I just discovered something."
"What's up?"
"Of the 41 books sold, 28 were sold in the same store." Xie Keluo said: "The rest of the bookstores sold one or two copies, and they sold 28 copies directly. It was simply
It’s incredible.”
"What's the name of that bookstore and where is it located?"
After listening to the name of the place and bookstore reported by Xie Keluo, Werner laughed: "Xie Keluo, the bookstore you mentioned is near General Sokov's house. If my judgment is correct,
If there is a mistake, it should be the bookstore that the general went to. Maybe the salesperson in the bookstore knew the identity of the general and specifically read that book before choosing to buy it. Maybe it was because of this that 28 copies were sold.
Record."
"Well, it's possible." Xie Keluo agreed with Werner's analysis: "Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why the sales volume of this bookstore is so disparate compared to other bookstores."
…………
The next morning, Sokov, who was still asleep, was awakened by the ringing of the phone.
Worried about something urgent, he didn't even bother to put on his shoes, so he walked barefoot to the phone and picked up the receiver: "I'm Sokov!"
"Hello, Comrade General." Kulak's voice came from the receiver: "I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"
"No, no." Kulak called him, which surprised Sokov. After all, there was no affiliation between the two. Although he had a high military rank, he had no control over him at all, so he was eager to find out what the other party was calling.
Reason: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you have anything to do with me?"
"Comrade General, I am calling you for two reasons." Kulak said: "I am in the office of the department store now."
When Sokov heard what the other party said, he immediately guessed a possibility and asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, has a new notebook been delivered?"
"That's right, Comrade General! You are really amazing. You guessed the correct answer right away." Kulak said: "A new batch of notebooks arrived last night, specially prepared for the Writers' Association. When Liuba went home and told me about this
, I also specifically asked if there was enough share left for you."
Sokov knew that Moscow was in short supply today, with everything from food to daily necessities in short supply. In later generations, although pens and manuscript paper for writing still had to be imported, they were definitely not in short supply like they are now, and there was no certain supply.
It’s really impossible to buy connections. With enough manuscript paper, he can write more content. He asked with some urgency: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I wonder how Liuba answered?"
"She said that this batch of manuscript papers was specially prepared for the Writers' Association, and there must be no excess quota." Kulak smiled and said to Sokov: "But if you, Comrade General, need it, she can allocate a certain share from it, such as
It can still be done if there are fifty signed manuscripts."
"Oh, can you give me fifty manuscript papers?!" Sokov was overjoyed when he learned that Lyuba was going to leave fifty manuscript papers for himself: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, that's great. I'll pack up and go out.
, please tell Liuba that you must leave the manuscript signature paper for me."
"No problem, Comrade General." Kulak even said enthusiastically: "If you need these manuscript papers now, I can send them to you immediately."
"No hurry, I'll go get it later." When Sokov said this, he remembered that Kulak just said that there are two things to call yourself, one is the manuscript signature, and the other is
What's the matter? "By the way, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you said you have two things to ask me about. The manuscript signature paper counts as one thing, so what is the other thing?"
"The other thing is, of course, related to your book."
"Is it related to my book?" Sokov asked puzzledly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I don't understand what you mean, can you explain it more clearly?"
"It's like this, Comrade General." Kulak said: "The salespersons in the department store like your books very much, so they don't hesitate to circulate your books by copying them by hand. I just want to ask you today.
How long will it take for the book to be published? Everyone can’t wait.”
After hearing this, Sokov couldn't help being stunned, and then asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't you know that this book was put on sale in various bookstores yesterday?"
"Ah, your book was sold in bookstores yesterday?" Kulak said in surprise: "Why didn't you tell me the news?"
Hearing Kulak's question, Sokov replied with some embarrassment: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I thought you all knew it."
"Is it really possible to buy your book in a bookstore?" Kulak asked.
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you can definitely buy it." Sokov emphasized to Kulak: "I went to a bookstore yesterday and saw my book on the shelf."
"Great, that's great." After saying this, Kulak said excitedly to Lyuba next to him: "Lyuba, Comrade General said that his book was officially published yesterday and was placed in various magazines.
Bookstore, tell your salesmen to buy them quickly, don’t copy books by hand all the time. Not only is it tiring to copy books by hand, but it also requires a lot of manuscript paper. Keep these manuscript papers for comrade general, maybe he will return them.
I can write more good books."
Liuba was very excited when she heard what Kulak said, but she did not believe it easily. Instead, she reached out and took the microphone from Kulak's hand, preparing to learn about the matter from Sokov in person: "Comrade General, I am
Liuba."
"Hello, Lyuba!"
"Is your book really available in major bookstores?"
"Yes, Liuba, it can indeed be bought in various bookstores." Sokov also reminded Liuba specifically: "If your salesperson wants to buy a book, ask them to ask the salesperson of the bookstore directly, otherwise it will be difficult to find it.
that book."
"Okay, Comrade General, I will explain it clearly to them." Liuba continued: "I don't know when you will come over to pick up the manuscript papers. I can provide you with at least a hundred copies."
"What, a hundred signed papers?" When Sokov heard Liuba say this, his first reaction was that the other party was wrong, and he quickly reminded her: "Just now Lieutenant Colonel Kulak told me that he could only leave five for me.
How come ten books turned into a hundred books in the blink of an eye?"
"The reason is very simple, Comrade General." Liuba explained to Sokov with a smile: "Although this batch of manuscript papers is prepared for the Writers' Association, we can keep some of it internally. Originally, several salesmen said that they wanted to
But since your book has been published and you can buy the printed book in the bookstore, who would copy the book? In this way, the manuscript paper originally intended to be used for copying the book will be saved.
"
"Oh, that's it." After Sokov figured out what was going on, he thanked Lyuba repeatedly: "Liuba, thank you so much! Thank you!"
"Comrade General, you don't have to be so polite." Liuba said with a smile: "If you really want to thank us, there is a way."
"What method?" Sokov asked curiously.
"That is, when you write a new book in the future, you can also include the salespersons in our department stores in the book." After telling her request, Lyuba was worried about being rejected by Sokov, and asked cautiously: "I don't know.
Is that possible?"
"Yes, of course." Sokov was thinking in his mind. Now that the Great Patriotic War has just ended, books on war themes will definitely be very popular among readers. But with the advent of peaceful life, everyone's thoughts will definitely change.
, other themes may be popular, and he will be able to write a book on urban themes by then, and write some of the salesmen in the department store as supporting characters in his book. Therefore, he readily replied, "Maybe it will be in the next book,
You and your salespeople can be written into my book."
Hearing that Sokov agreed to her request so readily, Liuba couldn't help but be overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Comrade General, this is really great. If I tell the girls this news, they will be extremely happy."
Sokov began to think in his mind that in addition to military themes, he could also include some classic films that were watched by later generations, such as "The Office Story", "The Train Station for Two", "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" and "The Italians Are Here".
"Adventures in Russia" and so on, have all been adapted into novels, and they may even become best-sellers. In this type of novel, it is simply too easy to add a few department store salesmen as supporting characters.
It was precisely because of this consideration that Sokov also said with a smile: "Liuba, if I am lucky and can adapt it into a movie after writing it, maybe you department store salesmen will have the opportunity to appear on the movie screen.
"
"In this way, our department store will become famous." Liuba said excitedly after hearing this: "I never thought that we would have the opportunity to produce movie stars here in the future."
When it came to adapting the novel into a movie, Liuba suddenly became interested: "By the way, Comrade General, I heard that the book "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" will soon be adapted into a movie. I wonder if you have considered it.
How many people can be found in the department store to play the roles?"