章 28: Chapter 28: Newspaper
"Yes, newspaper, that's what you use to record news." said Rainy Day.
Of course, the only two people who needed the newspaper were Xia Yutian and Ma Shao. In fact, this decision was the result of communication between the two.
Even though there are only a handful of Apaches who can recognize all 26 letters of the English alphabet, and Yutian and Ma Shao's English proficiency is not very good, if the Apaches want to truly develop, active information acquisition is essential.
In Ma Shao's view, even if we look at the physical world, information is still the most precious substance in the universe. If there really is a creator in the world, his most precious treasure must be information.
Moreover, in addition to obtaining information, newspapers have another important use - wiping your butt!
Ma Shao still vaguely remembered that when he was a child in the countryside in his previous life, he often used old newspapers and old book pages to wipe his butt, and he would even read them before wiping.
This wasn't a comfortable experience at all, as some papers were hard and some were slippery, but it was still much better than using stones and sticks.
Due to his crude way of going to the toilet, Ma Shao has gotten pus on his hands more than once since his rebirth, and each time it ruins his mood for the whole day.
Therefore, for the sake of his nation and his butt, he must buy the newspaper, even if he has to pay a high price for it.
"You can't make money from this. You know, I'm a businessman." Smith calmed down, and his reply was not surprising. "A businessman can do any business, except the business that can't make money."
Rainy Day didn't say anything, just nodded.
Smith saw this and asked, "What newspapers do you want?"
Rainy Day: "What is the most common newspaper in the United States?"
Smith thought for a moment. "The Tribune, the Sun, and the Herald, I think. I read the Tribune sometimes. It's very popular in the Midwest."
He was talking about the three major penny newspapers in the United States that were rapidly rising in this era. Also known as cent newspapers, as the name suggests, their main feature is their low price, with each newspaper often selling for only one or two cents.
Prior to this, newspapers in the United States were mainly party newspapers of various types. They were expensive and filled with a large amount of party quarrels and slander, so much so that it was called the "dark age" in American journalism history.
This dark period ended only eleven years ago, in 1833, with the founding of The Sun.
As the dragon slayers of the old era, a group of commercial newspapers led by The Sun naturally became the new kings.
"Let's just take these three for now. I need two copies of each newspaper they publish. Please send someone to deliver it every seven days." Rainy Day said.
Smith frowned slightly: "So, how much are you going to pay every week?"
"A piece of cowhide, I think it should be equivalent to more than ten times the price of a newspaper." said Rainy Day.
Smith waved his hand without hesitation: "It has nothing to do with the price of newspapers, you know. Three hides a week, I can find someone to help you run a trip. Any less, it won't even be enough to feed the horses."
Rainy Day thought for a while and said, "If you can send us some more blank paper, I can agree."
"I'll give you twenty pounds of white paper with each trip," said Smith.
The deal was finally done. Although most of Smith's liquor was not sold, a lot of other things were sold, and Apache also placed orders for many things.
Therefore, as in the past, both parties were polite after the business was over, sat together, drank some wine, and chatted and laughed.
Ma Shao took this opportunity to buy the two Colt revolvers from the caravan with the US dollars he had looted from the white man at the beginning of his rebirth.
He might not have 200 Colt pistols, but he must not let go of the two in front of him. With these two guns, he would be able to fire ten rounds of bullets in half a minute, which was enough to turn the tide at some critical moment.
The deal was done, and both sides finished their drinks. Smith then left with his team.
"What's wrong, William? Are you thinking about a girl?" Smith looked at his absent-minded nephew and asked jokingly.
"I kind of regret selling the revolver, uncle." Nephew William sighed.
Smith said, "You should have done it a long time ago. See, only Indians would like this kind of gun. They want to buy two hundred of them."
William remained silent.
After a while, he suddenly said, "Do you feel that the Indians this time are very different?"
"Indeed." Smith nodded. "They actually announced that they would quit drinking. This is outrageous. Although their alcoholism is indeed quite serious, I think they will never understand the horror of alcoholism."
After a pause, he continued, "And the newspapers, can they really understand them? Those two Indians speak English worse than my little daughter."
Young William said: "To be honest, uncle, I am a little worried... These Indians have obviously realized something and they are trying to change. This is a bad start."
"Maybe." Smith shrugged, looking noncommittal.
William added: "If the Indians become strong, it will definitely be detrimental to the United States. We may be doing something that hurts our motherland."
"No, no one can hurt our country, my patriot nephew." Smith smiled.
William looked at him in confusion.
Smith then said: "Because our motherland is the greatest country in the world - the Republic of Mani!"
"Hahaha!"
Many people in the caravan laughed together, and the grassland was filled with a happy atmosphere...
A week later.
The first batch of newspapers and white paper were delivered to the Apache camp. Ma Shao and Rainy Day were already impatient for it, so they went to get the tents as soon as possible.
The two men sat in the tent, silently reading a copy of The Sun, with embarrassment gradually appearing on their faces.
Almost incomprehensible...
There is no need to talk about Ma Shao's situation. His English was poor to begin with, and it has deteriorated further in recent years. Coupled with the differences in English itself in the 19th century, reading a newspaper is like chewing a stone.
But what surprised him was that Yutian could hardly understand the newspaper. After all, Yutian's English was much better than his.
"I learned English from an Illinois man." Rainy Day coughed twice and explained, "He only understood the spoken language. I learned the written language sporadically when I interacted with white people, so I'm not very familiar with it."
"Illinois?" Ma Shao didn't know this tribe.
"They are a people in the east. They are good at business and have more contact with white people." Rainy Day said, "But now they have been driven to the reservation by the Americans."
"oh..."
After a moment of silence.
"I think... we should have our own writing." Ma Shao suddenly said.
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