American comics: You're asked to fish, but you catch a Superman template?

Page 649

However, when the San Francisco Chronicle asked them what kind of work they planned to do after arriving in California, they had no plans.

After reading the last paragraph about the westward migration in the San Francisco Chronicle, Xu Fu picked up an egg from his plate with a fork and put it in his mouth. At that moment, he heard the neighing of horses and the sound of galloping hooves.

Hiss-

Look down, through the hotel wall.

Then they saw a policeman on horseback whipping away homeless people living nearby in the street.

Some fleeing farmers moved west to other cities in California, but others approached San Francisco, where they could not find work and were forced to become part of the vagrant army.

The San Francisco Police Department had no choice but to evict them daily. After all, even city officials often struggle to pay their salaries at this time, and it's not uncommon for the police department to be unable to pay its officers.

Xu Fu turned his gaze away from the cow-like homeless men passing by the hotel, finished the last piece of egg on his plate, picked up the newspaper, and walked out of the restaurant under the respectful gaze of the waiter.

His meeting with John Daly was scheduled for this afternoon, which means he has plenty of time in the morning to handle other matters.

...

Are there any newspapers nearby?

"If you need a newspaper, sir, all the hotel can provide is the latest San Francisco newspaper of the day." (Nine.)

Chapter 764 This is what I have to do.

"No, I'm asking about newspapers, big or small."

"Newspaper...please wait a moment, sir, I need to ask you something..."

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, sir. The nearest newspaper in the area is just around the corner from the hotel. It's called the San Jose Mercury News. It mainly publishes information about the San Jose Bay area and is one of the most well-known newspapers in the area."

The San Jose Mercury Bulletin.

The news from the San Jose Mercury News came through the front desk of the Fairmont Hotel. Xu Fu nodded thoughtfully, then nodded to the doorman standing in front of him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, sir. This is all I need to do."

After leaving the hotel, Xu Fu followed the directions given by the doorman and soon saw the sign for the San Jose Mercury News on the street corner.

Overall, the newspaper office did not take up too much space in 2000.

The newspaper's name also indicates that it is a local tabloid that specializes in reporting regional news, somewhat reminiscent of the pre-renewal Messenger.

Clang-

"what happened to you?"

When I pushed open the door of the newspaper office, the first thing that greeted me was a slightly disgruntled greeting.

Immediately afterwards, people saw a man with graying temples stand up from behind a table with newspapers and ask another Xu Fu a question.

"We don't need any employees here. If you want to find a job, go somewhere else!"

Not only these people, but other employees of the newspaper were also quite dissatisfied with Xu Fu's appearance.

Some people cast wary glances at him, clearly watching him as if he were trying to steal their jobs.

"I'm not here to look for a job."

Under the wary and disapproving gaze of a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News, Xu Fu casually explained.

"What about you?"

After hearing Xu Fu's explanation, the man's displeasure lessened slightly, but he still asked rudely, "If you're here to cause trouble, my price is one cent each, regardless of size, no bargaining."

As a local tabloid, the San Jose Mercury News also lacks the idea of ​​tracking major events.

"Let me say it again, I'm not here to sell news."

However, Xu Fu's answer made the man's expression, which had just eased slightly, turn displeased again. He frowned at this uninvited comrade and said in a reproachful tone, "You don't work, and you're not here to sell news materials, so who are you?"

That being said, the man seemed to have considered another possibility.

"If you want to sell something, I'm sorry, I won't buy anything, whether it's a necklace you can wear, a magical book statue, or some products with unknown effects. Of course, if you're here to advertise, that's a different story, as long as you have the ability to advertise."

Based on what these people have told us, it is clear that the situation at the San Jose Mercury News is not optimistic.

"I'd like to know if you have any plans to sell this newspaper."

Interrupting the man, Xu Fu gave a direct answer.

"Sell the newspapers!"

Xu Fu's sudden question caused the man to pause for a moment, then he looked at the guest standing before him and said uncertainly, "So, sir, are you here for the newspaper?"...

Upon hearing the news that the newspaper might be sold, several employees of the San Jose Mercury News, who had not paid much attention until now, looked at each other with varying degrees of worry on their faces.

They were worried that their jobs would be affected if the newspaper was indeed acquired.

However, it was clear that the employee's concerns were not within this person's consideration. He opened his mouth, weighed his options, and then turned to Xu Fu, who was standing in front of him, and said, "Sir, are you sure you're not joking with me, but really want to buy a newspaper?"

"What kind of joke do you think would make people buy a newspaper that doesn't make money?"

Xu Fu did not give a definite answer, but instead asked the man a rhetorical question.

Upon hearing Xu Fu's question, the man nodded, his expression one of complete agreement.

Indeed, as Xu Fu said, the San Jose Mercury News in San Francisco was not a well-known newspaper, and he really didn't know that someone would go to such lengths to make fun of him.

So it's all true, there are really people who appreciate their half-dead newspapers!

Thinking of this, the man's breathing became rapid. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated emotions.

The man looked at Xu Fu standing in front of him again, but the expression on his face was different from before.

"Excuse me, sir, what is your name?"

"Xu Fu."

"Mr. Xu Fu, would you like coffee or tea?"

“Give me a cup of coffee.”

During the Great Depression, Pan Jinlian took over the tea market, producing cheap tea that tasted terrible.

There was no other advantage besides the low price, which wasn't a problem for the beautiful Chinese who couldn't drink tea, but Xu Fu was clearly not used to this substandard tea, so he just ordered a cup of coffee.

"Okay, why don't you go have some tea? Why don't you just leave us all dumbfounded?"

After ordering the newspaper staff to wait for the coffee, the man smiled ingratiatingly at Xu Fu.

"Mr. Xu Fu, here is your coffee. Be careful with your hot mouth."

Only after Xu Fu picked up his coffee and took a small sip did he speak with some impatience.

"Mr. Xu Fu, don't look at the San Jose Mercury News now, but in fact, the San Jose Mercury News has existed for nearly seventy years and has a great influence in the San Francisco Bay Area. At its peak, the San Jose Mercury News was everywhere in San Jose and was one of the most influential local newspapers in the area."

While inside the San Jose Mercury News, the man told Xu Fu the story of the 0.9 San Jose Mercury News, and Xu Fu's expression did not change at all.

"Since the San Jose Mercury News has such a great influence, it seems to me that it is wrong to take it away from people, so why don't we just forget about it?"

Upon hearing Xu Fu's words, the newspaper owner paused for a moment, then hurriedly replied.

“That’s all in the past. In fact, since the Great Depression, the San Jose Mercury News’s sales have been declining day by day. If it weren’t for my love for this newspaper and the staff who support it, I probably wouldn’t have continued working here for another day.”

“Since you, Mr. Xu Fu, are asking for $5 instead of $4 to buy the newspaper business, I will give you the San Jose Mercury News. From now on, it is yours.”

Chapter 765 New Publishing House

"San Jose Mercury News?"

Standing in front of the newspaper's office, John Daly looked at the San Jose Mercury News sign with a puzzled expression.

He couldn't imagine that the client would choose this particular location for the meeting the following day.

If Xu Fu hadn't left a note at the hotel front desk, John Daly might never have been able to find him.

"...It now belongs to you, Mr. Xu Fu!"

When he drove up to the newspaper's newsroom, John Daly first heard a slightly excited voice coming from inside.

When he pushed open the door, he saw a man with graying temples smiling and shaking hands with Xu Fu. Several employees stood around him, their faces showing reluctant smiles and wary expressions.

Hearing the commotion at the door, the voices inside the newspaper office became hoarse a few steps away.

The man turned his head to look at John Daly, who had appeared in the doorway, then turned back to meet Xu Fu's gaze, who was standing in front of him, before turning back to John Daly.

“I’m sorry, John Daly, I may need a little more time to deal with things at the newspaper.”

"No problem, Mr. Xu Fu, the car is right outside."

At this point, John Daly nodded, led everyone into the newspaper office, and then turned back to his car to wait.

The acquisition of the San Jose Mercury News went more smoothly than expected.

Perhaps because the newspaper's owner was already considering selling it, after some haggling, Xu Fu finally bought the newspaper's copyright for $35,600.

Therefore, the San Jose Mercury News became the second newspaper published in San Francisco in Xu Fu's possession.

The first to feel uneasy about the change in newspaper ownership were, of course, the former employees of the San Jose Mercury News, a local tabloid. The San Jose Mercury News had a small staff, consisting of three employees: a typesetter, a reporter, and an editor.

The overall structure is similar to that of Xu Fu's original messenger newspaper.