After more than seven months, someone finally approached him to publish a novel.
Lin Xiaoguang waited so hard.
That was the "Heroes" in which Jin Yong's seal was passed away long ago, and there were only heroes' ambitions in the world.
"Brother Wen, what do you say? Is it Sanlian Bookstore? Zhonghua Book Company? Or Commercial Press?" Lin Xiaoguang was in an urgent mood.
"I've thought too much, but it's none of them. It's Ming Pao, Tiandi Books, and Xiangshan Culture."
Jin Daxia's Mingbao is not only a newspaper, but also has a book publishing business. This time it wants to publish "Heroes", presumably because it sees its strength. As for the latter two book publishers, Lin Xiaoguang has never heard of them.
"How much is Mingpao's offer? Share or buyout? How much is the royalties?"
"I don't know." Zhong Wenzhang shook his head: "These things will only be discussed in Mingpao after meeting the author. Do you think as a colleague, they will disclose it to me, a reporter?"
"All right……"
Ming Pao insisted on meeting the author, but he couldn't go to Hong Kong. Lin Xiaoguang was a little distressed.
"This has been going on for a month or two. I still heard it from an editor colleague. Now there are only three companies. How do you choose?"
"It seems that I have to find a person with full authority to discuss this matter with Mingpao?" Lin Xiaoguang stared into Zhong Wenzhang's eyes and asked tentatively.
In his opinion, Zhong Wenzhang is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for this plenipotentiary.
"Okay."
"So, you agreed?" Lin Xiaoguang was a little happy.
"What did you promise?" Zhong Wenzhang was a little confused: "However, I don't recommend you publish it at this time."
What does this mean?
Zhong Wenzhang talked eloquently: "First of all, "Heroes" is still being serialized. I think that when the serialization is completed, it will be the best time to publish and maximize profits. You can get more royalties. Now "Heroes" is still
The sales volume has not reached the limit, and you are not short of money, why are you in such a hurry? Besides, Jin Daxia is very picky, so in terms of price, you can wait a little longer."
Lin Xiaoguang admitted that what he said made sense.
Like physical publishing, the number of book sales indicates the strength of a writer. A book with sales of over 10,000 will naturally have a huge difference in remuneration from a book with sales of over 100,000 or over one million.
If the first book sells too little, it will affect the price of the second book and even determine whether the second book can be published.
Publishers also want to make a profit. If the sales volume is too small, they will not lose money a second time.
Then there is the issue of money.
If he is just eating, drinking and having fun, the royalties for serializing novels in the Hong Kong Commercial Daily are enough. As for other things, there is no reform and opening up at the moment, and he can't do business, so it's really useless to ask for so much money.
A rich man is quite conspicuous these days.
Let's just talk about the last October issue of "Youth Digest". He advanced a sum of money, but he couldn't advance more money. On the one hand, it didn't make sense, and the Qingwen Society was not his personal property. On the other hand, his wealth was not exposed.
The royalties from Hong Kong really cannot be seen in the mainland, at least not let others know.
As for Jin Yong's stinginess, it is well known that Mingbao's manuscript fee is not high.
Many columnists, such as Zhang Xiaoxian and Yi Shu, got their fame from Ming Pao, but Ming Pao's remuneration has always been relatively low. Lin Yanni is known as the best prose writer in Hong Kong. She asked for an increase in remuneration, but Jin Yong refused.
Yi Shu also scolded him in a column about the royalties, but his royalties still did not increase.
Jin Daxia has a very strong character. If we don’t mention the increase in manuscript fee, he will increase it a little more at the end of the year. If we mention it, there is absolutely no hope of increase.
"What about the second one?" Lin Xiaoguang asked.
Zhong Wenzhang saw that he was a little excited at first, but then became very calm. He was also amazed, and he quickly replied: "Secondly, even if you are short of money, there are still other ways."
"What should I say?" Lin Xiaoguang was a little excited.
"Do you know Hong Kong Commercial Radio?" Zhong Wenzhang did not explain, but changed the subject and asked about another matter.
"I know one thing. Did Jiayi TV Station, founded by He Zuozhi, the son of Hedong in 1959, go bankrupt?" Lin Xiaoguang did not value Hong Kong Commercial Radio, but was very interested in Jiayi TV Station. If he was reborn in Hong Kong, he might even invest in it.
Zhong Wenzhang knew that he knew Hong Kong very well, but he did not expect it to be so in-depth.
"It's good to know." He sighed: "Jiayi TV Station has closed down. It won't be able to survive until September this year."
After sighing, he no longer made excuses: "It's like this. Someone from Hong Kong Commercial Radio came here and wanted to talk to you about the broadcast of "Heroes" on the radio."
"They want to get the radio rights?"
"Yes." Zhong Wenzhang nodded: "They want to make it into a radio drama. I collected some information on the market. They purchased the exclusive copyright of the radio broadcast. The price ranges from 10,000 Hong Kong dollars to tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars. "Heroes" needs to be written
With more than three million words, I estimate the price will be more than 100,000 Hong Kong dollars."
One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars, converted into RMB, is almost 20,000 yuan.
If you publish a physical book, it will take some time for the royalties to be settled, but if you sell the radio broadcast rights of the novel, you can get the money right away. Lin Xiaoguang is really excited.
It would be unsafe to take such a sum of money in China, but it would be feasible to put it in Hong Kong.
The only problem is that he has no way to go to Hong Kong, so he can only find an agent for this matter. As for this candidate, apart from Mr. Fu who reluctantly fills the role, only Brother Wen is the most suitable.
But is it really feasible? Brother Wen won’t be interested in making money?
The previous fee was 9,000 Hong Kong dollars each time, and it has been settled three times now. Brother Wen has returned all of it to him. This time it is 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. There is no guarantee that he will not be tempted.
Human nature never stands the test.
But Lin Xiaoguang felt that it was not enough for Brother Wen to betray him for just 100,000 Hong Kong dollars.
These days, Zhong Wenzhang, a mainlander, can go to work in Hong Kong and join a supporting newspaper such as the Hong Kong Commercial Daily. Looking at his friend Mr. Fu, he used to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later became a teacher in Tsinghua University. Now that he has been on leave for so long, the school has
Regardless, it is clear that they all have one thing in common, their backgrounds are unusual.
Since his family background is extraordinary, would he still be interested in his little money?
Lin Xiaoguang felt that they might be jealous, but they still disdain the dirty tricks of embezzling other people's property. The second generation has its own pride.
So, after a short period of thinking, he thought it was feasible.
It doesn't hurt to test Brother Wen. It's not like he can only copy this book. Even if Brother Wen's character is unreliable, the worst he can do is suffer a loss once and it will strengthen his memory.
"Brother Wen, let's forget about publishing. Broadcasting is very good, but I can't go to Hong Kong. Otherwise, you can be my full trustee and help me do this." Lin Xiaoguang smiled.
"That's okay." Zhong Wenzhang nodded.
"But..." He stared at Lin Xiaoguang with a half-smile: "One hundred thousand yuan, aren't you afraid that I will take the money and run away?"
Lin Xiaoguang chuckled: "Brother Wen, can you run away like a monk and run away from a temple? Your home is in Guangdong, and Sister Qingtong is in Anqing. I don't believe you can run away."
Zhong Wenzhang was a little embarrassed: "I have nothing to do with you, Sister Qingtong, so don't talk nonsense."
Lin Xiaoguang stopped testing him with this joke.
After lunch and talking about things, Zhong Wenzhang still had something to do and Lin Xiaoguang also had classes later. The two of them walked to the school gate and separated.
After seeing Brother Wen off, he walked slowly along the Wanquan River, thinking about some things in his mind.
For example, we just mentioned the Hong Kong Commercial Radio's purchase of the broadcasting rights of "Heroes".
Another example is the upcoming Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Or, the Xiaogang Production Team of Yangang Brigade of Fengli Commune, Fengyang County, Jianghuai Province, is secretly implementing the household contract responsibility system for farm distribution.