Chapter 550: Big Brother

The scorching months of July and August are the most difficult times of the year for Yanjing Theatre. Recently, the People's Art Theatre is going to stage the drama "Burning", and Lin Weimin will go to watch the rehearsal every few days.

The play "Burning" was premiered by the People's Art Theatre last year. At that time, Lin Weimin went to the United States and missed the performance of the play.

In early August, "Burning" will be performed at the Capital Theatre. Lin Weimin picked a weekend evening and specially invited Shi Tiesheng and his wife.

Shi Tiesheng likes watching dramas. Whenever he watches a drama, he can't wait to take a bath and change his clothes, and he is solemn and pious.

Lin Weimin drove to pick him up and saw that he was wearing brand new clothes, which must have been newly changed.

Driving all the way to the Capital Theatre, the two couples got off the car and looked at the gate of the Capital Theatre. Shi Tiesheng said with emotion: "It's been a long time since I watched a play."

Lin Weimin was reminded of this and thought about it. It was true. He had watched only a few plays in the past two years.

Three or four years ago, he used to come twice a month.

He looked at the audience lingering at the entrance of the Capital Theatre and said, "In the past two years, it seems that drama has not been very popular."

"It can be said that everything related to art has started to go downhill, and everyone is rushing to make money," said Shi Tiesheng with a smile.

When watching the play, the audience attendance was quite good. When leaving the theater, Shi Tiesheng even joked: "It seems that your works have a good reputation."

"It has little to do with me. It should be the influence of the People's Art Theatre on the audience over the years. No matter what the market is like, the People's Art Theatre's plays should have no shortage of audiences."

"That's true. No matter how bad the industry is, industry leaders like you never have to worry, just like your publishing house."

Lin Weimin carried Shi Tiesheng into the car, put the wheelchair in the trunk, and on the way, he asked again: "How is your essay going?"

"There are still some left. It will probably take another month or so."

Since this year, Shi Tiesheng has focused his main energy on a longer essay.

When Lin Weimin heard him chatting, he knew that this should be the article "I and the Altar of Earth" which was included in the Chinese language textbooks in later generations.

In recent years, Lin Weimin no longer needs to collect manuscripts himself, and he is not so strict about his friends' manuscripts.

"Don't forget to mention me. I have been to Ditan Park with you many times. Even if I have no credit, I have worked hard." Lin Weimin joked while driving.

"You are the type who wants a role, so you have to pay for it."

"I'm an actor, so I have to pay even if I don't get paid?"

…

Two days later, Wang Shuo ran to the Chinese Literature Society.

"Weimin, you really said it right. Huayi came to me yesterday and said they wanted to publish a collection of my essays." Wang Shuo said excitedly.

This time he came to discuss with Lin Weimin about asking for royalties from the publishing house.

At the beginning of the year, he excitedly told Lin Weimin that Huayi Publishing House had paid him a high price for publishing a collection of his novels. However, he was fooled by Lin Weimin and felt unbalanced, thinking that his royalties were too little.

Huayi Publishing House published his collection of short stories, "Die After Having Fun," with a high fee of 100 yuan per thousand words. Now, in just over half a year, sales have exceeded 700,000 copies.

In half a year, 700,000 copies were sold. Even for Lin Weimin, this was only achieved with a few particularly popular works.

Having tasted the sweetness of success, Huayi Publishing House recently found Wang Shuo again, hoping to strike while the iron is hot and launch "Wang Shuo's Collected Works".

In the past two years, both Guowen Publishing House and Yilin Publishing House tried to arrange this matter for Lin Weimin, but Lin Weimin refused both times.

This is really too ostentatious. The works have already been published, and there is no need to publish a separate collection of essays. This will only cause various public opinion storms and receive some recognition in terms of literary status. Lin Weimin feels that he does not lack these things.

Wang Shuo was born in 1958 and is only 32 years old this year. Publishing a collection of works at this age is a precedent for living writers.

"You have broken a record." Lin Weimin teased Wang Shuo.

"Don't take my cymbals for granted. If you wanted to sell it, you would have done it long ago. Seriously, do you think the royalties thing can work out?" Wang Shuo looked a little unconfident.

"It depends on whether Huayi is determined to get your work. "Die After a Good Time" has sold 700,000 copies in half a year. Do you think they are willing to give up?

I heard that Huayi Publishing House just bought an Audi 100 last month."

Lin Weimin’s last words aroused Wang Shuo’s inner resentment again.

All this money I made from my book, and I don’t even have an Audi 100 yet.

"Done! I have to drink the soup from my book, even if you eat the meat." Wang Shuo gritted his teeth and said, "Weimin, how much royalties do you think is appropriate?"

Lin Weimin said calmly: "Of course it is 'Han Xin selects soldiers, the more the better'."

"That requires the other party to agree to it!"

Lin Weimin shook his head, looking angry at the lack of resistance, "If I hadn't said it, you wouldn't be able to do business. You ask for a sky-high price and then pay it back, don't you understand?"

Wang Shuo nodded, looking embarrassed, "Of course I understand the truth, but I am a person..."

This wimp talks louder than anyone else, but when it comes to real action, he is more cowardly than anyone else.

"Take Dudu with you and have him talk to Huayi on your behalf."

Wang Shuo was delighted when he heard the idea, "You are the best kid. You are smarter than a monkey when it comes to hair!"

If you can't speak, just shut up.

After talking about royalties, Wang Shuo did not forget to complain before leaving, "I think the royalties of your Guowen Press should also be increased. If Huayi pays royalties, how can you be competitive in the future?"

"Ungrateful thing!" Lin Weimin spat at Wang Shuo jokingly.

Wang Shuo became famous after publishing "Stewardess" in "Contemporary". Since then, he has published many works in "Contemporary" over the past few years. As of last year, his works have been published in collections twice, with sales exceeding 100,000 copies each time.

The royalties that Guowen Publishing House paid him were actually not low, but unfortunately it was now a market economy, and Huayi paid even more, so Wang Shuo naturally preferred that place.

Lin Weimin's words were of course a joke. Friendship is friendship, and interests are interests. If friendship is used to hijack interests, even the best relationship will be ruined.

Two days after seeing Wang Shuo off, he appeared in the editorial office of Contemporary Magazine again with Ma Dudu.

"Weimin, it's done!" Wang Shuo hugged Lin Weimin as soon as they met, extremely excited.

Lin Weimin pushed him away and asked, "Is it done? How many points did you discuss?"

Wang Shuo said happily: "They promised 10% royalties."

"Only 10%?" Lin Weimin couldn't help but frown.

Seeing this, Ma Dudu explained, "He promised them first."

Lin Weimin looked at Wang Shuo, who looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I'm too familiar with the editor. I'm embarrassed."

Lin Weimin was helpless. "You, remember, never touch business again in your life, or you will lose everything!"

Wang Shuo knew he was in the wrong and didn't take Lin Weimin's teasing to heart. He happily wanted to take him to celebrate.

With a 10% royalty, if the collection of essays can maintain the same popularity as "Die After Getting High" after publication, Wang Shuo's income from royalties will start at at least hundreds of thousands, and may even reach seven figures.

Such a happy event should be celebrated.

Unfortunately, Wang Shuo was only happy for a few days before he was blocked at the door by reporters, who asked him whether he had asked the publishing house for 10% royalties. They were very aggressive and seemed to be calling him to task.

Wang Shuo is a donkey that obeys orders easily. After a few words of disagreement, he started to argue with the reporter.

"What's wrong with me asking for royalties? Who says writers have to get only so much?"

"What? You publishers can make a lot of money, but we writers can't make a little more?"

"What kind of values ​​are you advocating? Is talking about money vulgar? If you have the ability, why don't you just take a salary?"

"Is the publishing house a public welfare enterprise? If it is a public welfare enterprise, I will donate all my royalties without hesitation."

Wang Shuo is a timid person, but he never backs down when it comes to verbal battles. He silenced the reporter who came to his door that day.

Unfortunately, retribution comes quickly in this life.

The reporter's mouth was not as good as his, but he was a good writer. Two days later, the news that Wang Shuo asked the publishing house for royalties and his "ugly face" when he talked about the reasonableness of royalties appeared in the newspapers, and it became a topic of concern across the country.

"Materialism under the guise of 'reasonable royalties'".

In an environment where people are ashamed to talk about profits, such a news report is enough to make Wang Shuo be scolded.

In just a few days, he received many evaluations such as "China's most greedy writer" and "a villain obsessed with profit".

Wang Shuo was criticized by the public for asking for royalties and was very depressed. He found Lin Weimin and poured out his heart to him while cursing.

Lin Weimin felt a little embarrassed. Shuozi was his brother, and now his brother was charging at the front. How could he just stand by and watch?

This was wrong, so the next day, Li Xiangyang from the Yenching Youth Daily was found to help Wang Shuo.

"We can't just take the blame without saying anything back, that's not our style."

Lin Weimin’s “kind” encouragement immediately boosted Wang Shuo’s fighting spirit and he started to talk nonsense.

It’s just a war of words. Who’s afraid of who? I’ve never lost in my life!

In later generations, Wang Shuo has become a famous little steel cannon since the mid-1990s, Qi Baishi, Zhang Yimou, Li Ao, George W. Bush, Lu Xun, Yu Qiuyu...

He will get angry at anyone he sees who displeases him.

Now, with the "kind" help of Lin Weimin, Wang Shuo has started the verbal attack mode in advance.

Through the channel of the Yenching Youth Daily, I communicated with those critics from the outside world. Unfortunately, it is always a bit lonely when facing so many media and opponents.

It is not Teacher Lin’s style to let his brothers fight alone. After Wang Shuo had been arguing in the newspaper for half a month, Lin Weimin finally spoke out through the Yenching Youth Daily.

“Wang Shuo has freed Chinese writers!”

In a word, he clearly stated his attitude.

After Lin Weimin spoke out, more and more writers came forward through the media, including Cheng Zhongshi, Lu Yao, Shi Tiesheng, Er Yuehe, Mo Yan, Yu Hua, Ma Yuan, Jiang Zilong, Huang Anyi, Cheng Jiangong, Hai Yan, Liu Heng...

Everyone's speeches were similar. It is not shameful for writers to talk about royalties, and publishing houses are not fools. It is clearly a matter of mutual consent, and writers should not be blamed for pursuing royalties.

Lin Weimin fired the first shot, and then dozens of well-known writers in the domestic literary world spoke out collectively. Many media outlets that criticized Wang Shuo were at a loss for what to do and became speechless when they saw so many writers working together.

News reporting on what these writers said quickly dominated the media headlines, instantly reversing the originally one-sided situation.

Through this incident, Lin Weimin demonstrated for the first time in the media his influence in the domestic writers circle, quite like the "leader" in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils"!

(End of this chapter)