Chapter 553 Hey, why is he dead again?

The next day, Lin Weimin took Yu Hua's computer to Guowen Social and gave it to Yu Hua. Yu Hua was overjoyed to hear that the computer only cost 6,000 yuan.

"Teacher Lin, I have a friend..."

Lin Weimin's death ray swept across Yu Hua's face, and he finally chose to shut up.

If I wasn't afraid that this kid would let the cat out of the bag, I would have charged him the original price.

When Lin Weimin thought about how Yu Hua had taken advantage of him for two thousand yuan, he felt that he was not being exploited harshly enough.

He asked, "How's the novel going? Didn't you say that there was only the ending left?"

Yu Hua said guiltily, "It's almost there, it's almost there!"

At noon, Yu Hua went outside to withdraw money and gave the money for the computer to Lin Weimin.

After get off work, Lin Weimin returned home and heard Tao Huimin say that Cheng Ximi had just left and came to give him money for the computer. Lin Weimin asked Tao Huimin to put the money in the safe at home.

After dinner, Wang Shuo brought Jiang Wen to visit. It had been two months since Jiang Wen last came to ask for help.

Seeing Lin Weimin again, Jiang Wen was delighted. "Teacher Lin, it worked! The investment was successful. Mike helped me get the investment from Columbia."

Lin Weimin nodded, his face calm, "Mike called me and told me about this. Let's have some tea first."

Jiang Wen felt deeply moved, it turned out that everything was under the control of Teacher Lin!

They sat there drinking tea and chatting for a while before Lin Weimin heard Jiang Wen talk about his experience of going to the United States to meet Michael Phillips.

Thanks to Lin Weimin's recommendation, Jiang Wen met Michael Phillips smoothly when he arrived in the United States. When they met and talked for the first time, Michael Phillips could not understand the Chinese script.

Jiang Wen could only tell him the story of "Animals" and his ideas about the movie. Michael Phillips was confused and felt a little disappointed.

Then a few days later, Jiang Wen learned from the lesson of their last meeting and specially prepared the storyboard he drew.

Jiang Wen had never studied art, and his storyboard drawings looked like stick figures, but the pictures on paper were more convincing than translated words. Michael Phillips saw his talent in movies and decisively agreed to help him raise investment.

It took about half a month for Michael Phillips to take him to meet four or five Hollywood companies, and finally Columbia's investment was confirmed. There was a minor incident at that time regarding the investment amount.

This was Jiang Wen’s first time making a movie, and he was afraid that the number he mentioned was too high and would upset the investment company. After careful consideration, he said a figure of 500,000 US dollars.

In fact, in his mind, the budget for filming "Animals" should be at least one million dollars.

But he was a cunning man. You couldn't just come up and take off her pants to coax your girlfriend, right? You had to coax her to go home first, and then...

In short, don't rush this matter.

But Jiang Wen didn't expect that after he finished talking to Michael Phillips, Michael Phillips looked at him in shock, "Are you kidding me? Five hundred thousand meter swords?"

"Really! Teacher Lin, you are not exaggerating. I was stunned at the time! How can there be people in this world who think that the money they invested is too little?"

"Mike said, no, at least 2 million dollars. I have never produced a movie with such a low budget!"

"You are absolutely right. Lao Mi is really stupid and rich!"

Jiang Wen spoke with a look of surprise about his experience in attracting investment.

Lin Weimin smiled and said, "It's just a different exchange rate. Besides, Mike has some reputation in Hollywood. He supports new directors. If he only gives him 500,000 dollars, people might spread rumors that he is on the decline and can't get any investment. Who would dare to ask him to make a movie in the future?"

Jiang Wen heard what Lin Weimin said and immediately understood the twists and turns. "Your analysis is absolutely correct."

Then, Jiang Wen's face hesitated, "Teacher Lin, did Mike tell you about that?"

"You told me that I would be your producer?"

Jiang Wen nodded, "Yes."

Lin Weimin groaned, "I may not be able to spare the time. Besides, I don't have much experience in film production."

Jiang Wen hurriedly said, "Don't worry! Teacher Lin, Michael said that he doesn't trust anyone but you. You also know that he is in the United States and his time in China is limited. If I don't have your help for this movie, I will be at a loss, and Mike will be worried too!"

Wang Shuo also advised: "Weimin, you should help people to the end. Jiang Wen'er has already attracted the investment, and all that is missing is this final push."

Lin Weimin said helplessly: "If I go, I will just be listed there, it's useless."

Seeing that he was willing to give in, Jiang Wen was overjoyed. "Just give me a name, just give me a name. With your name, my film is halfway done."

After the joint persuasion of Jiang Wen and Wang Shuo, Lin Weimin reluctantly agreed to the task.

Jiang Wen made a movie for the first time and received 2 million US dollars from Columbia Pictures, one of the six major Hollywood studios. With a gold medal producer like Michael Phillips to back him up, it was a great start.

Jiang Wen didn't expect there would be such abundant production funds, so he asked Lin Weimin to revise the script.

Lin Weimin rejected his suggestion without saying a word. This guy would waste money even when he had no money, let alone when he had money.

"You and Wang Shuo should go back and make full use of the time to perfect it. Don't think about how to spend the money. The budget will never be enough." Lin Weimin warned.

Jiang Wen was a little disappointed. He didn't expect that his hands and feet would be tied up just after he brought Lin Weimin in as producer.

A few days later, when Lin Weimin was at work, Yu Hua came to his office and slapped a stack of manuscript paper on Lin Weimin's desk.

"Teacher Lin, Wang Shuo has already received royalties, and I also need royalties for the publication of my novel this time." Yu Hua said with a serious face.

"Then you have to discuss it with the president!" Lin Weimin pushed his hand away and picked up the manuscript.

Yu Hua changed his expression and said, "Teacher Lin, you have to fight for the rights of us young people!"

Lin Weimin said impatiently: "If you want royalties, go and negotiate with the publishing house yourself. I haven't received any royalties for my novel yet!"

"That company is really too much. I will have to avenge you later on."

Lin Weimin looked at him speechlessly. Now that he had finished writing the novel, was he so arrogant?

After leaving the manuscript, Lin Weimin drove Yu Hua away, and then quietly admired the finished manuscript.

The story of "To Live" is not complicated. It mainly tells the story of how Fugui, a prodigal son, brought death to his entire family.

Just kidding.

The novel actually tells the story of the unfortunate experiences and rough fate that the protagonist Fugui suffered in his life during the rapid changes of the times. It uses calm and restrained writing to show the meaning of life and the value of existence, revealing the unpredictability of fate and the helplessness of people in the face of such circumstances.

Although he already knew the story of "To Live", after reading this novel, Lin Weimin still couldn't help but sigh.

Fugui is so miserable!

Your family is really unlucky.

Lin Weimin feels that Yu Hua has already mastered 80% of his ability to heal his readers.

After spending two days on a sneak preview, Lin Weimin handed the novel over to his colleagues, and the review process could not be messed up.

In the next few days, Lin Weimin could hear sighs coming from the editorial office from time to time.

"Fugui's father is dead!"

"His mother is dead too!"

"Alas, Jiazhen is dead too!"

"Why is Fengxia dead too?"

"Huh? Why did Youqing die too?"

"Erxi died too? Isn't that too much?"

"Fuck, Kugen is dead, what kind of crap is this!"

Of course, the complaints from colleagues were not because Yu Hua wrote badly, but because he wrote so well that even the experienced editors who had seen the world could not help but lose their composure after reading the novel.

"Weimin, who taught him to write this novel like this?" He Qizhi, who was in charge of the review, grabbed Lin Weimin and asked, staring at him.

"How would I know?" Lin Weimin avoided her gaze and changed the subject, "By the way, have you finished reading the novel? How was it?"

He Qizhi hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Well written!"

"That's good! I've read all the manuscripts. Are the long manuscripts scheduled for the next few months full?"

"Well, it's scheduled until December."

"Then put this novel in the first issue of next year!"

He Qizhi nodded and was about to chat with Lin Weimin about the novel when he ran into Yu Hua who had been out and about for several days.

"Yu Hua, come here!"

After finally catching this guy, He Qizhi dragged him into the office. Everyone wanted to understand his mental journey when he was writing the novel "To Live".

After more than an hour, Yu Hua finally escaped from the clutches of the editors and ran to Lin Weimin's office.

"Teacher Lin, I heard that you agreed to publish "To Live"?"

"Um."

"As for the royalties..." Yu Hua's eyes were full of anticipation.

Lin Weimin pondered and said, "Forty words for a thousand words, maybe!"

Yu Hua was overjoyed when he heard this. Forty yuan per thousand words was the highest publishing fee at that time.

The entire "To Live" has more than 130,000 words, and the royalties amounted to more than 5,000 yuan, which just made up for the loss of the computer. This does not include the royalties from the future publication of the novel!

After finishing the novel and confirming its publication, Yu Hua felt that the purpose of his visit to Yanjing had been perfectly achieved and there was no reason for him to stay any longer.

Seeing his reluctant expression, Lin Weimin said, "Yimou will return to Beijing in a few days. He really likes your piece "The Mistake by the River". If you have nothing to do, you can wait a few days and talk to him."

"A Mistake by the River" is a novella written by Yu Hua while studying at the Academy of Literature. Zhang Yimou had mentioned this matter before when chatting with Lin Weimin.

Yu Hua's face was filled with joy again, "That's great!"

I can stay in Yanjing for a few more days, it doesn’t matter whether I change or not.

Before National Day, Zhang Yimou returned to Yanjing.

Throughout this year, he has been busy with the pre-production and filming of the movie "Raise the Red Lantern", which was adapted from Tong Zhonggui's novella "Wives and Concubines", which was introduced to him by Lin Weimin.

As his second film work after "Red Sorghum", Zhang Yimou has devoted all his energy to this movie. After all, the brilliance of "Red Sorghum" was so dazzling that he himself had no confidence that he could replicate such success.

Time and energy were constantly consumed, barely making up for the uneasiness and anxiety in his heart.

These days, the filming of "Raise the Red Lantern" has been completed, and Zhang Yimou has finally returned to Yanjing from Shanxi. Next, he will be busy with the post-production of "Raise the Red Lantern".

After returning to Yanjing and resting for two days, Zhang Yimou took some time out of his busy schedule to visit Lin Weimin's home. Lin Weimin called Yu Hua, who had been waiting for several days.

"You really like his article 'The Mistake by the River', right? It's a good opportunity for us to meet and chat."

Zhang Yimou was very happy to see Yu Hua and took the initiative to talk to him. Hearing that Yu Hua had written a novel during his visit to Beijing, Zhang Yimou asked curiously, "Can I take a look?"

(End of this chapter)