Chapter 572 He still has to thank us
In 1988, four of Wang Shuo's novels were successively adapted into film and television works, and some media called that year the "Wang Shuo Year."
But in fact, family members know their own business. In 1988, Wang Shuo became very famous throughout the country. He wrote novels and scripts, worked like a dog, but did not make much money.
This year is completely different.
At the beginning of the year, Huayi Publishing House published his "Die After Having Fun" and paid him 100 yuan per thousand words. Wang Shuo earned nearly 30,000 yuan in one go, which was the most money he had ever earned since he started writing.
What's more, it's much easier than writing scripts, as they are all novels that have already been published, and they just need to be compiled into a collection and published. It's like making money without doing anything.
Wang Shuo went to Lin Weimin to show off, but was taught a lesson by Lin Weimin. He then came to his senses and decided to ask Huayi for royalties.
"Die After Having Fun" sold hundreds of thousands of copies not long after its publication. Huayi got addicted and approached Wang Shuo in the middle of the year to publish a collection of his works.
Wang Shuo followed Lin Weimin's advice and asked Huayi for royalties, setting a precedent among domestic writers.
It has been nearly four months since the publication of "Wang Shuo's Collected Works". The first print of 100,000 copies has already been sold out. Now it is the second reprint, and the sales volume is heading towards the record of 400,000 copies.
A collection of works is different from a single volume. The price of a collection of works is often more than ten or twenty yuan. During this period, the sales of collections of works by the publishing house exceeded four million yuan. Two days ago, Huayi just settled the royalties for the first 300,000 sets to Wang Shuo. Wang Shuo received more than 400,000 yuan in one go. He made a lot of money and was ecstatic.
On the day he received his share of the royalties, he dragged his wife Chen Xujia around the city of Yanjing. The "black brick" in his hand was the product of his crazy consumption in the past few days.
"Okay, Master Shuo, you've got your cell phone!" Lin Weimin came to the dining table, greeted Shen Xujia first, and then teased Wang Shuo.
Wang Shuo's face was flushed, not caring at all about the ridicule in Lin Weimin's words, "This is for convenience. People come to see me every day, and it's convenient to have this thing with me."
While he was talking, he "accidentally" revealed the accessory hanging around his waist, um, a pager.
This was standard for nouveau riche in the 1990s!
The guests who can come to Maxim's for dinner are all in good condition, but when the guests at the nearby tables saw the two pieces of equipment on Wang Shuo, they still showed some envy.
In 1991, if you wanted to hold a mobile phone in your hand and carry a pager on your waist, you needed some skills.
This set of equipment now costs more than 20,000 yuan, which is enough for an ordinary office worker to work for ten years. Even for businessmen, not everyone can afford it.
"Hurry up and sit down, you are so embarrassed!" Shen Xujia blushed for Wang Shuo's swelling face, and couldn't help but pull his sleeve to let him sit down.
Wang Shuo followed suit, but he didn't stop talking after he sat down.
"Weimin, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you're so busy all day, you should get a mobile phone, otherwise it will be so inconvenient!"
Lin Weimin waved his hand. "No need. I go back and forth between two places all day long. If I have something to say, I can call home or work. Besides, this thing is not very practical. There is no signal at any time."
Lin Weimin has the experience of later generations and knows that a mobile phone is like a shackle once you have it. You have to answer anyone who calls you, which is completely unnecessary.
It's good like this now. I can call the landline when I have something to do, and come to my house when it's urgent. Unless it's a big deal, it's more free like this now.
Wang Shuo was apparently trying to persuade Lin Weimin, but in reality he was just showing off his mobile phone.
Lin Weimin still made the same comment: A dog cannot hold two ounces of sesame oil in its stomach.
After showing off the phone call, the topic naturally shifted to royalties, and Wang Shuo couldn't stop talking about it.
The royalties of more than 400,000 yuan were several times more than what he had earned in the previous ten years.
"It is said that a horse cannot grow fat without night grass, and a man cannot become rich without unexpected wealth. This is indeed true." Wang Shuo said with a bit of smugness on his face.
"So, this collection of essays can bring you at least one or two million in income?"
"It's definitely one million, but I don't know if it's higher. Who knows how many years it can last!"
The waiter came over to take our order, and Wang Shuo took the menu. Based on the principle of ordering whatever is most expensive, he fully demonstrated what a nouveau riche is.
After ordering the dishes, he returned the menu to the waiter and said to Lin Weimin, "Speaking of royalties, thanks to you for giving me some advice."
You see, he even has to thank us!
"Well, that's a bit too polite. Besides, you're doing a great service to writers this time, and I'm already getting royalties."
The benefits were obtained, but Shuozi had to save face.
Sure enough, when Wang Shuo heard Lin Weimin's compliment, a bright smile bloomed on his increasingly fat round face.
"We are all brothers, brothers!"
Wang Shuo waved his hands and spoke modestly, but his expression showed that he wished Lin Weimin would say a few more words.
Wang Shuo was pleased for a while, then the waiter started serving the dishes and they ate and chatted.
Tao Huimin and Shen Xujia talked about topics between women, while Lin Weimin and Wang Shuo talked about topics between men.
"Xiaogang's daughter has completed the surgery. It went very smoothly and she will be able to be like a normal child in the future."
Feng Xiaogang's daughter's surgery was just completed in January. The little girl was lucky. Although she suffered from cleft lip and palate, it was cleft lip among cleft lip and palate. The best time for surgery was three to six months after birth. Feng Xiaogang borrowed money from Lin Weimin and had the surgery done as soon as the time came.
After the operation, Feng Xiaogang brought his wife to Lin Weimin's home to express his gratitude, but Wang Shuo didn't know about this.
"He's been through a lot during this time."
"Of course. I plan to help him earn some extra money next year. He owes a lot of money for his child's surgery." Wang Shuo said.
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "It is good to follow Master Shuo."
"Get out! You're treating me like this, aren't you?" Wang Shuo cursed with a smile.
The extra money that Wang Shuo wants to make with Feng Xiaogang is to write scripts for TV series. Since its establishment, Haima Studio has produced two TV series.
One is "The Story of the Editorial Department" which was broadcast at the end of last year. As soon as the TV series was broadcast, the ratings continued to rise, creating an extremely strong social impact. A number of actors became well-known to the audience because of this TV series.
Not to mention Ge You, Lü Liping, Hou Yaohua and others who played the leading roles, even Fu Biao, Liu Bei, Zhang Guoli and others who played supporting roles left a deep impression on the audience.
The series is full of famous quotes, which are still talked about by TV viewers decades later.
Another TV series is "Love You Without Negotiation", which follows the path of "Desire" and received good responses. It did not reach the height of "Desire", but the results were still good.
These two TV series completely increased the popularity of Haima Studio in the field of Chinese TV series.
If the Chinese film and television industry had developed rapidly in the future, the people at Haima Studio would have made a fortune long ago. Unfortunately, it is 1990 now, and these people can only get some royalties and planning fees.
Feng Xiaogang previously helped write a few episodes of the script for "The Story of the Editorial Department", but they were all based on other people's ideas, so he just earned some hard-earned money.
This time Wang Shuo plans to give him some space. How much he can earn depends on his ability.
"How's Jiang Wen's script going?" Lin Weimin asked.
Wang Shuo shook his head, "I don't know, I won't get involved."
"What's going on? Did you break up?"
Wang Shuo glanced at Lin Weimin, not satisfied with the gloating look on his face. "That thief Sun has a lot of ideas in his mind. Whoever writes a script for him will be in trouble for the rest of his life. It's like begging for food on his knees."
Jiang Wen has many wild ideas whether he is writing scripts or making movies. Most people cannot compete with him. This time, Wang Shuo has given in.
"I want to see what he can come up with!" Wang Shuo said angrily.
It seems that, although they didn't break up, she must have suffered a lot from Jiang Wen.
Lin Weimin could probably understand Wang Shuo's feelings. He was the big brother before the investment was raised, but now the movie hasn't even been shot yet and he has become the little jerk. No one can stand this!
"I'll take care of him later!" Lin Weimin said with a smile.
Wang Shuo immediately poured Lin Weimin a glass of wine and said, "Give him a good beating. Don't be lenient!"
While the two were chatting, a few young men walked up to the performance stage at the back of the restaurant and were moving musical instruments and speakers. It looked like there would be a band performance tonight.
Maxim's has had musical performances since the day it was founded. In the beginning, it was just piano performances. Later, the restaurant manager Song Huaigui began to introduce bands and took the livehouse route.
In 1986, Cui Jian sang the first Chinese rock music with the song "Nothing at All" at the Yanjing Workers' Stadium, and gained great fame. However, in the 1980s, rock music was still a new thing in China. Even though he became famous with the song at the Workers' Stadium, Cui Jian and his band did not have many performance opportunities.
At this time, Song Huaigui of Maxim's reached out to Cui Jian and invited them to perform at Maxim's.
Western restaurants and rock music, just think about it and you will know how incompatible these two things are when put together.
But at that time, people ate less Western food and had no idea about rock music, so they just appreciated the host's performance, which actually achieved good results.
Cui Jian and his band got a valuable performance opportunity, and Maxim once again set a precedent in the Yanjing catering industry.
Over the past few years, rock music performances in the restaurant have become a regular feature, and many young people come here for this.
"Cui Jian is performing tonight, and there are also several new rock singers coming on stage." Wang Shuo said, looking at the stage.
While the two were chatting, the stage had already been set up. Cui Jian, with a wrinkle-free face, walked onto the stage and introduced himself and the band in a deep voice.
The diners in the restaurant were very familiar with Cui Jian, and everyone applauded as soon as he opened his mouth.
As the rhythm of the instruments on the stage sounded, the atmosphere in the restaurant immediately became lively. As the music became louder, the diners became more and more excited.
Lin Weimin didn't understand, but was deeply shocked.
He would never believe that this group of people came to eat.
(End of this chapter)
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