Chapter 760: Hot Discussion in the Comics Industry
Standing in the empty shop, Wang Yongsheng couldn't help but recall the scene when "The King of Painting Books" was first published.
The low school building, cramped space, and simple layout of the primary school...
The memories gradually became blurred, and finally overlapped with the scene before his eyes, making him feel as if he was in a dream.
Fortunately, all of this is true.
"The King of Painting" is back!
While Wang Yongsheng was expressing his feelings, Lin Weimin said to Li Xin: "Next, you will fully cooperate with Teacher Wang to prepare for the resumption of publication of "Hua Wang" and strive to resume publication as soon as possible."
Li Xin stopped to think, "Yes."
"Teacher Wang, I'll leave the next thing to you." Lin Weimin said to Wang Yongsheng.
Wang Yongsheng looked solemn, "I will do my best!"
A few days later, a piece of news suddenly spread in the domestic comics industry.
"The King of Painting Books", which has been suspended for half a year, is about to resume publication!
After this news came out, it quickly sparked heated discussions in the comics industry.
Although it has only been established for one year, "The King of Painting Books" has always been a leader in the domestic comics industry. Whether in terms of publication sales or in cultivating domestic comic authors, "The King of Painting Books" has always been at the forefront of the domestic comics industry.
Half a year ago, "The King of Picture Books" was discontinued, and the happiest ones were probably several other domestic comics magazines.
Not only is there one less powerful competitor, but you can also pick up some Chinese comic authors that "The King of Painting Books" has worked hard to cultivate. Is there anything better than this?
Now that "The King of Picture Books" has made a comeback, these publications have immediately become nervous.
Within a few days, more and more news about the resumption of publication of "The King of Painting Books" came out.
It turned out that Guowen Publishing House took over "The King of Painting Books". For this discontinued publication, they actually spent a huge amount of money and paid 1 million yuan to Ningxia People's Publishing House to purchase all the intellectual property rights of "The King of Painting Books". Then they approached the Press and Publication Administration for coordination in order to resume publication of "The King of Painting Books".
Unfortunately, the suspension of publication was an administrative order that had already been issued. In the end, Guowen Publishing House could only take a compromise and changed the name of "The King of Painting Books" and resumed publication under the name "The King of Painting".
The whole story of the incident had become gradually clear after a few days of dissemination, and several publications mocked the Guowen Publishing House for losing more than it gained.
After spending a lot of money and finally having to change the name, who would know that your "Painting King" is the same publication as "Painting Book King"? They might even think that "Painting King" is a third-rate publication that is trying to take advantage of the popularity of "Painting Book King".
After hearing the news, many comic practitioners and readers immediately expressed their incomprehension of Guowen Publishing House's behavior of "knowingly going to the tiger mountain".
The ridicule from the industry and the doubts from the public did not disrupt the resumption of publication of "The King of Painting".
With the help of Wang Yongsheng, the once-lost editors of "The King of Painting Books" gathered again in the Guowen Society's staff building outside the East Third Ring Road.
Those young authors who had lost their stage, like weary birds returning home with guidance, rushed to Yanjing from all corners of the motherland.
"Dad, Mom, there's no need to send me off!" Yan Kaifu said to his parents, holding a suitcase in his hands.
The father and mother stood on the platform, feeling mixed emotions as their son was about to embark on another journey to pursue his dreams.
My father hesitated for a long time and then said, "If you can't hold on any longer, come back."
Yan Kaifu's eyes were sore and he remained silent.
On the platform, the conductor's whistle sounded and the doors were about to close.
"Dad, Mom, you guys go back, don't worry about me, I'm getting in the car."
"Hey, let's go!"
The parents agreed verbally, but their eyes followed their son's back.
After squeezing onto the train, Yan Kaifu had no time to put his luggage away. He looked out the window, searching for his parents.
He searched for more than ten seconds and finally found his parents. Before he could say anything, a whistle sounded and the train started slowly.
"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving!"
"Son, write a letter!" the mother shouted to Yan Kaifu while jogging on the platform.
"Got it, take care!"
"Son!" the father shouted loudly, "Come back if you can't paint anymore."
The train was moving away and the sound was becoming less and less audible.
Yan Kaifu pursed his lips and silently answered his father: If I can't make it, I won't come back! I won't be a deserter for the second time!
In May 1994, Yan Kaifu was invited by Wang Yongsheng to go to Beijing and began serializing "Xue Ye". This comic was loved by countless readers.
But no one expected that just three months later, "The King of Picture Books" would be suspended.
At the beginning, Yan Kaifu and a few of his friends were very optimistic.
Teacher Wang said that the suspension was only temporary and their publication would definitely be able to resume publication, and everyone was full of confidence in this.
However, as time passed, there was no news of resumption of publication in sight, and everyone's confidence was waning.
Slowly, Chen Xiang left, Zheng Xusheng left...
Winter has come to Yanjing, and it’s so cold!
That winter, Yan Kaifu kept painting in the rented house, but he never received any news about the resumption of publication of Hua Wang.
Yan Kaifu still remembers the heavy snow that day. He really couldn't hold on any longer because he had no money.
His mother called again, and Yan Kaifu finally compromised and returned to his hometown.
The day he left Yanjing, he felt like a deserter.
This time, Yan Kaifu told himself that he would never run away again.
The train heading north passed through mountains and plains, and the frozen earth had thawed.
Winter is finally over!
After dragging his luggage off the train, Yan Kaifu felt a little weak in the knees when he stepped onto the platform due to the long journey of dozens of hours.
The temperature today was a little warmer than the day he left. When he walked to the exit, he saw a familiar old man.
I don’t know why, but when I saw the old man, Yan Kaifu’s eyes became sore and he felt so wronged that he wanted to cry.
Yan Kaifu took a deep breath and called out from a distance: "Teacher Wang!"
A smile broke out on Wang Yongsheng's face and he waved desperately at Yan Kaifu.
When he came closer, Wang Yongsheng hugged him excitedly.
"I'm back! I'm finally back!"
Yan Kaifu hugged Wang Yongsheng and could no longer control the tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry for you." Wang Yongsheng said with guilt.
"Don't say that. No one wants that to happen." Yan Kaifu said in a muffled voice.
"Forget it, let's not talk about the past." Wang Yongsheng smiled again and said, "This time our "Painting King" has found a big backer, with power, influence and money!"
Yan Kaifu said, "Did the Guowen Society really recruit us?"
"Is that true? Come on, I'll take you to the editorial office first."
"good!"
They left the train station and got on the bus.
Although he had only been away for two or three months, when he saw the scenery and objects in Yanjing again, Yan Kaifu still felt as if he was in a different world.
The bus swayed all the way to the outside of the East Third Ring Road. As the bus went further and further away, Yan Kaifu had already prepared himself mentally. Even if the conditions were difficult this time, he would persevere.
Wang Yongsheng led Yan Kaifu out of the car and after walking more than 200 meters, they saw several brand new buildings.
We came to a row of shops facing the street and saw an inconspicuous sign hanging in front of one of the doors.
"Editorial Department of "The King of Painting" published by Popular Literature and Art Publishing House".
Wang Yongsheng pushed open the door, "Xiao Yan, come in!"
Yan Kaifu carried his luggage and followed Wang Yongsheng into the editorial department. After these days, the office partitions had been completed. After passing through the entrance hall, the 150-square-meter office was divided into four large offices, one on each side of the door.
Wang Yongsheng and Yan Kaifu pushed open the office door on the left side of the entrance. As soon as they entered, they saw several familiar figures. They were all former editors of "The King of Painting Books".
Everyone was very happy to see Yan Kaifu, "Xiao Yan is here!", "Xiao Yan, long time no see!"
The familiar face and friendly greeting made Yan Kaifu extremely excited, and he was finally certain in his heart.
"The King of Painting" is really back!
"We are all old acquaintances, so I won't introduce you. Come, Xiao Yan, take a good look around our new office."
Yan Kaifu walked around several offices with a relaxed smile on his face, "Teacher Wang, these conditions are much better than before!"
"Haha, a blessing in disguise." Wang Yongsheng showed a bit of pride on his face, "Now we have become a publication under the Guowen Society, and all treatment is the same as that of the Guowen Society. This house also belongs to the Guowen Society."
Yan Kaifu was sincerely happy for the teachers in the editorial department. The current office conditions were much better than before.
After showing Yan Kaifu around the editorial office, Wang Yongsheng asked, "You don't have a place to stay in Beijing this time, right?"
Yan Kaifu shook his head honestly.
Wang Yongsheng gave him a mysterious smile and said, "Follow me."
He followed Wang Yongsheng out of the door, walked along the store for a few dozen meters, and came to a doorway.
"Old Zhai, there's a kid in our editorial department." Wang Yongsheng greeted the old man in the guard room, and then said to Yan Kaifu, "Little Yan, say hello to Old Zhai."
"Hello, Mr. Zhai!" Yan Kaifu greeted him obediently.
Uncle Zhai responded with a smile. Wang Yongsheng chatted with him for a few words and then continued to walk into the yard with Yan Kaifu.
The yard is not big, and the buildings on all sides make it look a bit depressing, but it is quiet.
Yan Kaifu followed Wang Yongsheng into a building on the west side. Climbing the stairs with his luggage was tiring, and he climbed to the sixth floor breathlessly.
Wang Yongsheng finally stopped, took out the key from his pocket and opened a door.
"This is what was left when the Chinese Literature Society distributed the houses. It's empty now, so I borrowed it. It has three bedrooms and is on a higher floor, but it's free. If you don't mind, you can live here first. You'll have to buy the things yourself."
After Wang Yongsheng introduced the house to Yan Kaifu, Yan Kaifu was delighted to hear that it was free to live there.
This time when they came to Beijing, not only the salary of the editorial department was improved, but also the salary of these cartoonists was improved, and they even had free dormitories to live in.
The sixth floor is nothing, he can even climb to the sixteenth floor.
A free house is a great place to live in!
"Thank you so much, Teacher Wang!"
"Don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the leaders of the Chinese Literature Society. They are the ones who are willing to help you."
Yan Kaifu nodded, feeling very fond of the leader of the National Literature Society whom he had never met before.
"That's it for now. After you put your luggage down, you can go around the area. Life here is pretty convenient."
Yan Kaifu asked: "Teacher Wang, Xiao Chen and the others..."
Wang Yongsheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, they will be here in the next two days, and you guys can fight side by side again."
"Very good!"
"I have something to discuss with you."
"You say."
"Tongwen Publishing House plans to publish a single volume of "Snow Coconut" for you. What do you think?"
Yan Kaifu was stunned for a moment, "Will you publish a separate volume for me?"
"Yes, it's 'Snow Coconut' for you."
After getting a positive answer again, Yan Kaifu still couldn't believe it. "I... I... don't have any idea."
"So do you agree or disagree?"
"I agree, of course I agree!"
Yan Kaifu finally understood and said loudly.
"As for the royalties..."
"I have no objection. Any amount is fine." Yan Kaifu said anxiously.
Wang Yongsheng laughed, "Silly boy, at least ask."
"Ah!" Yan Kaifu scratched his head and was about to speak, but was interrupted by Wang Yongsheng, "Don't worry, you will never suffer any loss. You are our top author, and your treatment will not be bad."
Hearing this, Yan Kaifu smiled foolishly.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
