Chapter 141: The Best
Based on Gu Siqing's understanding of state-owned enterprises, it was practically impossible for them to change their current settlement mechanism and settle accounts using royalties. The only solution now was to find a private publisher. However, it was unknown if there were any private publishers in Kyoto at the moment.
Yu Jianbai had some connections in Kyoto's cultural circles. When Gu Siqing asked if there were any private publishing houses, he said, "Yes, there are, but they're newly established. They mainly publish foreign classics in China. However, they haven't published a single book yet."
Gu Siqing thought for a moment and said, "Could you please help me with this?"
This was a piece of cake for Yu Jianbai, so he agreed without hesitation. Gu Siqing and Gu Jianguo thanked Yu Jianbai again and again, and then returned to the hotel.
In Wang Chengji's office at Kyoto People's Publishing House, Xia Yuan is talking to Wang Chengji about the publication of her daughter Shao Yunhan's novel "Growing Pains".
The price Wang Chengji offered was also 30 yuan per thousand words, but when Xia Yuan heard that he offered the same price to Gu Siqing, she wanted to raise the price to outbid Gu Siqing.
She smiled faintly and said, "Director Wang, we've been dealing with each other for quite some time, and I know your prices. Thirty per thousand words, and then we can raise them a bit. As long as it can surpass 'Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled', that'll be fine."
Wang Chengji knew that "Growing Pains" was trying to compete with "Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled?" Or rather, "Growing Pains" was unilaterally picking on "Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled."
If you think about it, you will understand that the two books have the same subject matter, but one was published first and the other later. The later one, "Growing Pains", was obviously a follow-up work after the popularity of "Whose Childhood Is Not Troubled".
The two works share the same subject matter, so they are naturally compared. Although the language of "Growing Pains" is more refined and beautiful, people still prefer "Whose Childhood Is Not Troubled".
Although the language of "Whose Childhood Is Not Troubled" is a bit childish, it is closer to children's lives and the language is humorous and straightforward, so children readers prefer it.
Wang Chengji had known Xia Yuan for quite some time, and the two had interacted with each other quite a few times, so he could be said to know Xia Yuan very well. She was a very competitive person.
Now her daughter's book was being overshadowed, and with her temperament, she naturally couldn't stand it. And now it happened.
Wang Chengji thought for a moment, then said with a sluggish expression, "Editor-in-Chief Xia, you should understand that I'm already paying quite a bit, thirty bucks per thousand words."
"Growing Pains" was not as popular as "Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled", so under normal circumstances it would not be possible to give it 30 yuan per thousand words. However, considering their long-term friendship and the face of the Xia family behind Xia Yuan, he gave it 30 yuan per thousand words.
Now Xia Yuan asked to raise the price again, which really put him in a difficult position.
"My requirements aren't high," Xia Yuan said. "As long as the royalties are higher than those for 'Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled', that's fine."
"Then don't worry," Wang Chengji said, taking a sip of tea. "I don't want any royalties for 'Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled'."
Xia Yuan was stunned for a moment, then she heard Wang Chengji say again: "She wants royalties."
Xia Yuan thought for a moment before she understood what royalties were. Few people in China today, outside of cultural circles, are familiar with the term. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, publishing houses no longer used royalties to settle royalties. Instead, they simply set a price per thousand words, settling the payment in a lump sum.
However, if it's royalties, you have to wait until the book sells and then get paid periodically. Furthermore, if the book doesn't sell well, the author will receive virtually no money. This is a relatively high risk.
"Do you agree?" Xia Yuan asked.
Wang Chengji: “No, it’s too troublesome to operate.”
Xia Yuan smiled and asked, "Did they go to the Workers' Publishing House?"
"I'm not sure about this." Wang Chengji said.
Xia Yuan stood up and said goodbye to Wang Chengji with a smile. Wang Chengji sent her to the gate of the publishing house before returning. There was no way around it. Xia Yuan was petty, and when dealing with her, you had to show her full respect, otherwise she would be unhappy.
Who can blame her for having a good father?
After leaving People's Publishing House, Xia Yuan went to Workers' Publishing House and met Director Hu. The two had known each other for many years, so Xia Yuan knew what he meant the moment he mentioned him. "Our president asked me to contact him about publishing 'Whose Childhood Wasn't Troubled?' I think it's a far cry from 'Growing Pains,' written by your daughter. Editor-in-Chief Xia, how did you raise your children? You're truly outstanding."
Xia Yuan liked to hear such words the most. She smiled and said, "It's mainly due to the influence of the family atmosphere."
Director Hu naturally understood what she wanted to hear and immediately said, "That's right. Your teacher Shao is a university teacher, and you are an editor at a publishing house. Whose family has a higher cultural atmosphere than yours?"
Xia Yuan felt more relieved. "It's the child's own excellence. We as parents didn't do anything."
After listening to Director Hu's flattery and hearing his promise that he would not agree, Gu Siqing settled her royalties in the form of royalties and left with satisfaction.
When she got home, her two daughters and Shao Yuhe were all at home, and the three of them were sitting in the living room watching TV. She walked over and sat down and asked her eldest daughter: "Lulu, I asked you to meet Ye Chi's eldest sister, did you go?"
Shao Yunlu looked away from the TV, gossip flashing in her eyes as she said, "I went to her house today. We were talking when she received a phone call. I vaguely heard the word divorce."
Xia Yuan frowned, "Who wants a divorce?"
"Ye Chi's father and his stepmother." Shao Yunlu's face was full of gossip, just like a woman gossiping on the street. Xia Yuan's face darkened when she saw this. "Watch your expression. I've told you so many times, you must always be elegant."
"Are you saying that Ye Chi's father wants to divorce his stepmother?" Xia Yuan asked.
Shao Yunlu straightened her back with a proper smile on her face, "Nine out of ten times, yes."
Xia Yuan held her chin and thought for a while before saying, "This is not a good thing. Your grandmother and your aunt both think Ye Chi is a good man and don't agree with his marriage to Xia Ying because Ye Chi has a stepmother. If Ye Xingjian got divorced, your grandmother and aunt would definitely agree."
At this point she was suddenly startled, "Is Ye Xingjian divorcing you just to form an alliance with your grandfather's family?"
Shao Yunlu was also shocked, "How is that possible?"
"Why is it impossible?" Xia Yuan asked, "How many families in Kyoto want to marry into your grandfather's family right now?"
"What should we do then?" Shao Yunlu asked with a pout.
"Then what else can we do? Change people." Xia Yuan said. In fact, she also understood that even though her two daughters were the Xia family's granddaughters, there was still a difference between a granddaughter and a biological granddaughter.
Young men in the upper circles of Kyoto who have good family backgrounds and outstanding personalities would not be interested in her two daughters, unless her two daughters are so outstanding that men cannot bear to let them go.
But it was obvious that her eldest daughter did not have this ability.
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