Chapter 392 Good News
Although he used to be a teacher, he is now the president of a publishing house and a businessman. The quality of a book is largely determined by its sales.
Su Nanzhi lowered her eyes and thought for a few seconds, then looked at President Li. Instead of answering his question, she asked another question.
"President Li, do you know that besides being a part-time teacher at Zhoushan County No. 2 Middle School, I also work part-time at the tractor factory?"
President Li showed surprise on his face and glanced at Principal Ying.
Lao Ying didn’t tell him.
Su Nanzhi's eyes sparkled. "It's not nice of me to say this, but I was able to sell four or five tractors worth thousands of dollars in the first month. A book worth a few dollars is a piece of cake for me."
"After all, selling something is selling something. Writing a book is essentially selling ideas."
"And I'm good at persuading people."
President Li didn't expect to hear this, and said with a smile, "Xiao Su, you are showing off your capital, aren't you afraid that I will report you?"
Su Nanzhi smiled and said, "If you say so, I'm embarrassed to talk to you anymore."
President Li: "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Of course, it's about how to sell my books and make the publishing house a lot of money." Su Nanzhi took a sip of water and then continued slowly: "Then I, as a publisher, can also make a little money."
President Li sat up straight and looked at Principal Ying who was watching the excitement from the side. "Old Ying, you didn't say that the intellectual you introduced was also a money-grubber."
After saying that, he turned to look at Su Nanzhi, "Xiao Su, although I am the president, the royalties are fixed by the publishing house."
When Su Nanzhi decided to publish her own book of college entrance examination questions, she asked people about the royalties of that era.
The current manuscript fee is a fixed price, determined by the number of words, and there will be no additional compensation even if there are subsequent reprints.
Thinking about the large number of college entrance examination candidates in the future, Su Nanzhi doesn't want to do a one-time deal.
"Xiao Su, let me be honest with you. Although I am very satisfied with the college entrance examination error book you compiled, you are not an experienced teacher after all. We have to consider sales after publication, so the price our publishing house can give you is 3 yuan per thousand words."
Su Nanzhi nodded. The price was neither high nor low. If she really planned to buy out the book, the price was reasonable.
Just when President Li thought she nodded in agreement, Su Nanzhi spoke again.
Just the words he said made President Li look surprised.
"I can do it for free, without any royalties."
Although this was the first time President Li met Su Nanzhi, he always felt that Su Nanzhi was not such a selfless person. Sure enough, Su Nanzhi's words the next second immediately brought him back to his senses.
“But I want a commission on every book.”
Commission? President Li's brows immediately furrowed.
Su Nanzhi smiled and said, "I don't need the basic fee, but I can pay my royalties based on the number of copies of the error book."
"Xiao Su, you know our publishing house is a state-owned unit, right? The method you mentioned has never been implemented in our publishing house. If other authors knew about it, it would be a mess. And what you're doing doesn't comply with the regulations."
Su Nanzhi had long guessed that he would have this reaction.
At the beginning, Director Dongfang of the tractor factory was willing to give her a commission. However, the tractor factory had not had good sales in recent years and was on the verge of bankruptcy. He would only agree to her request out of desperation.
But the publishing house is still doing well, so President Li certainly won't take the risk.
Su Nanzhi thought about the policy reform on royalties in her previous life, which took place in 1980. At that time, the standard of basic royalties + royalties based on print run would be implemented. She wanted to seize this opportunity, grab the market first, and let all college entrance examination candidates know about her college entrance examination question book.
After all, because she didn't get into university in her previous life, she usually did college entrance examination questions to relieve stress when she had nothing to do, and there were a lot of questions in her mind.
"Then you give me one dollar per thousand words."
Su Nanzhi changed her words very decisively, which made President Li stunned for a moment.
"One dollar per thousand words? Are you willing?"
Su Nanzhi smiled and said, "Of course I don't want to, but I still understand the principle of playing the long game to catch the big fish."
"'Play the long game to catch the big fish'? What kind of fish are you trying to catch? The pond of my publishing house can't withstand strong winds and waves." President Li's fingers tapped unconsciously on the polished desk, making a slight sound. "I'm already old, so don't keep me in suspense."
Su Nanzhi met his gaze, not flinching at all, but becoming more open. She knew he had taken the bait, after all, curiosity was sometimes the beginning of consent.
"I don't want any commissions, and I can even just ask for a symbolic fee in the early stages, or no fee at all. I just want this book to be published smoothly and spread."
"I'm not after this little money."
"I'm after fame. I want this book to be seen and used by as many students as possible, so that it can truly help them. As long as the book sells well, and my name spreads along with this 'wrong answer book', that's my big catch."
"As for your concerns about 'standards'..." Su Nanzhi changed the subject, her eyes becoming particularly serious. "I dare to raise this request, and it's certainly not groundless. As someone in the publishing industry, you must have sensed some of the news. The country is undergoing tremendous changes. If you still cling to the old ways, the times will sooner or later abandon you."
As she spoke, she suddenly chuckled, "If the policy doesn't change by then, then I'll consider myself selflessly contributing to the country's education cause. I'm a little girl with nothing, but I dare to take a gamble. Don't you dare?"
The office was completely silent, and the chirping of cicadas outside the window seemed to become clearer.
President Li leaned back in his chair, gazing deeply at Su Nanzhi. This young woman's courage, vision, and keen understanding of policy trends completely exceeded his expectations. Not only had she forsaken immediate interests, but she had also accurately predicted potential future changes and even knew how to manipulate people's hearts.
"I'm old and can't afford to work so hard." President Li said this, but he didn't know that his eyes were surprisingly bright at this moment.
Su Nanzhi kept smiling, poured him a glass of water, and said teasingly, "President Li, if you weren't a person who liked to make trouble, maybe I should call you Teacher Li now?"
President Li's pupils trembled. He came to the publishing house from school because of his love for literature, but more importantly, he wanted to have money and power, and wanted to climb to a higher mountain to see the scenery.
And Su Nanzhi, a little girl who met him for the first time, actually saw it.
After a long moment, he chuckled.
"You, a little girl, dare to gamble, how can I be afraid?"
Before Su Nanzhi could smile, he continued, "But your proposal... is too special. I need to discuss it with the people at the publishing house."
Su Nanzhi stood up and extended her hand towards President Li.
"Then I'll wait for your good news."
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